Ezekiel 37 This chapter treats of the same subject with the preceding, in a beautiful and significant vision. Under the emblem of the open valley being thickly strewed with very dry bones is represented the hopeless state of the Jews when dispersed throughout the provinces of the Chaldean empire. But God, contrary to every human probability, restores these bones to life, thereby prefiguring the restoration of that people from the Babylonish captivity, and their resettlement in the land of their forefathers, vv. 1-14. The prophet then makes an easy and elegant transition to the blessedness of the people of God under the Gospel dispensation, in the plenitude of its manifestation, when the genuine converts to Christianity, the spiritual Israel, shall be no longer under the domination of heathen and anti-christian rulers, but shall be collected together into one visible kingdom, and constitute but one flock under one Shepherd, vv. 15-28. The vision of the dry bones reviving is considered by some as having a remote view to the general resurrection. Notes on Chapter 37
Ezekiel 37:1
The hand of the Lord was upon me—The prophetic influence was communicated.
And carried me out in the spirit—Or, And the Lord brought me out in the spirit; that is, a spiritual vision, in which all these things were doubtless transacted.
The valley which was full of bones—This vision of the dry bones was designed, first, as an emblem of the then wretched state of the Jews; secondly, of the general resurrection of the body.
Ezekiel 37:3
Can these bones live?—Is it possible that the persons whose bones these are can return to life?
Ezekiel 37:4
Prophesy upon these bones—Declare to your miserable countrymen the gracious designs of the Lord; show them that their state, however deplorable, is not hopeless.
Ezekiel 37:5
Behold, I will cause breath—רוח ruach signifies both soul, breath, and wind; and sometimes the Spirit of God. Soul is its proper meaning in this vision, where it refers to the bones: “I will cause the Soul to enter into you.”
Ezekiel 37:6
I will lay sinews upon you—Observe the progress: 1. Here are the bones. 2. The ligaments, called here sinews, are to be added in order to unite the bones, that the skeleton might be complete. 3. The flesh (the whole muscular system, the subjacent and superjacent muscles, including the arterial and venous system) clothes this skeleton. 4. The skin (the dermis and epidermis, or cutis and cuticle) envelopes the whole of these muscles or flesh; and now these bodies are in the state that the body of Adam was before it received the animal and intellectual principle from God. 5. There was no breath in them—they had not yet received their souls. 6. The wind, רוח ruach, the soul, came into them. They were endued with animal and intellectual life; and they arose and evidenced a complete restoration to life, and began to perform its functions, verse 10.
Ezekiel 37:9
Prophesy unto the wind—רוח ruach. Address thyself to the soul, and command it to enter into these well-organized bodies, that they may live.
Come from the four winds—Souls, come frown all parts where ye are scattered; and reanimate these bodies from; which ye have been so long separated. The four winds signify all parts—in every direction. Literally it is, “Souls, come from the four souls;” “Breath, come from the four breaths;” or, “Wind, come from the four winds.” But here רוח ruach has both of its most general meanings, wind or breath, and soul.
Ezekiel 37:11
These bones are the whole house of Israel—That is, their state is represented by these bones; and their restoration to their own land is represented by the revivification of these bones.
Ezekiel 37:12
I will open your graves—Here is a pointed allusion to the general resurrection; a doctrine properly credited and understood by the Jews, and to which our Lord refers, John 5:25, 28, 29: “The hour is coming when they that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth.”
And cause you to come up out of your graves—I am determined that ye shall be restored; so that were ye even in your graves, as mankind at the general resurrection, yet my all-powerful voice shall call you forth.
Ezekiel 37:13
When I have opened your graves—When I shall have done for you what was beyond your hope, and deemed impossible, then shall ye know that I am Jehovah.
Ezekiel 37:14
And shall put my Spirit—רוחי ruchi. Here רוח ruach is taken for the Holy Ghost. They were living souls, animal and intellectual beings, when they had received their souls, as mentioned above: but they could only become spiritual, holy, and obedient creatures by the Spirit of God actuating their spirits. See the notes on Ezekiel 36:25-27 (note). Three degrees or processes have been remarked in this mystic vision. When the prophet was commanded to prophesy—to foretell, on the authority of God, that there should be a restoration to their own land:— 1. There was a noise, which was followed by a general shaking, during which the bones became arranged and united. 2. The flesh and skin came upon them, so that the dry bones were no longer seen. 3. The spirit or soul came into them, and they stood up perfectly vivified. Perhaps these might be illustrated by three periods of time, which marked the regeneration of the Jewish polity. 1. The publication of the edict of Cyrus in behalf of the Jews, which caused a general shaking or stir among the people, so that the several families began to approach each other. and prepare for their return to Judea, Ezra 1:2, 3. But though partially restored, they were obliged to discontinue the rebuilding of their temple. 2. The edict published by Darius in the second year of his reign, Ezra 4:23, 24, which removed the impediments thrown in the way of the Jews. Ezra 6:6, 7, etc. 3. The mission of Nehemiah, with orders from Artaxerxes to complete the building of the temple and the city, Nehemiah 2:7, etc. Then the Jews became a great army, and found themselves in sufficient force to defend themselves and city against all their enemies. As to the spiritual uses of this curious vision, I must leave them to preachers. I have given the literal meaning, and what the different parts refer to; and if they found their observations on these, they may profit their hearers.
Ezekiel 37:16
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