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73 lines
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Text Commentaries</title>
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PriorBook = 'Lamentations';
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PriorChapter = 'Ezekiel 33';
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NextChapter = 'Ezekiel 35';
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Title = 'The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel';
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SubTitle1 = 'Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET';
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SubTitle3 = 'CHAPTER 34';
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<p id="Chapter34" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br>CHAPTER 34
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<p id="Eze34_1"><a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,'1-31');">Eze 34:1-31</a>. REPROOF OF THE FALSE SHEPHERDS; PROMISE OF THE TRUE AND GOOD SHEPHERD.
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<p>Having in the thirty-third chapter laid down repentance as the necessary preliminary to happier times for the people, He now promises the removal of the false shepherds as preparatory to the raising up of the Good Shepherd.
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<p id="Eze34_2"><b>2.</b> <a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,1);">Jer 23:1</a> similarly make the removal of the false shepherds the preliminary to the interposition of Messiah the Good Shepherd in behalf of His people Israel. The "shepherds" are not prophets or priests, but <i>rulers</i> who sought in their government their own selfish ends, not the good of the people ruled. The term was appropriate, as David, the first king and the type of the true David (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,23,24);">Eze 34:23-24</a>), was taken from being a shepherd (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',5,2);">2Sa 5:2</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',78,70,71);">Psa 78:70-71</a>); and the office, like that of a shepherd for his flock, is to guard and provide for his people. The choice of a <i>shepherd</i> for the first king was therefore designed to suggest this thought, just as Jesus' selection of <i>fishermen</i> for apostles was designed to remind them of their spiritual office of catching men (compare <a onclick="return mV('Isa',44,28);">Isa 44:28</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',2,8);">Jer 2:8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',3,15);">3:15</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',10,21);">10:21</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,1,2);">23:1-2</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_3"><b>3. fat</b>—or, by differently pointing the <i>Hebrew,</i> "milk" [<i>Septuagint</i>]. Thus the repetition "fat" and "fed" is avoided: also the eating of "fat" would not probably be put before the "killing" of the sheep. The eating of sheep's or goats' milk as food (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',32,14);">Deu 32:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Pro',27,27);">Pro 27:27</a>) was unobjectionable, had not these shepherds milked them too often, and that without duly "feeding" them [BOCHART], (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',56,11);">Isa 56:11</a>). The rulers levied exorbitant tributes.
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<br><br><b>kill...fed</b>—kill the rich by false accusation so as to get possession of their property.
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<br><br><b>feed not...flock</b>—take no care of the people (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',10,12);">Jhn 10:12</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_4"><b>4. The diseased</b>—rather, those <i>weak</i> from the effects of "disease," as "strengthened" (that is, with due nourishment) requires [GROTIUS].
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<br><br><b>broken</b>—that is, fractures from wounds inflicted by the wolf.
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<br><br><b>brought again...driven away</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',23,4);">Exd 23:4</a>). Those "driven away" by the enemy into foreign lands through God's judgments are meant (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,3);">Jer 23:3</a>). A spiritual reformation of the state by the rulers would have turned away God's wrath, and "brought again" the exiles. The rulers are censured as <i>chiefly</i> guilty (though the people, too, were guilty), because they, who ought to have been foremost in checking the evil, promoted it.
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<br><br><b>neither...sought...lost</b>—Contrast the Good Shepherd's love (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',15,4);">Luk 15:4</a>).
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<br><br><b>with force...ruled</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',1,13,14);">Exd 1:13-14</a>). With an Egyptian bondage. The very thing forbidden by the law they did (<a onclick="return mV('Lev',25,43);">Lev 25:43</a>; compare <a onclick="return mV('1Pe',5,3);">1Pe 5:3</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_5"><b>5. scattered, because...no shepherd</b>—that is, none worthy of the name, though there were some <i>called</i> shepherds (<a onclick="return mV('1Ki',22,17);">1Ki 22:17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mat',9,36);">Mat 9:36</a>). Compare <a onclick="return mV('Mat',26,31);">Mat 26:31</a>, where the sheep were scattered when the true Shepherd was smitten. God calls them "<i>My</i> sheep"; for they were not, as the shepherds treated them, <i>their</i> patrimony whereby to "feed themselves."
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<br><br><b>meat to all...beasts</b>—They became a prey to the Syrians, Ammon, Moab, and Assyria.
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<p id="Eze34_6"><b>6. every high hill</b>—the scene of their idolatries sanctioned by the rulers.
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<br><br><b>search...seek</b>—rather, "seek...search." The former is the part of the superior rulers <i>to inquire after: to search out</i> is the duty of the subordinate rulers [JUNIUS].
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<p id="Eze34_10"><b>10. I will require my flock</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Hbr',13,17);">Hbr 13:17</a>), rather, "I require," etc., for God already had begun to do so, punishing Zedekiah and the other princes severely (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',52,10);">Jer 52:10</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_11"><b>11. I...will...search</b>—doing that which the so-called shepherds had failed to do, I being the rightful owner of the flock.
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<p id="Eze34_12"><b>12. in the day that he is among</b>—<i>in the midst of</i> (<i>Hebrew</i>) His sheep that had been scattered. Referring to Messiah's second advent, when He shall be "the glory <i>in the midst of</i> Israel" (<a onclick="return mV('Zec',2,5);">Zec 2:5</a>).
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<br><br><b>in the cloudy...day</b>—the day of the nation's calamity (<a onclick="return mV('Joe',2,2);">Joe 2:2</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_13"><b>13. And I will bring them out from the people,</b> etc.— (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',28,25);">Eze 28:25</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Eze',36,24);">36:24</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Eze',37,21,22);">37:21-22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',65,9,10);">Isa 65:9-10</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,3);">Jer 23:3</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_14"><b>14. good pasture</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',23,2);">Psa 23:2</a>).
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<br><br><b>high mountains of Israel</b>—In <a onclick="return mV('Eze',17,23);">Eze 17:23</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Eze',20,40);">20:40</a>, the phrase is "the mountain of the height of Israel" in the <i>singular</i> number. The reason for the difference is: <i>there</i> Ezekiel spoke of the central seat of the kingdom, Mount Zion, where the people met for the worship of Jehovah; <i>here</i> he speaks of the kingdom of Israel at large, all the parts of which are regarded as possessing a moral elevation.
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<p id="Eze34_16"><b>16.</b> In contrast to the unfaithful shepherds (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,4);">Eze 34:4</a>). The several duties neglected by <i>them I</i> will faithfully discharge.
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<br><br><b>fat...strong</b>—that is, those rendered wanton by prosperity (<a onclick="return mV('Deu',32,15);">Deu 32:15</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',5,28);">Jer 5:28</a>), who use their strength to oppress the weak. Compare <a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,20);">Eze 34:20</a>, "the fat cattle" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',10,16);">Isa 10:16</a>). The image is from fat cattle that wax refractory.
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<br><br><b>with judgment</b>—that is, justice and equity, as contrasted with the "force" and "cruelty" with which the unfaithful shepherds ruled the flock (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,4);">Eze 34:4</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_17"><b>17. you,...my flock</b>—passing from the rulers to the people.
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<br><br><b>cattle and cattle</b>—rather, "sheep and sheep"; <i>Margin,</i> "small cattle," or "flocks of lambs and kids," that is, I judge between one class of citizens and another, so as to award what is right to each. He then defines the class about to be punitively "judged," namely, "the rams and he-goats," or "great he-goats" (compare <a onclick="return mV('Isa',14,9);">Isa 14:9</a>, <i>Margin;</i> <a onclick="return mV('Zec',10,3);">Zec 10:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mat',25,32,33);">Mat 25:32-33</a>). They answer to "the fat and strong," as opposed to the "sick" (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,16);">Eze 34:16</a>). The rich and ungodly of the people are meant, who imitated the bad rulers in oppressing their poorer brethren, as if it enhanced their own joys to trample on others' rights (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,18);">Eze 34:18</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_18"><b>18, 19.</b> Not content with appropriating to their own use the goods of others, they from mere wantonness spoiled what they did not use, so as to be of no use to the owners.
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<br><br><b>deep waters</b>—that is, "limpid," as deep waters are generally <i>clear.</i> GROTIUS explains the image as referring to the usuries with which the rich ground the poor (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',22,12);">Eze 22:12</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',24,2);">Isa 24:2</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_19"><b>19. they eat</b>—scantily.
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<br><br><b>they drink</b>—sorrowfully.
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<p id="Eze34_20"><b>20. fat...lean</b>—the rich oppressors...the humble poor.
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<p id="Eze34_21"><b>21. scattered them abroad</b>—down to the time of the carrying away to Babylon [GROTIUS].
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<p id="Eze34_22"><b>22.</b> After the restoration from Babylon, the Jews were delivered in some degree from the oppression, not only of foreigners, but also of their own great people (<a onclick="return mV('Neh',5,'1-19');">Neh 5:1-19</a>). The full and final fulfilment of this prophecy is future.
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<p id="Eze34_23"><b>23. set up</b>—that is, raise up by divine appointment; alluding to the declaration of God to David, "I will <i>set up</i> thy seed after thee" (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',7,12);">2Sa 7:12</a>); and, "Yet have I set My king on My holy hill of Zion" (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',2,6);">Psa 2:6</a>; compare <a onclick="return mV('Act',2,30);">Act 2:30</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Act',13,23);">13:23</a>).
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<br><br><b>one shepherd</b>—literally, "a Shepherd, one": singularly and pre-eminently <i>one:</i> the only one of His kind, to whom none is comparable (<a onclick="return mV('Sgs',5,10);">Sgs 5:10</a>). The Lord Jesus refers to this prophecy (<a onclick="return mV('Jhn',10,14);">Jhn 10:14</a>), "I am THE Good Shepherd." Also "one" as uniting in one the heretofore divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and also "gathering together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth" (<a onclick="return mV('Eph',1,10);">Eph 1:10</a>); thus healing worse breaches than that between Israel and Judah (<a onclick="return mV('Col',1,20);">Col 1:20</a>). "God by Him reconciling all things unto Himself, whether things in earth or in heaven."
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<br><br><b>David</b>—the antitypical David, Messiah, of the seed of David, which no other king after the captivity was: who was <i>fully,</i> what David was only in a degree, "the man after God's own heart." Also, David means <i>beloved:</i> Messiah was truly God's <i>beloved</i> Son (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',42,1);">Isa 42:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mat',3,17);">Mat 3:17</a>). Shepherd means King, rather than religious instructor; in this pre-eminently He was the true David, who was the <i>Shepherd King</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',1,32,33);">Luk 1:32-33</a>, <a onclick="return mV('Luk',1,33);">33</a>). Messiah is called "David" in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',55,3,4);">Isa 55:3-4</a>- <a onclick="return mV('Jer',30,9);">Jer 30:9</a>- <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',3,5);">Hsa 3:5</a>.
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<p id="Eze34_24"><b>24. my servant</b>—implying fitness for ruling in the name of God, not pursuing a self-chosen course, as other kings, but acting as the faithful administrator of the will of God; Messiah realized fully this character (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',40,7);">Psa 40:7-8</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',42,1);">Isa 42:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',49,3, 91);">49:3, 6</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',53,11);">53:11</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Phl',2,7);">Phl 2:7</a>), which David typically and partially represented (<a onclick="return mV('Act',13,36);">Act 13:36</a>); so He is the fittest person to wield the world scepter, abused by all the world kings (<a onclick="return mV('Dan',2,34,35,44,45);">Dan 2:34-35, 44-45</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_25"><b>25. covenant of peace...evil beasts...to cease...dwell safely</b>—The original promise of the law (<a onclick="return mV('Lev',26,6);">Lev 26:6</a>) shall be realized for the first time fully under Messiah (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',11,'6-9');">Isa 11:6-9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',35,9);">35:9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Hsa',2,18);">Hsa 2:18</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_26"><b>26. them and the places round about my hill</b>—The Jews, and Zion, God's hill (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',2,6);">Psa 2:6</a>), are to be sources of blessing, not merely to themselves, but to the surrounding heathen (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',19,24);">Isa 19:24</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',56,6,7);">56:6, 7</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',60,3);">60:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mic',5,7);">Mic 5:7</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Zec',8,13);">Zec 8:13</a>). The literal fulfilment is, however, the primary one, though the spiritual also is designed. In correspondence with the settled reign of righteousness internally, all is to be prosperity externally, fertilizing showers (according to the promise of the ancient covenant, <a onclick="return mV('Lev',26,4);">Lev 26:4</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Psa',68,9);">Psa 68:9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mal',3,10);">Mal 3:10</a>), and productive trees and lands (<a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,27);">Eze 34:27</a>). Thus shall they realize the image of <a onclick="return mV('Eze',34,14);">Eze 34:14</a>; namely, a flock richly pastured by God Himself.
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<p id="Eze34_27"><b>27. served themselves of them</b>—availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were their slaves (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',22,13);">Jer 22:13</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',25,14);">25:14</a>; compare <a onclick="return mV('Gen',15,13);">Gen 15:13</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Exd',1,14);">Exd 1:14</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_28"><b>28. dwell safely</b>— (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,6);">Jer 23:6</a>).
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<p id="Eze34_29"><b>29. plant of renown</b>—Messiah, the "Rod" and "Branch" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',11,1);">Isa 11:1</a>), the "righteous Branch" (<a onclick="return mV('Jer',23,5);">Jer 23:5</a>), who shall obtain for them "renown." FAIRBAIRN less probably translates, "A plantation for a name," that is, a flourishing condition, represented as a garden (alluding to Eden, <a onclick="return mV('Gen',2,'8-11');">Gen 2:8-11</a>, with its various trees, good for food and pleasant to the sight), the planting of the Lord (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',60,21);">Isa 60:21</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',61,3);">61:3</a>), and an object of "renown" among the heathen.
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<p id="Eze34_31"><b>31. ye my flock...are men</b>—not merely an explanation of the image, as JEROME represents. But as God had promised many things which mere "men" could not expect to realize, He shows that it is not from <i>man's</i> might their realization is to be looked for, but from GOD, who would perform them for His covenant-people, "<i>His</i> flock" [ROSENMULLER]. When we realize most our weakness and God's power and faithfulness to His covenant, we are in the fittest state for receiving His blessings.
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