Page 57 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XII. 51

should be swept once more with the besom of destruc­
tion, instead of the speedy return and deliverance for
which the mass of the Jews looked spite of every divine
assurance to the contrary.
Hence we see that Jehovah in a lively way would
liere fix on the conscience of the captives the folly
of indulging in such dreams. For alas ! they were
rebellious, yea, the rebellious house. Moses had
reproached them in his song as a perverse and crooked
and very froward generation, children in whom was no
faith; and David in the ascension psalm (lxviii.) had
characterized them as “ the rebellious.” If Ezekiel
hears and has to repeat the divine sentence to the same
effect, it is no new thing, but rather the manifestation,
when judgment was in course of execution, that the old
evil was rampant, which neither the fresh vigour of
youth had extirpated, nor their national prime and
power. It was no mere rising, or bright spot, but an
active, deep, and old plague of leprosy “ And I did
so as I was commanded: I brought forth my articles
by day, as articles for captivity, and in the even I
•digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it
forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in
their sight.” (Ver. 7.)
The next message explains all plainly and fully.
M And in the morning came the word of Jehovah unto
me, saying. Son of man, hath not the house of Israel,
the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou ?
Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah;
This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all
the house of Israel that are among them. Say, I am
your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto