Ezekiel 18:2

“What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, &c.] This is spoken to the Jews in Babylon, who used the following proverb concerning the land of Israel; not the ten tribes, but the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, concerning the desolation of the land, and the hardships the Jews laboured under, since the captivity of Jeconiah, and they became subject to the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar: this expostulation with them suggests that they had no just cause, or true reason, to make use of the proverb; that it was impious, impudent, and insolent in them, and daring and dangerous; and that they did not surely well consider what they said. The proverb follows: saying, the fathers…”

“Concerning the land of Israel - Rather, “in the land of Israel,” i. e., upon Israel’s soil, the last place where such a paganish saying should be expected. The saying was general among the people both in Palestine and in exile; and expressed the excuse wherewith they ascribed their miserable condition to anyone’s fault but their own - to a blind fate such as the pagan recognized, instead of the discriminating judgment of an All-holy God. return to 'Top of Page'”

“The land of Israel - The two tribes, not the ten. The fathers - Our fore - fathers. Have eaten - Have sinned. The childrens - We their children, who were unborn, suffer for their sins. Ezekiel 18:4”

“mean: Eze 17:12; Isa 3:15; Rom 9:20 the land: Eze 6:2, Eze 6:3, Eze 7:2, Eze 25:3, Eze 36:1-6, Eze 37:11, Eze 37:19, Eze 37:25 The fathers: Jer 15:4, Jer 31:29, Jer 31:30; Lam 5:7; Mat 23:36 Ezekiel 18:3”