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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1712)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>E Z E K I E L.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Though the vision of God's glory had gone up from the prophet, yet his
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word comes to him still, and is by him sent to the people, and to the
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same purport with that which was discovered to him in the vision,
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namely, to set forth the terrible judgments that were coming upon
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Jerusalem, by which the city and temple should be entirely laid waste.
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In this chapter,
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I. The prophet, by removing his stuff, and quitting his lodgings, must
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be a sign to set forth Zedekiah's flight out of Jerusalem in the utmost
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confusion when the Chaldeans took the city,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:1-16">ver. 1-16</A>.
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II. The prophet, by eating his meat with trembling, must be a sign to
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set forth the famine in the city during the siege, and the
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consternation that the inhabitants should be in,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:17-20">ver. 17-20</A>.
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III. A message is sent from God to the people, to assure them that all
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these predictions should have their accomplishment very shortly, and
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not be deferred, as they flattered themselves they would be,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:21-28">ver. 21-28</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Eze12_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Eze12_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Zedekiah's Captivity Foretold.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> also came unto me, saying,
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2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house,
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which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and
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hear not: for they <I>are</I> a rebellious house.
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3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing,
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and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy
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place to another place in their sight: it may be they will
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consider, though they <I>be</I> a rebellious house.
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4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight,
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as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their
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sight, as they that go forth into captivity.
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5 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out
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thereby.
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6 In their sight shalt thou bear <I>it</I> upon <I>thy</I> shoulders,
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<I>and</I> carry <I>it</I> forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy
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face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee <I>for</I> a
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sign unto the house of Israel.
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7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by
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day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the
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wall with mine hand; I brought <I>it</I> forth in the twilight, <I>and</I>
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I bare <I>it</I> upon <I>my</I> shoulder in their sight.
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8 And in the morning came the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> unto me, saying,
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9 Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious
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house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
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10 Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; This burden
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<I>concerneth</I> the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel
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that <I>are</I> among them.
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11 Say, I <I>am</I> your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be
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done unto them: they shall remove <I>and</I> go into captivity.
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12 And the prince that <I>is</I> among them shall bear upon <I>his</I>
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shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig
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through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face,
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that he see not the ground with <I>his</I> eyes.
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13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in
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my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon <I>to</I> the land of the
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Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.
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14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that <I>are</I> about
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him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword
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after them.
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15 And they shall know that I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>, when I shall
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scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the
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countries.
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16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the
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famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their
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abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall
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know that I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Perhaps Ezekiel reflected with so much pleasure upon the vision he had
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had of the glory of God that often, since it went up from him, he was
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wishing it might come down to him again, and, having seen it once and a
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second time, he was willing to hope he might be a third time so
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favoured; but we do not find that he ever saw it any more, and yet
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<I>the word of the Lord comes to</I> him; for God did <I>in divers
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manners speak to the fathers</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+1:1">Heb. i. 1</A>)
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and they often <I>heard the words of God</I> when they did not <I>see
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the visions of the Almighty.</I> Faith comes by hearing that word of
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prophecy which is more sure than vision. We may keep up our communion
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with God without raptures and ecstasies. In these verses the prophet is
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directed,</P>
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<P>
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I. By what signs and actions to express the approaching captivity of
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Zedekiah king of Judah; that was the thing to be foretold, and it is
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foretold to those that are already in captivity, because as long as
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Zedekiah was upon the throne they flattered themselves with hopes that
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he would make his part good with the king of Babylon, whose yoke he was
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now projecting to shake off, from which, it is probable, these poor
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captives promised themselves great things; and it may be, when he was
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forming that design, he privately sent encouragement to them to hope
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that he would rescue them shortly, or procure their liberty by exchange
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of prisoners. While they were fed with these vain hopes they could not
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set themselves either to submit to their affliction or to get good by
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their affliction. It was therefore necessary, but very difficult, to
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convince them that Zedekiah, instead of being their deliverer, should
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very shortly be their fellow-suffered. Now, one would think it might
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have been sufficient if the prophet had only told them this in God's
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name, as he does afterwards
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>);
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but, to prepare them for the prophecy of it, he must first give them a
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sign of it, must speak it to their eyes first and then to their ears:
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and here we have,
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1. The reason why he must take this method
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>):
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It is because they are a stupid, dull, unthinking people, that will not
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heed or will soon forget what they only hear of, or at least will not
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be at all affected with it; it will make no impression at all upon
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them: <I>Thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house,</I> whom it
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is next to impossible to work any good upon. <I>They have eyes and
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ears,</I> they have intellectual powers and faculties, but they <I>see
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not,</I> they <I>hear not.</I> They were idolaters, whose character it
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was that they were like the idols they worshipped, which <I>have eyes
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and see not, ears and hear not,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+115:5,6,8">Ps. cxv. 5, 6, 8</A>.
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Note, Those are to be reckoned rebellious that shut their eyes against
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the divine light and stop their ears to the divine law. The ignorance
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of those that are wilfully ignorant, that have faculties and means and
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will not use them, is so far from being their excuse that it adds
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rebellion to their sin. None so blind, so deaf, as those that will not
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see, that will not hear. They <I>see not,</I> they <I>hear not; for
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they are a rebellious house.</I> The cause is all from themselves: the
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darkness of the understanding is owing to the stubbornness of the will.
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Now this is the reason why he must speak to them by signs, as deaf
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people are taught, that they might be either instructed or ashamed.
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Note, Ministers must accommodate themselves not only to the weakness,
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but to the wilfulness of those they deal with, and deal with them
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accordingly: if they dwell among those that are rebellious they must
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speak to them the more plainly and pressingly, and take that course
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that is most likely to work upon them, that they may be left
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inexcusable.
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2. The method he just take to awaken and affect them; he must furnish
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himself with all necessaries <I>for removing</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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provide for a journey clothes and money; he must <I>remove from one
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place to another,</I> as one unsettled and forced to shift; this he
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must do <I>by day, in the sight</I> of the people; he must bring out
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all his household goods, to be packed up and sent away
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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and, because all the doors and gates were either locked up that they
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could not pass through them or so guarded by the enemy that they durst
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not, he must therefore <I>dig through the wall,</I> and convey his
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goods away clandestinely through that breach in the wall,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>.
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He must carry his goods away himself upon his own shoulders, for want
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of a servant to attend him; he must do this <I>in the twilight,</I>
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that he might not be discovered; and, when he has made what shift he
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can to secure some of the best of his effects, he must himself steal
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away <I>at evening in their sight,</I> with fear and trembling, and
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must go <I>as those that go forth into captivity</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>);
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that is, he must <I>cover</I> his <I>face</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>)
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as being ashamed to be seen and afraid to be known, or in token of very
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great sorrow and concern; he must go away as a poor broken tradesman,
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who, when he is forced to shut up shop, hides his head, or quits his
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country. Thus Ezekiel must be himself a sign to them; and when perhaps
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he seemed somewhat backward to put himself to all this trouble, and to
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expose himself to be bantered and ridiculed for it, to reconcile him to
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it God says
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>)
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"<I>It may be they will consider,</I> and will by it be taken off from
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their vain confidence, <I>though they be a rebellious house.</I>" Note,
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We must not despair even of the worst, but that yet they may be brought
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to bethink themselves and repent; and therefore we must continue the
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use of proper means for their conviction and conversion, because, while
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there is life, there is hope. And ministers must be willing to go
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through the most difficult and inconvenient offices (for such was this
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of Ezekiel's removing), though there be but the <I>it may be</I> of
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success. If but one soul be awakened to consider, our care and pains
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will be well bestowed.
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3. Ezekiel's ready and punctual obedience to the orders God gave him
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>):
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<I>I did so as I was commanded.</I> Hereby he teaches us all, and
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ministers especially,
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(1.) To obey with cheerfulness every command of God, even the most
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difficult. Christ himself <I>learned obedience,</I> and so we must all.
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(2.) To do all we can for the good of the souls of others, to put
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ourselves to any trouble or pains for the conviction of those that are
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unconvinced. <I>We do all things</I> (that is, we are willing to do
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any thing), <I>dearly beloved, for your edifying.</I>
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(3.) To be ourselves affected with those things wherewith we desire to
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affect others. When Ezekiel would give his hearers a melancholy
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prospect he does himself put on a melancholy aspect.
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(4.) To sit loose to this world, and prepare to leave it, to carry out
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our <I>stuff for removing,</I> because <I>we have here no continuing
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city. Arise, depart, this it not your rest, for it is polluted.</I>
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Thou dwellest <I>in a rebellious house,</I> therefore prepare for
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removing; for who would not be willing to leave such a house, such a
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wicked world as this is?</P>
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<P>
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II. He is directed by what words to explain those signs and actions, as
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Agabus, when he bound his own hands and feet, told whose binding was
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thereby signified. But observe, It was not till morning that God gave
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him an exposition of the sign, till the next morning, to keep up in him
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a continual dependence upon God for instruction. As what God does, so
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what he directs us to do, perhaps we know not now, but shall know
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hereafter.</P>
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<P>
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1. It was supposed that the people would ask the meaning of this sing,
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or at least they should
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
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"<I>Hath not the house of Israel said unto thee, What doest thou?</I>
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Yes, I know they have. <I>Though they</I> are <I>a rebellious
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house,</I> yet they are inquisitive concerning the mind of God," as
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those
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+58:2">Isa. lviii. 2</A>)
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who <I>sought God daily. Therefore</I> the prophet must do such a
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strange uncouth thing, that they might enquire what it meant; and then,
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it may be hoped, people will take notice of what is told them, and
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profit by it, when it comes to them in answer to their enquiries. But
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some understand it as an intimation that they had not made any such
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enquiries: "<I>Hath not this rebellious house</I> so much as asked
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thee, <I>What doest thou?</I> No; they take no notice of it; but tell
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them the meaning of it, though they do not ask." Note, When God sends
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to us by his ministers he observes what entertainment we give to the
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messages he sends us; he hearkens and hears what we say to them, and
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what enquiries we make upon them, and is much displeased if we pass
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them by without taking any notice of them. When we have heard the word
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we should apply to our ministers for further instruction; and then we
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shall know if we thus follow on to know.</P>
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<P>
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2. The prophet is to tell them the meaning of it. In general
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>),
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<I>This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem;</I> they knew who that
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was, and gloried in it now that they were in captivity that they had a
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prince of their own in Jerusalem, and that <I>the house of Israel</I>
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was yet entire there, and therefore doubted not but in time to do well
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enough. "But tell them," says God, "that in what thou hast done they
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may read the doom of their friends at Jerusalem. <I>Say, I am your
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sign,</I>"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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As the conversation of ministers should teach the people what they
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should do, so the providences of God concerning them are sometimes
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intended to tell them what they must expect. The unsettled state and
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removals of ministers give warning to people what they must expect in
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this world, no continuance, but constant changes. When times of
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trouble are coming on Christ tells his disciples, <I>They shall first
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lay their hands on you,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+21:12">Luke xxi. 12</A>.
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(1.) The people shall be led away into captivity
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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<I>As I have done, so shall it be done unto them;</I> they shall be
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forced away from their own houses, no more to return to them, neither
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shall <I>their place know them any more.</I> We cannot say concerning
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our dwelling-place that it is our resting-place; for how far we may be
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tossed from it before we die we cannot foresee.
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(2.) The prince shall in vain attempt to make his escape; for he also
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shall go into captivity. Jeremiah had told Zedekiah the same to his
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face
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+34:3">Jer. xxxiv. 3</A>):
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<I>Thou shalt not escape, but shalt surely be taken.</I> Ezekiel here
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foretels it to those who made him their confidence and promised
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themselves relief from him.
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[1.] That he shall himself carry away his own goods: <I>He shall bear
|
|
upon his shoulder</I> some of his most valuable effects. Note, The
|
|
judgments of God can turn a prince into a porter. He that was wont to
|
|
have the regalia carried before him, and to march through the city at
|
|
noon-day, shall now himself carry his goods on his back and steal away
|
|
out of the city in the twilight. See what a change sin makes with men!
|
|
All the avenues to the palace being carefully watched by the enemy,
|
|
<I>they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby.</I> Men shall
|
|
be their own house-breakers, and steal away their own goods; so it is
|
|
when the sword of war has cancelled all right and property.
|
|
|
|
[2.] That he shall attempt to escape in a disguise, with a mask or a
|
|
visor on, which <I>shall cover his face,</I> so that he shall be able
|
|
only to look before him, and shall <I>not see the ground with his
|
|
eyes.</I> He who, when he was in pomp, affected to be seen, now that he
|
|
is in his flight is afraid to be seen; let none therefore either be
|
|
proud of being looked at or over-much pleased with looking about them,
|
|
when they see a king with <I>his face covered, that he cannot see the
|
|
ground.</I>
|
|
|
|
[3.] That he shall be made a prisoner and carried captive into Babylon
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>My net will I spread upon him and he shall be taken in my snare.</I>
|
|
It seemed to be the Chaldeans' net and their snare, but God owns them
|
|
for his. Those that think to escape the sword of the Lord will find
|
|
themselves taken in his net. Jeremiah had said that king Zedekiah
|
|
should <I>see the king of Babylon</I> and that he should <I>go to
|
|
Babylon;</I> Ezekiel says, He shall be <I>brought to Babylon,</I> yet
|
|
he <I>shall not see it,</I> though <I>he shall die there.</I> Those
|
|
that were disposed to cavil would perhaps object that these two
|
|
prophets contradicted one another; for one said, He shall <I>see the
|
|
king of Babylon,</I> the other said, He shall <I>not see Babylon;</I>
|
|
and yet both proved true: he did <I>see the king of Babylon</I> at
|
|
Riblah, where he passed sentence upon him for his rebellion, but there
|
|
he had his eyes put out, so that he did <I>not see Babylon</I> when he
|
|
was brought thither. These captives expected to see their prince come
|
|
to Babylon as a conqueror, to bring them out of their trouble; but he
|
|
shall come thither a prisoner, and his disgrace will be a great
|
|
addition to their troubles. Little joy could they have in seeing him
|
|
when he could not see them.
|
|
|
|
[4.] That all his guards should be dispersed and utterly disabled for
|
|
doing him any service
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I will scatter all that are about him to help him,</I> so that he
|
|
shall be left helpless; <I>I will scatter them among the nations and
|
|
disperse them in the countries</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>),
|
|
|
|
to be monuments of divine justice wherever they go. But are there not
|
|
hopes that they may rally again? (he that flies one time may fight
|
|
another time); no: <I>I will draw out the sword after them,</I> which
|
|
shall cut them off wherever if finds them; for the sword that God draws
|
|
out will be sure to do the execution designed. Yet of Zedekiah's
|
|
scattered troops some shall escape
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>I will leave a few men of them.</I> Though they shall all be
|
|
scattered, yet they shall not all be cut off; some shall have their
|
|
<I>lives given them for a prey.</I> And the end for which they are thus
|
|
remarkably spared is very observable: <I>That they may declare all
|
|
their abominations among the heathen whither they come;</I> the
|
|
troubles they are brought into will bring them to themselves and to
|
|
their right mind, and then they will acknowledge the justice of God in
|
|
all that is brought upon them and will make an ingenuous confession of
|
|
their sins, which provoked God thus to contend with them; and, as by
|
|
this it shall appear that they were spared in mercy, so hereby they
|
|
will make a suitable grateful return to God for his favours to them in
|
|
sparing them. Note, When God has remarkably delivered us from the
|
|
deaths wherewith we were surrounded we must look upon it that for this
|
|
end, among others, we were spared, that we might glorify God and edify
|
|
others by making a penitent acknowledgment of our sins. Those that by
|
|
their afflictions are brought to this are then made to know <I>that God
|
|
is the Lord</I> and may help to bring others to the knowledge of him.
|
|
See how God brings good out of evil. The dispersion of sinners, who had
|
|
done God much dishonour and disservice in their own country, proves the
|
|
dispersion of penitents, who shall do him much honour and service in
|
|
others countries. The Levites are by a curse <I>divided in Jacob</I>
|
|
and <I>scattered in Israel,</I> yet it is turned into a blessing, for
|
|
thereby they have the fairest opportunity to <I>teach Jacob God's
|
|
laws.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_20"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Prediction of the Famine.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 Moreover the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came to me, saying,
|
|
18 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water
|
|
with trembling and with carefulness;
|
|
19 And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>
|
|
of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, <I>and</I> of the land of Israel;
|
|
They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their
|
|
water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all
|
|
that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell
|
|
therein.
|
|
20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and
|
|
the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I <I>am</I> the
|
|
L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here again the prophet is made a sign to them of the desolations that
|
|
were coming on Judah and Jerusalem.
|
|
|
|
1. He must himself eat and drink in care and fear, especially when he
|
|
was in company,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:17,18"><I>v.</I> 17, 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
Though he was under no apprehension of danger to himself, but lived in
|
|
safety and plenty, yet he must <I>eat his bread with quaking</I> (the
|
|
bread of sorrows,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+127:2">Ps. cxxvii. 2</A>)
|
|
|
|
<I>and drink his water with trembling and with carefulness,</I> that he
|
|
might express the calamitous condition of those that should be in
|
|
Jerusalem during the siege; not that he must dissemble and pretend to
|
|
be in fear and care when really he was not; but having to foretel this
|
|
judgment, to show that he firmly believed it himself, and yet was far
|
|
from desiring it, in the prospect of it he was himself affected with
|
|
grief and fear. Note, When ministers speak of the ruin coming upon
|
|
impenitent sinners they must endeavour to speak feelingly, as those
|
|
that <I>know the terrors of the Lord;</I> and they must be content to
|
|
endure hardness, so that they may but do good.
|
|
|
|
2. He must tell them that <I>the inhabitants of Jerusalem</I> should in
|
|
like manner eat and drink with care and fear,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:19,20"><I>v.</I> 19, 20</A>.
|
|
|
|
Both those that have their home in Jerusalem and those <I>of the land
|
|
of Israel</I> that come to shelter themselves there, <I>shall eat their
|
|
bread with carefulness and drink their water with astonishment,</I>
|
|
either because they are afraid it will not hold out, but they shall
|
|
want shortly, or because they are continually expecting the alarms of
|
|
the enemy, <I>their life hanging in doubt before them</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+28:66">Deut. xxiii. 66</A>),
|
|
|
|
so that what they have they shall have no enjoyment of nor will it do
|
|
them any good. Note, Care and fear, if they prevail, are enough to
|
|
embitter all our comforts and are themselves very sore judgments. They
|
|
shall be reduced to these straits that thus by degrees, and by the hand
|
|
of those that thus straiten them, both city and country may be laid in
|
|
ruins; for it is no less than an utter destruction of both that is
|
|
aimed at in these judgments--<I>that her land may be desolate from
|
|
all</I> the fulness thereof, may be stripped of all its ornaments and
|
|
robbed of all its fruits, and then of course <I>the cities that are
|
|
inhabited shall be laid waste,</I> for they are <I>served by the
|
|
field.</I> This universal desolation was coming upon them, and then no
|
|
wonder that they eat their bread with care and fear. Now we are here
|
|
told,
|
|
|
|
(1.) How bad the cause of this judgment was; it is <I>because of the
|
|
violence of all those that dwell therein,</I> their injustice and
|
|
oppression, and the mischief they did one another, for which God would
|
|
reckon with them, as well as for the affronts put upon him in his
|
|
worship. Note, The decay of virtue in a nation brings on a decay of
|
|
every thing else; and when neighbours devour one another it is just
|
|
with God to bring enemies upon them to devour them all.
|
|
|
|
(2.) How good the effect of this judgment should be: <I>You shall know
|
|
that I am the Lord;</I> and if, by these judgments, they learn to know
|
|
him aright, that will make up the loss of all they are deprived of by
|
|
these desolations. Those are happy afflictions, how grievous soever to
|
|
flesh and blood, that help to introduce us into and improve us in an
|
|
acquaintance with God.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Eze12_28"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Message from God to the People; Impious and Deceitful Hopes.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 593.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>21 And the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came unto me, saying,
|
|
22 Son of man, what <I>is</I> that proverb <I>that</I> ye have in the
|
|
land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision
|
|
faileth?
|
|
23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; I will make
|
|
this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb
|
|
in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the
|
|
effect of every vision.
|
|
24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering
|
|
divination within the house of Israel.
|
|
25 For I <I>am</I> the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: I will speak, and the word that I shall
|
|
speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in
|
|
your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will
|
|
perform it, saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
|
|
26 Again the word of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> came to me, saying,
|
|
27 Son of man, behold, <I>they of</I> the house of Israel say, The
|
|
vision that he seeth <I>is</I> for many days <I>to come,</I> and he
|
|
prophesieth of the times <I>that are</I> far off.
|
|
28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>; There
|
|
shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which
|
|
I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord G<FONT SIZE=-1><B>OD</B></FONT>.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Various methods had been used to awaken this secure and careless people
|
|
to an expectation of the judgments coming, that they might be stirred
|
|
up, by repentance and reformation, to prevent them. The prophecies of
|
|
their ruin were confirmed by visions, and illustrated by signs, and all
|
|
with such evidence and power that one would think they must needs be
|
|
wrought upon; but here we are told how they evaded the conviction, and
|
|
guarded against it, namely, by telling themselves, and one another,
|
|
that though these judgments threatened should come at last yet they
|
|
would not come of a long time. This suggestion, with which they
|
|
bolstered themselves up in their security, is here answered, and shown
|
|
to be vain and groundless, in two separate messages which God sent to
|
|
them by the prophet at different times, both to the same purport; such
|
|
care, such pains, must the prophet take to undeceive them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:21,26"><I>v.</I> 21, 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How they flattered themselves with hopes that the judgments should
|
|
be delayed. One saying they had, which had become proverbial <I>in the
|
|
land of Israel,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>.
|
|
|
|
They said, "<I>The days are prolonged;</I> the judgments have not come
|
|
when they were expected to come, but seem to be still put off <I>de die
|
|
in diem--from day to day,</I> and therefore we may conclude that
|
|
<I>every vision fails,</I> because it should seem that some do, that
|
|
because the destruction has not come yet it will never come; we will
|
|
never trust a prophet again, for we have been more frightened than
|
|
hurt." And another saying they had which, if it would not conquer their
|
|
convictions, yet would cool their affections and abate their concern,
|
|
and that was, "<I>The vision</I> is <I>for</I> a great while <I>to
|
|
come;</I> it refers to events at a vast distance, <I>and he prophesies
|
|
of</I> things which, though they may be true, are yet very <I>far
|
|
off,</I> so that we need not trouble our heads about them
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>);
|
|
|
|
we may die in honour and peace before these troubles come." And, if
|
|
indeed the troubles had been thus adjourned, they might have made
|
|
themselves easy, as Hezekiah did. <I>Is it not well if peace and truth
|
|
shall be in my days?</I> But it was a great mistake, and they did but
|
|
deceive themselves into their own ruin; and God is here much displeased
|
|
at it; for,
|
|
|
|
1. It was a wretched abuse of the patience of God, who, because for a
|
|
time he kept silence, was thought to be <I>altogether such a one as
|
|
themselves,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+50:21">Ps. l. 21</A>.
|
|
|
|
That forbearance of God which should have led them to repentance
|
|
hardened them in sin. They were willing to think their works were not
|
|
<I>evil because sentence against</I> them was <I>not executed
|
|
speedily;</I> and therefore concluded the <I>vision</I> itself
|
|
<I>failed,</I> because <I>the days were prolonged.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. It received countenance form the false prophets that were among
|
|
them, as should seem from the notice God takes
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>)
|
|
|
|
of the <I>vain visions,</I> and <I>flattering divinations,</I> even
|
|
<I>within the house of Israel,</I> to whom <I>were committed the
|
|
oracles of God.</I> No marvel if those that deceived themselves by
|
|
worshipping pretended deities deceived themselves also by crediting
|
|
pretended prophecies, to which <I>strong delusions</I> God justly
|
|
<I>gave them up</I> for their idolatries.
|
|
|
|
3. These sayings had become proverbial; they were industriously spread
|
|
among the people, so that they had got into very one's mouth, and not
|
|
only so, but were generally assented to, as proverbs usually are, not
|
|
only the proverbs of the ancients, but those of the moderns too. Note,
|
|
It is a token of universal degeneracy in a nation when corrupt and
|
|
wicked sayings have grown proverbial; and it is an artifice of Satan by
|
|
them to confirm men in their prejudices against the word and ways of
|
|
God, and a great offence to the God of heaven. It will not serve for an
|
|
excuse, in saying ill, to plead that it is a common saying.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. How they are assured that they do but deceive themselves, for the
|
|
judgments shall be hastened, these profane proverbs shall be
|
|
confronted: <I>Tell them, therefore, The days are at hand</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>),
|
|
|
|
and again, <I>There shall none of my words be prolonged any more,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
Their putting the evil day far from them does but provoke God to bring
|
|
it the sooner upon them; and it will be so much the sorer, so much the
|
|
heavier, so much the more a surprise and terror to them when it does
|
|
come. He must tell them,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. That God will certainly silence the lying proverbs, and the lying
|
|
prophecies, with which they buoyed up their vain hopes, and will make
|
|
them ashamed of both:
|
|
|
|
(1.) <I>I will make this proverb to cease;</I> for when they find the
|
|
days of vengeance have come, and not one iota or tittle of the
|
|
prediction falls to the ground, they will be ashamed to <I>use it as a
|
|
proverb in Israel, The days are prolonged, and the vision fails.</I>
|
|
Note, Those that will not have their eyes opened and their mistakes
|
|
rectified, by the word of God, shall be undeceived by his judgments:
|
|
for <I>every mouth</I> that speaks perverse things <I>shall be
|
|
stopped.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) <I>There shall be no more any vain vision,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>.
|
|
|
|
The false prophets, who told the people they should have peace and
|
|
should soon see an end of their troubles, shall be disproved by the
|
|
event, and then shall be ashamed of their pretensions, and shall hide
|
|
their heads and impose silence upon themselves. Note, As truth was
|
|
older than error, so it will survive it; it got the start, and it will
|
|
get the race. The true prophets' visions and predictions stand, and are
|
|
in full force, power, and virtue; they give law, and receive credit,
|
|
when the <I>vain visions,</I> and the <I>flattering divinations,</I>
|
|
are lost and forgotten, and <I>shall be no more in the house of
|
|
Israel;</I> for <I>great is the truth, and will prevail.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. That God will certainly, and very shortly, accomplish every word
|
|
that he has spoken. With what majesty does he say it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>):
|
|
|
|
I <I>am the</I> L<FONT SIZE=-1>ORD</FONT>! <I>I am Jehovah!</I>
|
|
That glorious name of his speaks him a God giving being to his word by
|
|
the performance of it, and therefore to the patriarchs, who lived by
|
|
faith in a promise not yet performed, he was not known by his name
|
|
<I>Jehovah,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+6:3">Exod. vi. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
But, as he is Jehovah in making good his promise, so he is in making
|
|
good his threatenings. Let them know then that God, <I>with whom they
|
|
have to do,</I> is the great Jehovah, and therefore,
|
|
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(1.) He will speak, <I>whether they will hear or whether they will
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forbear: I am the Lord, I will speak.</I> God will have his saying,
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whoever gainsays it. God's oracles are called <I>lively</I> ones, for
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they still speak when the pagan oracles are long ago struck dumb. There
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has been, and shall be, a succession of God's ministers to the end of
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the world, by whom he will speak; and, though contempt may be put upon
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them, that shall not put a period to their ministration: <I>In your
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days, O rebellious house! will I say the word.</I> Even in the worst
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ages of the church God <I>left not himself without witness,</I> but
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raised up men that spoke for him, that spoke from him. <I>I will say
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the word,</I> the word that shall stand.
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(2.) The word that he speaks shall come to pass; it shall infallibly be
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accomplished according to the true intent and meaning of it, and
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according to the full extent and compass of it: <I>I will say the word
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and will perform it</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>),
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for his mind is never changed, nor his arm shortened, nor is Infinite
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Wisdom ever nonplussed. With men saying and doing are two things, but
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they are not so with God; with him it is <I>dictum, factum--said, and
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done.</I> In the works of providence, as in those of creation, <I>he
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speaks and it is done;</I> for he said, <I>Let there be light, and
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there was light--Let there be a firmament, and there was a
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firmament,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+23:19,1Sa+15:29">Num. xxiii. 19; 1 Sam. xv. 29</A>.
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Whereas they had said, <I>Every vision fails</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:22"><I>v.</I> 22</A>),
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God says, "No, there shall be <I>the effect of every vision</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>);
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it shall not return void, but every sign shall be answered by the thing
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signified." Those that <I>see the visions of the Almighty</I> do not
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see <I>vain visions;</I> God <I>confirms the word of his servants</I>
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by performing it.
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(3.) It shall be accomplished very shortly: "<I>The days are at
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hand</I> when you shall see <I>the effect of every vision,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
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It is said, it is sworn, that delay <I>shall be no longer</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Re+10:6">Rev. x. 6</A>);
|
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the year of God's patience has now just expired, and he will no longer
|
|
defer the execution of the sentence. <I>It shall be no more
|
|
prolonged</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>);
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he has borne with you a great while, but he will not bear always.
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<I>In your days, O rebellious house!</I> shall the word that is said be
|
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<I>performed,</I> and you shall see the threatened judgments and share
|
|
in them. <I>Behold, the Judge stands at the door.</I> The <I>righteous
|
|
are taken away from the evil to come,</I> but this <I>rebellious
|
|
house</I> shall not be so quietly taken away; no, they shall live to be
|
|
hurried away, to <I>be chased out of the world.</I>" This is repeated
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+12:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>):
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"<I>There shall none of my words be prolonged any more,</I> but
|
|
judgment shall now hasten on apace; and the longer the bow has been in
|
|
the drawing the deeper shall the arrow pierce." When we tell sinners of
|
|
death and judgment, heaven and hell, and think by them to persuade them
|
|
to a holy life, though we do not find them downright infidels (they
|
|
will own that they do believe there is a state of rewards and
|
|
punishments in the other world), yet they put by the force of those
|
|
great truths, and void the impressions of them, by looking upon the
|
|
things of the other world as very remote; they tell us, "<I>The
|
|
vision</I> you <I>see is for many days to come, and</I> you <I>prophesy
|
|
of the times that are</I> very <I>far off;</I> it will be time enough
|
|
to think of them when they come nearer," whereas really there is but a
|
|
step between us and death, between us and an awful eternity; <I>yet a
|
|
little while and the vision shall speak and not lie,</I> and therefore
|
|
it concerns us to redeem time, and get ready with all speed for a
|
|
future state; for, though it is future, it is very near, and while
|
|
impenitent sinners slumber their <I>damnation slumbers not.</I></P>
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