HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

EZECHIEL 10

CHAPTER X.

Ver. 1. Throne. It was a sky blue crystal or sapphire colour, (C. i. 22, 26.) and was now empty. C. i. The Lord spoke from the temple door. v. 4. H.

Ver. 2. Out, to purify (S. Jer.) or punish the city, (Theod.) which would shortly be reduced to ashes. Vat. M.

Ver. 3. Right, south of the priests' court.

Ver. 4. Lifted up, before C. ix. 3. C. --- A man seemed to be on the throne, (W.) or rather over the door of the holy place.

Ver. 5. Court of the people. --- Speaking in thunder.

Ver. 8. Wings. They would seem to be distinct, or (C.) fingers appeared at the end of the wings. Grot.

Ver. 9. Stone. Heb. Tharsis. Sym. "Hyacinth." C. i. 16. C.

Ver. 11. By four ways. That is, by any of the four ways, forward, backward, to the right, or to the left. Ch. W.

Ver. 12. Wheels. These, as well as (H.) the cherubim, (Theod.) were full of eyes. C.

Ver. 13. Voluble. That is, rolling wheels: galgal, (Ch.) which means "rolling:" (H.) or "he said to the wheels, Turn around about." Theodoret. --- This is the real import of Heb. C. --- Prot. have, "O wheel." H.

Ver. 14. Cherub, or "ox." All four seem to have had the resemblance of a man, but one more than the rest, which had respectively the appearance rather of an ox, a lion, or an eagle: (W.) or the ox was predominant in all, as both the head and feet were of it; (C.) which, however, does not constitute the greatest part. C. i. 5. H.

Ver. 15. Creature. What I saw, was properly called cherubim. Charab, in Syr. means "to labour;" (Spencer) or cherubim may imply any composed and unusual figure, or "mixture." Ex. xxv. 18. C. --- Ezechiel being a priest, saw that the creatures resembled the cherubim of the temple. T.

Ver. 17. Life. They were not mere machines; (H.) or they were pushed forward by an impetuous wind.

Ver. 19. East gate, leading from the city to the court of the people. C. -- How unwilling is this good father to leave his house! T.

Ver. 20. Creature. The cherubim and all the throne seemed alive. H.

Ver. 22. Forward, thus shewing God's decree to abandon the synagogue. T.