to the children of thy people--whom he had been forbidden to address from Eze 24:26-27, till Jerusalem was overthrown, and the "escaped" came with tidings of the judgment being completed. So now, in Eze 33:21, the tidings of the fact having arrived, he opens his heretofore closed lips to the Jews. In the interval he had prophesied as to foreign nations. The former part of the chapter, at Eze. 33:2-20, seems to have been imparted to Ezekiel on the evening previous (Eze 33:22), being a preparation for the latter part (Eze 33:23-33) imparted after the tidings had come. This accounts for the first part standing without intimation of the date, which was properly reserved for the latter part, to which the former was the anticipatory introduction [FAIRBAIRN].
watchman-- Eze 33:1-9 exhibit Ezekiel's office as a spiritual watchman; so in Eze 3:16-21; only here the duties of the earthly watchman (compare Sa2 18:24-25; Kg2 9:17) are detailed first, and then the application is made to the spiritual watchman's duty (compare Isa 21:6-10; Hos 9:8; Hab 2:1). "A man of their coasts" is a man specially chosen for the office out of their whole number. So Jdg 18:2, "five men from their coasts"; also the Hebrew of Gen 47:2; implying the care needed in the choice of the watchman, the spiritual as well as the temporal (Act 1:21-22, Act 1:24-26; Ti1 5:22).
pine away in them--if we suffer the penalty threatened for them in Eze 24:23, according to the law (Lev 26:39).
how should we . . . live?--as Thou dost promise in Eze 33:5 (compare Eze 37:11; Isa 49:14).
statutes of life--in the obeying of which life is promised (Lev 18:5). If the law has failed to give life to man, it has not been the fault of the law, but of man's sinful inability to keep it (Rom 7:10, Rom 7:12; Gal 3:21). It becomes life-giving through Christ's righteous obedience to it (Co2 3:6).
my mouth . . . no more dumb--that is, to my countrymen; as foretold (Eze 24:27), He spake (Eze. 33:2-20) in the evening before the tidings came.
Abraham was one . . . but we are many--If God gave the land for an inheritance to Abraham, who was but one (Isa 51:2), much more it is given to us, who, though reduced, are still many. If he, with 318 servants, was able to defend himself amid so many foes, much more shall we, so much more numerous, retain our own. The grant of the land was not for his sole use, but for his numerous posterity.
inherited the land--not actually possessed it (Act 7:5), but had the right of dwelling and pasturing his flocks in it [GROTIUS]. The Jews boasted similarly of their Abrahamic descent in Mat 3:9 and Joh 8:39.
every one--Scarcely anyone refrains from adultery.
caves-- (Jdg 6:2; Sa1 13:6). In the hilly parts of Judea there were caves almost inaccessible, as having only crooked and extremely narrow paths of ascent, with rock in front stretching down into the valleys beneath perpendicularly [JOSEPHUS, Wars of the Jews, 1.16.4].
none . . . pass through--from fear of wild beasts and pestilence [GROTIUS].
talking against thee--Though going to the prophet to hear the word of the Lord, they criticised, in an unfriendly spirit, his peculiarities of manner and his enigmatical style (Eze 20:49); making these the excuse for their impenitence. Their talking was not directly "against" Ezekiel, for they professed to like his ministrations; but God's word speaks of things as they really are, not as they appear.
by the walls--in the public haunts. In the East groups assemble under the walls of their houses in winter for conversation.
in the doors--privately.
what is the word--Their motive was curiosity, seeking pastime and gratification of the ear (Ti2 4:3); not reformation of the heart. Compare Johanan's consultation of Jeremiah, to hear the word of the Lord without desiring to do it (Jer. 42:1-43:13).
sit before thee--on lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (Deu 33:3; Kg2 4:38; Luk 10:39; Act 22:3).
as my people--though they are not.
hear . . . not do-- (Mat 13:20-21; Jam 1:23-24).
they show much love--literally, "make love," that is, act the part of lovers. Profess love to the Lord (Mat 7:21). GESENIUS translates, according to Arabic idiom, "They do the delights of God," that is, all that is agreeable to God. Vulgate translates, "They turn thy words into a song of their mouths."
heart goeth after . . . covetousness--the grand rival to the love of God; therefore called "idolatry," and therefore associated with impure carnal love, as both alike transfer the heart's affection from the Creator to the creature (Mat 13:22; Eph 5:5; Ti1 6:10).
play well on an instrument--Hebrew singers accompanied the "voice" with the harp.
lo, it will come--rather, "lo it is come" (see Eze 33:22).
know--experimentally, and to their cost.
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.