Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezekiel 12
Albert Barnes Commentary
Ezekiel 12
"Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house, that have eyes to see, and see not, that have ears to hear, and hear not; for they are a rebellious house." — Ezekiel 12:2 (ASV)
Compare Deuteronomy 1:26; the marginal reference; and Romans 10:21. The repetition of such words from age to age shows that the prophet’s words are intended to reach beyond the generation in which he lived.
"Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house." — Ezekiel 12:3 (ASV)
Belongings: Clothing, vessels, and the like. The “removing” was to be of the kind that accompanied exile. The whole account of this transaction marks it as a real act. The prophet was to be “a sign” to his countrymen, and the “exiles” as well as those that remained in Judaea needed to be taught this lesson, for although they were far away, they looked to Jerusalem as their home, and were scarcely less eager for its safety than the inhabitants themselves.
"And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile." — Ezekiel 12:4 (ASV)
The particulars which Ezekiel here foretold actually occurred (Compare to 2 Kings 25:4; Jeremiah 39:4); but at this time Zedekiah seemed to be prosperous, and the Jews at Jerusalem expected, it is clear, a long continuation of his prosperity (see Ezekiel 17:1 note).
The prophetic character of this passage is undoubted (the prophet is declared to be a sign, Ezekiel 12:6). The genuineness of the book and the position of the passage within it are beyond dispute; in the historical event, we have an exact fulfillment. The only legitimate inference is that the prophet received his knowledge from above.
"In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulder, and carry it forth in the dark; thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the land: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel." — Ezekiel 12:6 (ASV)
You shall cover your face - A sign of mourning ; also of Zedekiah’s blindness (Ezekiel 12:12).
"And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for removing, and in the even I digged through the wall with my hand; I brought it forth in the dark, and bare it upon my shoulder in their sight." — Ezekiel 12:7 (ASV)
In the evening the prophet was to return to the wall, break through it, and transport the goods from the inside to the outside of the city.
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