Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 32:27
And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
27. they shall not lie ] LXX. Syr. omit the neg.: and they are laid with the giants. Ew. would retain the neg., reading as an interrogation with an affirmative sense: and shall they not lie with ?, which is not very natural.
fallen of the uncircumcised ] LXX. fallen of old. This reading has considerable probability, although the other reading might stand. Some scholars would also alter “fallen” (nophelim) into Nephilim (cf. R. V. Gen 6:4); an unnecessary change. For “hell” read Shel.
they have laid their swords ] they laid (indeterminate subj.) equivalent to the passive: and their swords were laid.
but their shall be ] and their iniquities were. The reference is still to the “mighty;” to change the subject spoken of, making the clause refer to Meshech and Tubal, is most unnatural.
though they were the terror ] because the terror of the mighty was in the land. The clause explains the preceding, as for ex. why their iniquities were upon their bones, and would certainly be easier if the reading had been: because the terror of their might was, as the Syr. reads, precisely as in Eze 32:29-30. So Hitz. Corn. (Possibly geburam should be read; cf. Hos 13:2, and often with fem. nouns.)
Eze 32:27 is difficult. The reading “they shall not lie with the mighty” suggests the idea that the mighty who fell of old, and went down to Shel in full armour, and had their swords laid under their heads, occupy a more honourable place in Shel than such a rout as Meshech and Tubal, who are counted unworthy to lie beside them. This idea is not probable in itself, and cannot be reconciled with other parts of the verse. The last clause “because the terror of the mighty (or, of their might) was in the land of the living” ascribes the same sin to these mighty as is charged against Asshur and the rest ( Eze 32:23-24, &c.), and for which they bear their shame. Again, the phrase “their iniquities were upon their bones” can have no other meaning than that their evil and violence were interred with their bones, and continued to cleave to them that they went down unhouselled, disappointed, unaneled, cut off in the blossom of their sin. The conjecture of Corn. “their shields were upon their bones” is altogether destitute of probability. LXX. renders “giants,” as it does Gen 6:4, and possibly it thought of the antediluvian race. The prophet may have had this race in his mind, but more probably his reference is a wider one (cf. Eze 32:12, Eze 39:18; Eze 39:20). Even if he referred to the giants before the Flood, it is anything but likely, with Genesis 6 before him and with his moral temper, that he would assign an honourable place in Shel to those violent desperadoes. The weird touch “went down to Shel in their weapons of war, and had their swords laid under their heads,” probably means that the manner of their death and burial was in keeping with the violence and bloodshed which was the occupation of their life. The usages and sentiments of chivalry were not yet known to Ezekiel. The clause should, therefore, probably be read positively.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And they shall not lie – Better, Shall they not lie? or, Are they not laid? The custom of burying warriors with their swords, shields, or helmets, raider their heads is well known, and common to most warlike nations.
But their iniquities … – They, rested in all the glories of a warriors sepulture, but their sins followed them to the grave.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Eze 32:27
Gone down to hell with their weapons of war.
Teaching from ancient tombs
I. The utter helplessness of mortality.
1. What might is there that call withstand death! From armies, thrones, castles, courts, and empires, death hath plucked his prey.
2. The universality of deaths empire.
(1) We walk not an untrodden path; It is the way of all flesh.
(2) Though it is the way of all flesh, yet we must each walk that path alone, and yet not alone (Psa 23:4).
3. What a picture is here drawn of all enmity against God! Rebellion against God is madness (Psa 2:1-12).
4. What a contrast the grave of the Saviour presents to these! Victorious death in that bright Easter morn was subdued and crushed. Ours is the triumph also. Though mortality be helpless, and must bow to the dust, yet humanity is triumphant, and shall rise again.
II. The fond tenacity of memory. Memory surrounds the living with relics of the dead and mementoes of the past. Even the dead are surrounded with tokens of their circumstances, character, and career. Above the grave stands the grey tombstone, with the simple inscription, To the memory. What memories are you preparing for your deathbed and the grave? Our moral actions, mental emotions, and impressions we cannot bury in everlasting oblivion. Our character is our true epitaph cut deeply into our tomb. (R. S. Latimer.)
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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 27. Gone down to hell with their weapons of war] Are buried in their armour and with their weapons lying by their sides. It was a very ancient practice, in different nations, to bury a warrior’s weapons in the same grave with himself.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They shall not lie with the mighty; the leaders of these Scythians were not buried with a pomp like that of Asshur or Elam, but, surprised by the fraud of Halyattes and Cyaxares, were cut off with all their multitude, and tumbled into pits with the rabble. With their weapons; a ceremony observed in pompous funerals of great captains, to have their weapons and their armour carried before the hearse.
Laid their swords under their heads; either when carried out to be buried, or laid under their head in their graves; or perhaps under the statues of them placed on the tops of their tombs: these barbarous Scythians were not so buried.
Their iniquity, the exemplary punishment of their iniquity,
shall be upon their bones; shall be seen upon their bones unburied, and cast out on the earth by the just judgment of God.
Though they were the terror; because they were Cruel, bloody, ravenous, and mischievously tyrannical while they lived.
The mighty; Cyaxares and the Persians, that durst not again attempt Nineveh, till the Scythians were fallen.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
27. they shall not lie with themightythat is, they shall not have separate tombs such asmighty conquerors have: but shall all be heaped together in one pit,as is the case with the vanquished [GROTIUS].HAVERNICK reads itinterrogatively, “Shall they not lie with the mighty that arefallen?” But English Version is supported by the parallel(Isa 14:18; Isa 14:19),to which Ezekiel refers, and which represents them as notlying as mighty kings lie in a grave, but cast out of one, as acarcass trodden under foot.
with . . . weapons ofwaralluding to the custom of burying warriors with their arms(1 Maccabees 13:29). Though honored by the laying of “theirswords under their heads,” yet the punishment of “theiriniquities shall be upon their bones.” Their swords shall thusattest their shame, not their glory (Mt26:52), being the instruments of their violence, the penalty ofwhich they are paying.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised,…. That is, shall not lie in such state, or be buried with such pomp and magnificence, and have such sepulchral monuments erected to their memory, as other heroes among the Heathens have had; such as the mighty kings of Assyria and Persia before mentioned:
which are gone down to hell, or “the grave”,
with their weapons of war; which were never taken from them, and which they held in their hands to the last, being never conquered, and died at last a natural death, and not by the sword; or which were carried in state before their hearse at the time of interment, as is the custom to this day so to do at the funeral of great warriors, generals, and officers:
and they have laid their swords under their heads; as a sign and token, as Jarchi says, that the sword did not rule over them, that they did not fall by it; either their statues and sepulchral monuments were adorned with these, and other instruments of war, as was the grave of Misenus by Aeneas d; and as is still the custom where the heads of such mighty ones are laid, to engrave them on them: or, literally, their swords and other weapons of war were put in their graves under their heads; as it was usual, in former times, in some places to put swords, shields, and other armour, in the graves of military men, as were in the grave of Theseus, on the bier of Alexander the great, and others, as reported by Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, and Sophocles e: now the Scythians were not buried: after this grand and pompous manner:
but their iniquities shall be upon their bones; or the punishment of their sin should be, that their bones should lie unburied and scattered about, or be dug up and broke to pieces, and treated with inhumanity and contempt, as a just reward for their savageness, and cruelty:
though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living: not only the terror of the common people, but even of the most powerful kings and mighty warriors.
d Vid. Virgil. Aeneid. l. 6. & Seneca, l. 4. controvers. 4. e Vid. Lydium de Re Militari, l. 6. c. 7. p. 250, 251. & Kirchman, de Funer. Roman. l. 3. c. 18.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(27) And they shall not lie.If this be the correct translation, then a distinction is implied between these nations and the others. The others have been honourably buried with their weapons of war, while these come to a more disgraceful end. It is better, however, to take it as a question (which the Hebrew fully admits): Shall they not? &c.
Their iniquities shall be upon their bonesi.e., they shall die in their iniquity. As we say in English, their sins shall be upon their heads.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 32:27. Gone down to hell To Sheol, or the place of the dead.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 32:27 And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
Ver. 27. Which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war. ] They died not gloriously as conquerors, nor were buried triumphantly with their arms under their heads, as valiant warriors were wont to be; sed ingloria vita recessit, but they died like dogs and were basely buried, and yet that was not the worst of it either.
But their iniquities shall be upon their bones.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
with their weapons of war. This determines the nature of the place here described as “the grave”, “the pit”, and “Sheol”.
iniquities. Hebrew ‘avah. App-44.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
shall not: Eze 32:21, Job 3:13-15, Isa 14:18, Isa 14:19
to hell: That is, to the grave; and are buried in their armour, with their weapons lying by their sides, as was a very ancient practice in various nations.
their weapons of war: Heb. weapons of their war, Isa 54:17, 2Co 10:4
but: Eze 18:20, Job 20:11, Psa 49:14, Psa 92:7, Psa 92:9, Psa 109:18, Pro 14:32, Joh 8:24
Reciprocal: 1Sa 17:36 – this Eze 26:20 – in the land Eze 32:26 – caused Eze 32:32 – General Luk 10:15 – thrust
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 32:27, Not He -with the mighty indicates an undignified burial. Strords under their heads refers to an ancient practice of burying distinguished warriors with their weapons. These people had been denied the honor of having their swords buried with them, but instead, their iniquities were “interred with their bones.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
32:27 And they shall not lie with the mighty [that are] fallen {r} of the uncircumcised, who are gone down to the grave with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though [they were] the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
(r) Who died not by cruel death but by the course of nature, and are honourably buried with their coat of armour and signs of honour.