Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 20:46
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
46. the south ] Though the reference is to Judah and Jerusalem (Eze 21:1-5), the term “south” hardly means the south of Palestine; rather the whole land of Palestine from the point of view of the prophet residing in the north. The “forest of the field” hardly refers to Lebanon, but belongs to the figure, which, however, Lebanon may have suggested (Eze 17:3; Jer 22:23). The “scorching” of all faces from north to south ( Eze 20:47) is also part of the figure, though powerfully expressing the effect on all who behold the great judgments on Israel. There may be, however, a certain mixture of figures, those whose faces are scorched being no other than those who, regarded as trees, are consumed viz. all flesh from the south to the north in Israel (Eze 21:3-4).
the south field ] the field in the south, the land of Israel (Eze 21:3).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 46. Set thy face toward the south] Towards Judea, which lay south from Babylon, or Mesopotamia, where the prophet then dwelt.
The forest of the south field] The city of Jerusalem, as full of inhabitants as the forest is of trees.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He was now in Babylon, north from Jerusalem, and being commanded to look toward the south, it is toward Jerusalem, and the land of Canaan.
Thy face; thy courage and undaunted mind, manifest in prophesying as thou art commissioned.
Drop; let thy word distil, begin with softer words ere thou shower down with the vehemency of a storm; prophesy so, Amo 7:16; Mic 2:6.
The forest of the south field, i.e. Jerusalem, which was become like a forest for multitude of inhabitants, for barrenness, wildness, degeneracy, and sheltering wild beasts; murderers lodged in her.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
46. south . . . south . . .souththree different Hebrew words, to express thecertainty of the divine displeasure resting on the region specified.The third term is from a root meaning “dry,” referring tothe sun’s heat in the south; representing the burning judgments ofGod on the southern parts of Judea, of which Jerusalem was thecapital.
set thy facedeterminately.The prophets used to turn themselves towards those who were to be thesubjects of their prophecies.
dropas the rain, whichflows in a continuous stream, sometimes gently (De32:2), sometimes violently (Amo 7:16;Mic 2:6, Margin), as here.
forestthe denselypopulated country of Judea; trees representing people.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Son of man, set thy force toward the south,…. The land of Judea, which lay south of Babylon, where the prophet now was, as Babylon lay north of that, Jer 1:14 to set his face was to speak freely and boldly, with courage and constancy, and without fear and dread, to the inhabitants of it; and as a token of the Lord’s face being set against them for their sins. The Targum is,
“take a prophecy towards the way of the south.”
And drop thy word toward the south; or prophesy, as the Targum; doctrine or prophecy being compared to rain, and the delivery of it to the dropping or distilling of rain; which falls gently, gradually, successively, and oftentimes with weight, and to good purpose; see
De 32:2, which metaphorical phrase is explained in the next clause:
and prophesy against the forest of the south field; the city of Jerusalem, in the land of Judea, which was very full of people, as a forest of trees; but these barren and unfruitful, as the trees of the wood generally are; and a rendezvous of wicked persons, comparable to beasts of prey, that haunt in woods and forests.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
46. The south Or, the south country. The land of Israel.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 20:46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
Ver. 46. Set thy face. ] Prophesy freely and boldly against Jerusalem, which is south from Chaldea.
Against the forest.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the south = the Negeb. See note on Psa 126:4. against: or, unto. Some codices read “toward”.
the south field: i.e. Judah and Jerusalem.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
set: Eze 4:7, Eze 6:2
toward: Towards Judea, which lay south of Mesopotamia, where the prophet now dwelt.
and drop: Eze 21:2, Deu 32:2, Job 29:22, Amo 7:16, Mic 2:6, *marg.
the forest: The city of Jerusalem, as full of inhabitants as the forest is of trees. Jer 13:19, Jer 22:7, Zec 11:1, Zec 11:2
Reciprocal: Psa 29:9 – discovereth Isa 29:17 – the fruitful Jer 21:14 – in the Jer 46:23 – cut Eze 11:4 – General Eze 13:17 – set thy Eze 25:2 – thy face Eze 29:2 – set Eze 35:2 – set Eze 38:2 – set
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
20:46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward {x} the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
(x) For Judah stood south from Babylon.