Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
The next verse thought to be joined: for some interpreters altogether pervert the Prophet’s sense by finishing the sentence there, as if he had said, I will extend my hand over it, &e. But the sentence is dependent, as we shall see — Ezekiel 14:14 14.
National sins bring national judgments without fail. When vice becomes widespread and heinous, God stretches forth His hand in punishment with grievous plagues suited to the sin. He commands a variety of judgments to show His universal dominion over all human concerns.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 14:12-23
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it,.... In the sinning land, and made intercession for it, that the famine might be removed, and the inhabitants of it be saved alive, this would not be granted; though they were men that found favour in the sight of God, and were eminent for prayer, and successful in it, and the means of saving...