Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 22:29
The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
29. people of the land ] The phrase for the common people already, Jer 37:2, and common in Eze 7:27; Eze 12:19, &c. The “people of the land” is certainly subject here, cf. Eze 22:7, ch. Eze 18:12; Jer 23:34; Jer 26:7.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 29. The people] All that have power or authority have abused it; vexed and oppressed the poor, the needy, and the stranger.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The people of the land, the common people, have used oppression; greatly, continuedly, and cruelly oppressed one another, wronged each other by frauds and violence.
Exercised robbery; on every occasion turned downright thieves and robbers.
Have vexed, by these oppressions, the poor and needy: see Eze 18:7.
Wrongfully; without any colour of justice, reason, or so much as hearing him, as the phrase seems to import.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
29. The peopleput last, afterthe mention of those in office. Corruption had spread downwardsthrough the whole community.
wrongfullythat is,”without cause,” gratuitously, without the strangerproselyte giving any just provocation; nay, he of all others beingone who ought to have been won to the worship of Jehovah by kindness,instead of being alienated by oppression; especially as theIsraelites were commanded to remember that they themselves had been”strangers in Egypt” (Exo 22:21;Exo 23:9).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The people of the land have used oppression,…. The common people, the more powerful among them, such as were in greatest authority in cities and towns, in neighbourhoods and families, the richest among them; these oppressed the poor, and those that were under them, the servants of them, and tenants to them, and who were not able to defend themselves against them: the Septuagint and Syriac versions understand this of the prophets using the people of the land ill:
and exercised robbery; such who had not the power as others had, became thieves and robbers, went on the highway, and took men’s money from them; broke up houses, and plundered them, and stole away their goods:
and have vexed the poor and needy; by their oppressions, rapines, and robberies, when they should rather have relieved them:
yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully; or, “without right or judgment” k; in a very unjust manner, contrary to the due course of law, against all equity and justice; which the Israelites were warned and ordered not to do, in many passages of Scripture; and for this reason, because they had been strangers in Egypt.
k “absque judicio”, Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, “non in judicio”, Cocceius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(29) The people of the land,i.e., the common people, not belonging to any of the above classes. In regard to their general corruption see Ezekiel 18
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. The common people naturally follow the example of the princes and captains, priests and prophets.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.
Ver. 29. The people of the land have used oppression. ] Or, Deceit. Eadem hodie fiunt: charitas refrixit; omnia iniuriis, calumniis, rapinis plena sunt.
have vexed . . . have oppressed, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exo 22:21; Exo 23:9 . Lev 19:33, etc.) App-92.
poor. Heb: ani. See note on Pro 6:11.
people: Eze 22:7, Eze 18:12, Isa 5:7, Isa 10:2, Isa 59:3-7, Jer 5:26-28, Jer 5:31, Jer 6:13, Amo 3:10, Mic 2:2, Mic 3:3, Jam 5:4
oppression: or, deceit
oppressed: Eze 22:7, Eze 22:7, Exo 22:21, Exo 23:9, Lev 19:33, Psa 94:6, Mat 25:43
wrongfully: Heb. without right
Reciprocal: Lev 19:13 – shalt not Deu 24:17 – pervert Job 20:19 – Because Job 24:4 – turn Psa 10:9 – when Pro 22:22 – Rob Pro 29:7 – but Isa 59:4 – calleth Hos 12:7 – he loveth Amo 4:1 – which oppress Zep 3:1 – to the Zec 7:10 – oppress 1Co 6:10 – thieves
Eze 22:29. The people of the land would have reference to those citizens who had advantages over the others. Oppression is from a word that is defined “fraud in the lexicon. They used deceitful means to get hold of the possessions of the poor and needy. They did not stop at defrauding their fellow citizens, but extended their fraudulent dealings to the strangers which means people who were visiting the country.
Eze 22:29-31. The people of the land The common people; have used oppression Have wronged each other by acts of fraud and violence, and have greatly and cruelly oppressed each other. And have vexed the poor and needy By these frauds and oppressions, instead of relieving them, which they ought to have done. Yea, they have oppressed the strangers wrongfully Without any colour of justice or reason. This was contrary to an express prohibition of Gods law, frequently repeated and enforced upon them, from the consideration, that they themselves were strangers in Egypt. And I sought God speaks after the manner of men; for a man among them Any one among the princes, prophets, priests, or people; that should make up the hedge That should repair the breach, and prevent further mischief; and stand in the gap before me That might interpose between a sinful people and their offended God; deprecate Gods wrath, and entreat for mercy, that the land might not be destroyed; but I found none All were corrupted, and went on in sin without repentance. This general complaint must be understood with some restriction, such as is commonly understood in unlimited expressions. For we read, Eze 9:4, that there were some that sighed and cried to God (by way of deprecating his wrath) for the abominations done in Jerusalem; and they undoubtedly exhorted the people to repentance and reformation. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them Have given it full scope, that it might come upon them in a full stream; yet, whatever calamity God brings upon a sinful people, it is their own way that is therein recompensed upon their heads, and God punishes them not more, but much less, than their iniquity deserves.
The people (ordinary citizens) also oppressed one another and stole from each other. They took advantage of the poor, the needy, and travelers illegally.
"One hardly could read such a list of crimes that so thoroughly pervaded society of Ezekiel’s day without seeing the parallel to the Western world at the close of the twentieth century. The latter years of this century have been marked by decadence, moral and spiritual decay, loss of integrity, violence, and injustices that mirror what Ezekiel must have witnessed. Such a crisis calls for renewed spiritual and moral leadership that is the by-product of genuine spiritual renewal." [Note: Cooper, p. 223. For further development of this theme, see Ted W. Engstrom, Integrity, pp. 26-27; Charles Colson, Against the Night, pp. 35-69; and Stuart Briscoe, All Things Weird and Wonderful, p. 112.]
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)