Ezekiel 37:16 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

One stick; tablet, i.e. a writing tablet or a tally, such as is fitted to be written upon, or a rod, or staff, on which thou mayst write; the Hebrew calls it wood, without describing its form and fashion; but whatever its fashion was, it must be but one. Write upon it; the inscription is not only commanded, but the words also in which it is to be written. For Judah; the tribe, or possibly the kingdom; if the latter, then the companions mentioned will be such as in process of time fell off from the ten tribes, and united with the kingdom of the house of David; if the former, which is most likely, then the children of Israel, his companions, are Benjamin and Levi in part, who kept, with the tribe of Judah, their obedience to David's seed. Then; when thou hast written on the first stick, then take another stick; a second stick, such as the first was. For Joseph; he was father of two tribes, one of which was chief of the ten tribes, and is therefore mentioned here. The stick of Ephraim; Ephraim was the son of Joseph, whom his grandfather blessed, and by prophetic Spirit foretold and promised that he should be one of the chief of all the tribes; and Ephraim was most considerable in the kingdom of Israel when divided from the other two. All the house of Israel; the other nine tribes. His companions; who did at first side, and have continued still, with Ephraim. Some say Ephraim was the whole kingdom of the ten tribes, and that his companions were the Gentiles converted to the faith of Christ, which I wish were well proved.

Ezekiel 37:16

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: