Ezechiel ii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Face, to adore God. (Menochius) — Son of man. Our Saviour, out of humility, takes this title, which no other gave him; as the angel does commonly to this prophet, who was his figure: few else have received it, (Daniel viii. 17.) but the reason is not known. (Worthington) — God here teaches Ezechiel not to boast of the honour shewn to him, since he must always remember that he is but a feeble mortal. (Calmet)
Ver. 2. Spirit of prophecy; (St. Jerome; Tirinus) or, I revived, and took courage.
Ver. 3. Israel. His commission was chiefly to them. (Calmet)
Ver. 5. Forbear to sin. (Haydock) — He thus insinuates free-will. (St. Jerome) — If they refuse to hear my prophet, they will at least perceive that they are inexcusable. (Calmet)
Ver. 6. Scorpions. This people is no less destructive (Haydock) and hardened, Psalm cxvii. 12. — For might be better rendered, “though.” (Calmet)
Ver. 8. Eat. “If we do not eat the open book, we cannot teach.” (St. Jerome)
Ver. 9. Without. This was only done when the work was long. (Calmet) —
Scriptus et in tergo, necdum finitus Orestes. (Juvenal 1.)
— Septuagint, “past and present things were written in it.” (Haydock) — Woe, or the words of the penitent, of the blessed, and of the damned. (Worthington) — The canticles were of a mournful nature, and the prophet had sorrows to announce. (Calmet)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
The prophet receives his commission.
1 This *was the vision of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And I saw, and I fell upon my face, and I heard the voice of one that spoke. And he said to me: Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak to thee.
2 And the spirit entered into me after that he spoke to me, and he set me upon my feet: and I heard him speaking to me,
3 And saying: Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious people, that hath revolted from me, they, and their fathers, have transgressed my covenant even unto this day.
4 And they to whom I send thee are children of a hard face, and of an obstinate heart: and thou shalt say to them: Thus saith the Lord God:
5 If so be they at least will hear, and if so be they will forbear, for they are a provoking house: and they shall know that there hath been a prophet in the midst of them.
6 And thou, O son of man, fear not, neither be thou afraid of their words: for thou art among unbelievers and destroyers, and thou dwellest with scorpions. Fear not their words, neither be thou dismayed at their looks: for they are a provoking house.
7 And thou shalt speak my words to them, if perhaps they will hear, and forbear: for they provoke me to anger.
8 But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat what I give thee.
9 And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: and he spread it before me, *and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe.
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*
1: Year of the World 3409.
9: Apocalypse i. 5.