Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 14:1

"Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me." — Ezekiel 14:1 (ASV)

Certain of the elders of Israel. — There is no distinction intended here between the elders of Israel and the elders of Judah mentioned in Ezekiel 8:1; therefore, there is no reason to suppose a delegation was sent to the prophet from Jerusalem. Israel is now becoming the ordinary name for the existing nation, except when it is used with some special mark of distinction. The purpose of their inquiry is not mentioned, nor is it even explicitly stated that they made any inquiry; but the message to them implies this, and from what is said to them, we can likely gather what was uppermost in their minds.

Already told by the previous prophecies that God would not spare Jerusalem for its own sake, and that His long forbearance until then was no guarantee for its continuance, they still evidently cherished the hope that, however sinful they might be in themselves, their city would yet be delivered for the sake of the holy men who lived in it. With such thoughts in their minds, the elders came and sat before the prophet, in whose fearless words they had already learned to have confidence, and waited for what he might have to say to them.