Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com
Ezekiel 37:1
eze 37:1
And set me down - So it seemed to me in the vision. Which is a lively representation of a threefold resurrection: Of the resurrection of souls, from the death of sin, to the life of righteousness: The resurrection of the church from an afflicted state, to liberty and peace: The resurrection of the body at the great day, especially the bodies of believers to life eternal.
Ezekiel 37:3
eze 37:3
And he - The Lord.
Ezekiel 37:7
eze 37:7
Prophesied - Declared these promises. As I prophesied - While I was prophesying. A noise - A rattling of the bones in their motion. A shaking - A trembling or commotion among the bones, enough to manifest a divine presence, working among them. Came together - Glided nearer and nearer, 'till each bone met the bone to which it was to be joined. Of all the bones of all those numerous slain, not one was missing, not one missed its way, not one missed its place, but each knew and found its fellow. Thus in the resurrection of the dead, the scattered atoms shall be arranged in their proper place and order, and every bone come to his bone, by the same wisdom and power by which they were first formed in the womb of her that is with child.
Ezekiel 37:8
eze 37:8
Came up - Gradually spreading itself.
Ezekiel 37:9
eze 37:9
Prophesy - Declare what my will is. O breath - The soul, whose emblem here is wind; which, as it gently blew upon these lifeless creatures, each was inspired with its own soul or spirit.
Ezekiel 37:10
eze 37:10
And the breath - The spirit of life, or the soul, Gen 2:7.
Ezekiel 37:11
eze 37:11
The whole house - The emblem of the house of Israel. Are dried - Our state is as hopeless, as far from recovery, as dried bones are from life.
Ezekiel 37:12
eze 37:12
I will open - Though your captivity be as death, your persons close as the grave, yet I will open those graves.
Ezekiel 37:16
eze 37:16
One stick - A writing tablet or a tally, such as is fit to be written upon. His companions - Benjamin and part of Levi, who kept with the tribe of Judah. Ephraim - Ephraim was the most considerable tribe in the kingdom of Israel, when divided from the other two. The house of Israel - The other nine tribes, who continued with Ephraim.
Ezekiel 37:19
eze 37:19
In mine hand - Under my government, care, and blessing. God will make the two kingdoms one in his hand, as I make these two sticks one in my hand.
Ezekiel 37:22
eze 37:22
One nation - They were one in David's time, who was a type of the Messiah, and continued so to the end of Solomon's time, whose name includes peace. So when the Beloved, the Peace - maker, the Messiah shall be king, they shall be one again. And one king - The Messiah.
Ezekiel 37:23
eze 37:23
I will save - I will bring them safe out of them. And will cleanse - Both justify and sanctify them.
Ezekiel 37:24
eze 37:24
David - The son of David. One shepherd - This king shall be their one chief shepherd, others that feed and rule the flock, are so by commission from him.
Ezekiel 37:25
eze 37:25
For ever - 'Till Christ's coming to judgment, the Jews converted to Christ, shall inherit Canaan.
Ezekiel 37:26
eze 37:26
My sanctuary - I will set up a spiritual glorious temple, and worship among you. For evermore - Never to be altered or abolished on earth, but to be consummated in heaven.
Ezekiel 37:27
eze 37:27
My tabernacle - The tabernacle wherein I will shew my presence among them. Their fathers had a tabernacle, but the Messiah shall bring with him a better, a spiritual, and an heavenly. They shall be my people - By my grace I will make them holy, as the people of a holy God; and I will make them happy, as the people of the ever blessed God.