Ezekiel 6:11-14

C. A Distressing Lamentation 6:11-14

TRANSLATION

(11) Thus says the Lord GOD: Clap your hand and stamp your foot, and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, with sword, famine and pestilence they shall fall. (12) He who is far off shall die with the pestilence; and he who is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remains and is besieged shall die in the famine; then I shall bring to an end MY wrath against them. (13) And you will know that I am the LORD when their slain ones shall be in the midst of their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree and under every leafy oak, the place where they presented a sweet savor to all their idols. (14) And I shall stretch out My hand against them, and I will make the land a desolation and waste more than the wilderness of Diblah in all their dwelling places; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

COMMENTS

With a dramatic action Ezekiel was to underscore what he had just said.[179] He was to clap his hand and stamp his foot. These were gestures expressive of intense emotion and excitement generated either by intense joy or sorrow.[180] There is no reason to assume that Ezekiel would be exulting over the impending fall of Judah. This prophet hated the evil practiced by his people but he did not long for their destruction. Like Jeremiah he commiserated with the people of Judah in their misfortune (cf. Ezekiel 11:13). It was with a broken and aching heart that Ezekiel spoke to and about his people.

[179] One must always reckon with the possibility that this oracle was not delivered on the same occasion as the preceding verses.
[180] Others have interpreted Ezekiel's actions as indicating malicious satisfaction, joy, triumph as well as horror, indignation and sorrow.

The prophet's gesture of distress was accomplished by the customary wail, Alas![181] Because of all the evil abominations (idolatry) of Israel the nation would fall with sword, famine and pestilence (Ezekiel 6:11). The one far off from the scene of battle would die by pestilence; the one near the battle, by the sword. Those in the besieged capital would die of famine. Distance would make no difference. Wherever they were the inexorable and relentless wrath of God would overtake them (cf. Zechariah 1:6). There would be no escape. With these terrible calamities the wrath of the Lord would come to an end (Ezekiel 6:12).

[181] Ellison (EMM, p. 37) proposes the rendering Ha, Ezekiel is called upon to rejoice that the accumulated evil of centuries is to be swept away.

For the third time in this chapter the prophet underscores the dramatic impact which these judgment works would have on the hearts and minds of the surviving remnant. When they saw their slain comrades lying about their once sacred altars within sight of their lifeless idols they would finally come to confess the sole sovereignty of God.

In order to emphasize the extent of the godless worship, Ezekiel enumerates the different locations where Canaanite rites were practiced. Their hilltop sanctuaries and mountain top retreats the shady bowers where once the fertility orgies of Baal and Asherah were practiced those sacred spots where the sweet savor of incense was offered before images all alike would be desecrated (Ezekiel 6:13).

The hand of the Lord would be stretched out against the land and it would become a desolate waste. The reference to Diblah in Ezekiel 6:14 is difficult to interpret. Some translate, from the wilderness to Riblah (RSV), and see here a reference to the extent of the disaster. From the edge of the southern wilderness to Riblah on the Orontes river is a distance of 150 miles. This understanding necessitates two changes in the Hebrew text.[182] The second approach is to see in this phrase a comparison. The land of Judah will become a greater desolation than Diblah. The location of Diblah is uncertain.[183]

[182] The change of d to r as the first letter of the place name, and addition of the article to the word wilderness. The interchange of d and r is attested in Numbers 1:14; Numbers 2:14

[183] A Diblathiam on the eastern border of Moab is attested in Numbers 33:46-47 and Jeremiah 48:22, ASV.

The discourse closes with a fourth assertion that this divine judgment would serve to turn people to the Lord (Ezekiel 6:14).