Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 20:45-49

"And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South; and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby. And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched. Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?" — Ezekiel 20:45-49 (ASV)

This paragraph is, in the Hebrew text, Septuagint, and Vulgate, the beginning of Ezekiel 21:0, to which it belongs, as it contains a prophecy delivered in a form that is explained there. It may, however, be regarded as a link between the preceding and following prophecies, being a general introduction to seven words of judgment about to be pronounced in development of what has just been delivered.

Ezekiel 20:46: In this verse, three Hebrew synonyms for "south" occur, denoting:

1. The region on the right, Teman (1 Samuel 23:24);

2. The region of dryness, Negeb (Joshua 15:4);

3. The region of brightness, Darom (Deuteronomy 33:23).

The variety of terms helps the force of the application. Chebar is in the north of Babylonia; from the north, the Chaldeans came upon Judea (see the Ezekiel 1:4 note).

Ezekiel 20:47: Forest of the south - This refers to the land of Israel. .

Ezekiel 20:49: Parables - . The meaning of the prophet was clear enough, if those whom he addressed had chosen to understand.