Page 35 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTEB VI. 29
But in verse 9 it would seem that the true meaning is,
“ when I shall have broken their whorish heart which
had departed from me, and their eyes,” &c. The verb
has not a passive but the reflexive sense of “ breaking
for myself.” What probably led to the rendering pre­
ferred in the Authorized Version was the difficulty of
such a phrase with the “ eyes.” This is sought to be
softened by the Jewish version of Mr. Leeser, who
translates it, “ even with their eyes.” But this can
hardly stand. Heart and eyes are broken together in
repentance before God.
Here again Ezekiel is called to mark with character­
istic action the sure divine judgment of Israel’s abomi­
nations. The very land should become more waste and
desolate than the desert in all their dwelling places.
“ Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; Smite with thine hand,
and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil
abominations of the house of Israel ! for they shall fall
by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
He that is afar off shall die of the pestilence; and he
that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that re-
maineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus
will I accomplish my fury upon them. Then shall ye
know that I am Jehovah, when their slain men shall be
among their idols round about their altars, upon every
high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under
every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place
where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.
So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the
land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness
toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall
know that I am Jehovah.” (Ver. 11—14.)