Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 37
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ezekiel 37
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ezekiel 37
"The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of Jehovah, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones." — Ezekiel 37:1 (ASV)
In the midst of the valley.— The word is the same as in Ezekiel 3:22; Ezekiel 8:4, and having the definite article prefixed, is very probably the same plain, now seen in spirit, in which Ezekiel had seen his former visions.
Which was full of bones. — It is better, with the Hebrew, to put a stop after “plain” (valley), and then read, this was full of bones. The bones, as the subsequent verses show, were not heaped together, but thickly strewn upon the face of the plain. After the prophet’s mind had so long dwelt upon the desolating campaigns of Nebuchadnezzar, these ghastly reminders of the loss of human life might naturally enter into his thoughts.
"And he caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry." — Ezekiel 37:2 (ASV)
Very dry—as showing that it was a long time since life had left them, and that the possibility of their living again was far removed.
"And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord Jehovah, thou knowest." — Ezekiel 37:3 (ASV)
Can these bones live?—The question is put to the prophet in order to emphasize the human impossibility of what is immediately brought about by Divine omnipotence . It was precisely this teaching which the people needed. As they had formerly refused to believe his announcements of impending judgment, so now that this had come, they were utterly incredulous in regard to his declarations of future blessing. It seemed to them impossible, and what they needed to be taught was that what is impossible with man is possible with God.
Thou knowest.—The prophet sees the natural impossibility, yet perceives that there must be some deeper reason for the question, and therefore replies in these words. It may be, too, that the question thus asked, before its object is suggested, connected itself in his mind with the thought of the literal resurrection of the dead and the difficulties it suggests.
"Again he said unto me, Prophesy over these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of Jehovah." — Ezekiel 37:4 (ASV)
Prophesy upon these bones. —“Prophesy” is here used (as frequently) in its original sense of “speak on God’s behalf,” and does not convey the idea of prediction.
"Thus saith the Lord Jehovah unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live." — Ezekiel 37:5 (ASV)
Breath. —The three words, “breath,” “wind,” and “spirit,” are represented in the Hebrew by the same word, and the context must determine which sense is intended. Similarly in Greek there is the same word for the last two of these. (Compare to John 3:5-8.)
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