This eighth chapter begins a new stage of Ezekiel's prophecies and continues to the end of the eleventh chapter. The connected visions at Eze 3:12-7:27 comprehended Judah and Israel; but the visions (Eze 8:1-11:25) refer immediately to Jerusalem and the remnant of Judah under Zedekiah, as distinguished from the Babylonian exiles.
1. sixth year--namely, of the captivity of Jehoiachin, as in
Eze 1:2,
the "fifth year" is specified. The lying on his sides three hundred
ninety and forty days
(Eze 4:5, 6)
had by this time been completed, at least in vision. That event
was naturally a memorable epoch to the exiles; and the computation of
years from it was to humble the Jews, as well as to show their
perversity in not having repented, though so long and severely
chastised.
elders--namely, those carried away with Jehoiachin, and now at the
Chebar.
sat before me--to hear the word of God from me, in the absence of
the temple and other public places of Sabbath worship, during the exile
(Eze 33:30, 31).
It was so ordered that they were present at the giving of the prophecy,
and so left without excuse.
hand of . . . Lord God fell . . . upon
me--God's mighty operation fell, like a thunderbolt, upon
me (in
Eze 1:3,
it is less forcible, "was upon him"); whatever, therefore, he is to
utter is not his own, for he has put off the mere man, while the power
of God reigns in him [CALVIN].
JFB.
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