17 "Or if I bring a sword against that country and say, 'Let the sword pass throughout the land,' and I kill its people and their animals,
17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
17 "Or if I bring a sword upon that land and say, Let a sword pass through the land, and I cut off from it man and beast,
17 "Or, if I bring war on that country and give the order, 'Let the killing begin!' leaving both people and animals dead,
17 "Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, 'Sword, go through the land,' and I cut off man and beast from it,
17 "Or suppose I were to bring war against the land, and I sent enemy armies to destroy both people and animals.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 14:17
Commentary on Ezekiel 14:12-23
(Read Ezekiel 14:12-23)
National sins bring national judgments. Though sinners escape one judgment, another is waiting for them. When God's professing people rebel against him, they may justly expect all his judgments. The faith, obedience, and prayers of Noah prevailed to the saving of his house, but not of the old world. Job's sacrifice and prayer in behalf of his friends were accepted, and Daniel had prevailed for the saving his companions and the wise men of Babylon. But a people that had filled the measure of their sins, was not to expect to escape for the sake of any righteous men living among them; not even of the most eminent saints, who could be accepted in their own case only through the sufferings and righteousness of Christ. Yet even when God makes the greatest desolations by his judgments, he saves some to be monuments of his mercy. In firm belief that we shall approve the whole of God's dealings with ourselves, and with all mankind, let us silence all rebellious murmurs and objections.