Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
Ver. 1. Then came certain of the elders unto me.] Rulers and chieftains of the captives in Babylon, pretending to be far better than those elders at Jerusalem, complained about in Ezekiel 8:11,12, but indeed no better; nay, so much the worse, because they had lost the fruit of all their afflictions, and were as arrant hypocrites as those veteratores old hands, the scribes and Pharisees, that came to John's baptism and to our Saviour's sermons, with evil and exulcerate minds.
“ Non omnes sancti qui calcant limina Templi. ”
A Doeg may set his foot as far within the sanctuary as a David.
And sat before me.] Demurely and, to see to, devoutly. But why could they not stand to hear the Word of God for reverence sake? Balak did so, Num 23:18 though a king; and Eglon, though unwieldy; Jdg 3:20 and a better man than they both, Constantine the Great, as Eusebius a records, and further tells us, that being pressed, after long time of hearing, to sit down, with a stern countenance he answered, It were a great sin in me not to hear with utmost attention when God is speaking.
a De Vita Const.