HarperCollins Study Bible
Page 310
20Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.
23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.
25I will make with them a covenant of peace and banish wild animals from the land, so that they may live in the wild and sleep in the woods securely. 26I will make them and the region around my hill a blessing; and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing. 27The trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase. They shall be secure on their soil; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and save them from the hands of those who enslaved them. 28They shall no more be plunder for the nations, nor shall the animals of the land devour them; they shall live in safety, and no one shall make them afraid. 29I will provide for them a splendid vegetation so that they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer suffer the insults of the nations. 30They shall know that I, the LORD their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD. 31You are my sheep, the sheep of my pasturea and I am your God, says the Lord GOD.
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a Gk OL: Heb pasture, you are people
34.1–31 The structure of this chapter devoted to shepherds is complex. Two primary sections (vv. 1–16, 17–31) may be subdivided further.
34.1–16 The first half of the chapter focuses primarily on shepherds, a symbol for kings throughout the ancient Near East, including Israel.
34.1–10 A woe oracle. Ah, “Woe.” Neglect of duties is the primary indictment; all are articulated using the metaphoric sphere of the shepherd’s life.
34.3 Fat. The Greek manuscript tradition reads “milk.” Not all the action in this verse appears improper.
34.4 Specific acts of omission are cited.
34.5–6 Because of improper care, the flock was scattered, attacked, and dispersed in dangerous territory. My sheep. God owns the flock. All the face of the earth, perhaps a hyperbolic description of exile, which included Egypt as well as Babylon.
34.7–8 These verses seem intrusive. V. 7 duplicates v. 9.
34.8 A shift to a third-person address about my shepherds.
34.9–10 A judgment upon the shepherds. God will reclaim the flock and rescue them. Concern for the well-being of the sheep appears more prominent than does punishment of the shepherds.
34.11–15 God restores the flock, places them in their own land (v. 13), and performs properly the role of shepherd.
34.12 When they are among, lit. “when he is among” the Hebrew is awkward. Day of clouds and thick darkness, the “day of the LORD,” which has already transpired; cf. 30.3.
34.14 See similarly Ps 23.
34.16 A verse transitional between vv. 1–15 and vv. 17–31. I will destroy foreshadows the language of judgment in vv. 17–22.
34.17–30 Various sayings concerning the proper administration of the flock by God.
34.17–19 God addresses the flock, which is made up of diverse animals.
34.18–19 God questions the flock over feeding and drinking in ways that make it difficult for them all to eat and drink.
34.19 My sheep…you, i.e., a distinction within the flock.
34.20–21 Judgment ensues, though in what it consists is unclear. Physical condition (fat versus lean), which results from the behavior described in vv. 18–19, provides the criterion for judgment.
34.21 You, apparently the fat sheep.
34.22 Saving and judging the flock are interdependent; cf. v. 10.
34.23–24 A member of the Davidic line will function as shepherd, though as prince (so also 37.25;44.1–3), not as king (but cf. 37.24). Num 2.3 knows the prince (Hebrew nasi’) as a tribal leader. My servant, a typical designation of David (e.g., 2 Sam 3.18). On a future David, cf. Hos 3.5; Jer 30.9. One shepherd, not multiple rulers, as was the case during 597–587 BCE, when Jehoiachin was in exile and Zedekiah on the throne in Judah; cf. 37.19.
34.25–30 A covenant of peace. The blessings that conclude the so-called Holiness Code (Lev 26.4–6) provide striking parallels to the weal depicted here; cf. Ezek 16.60; 37.26; Isa 54.10. The covenant obligations devolve on God.
34.26 My hill, probably Zion.
34.31 A concluding pronouncement using flock and shepherd imagery to convey the reality of a covenant relationship; cf. 11.20; 14.11.
EZEKIEL 35
Judgment on Mount Seir
1The word of the LORD came to me: 2Mortal, set your face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, 3and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD:
I am against you, Mount Seir;
I stretch out my hand against you
to make you a desolation and a waste.
4I lay your towns in ruins;
you shall become a desolation,
and you shall know that I am the LORD.
5Because you cherished an ancient enmity, and gave over the people of Israel to the power of the sword at the time of their calamity, at the time of their final punishment; 6therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will prepare you for blood, and blood shall pursue you; since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed shall pursue you. 7I will make Mount Seir a waste and a desolation; and I will cut off from it all who come and go. 8I will fill its mountains with the slain; on your hills and in your valleys and in all your watercourses those killed with the sword shall fall. 9I will make you a perpetual desolation, and your cities shall never be inhabited. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.
10Because you said, “These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will take possession of them,”—although the LORD was there—11therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them; and I will make myself known among you,a when I judge you. 12You shall know that I, the LORD, have heard all the abusive speech that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour.” 13And you magnified yourselves against me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against me; I heard it. 14Thus says the Lord GOD: As the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. 15As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.
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a Gk: Heb them
35.1–36.15 Oracles concerning mountains, both Edomite and Israelite. The structure is complex. Ch. 35 is made up of four “proof sayings” (“Because…therefore”: vv. 3–4, 5–9, 10–13, 14–15); 36.1–15 may be construed as an elaborated oracle of salvation.
35.1–2 Mount Seir, a mountainous area east of the Arabah that extends north–south throughout Edom. Seir may be equated with Edom, e.g., Gen 36.8; Num 24.18. Ezekiel had addressed Edom earlier (25.12–14).
35.3–4 The language is typical of Ezekiel.
35.5–6 Ancient enmity. Cf. the prior indictment of the Philistines, 25.15. In the case of Edom and Israel, such enmity exists within kinship lines (Gen 25.27–34; 27.41–45; cf. Jer 49.7–22; Obadiah). For reference to Edomite action during the defeat of Judah, see Ob 11–14. Blood, bloodshed belong to the concept of bloodguilt (cf. Gen 9.6).
35.8 Imagery used earlier (9.7; 11.6; 30.11; 32.5–6).
35.9 Cf. Mal 1.2–5 for the notion of God’s perpetual (eternal) anger at Edom.
35.10 Two nations…two countries, Israel and Judah; cf. 37.22. Israelites and non-Israelites in the land lay claim to it
(11.15; 33.24).
35.12–13 Abusive speech, you uttered, your mouth, your words. Verbal impropriety receives special attention.
35.12 The mountains of Israel are addressed in 36.1–15. To devour, the language of destruction by animals, birds, or fire (15.4, 6; 29.5; 34.5, 8)
35.14–15 Punishment in kind for Edom. Just as Edom gloated at the destruction of Judah, the whole earth will gloat at the destruction of Edom; cf. Ob 12–13.
EZEKIEL 36
Blessing on Israel
1And you, mortal, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD. 2Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, “Aha!” and, “The ancient heights have become our possession,” 3therefore prophesy, and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they made you desolate indeed, and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became an object of gossip and slander among the people; 4therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted towns, which have become a source of plunder and an object of derision to the rest of the nations all around; 5therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I am speaking in my hot jealousy against the rest of the nations, and against all Edom, who, with wholehearted joy and utter contempt, took my land as their possession, because of its pasture, to plunder it. 6Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the watercourses and valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am speaking in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the insults of the nations; 7therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I swear that the nations that are all around you shall themselves suffer insults.
8But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot out your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they shall soon come home. 9See now, I am for you; I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown; 10and I will multiply your population, the whole house of Israel, all of it; the towns shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt; 11and I will multiply human beings and animals upon you. They shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you shall know that I am the LORD. 12I will lead people upon you—my people Israel—and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance. No longer shall you bereave them of children.
13Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they say to you, “You devour people, and you bereave your nation of children,” 14therefore you shall no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, says the Lord GOD; 15and no longer will I let you hear the insults of the nations, no longer shall you bear the disgrace of the peoples; and no longer shall you cause your nation to stumble, says the Lord GOD.
The Renewal of Israel
16The word of the LORD came to me: 17Mortal, when the house of Israel lived on their own soil, they defiled it with their ways and their deeds; their conduct in my sight was like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual period. 18So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for the idols with which they had defiled it. 19I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries; in accordance with their conduct and their deeds I judged them. 20But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that it was said of them, “These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.” 21But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came.
22Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. 23I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes. 24I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29I will save you from all your uncleannesses, and I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine upon you. 30I will make the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field abundant, so that you may never again suffer the disgrace of famine among the nations. 31Then you shall remember your evil ways, and your dealings that were not good; and you shall loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominable deeds. 32It is not for your sake that I will act, says the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and dismayed for your ways, O house of Israel.
33Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the towns to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt. 34The land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. 35And they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined towns are now inhabited and fortified.” 36Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places, and replanted that which was desolate; I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.
37Thus says the Lord GOD: I will also let the house of Israel ask me to do this for them: to increase their population like a flock. 38Like the flock for sacrifices,a like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals, so shall the ruined towns be filled with flocks of people. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.
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a Heb flock of holy things
36.1–15 Concerning salvation for Israel’s mountains, a discourse with a complex structure consisting of the numerous oracular formulas (vv. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 13).
36.1 Mountains of Israel (cf. 35.12; Deut 3.25), a way of referring to the entire country.
36.2 Aha, quoted earlier in the mouths of the Ammonites (25.3) and the Tyrians (26.2). Ancient heights, poetic diction for the mountains. Heights, rendered high place (s) in 6.3, 6; 20.29; cf. Num 21.28; Deut 32.13; Mic 3.12. Our possession. Cf. the claim in v. 10.
36.3 The rest of the nations, also in v. 5; cf. 25.16; all probably refer to the nations elsewhere indicted in the book.
36.4 God continues to speak to Israel using geographic vocabulary.
36.5 Hot jealousy. Cf. the variant inv. 6 (cf. Ex 20.5; Josh 24.19; 1 Kings 14.22). As befits ch. 35, Edom is the only nation singled out.
36.6 Vocabulary found in vv. 4–5.
36.7 I swear, lit. “I lift up my hand.”
36.8 God continues to speak to the depopulated mountains, whose inhabitants, now in exile, will soon come home. Instead of being desolate, the mountains will produce verdure and consumable crops for the benefit of the people (see similarly 17.8).
36.9 I am for you. On this terse affirmation of the covenant relationship, cf. Lev 26.9.
36.10–11 God addresses the issue of repopulation, which was a serious problem after 587 BCE.
36.12 Inheritance. Cf. 35.15; Deut 26.9. Bereave them of children, perhaps an addition in which the mountains are viewed as negative; see 6.1–14; Deut 12.1–3.
36.13 The nations observe that the mountains, i.e., the land, devour people. Cf. the similar rhetoric in Num 13.32. An external observer might think that those who lived in Israel were doomed because of all the wars fought in that area.
36.15 Cause your nation to stumble. See note on 36.12. The mountains were not simply neutral geographi
c venues.
36.16–38 Discourse on the restoration of Israel, which is made up of several discrete utterances (vv. 17–21, 22–32, 33–36, 37–38).
36.17–21 A cursory theological survey of Israelite history that adumbrates themes and images used elsewhere in the book and serves as a prologue to the longest section in the discourse.
36.17 Their own soil, “their land” (cf. 28.25). On menstrual uncleanness, which is used here in a simile, see Lev 15.19–30.
36.18 Blood, here of violence; cf. 22.4.
36.20 By dint of the response of those countries to which Israel came, God’s name was profaned. My holy name. It is holiness that is subject to profanation. The conception is dialectical: the people of Israel have profaned God’s name, even though it is God who exiled them.
36.21 I had concern for, lit. “I grieved for.”
36.22–32 The rationale for and design of God’s new plan for Israel.
36.22, 32 Both at beginning and end, Ezekiel makes clear that God acts on behalf of the holy name, not for the sake of the people; cf. Isa 43.22–28.
36.23 I will sanctify my great name, presumably by the purificatory acts that follow, which will be apparent to Israelites and non-Israelites alike. Israel must return and remain in its land in order for God’s name to be holy.
36.24 Purification will occur after the people have returned to their own land.
36.25 On cleansing lustration rites, which here remove the uncleanness and idols; cf. Num 19.9–22; Ps 51.7.
36.26 Then God will give the people a new heart…and a new spirit; cf. 11.19; 18.31; Jer 31.31–34; Ps 51.10. For Ezekiel the new heart is to the old heart as flesh is to stone; the old heart did not enable life.