Matthew Poole's Commentary And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, EZEKIEL CHAPTER 15. By the unfitness of the vine branch for any work, Ezekiel 15:1-5, is showed the utter rejection of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 15:6-8. No text from Poole on this verse. Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest? The house of Israel is often compared to a vine, which when barren or fruitless is very contemptible and unprofitable. This the prophet minds them of to humble them, and awaken them to fruitfulness; Will you boast yourselves of this? Than a branch which is among the trees of the forest; one single branch of a tree in the forest is of more use and worth than the whole vine tree is, except for its fruit. Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon? Is there one good piece of timber in the whole vine fit for building a house, or ship, as there is in the oak, elm, or other wild forest trees? Will it furnish the husbandman or soldier, or seaman with fit materials for their use, in peace, war, or sea? Will it afford a pin to drive into a wall or post, on which you may safely fasten any weight? It is so weak that it is useless as to this. Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work? When for its barrenness it is cut down, it is fit only to be burnt. Nor is it a choice fuel neither, a little branch of a tree of the forest is better, and affords more fuel. Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned? No text from Poole on this verse. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Either thus, When the vine is, as the wild trees of the forest, barren and fruitless, it is less worth than the forest tree; so are you, O house of Israel, in my account: or else, As trees of the forest are for the fire in all the less valuable parts of them, so are all the branches and body of the barren vine, which you are, O Jerusalemites. I have given; designed and doomed for food to the fire. So will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem; for by their sins they have kindled a fire, which shall burn every barren branch in the degenerate and fruitless vine. And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them. I will look upon them with an angry and displeased countenance, which is enough to destroy them, or to fill them with terrors. This phrase occurs Ezekiel 14:8, which see. My wrath shall kindle a fire among them. They shall go out from one fire; either shift themselves, and flee from one evil, which as fire consumed them; or else be cast by others, by their enemies, out of one evil into another; from a less which troubled them to a greater which devours them, 1 Kings 19:17 Jeremiah 48:43,44 Am 5:19. Ye shall know; you that are in Babylon, and hear what mischiefs are heaped on Jerusalem one after another, shall know it is my anger and fury poured out upon them. And I will make the land desolate, because they have committed a trespass, saith the Lord GOD. Desolate: see Ezekiel 6:14. A trespass; not one single trespass, but they have been so perpetually trespassing that it seemed a continued act, and all done with greatest aggravation. |
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