Ezekiel 37

1

The LORD’s hand was on me, and he brought me out in the LORD’s Spirit, and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 1. Spirit, by a divine impulse. He was not really removed. Menochius. Calmet.—Bones. “This passage is very famous.” Saint Jerome—It insinuates the liberation of the captives and of the Gentiles, as well as the mystery of the resurrection. Worthington.—If this were not to take place, it would not be adduced as a figure. Tert. Saint Jerome

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2

He caused me to pass by them all around; and behold, there were very many in the open valley, and behold, they were very dry.

3

He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Lord GOD, you know.”

4

Again he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them, ‘You dry bones, hear the LORD’s word.

5

The Lord GOD says to these bones: “Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you will live.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 5. Spirit. That is, life, soul, and breath. Challoner.—At the resurrection, the same souls shall return to their respective bodies.

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6

I will lay sinews on you, and will bring up flesh on you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”’”

7

So I prophesied as I was commanded. As I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, there was an earthquake. Then the bones came together, bone to its bone.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 7. Noise of the bones moving, which denotes the wars of Cyrus and the hurry of the nations to which he restored liberty.

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8

I saw, and, behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them.

9

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, son of man, and tell the wind, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Come from the four winds, breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’”

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 9. Spirit; wind or soul. The latter animates the body, as the grace ( Calmet.) of the Holy Spirit does the soul. Bible.

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10

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11

Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 11. Off, like branches. Notwithstanding these desponding thoughts, God will restore his people, ( Worthington.) by means of Cyrus. The grave is often put for punishment and grievous calamities. Osee 6:3.

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12

Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel.

13

You will know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, my people.

14

I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”

15

The LORD’s word came again to me, saying,

16

“You, son of man, take one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions.’ Then take another stick, and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions.’

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 16. Associates. When Jeroboam caused the division, some of Israel adhered to Juda. The prophet glued the pieces of wood together, or engrafted them one into the other, to shew that all the people should be united, and the Jews and Gentiles concur to form one church. Calmet. Romans 11:17.—Before the latter event took place God united the two kingdoms, to teach us that when we labour for the conversion of heretics, as in England, Catholics must first agree among themselves, that so all may more easily become one fold under one shepherd. Worthington.

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17

Then join them for yourself to one another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.

18

“When the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Won’t you show us what you mean by these?’

19

tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in my hand.

20

The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.”’

21

Say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.

22

I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. One king will be king to them all. They will no longer be two nations. They won’t be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 22. King. The Jews were long without kings, after the captivity; then they were not of the tribe of Juda, and all did not return. Christ fulfils the prediction.

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23

They won’t defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will save them out of all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. So they will be my people, and I will be their God.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 23. Idols. The Jews, even many of the priests, worshipped them, under Antiochus. Calmet.—But the Church is never defiled. Bible.

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24

“‘“My servant David will be king over them. They all will have one shepherd. They will also walk in my ordinances and observe my statutes, and do them.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 24. David; Christ, the one shepherd, (John 10) over all nations. Worthington.—This cannot refer to Zorobabel, who was never king, nor perhaps even governor; as Sasabasar, who seems to have been a Persian, was appointed by Cyrus. 1 Ezra 1:8.—Shepherd. David have been one. Calmet.—This title is more modest than that of king. Saint Jerome

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25

They will dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob my servant, in which your fathers lived. They will dwell therein, they, and their children, and their children’s children, forever. David my servant will be their prince forever.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 25. Ever. Let the Jews shew how this had been accomplished. We know that Christ preserves and rule his Church unto the end.

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26

Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will place them, multiply them, and will set my sanctuary among them forever more.

ExplanationCommentary

EXPLANATION

Verse 26. Peace. Can this regard the synagogue? Not a century passed without some flagrant misconduct, or chastisement. But our Saviour is the mediator of peace. Philippians 4:7. Calmet.

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27

My tent also will be with them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

28

The nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is among them forever more.”’”