Selecta in Ezechielem

 of Jesus the Savior God having gone forth. If then they might hear, or be terrified. Similar to this doubtful expression is the one in Jeremiah: Perha

 of Israel. But neither are they slow of speech for their tongue, that is, their speech, does not have weight and a certain elegance but they are lig

 He sat in their midst. But when he is about to see the glory of the Lord, he rises up and goes out into the plain, with only the breadth of the plain

 the iniquities of the house of Israel. And who took up the iniquities of the sons of Israel, being two in number, both that against God and that again

 But it is not proper for God to effect these things. For thus also the teacher of the Hebrews explained the passage: I will honor those who honor me,

 those who have emulated the mere practical are said to be glens but those who are humbler in soul than all are called ravines. And your precincts sha

 someone might say, the temple-keepers under 13.789 the priests and the house of Israel those from the 12 tribes and those who fear the Lord are fore

 to him, so that he became worthy even of being laid up in the Holy of Holies in the tent of testimony. That there is a vision for all the multitude. F

 his observance. And when they are not capable of giving counsel, nor do they preside to consider what is necessary for the common good, it must be sai

 written for the evil ones, and to have transferred the sacred weekly cycle from the holy things to the idols, so that they might receive a kind of sta

 Theodotion have placed alongside, preserving, as I think, the Hebrew word for I do not think that among the Greeks the word 'kasto' means to have a w

 the houses are built. The meaning of the present text is this: These men, he says, say, seeing the city newly built after the previous captivity, that

 he answers them through the prophet, as they are in need of repentance, saying: Repent and turn away, and so forth. Land, which if it sins. It is the

 they will enter, it is said. These bring out sons and daughters. This must be read as a question: If Noah and Daniel and Job will not suffice for thos

 Incense. Incense and oil is the prayer sent up to God from the mind with knowledge, in which God delights. And you spread your legs to everyone passin

 is of the vine, so also we, if we follow as the natural impulses draw us in our earliest years, are eating unripe grapes. Of the same. The unripe grap

 by his most wicked doctrines laying waste the land and those who dwell in it. These lions, therefore, are a symbol of the kings of Jerusalem in a tang

 to those before us I mean those outside the flesh. For besides having its own historical account, such as that which occurred among us men, it also h

 The Egyptians must be punished from the first to the last. All who inhabit Egypt, or rather, who are, will be punished in it.

the houses are built. The meaning of the present text is this: These men, he says, say, seeing the city newly built after the previous captivity, that, even if the houses have been recently built, yet this city is like a cauldron filled with the dead contained within it. And we hold the place of the meat in the cauldron, with the fire of the Babylonians surrounding us, so that we cannot flee from the flame of the enemies' fire. But it is not true, he says, what you have said. For you have spoken truly that the great city is the cauldron; but not also that you are the meat in its midst; for the dead whom you have struck down in its midst, these are the meat; and the city is the cauldron. But you will not remain in the city; for I will cast you out. Therefore, if the city is a cauldron for others, it is not for you; and if there will be some in its midst as meat, it will not be you. For I will judge you, when you have come to the very extremities of the mountains of Israel; when I bring so many things upon you, so that afterwards you may recognize that I am the Lord. CHAPTER 13. Prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Prophets are those who serve the word of teaching well, and who prophesy the things of God. And you will say to the prophets who prophesy from their own heart. False prophets are those who utter oracles from their own reprobate heart, and whatever the adverse power dictates. Of the same. Whatever is recorded concerning prophets or false prophets is taken to apply to all teachers and false teachers, visible and invisible. Of the same. He who speaks from the heart outside of the divine Spirit is a false prophet. Woe to those who prophesy from their own hearts! He who goes after his own spirit follows the desires of his soul; he who goes after the Holy Spirit, after the Lord God, does His will. Of the same. To those who go after their own spirit the Apostle says: I will pray with the spirit, I will pray with the mind also. And you will ask whether both are one, or not; and what these are. Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes. This species, or rather this animal, is cunning and beastly and savage; and it is taken to refer not only to the evil and cunning and deceitful man, but also to similar spirits. For these too work their 13.805 own things in the soul that is desolate of God and of his righteousness. But also seek the practice of the animal. They did not stand in the firmament. In this he alluded to what is uncertain and false and weak. And they gathered the flocks. The heretics against the Church; the bestial doctrines against the truth. They did not stand in battle. They did not rise with Christ, because they were not buried with him, who say and see a false day of the Lord. Have you not seen a false vision? A false vision is the doctrines understood according to falsehood. They will not be in the instruction of my people. Different are the instructions from the Lord. There is an instruction which is said to be in judgment, and there is an instruction which is said to be in wrath. Nor will they be in the writing of the house of Israel, for they will be blotted out from the book of the living. And they will not enter into the land of Israel. In the coming day, clearly. Therefore you shall not know false things. That is, I will not permit you to prosper, so that what follows may be fulfilled. CHAPTER 14. If in answering I should answer them. If in answering I shall answer them, a judgment from you; that is, God takes it from the prophet; or he says it is clear that he answers such men; whence, overcoming judgment, he promises to answer as one who is merciful. Whoever sets his thoughts. In these things he teaches how one must answer each person with things fittingly joined together, and not at random; and that it is the Lord himself who answers through the prophet. I the Lord will answer him in them, in which his thought is entangled. That is, it follows, it is delighted, it is attached. And for these reasons they are such things as provide a pretext for those who are vain and dissolute in heart to turn aside from God. But nevertheless, even if they are such, and their heart is held by such things; since they wanted to inquire of the Lord,

ᾠκοδόμηνται αἱ οἰκίαι. Ὁ νοῦς τοῦ προκειμένου τοιοῦτός ἐστιν· Οὗ τοι, φησὶ, λέγουσι, νεωστὶ ὁρῶντες ἀπὸ τῆς προγε νομένης αἰχμαλωσίας οἰκοδομηθεῖσαν τὴν πόλιν, ὅτι, εἰ καὶ προσφάτως ᾠκοδόμηνται αἱ οἰκίαι, ἀλλ' ἡ πόλις αὕτη ἔοικε λέβητι πεπληρωμένῳ νεκρῶν πε ριεχομένων ὑπ' αὐτοῦ. Τῶν δὲ ἐν τῷ λέβητι κρεῶν λόγον ἐπέχομεν ἡμεῖς, τοῦ τῶν Βαβυλωνίων πυρὸς περικειμένου ἡμῖν, ὡς μὴ δύνασθαι ἡμᾶς φυγεῖν ἀπὸ τῆς φλογὸς τοῦ τῶν πολεμίων πυρός. Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀλη θές ἐστι, φησὶν, ὃ εἰρήκατε. Ὅτι μεγάλη γὰρ ἡ πόλις ἐστὶν ὁ λέβης ἠληθεύσατε· οὐχὶ δὲ καὶ ὅτι ὑμεῖς τὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς κρέα· οἱ γὰρ νεκροὶ οὓς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς ἐπατάξατε, οὗτοί εἰσι τὰ κρέα· ἡ δὲ πόλις ὁ λέβης. Ὑμεῖς δὲ οὐ μενεῖτε ἐν τῇ πόλει· ἐξώσω γὰρ ὑμᾶς. Οὐκοῦν ἡ πόλις εἰ ἄλλοις ἐστὶν εἰς λέβητα, ἀλλ' οὐχ ὑμῖν· καὶ εἰ ἔσονταί τινες ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς εἰς κρέα, ἀλλ' οὐχ ὑμεῖς. Κρινῶ γὰρ ὑμᾶς, πρὸς αὐτοῖς τοῖς ἄκροις γενομένους τῶν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ὀρέων· τοσ αῦτά μου ἐπάγοντος ὑμῖν, ὅπως καὶ ὕστερον ἐπι γνῶτε, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος. ΚΕΦ. ΙΓʹ. Προφήτευσον ἐπὶ τοὺς προφήτας τοῦ Ἰσραήλ. Προφῆταί εἰσιν οἱ καλῶς διακονοῦντες τῷ λόγῳ τῆς διδασκαλίας, καὶ προφητεύοντες τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ. Καὶ ἐρεῖς τοῖς προφήταις τοῖς προφητεύουσιν ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτῶν. Ψευδοπροφῆταί εἰσιν οἱ χρη ματίζοντες τὰ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀδοκίμου καρδίας αὐτῶν, καὶ ὅσα ἡ ἐναντία δύναμις ὑπαγορεύει. Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. Ὅσα περὶ προφητῶν ἱστόρηται ἢ ψευδοπροφητῶν, λαμβάνονται εἰς πάντας διδασκά λους καὶ ψευδοδιδασκάλους, ὁρατοὺς καὶ ἀοράτους. Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. Ὁ ἀπὸ καρδίας λαλῶν ἔξω τοῦ θείου Πνεύματός ἐστι ψευδοπροφήτης. Οὐαὶ τοῖς προφητεύουσιν ἀπὸ καρδίας αὐτῶν! Ὁ πορευόμενος ὀπίσω τοῦ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ τοῖς θελήμασι τῆς ψυχῆς ἀκολουθεῖ· ὁ πορευόμενος ὀπίσω τοῦ ἁγίου Πνεύματος, ὀπίσω Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ, ποιῶν αὐτοῦ τὰ θελήματα. Τοῦ αὐτοῦ. Τοῖς πορευομένοις ὀπίσω τοῦ πνεύ ματος αὐτῶν ὁ Ἀπόστολος λέγει· Προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι, προσεύξομαι τῷ νοΐ. Καὶ ζητήσεις εἰ ἓν τὰ ἀμφότερα, ἢ οὔ· καὶ τί ταῦτα. Οἱ προφῆταί σου, Ἰσραὴλ, ὡς ἀλώπεκες. Τοῦτο τὸ γένος, μᾶλλον δὲ τὸ ζῶον, πανοῦργόν ἐστι καὶ θη ριῶδες καὶ ἄγριον· καὶ οὐ μόνον εἰς τὸν κακὸν καὶ πανοῦργον καὶ ὕπουλον ἄνθρωπον λαμβάνεται, ἀλλὰ καὶ εἰς ὅμοια πνεύματα. Καὶ οὗτοι γὰρ ἐνεργοῦσι τὰ 13.805 ἴδια εἰς τὴν ἔρημον ἀπὸ Θεοῦ ψυχὴν καὶ τῆς δικαιο σύνης αὐτοῦ. Ζήτει δὲ καὶ τὴν πρᾶξιν τοῦ ζώου. Οὐκ ἔστησαν ἐν στερεώματι. Τὸ ἀβέβαιον καὶ ψεῦδος καὶ ἀδύναμον ᾐνίξατο ἐν τούτῳ. Καὶ συνήγαγον τὰ ποίμνια. Τοὺς αἱρετικοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν· τὰ κτηνώδη δόγματα ἐπὶ τὴν ἀλή θειαν. Οὐκ ἀνέστησαν ἐν πολέμῳ. Οὐκ ἀνέστησαν σὺν Χριστῷ, διότι οὐ συνετάφησαν αὐτῷ οἱ λέγοντες καὶ βλέποντες ἡμέραν Κυρίου ψευδῆ. Οὐχὶ ὅρασιν ψευδῆ ἑωράκατε; Ὅρασις ψευδής ἐστι τὰ κατὰ ψεῦδος νοούμενα δόγματα. Ἐν παιδείᾳ τοῦ λαοῦ μου οὐκ ἔσονται. ∆ιάφο ροι παρὰ Κυρίου αἱ παιδεῖαι. Ἔστι παιδεία ἡ λεγο μένη ἐν κρίσει, καὶ ἔστι παιδεία ἡ λεγομένη ἐν θυμῷ. Οὐδὲ ἐν γραφῇ οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ ἔσονται, Ἐξαλειφθήσονται γὰρ ἐκ βίβλου ζώντων. Καὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ οὐκ εἰσελεύσονται. Ἐν τῇ μελλούσῃ ἡμέρᾳ δηλονότι. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο ψευδῆ οὐ μὴ εἰδῆτε. Τουτέστιν, Οὐ μὴ συγχωρήσω εὐοδωθῆναι ὑμᾶς, ἵνα τὸ ἑξῆς πλη ρωθῇ. ΚΕΦ. Ι∆ʹ. Εἰ ἀποκρινόμενος ἀποκριθῶ αὐτοῖς. Εἰ ἀποκρι νόμενος ἀποκριθήσομαι αὐτοῖς, κρίσιν ἐξ ὑμῶν· ἤτοι ἐκ τοῦ προφήτου λαμβάνει ὁ Θεός· ἢ δῆλόν φησιν ἀποκρίνεσθαι αὐτοῖς τοῖς τοιούτοις· ὅθεν ὑπερνικῶν τὴν κρίσιν, ἐπαγγέλλεται ἀποκρίνεσθαι ὡς ἐλεήμων. Ὃς ἂν θῇ τὰ διανοήματα αὐτοῦ. Ἐν τούτοις διδάσκει πῶς δεῖ ἑκάστῳ ἀποκρίνεσθαι τὰ προσφό ρως συναρμοστέα, καὶ μὴ ὡς ἔτυχε· καὶ ὅτι αὐτὸς Κύριός ἐστιν ὁ ἀποκρινόμενος διὰ τοῦ προφήτου. Ἐγὼ Κύριος ἀποκριθήσομαι αὐτῷ ἐν αὐτοῖς, ἐν οἷς ἐνέχεται ἡ ∆ιάνοια αὐτοῦ. Τουτέστιν, ἀκολου θεῖ, τέρπεται, κεκόλληται. ∆ιὰ δὲ ταῦτα τοιαῦτα, ἅτινα παρέχει πρόφασιν τοῖς χαύνοις καὶ ἐκλελυμένοις τῇ καρδίᾳ πλαγιάζειν ἀπὸ Θεοῦ. Ἀλλ' ὅμως εἰ καὶ τοιοῦ τοί εἰσι, καὶ τοιούτοις ἔχεται αὐτῶν ἡ καρδία· ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἤθελον πυθέσθαι παρὰ Κυρίου,