The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: Translated from the Original Hebrew; With a Commentary, Critical, Philological, and Exegetical (Classic Reprint)

In preparing the following work for the press, the author has been greatly encouraged by the kind reception given to his previous labours on the Prophets by theological readers both in this country and A merica. It has been a satisfaction to him to find that the principles on which he has conducted his exegetical inquiries have been generally approved of by those most competent to judge. To these principles he still adheres, convinced that whatever there abounds of symbol, vision, enigma and parable in the compositions of Ezekiel, there runs through them a vein of historical reality which serves as a safeguard against the vagaries of the mystical school of interpretation. While the Biblical student is ever to be careful not to allow the divine meaning of Scripture to evaporate into thin air, he is equally to be solicitous not to load the inspired text with the cumbrous lucubrations of his own imagination. In fixing upon the sense to be brought out, he is not at liberty to force into the sacred word any preconceived notions of human invention; but, carefully weighing all the circumstances of the context, to give that interpretation which best harmonizes with them, and brings them into view. All far-fetched and arbitrary constructions he is utterly to repudiate. The literal and the figurative are to be allowed their respective claims, but never to be confounded, mixed up together, or substituted the one for the other. It behoves the interpreter, with his mind open to receive the truth of God, to maintain the attitude of young Samuel, and earnestly to give utterance to the beautiful prayer: Speak, Lord; forthy servant heareth.
(Typographical errors above are due to OCR software and don't occur in the book.)

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