Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin (continued)
Ezekiel 6
CHAPTER 6
Ezekiel 6:1-3
1. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
1. Et fuit sermo Iehovæ ad me dicendo,
2. Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
2. Fili hominis, pone faciem tuam ad 125 montes Israel, et prophetiza ad eos,
3. And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.
3. Et dic, Montes Israel audite sermonem Dominatoris Iehovæ: sic dicit Dominator
Iehovah montibus et collibus, rivis 126 et vallibus: ecce ego adducem contra vos gladium, et perdam excelsa vestra.
The Prophet now turns himself to the kingdom of Israel, since he had formerly spoken concerning the Jews alone. He says that he was divinely sent to the mountains of Israel. The first question may arise about the time; for the kingdom of Israel had been cut off, and the ten tribes dragged into exileand the kingdom had come to an end in Ezekiel's time. The time, therefore, does not seem to accord with the denunciation of the Prophet as to what had happened many years previously. But nothing will appear out of place, if we say that it was partly prophecy and partly doctrine, so that the Israelites might understand why they were driven out of their country, and dispersed among the nations. I say that God's plans were partly explained to the exiles, that they might know why God had driven them to distant lands: for this punishment would not have been useful had not God convinced them of its cause.
But although the kingdom had fallen, it is probable that some of the people were re-
125Or, "against." — Calvin. 126"Some translate 'torrents;' others, 'the rushing down of waters;' others, 'rocks.' " — Calvin.