EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 24:1 The two losses recounted here almost certainly belong together, and they come at a turning point in Ezekiel’s prophetic career. The first loss (vv. Ezekiel 24:1) is that of the city of Jerusalem: the beginning of the Babylonian siege marks the beginning of the end for Je... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 24:2 THE KING OF BABYLON HAS LAID SIEGE TO JERUSALEM THIS VERY DAY. Jerusalem was 880 miles (1,416 km) from Babylon, a journey of several weeks. God revealed the invasion to Ezekiel while it was happening. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 24:10 The extent of the corruption and rot demands that both the pot and its contents be completely consumed (v. Ezekiel 24:11; Ezekiel 22:15). The repetition of first-person pronouns in Ezekiel 24:14 emphasize that this is God’s work, and it is certain to happen. ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 24:15 No further reference is made to a date, but the placement of this account next to the oracle about the siege of Jerusalem is significant. Ezekiel has performed other symbolic actions (Ezekiel 4:1; Ezekiel 12:1; Ezekiel 21:19), but this must be the most painful. He is no... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 24:19 The people are disturbed by Ezekiel’s apparent lack of grief, but his action symbolizes what awaits them: the desecration of the temple will be devastating and numbing, breaking the people’s spirit. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0,... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 24:25 AS FOR YOU, SON OF MAN. The final verses of this oracle are for Ezekiel himself. They continue the language of loss found in the preceding verses. The prophecy foretells the destruction of Jerusalem and the arrival of a FUGITIVE bearing the news. Ezekiel’s speech will b... [ Continue Reading ]