Neh 2:17-20, 12:30-40, Isa 44:28, Jer 30:18, Eze 48:30-35, Dan 9:25 | TSK | STEP

Ex 28:29; Le 2:2; 24:7; Nu 10:10; Isa 56:5; Zec 6:14; Ac 10:4,31When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David's words, Ps 51:18, he did not sit still and say, "Let God now do his own work, for I have no more to do;" but set himself to do what he could towards it; and here we find that the people were of one heart with Nehemiah. Our prayers must be seconded with our serious endeavours, or else we mock God. Nearly four months had passed, namely, from Chisleu to Nisan (November to March), before Nehemiah made his application to the king for leave to go to Jerusalem; either because the winter was not a proper time for such a journey, and he would not make a motion till he could pursue it, or because it was so long before his month of waiting upon the king came, and there was no coming into his presence until called for, Es 4:11. We are not thus limited to certain moments in our addresses to the King of kings, but have liberty of access to him at all times; to the throne of grace we never come unseasonably.

Nehemiah 12:30-40

themselves.

Ge 35:2; Ex 19:10,15; Nu 19:2-20; 2Ch 29:5,34; Ezr 6:21; Job 1:5

Heb 5:1,3

the princes.

1Ch 13:1; 28:1; 2Ch 5:2

two great.

38,40

dung gate.

2:13; 3:13,14

Azariah.

10:2-7

with trumpets.

Nu 10:2-10; Jos 6:4; 2Ch 5:12; 13:12

Zechariah.

11:17; 1Ch 6:39-43; 25:2; 26:10,11

musical instruments.

24; 1Ch 23:5; 2Ch 8:14; Am 6:5

Ezra.

Ezr 7:1; 8:1

the fountain gate.

2:14; 3:15,16

the stairs.Jerusalem was built on very uneven ground, some hills being enclosed within the walls, there was a necessity, therefore, for steps, by which to ascend and descend; probably similar to what is seen in the city of Bristol.

3:15; 2Sa 5:7-9

water gate.

3:26; 8:1,3,16

other.

tower.

3:11

broad.

3:8

the gate of Ephraim.

the old.

the fish gate.

the tower.

the sheep.

the prison.

31,32; Ps 42:4; 47:6-9; 134:1-3

Isaiah 44:28

Cyrus.

42:15; 45:1,3; 46:11; 48:14,15; Da 10:1

my shepherd.

63:11; Ps 78:71,72

saying.

45:13; 2Ch 36:22,23; Ezr 1:1-3; 6:3-18

Jeremiah 30:18

Behold.

3; 23:3; 29:14; 33:7,11; 46:27; 49:6,39; Ps 85:1; 102:13

the city.

31:40; Ne 3:1-32; 7:4; Isa 44:26; Zec 12:6; 14:10

heap. or, little hill. the palace.

1Ch 29:1,19; Ezr 6:3-15; Ps 78:69; Isa 44:28; Eze 7:20-22

Hag 2:7-9; Zec 1:16

Ezekiel 48:30-35

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.

Daniel 9:25

and understand.

23; Mt 13:23; 24:15; Mr 13:14; Ac 8:30

from.

Ezr 4:24; 6:1-15; 7:1,8,11-26; Ne 2:1-8; 3:1

restore and to build Jerusalem. or, build again Jerusalem:as.

2Sa 15:25; Ps 71:10

the Messiah.

Joh 1:41; 4:25

the Prince.

8:11,25; Isa 9:6; 55:4; Mic 5:2; Ac 3:15; 5:31; Re 1:5; 19:16

seven weeks.The seventy weeks are here divided into three periods. 1. Seven weeks, or 49 years, for the restoration of Jerusalem. 2. Sixty-two weeks, or 434 years, from that time to the announcement of the Messiah by John the Baptist. 3. One week, or seven years, for the ministry of John and of CHRIST himself to the crucifixion.

be built again. Heb. return and be builded. wall. or,breach, or, ditch. even.

Ne 4:8,16-18; Eph 5:16

troublous times. Heb. strait of times.

Ne 6:15