John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"And as for thee, son of man, the children of thy people talk of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from Jehovah." — Ezekiel 33:30 (ASV)
Also, you son of man
I have something to say to you, and inform you of, not only concerning the Jews in Judea, what they say, and what will befall them; but concerning those that are with you, and what they say of you, and what will be the issue of it:
the children of your people still are talking against you ;
not the Lord's people, but his own people, which was the more cutting to him to hear of, and the more ungrateful in them; though indeed they were but children, who acted a weak part, and the less to be regarded; these spoke against the prophet:
they could not say he was no prophet, he has his credentials and commission from the Lord, which were well known, and many of his prophecies had been fulfilled; they could not speak against his doctrine, which was of God; nor against his conversation, which was agreeable to his character and office; but they said some things in a ludicrous and jocose manner, in a slighting and contemptuous way, as showed they had little reverence and respect for him, and were careless and indifferent about hearing him; at least had little regard to this matter, or the subject of his ministry, which they had no great value for:
And this they did still; they had been long at it; it was their common talk and constant business, though the prophet knew nothing of it, and thought they had the greatest respect for him, speaking fair to your face, and behaving with decency towards him; but the Lord knew it, and resented it, and informs him of it:
and this they did continually, from time to time, by the walls, and in the doors of the houses ;
privately and secretly; "by the walls", where they used to get together and sun themselves, and pass away their time, by talking against the prophet; and, when they did, would place themselves against the walls, that nobody might overhear them; and they would sometimes stand in the porches of their houses, and, as their neighbours and acquaintance passed by, would call them in, and hold a chat about the prophet; and jeer and laugh at him, and what he had said:
And speak one to another, every man to his brother, saying, come, I pray you, and hear what is
the word that comes forth from the Lord ;
let us go and amuse ourselves for an hour or two with what the prophet says; perhaps we shall hear some new thing, which may be pleasing and diverting: for, not their spiritual profit did they seek, but to have your ears tickled, and your fancies pleased.