G F1 24:1-27. Jerusalem. F2 25:1-17. Ammonites and others. F3 26:1-28:26.Tyre and Sidon. F4 29:1-32:32. Egypt.
F1 G1 1,2. Literal.
G2 3-27. Symbolical.
480 B.C. 10th Tebeth [Jan. 4th]
Ezekiel 14)
1 Again in the ninth year (of Jehoiachin's captivity), in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, write you the name of the day, even of this same day (cp. 2 Kings 25:1. Jer. 39:1; 52:4. The captives of Israel thus knew what was going on in Jerusalem): the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
G2 H1 3-5. Symbol. A Pot.
J1 6-9. Signification.
H2 10,11. Symbol. A Fire.
J2 12-14. Signification.
H3 15-18. Symbol. Ezekiel.
J3 19-27. Signification.
3 And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Set on a pot (or cauldron, using the words of the scoffers in 11:3, and cp. Jer. 1:13), set it on, and also pour water into it:
4 Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
5 Take the choice of the flock, and pile up also the wood under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.'
6 Wherefore thus says the Lord GOD; 'Woe to the bloody city (see 22:2), to the pot whose verdigris is therein, and whose verdigris is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it. (Signifying that the city was to be destroyed, not lotted out to or by the conquerors.)
7 For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust; (Cp. Lev. 17:13.)
8 That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.'
9 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; 'Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
10 Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well (or, boil it down until only the bones are left), and let the bones be burned.
11 Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the copper of it may be scorched, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the verdigris of it may be consumed.
12 She has wearied herself with lies, and her great verdigris went not forth out of her: her verdigris shall be in the fire. (Ginsberg thinks it should read "with a stench")
13 In your filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged you, and you were not purged, you shall not be purged from your filthiness any more, till I have caused My fury to rest upon you.
14 I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to your ways, and according to your doings, shall they judge you, says the Lord GOD.' "
15 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
16 "Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes (put for Ezekiel's wife. A symbol of Jerusalem) with a stroke (or, plague): yet neither shall you mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.
17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of your head upon you (cp. Lev. 10:6; 13:45; 21:10), and put on your shoes upon your feet, and cover not your lips (cp. Mic. 3:7), and eat not the bread of men." (I.e. the bread or food brought to the house of mourners. Cp. Jer. 16:5,7. Hos. 9:4.)
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning according as I was commanded.
19 And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things are to us, that you do so?"
20 Then I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
21 Speak to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind shall fall by the sword.
22 And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: you shall not moan nor weep; but you shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that He has done shall you do: and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.' ' ' "
25 Also, you son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the delight of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their souls, their sons and their daughters,
26 That he that escapes in that day (this we find exactly fulfilled in ch. 33:21, by the flight, on the 5th day of the 10th month, in the 12th year) shall come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?
27 In that day shall your mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and you shall speak, and be no more dumb (i.e. as regards his nation and his testimony to it. In the interval his prophecies are concerning other nations [chs. 25-32]): and you shall be a sign to them; and they shall know that I am the LORD."