Ezekiel 20:45-49 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Moreover, the word of the Lord, &c. Here we have a new prophecy, with which Houbigant, following many learned commentators, begins the xxist chapter, and that very properly; for what is contained in that chapter is only an explanation of what is contained in the remainder of this. Son of man, set thy face toward the south The prophets were generally commanded to turn themselves toward the places concerning which they were going to prophesy; and Ezekiel being now in Chaldea, near the river of Chebar, Judea lay to the south of him. And drop thy word, &c. That is, prophesy. The gift of prophecy seems to be here compared to rain, or dew, distilling from heaven upon the earth, and refreshing and rendering it fruitful: see Deuteronomy 32:2. Such is the benefit of sound doctrine wherever it is received. And prophesy against the forest of the south field By this is meant Jerusalem, the word forest being taken metaphorically for a city; either because its stately buildings resembled tall cedars standing in their several ranks, or, as Archbishop Secker supposes, from the number of its inhabitants. And say, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee By fire here is meant, not only the burning of literal fire, but every thing which destroys or consumes, as in Ezekiel 19:12. Indeed, fire is often taken, in a general sense, for God's severe judgments, which, it is here said, shall devour both the green tree and the dry, that is, the righteous as well as the wicked; the righteous being here, as elsewhere, compared to green and flourishing trees, and the wicked to dry and withered ones, such as are only fit for the fire. The flaming flame shall not be quenched The evils I will send upon them shall not cease, till what I will has been accomplished. And all faces from the south to the north shall be burned The destruction shall reach from one end of the land to the other: see Ezekiel 21:2; Ezekiel 21:4. Ah, Lord God! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? They make this an argument for disregarding what I say, that I use so many similitudes and metaphorical expressions, that they cannot understand my meaning. To take away all ground for this objection, God commands him, in the next chapter, to speak the same thing in plain words.