Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 2:9
And when I looked, behold, a hand [was] sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein;
Was sent – Rather, was put forth.
A roll of a book – The book was one of the ancient kind written on skins rolled up together. Hence, our English volume Psa 40:7. The writing was usually on one side, but in this case it was written within and without, on both sides, the writing as it were running over, to express the abundance of the calamities in store for the devoted people. To eat the book signifies to be thoroughly possessed with its contents (compare Eze 3:10; Jer 15:16). There should be no break between Eze 2:10 and Ezek. 3.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. A hand was sent] Here the hand signifies not only the instrument of conveyance, but an emblem of the Divine power, which the hand of God always signifies.
A roll of a book] megillath sepher. All ancient books were written so as to be rolled up; hence volumen, a volume, from volvo, I roll.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The prophet, newly come out of that astonishing trance wherein he lay, and gotten upon his feet, hearing what was spoken, and possibly looking if he might see who spake, he discovers a hand; either of one of those angels which ministered before the Lord, or the hand of God, or of Christ. This might fortify the prophet; when he saw a hand so soon with him as he was ready to hear and obey, power and skill to defend and guide him will ever be as ready.
Behold, an hand was sent unto me; an Eastern idiom of speech.
A roll of a book; their books were not of that fashion and make as ours now are, but written in parchment, and in the length of it, and so one piece fastened to other, till the whole would contain what was to be written, and then was it wrapped or rolled about a round piece of wood, fashioned for that purpose: hence books are called volumes.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. rollthe form in whichancient books were made.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me,…. Not of an angel, but of Christ himself, in a visionary way; for this was not a real hand, but the likeness of one, as in Eze 8:3; and so the Targum here,
“and I saw, and behold, the likeness of a hand stretched out on the side to me.”
This symbol was to show that his prophecy, that he was sent to deliver, was from heaven and came from Christ; and that hand that delivered it to him would protect and defend him:
and, lo a roll of a book [was] therein; held in it, and held forth by it, to the prophet. Books were frequently written on parchment or vellum, and rolled about a stick, in form of a cylinder; and hence they were called volumes or rolls, Ps 40:7. This roll was a symbol of the prophecy of this book.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Now the Prophet more fully explains what we have just dwelt upon. He narrates how a volume of a book was offered to him: that is, a book in the form of a roll was offered to him. For the noun which he uses, מגלת, megleth, comes from גלל, gelel, to roll, as the word volume among the Latins. For they were formerly accustomed to write on rolls, that is, they had not the form of books so compact and well arranged as we now use, but they had volumes, which barbarians call rolls. Ancient documents were written in this way, for there is nothing ancient in the archives of princes which is not written on rolls. Hence the phrase, “In the volume of the book it is written of me,” etc. (Psa 40:8; Heb 10:7.) Now the Prophet says, such a volume was offered to me that I might eat it; and he adds, it was offered to me by a hand sent forth, But by this symbol God more clearly shows that the volume was not merely formed in the air, nor was produced anywhere but in heaven. For if the Prophet had only seen a volume presented to him, he might doubt whether it was sent by God or not. But when the hand which offers the volume appears, and is truly sent forth from God, nothing is wanting for full and complete certainty.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) Was sent unto me.Better, was put forth, as the same word is translated in Gen. 3:22; Gen. 19:10; Eze. 8:3. In Eze. 10:7 it is rendered stretched forth, with the marginal sent forth, and the corresponding Chaldee word in Dan. 5:24 is translated sent. It is not that a hand by itself containing the roll was sent to the prophet, but a hand, either of one of the cherubim,. or from the throne above, was stretched forth to him. In the corresponding vision in Rev. 10:8-9, it is handed to the seer by the angel.
A roll of a book.Books were anciently written upon skins sewed together, or upon papyrus in long strips, which were rolled up, one hand unrolling and the other rolling up from the other end as the contents were read. These were ordinarily written on one side only, as it would have been inconvenient to read the other; but in this case it was written on both sides, within and without, to denote the fullness of the message.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
IN SYMBOL AND BY DIRECT INSTRUCTION THE PREACHER IS TAUGHT THAT HE MUST NOT SPEAK HIS OWN WORDS, BUT JEHOVAH’S, Eze 2:9 to Eze 3:11.
9, 10. The roll which represented the prophecy Jehovah expected him to deliver was full and running over with lamentations, and mourning, and woe, written on both sides a thing unusual in ancient papyri and Ezekiel knew its contents, for it was spread out before him. God never deceives his messengers. He never coaxes them into his service by promises of an easy task. (Compare Mat 10:34-38.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And when I looked, behold, a hand was put forth to me, and lo, a roll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me, and it was written on both sides (‘within and without’), and there was written in it lamentations, and mourning, and woe.’
The scroll was handed over by a mysterious hand, possibly one of the hands of the living creatures (Eze 1:8), or even the hand of the One Whose appearance was like that of a man (Eze 1:26). Normally a scroll would be made of papyrus or leather, but this was a heavenly scroll in vision. We do not know what it was made of. ‘And he spread it before me.’ A decisive and demanding action that required it to be read at once.
‘And it was written on both sides.’ Normally a scroll would only have writing on one side. This was to indicate that it was overfull and that what was contained in it would be of overflowing measure.
‘And there was written in it lamentations, and mourning, and woe.’ The message it contained was an unpalatable one. It presaged misery to come. And indeed for Ezekiel the next few years would be full of that message. Before building up hope he was first to proclaim the certainty of overflowing judgment. This would result in cries and groaning, weeping, and disasters and judgments. It was only after that that he would be able to offer hope.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Here by type the Prophet is shown the illustration of the Lord’s charge to him, and the tokens of the Lord’s anointing him to his ministry. It is worthy remark, that Isaiah had a similar open manifestation given him at his ordination: and John the beloved Apostle, in the visions he saw. Isa 6 ; Rev 10:8-10 . Perhaps, by these outward tokens, it was intended to teach the Church, both ministers and people, that the words of the Lord are not to be heard or read only, but eaten and lived upon. So the Prophet Jeremiah expressed himself, Jer 15:16 and Jer 20:9 . And if the written word be so blessed, what must be the Uncreated Word, even Christ the living bread? Joh 6:33 , etc.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Eze 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein;
Ver. 9. Behold, a hand was sent. ] A hand from heaven. A hand is index rei et instrumentum operationis sign to the matter and the tool of working.
And, lo, a roll of a book.
a Palmoni bammidabber Dan 10:1-21
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
behold . . . lo. Fig, Asterismos. App-6.
a roll of a book = a scroll. Compare Jer 36:2. Psa 40.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
an hand: Eze 8:3, Jer 1:9, Dan 5:5, Dan 10:10, Dan 10:16-18
a roll: All ancient books were written so as to be rolled up: hence volumen a volume, from volvo I roll. Eze 3:1, Heb 10:7, Rev 5:1-5, Rev 10:8-11
Reciprocal: 2Ch 21:12 – a writing Ezr 6:1 – rolls Jer 36:2 – a roll Jer 36:4 – upon Zec 5:1 – roll Act 11:5 – and it Rev 10:2 – a little Rev 14:1 – I looked
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 2:9. Roll of a book means a piece of writing material was rolled up and was in the hand that appeared. In ancient times books were not bound as they are today, but were written on long strips of the material and then rolled up.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 2:9-10. Behold a hand was sent unto me I saw a hand stretched out toward me, as from that divine person who appeared to me in the shape of a man. And lo, a roll of a book was therein Wherein were contained the contents of the following prophecy. And he spread it before me That I might understand the contents of it. And it was written within and without The ancient books were rolled on cylinders of wood or ivory, and usually the writing was only on the inside; but this was written on both sides, both that which was innermost when it was rolled up, and on the outside also, which signified that the prophecy contained a long series of events. And there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and wo It contained predictions and revelations of impending calamities, and divers terrible judgments coming on the Jewish nation, and giving great cause for bitter sorrow and lamentation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ezekiel then saw a hand extending a scroll to him. The Lord spread it out before the prophet and he saw that it was full of lamentations, mourning, and woes (i.e., bad news; chs. 4-32). Normally scrolls had writing on only one side, but this one had writing on both sides; it was full of revelation (cf. Rev 5:1).
"This accurately summarizes the contents of Ezekiel 4-32. It does not, however, reflect the latter part of the book in which the prophet spoke of Israel’s restoration. This could explain, in part, why Ezekiel was recommissioned (chapter 33)-the content of his message was substantially changed after his message of woe was fulfilled." [Note: Dyer, in The Old . . ., pp. 661-62.]