4 The diseased H2470 have ye not strengthened, H2388 neither have ye healed H7495 that which was sick, H2470 neither have ye bound up H2280 that which was broken, H7665 neither have ye brought again H7725 that which was driven away, H5080 neither have ye sought H1245 that which was lost; H6 but with force H2394 and with cruelty H6531 have ye ruled H7287 them.
How G5101 think G1380 ye? G5213 if G1437 G5100 a man G444 have G1096 an hundred G1540 sheep, G4263 and G2532 one G1520 of G1537 them G846 be gone astray, G4105 doth he G863 not G3780 leave G863 the ninety and nine, G1768 and goeth G4198 into G1909 the mountains, G3735 and seeketh G2212 that which G3588 is gone astray? G4105 And G2532 if so G1437 be G1096 that he find G2147 it, G846 verily G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 G3754 he rejoiceth G5463 more G3123 of G1909 that G846 sheep, than G2228 of G1909 the ninety and nine G1768 which G3588 went G4105 not G3361 astray. G4105
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto me, Take H3947 unto thee yet the instruments H3627 of a foolish H196 shepherd. H7462 For, lo, I will raise up H6965 a shepherd H7462 in the land, H776 which shall not visit H6485 those that be cut off, H3582 neither shall seek H1245 the young one, H5289 nor heal H7495 that that is broken, H7665 nor feed H3557 that that standeth H5324 still: but he shall eat H398 the flesh H1320 of the fat, H1277 and tear H6561 their claws H6541 in pieces. H6561
And the Egyptians H4714 made H5647 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 to serve H5647 with rigour: H6531 And they made H4843 their lives H2416 bitter H4843 with hard H7186 bondage, H5656 in morter, H2563 and in brick, H3843 and in all manner of service H5656 in the field: H7704 all their service, H5656 wherein they made them serve, H5647 was with rigour. H6531
Feed G4165 the flock G4168 of God G2316 which is among G1722 you, G5213 taking the oversight G1983 thereof, not G3361 by constraint, G317 but G235 willingly; G1596 not G3366 for filthy lucre, G147 but G235 of a ready mind; G4290 Neither G3366 as G5613 being lords over G2634 God's heritage, G2819 but G235 being G1096 ensamples G5179 to the flock. G4168
And G2532 upon G1909 her G846 forehead G3359 was a name G3686 written, G1125 MYSTERY, G3466 BABYLON G897 THE GREAT, G3173 THE MOTHER G3384 OF HARLOTS G4204 AND G2532 ABOMINATIONS G946 OF THE EARTH. G1093 And G2532 I saw G1492 the woman G1135 drunken G3184 with G1537 the blood G129 of the saints, G40 and G2532 with G1537 the blood G129 of the martyrs G3144 of Jesus: G2424 and G2532 when I saw G1492 her, G846 I wondered G2296 with great G3173 admiration. G2295
And G2532 deceiveth G4105 them that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth G1093 by G1223 the means of those miracles G4592 which G3739 he G846 had power G1325 to do G4160 in the sight G1799 of the beast; G2342 saying G3004 to them that dwell G2730 on G1909 the earth, G1093 that they should make G4160 an image G1504 to the beast, G2342 which G3739 had G2192 the wound G4127 by a sword, G3162 and G2532 did live. G2198 And G2532 he G846 had power G1325 to give G1325 life G4151 unto the image G1504 of the beast, G2342 that G2443 the image G1504 of the beast G2342 should G2980 both G2532 speak, G2980 and G2532 cause G4160 that as many as G3745 G302 would G4352 not G3361 worship G4352 the image G1504 of the beast G2342 should be killed. G2443 G615 And G2532 he causeth G4160 all, G3956 both small G3398 and G2532 great, G3173 G2532 rich G4145 and G2532 poor, G4434 G2532 free G1658 and G2532 bond, G1401 to G2443 G846 receive G1325 a mark G5480 in G1909 their G846 right hand, G1188 G5495 or G2228 in G1909 their G846 foreheads: G3359 And G2532 that no G3363 man G5100 might G1410 buy G59 or G2228 sell, G4453 save he G1508 that had G2192 the mark, G5480 or G2228 the name G3686 of the beast, G2342 or G2228 the number G706 of his G846 name. G3686
Go to G33 now, G3568 ye rich men, G4145 weep G2799 and howl G3649 for G1909 your G5216 miseries G5004 that shall come upon G1904 you. Your G5216 riches G4149 are corrupted, G4595 and G2532 your G5216 garments G2440 are G1096 motheaten. G4598 Your G5216 gold G5557 and G2532 silver G696 is cankered; G2728 and G2532 the rust G2447 of them G846 shall be G2071 a witness G3142 against G1519 you, G5213 and G2532 shall eat G5315 your G5216 flesh G4561 as it were G5613 fire. G4442 Ye have heaped treasure together G2343 for G1722 the last G2078 days. G2250 Behold, G2400 the hire G3408 of the labourers G2040 who G3588 have reaped down G270 your G5216 fields, G5561 which G3588 is of G575 you G5216 kept back by fraud, G650 crieth: G2896 and G2532 the cries G995 of them which have reaped G2325 are entered G1525 into G1519 the ears G3775 of the Lord G2962 of sabaoth. G4519 Ye have lived in pleasure G5171 on G1909 the earth, G1093 and G2532 been wanton; G4684 ye have nourished G5142 your G5216 hearts, G2588 as G5613 in G1722 a day G2250 of slaughter. G4967 Ye have condemned G2613 and killed G5407 the just; G1342 and he doth G498 not G3756 resist G498 you. G5213
What G5101 man G444 of G1537 you, G5216 having G2192 an hundred G1540 sheep, G4263 if G2532 he lose G622 one G1520 of G1537 them, G846 doth G2641 not G3756 leave G2641 the ninety and nine G1768 in G1722 the wilderness, G2048 and G2532 go G4198 after G1909 that which is lost, G622 until G2193 he find G2147 it? G846 And G2532 when he hath found G2147 it, he layeth G2007 it on G1909 his G1438 shoulders, G5606 rejoicing. G5463 And G2532 when he cometh G2064 G1519 home, G3624 he calleth together G4779 his friends G5384 and G2532 neighbours, G1069 saying G3004 unto them, G846 Rejoice G4796 with me; G3427 for G3754 I have found G2147 my G3450 sheep G4263 which G3588 was lost. G622
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 34
Commentary on Ezekiel 34 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 34
Eze 34:1-31. Reproof of the False Shepherds; Promise of the True and Good Shepherd.
Having in the thirty-third chapter laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times for the people, He now promises the removal of the false shepherds as preparatory to the raising up of the Good Shepherd.
2. Jer 23:1 and Zec 11:17 similarly make the removal of the false shepherds the preliminary to the interposition of Messiah the Good Shepherd in behalf of His people Israel. The "shepherds" are not prophets or priests, but rulers who sought in their government their own selfish ends, not the good of the people ruled. The term was appropriate, as David, the first king and the type of the true David (Eze 34:23, 24), was taken from being a shepherd (2Sa 5:2; Ps 78:70, 71); and the office, like that of a shepherd for his flock, is to guard and provide for his people. The choice of a shepherd for the first king was therefore designed to suggest this thought, just as Jesus' selection of fishermen for apostles was designed to remind them of their spiritual office of catching men (compare Isa 44:28; Jer 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 23:1, 2).
3. fat—or, by differently pointing the Hebrew, "milk" [Septuagint]. Thus the repetition "fat" and "fed" is avoided: also the eating of "fat" would not probably be put before the "killing" of the sheep. The eating of sheep's or goats' milk as food (De 32:14; Pr 27:27) was unobjectionable, had not these shepherds milked them too often, and that without duly "feeding" them [Bochart], (Isa 56:11). The rulers levied exorbitant tributes.
kill … fed—kill the rich by false accusation so as to get possession of their property.
feed not … flock—take no care of the people (Joh 10:12).
4. The diseased—rather, those weak from the effects of "disease," as "strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires [Grotius].
broken—that is, fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf.
brought again … driven away—(Ex 23:4). Those "driven away" by the enemy into foreign lands through God's judgments are meant (Jer 23:3). A spiritual reformation of the state by the rulers would have turned away God's wrath, and "brought again" the exiles. The rulers are censured as chiefly guilty (though the people, too, were guilty), because they, who ought to have been foremost in checking the evil, promoted it.
neither … sought … lost—Contrast the Good Shepherd's love (Lu 15:4).
with force … ruled—(Ex 1:13, 14). With an Egyptian bondage. The very thing forbidden by the law they did (Le 25:43; compare 1Pe 5:3).
5. scattered, because … no shepherd—that is, none worthy of the name, though there were some called shepherds (1Ki 22:17; Mt 9:36). Compare Mt 26:31, where the sheep were scattered when the true Shepherd was smitten. God calls them "My sheep"; for they were not, as the shepherds treated them, their patrimony whereby to "feed themselves."
meat to all … beasts—They became a prey to the Syrians, Ammon, Moab, and Assyria.
6. every high hill—the scene of their idolatries sanctioned by the rulers.
search … seek—rather, "seek … search." The former is the part of the superior rulers to inquire after: to search out is the duty of the subordinate rulers [Junius].
10. I will require my flock—(Heb 13:17), rather, "I require," &c., for God already had begun to do so, punishing Zedekiah and the other princes severely (Jer 52:10).
11. I … will … search—doing that which the so-called shepherds had failed to do, I being the rightful owner of the flock.
12. in the day that he is among—in the midst of (Hebrew) His sheep that had been scattered. Referring to Messiah's second advent, when He shall be "the glory in the midst of Israel" (Zec 2:5).
in the cloudy … day—the day of the nation's calamity (Joe 2:2).
13. And I will bring them out from the people, &c.—(Eze 28:25; 36:24; 37:21, 22; Isa 65:9, 10; Jer 23:3).
14. good pasture—(Ps 23:2).
high mountains of Israel—In Eze 17:23; 20:40, the phrase is "the mountain of the height of Israel" in the singular number. The reason for the difference is: there Ezekiel spoke of the central seat of the kingdom, Mount Zion, where the people met for the worship of Jehovah; here he speaks of the kingdom of Israel at large, all the parts of which are regarded as possessing a moral elevation.
16. In contrast to the unfaithful shepherds (Eze 34:4). The several duties neglected by them I will faithfully discharge.
fat … strong—that is, those rendered wanton by prosperity (De 32:15; Jer 5:28), who use their strength to oppress the weak. Compare Eze 34:20, "the fat cattle" (Isa 10:16). The image is from fat cattle that wax refractory.
with judgment—that is, justice and equity, as contrasted with the "force" and "cruelty" with which the unfaithful shepherds ruled the flock (Eze 34:4).
17. you, … my flock—passing from the rulers to the people.
cattle and cattle—rather, "sheep and sheep"; Margin, "small cattle," or "flocks of lambs and kids," that is, I judge between one class of citizens and another, so as to award what is right to each. He then defines the class about to be punitively "judged," namely, "the rams and he-goats," or "great he-goats" (compare Isa 14:9, Margin; Zec 10:3; Mt 25:32, 33). They answer to "the fat and strong," as opposed to the "sick" (Eze 34:16). The rich and ungodly of the people are meant, who imitated the bad rulers in oppressing their poorer brethren, as if it enhanced their own joys to trample on others' rights (Eze 34:18).
18, 19. Not content with appropriating to their own use the goods of others, they from mere wantonness spoiled what they did not use, so as to be of no use to the owners.
deep waters—that is, "limpid," as deep waters are generally clear. Grotius explains the image as referring to the usuries with which the rich ground the poor (Eze 22:12; Isa 24:2).
19. they eat—scantily.
they drink—sorrowfully.
20. fat … lean—the rich oppressors … the humble poor.
21. scattered them abroad—down to the time of the carrying away to Babylon [Grotius].
22. After the restoration from Babylon, the Jews were delivered in some degree from the oppression, not only of foreigners, but also of their own great people (Ne 5:1-19). The full and final fulfilment of this prophecy is future.
23. set up—that is, raise up by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David, "I will set up thy seed after thee" (2Sa 7:12); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion" (Ps 2:6; compare Ac 2:30; 13:23).
one shepherd—literally, "a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently one: the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable (So 5:10). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy (Joh 10:14), "I am THE Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth" (Eph 1:10); thus healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah (Col 1:20). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself, whether things in earth or in heaven."
David—the antitypical David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the captivity was: who was fully, what David was only in a degree, "the man after God's own heart." Also, David means beloved: Messiah was truly God's beloved Son (Isa 42:1; Mt 3:17). Shepherd means King, rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the true David, who was the Shepherd King (Lu 1:32, 33). Messiah is called "David" in Isa 55:3, 4; Jer 30:9; Ho 3:5.
24. my servant—implying fitness for ruling in the name of God, not pursuing a self-chosen course, as other kings, but acting as the faithful administrator of the will of God; Messiah realized fully this character (Ps 40:7, 8; Isa 42:1; 49:3, 6; 53:11; Php 2:7), which David typically and partially represented (Ac 13:36); so He is the fittest person to wield the world scepter, abused by all the world kings (Da 2:34, 35, 44, 45).
25. covenant of peace … evil beasts … to cease … dwell safely—The original promise of the law (Le 26:6) shall be realized for the first time fully under Messiah (Isa 11:6-9; 35:9; Ho 2:18).
26. them and the places round about my hill—The Jews, and Zion, God's hill (Ps 2:6), are to be sources of blessing, not merely to themselves, but to the surrounding heathen (Isa 19:24; 56:6, 7; 60:3; Mic 5:7; Zec 8:13). The literal fulfilment is, however, the primary one, though the spiritual also is designed. In correspondence with the settled reign of righteousness internally, all is to be prosperity externally, fertilizing showers (according to the promise of the ancient covenant, Le 26:4; Ps 68:9; Mal 3:10), and productive trees and lands (Eze 34:27). Thus shall they realize the image of Eze 34:14; namely, a flock richly pastured by God Himself.
27. served themselves of them—availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were their slaves (Jer 22:13; 25:14; compare Ge 15:13; Ex 1:14).
28. dwell safely—(Jer 23:6).
29. plant of renown—Messiah, the "Rod" and "Branch" (Isa 11:1), the "righteous Branch" (Jer 23:5), who shall obtain for them "renown." Fairbairn less probably translates, "A plantation for a name," that is, a flourishing condition, represented as a garden (alluding to Eden, Ge 2:8-11, with its various trees, good for food and pleasant to the sight), the planting of the Lord (Isa 60:21; 61:3), and an object of "renown" among the heathen.
31. ye my flock … are men—not merely an explanation of the image, as Jerome represents. But as God had promised many things which mere "men" could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from man's might their realization is to be looked for, but from God, who would perform them for His covenant-people, "His flock" [Rosenmuller]. When we realize most our weakness and God's power and faithfulness to His covenant, we are in the fittest state for receiving His blessings.