Scofield Reference Bible Notes/Ezekiel

by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield

Book Introduction - Ezekiel

Read first chapter of Ezekiel
Ezekiel was carried away to Babylon between the first and final deportation of Judah (2 Kings 24:11-16). Like Daniel and the Apostle John, he prophesied out of the land, and his prophecy, like theirs, follows the method of symbol and vision. Unlike the pre-exilic prophets, whose ministry was primarily to either Judah or the ten-tribe kingdom, Ezekiel is the voice of Jehovah to "the whole house of Israel."
Speaking broadly, the purpose of his ministry is to keep before the generation born in exile the national sins which had brought Israel so low (e.g. Ezekiel 14:23); to sustain the faith of the exiles by predictions of national restoration, of the execution of justice upon their oppressors, and of national glory under the Davidic monarchy.
Ezekiel is in seven great prophetic strains indicated by the expression, "The hand of the Lord was upon me." (Ezekiel 1:3; 3:14,22; 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; Ezekiel 40:1).
The minor divisions are indicated in the text.
The events recorded in Ezekiel cover a period of 21 years (Ussher).

CHAPTER 1

Verse 5

living creatures
The "living creatures" are identical with the Cherubim. The subject is somewhat obscure, but from the position of the Cherubim at the gate of Eden, upon the cover of the ark of the covenant, and in Rev. 4., it is clearly gathered that they have to do with vindication of the holiness of God as against the presumptuous pride of sinful man who, despite his sin, would "put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life" Genesis 3:22-24. Upon the ark of the covenant, of one substance with the mercy-seat, they saw the sprinkled blood which, in type, spake of the perfect maintenance of the divine righteousness by the sacrifice of Christ Exodus 25:17-20. (See Scofield "Romans 3:24"). See Scofield "Romans 3:25". See Scofield "Romans 3:26". The living creatures (or Cherubim) appear to be actual beings of the angelic order. Cf. See Scofield "Isaiah 6:2". The Cherubim or living creatures are not identical with the Seraphim. Isaiah 6:2-7. They appear to have to do with the holiness of God as outraged by sin; the Seraphim with uncleanness in the people of God. The passage in Ezekiel is highly figurative, but the effect was the revelation to the prophet of the Shekinah glory of the Lord. Such revelations are connected invariably with new blessing and service. Cf. ; Exodus 3:2-10; Isaiah 6:1-10; Daniel 10:5-14; Revelation 1:12-19.

CHAPTER 2

Verse 1

Son of man
"Son of man," used by our Lord of Himself seventy-nine times, is used by Jehovah ninety one times when addressing Ezekiel.

• (1) In the case of our Lord the meaning is clear: it is His racial name as the representative Man in the sense of 1 Corinthians 15:45-47. The same thought, implying transcendence of mere Judaism, is involved in the phrase when applied to Ezekiel. Israel had forgotten her mission. (See Scofield "Genesis 11:10") Ezekiel 5:5-8. Now, in her captivity, Jehovah will not forsake His people, but He will remind them that they are but a small part of the race for whom He also cares. Hence the emphasis upon the word "man." The Cherubim "had the likeness of a man" Ezekiel 1:5 and when the prophet beheld the throne of God, he saw "the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it" Ezekiel 1:26. See Scofield "Matthew 8:20" Revelation 1:12,13.
• (2) As used of Ezekiel, the expression indicates, not what the prophet is in himself, but what he is to God; a son of man
• (a) chosen,
• (b) endued with the Spirit, and
• (c) sent of God.

All this is true also of Christ who was, furthermore, the representative man--the head of regenerate humanity.

CHAPTER 3

Verse 3

eat it
Cf. Ezekiel 2:10; Revelation 10:9. Whatever its message, the word of God is sweet to faith because it is the word of God.

CHAPTER 4

Verse 1

take
The symbolic actions during the prophet's dumbness were testimonies to the past wickedness and chastisement of the house of Israel (the whole nation), and prophetic of a coming siege. They therefore intermediate between the siege of 2 Kings 24:10-16 at which time Ezekiel was carried to Babylon, and the siege of 2 Kings 25:1-11 eleven years later.

CHAPTER 6

Verse 8

remnant
(See Scofield "Jeremiah 15:21").

CHAPTER 8

Verse 1

sixth month
i.e. September.

Verse 3

visions
Visions, that is, of former profanations of the temple, and of the wickedness because of which Israel was then in Babylon, show the prophet that he might justify to the new generation born in Assyria and Babylonia during the captivity, the righteousness of God in the present national chastening. The visions are retrospective; Israel had done these things, hence the captivities. This strain continues to Ezekiel 33:20. It is the divine view of the national sinfulness and apostasy, revealed to Ezekiel in a series of visions so vivid that though the prophet was by the river Chebar, ; Ezekiel 1:1,3; 3:23; 10:15,20,22; 43:3 It was as if he were transported back to Jerusalem, and to the time when these things were occurring. These visions of the sinfulness of Israel are interspersed with promises of restoration and blessing which are yet to be fulfilled. See "Israel" ; Genesis 12:2,3; Romans 11:26. Also "Kingdom, (O.T.)" ; Genesis 1:26-28; Zechariah 12:8.

Verse 5

Son of man
The combined purport of the four visions of profanation in chapter 8., is idolatry set up in the entire temple, even in the holy of holies Ezekiel 8:10,11 women given over to phallic cults Ezekiel 8:14 and nature-worship Exodus 8:16.

Verse 14

Tammuz
i.e. the Greek Adonis.

CHAPTER 9

Verse 3

was gone
It is noteworthy that to Ezekiel the priest was given the vision of the glory of the Lord

• (1) departing from the Cherubim to the threshold of the temple Ezekiel 9:3; 10:4.
• (2) from the threshold Ezekiel 10:18.
• (3) from temple and city to the mountain on the East of Jerusalem (Olivet, Ezekiel 11:23) and
• (4) returning to the millennial temple to abide. Ezekiel 43:2-5.

Verse 4

set a mark
(See Scofield "Jeremiah 15:21").

CHAPTER 11

Verse 16

scattered
(See Scofield "Jeremiah 15:21").

CHAPTER 12

Verse 10

burden
See note 1, (See Scofield "Isaiah 13:1").

Verse 25

for in
It must constantly be remembered that though the prophet was in Babylonia he prophesies as if in the land, and during the eleven years' interval between the first and final deportation. (See Scofield "Ezekiel 8:3").

CHAPTER 14

Verse 14

though
Important contemporaneous testimony to the character and historicity of Daniel who was yet living. Cf. Jeremiah 15:1; Ezekiel 14:16,; Ezekiel 14:18,20; Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14; 14:11.

CHAPTER 16

Verse 15

trust
(See Scofield "Psalms 2:12").

CHAPTER 20

Verse 1

fifth month
i.e. August.

Verse 37

rod
The passage is a prophecy of the future judgment upon Israel, regathered from all nations (see "Israel," Isaiah 1:24-26 refs. into the old wilderness wanderings. Ezekiel 20:35. The issue of this judgment determines who of Israel in that day shall enter the land for kingdom blessing. ; Psalms 50:1-7; Ezekiel 20:33-44; Malachi 3:2-5; 4:1,2 see other judgments,
(See Scofield "John 12:31") See Scofield "1 Corinthians 11:31"
(See Scofield "2 Corinthians 5:10") See Scofield "Matthew 25:32"
(See Scofield "Jude 1:6") See Scofield "Revelation 20:12"

CHAPTER 24

Verse 1

tenth month
i.e. January.

Verse 14

repent
(See Scofield "Zechariah 8:14").

CHAPTER 25

Verse 8

Thus
The prophecies upon Gentile powers, extending to Ezekiel 32:32 have doubtless had partial fulfilments of which history and the present condition of those cities and countries bear witness, but the mention of the day of Jehovah Ezekiel 30:3 makes it evident that a fulfilment in the final sense is still future. See "Day of Jehovah" Isaiah 2:10-22. (See Scofield "Revelation 19:19"). Also "Armageddon" Revelation 16:14. See Scofield "Revelation 19:17". Those countries are once more to be the battle ground of the nations.

Verse 12

Edom
Ezekiel 25:12-14, (See Scofield "Genesis 36:1").

CHAPTER 28

Verse 12

Thou
Here (Ezekiel 28:12-15), as in Isaiah 14:12 the language goes beyond the king of Tyre to Satan, inspirer and unseen ruler of all such pomp and pride as that of Tyre. Instances of thus indirectly addressing Satan are: ; Genesis 3:14,15; Matthew 16:23. The unfallen state of Satan is here described; his fall in Isaiah 14:12-14. (See Scofield "Revelation 20:10"). But there is more. The vision is not of Satan in his own person, but of Satan fulfilling himself in and through an earthly king who arrogates to himself divine honours, so that the prince of Tyrus foreshadows the Beast. ; Daniel 7:8; Revelation 19:20.

CHAPTER 29

Verse 1

tenth month i.e. January.

Verse 10

from the tower
Or, from Migdol to Syene. Exodus 14:2; Jeremiah 44:1.

Verse 17

first month
i.e. April.

CHAPTER 30

Verse 3

the day of the Lord Day (of Jehovah) (See Scofield "Isaiah 2:12").

Verse 20

first month
i.e. April.

CHAPTER 31

Verse 1

third month
i.e. June.

Verse 16

hell
Heb. "Sheol," (See Scofield "Habakkuk 2:5").

CHAPTER 32

Verse 1

twelfth month
i.e. March. Also Ezekiel 32:17.

Verse 21

hell
Ezekiel 32:27, Heb. "Sheol," (See Scofield "Habakkuk 2:5").

CHAPTER 33

Verse 7

So thou
The nation having failed in corporate responsibility, the appeal is now to individual loyalty. Cf. 2 Timothy 2:1-26.

Verse 21

tenth month
i.e. January.

CHAPTER 34

Verse 28

prey to the heathen
The whole passage (Ezekiel 34:23-30) speaks of a restoration yet future, for the remnant which returned after the 70 years, and their posterity, were continually under the Gentile yoke, until, in A.D. 70, they were finally driven from the land into a dispersion which still continues.

CHAPTER 36

Verse 1

2 Chapter 36
A beautiful order is discernible in this and the succeeding prophecies:

• (1) Restoration of the land Ezekiel 36:1-15.
• (2) of the people Ezekiel 36:16-37:28.
• (3) judgment on Israel's enemies. Ezekiel 38:1-39:24. Afterward follows that which concerns the worship of Jehovah that He may dwell amongst His people.

CHAPTER 37

Verse 1

bones
Having announced Ezekiel 36:24-38 the restoration of the nation, Jehovah now gives in vision and symbol the method of its accomplishment. Ezekiel 37:11 gives the clue. The "bones" are the whole house of Israel who shall then be living. The "graves" are the nations where they dwell. The order of procedure is:

• (1) the bringing of the people out Ezekiel 37:12-14,19-27
• (2) the bringing of them in (Ezekiel 37:12);
• (3) their conversion (Ezekiel 37:13)
• (4) the filling with the Spirit (Ezekiel 37:14).

The symbol follows. The two sticks are Judah and the ten tribes; united, they are one nation (Ezekiel 37:19-21). Then follows (Ezekiel 37:21-27) the plain declaration as to Jehovah's purpose, and Ezekiel 37:28 implies that then Jehovah will become known to the Gentiles in a marked way. This is also the order of Acts 15:16,17 and the two passages strongly indicate the time of full Gentile conversion. See also Isaiah 11:10.

CHAPTER 38

Verse 2

Gog
That the primary reference is to the northern (European) powers, headed up by Russia, all agree. The whole passage should be read in connection with Zechariah 12:1-4; 14:1-9; Matthew 24:14-30; Revelation 14:14-20; 19:17-21, "gog" is the prince, "Magog," his land. The reference to Meshech and Tubal (Moscow and Tobolsk) is a clear mark of identification. Russia and the northern powers have been the latest persecutors of dispersed Israel, and it is congruous both with divine justice and with the covenants (e.g. (See Scofield "Genesis 15:18") See Scofield "Deuteronomy 30:3" that destruction should fall at the climax of the last mad attempt to exterminate the remnant of Israel in Jerusalem. The whole prophecy belongs to the yet future "day of Jehovah" ; Isaiah 2:10-22; Revelation 19:11-21 and to the battle of Armageddon Revelation 16:14 See Scofield "Revelation 19:19" but includes also the final revolt of the nations at the close of the kingdom-age. Revelation 20:7-9.

Verse 3

Gog
See note 2, (See Scofield "Ezekiel 38:2").

Verse 6

Gomer, and all his
(See Scofield "Genesis 10:2").

CHAPTER 39

Verse 1

Gog
(See Scofield "Ezekiel 38:2").

Verse 11

Gog
(See Scofield "Ezekiel 38:2").

Verse 17

speak unto
See Armageddon note, (See Scofield "Revelation 19:17").

CHAPTER 40

Verse 3

a man
The theophanies. Daniel 8:15; 10:6,10,18; Genesis 12:7; Revelation 1:9.

Verse 43

hooks
Or, endirons, or, the two hearthstones.

CHAPTER 43

Verse 19

and thou shalt
Doubtless these offerings will be memorial, looking back to the cross, as the offerings under the old covenant were anticipatory, looking forward to the cross. In neither case have animal sacrifices power to put away sin. Hebrews 10:4; Romans 3:25.
For Another Point of View: See Topic 301246

CHAPTER 45

Verse 15

reconciliation
Heb. "kaphar," atone. (See Scofield "Daniel 9:24").

Verse 17

reconciliation
Heb. "kaphar," atone. (See Scofield "Daniel 9:24").

Verse 18

first month
i.e. April. Also Ezekiel 45:21.

Verse 20

reconcile
Heb. "kaphar," atone. (See Scofield "Daniel 9:24").

Verse 21

first month
i.e. April. Exodus 12:18; Numbers 9:2,3; 28:16,17; Deuteronomy 16:1.

Verse 25

seventh month
i.e. October.

CHAPTER 48

Verse 35

and the name
Heb. Jehovah-shammah. See Exodus 17:15; Judges 6:24.