Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin
JOHN CALVIN
which had been dug through
PRAYER.
Grant, Almighty God, since thou so wishest us to live in this world, that we may travel onwards till thou gatherest us into thy heavenly rest, that we may truly contemplate that eternal inheritance, and apply to it all our endeavors: and next, that we may so travel in this world that we may not wander nor stray from the way; but being always intent on the mark which thou settest before us, grant us to proceed on our way, until we finish our course, and enjoy that glory which thine only-begotten
Son has prepared for us through his own blood. --- Amen.
Lecture Thirty-second
Ezekiel 12:8-11
8. And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
8. Et fuit sermo Iehovae ad me mane, dicendo,
9. Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
9. Fili hominis, an non dixerunt tibi, domus Israel, domus rebellis, 249 Quid tu facis?
10. Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.
10. Dic illis, sic dicit Dominator Iehova, Principis onus hoc 250 in Ierusalem, et totius domus Israel quae in medio ipsorum.
11. Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove, and go into captivity.
11. Dic els, Ego portentum vestrum sicuti feci ita fiet illis, in transmigrationem, in caprivitatem ibunt.
We gather from these words of the Prophet, that he was himself derided when he began to migrate: then that he dug through the wall by night secretly, and thus carried away his baggage. For those who think that the Israelites enquired about this, as if it were unknown to them, do not sufficiently consider the Prophet's words.
For the repetition of the epithet rebellious house is not in vain; for if this question had proceeded from mere folly, God would not have called them rebellious. This epithet, then, refers to the present passage, and thus we may determine that the Israelites asked the Prophet deridingly, what does this mean? For he seemed to them to be trifling, and thus they jeered at him; for we know the audacity of the nation in despising their Prophets. It is not, then, to be wondered at, when they obtained a plausible ground for it, if they commented rather freely upon what the Prophet was doing. We said yesterday 'that this seemed a childish spectacle. Hence the Israelites seemed, not without reason, to reject what the Prophet was doing as a thing of nought. But God does not suffer his servants to be reviled in this way.
He now signified to the Prophet that his calling ought to be deservedly held sacred.
Since therefore Ezekiel bore certain marks of the prophetic office, although at first sight his conduct could not appear serious, yet the people ought to have enquired
249Or, as we have elsewhere said, "exasperating," or "bitter." — Calvin. 250"This sorrowful prophecy." — Calvin.