View Ezekiel 34 in the note window.
A charge against the shepherds of Israel, ver. 1 - 6.
Their dismission from their trust, ver. 7 - 10.
A promise, that God would take care of his flock, ver. 11 - 16.
Another charge against the strong of the flock, for their injuring
the weak, ver. 17 - 22.
A promise of the Messiah, the great and good shepherd, ver. 23 - 31.
2: The shepherds - The rulers of the people kings, magistrates, and
princes; as also priests, and prophets. Of Israel - The two tribes, and
the few out of the ten that adhere to the house of David.
That feed - Contrive their own ease, advantage, and honour.
3: Ye kill - You contrive methods, to take first the life, and next
the estate of the well - fed, the rich and wealthy. But - You take care to
lead, protect, provide for, and watch over them.
4: The diseased - The weak and languishing. Bound up - Oppressors
in the state, or church, broke many then, but these shepherds bound
them not up.
5: No shepherd - No vigilant, faithful shepherd.
Became meat - Were made a prey of, and devoured by all their neighbours.
12: In the cloudy and dark day - In the time of general distress.
16: The fat - The powerful and rich. I will feed - I will judge and
punish them.
17: I judge - Between men and men, between the smaller and weaker,
and the greater and stronger, as their different state requires I will do.
The rams - Rulers, who also shalt be dealt with according to their
behaviour.
18: But ye must tread down - You great ones, eat the fat, and sweet;
and what you cannot eat, you waste and spoil. The deep waters - Which are
sufficient for all.
20: I will judge - I will vindicate the poor.
The fat cattle - The rich. The lean - The poor.
23: One shepherd - Christ, the great good, chief, only shepherd,
that laid down his life for his sheep. My servant David - The seed of
David, the beloved one, who was typified by David, and is in other
places called by his name, as (Jer 30:9,Eze 37:24,Isa 37:35,Ho 3:5).
He shall feed - Do all the office of a good and faithful shepherd, and
that for ever.
24: My servant - Christ was in this great work his fathers servant,(Isa 42:1).
25: A covenant - A covenant of promises, which contain, and shall
bring peace, that is all good.
26: Them - My returned captives, The places - All the country.
My hill - Jerusalem.
29: A plant - The Messiah. The shame - The reproach.
30: Their God - By covenant, from their forefathers.
Am with them - Present with them, and reconciled to them.
