Ezekiel 12:22

“Son of man, what [is] that proverb [that] ye have in the land of Israel, &c.] Which question is put, as ignorant of it, but as filled with indignation at the impiety and boldness of those that used it, and in order to expose the wickedness and folly of it: saying, the days are prolonged; the days of affliction and distress; the time of Jerusalem’s destruction, and of the Babylonish captivity, these were not to be of a long time; and therefore they were ready to flatter themselves they would never be, at least in their days; and hence, because judgment was not immediately executed, their hearts were set in them to do evil; and thus they abused the patience and long suffering of God, and they…”

“proverb--The infidel scoff, that the threatened judgment was so long in coming, it would not come at all, had by frequent repetition come to be a "proverb" with them. This skeptical habit contemporary prophets testify to (Jer 17:15; Jer 20:7; Zep 1:12). Ezekiel, at the Chebar, thus sympathizes with Jeremiah and strengthens his testimony at Jerusalem. The tendency to the same scoff showed itself in earlier times, but had not then developed into a settled "proverb" (Isa 5:19; Amo 5:18). It shall again be the characteristic of the last times, when "faith" shall be regarded as an antiquated thing (Luk 18:8), seeing that it remains stationary, whereas worldly arts and sciences progress, and when…”

“As in Ezekiel 7:0, the nearness of the judgment is foretold. Ezekiel 12:22 The land of Israel - is put generally for the land where the children of Israel dwelt, whether at home, or in exile. There was prevalent a disregard for the true prophets, which is ever followed by a recognition of the false. First, the true prophet is rejected because it is thought that his prophecies fail. Then men persuade themselves that if the prophecy be true it respects some distant time, and that the men of the present generation need not disturb themselves about it. Compare Jeremiah 1:11; Amos 6:3; Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:4. Against both these delusions Ezekiel is commissioned to…”

“That proverb - That short saying commonly used. Days - Of wrath and vengeance, are to come a great while hence. Every vision - Threatening vision, which Jeremiah and Ezekiel would fright us with, comes to nothing. Ezekiel 12:25”

“12:22 Ezekiel’s hearers were so reluctant to open their ears to the message of the prophets that they had coined a proverb to express their skepticism.”

“what: Eze 18:2, Eze 18:3; Jer 23:33-40 The days: Eze 12:27, Eze 11:3; Isa 5:19; Jer 5:12, Jer 5:13; Amo 6:3; Pe2 3:3, Pe2 3:4 Ezekiel 12:23”