Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 11:22
Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above.
The whole 22nd verse is in almost the same words you have in Eze 10:19, which see.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then did the cherubim lift up their wings,…. In order to remove, as in Eze 10:19;
and the wheels beside them; which were lifted up also along with the cherubim:
and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above; both cherubim and wheels.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The promise that the Lord would preserve to Himself a holy seed among those who had been carried away captive, brought to a close the announcement of the judgment that would fall upon the ancient Israel and apostate Jerusalem. All that is now wanting, as a conclusion to the whole vision, is the practical confirmation of the announcement of judgment. This is given in the two following verses. – Eze 11:22. And the cherubim raised their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was up above them. Eze 11:23. And the glory of Jehovah ascended from the midst of the city, and took its stand upon the mountain which is to the east of the city. Eze 11:24. And wind lifted me up, and brought me to Chaldea to the exiles, in the vision, in the Spirit of God; and the vision ascended away from me, which I had seen. Eze 11:25. And I spoke to the exiles all the words of Jehovah, which He had shown to me. – The manifestation of the glory of the Lord had already left the temple, after the announcement of the burning of Jerusalem, and had taken its stand before the entrance of the eastern gate of the outer court, that is to say, in the city itself (Eze 10:19; Eze 11:1). But now, after the announcement had been made to the representatives of the authorities of their removal from the city, the glory of the God of Israel forsook the devoted city also, as a sign that both temple and city had ceased to be the seats of the gracious presence of the Lord. The mountain on the east of the city is the Mount of Olives, which affords a lofty outlook over the city. There the glory of God remained, to execute the judgment upon Jerusalem. Thus, according to Zec 14:4, will Jehovah also appear at the last judgment on the Mount of Olives above Jerusalem, to fight thence against His foes, and prepare a way of escape for those who are to be saved. It was from the Mount of Olives also that the Son of God proclaimed to the degenerate city the second destruction (Luk 19:21; Mat 24:3); and from the same mountain He made His visible ascension to heaven after His resurrection (Luk 24:50; cf. Act 1:12); and, as Grotius has observed, “thus did Christ ascend from this mountain into His kingdom, to execute judgment upon the Jews.”
After this vision of the judgments of God upon the ancient people of the covenant and the kingdom of God, Ezekiel was carried back in the spirit into Chaldea, to the river Chaboras. The vision then vanished; and he related to the exiles all that he had seen.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| The Visions of the Divine Glory. | B. C. 593. |
22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. 23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. 24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. 25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.
Here is, 1. The departure of God’s presence from the city and temple. When the message was committed to the prophet, and he was fully apprized of it, fully instructed how to separate between the precious and the vile, then the cherubim lifted up their wings and the wheels beside them (v. 22) as before, ch. x. 19. Angels, when they have done their errands in this lower world, are upon the wing to be gone, for they lose no time. We left the glory of the Lord last at the east gate of the temple (ch. x. 19), which is here said to be in the midst of the city. Now here we are told that, finding and wondering that there was none to intercede, none to uphold, none to invite its return, it removed next to the mountain which is on the east side of the city (v. 23); that was the mount of Olives. On this mountain they had set up their idols, to confront God in his temple, when he dwelt there (1 Kings xi. 7), and thence it was called the mount of corruption (2 Kings xxiii. 13); therefore there God does as it were set up his standard, his tribunal, as it were to confront those who thought to keep possession of the temple for themselves now that God had left it. From that mountain there was a full prospect of the city; thither God removed, to make good what he had said (Deut. xxxii. 20), I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be. It was from this mountain that Christ beheld the city and wept over it, in the foresight of its last destruction by the Romans. The glory of the Lord removed thither, to be as it were yet within call, and ready to return if now at length, in this their day, they would have understood the things that belonged to their peace. Loth to depart bids oft farewell. God, by going away thus slowly, thus gradually, intimated that he left them with reluctance, and would not have gone if they had not perfectly forced him from them. He did now, in effect, say, How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? But, though he bear long, he will not bear always, but will at length forsake those, and cast them off for ever, who have forsaken him and cast him off. 2. The departure of this vision from the prophet. At length it went up from him (v. 24); he saw it mount upwards, till it went out of sight, which would be a confirmation to his faith that it was a heavenly vision, that it descended from above, for thitherward it returned. Note, The visions which the saints have of the glory of God will not be constant will they come to heaven. They have glimpses of that glory, which they soon lose again, visions which go up from them, tastes of divine pleasures, but not a continual feast. It was from the mount of Olives that the vision went up, typifying the ascension of Christ to heaven from that very mountain, when those that had seen him manifested in the flesh saw him no more. It was foretold (Zech. xiv. 4) that his feet should stand upon the mount of Olives, stand last there. 3. The prophet’s return to those of the captivity. The same spirit that had carried him in a trance or ecstasy to Jerusalem brought him back to Chaldea; for there the bounds of his habitation are at present appointed, and that is the place of his service. The Spirit came to him, not to deliver him out of captivity, but (which was equivalent) to support and comfort him in his captivity. 4. The account which he gave to his hearers of all he had seen and heard, v. 25. He received that he might give, and he was faithful to him that appointed him; he delivered his message very honestly: he spoke all that, and that only, which God had shown him. He told them of the great wickedness he had seen at Jerusalem, and the ruin that was hastening towards that city, that they might not repent of their surrendering themselves to the king of Babylon as Jeremiah advised them, and blame themselves for it, nor envy those that staid behind, and laughed at them for going when they did, nor wish themselves there again, but be content in their captivity. Who would covet to be in a city so full of sin and so near to ruin? It is better to be in Babylon under the favour of God than in Jerusalem under his wrath and curse. But, though this was delivered immediately to those of the captivity, yet we may suppose that they sent the contents of it to those at Jerusalem, with whom they kept up a correspondence; and well would it have been for Jerusalem if she had taken the warning hereby given.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
VISION OF JERUSALEM’S DEPARTING GLORY
Verses 22-25:
Verse 22 describes the rising of the cherubims, with the lifting of their wings, with the wheels that had accompanied them to destruction upon Israel and Judah. As they profaned His temple, so He would lead them to be profaned by the Chaldeans, Eze 9:10. The
glory of the God of Israel, the Shechinah light hovered above them to lead them away, Eze 10:16-17; Such is further described 1Ki 8:5-11; Ezr 3:12; Eze 43:2-5.
Verse 23 explains that the glory of the Lord then went up from where it hovered over the city, at the east gate of Jerusalem, and stood or rested on the top of the mount of Olives, from which our Lord ascended into heaven, when he was about to send judgment on the Jews, as He predicted Mat 24:3. And to which it is prophesied that He would one day return, Luk 24:50-51; Act 1:8-11; Eze 8:4; Eze 9:3; Eze 10:4; Eze 10:18; Eze 43:4; Zec 14:4.
Verse 24 relates that following this vision scene the spirit of God took Ezekiel up and way from Jerusalem, before the 70 elders, Eze 8:1; Eze 8:3, where he had been transported in a vision, and returned him to Chaldea, to them of the captivity, among whom he lived. Then the vision which he had seen and related in this prophecy went up and away from him, back to God who sent it, Eze 8:3.
Verse 25 then affirms that Ezekiel faithfully prophesied to Israel in their captivity, all the things that the Lord had shown him, 2Pe 1:20-21. What a witness! So should His children be in faithful obedience today, Mat 5:13-16; Act 1:8; Eph 2:10; Jas 1:22; 1Co 15:28. He was a prophet to them, Eze 2:5; He was an instructor regarding right and wrong, Eze 3:17; He had taken the place of a mediator, Eze 11:15. So should we.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Here Ezekiel repeats what we saw before, namely, that God as he had chosen Mount Zion had at length rejected it, because that place had been polluted by the many wickednesses of the people. The Jews fancied that God was, as it were, held captive among them, and in this confidence they gave themselves up to licentiousness. Hence the Prophet shows them that God was not so bound to them as not to go wherever he pleased, and what is more, he announces that he has migrated, and that the temple is deprived of his glory. This indeed was almost incredible. For since God had pro-raised to dwell there perpetually, (Psa 132:14,) his faithful ones could scarcely suppose that he would neglect his promise, and desert the temple which he had chosen. But this interruption does not interfere with his promise, which was always true and firm. God, therefore, did not entirely desert Mount Zion, because the opposite promise concerning his return must be kept. Since then the exile was temporary, and the temple was to be restored after seventy years, these points may be reconciled: namely, that God departed from it and yet the place remained sacred, so that after the lapse of that time which God had previously determined, his worship should be restored again in the temple and on Mount Zion. But he says, that God had visibly gone out of the city and the cherubim also: that is, that God was borne above the wings of the cherubim, as also the scripture elsewhere says: and he does this, because the Jews were governed by external symbols, and when the ark of the covenant was shut up in the sanctuary, no one could be persuaded that God could be torn away from it. With this view the Prophet says, The cherubim had flown away elsewhere, and that at the same time God was carried upon their wings Now he adds —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
C. The Conclusion of the Vision 11:2225
TRANSLATION
(22) Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. (23) And the glory of the LORD went up from over the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which was east of the city, (24) Afterwards, a spirit lifted me up and caused me to go like a vision by the Spirit of God unto the captivity. So the vision which I had seen went up from me. (25) And I spoke unto the captivity all the things of the LORD which He had showed me.
COMMENTS
The throne-chariot of God had paused at the eastern gate of the Temple court (Eze. 10:19). Now in his vision Ezekiel saw those cherubic wings begin to whir, and the entire throne-chariot with the glory of God over it became air-borne (Eze. 11:22). The heavenly chariot came down on the Mt. of Olives east of Jerusalem. From that same spot centuries later the Son of Man beheld the city, and wept over it (Luk. 19:41); and from that hill He, the very embodiment of heavenly glory, ascended into heaven. It is not altogether clear why the Shechinah glory paused on the Mt. of Olives in the course of departure.[264] There is no need to trace further the journeys of the throne-chariot. Ezekiel had already seen it in Tel-Abib.
[264] Jewish tradition sees in this pause evidence that God was still looking for repentance within the city. Others suggest that the purpose of the delay was to enable the glory-cloud to direct the judgment of the city.
The long vision actually a series of related visions which commenced in Eze. 8:1 comes to an end in Eze. 11:24-25. In his vision Ezekiel felt himself transported by a spirit to Chaldea, the land of captivity. Immediately the state of prophetic ecstasy came to an end (Eze. 11:24). When Ezekiel awoke from his vision, he began to reveal to his fellow-exiles all that he had seen and experienced (Eze. 11:25). Therefore, the prophetic purpose of the visional experience was to serve, not as a message to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, but rather to those in Babylonian captivity.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(22) And the wheels beside them.These are the wheels described as with the cherubim, and animated in their movements by one common impulse with them and, as all along, the Divine glory was above.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
JEHOVAH LEAVES JERUSALEM, Eze 11:22-23.
22. The cherubim See notes, chaps. 1 and 10.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Then the cherubim lifted up their wings and the wheels were beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of Yahweh went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain which is on the east of the city.’
Having made His declarations the chariot of Yahweh, with the glory of Yahweh on it, left the city for the mountain to the east of the city. Later when His glory will return to the temple it will be the east from which it comes (Eze 43:1-4). The appearance on the mountain east of the city was to be the last time that it was seen in this generation. Yahweh had departed and would come no more until His future day arrived. So Yahweh had moved, deliberately and certainly, from the holy of holies to the threshold of the temple (Eze 10:4), from the threshold of the temple to the door at the east gate of Yahweh’s house (Eze 10:19), and from there to the mountain to the east of the city (Eze 11:23), revealing iniquity on the way and pronouncing His judgments.
There may be in the eastern movement the thought of His eastward departure towards Babylon, (otherwise He would surely have returned to the north – Eze 1:4) but there is no direct suggestion of it, or it may simply have been intended as a a mysterious disappearance from the Mount of Olives, to which He would one day return (Zec 14:4). Jewish tradition later saw Him as waiting there to see if the city would repent, but again there is no hint of it in the passage. We are probably best to see it as simply indicating that the glory of Yahweh then disappeared for the last time having abandoned the city to its fate. The central idea was that Yahweh and the city were no longer associated.
It may well be significant that Jesus too ascended from the mount of Olives, by Bethany, (Luk 24:50-51; Act 1:6-11) and disappeared heavenward, as Jerusalem and the temple were again abandoned by God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
What a peculiar situation of divine favor Ezekiel was in, when thus sent by the Lord on his ministry. When he had finished his vision at Jerusalem, he is brought back by vision again to the place from whence he set out. And having been thus taught of the Lord those solemn truths, he communicated them by way of comfort and encouragement, to the people of the captivity. How gracious the Lord is, in thus making his servants to minister to every state, and to every circumstance. Precious Lord Jesus! is it not so now? Both angels and men ordinances and means of grace; all minister by thine appointment to them who are the heirs of salvation. Heb 1:14 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 11:22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel [was] over them above.
Ver. 22. Then did the cherubims. ] Now God is utterly leaving the refractory Jews. He did so much more after their rejection of Christ and his gospel.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 11:22-25
22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 23The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. 24And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles in Chaldea. So the vision that I had seen left me. 25Then I told the exiles all the things that the LORD had shown me.
Eze 11:22 This is referring to the portable throne chariot of YHWH, first seen by Ezekiel in chapter 1 and seen again in chapter 8. In Eze 11:23 it moves from the temple to the Mt. of Olives and then in Eze 11:24 it moves to the exiles in Babylon.
Eze 11:23 This shows the depth of the idolatry of the city of Jerusalem and particularly the priests that YHWH would have to leave the place where He had chosen to dwell (i.e., the temple), and go with the exiles.
Eze 11:24 I had seen This VERB (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal PERFECT) is one of the terms used to describe a prophet (i.e., seer. See Introductory Article, Prophecy).
Eze 11:25 I told the exiles all the things God had shown me This refers to the elders who were mentioned in Eze 8:1. Therefore, chapters 8-11 form a literary unit.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Why did the elders come to Ezekiel?
2. What does the series of idolatry in chapter 8 mean?
3. Why is the description of the Cherubim and the portable throne chariot in chapter 10 slightly different from chapter 1?
4. Why is Eze 11:16; Eze 11:23 so significant to the exiles?
5. Describe the significance of Eze 11:19 in relationship to the New Covenant of Jeremiah and the NT emphasis on individual responsibility.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Eze 11:22-25
Eze 11:22-25
“Then did the cherubim lift up their wings, and the wheels were beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. And the glory of Jehovah went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city. And the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me. Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that Jehovah had showed me.”
It is not stated here that the glory of God went to Babylon, but that it stood over the Mount of Olives. The Jews have a tradition that it remained there three years pleading with Israel to repent, which they refused to do, and then departed. At any rate, “The emblem of God’s presence left the city, leaving it to its fate. “God had abandoned his sanctuary and his city.
As Taylor noted, “Those elders who had been waiting all this time, during Ezekiel’s vision-journey to Jerusalem, now had a lot to listen to. However, we should not forget that they had the privilege of hearing part of Ezekiel’s message directly.
Judgment on Israel’s Leaders – Eze 11:1-25
Open It
1. Why is there such a strong temptation for leaders to consider themselves “above the law”?
2. What would be difficult about being exiled from your homeland?
Explore It
3. What did God show Ezekiel at the east gate of the temple? (Eze 11:1)
4. What did God tell Ezekiel about the leaders of Jerusalem? (Eze 11:2)
5. What was the attitude of the twenty-five leaders of Jerusalem toward their plight and their future? (Eze 11:3)
6. What did the Spirit command Ezekiel to do in relation to the twenty-five leaders? (Eze 11:4)
7. What was Gods accusation against the leaders of Jerusalem? (Eze 11:5-6)
8.What did God predict would happen to the leaders of Jerusalem who felt they were safe? (Eze 11:7-10)
9. In what sense did the leaders of Israel fail to understand the nature of God? (Eze 11:11-12)
10. What happened to one of the leaders even as Ezekiel was prophesying? (Eze 11:13)
11. What attitude did the people of Jerusalem hold toward Ezekiel and the other exiles? (Eze 11:15)
12. What ray of hope did God offer to the exiles? (Eze 11:16)
13. What did God promise about the future of the exiled Israelites? (Eze 11:17)
14. What internal difference did Ezekiel foresee in the Jews who would return to the land? (Eze 11:18-20)
15. How did God determine the punishment for those who insisted on idolatry? (Eze 11:21)
16. When the glory departed from Jerusalem, where did Ezekiel go? (Eze 11:22-25)
Get It
17. Why would the leaders who were left in Jerusalem after many were exiled to Babylon assume that they were “safe”?
18. If the meat in the cooking pot represents a position of privilege, why did Jerusalems leaders view themselves in this way?
19. How do you explain Ezekiels reaction when God struck down one of the leaders before his eyes?
20. What evidence do you see that many of the people of our world do not know that God is the Lord?
21. Why would it not be effective for God to return the exiles to Jerusalem with their heart unchanged?
22. What are the characteristics of a “heart of flesh” as opposed to a “heart of stone”?
Apply It
23. In what area of your life can you pray that God will soften your heart to His will and His ways?
24. In what area can you pray that your nation will acknowledge the lordship of God Almighty before He has to demonstrate it in a devastating way?
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Eze 1:19, Eze 1:20, Eze 10:19
Reciprocal: Lam 1:6 – all Eze 3:12 – glory Eze 8:4 – General Eze 8:6 – that I Eze 9:3 – General Eze 10:4 – the glory Eze 10:15 – lifted Eze 43:3 – according to the appearance Eze 44:4 – the glory Zec 6:5 – These Mat 24:1 – departed Mar 13:1 – out
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 11:22. These cherubims and wheels are the same that were mentioned in Eze 10:14-15, and they represent the four world empires. The glory of the God of Israel was over them because He is interested in the procedure oE the governments of the world.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
The departure of God’s glory from Jerusalem and the end of Ezekiel’s vision 11:22-25
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Ezekiel then saw in his vision the glory of God depart from the temple gate and from the city of Jerusalem. He saw the cherubim under Yahweh’s throne-chariot bear the Lord east from the entrance of the temple to the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. This was the eastern horizon from the perspective of someone in Jerusalem. The removal of God’s blessing signaled the end of His longsuffering with His sinful people, and it opened the way for His judgment to fall on them (cf. Rom 1:18-32). From this point on in Ezekiel-until Eze 43:1-4, in which the prophet saw in another vision the glory of God returning to the city-the prophet saw the Lord’s presence and glory removed from Jerusalem.
"The departure of the divine glory (the visible symbol of God’s presence) from the Temple, marks the end of the theocratic kingdom in O.T. history. On the mount of transfiguration the glory of God was manifested to our Lord’s disciples (Mat 17:1-5; cp. also Joh 1:14; 2Co 4:6; Jas 2:1; 2Pe 1:16-18). The visible glory will return when the kingdom is restored to Israel (Eze 43:1-7; Rev 21:22-24)." [Note: The New Scofield . . ., p. 848.]
"There is an interesting Midrash (commentary) which reads: ’Rabbi Jonathan said, Three years and a half the Shekinah stayed upon the Mount of Olives, in the hope that Israel would do penance; but they did none.’ All readers of the New Testament know this was the length of the earthly ministry of our Lord to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Sadly enough, they did not repent and He did depart from them (cf. Hos 5:15 with Mat 23:37-39). . . . From this very place the Lord Jesus Christ left the earth (Acts 1) and to it He will return (Zechariah 14; cf. also Luk 21:20 with Mat 24:3; Luk 24:50-51; Act 1:11-12)." [Note: Feinberg, p. 67.]
Perhaps the Lord’s presence stood over the Mount of Olives, rather than departing from it (Eze 11:23), because the Lord was waiting to execute His judgment on the city (cf. Zec 14:4; Luk 19:41). [Note: Keil, 1:154.]