John Gill Commentary Ezekiel 33

Again the word of the Lord came to me After the delivery of various prophecies concerning the ruin of other nations, the Ammonites, Tyrians, and Egyptians, a fresh prophecy comes from the Lord concerning the Jews: saying: as follows:

Son of man, speak to the children of your people The Jews, of whom the prophet was; and designs those who were with him in the captivity; and who, having behaved so ill, the Lord will not own them for his people, but calls them the prophet's people, and the children of them:

and say unto them, when I bring the sword upon a land ; a foreign enemy with an army to invade it, or any other judgment; for there is no public calamity whatever that comes upon a people, but what is by the order, direction, or permission of the Lord. The Targum is, ``those that kill with the sword;'' an army of men that enter into a land sword in hand, with an intent to conquer and destroy:

if the people of the land take a man of their coasts: that lives upon their borders, and so is acquainted with all the places where it is most likely an enemy should enter; or a man out of the midst of them, as the Targum; so this phrase sometimes signifies, (Genesis 47:2) , one of their own people, who might be thought to have their good and safety at heart, and might be trusted:

and set him for their watchman : On some place of eminence; on the walls, or in a tower of a frontier town, from where he might descry the enemy coming at a distance.

If what he sees the sword come upon the land Or those that kill with the sword, as the Targum; as soon as he observes a body of armed men, more or less, marching towards the borders of the land with a manifest intention to enter and invade it:

he blow the trumpet, and warn the people ; warn the people by blowing the trumpet, the signal agreed on; by which they would understand that an enemy was at hand, or danger near; or warn them by word of mouth, as well as by the trumpet, where he could do it, and when it was necessary.

Then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet, and takes no warning Does not mind the notice given him; is incredulous of the danger he is in, or negligent of providing for his safety; fancies it is an alarm, and nothing else; and imagines there is no real danger, or what is a mere trifle; or, that the enemy is at a great distance, and it is time enough to provide for his defence: if the sword comes and takes him away; those that kill with the sword, as the Targum, come suddenly on him, and take away his life, or carry him captive: his blood shall be upon his own head; the guilt of his slaughter, as the Targum; the sin will be his own; it must be brought in wilful murder; no blame can be laid upon any but himself; the watchman will be clear.

He heard the sound of the trumpet The alarm of the enemy being at hand, and so was inexcusable: and took not warning ; which that gave him: his blood shall be upon him ; the fault shall be imputed to himself, and not another; and he must bear it himself, and answer for it, and not the watchman: but he that takes warning shall deliver his soul ; who, hearing the sound of the trumpet, prepares for his own defence, and provides for his safety, he shall save his life, and not fall into the enemies' hands.