Ezekiel Chapter 3

“Moreover he said unto me, &c.] The same glorious Person who had been speaking all along in the preceding chapter; and who was seen by the prophet on a sapphire throne, and described in (<260126>Ezekiel 1:26-28); the first fifteen verses of this chapter are by Junius and Tremellius made a part of the second: son of man, eat that thou findest; not anything, but what he found in the hand sent unto him; wherefore the Targum is, “son of man, receive what is given thee;” which was the roll, as follows: eat this roll; not literally, but figuratively, as John is bid to eat the little book, (<661009>Revelation 10:9,10);…”

“EZEKIEL EATS THE ROLL. IS COMMISSIONED TO GO TO THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY AND GOES TO TEL-ABIB BY THE CHEBAR: AGAIN BEHOLDS THE SHEKINAH GLORY: IS TOLD TO RETIRE TO HIS HOUSE, AND ONLY SPEAK WHEN GOD OPENS HIS MOUTH. (Eze. 3:1-27) eat . . . and . . . speak--God's messenger must first inwardly appropriate God's truth himself, before he "speaks" it to others (see on Eze 2:8). Symbolic actions were, when possible and proper, performed outwardly; otherwise, internally and in spiritual vision, the action so narrated making the naked statement more intuitive and impressive by presenting the subject in a concentrated,…”

“Before, there was a direct commission, now there is a symbolic action. John has the same vision (Revelation 10:8 ff), but there that is expressed, which is here left to be inferred, namely, that “as soon as he had eaten it his belly was bitter.” The sweetness in the mouth denoted that it was good to be a messenger of the Lord (compare the margin reference), but the bitterness which accompanied it, denoted that the commission brought with it much sorrow. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Eat - This was done in a vision. Findeth - In the hand which was sent to him. Ezekiel 3:3”

“3:2-3 Although the scroll looked bitter, Ezekiel found it as sweet as honey when he ate it. Adam’s disobedience turned bitter, but Ezekiel’s obedience became pleasant and satisfying. Psalm 119:103 also describes God’s words as “sweeter than honey.””

“eat: This must have passed in a vision; but the meaning is plain: Receive ny word into thy mind, let it enter into they soul; digest it, let it be they nourishment, they meat and thy drink, to do the will of thy Father who is in heaven. Eze 3:10, Eze 2:8, Eze 2:9; Ti1 4:15; Rev 10:9, Rev 10:10 go: Eze 3:11, Eze 3:15, Eze 3:17-21, Eze 2:3; Jer 24:1-7 Ezekiel 3:2”

“After the Lord had pointed out to the prophet the difficulties of the call laid upon him, He prepared him for the performance of his office, by inspiring him with the divine word which he is to announce. - Eze 2:8. And thou, son of man, hear what I say to thee, Be not stiff-necked like the stiff-necked race; open thy mouth, and eat what I give unto thee. Eze 2:9. Then I saw, and, lo, a hand outstretched towards me; and, lo, in the same a roll of a book. Eze 2:10. And He spread it out before me; the same was written upon the front and back: and there were written upon it lamentations, and sighing, and woe. Eze…”