Matthew Henry on Ezekiel 14:1-11
Here is, I. The address which some of the elders of Israel made to the prophet, as an oracle, to enquire of the Lord by him. They came, and sat before him, Eze 14:1. It is probable that they were not of those who were now his fellow-captives, and constantly attended his ministry (such as those we read of Eze 8:1), but some occasional hearers, some of the grandees of Jerusalem who had come upon business to Babylon, perhaps public business, on an embassy from the king, and in their way called on the prophet, having heard much of him and being desirous to know if he had any message from God, which might be some guide to them in their negotiation. By the severe answer given them one would suspec…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 14:5
That I may take--that is, unveil and overtake with punishment the dissimulation and impiety of Israel hid in their own heart. Or, rather, "That I may punish them by answering them after their own hearts"; corresponding to "according to the multitude of his idols" (see on Eze 14:4); an instance is given in Eze 14:9; Rom 1:28; Th2 2:11, God giving them up in wrath to their own lie.
idols--though pretending to "inquire" of Me, "in their hearts" they are "estranged from Me," and love "idols."
Adam Clarke on Ezekiel 14:4
According to the multitude of his idols - I will treat him as an idolater, as a flagrant idolater.
John Gill on Ezekiel 14:5
That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart,.... By which they are ensnared, and drawn aside to their ruin; being given up to strong delusions, to believe a lie, and worship idols; God threatening to answer them by righteous judgments, and thereby take the wickedness, the hypocrisy, and idolatry, that were in their hearts, and expose and make it manifest unto others; or, by punishing them, to draw out the corruption and sin that were in them, that it might be seen what a wicked people they were. The Targum interprets the text in another way,
"that I may bring near the house of Israel, and put repentance into their hearts;''
because they are all estranged from me through their id…
