111 And lift me up doth a spirit, and it bringeth me in unto the east gate of the house of Jehovah, that is facing the east, and lo, at the opening of the gate twenty and five men, and I see in their midst Jaazaniah son of Azzur, and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, heads of the people. 2 And He saith unto me, 'Son of man, these 'are' the men who are devising iniquity, and who are giving evil counsel in this city; 3 who are saying, It 'is' not near—to build houses, it 'is' the pot, and we the flesh. 4 Therefore prophesy concerning them, prophesy, son of man.' 5 And fall upon me doth the Spirit of Jehovah, and He saith unto me, 'Say: Thus said Jehovah: Rightly ye have said, O house of Israel, And the steps of your spirit I have known. 6 Ye multiplied your wounded in this city, And filled its out-places with the wounded. 7 Therefore, thus said the Lord Jehovah: Your wounded whom ye placed in its midst, They 'are' the flesh, and it 'is' the pot, And you he hath brought out from its midst. 8 A sword ye have feared, And a sword I bring in against you, An affirmation of the Lord Jehovah. 9 And I have brought you out of its midst, And given you into the hand of strangers, And I have done among you judgments. 10 By the sword ye do fall, On the border of Israel I do judge you, And ye have known that I 'am' Jehovah. 11 It is not to you for a pot, Nor are ye in its midst for flesh, At the border of Israel I do judge you. 12 And ye have known that I 'am' Jehovah, For in My statutes ye have not walked, And My Judgments ye have not done, And according to the judgments of the nations Who are round about you—ye have done!' 13 And it cometh to pass, at my prophesying, that Pelatiah son of Benaiah is dying, and I fall on my face, and cry—a loud voice—and say, 'Ah, Lord Jehovah, an end Thou art making of the remnant of Israel.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 11:1-13
Commentary on Ezekiel 11:1-13
(Read Ezekiel 11:1-13)
Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should still plead with the Lord to have mercy on those who remain.