Ezekiel 12:16

“But I will leave a few men of them, &c.] Or, “men of number”f164; of a small number, such as are easily reckoned up; which will require no great skill in numbers, nor trouble to count them: from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; during the siege of Jerusalem, and at the breaking of it up; but then they should be carried captive into other countries: that they may declare all their abominations among the Heathen whither they come; who, observing their calamities, and distresses, would read their sin in their punishment; and conclude they must have been guilty of great enormities, who were punished in such a manner; so that their punishment was a visible and standing…”

“I will leave a few . . . that they may declare . . . abominations--God's purpose in scattering a remnant of Jews among the Gentiles; namely, not only that they themselves should be weaned from idolatry (see Eze 12:15), but that by their own word, as also by their whole state as exiles, they should make God's righteousness manifest among the Gentiles, as vindicated in their punishment for their sins (compare Isa 43:10; Zac 8:13).”

“Few - literally, as in the margin; so few, that they can easily be counted Isaiah 10:19. The few who should escape destruction should make known to all among whom they should dwell how great had been the wickedness of the people, how just their punishment. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Declare - By relating those sins, for which God was justly angry, and for which he punished them, though they were his own people. Thy - The Chaldeans. See how God brings good out of evil! The dispersion of sinners, who had done God much dishonour and disservice in their own country, proves the dispersion of penitents, who shall do him much honour and service in other countries! Ezekiel 12:19”

“12:16 The unhappy few survivors would confess all their detestable sins to their captors, not necessarily in repentance, but in recognition that the Lord had acted justly in judgment against them.”

“I will: Eze 6:8-10, Eze 14:22, Eze 14:23; Isa 1:9, Isa 6:13, Isa 10:22, Isa 24:13; Jer 4:27, Jer 30:11; Amo 9:8, Amo 9:9; Mat 7:14, Mat 24:22; Rom 11:4, Rom 11:5 a few men: Heb. men of number, Gen 13:16; Isa 10:19; Rom 9:27 that they: Eze 14:22, Eze 14:23, Eze 36:31; Lev 26:40, Lev 26:41; Jer 3:24, Jer 3:25; Dan 9:5-12 and they: Deu 29:24-28; Kg1 9:6-9; Jer 22:8, Jer 22:9 Ezekiel 12:18”