Eze 36:2, 11-38, 37:27-28, Eze 40, Eze 48, Heb 12:22-23, Rev 14:1 | TSK | STEP

Ezekiel 36:2

Because.

5; 25:3; 26:2

even.

De 32:13; Ps 78:69; Isa 58:14; Hab 3:19

our's.

35:10; Jer 49:1

Ezekiel 36:11-38

I will multiply.

Jer 31:27; 33:12

and I will settle.The circumstances of the Jews were never so prosperous after the captivity as they had been before; hence this prophecy must refer to the times of the Gospel and the future conversion and restoration of the Jews.

Jer 30:18; 31:38-40; Ob 1:19-21; Mic 7:14

will do.

35; Isa 30:26; 54:7-10; Jer 23:5-8; Joe 3:18-21; Am 9:15; Hag 2:6-9

Zec 8:11-15; Heb 8:8-13; 11:40

and ye.

35:9; 37:6,13; Isa 52:4-6; Ho 2:20; 1Jo 5:20

I will cause.The prophet is still personifying the mountains, valleys, and wastes of Judea.

they shall.

Jer 32:15,44; Ob 1:17-21

no more.

13; Nu 13:32; Jer 15:7

no more.

37:25-28; Isa 60:21; Am 9:15

bereave. or, cause to fail.

men.

6; 34:29; Isa 54:4; 60:14; Mic 7:8-10; Zep 3:19,20

thou bear.

Ps 89:50; Zep 2:8

they defiled.

Le 18:24-28; Nu 35:33,34; Ps 106:37,38; Isa 24:5; Jer 2:7; 3:1,2,9

Jer 16:18; Mic 2:10

as the.

Le 15:19-33; Isa 64:6

I poured.

7:8; 14:19; 21:31; 2Ch 34:21,26; Isa 42:25; Jer 7:20; 44:6; La 2:4

La 4:11; Na 1:6; Re 14:10; 16:1-21

for the.

16:36-38; 23:37

I scattered.

5:12; 22:15; Le 26:38; De 28:64; Am 9:9

according to their way.

7:3,8; 18:30; 22:31; 39:24; Ro 2:6; Re 20:12-15

they profaned.The Jews, when thus scattered, appeared to them an abject and wretched company of people. They were recognized as the worshippers of Jehovah wherever they went; but they were looked upon as a viler and more worthless race than any of the idolaters among whom they were driven. Many would ascribe their wickedness to the tendency of their religion, which they abhorred, and not to their having acted inconsistently with it; and regard their miseries, not as the punishment of their sins, but as proofs of God's inability to protect them. This profanation of his holy name, Jehovah was determined to wipe away, by shewing mercy unto them.

Isa 52:5; Ro 2:24

These.

Ex 32:11-13; Nu 14:15,16; Jos 7:9; 2Ki 18:30,35; 19:10-12

Jer 33:24; Da 3:15

20:9,14,22; De 32:26,27; Ps 74:18; Isa 37:35; 48:9

32; De 7:7,8; 9:5-7; Ps 106:8; 115:1,2

sanctify.

20:41; 38:22,23; Nu 20:12,13; Ps 46:10; Isa 5:16; 1Pe 3:15

and the heathen.

39:28; Ex 15:4-16; Ps 102:13-16; 126:1-3; Da 2:47; 3:28,29; 4:2,3

Da 4:34-37; 6:26,27

when I shall.

28:22; 1Pe 2:9

their. or, your.

11:17; 34:13; 37:21,25; 39:27,28; De 30:3-5; Ps 107:2,3

Isa 11:11-16; 27:12,13; 43:5,6; Jer 23:3-8; 30:3,18; 31:8; 32:37

Jer 50:17-20; Ho 1:11; Am 9:14,15; Ro 11:25,26

will I.

Le 14:5-7; Nu 8:7; 19:13-20; Ps 51:7; Isa 52:15; Joh 3:5; Tit 3:5,6

Heb 9:13,14,19; 10:22; 1Jo 5:6

filthiness.

17,29; 37:23; Ps 51:2; Pr 30:12; Isa 4:4; Jer 33:8; Zec 13:1

Ac 22:16; 1Co 6:11; 2Co 7:1; Eph 5:26,27; Tit 2:14; 1Jo 1:7; Re 1:5

Re 7:14

from all your idols.

Isa 2:18-20; 17:7,8; Jer 3:22,23; Ho 14:3,8; Zec 13:2

new heart.

De 30:6; Ps 51:10; Jer 32:39; Joh 3:3-5; 2Co 3:18; 5:17; Ga 6:15

Eph 2:10; Re 21:5

the stony.

11:19,20; Zec 7:12; Mt 13:5,20,21; Mr 4:16,17; 2Co 3:3

I will.

37:14; 39:29; Pr 1:23; Isa 44:3,4; 59:21; Joe 2:28,29; Zec 12:10

Lu 11:13; Ro 8:9,14-16; 1Co 3:16; Ga 5:5,22,23; Eph 1:13,14

2Th 2:13; Tit 3:3-6; 1Pe 1:2,22; 1Jo 3:24

cause.

37:24; Jer 31:33; Ga 5:16; Col 2:6; Php 2:12,13; Tit 2:11-14

Heb 13:21; 1Jo 1:6,7; 2Jo 1:6

dwell.

10; 28:25; 37:25; 39:28

be people.

11:20; 37:23,27; So 6:3; Jer 30:22,23; 31:33; 32:38; Ho 1:10

Zec 13:9; Mt 22:32; 2Co 6:16-18; 7:1; Heb 8:10; 11:16; Re 21:3,7

save.

25; Jer 33:8; Ho 14:2,4,8; Joe 3:21; Mic 7:19; Zec 13:1; Mt 1:21

Joh 1:7-9; Ro 6:14; 11:26; Tit 2:14

call.

8,9; 34:27-29; Ps 105:6; Ho 2:21-23; Mt 6:33

reproach.

De 29:23-28; Joe 2:17,26

shall ye.

6:9; 16:61-63; 20:43; Le 26:39; Ezr 9:6-15; Ne 9:26-35

Jer 31:18-20; Da 9:4-20

shall lothe.

Job 42:6; Isa 6:5; 64:6; Zec 12:10,11; Lu 18:13; Ro 6:21

2Co 7:10,11

for your.

22; De 9:5; Da 9:18,19; 2Ti 1:9; Tit 3:3-6

be ashamed.

16:63; Ezr 9:6; Ro 6:21; 1Pe 4:2,3

cause.

Zec 8:7,8

wastes.

10; Isa 58:12; Jer 32:43; 33:10; 50:19,20; Am 9:14,15

6:14; De 29:23-28; 2Ch 36:21; Jer 25:9-11

they shall.

Ps 58:11; 64:9; 126:2; Jer 33:9

like the.

37:13; Ge 2:8,9; 13:10; Isa 51:3; Joe 2:3

know.

17:24; 34:30; 37:28; 39:27-29; Mic 7:15-17

I the Lord have.

22:14; 24:14; 37:14; Nu 23:19; Ho 14:4-9; Mt 24:35

I will yet.

14:3; 20:3,31; Ps 10:17; 102:17; Isa 55:6,7; Jer 29:11-13; 50:4,5

Zec 10:6,9; 13:9; Mt 7:7,8; Php 4:6; Heb 4:16; 10:21,22; Jas 4:2,3

1Jo 5:14

I will increase.

holy flock. Heb. flock of holy things. as the flock.

Ex 23:17; 34:23; De 16:16; 2Ch 7:8; 30:21-27; 35:7-19; Zec 8:19-23

Ac 2:5-11

the waste.

33-35; 34:31; Jer 30:19; 31:27,28; Joh 10:16; Re 7:4-9

Ezekiel 37:27-28

tabernacle.

Joh 1:14; Col 2:9,10; Re 21:3,22

I will.

23; 11:20; 14:11; 36:28; Le 26:12; Ho 2:23

the heathen.

36:23,36; 38:23; 39:7,23; Ps 79:10; 102:15; 126:2; Ro 11:15

sanctify.

20:12; Ex 31:13; Le 20:8; 21:8; Joh 17:17-19; 1Co 1:30; Eph 5:26

1Th 5:23

Ezekiel 40

1 The time, manner, and end of the vision of the city and temple.

6 The description of the east gate of the outer court;

20 of the north gate;

24 of the south gate;

27 of the south gate of the inner court;

32 of the east gate;

35 and of the north gate.

39 Eight tables.

44 The chambers.

48 The porch of the house.

In the five.On Tuesday, April 20.

1:2; 8:1; 29:17; 32:1,17

after.

33:21; 2Ki 25:1-30; Jer 39:1-18; 52:1-34

selfsame.

Ex 12:41

hand.

1:3; 3:14,22; 11:24; 37:1; Re 1:10

the visions.There can be little doubt, that the grand outlines of the description of the temple, in the following extraordinary vision, were taken from that of Solomon's, with all the additions made to it in after ages; and we may suppose that Zerubbabel and the other Jews had respect to it, as far as circumstances would permit, in rebuilding the temple after the captivity. There are, however, many circumstances which conclusively shew, that something infinitely superior to either the first or second temple was intended; and that the external description must be considered as a figure and emblem of spiritual blessings. Probably the more immediate accomplishment of the prophecy will be subsequent to the conversion and restoration of the Jews, the destruction of Gog and Magog, and the pouring out of the Spirit, mentioned at the close of the last chapter; but whether there will be any external forms analogous to these cannot be determined, though in some respects it seems improbable.

1:1; 8:3; Da 7:1,7; Ac 2:17; 16:9; 2Co 12:1-7

a very.

17:22,23; Isa 2:2,3; Da 2:34,35; Mic 4:1; Re 21:10

by. or, upon. as the.

48:30-35; Ga 4:26; Re 21:10-23

frame.

1Ch 28:12,19

on the south.

Isa 48:2; 14:13

whose.

1:7,27; Da 10:5,6; Re 1:15

with.

47:3; Isa 8:20; 28:17; Zec 2:1,2; Re 11:1; 21:15

behold.

2:7,8; 3:17; 43:10; 44:5; Mt 10:27; 13:9,51,52

declare.

Isa 21:10; Jer 26:2; Ac 20:27; 1Co 11:23

a wall.

42:20; Ps 125:2; Isa 26:1; 60:18; Zec 2:5; Re 21:12

by.

De 3:11

so he.

42:20

unto.

20; 8:16; 11:1; 43:1; 44:1; 46:1,12; 1Ch 9:18,24; Ne 3:29; Jer 19:2

which looketh. Heb. whose face was the way. stairs.

26; 1Ki 6:8

threshold.

10:18; 43:8; 46:2; 47:1; Ps 84:10; *marg:

one reed.

5,7

42:5; 1Ki 6:5-10; 1Ch 9:26; 23:28; 2Ch 3:9; 31:11; Ezr 8:29

Jer 35:4

the posts.

45:19

the little.

they three.The entrance into the outer court seems to have been through a porch with doors at both ends; and on each side of this porch were three small chambers, or rooms, for the use of the porters, a reed square in size, with a passage of five cubits between them. The common cubit, termed the "cubit of a man," (De 3:11,) was about 18 inches; but the cubit used by the angel was, as we learn from ch. 43:13, "a cubit and a hand breadth," or about three inches more than the common cubit, that is 21 inches. Hence the measuring reed, which was "six cubits long, by the cubit and the hand breadth," (ver. 5,) must have been about 10® feet

space. Heb. limit, or bound.

the gate.The whole arch of the east gate, measured from the southern extremity of one room to the northern extremity of the opposite room, was 25 cubits; including the dimensions of the two rooms, or twelve cubits, (ver. 7;) the spaces before the rooms, or two cubits, (ver. 12;) and the breadth of the entrance, ten cubits, (ver. 11;) making all 24 cubits, leaving one cubit for the thickness of the walls.

the court.

8:7; 42:1; Ex 27:9; 35:17; Le 6:16; 1Ch 28:6; Ps 100:4; Isa 62:9

the face of the gate.This was the whole length of the porch, from the outward front, (ch. 41:21, 25,) to the inner side which looks into the first court, (ver. 17,) including the thickness of the walls, (ver. 6,) chambers, (ver. 7,) and spaces between them.

narrow. Heb. closed.

41:16; 1Ki 6:4; 1Co 13:12

the little.

7,12

arches. or, galleries, or porches.

21,22,25,30; 41:15; 42:3; Joh 5:2

inward. or, within. palm trees.

1Ki 6:29,32,35; 2Ch 3:5; Ps 92:12; Re 7:9

the outward.

10:5; 42:1; 46:21; Re 11:2

there were.

1Ki 6:5; 1Ch 9:26; 23:28; 2Ch 31:11

thirty.

42:4; 45:5

unto the.

23,27; 46:1,2

without. or, from without.

the gate.

that looked. Heb. whose face was.

the little.

7,10-16,29,30,36,37

arches. or, galleries, or porches.

16,26,30,34

after.

8,10,13,15,25,29

palm trees.

16,31,37; 1Ki 6:29,32,35; 7:36; 2Ch 3:5; Re 7:9

and they.

6,26,31,34,37,49; Heb 6:1

before them.Or, "suitable to them," that is, to the arches of the east gate. The north gate into the outward court, and every thing belonging to it, were exactly the same as the east gate.

the gate of.That is, the gate of the inner court was opposite, and exactly answered to the gate of the outward court, both on the north and east side; and between the gates of the outward and inner court was a space of an hundred cubits.

and he.

and behold.

and he.

according.That is, according to the measures of the eastern and northern gates. There does not appear to have been any gates on the west, though the courts seem to have extended to the western wall

windows.

16,22,29; Joh 12:46; 1Co 13:12; 2Pe 1:19

the length.

21,33

seven.

6,22,29; 2Pe 3:18

palm trees.

16,22; Ps 92:12,13; So 7:7,8

in the.

23,32

and he.

19,23,47

he brought.As the outward court inclosed the inner, the prophet was led from the south gate of the outward court to the south gate of the inner, which was opposite it, and so into the inner court itself.

according.

32,35

the little.The entrance into the inner court seems to have been through a portico, exactly like that at each gate of the outward court; but the ascent was by eight steps, instead of seven.

7,10,12; 1Ch 28:11,12; 2Ch 31:11; Ne 13:5,9; Jer 35:2-4; 36:10

and there.

16,22,25

the arches.These are supposed to have been built over the spaces which separated the little chambers, or porters' lodges.

five and.

21,25,29,33,36

five cubits.Instead of five cubits, it seems evident, from the parallel places, that we should read twenty-five: the word {êsrim} appears to have been lost out of the text.

broad. Heb. breadth.

and palm.

eight.

into the.

it was.

palm trees.That is, probably, the capital of each pillar was ornamented with sculpture, representing leaves or branches of the palm tree.

eight steps.

6,22,26,31,34,37,49

to the.

27,32; 44:4; 47:2

measured.The north gate, as well as the east, was built in the same manner, and of the same dimensions, as the south gate. See the parallel passages.

little.

21,29,36

the posts.

31,34

the utter court.That is, "the outer court," as the word utter primarily denotes.

the chambers.

12; 41:10,11; 1Ki 6:8

where.This place, where the legs and entrails of the sacrifices, especially of the burnt offerings, were washed, was just within the portico of the north entrance to the inner court, or court of the priests. An allusion to this is most probably made by the inspired apostle when writing his Epistle to the Hebrews, at the 10th chapter and 22nd verse. "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Le 1:9; 8:21; Heb 10:22

tables on that.

41:22; 44:16; Mal 1:7,12; Lu 22:30; 1Co 10:16-21

the burnt.

Le 1:3-17

the sin.

Le 4:2,3,13-35; Isa 53:5,10; 2Co 5:21

the trespass.

Le 5:6-13; 6:6; 7:1,2

at the side.Two tables were on each side, as you come into the porch of the gate; and two on each side of the inner part of the gate that looked towards the altar; in all eight tables, on which they slew and cut up the victims. It does not appear that any such tables were used either in the tabernacle or temple; and this seems to intimate the introduction of a new and more spiritual dispensation: See the referemces.

as one goeth up. or, at the step.

within.These were probably for hanging up the victims in order to flay them.

hooks. or, end-irons, or, the two hearth-stones. upon.

Le 1:6,8; 8:20

the inner.

23,27

chambers.

7,10,29; 1Ch 6:31,32; 16:41-43; 25:1-31; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16

chamber.The word chamber probably here denotes a row of chambers, of which there seems to have been three: one for the singers; one for the priests who in their courses took charge of the sacred vessels and treasures; and one for the priests who attended on the altar and sacrifices.

whose.

8:5

the keepers.

Le 8:35; Nu 3:27,28,32,38; 18:5; 1Ch 6:49; 9:23; 2Ch 13:11

Ps 134:1; Mal 2:4-7; 1Ti 6:20; Re 1:6

charge. or, ward, or, ordinance, and so ver.

the keepers.

44:15; Le 6:12,13; Nu 18:5

these.

43:19; 44:15; 48:11; 1Ki 2:35

which come.

Le 10:3; Nu 16:5,40; Eph 2:13

court.This was the inner court, or court of the priests, which was of the same dimensions with each division of the outer court; and the altar stood directly before the porch of the temple.

an hundred cubits long.

19,23,27

the porch.The length of the porch was twenty cubits, the same as the breadth of the temple, and the breadth eleven cubits, that is, one cubit more than in Solomon's temple. Two bivalve, or folding doors, each leaf of them being three cubits wide, seem to have formed the entrance; which, with five cubits, perhaps of brick or stone work, one each side, called "the post of the porch," amount to sixteen cubits; and the other four cubits may be supposed to have been the distance from these posts to the outside walls of the temple.

1Ki 6:3; 2Ch 3:4

The steps.This was a flight of steps which led from the inner court into the temple.

31,34,37

pillars.

1Ki 7:15-21; 2Ch 3:17; Jer 52:17-23; Re 3:12

Ezekiel 48

1 The portions of the twelve tribes;

8 of the sanctuary;

15 of the city and suburbs;

21 and of the prince.

23 The portions of the twelve tribes.

30 The dimensions and gates of the city.

the names.

Ex 1:1-5; Nu 1:5-15; 13:4-15; Re 7:4-8

From.

47:15-17; Nu 34:7-9

a portion. Heb. one portion. Dan.

Ge 30:3-6; Jos 19:40-47; Jud 18:26-29; 2Sa 24:2; 1Ki 12:28,29

Mt 20:15,16

Asher.

Ge 30:12,13; Jos 19:24-31

Naphtali.

Ge 30:7,8; Jos 19:32-39

by the border.In this division of the Holy Land, a portion is laid out for each of the twelve tribes directly across the country, from east to west; and deducting the square of 25,000 reeds, or nearly fifty miles on each side, between Judah and Benjamin, for the priests, Levites, city, and temple, with the inheritance of the prince to the east and west, (see on ch. 45:1,) from 280 miles, the length of the country from north to south, there will remain for each tribe a portion of less than twenty miles in width, and 150 in length. This division of the land entirely differs from that which was made in the days of Joshua, in which the tribes were not only differently placed, but confused and inter-mixed; while here distinct lots are assigned to each of the twelve tribes, in a regular mathematical form. Literally such a division never took place: it seems to denote the equality of privileges which subsists among all the tribes of Believers, of whatever nation, and whatever their previous character may have been.

Manasseh.

Ge 30:22-24; 41:51; 48:5,14-20; Jos 13:29-31; 17:1-11

Ephraim.

Jos 16:1-10; 17:8-10,14-18

Reuben.

Ge 29:32; 49:3,4; Jos 13:15-21

Judah.

Ge 29:35; Jos 15:1-63; 19:9

the offering.

45:1-6

the sanctuary.

35; Isa 12:6; 33:20-22; Zec 2:11,12; 2Co 6:16; Eph 2:20-22; Col 2:9

Re 21:3,22; 22:3

for the priests.

44:28; 45:4; Nu 35:1-9; Jos 21:1-45; Mt 10:10; 1Co 9:13,14

and the sanctuary.

It shall be for the priests that are sanctified. or, Thesanctified portion shall be for the priests. the sons

40:46; 43:19; 44:15,16

charge. or, ward, or ordinance.

Mt 24:45,45,46; 2Ti 4:7,8; 1Pe 5:4; Re 2:10

as the Levites.

44:10

a thing.

45:4; Le 27:21

five and twenty thousand in.

45:3; De 12:19; Lu 10:7

they shall.

Ex 22:29; Le 27:10,28,33

for.

12; Le 23:20; 27:9,32; Mal 3:8-10

a profane.

22:26; 42:20; 44:23; 45:6

for the city.The holy oblation of 25,000 square reeds, or near fifty square miles, was divided into three parts from north to south (see on ch. 45:1): a portion on the north of 10,000 reeds in width, and 25,000 in length, for the priests, in the midst of which was the sanctuary or temple, surrounded by a wall 500 reeds square, (ver. 9, 10; see on ch. 42:15;) next to this another portion of the same dimensions for the Levites, (ver. 13, 14;) and on the south another portion of the same length, but only 5,000 reeds in breadth, for the city (ver. 15.) The city was situated in the midst of this portion, being 4,500 reeds, or about nine miles square, (see on ver. 30,) having a suburb of 250 reeds, or about half a mile, on each side, (ver. 17,) leaving 10,000 reeds or nearly ten miles, on the east side, and the same on the west side, for the profit of those who serve the city out of all the tribes, (ver. 18, 19.) On the east and west sides of this square of 25,000 reeds, is the portion of the prince; each of which, estimating the breadth of the land at 150 miles, would form a square of fifty miles. Thus the whole plan of the division of the country, laying out of the city, temple, and all its appendages, is perfectly regular and uniform; and would therefore convey to the minds of the Jews the most complete idea they were capable of conceiving of the most perfect church, commonwealth, city, temple, and conveniences, on the largest and grandest scale for the Divine worship; and it doubtless ultimately points out the land of Immanuel, the city of the New Jerusalem, and his temple, the Christian church, the house of the living God.

1Ti 3:15

that serve.

Jos 9:27; Ezr 2:43-58; Ne 7:46-62

shall serve.

45:6; 1Ki 4:7-23; Ne 11:1-36

four-square.

Heb 12:17; Re 21:16

the residue.

22; 34:23,24; 37:24; 45:7,8; Ho 1:11

and westward.

8-10

Benjamin.

1-7; Ge 35:16-19; Jos 18:21-28

a portion. Heb. one portion.

Simeon.

Ge 29:33; 49:5-7; Jos 19:1-9

Issachar.

Ge 30:14-18; Jos 19:17-23

Zebulun.

Ge 30:19,20; Jos 19:10-16

Gad.

Ge 30:10,11; Jos 13:24-28

from Tamar.

47:19; 2Ch 20:2

strife in Kadesh. Heb. Meribah-kadesh.

Nu 20:1,13; Ps 106:32

the river.

Ge 15:18; Nu 34:5; Jos 13:3; Isa 27:12

the great sea.

47:15,19,20

47:13-22; Nu 34:2,13; Jos 13:1-21:45

the goings.

16,32-35; Re 21:16

four.It is certainly most obvious to interpret these measures, not of cubits, but of the measuring reed which the prophet's conductor had in his hand; according to which, the city would be about thirty-six miles in circumference, and nine miles on each side of the square; which was nearly nine times larger than the greatest extent to which Jerusalem ever attained, (See on ver. 15; ch. 42:16.) The large dimensions of the city and land were perhaps intended to intimate the extensive and glorious propagation of the gospel in the times predicted; and the land was not called Canaan, nor the city Jerusalem, probably because they were figurative of spiritual blessings to the church and to Israel.

Isa 26:1,2; 54:12; 60:11; Re 21:12,13,21,25

and the name.

Ge 22:14; Jer 33:16; Zec 14:21

The Lord. Heb. JEHOVAH shammah.

Ex 15:26; 17:15; Jud 6:24; Ps 46:5; 48:3,14; 68:18; 77:13; 132:14

Isa 12:6; 14:32; 24:23; Jer 3:17; Joe 3:21; Zec 2:10; Re 21:3; 22:3 CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. The character of Ezekiel, as a Writer and Poet, is thus admirably drawn by the masterly hand of Bishop Lowth: "Ezekiel is much inferior to Jeremiah in elegance; in sublimity he is not even excelled by Isaiah; but his sublimity is of a totally different kind. He is deep, vehement, tragical; his sentiments are elevated, animated, full of fire and indignation; his imagery is crowded, magnificent, terrific; his language is grand, solemn, austere, rough, and at times unpolished; he abounds in repetitions, not for the sake of grace or elegance, but from vehemence and indignation. Whatever subject he treats of, that he sedulously puruses; from that he rarely departs, but cleaves, as it were, to it; whence the connexion is in general evident and well preserved. In other respects he may perhaps be exceeded by the other prophets; but, for that species of composition to which he seems adapted by natural gifts, the forcible, impetuous, grave, and grand, not one of the sacred writers is superior to him. His diction is sufficiently perspicuous; all his obscurity arises from the nature of his subjects. Visions (as for instance, among others, those of Hosea, Amos, and Zechariah,) are necessarily dark and confused. The greater part of Ezekiel, particularly towards the middle of the book, is poetical, whether we regard the matter of the language." Abp. Newcombe judiciously observes, The Prophet is not to be considered merely as a poet, or as a framer of those august and astonishing visions, and of those admirable poetical representations, which he committed to writing; but as an instrument in the hands of God, who vouchsafed to reveal himself, through a long succession of ages, not only in divers parts constituting a magnificant and uniform whole, but also in different manners, as by voice, by dreams, by inspiration, and by plain or enigmatical vision. "Ezekiel is a great poet, full of originality; and, in my opinion, whoever censures him as if he were only an imitator of the old prophets, can never have felt his power. He must not, in general, be compared with Isaiah, and the rest of the old prophets. Those are great, Ezekiel is also great; those in their manner of poetry, Ezekiel in his." To justify this character the learned prelate descends to particulars, and gives apposite examples, not only of the clear, flowing, and nervous, but also of the sublime; and concludes his observations on his style, by stating it to be his deliberate opinion, that if his "style is the old age of Hebrew language and composition, (as has been alleged,) it is a firm and vigorous one, and should induce us to trace its youth and manhood with the most assiduous attention." As a Prophet, Ezekiel must ever be allowed to occupy a very high rank; and few of the prophets have left a more valuable treasure to the church of God than he has. It is true, he is in several places obscure; but this resulted either from the nature of his subjects, or the events predicted being still unfulfilled; and, when time has rolled away the mist of futurity, successive generations will then perceive with what heavenly wisdom this much neglected prophet has spoken. There is, however, a great proportion of his work which is free from every obscurity, and highly edifying. He has so accurately and minutely foretold the fate and condition of various nations and cities, that nothing can be more interesting than to trace the exact accomplishment of these prophecies in the accounts furnished by historians and travellers; while, under the elegant type of a new temple to be erected, a new worship to be introduced, and a new Jerusalem to be built, with new land to be allotted to the twelve tribes, may be discovered the vast extent and glory of the New Testament Church.