Ezekiel 22:29

22:23-31 All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.

The people of the land have used oppression,.... The common people, the more powerful among them, such as were in greatest authority in cities and towns, in neighbourhoods and families, the richest among them; these oppressed the poor, and those that were under them, the servants of them, and tenants to them, and who were not able to defend themselves against them: the Septuagint and Syriac versions understand this of the prophets using the people of the land ill: and exercised robbery; such who had not the power as others had, became thieves and robbers, went on the highway, and took men's money from them; broke up houses, and plundered them, and stole away their goods: and have vexed the poor and needy; by their oppressions, rapines, and robberies, when they should rather have relieved them: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully; or, "without right or judgment" (k); in a very unjust manner, contrary to the due course of law, against all equity and justice; which the Israelites were warned and ordered not to do, in many passages of Scripture; and for this reason, because they had been strangers in Egypt. (k) "absque judicio", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus, "non in judicio", Cocceius.

Ezekiel 22:29-31 . The people of the land — The common people; have used oppression — Have wronged each other by acts of fraud and violence, and have greatly and cruelly oppressed each other. And have vexed the poor and needy — By these frauds and oppressions, instead of relieving them, which they ought to have done. Yea, they have oppressed the strangers wrongfully — Without any colour of justice or reason. This was contrary to an express prohibition of God’s law, frequently repeated and enforced upon them, from the consideration, that they themselves were strangers in Egypt. And I sought — God speaks after the manner of men; for a man among them — Any one among the princes, prophets, priests, or people; that should make up the hedge — That should repair the breach, and prevent further mischief; and stand in the gap before me — That might interpose between a sinful people and their offended God; deprecate God’s wrath, and entreat for mercy, that the land might not be destroyed; but I found none — All were corrupted, and went on in sin without repentance. This general complaint must be understood with some restriction, such as is commonly understood in unlimited expressions. For we read, Ezekiel 9:4 , that there were some that sighed and cried to God (by way of deprecating his wrath) for the abominations done in Jerusalem; and they undoubtedly exhorted the people to repentance and reformation.

Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them — Have given it full scope, that it might come upon them in a full stream; yet, whatever calamity God brings upon a sinful people, it is their own way that is therein recompensed upon their heads, and God punishes them not more, but much less, than their iniquity deserves.

The people of the land, the common people, have used oppression; greatly, continuedly, and cruelly oppressed one another, wronged each other by frauds and violence. Exercised robbery; on every occasion turned downright thieves and robbers. Have vexed, by these oppressions, the poor and needy: see Ezekiel 18:7 . Wrongfully; without any colour of justice, reason, or so much as hearing him, as the phrase seems to import.

29. The people—put last, after the mention of those in office. Corruption had spread downwards through the whole community. wrongfully—that is, "without cause," gratuitously, without the stranger proselyte giving any just provocation; nay, he of all others being one who ought to have been won to the worship of Jehovah by kindness, instead of being alienated by oppression; especially as the Israelites were commanded to remember that they themselves had been "strangers in Egypt" (Ex 22:21; 23:9).

The corrupt state of all classes in the kingdom is the immediate cause of its destruction. - Ezekiel 22:23 . And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Ezekiel 22:24 . Son of man, say to it, Thou art a land which is not shined upon, nor rained upon in the day of anger. Ezekiel 22:25 . Conspiracy of its prophets is within it; like a roaring lion, which rends in pieces the prey, they devour souls, take possessions and money; they multiply its widows within it. Ezekiel 22:26 . Its priests violate my law and profane my holy things; they make no distinction between holy and unholy, and do not teach the difference between clean and unclean, and they hide their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Ezekiel 22:27 . Its princes in the midst of it are like wolves, which rend prey in pieces, that they may shed blood, destroy souls, to acquire gain. Ezekiel 22:28 . And its prophets plaster it with cement, seeing what is worthless, and diving lies for them, saying, "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah," when Jehovah hath not spoken. Ezekiel 22:29 . The common people offer violence and commit theft; they crush the wretched and the poor, and oppress the foreigner against right. Ezekiel 22:30 . I seek among them for a man who might build a wall and step into the breach before me on behalf of the land, that I might not destroy it, but I find none. Ezekiel 22:31 .