11:1-13 Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should still plead with the Lord to have mercy on those who remain.
This city shall not be your cauldron,.... It was one, as in Ezekiel 11:7; but not theirs; it was the cauldron for the slain, for the dead, but not the living:
neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst of it; or, "and ye shall be" (g) or, "but ye shall be"; the negative is understood, and rightly supplied by us; though the Targum renders it without it,
"but ye shall be in the midst of it, as flesh that is boiled in the midst of a pot:''
but I will judge you in the border of Israel; this is repeated, that they might take notice of it, and to assure them that so it would be.
neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst of it; or, "and ye shall be" (g) or, "but ye shall be"; the negative is understood, and rightly supplied by us; though the Targum renders it without it,
"but ye shall be in the midst of it, as flesh that is boiled in the midst of a pot:''
but I will judge you in the border of Israel; this is repeated, that they might take notice of it, and to assure them that so it would be.
(g) "et vos critis", Montanus, Cocceius.