Ezekiel 11:16

“Therefore say, thus saith the Lord God, &c.] Since they were so insulted and ill treated by their brethren the Jews: although I have cast them afar off among the Heathen; both the ten tribes, even all the house of Israel, who were carried into Assyria, and placed in the cities of the Medes, in Halath and Habor, by the river Gozan, (<121706>2 Kings 17:6); and those of the Jews in Jeconiah’s captivity, among whom were Ezekiel, and his brethren, and his kindred: and although I have scattered them among the countries; and therefore, what with the distance of the place where they were, and the dispersion of them among the people where they resided, their case might seem to be desperate; and that…”

“Although--anticipating the objection of the priests at Jerusalem, that the exiles were "cast far off." Though this be so, and they are far from the outer temple at Jerusalem, I will be their asylum or sanctuary instead (Psa 90:1; Psa 91:9; Isa 8:14). My shrine is the humble heart: a preparation for gospel catholicity when the local and material temple should give place to the spiritual (Isa 57:15; Isa 66:1; Mal 1:11; Joh 4:21-24; Act 7:48-49). The trying discipline of the exile was to chasten the outcasts so as to be meet recipients of God's grace, for which the carnal confidence of the priests disqualified them. The dispersion served the end of spiritualizing and enlarging the views even of…”

“As a little sanctuary - Rather, I will be to them for a little while a sanctuary. The blessing was provisional, they were to look forward to a blessing more complete. For a little while they were to be satisfied with God’s special presence in a foreign land, but they were to look forward to a renewal of His presence in the restored temple of Jerusalem. “sanctuary” means here strictly the holy place, the tabernacle of the Most High: Yahweh will Himself be to the exiles in the place of the local sanctuary, in which the Jews of Jerusalem so much prided themselves (compare the margin reference). Here is the germ from which is developed Ezek. 40–48, the picture of the kingdom of God in its new…”

“Say - In vindication of them. Although - The obstinate Jews at Jerusalem will call them apostates; but I the Lord sent them thither, and will own them there. Scattered - Dispersed them in many countries which are under the king of Babylon: yet they are dear to me. A little sanctuary - A little one in opposition to that great temple at Jerusalem. To him they shall flee, and in him they shall be safe, as he was that took hold on the horns of the altar. And they shall have such communion with God in the land of their captivity, as it was thought could be had no where but in the temple. Ezekiel 11:18”

“Thus saith: Lev 26:44; Deu 30:3, Deu 30:4; Kg2 24:12-16; Psa 44:11; Jer 24:5, Jer 24:6, Jer 30:11; Jer 31:10 as a: Psa 31:20, Psa 90:1, Psa 91:1, Psa 91:9-16; Pro 18:10; Isa 4:5, Isa 8:14; Jer 26:7, Jer 26:11; Jer 42:11 Ezekiel 11:17”