Ezekiel 34 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

The shepherds — The rulers of the people kings, magistrates, and princes; as also priests, and prophets. Of Israel — The two tribes, and the few out of the ten that adhere to the house of David. That feed — Contrive their own ease, advantage, and honour.

Ye kill — You contrive methods, to take first the life, and next the estate of the well — fed, the rich and wealthy. But — You take care to lead, protect, provide for, and watch over them.

The diseased — The weak and languishing. Bound up — Oppressors in the state, or church, broke many then, but these shepherds bound them not up.

No shepherd — No vigilant, faithful shepherd. Became meat — Were made a prey of, and devoured by all their neighbours.

In the cloudy and dark day — In the time of general distress.

The fat — The powerful and rich. I will feed — I will judge and punish them.

I judge — Between men and men, between the smaller and weaker, and the greater and stronger, as their different state requires I will do. The rams — Rulers, who also shalt be dealt with according to their behaviour.

But ye must tread down — You great ones, eat the fat, and sweet; and what you cannot eat, you waste and spoil. The deep waters — Which are sufficient for all.

I will judge — I will vindicate the poor. The fat cattle — The rich. The lean — The poor.

One shepherd — Christ, the great good, chief, only shepherd, that laid down his life for his sheep. My servant David — The seed of David, the beloved one, who was typified by David, and is in other places called by his name, as Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 37:24; Isaiah 37:35; Hosea 3:5. He shall feed — Do all the office of a good and faithful shepherd, and that for ever.

My servant — Christ was in this great work his fathers servant, Isaiah 42:1.

A covenant — A covenant of promises, which contain, and shall bring peace, that is all good.

Them — My returned captives, The places — All the country. My hill — Jerusalem.

A plant — The Messiah. The shame — The reproach.

Their God — By covenant, from their forefathers. Am with them — Present with them, and reconciled to them.