Ezekiel 2:3-5 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

I send thee to the children of Israel God had for many ages been sending to them his servants the prophets, but to little purpose: they were now sent into captivity for abusing God's messengers; and yet even there God raises up and sends a prophet among them, to try if their ears were open to receive instruction, now they were holden in the cords of affliction. To a rebellious nation Hebrew, גוים, nations, the prophet's commission extending to the dispersed Israelites, as well as the captive Jews, as also to the Jews still in Judea, to whom most of his predictions and reproofs related, and whom his writings would reach, in the order of Divine Providence. They and their fathers have transgressed against me From age to age they had rebelled against him, and were now as much inclined to do so as ever. They are impudent children, and stiff-hearted The Hebrew, קשׁי פנים וחזקי לב, may be more significantly rendered, They are children impudent in their countenance, and hardened in their hearts. “They are so far hardened in their wickedness as to have cast off all shame, and even the very outward show of modesty.” And whether they will hear, &c. Whether they will regard what is said by thee or not, they shall know that there hath been a prophet, &c. They that obey shall know by the good I will do them; those that will not, by the evil which I will bring upon them. So that the event, answering to thy predictions, shall render thy authority unquestionable, and them inexcusable for not hearkening to the warnings thou hast given them.