Editor's Notes: Synopsis, Interpreters and Ancient Versions
Notes and Comments
NOTES AND COMMENTS
BY THE EDITOR.
THE PROMISED CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS A COMPLETE APPARATUS CRITICUS HAS
BEEN ARRANGED AS FOLLOWS
--- (See Translator's Preface, Volume 1) ---
SECTIONS 1, 2, AND 3, --- Being Indexes, Are Placed At The End Of The
Volume
SECTIONS 4, 5, 6, AND 7, --- Now Follow One Another
SECTION 8 --- Is Preceded By Its Own ``List Of Contents.''
A COMPLETE SYNOPSIS
OF THE CONTENTS OF THE WHOLE OF EZEKIEL'S PROPHECIES.
1. THE PROPHET'S COMMISSION.
2. THE PROPHET'S UTTERANCES.
3. THE PROPHET'S CONSOLATIONS.
1. The Prophet's Commission.
Ezekiel 1-3.
Section 1. Its Allegoric Character --- the Whirlwinds --- the Four Living Creatures
--- the Wheels --- the Firmaments --- the Throne and the Human Appearance seated thereon, Ezekiel 1.
Section 2. The Address --- the Roll --- the Abounding Lamentation, Ezekiel 2
Section 3. The Rebellion of the People, the Motion of the Living Creatures --- the Charge as a Watchman --- the Hand of Jehovah by the river Chebar, Ezekiel 3.
2. The Prophet's Utterances. a. AGAINST THE JEWS,…Ezekiel 4-24.
The Utterances Against The Jews are divisible into those against Jerusalem --- the Mountain and Land of Israel --- the King --- the False Prophets --- the Elders of the People, with various repetitions, under different images.
Section 1. The Emblem of the Siege upon the Tile, Ezekiel 4:1-3 --- that of Lying on the right and left side, Ezekiel 4:4-8 --- that of Taking Food by Measure, Ezekiel
4:9-12 The Explanation, Ezekiel 4:13-17
Section 2. The Emblem of the Razor, Ezekiel 4:1-4 The Explanation, Ezekiel
5:5-17
Section 3. Against the Mountains of Israel, Ezekiel 6:1-15
Section 4. Against the Land of Israel, Ezekiel 7:1-27
Section 5. The Vision of the Image of Jealousy, Ezekiel 8:1-11 The Chamber of
Imagery, Ezekiel 8:12-16 The Explanation, Ezekiel 8:17, 18
Section 6. The Vision of the man with the slaughter weapon, Ezekiel 9:1-11
Section 7. The Vision of the Cherubim --- their description and their motions,
Ezekiel 10:1-22
Section 8. The Emblems of the Caldron and the Flesh, and its application to
Jerusalem, Ezekiel 11:1-25
Section 9. The Emblem of the Prophet's removing his Goods, and its Interpreta
tion, Ezekiel 12:1-16
Section 10. The flattering Proverb of Israel rebuked, Ezekiel 12:1 7-28
Section 11. The Utterance against the False Prophets, boot male and female,
Ezekiel 13:1-23
Section 12. Against the Elders of the People, Ezekiel 14:1-23
Section 13. Tim Emblem of the Vine used for Fuel, Ezekiel 15:1-8
Section 14. The Emblem of Israel as an Outcast infant nurtured by the Almighty,
Ezekiel 16:1-14 Married, and yet committing Adultery, Ezekiel 16:15-34 This Wickedness denounced and punished, Ezekiel 16:35-59 The Almighty's merciful relenting, Ezekiel 16:60-63
Section 15. The Emblem of the Eagle and the Cedar, Ezekiel 17:1-10 The
Explanation, referring to Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, and Pharaoh, Ezekiel 17:11-
Section 16. A Vindication of the Divine Justice, and Confutation of Israel's
Proverb, Ezekiel 18:1-32
Section 17. The Emblem of the Lioness and her Whelps, Ezekiel 19:1-9
Section 18. The Emblem of the Vine plucked up and consumed, Ezekiel 19:10
Section 19. The Elders of Israel rebuked for their sins, Ezekiel 20:1-32
Section 20. The Divine Promises of Restoration, Ezekiel 20:33-44
Section 21. The Word dropped toward the South, Ezekiel 20:45-49
Section 22. The Prophet's face set toward Jerusalem, Ezekiel 21:1-7
Section 23. The Sharp Sword and the Great Slaughter, Ezekiel 21:8-27
Section 24. The Sword drawn against the Ammonites, Ezekiel 21:98-32
Section 25. The Sins of Jerusalem and God's Vengeance, Ezekiel 22:1-22
Section 26. The Woes uttered against False Prophets, Ezekiel 22:23-31
Section 27. The Adulteries of the People, Ezekiel 23:1-49
Section 28. The Parable of the Boiling Pot, Ezekiel 24:1-14 The Prophet's severe
Affliction, Ezekiel 24:15-27
b. The Utterances against Gentiles.
Section 1. Against the Ammonites, Ezekiel 25:1-7
Section 2. Against the Moabites, Ezekiel 25:8-11
Section 3. Against the Edomites, Ezekiel 25:12-14,
Section 4. Against the Philistines, Ezekiel 25:15-17
Section 5. Against Tyre, through Ezekiel 26, Ezekiel 27, and Ezekiel 28:1-19
Section 6. Against Zidon, Ezekiel 28:20-26
Section 7. Against Pharaoh, Ezekiel 29:1-7
Section 8. Against Egypt, Ezekiel 29:8-21
Section 9. Against Etillopia, Ezekiel 30:1-5
Section 10. Against the Upholders of Egypt, Ezekiel 30:6-19
Section 11. Against Pharaoh, Ezekiel 30:20-26
Section 12. Assyria as a Cedar of Lebanon, Ezekiel 31:1-9
Section 13. Its Fall and Destruction, Ezekiel 31:10-18
Section 14. A Bitter Lamentation over Egypt, Ezekiel 32:1-21
Section 15. A Bitter Lamentation over Assyria., Ezekiel 32:22, 23
Section 16. A Bitter Lamentation over Elam, Ezekiel 32:24, 25
Section 17. A Bitter Lamentation over Meshech and Tubal, Ezekiel 32:26-28
Section 18. A Bitter Lamentation over Edom, Ezekiel 32:29-32
These Utterances are all most vividly and graphically portrayed. Allegories, Metaphors, and Parables are most appropriately interspersed with fiery Denunciations and awful Threatenings in consequence of gross iniquities.
3. The Prophet's Consolations.
A Series of Exhortations and Promises of Deliverance under Cyrus, a Description of the Temple, and a View of the Future Divisions of the Land under the Prosperous
Reign of Messiah.
Section 1. The Prophet's duty as a Watchman, Ezekiel 33:1-16
Section 2. A Vindication of God's equity, Ezekiel 33:17-33
Section 3. A Reproof to the Shepherds of the People, Ezekiel 34:1-10
Section 4. The Almighty the Good Shepherd, Ezekiel 34:11-31
Section 5. The Desolation of Mount Seir, Ezekiel 35:1-15
Section 6. The Destruction of the Heathen, Ezekiel 36:1-7
Section 7. The Blessings on Israel, Ezekiel 36:8-38
Section 8. The Vision of the Dry Bones, Ezekiel 37:1-14
Section 9. The Rods of Judea and Ephraim, Ezekiel 37:15-20
Section 10. The Future Reign of David the King, Ezekiel 37:21-28
Section 11. Prophecies against Gog and Magog, Ezekiel 38:1-23
Section 12. Judgments upon Gog, Ezekiel 39:1-16
Section 13. The Great Sacrifice on the Mountains, Ezekiel 39:17-20
Section 14. Israel Restored from Captivity, Ezekiel 39:21-29
Section 15. The Vision of Measuring the Temple, Ezekiel 40:1-49
Section 16. The Measures and Ornaments, Ezekiel 41:1-26
Section 17. The Priests' Chambers and the Outer Court, Ezekiel 42:1-20
Section 18. The Returning Glory of Jehovah, Ezekiel 43:1-9
Section 19. The Whole Fashion of The House, Ezekiel 43:10-12
Section 20. The Measurement of The Altar, Ezekiel 43:13-1 7
Section 21. The Sacrifices on The Altar, Ezekiel 43:8-27
Section 22. Various Ordinances for the Priests, Ezekiel 44:1-31
Section 23. The Apportionment of the Land, Ezekiel 45:1-8
Section 24. The Duties of the Priests, Ezekiel 45:9-25
Section 25. The Duties of the Prince and of the People, Ezekiel 46:1-25
Section 26. The Vision of the Rising Waters, Ezekiel 47:1-12
Section 27. The Divisions and Limits of the Land, Ezekiel 47:13-23
Section 28. The Portions for the Tribes and the Priests, Ezekiel 48:1-29
Section 29. The various Gates of the City, Ezekiel 48:30-35
These closing Visions and Consolations are singularly striking, and afford scope for copious illustration; but as our Commentator did not live to expound them, it would in become his Translator to obtrude on the reader his own research into these deep things of the Spirit of God.
A minute description of The Temple Scenery has been attempted by a learned
Jew, Soloman Bennett, R.A. of Berlin, (Edit. London, 1834.) His work contains a most elaborate account of every interesting particular. Ezekiel 40, Ezekiel 41, and Ezekiel 42 are explained verse by verse; and a ground-plan and bird's-eye view are subjoined.
These chapters are also explained by Fry on The Second Advent, volume 1. Section 13.
List of Major Interpreters
A LIST OF THE CHIEF INTERPRETERS,
ANCIENT AND MODERN.
1. Jewish Commentators.
Schelomoh Jarchi Ben Jizchak, commonly called Solomon Jarchi, son of Isaac, known to the Jews by the word Raschi, made up of the initials of {,}רבי{ }שלמה{ }ירחי
Rabbi Schelomoh Jarchi, was an eminent commentator on the whole of the Old Testament. the was born at Troyes, in Champagne, a province of France, and died A.D.
1180. His chief value arises from his having collected the best traditionary interpretations of his ancestors from the earliest times.
David Kimchi, son of Joseph, known to the Jews by the name of Radak, from the initial letters of {,}רבי{ }דור{ }קמחיRabbi David Kimchi, was a Spaniard. Though he lived so lately as the twelfth ten bury, his interpretation is much valued by both Jews and. Christians for its grammatical accuracy. His commentary on Ezekiel is found in the Rabbinical Writings, edited by Buxtorf, A. D. 1618. Basil, 2 volumes.; and also
1724, Amsterdam.
Isaac Abarbanel, a Portuguese Jew, born at Lisbon, A.D. 1437, and died in Apulia, A.D. 1508. His comments on Ezekiel appeared first at Pesaro, in Italy, A.D. 1520; and then again at Amsterdam, A.D. 1641. He is highly esteemed for his extensive erudition and his clear style.
Shelomoh Ben Melech, a Spaniard, who lived at Constantinople in the middle of the sixteenth century. Under the title, The Perfection of Beauty, he wrote an elaborate commentary on the Old Testament, Constantinople, A.D. 1554, It was reprinted at Amsterdam, A.D. 1661 and 1685, fol., with the additions of Jacob Abendana. Tympius and Danzius have illustrated the manner in which he has improved upon or misunderstood D. Kimchi, according to Wolf, Bibliothec. Hebr., volume 4 pages 989, 991.
These references to Jewish interpreters will enable the reader to judge how far
their opinion on the sense of a passage is decisive. It must be remembered that they all lived more than a thousand years after the Christian era., and that consequently they are not to be esteemed of decisive authority.
Further information may be obtained from Jo. Christ. Wolf's Bibliotheca Hebraee, volume 2, page 368, and elsewhere. Le Long and Boerner's Bib. Sac. ab. A. G.
Masch, pt. 1, p. 135; and De Rossi's Annal. Hebrews Typ., Parmae, 1795, page 131; and Hartwell Horne, volume 2, part 2, where he has chiefly followed Carpzov.
2. The Early Fathers.
Origin (between A.D. 185 and 254) appears to have commented very voluminously on Ezekiel, as, from the fragments which remain, it appears that the twentieth volume only reached to chap. 11. Jerome has translated fourteen homilies of Origen's on Ezekiel into Latin, which are found in his works. Edit., Vallarsii, Venet.
1736, tom. 5 page 877; and in De La Rue's collected edition of Origen's Works, volume 3, page 325.
Ephrem of Edessa, who lived about A.D. 370, wrote a Commentary on this Prophet in Syriac, which is found in volume H of his works, as edited by Pet.
Benedict, in Syriac and Latin, at Rome, 1740, fol.
Eusebius Hieronymus --- the well-known Jerome --- wrote fourteen books of Comments on Ezekiel. See his works, edit. Martiani, volume 3, and Valarsii, volume
5 Rosenmuller esteems his interpretations highly, and often quotes them at length.
Smith's Biographical Dictionary, Art. Ineronymus, page 465, states, that the fourteen books of his Comments on this Prophet were written at intervals, between A.D. 411 and 414, having been commenced immediately after his Comments on Isaiah, but repeatedly broken off. See also the prolegomena to the 126th Epistle to Marcellinus, etc.; the Benedictine edition, volume 3, page 1072.
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, in Syria, who lived about A.D. 420, wrote a Commentary on Ezekiel, found in his works, edited by Jac. Sirmond, volume 2 page 300; and in the edit. Halen., volume 2 part 2.
3. Commentators of the
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries.
Jo. Cecolampadh Commentarius in Ezekielem. Argentorati, 1534, 4to; Basileae, 1548, fol.
Victorini Strigelh Ezechiel Propheta ad Ebraicam veritatem recognitus, et argumentis atque scholiis illustratus. Lipsiae, 1564, 1575, 1579, 8vo.
Hectoris Pinti Commentarius in Ezechielem. Salmanticae, 1568, fol.; Antverp, 1570, 1582; Lugduni, 1581, 4to; Ibid. 1584, fol.; Colon., 1615, 4to.
Phil. Heilbrunner Ezechielis Prophetae vaticinia illustrata. Lavingae, 1587, 8vo.
Hieron. Padri Et Jo. Bapt. Villalpandi, in Ezechielem Explanationes. Romae, 1596, 3 vols. fol.
This work is much praised and quoted by Rosenmuller. The first volume contains the Comments of Pradus on the first six-and-twenty chapters: he died before it was published; so that his coadjutor edited it, and compiled the two latter volumes. They had access to a Catena Patrum Graecorum in Ezechielem, preserved in the Vatican
Library, which they inserted, translated into Latin by a member of their own order;
and they enriched their work with valuable illustrations of the city and temple at Jerusalem. A full description of the work will be found in den Nachrichten von einer
Hallischen Bibliothek, part 8 page 18, and foll.
Amandi Polani A Polansdorf Commentaria in Ezechielem. Basileae, 1601, 4to; and 1608, 4to.
A digest of public lectures delivered in the old Academy at Basil.
Franc. Junh Commentaria in Ezechielem Prophetam. Genevae, 1609, fol.; and 1610, 8vo.
Jo. Maldonati Commentarii in Ezechielem. Moguntiae, 1611, small 4to.
This work, by a learned Jesuit, is very explanatory. The Latin translation is good, and the Jewish interpretations freely used. Many Hebrew words we have found well explained.
Gasper Sancth Commentarius in Ezechielem. Lugduni, 1612, 1619, fol.
Jac. Brandmulleri Commentarius in Ezechielem. Basil. 1621, 4to.
An Exposition of the Prophecy of Ezekiel. By GEORGE GREENHILL. London, 1645.
5 vols. 4to.
Doctrinal and practical lectures delivered to a congregation at Stepney by the writer, a member of the Westminster Assembly of Divines. Excellent of its kind, but not critical. Various editions, originally published at different times, from 1645 to 1658.
Jo. Cocceh Commentarius in Ezekielem. 1668, 4to.
4. Later Commentators.
George Calixti Scholae Propheticae ex Prelectionibus in…Ezekielem collectae.
Quedlinburgi, 1715, 4to.
Das Zeugniss Iesu aus dem Propheten Ezechiel durch den Geist der Weissagung dargethan von Wilhelm Petersen. Francofurti, 1719, 4to.
Jo. Frid. Starckh, V.D.M., Francofurtani, Commentarius in Prophetam
Ezechielem. Francof. ad Moen., 1731, 4to.
A laborious, useful, and practical Commentary.
George Costard Dissertationes H. Critico-Sacrae quarum prima explicata Ezech. ch. 13:18. Oxon. 1752, 8vo.
Ezechiel aufs Neue aus dem Hebraischen ubersetzt, und mit kurgen Anmerkungen fur unstudirte Leser begleitet von Joh. Carl. Volborth. Goett. 1787.
For an account of this work, see Eichhorn's Allgem. Biblioth. der Bib. Lit., volume
1, page 807.
An Attempt towards an Improved Version, a Metrical Arrangement, and an Explanation of the Prophet Ezekiel. By Wm. Newcome, D.D., Bishop of Waterford, and afterwards Archbishop of Armagh. Dublin, 1788, 4to.
This is an invaluable work: to the mere English reader of this Prophet. Tegg, in his edition of 1836, 1 volume 8vo, page 294, has rendered it very accessible: it is safe, sound, and judicious, with excellent notes. See also Eichhorn Bibl., volume 2, page
131; and J. D. Michaelis Neue orient. u. exeget. Bibli., pt. 6 page 87.
Hermanni Venema Lectiones Academicae ad Ezechielem. Part 1 usque ad cap.
21 Edidit. Jo. Hen. Verschuir. Leovard, 1790, 4to, 2 parts. See again, Eich. Bibl.,
volume 3, page 694.
Jo. Godofr Eichhorn die Biblischen Propheten, volume 2 and volume 3. Ezekielis
Vaticinia. Gotting. 1818, 1819.
The Temple of Ezekiel; viz., an Elucidation of the 40th and following Chapters. By Solomon Bennett, R.A., of Berlin. London, 1824. 4to.
Em. F. Rosenmuller's Scholia in Ezekielem. 2 vols. 8vo, 2d edition. 1826.
Lipsiae.
Invaluable. The Editor is much indebted to it for many references to other valuable works.
Havernick's Introduction to Ezekiel, translated from the German by the Revelation F.W. Gotch, M.A. See Kitto's Journal of Sacred Literature, No. 1, January 1848; also the Article ``Ezekiel'' --- Kitto's Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature.
Ancient Versions and Codexes
A NOTICE OF THE
ANCIENT VERSIONS AND CODEXES
WHICH CONTAIN
EZEKIEL'S PROPHECIES.
The Arabic Version Of Ezekiel. It was made from the Septuagint, and is contained in the London Polyglot,,. It agrees throughout with that Greek text which exists in the Alexandrine Codex, now in the British Museum. It was executed from Hesychius's edition of the Septuagint, and is valuable for the comparison of cognate words and phrases with the Hebrew.
The Chaldee Version, said to have been made by Jonathan, the son of Uzziel, is found in the London Polyglott, and is praised in Buxtorf's Rabbinical Commentaries.
The Alexandrine Codex is esteemed the most ancient MS. existing, written probably in the fourth century, though some authorities place it much later. 622 The book of Ezekiel was translated for this version during the reign of Ptolemy Philometer. Of all the prophets, Jeremiah seems the best executed: then Amos, and Ezekiel, and Isaiah the worst of all, except Daniel. Edited by Jo. Ern. Grabe, 1707-1720. 4 vols. fol. Oxon.
The Codices Of Kennicott And De Rossi. Only some of them contain Ezekiel; that formerly belonging to the learned Reuchlin (No. 154) contains this Prophet, with a Targum also. The Codex Norimburgensis, (No. 198,) written about A.D. 1290, is noticed here only for the order in which Ezekiel is placed: it is neither that of the Masorites nor the Talmudists. Again, in Codex No. 224, the order is Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah.
The Codex Romanus Or Vaticanus is of great antiquity. A facsimile of this MS. was made for Dr. Grabe in 1704, and Horne has given an accurate specimen
622See Hart well Horne's Introduction, etc., volume 2, part 1 page 116, edit. 6th, where full information on this and kindred subjects is to be found.
of Ezekiel, Ezekiel 1:1-3. This facsimile is at long the MSS. of the Bodleian Library.
Cardinal Anton. Carasa executed an edition under the auspices of Pope Sixtus V.
Rome, 1587. Fol.
The Syro. Estranghelae Version is a translation into Syriac of Origen's Hexaplar edition of the Septuagint A MS. exists in the Ambrosian Library at Milan. It contains
Scholia of the Greek and Syrian fathers, and various valuable annotations. Matth.
Norberg edited from it the Prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah, in 1787, 4to, Londini
Gothorum; giving it the title of Codex Syriaco-Hexaplaris Ambrosiano-Mediolanensis.
See Eichhorn's account of it in his Allgem. Bib. der Bibl. Lit., volume 1 page 837, and foll.
The Vulgate Version needs mention here only to point out the differences in rendering Ezekiel between the editions of Sixtus 5. and Clement 8. In Ezekiel 14:22, the former has egredientur, which is correct, and the latter ingredientur
Among The Five Gothic Mss. discovered by Ang. Mai, in the Ambrosian Library at Milan, amidst the Codices Rescripti, the homilies of Gregory the Great on this Prophet were found written over various portions of St. Paul's Epistles. These homilies were executed before the eighth century.