John Calvin Commentary Ezekiel 7:16

"But those of them that escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity." — Ezekiel 7:16 (ASV)

The Prophet seems here to be at variance with himself, because he formerly pronounced them all devoted to destruction. How, then, does he now say that some would come here and there, to seek hiding places in the mountains? But what seems at variance easily agrees, because by these words he means that the life of those who escaped would be more miserable than if they had perished by the sword, or had been consumed by pestilence and famine.

And why so? They shall be, says he, in the mountains. By mountains he doubtless understands dry and desert places. But he who seeks hiding places in the mountains is only anxious about preserving his life, since he does not expect to live. So, therefore, the Prophet means, nothing can be more miserable than the exile of those who had escaped, because they would be in dry and desert places, like doves of the valleys,; there they will not dare to cry out.

He also means that they would be so fearful that, even in anxiety, need, and squalor, and in despair of all things, and ultimately in the heap of their miseries, they would groan as doves, and as doves of the valleys,; that is, doves which hide themselves through fear and dare not show themselves.

Unless, perhaps, the contrast intensifies the evil, as if he had said that they would be much more astonished because the unfamiliar appearance of the place would strike them with greater fear.

Now, therefore, we understand the Prophet’s meaning: if any should escape from the people, yet nothing else would result from their flight than that they would miserably prolong their life in the greatest anxiety.

For we know that this is the last solace in hardships, when people complain freely and unburden themselves by weeping and groaning. But when the wretched person dares not complain, he becomes, as it were, twice dead among the living.