Day 248: Ezekiel 19-21

(The previous post covered God's analogy of being married to Judah and Israel, as well as the causes of Sodom's Judgment.)

Ezekiel 19
¹ Moreover, take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,

(This chapter contained a lamentation concerning the princes of Israel, but specifically towards Judah.)

² and say, What was thy mother? A lioness: she couched among lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her whelps.

(The "mother" written about here was Hamutal. She was the mother of Zedekiah and Jehoahaz, the wife of Josiah (2 Kings 23:31; 24:18). The other son of Josiah, Jehoiakim, had a different mother (2 Kings 23:36).)

(Verses 3-4: were specific to Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:31-33). Jehoahaz reigned only three months and was taken to Egypt.)

³ And she brought up one of her whelps: he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.
⁴ The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit; and they brought him with hooks unto the land of Egypt.

(Verses 5-9: concerned Jehoakim - 2 Chronicles 36:5-7.)

⁵ Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
⁶ And he went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey; he devoured men.
⁷ And he knew their palaces, and laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, because of the noise of his roaring.
⁸ Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces; and they spread their net over him; he was taken in their pit.
⁹ And they put him in a cage with hooks, and brought him to the king of Babylon; they brought him into strongholds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel.

(The Babylonians were the people who put Jehoakim in a cage.)

¹⁰ Thy mother was like a vine, in thy blood, planted by the waters: it was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters.

(This verse spoke to Zedekiah about his mother (Hamutal). She was a fruitful woman.)

¹¹ And it had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and their stature was exalted among the thick boughs, and they were seen in their height with the multitude of their branches.

("And it had strong rods..." referred to the royal house of David.)

¹² But it was plucked up in fury, it was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit: its strong rods were broken off and withered; the fire consumed them.

("Plucked up" meant the people were taken out of their land and brought into captivity, also specific to Hamutal being taken captive herself.)

¹³ And now it is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty land.
¹⁴ And fire is gone out of the rods of its branches, it hath devoured its fruit, so that there is in it no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

(These verses referred to the circumstances at the time of the prophecy: Hamutal was compared to a vine planted in the wilderness. Zedekiah's disobedience caused her to lose hope in having a son to rule Judah.)




Ezekiel 20
¹ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.

(During the seventh year of Jehoiachin's captivity, certain elders inquired of God through Ezekiel.)

² And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
³ Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Is it to inquire of me that ye are come? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
⁴ Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;

(God refused to be consulted by the elders but told Ezekiel to "Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;." Because of God's response, it was believed that the elders were inquiring about the forthcoming judgment, perhaps how long and severe it would be. If this was the case, God was essentially stating that it was too late for the people to change the judgment coming against them.)

(Verses 5-32: covered the abominations.)

⁵ and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and sware unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I sware unto them, saying, I am Jehovah your God;
⁶ in that day I sware unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
⁷ And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God.

(God chose Israel and promised them a seed and land. However, God also told them to cast away the worshipping of the idols of Egypt.)

⁸ But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me; they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

(The people did not obey. They rebelled against God.)

⁹ But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
¹⁰ So I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.
¹¹ And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live in them.

(God guided the Israelites through the wilderness and gave them His Law.)

¹² Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Jehovah that sanctifieth them.

(God also gave them His Sabbaths as a sign.)

¹³ But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

(The Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness and rejected His Law.)

¹⁴ But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.
¹⁵ Moreover also I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
¹⁶ because they rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.
¹⁷ Nevertheless mine eye spared them, and I destroyed them not, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.

(God continued to spare the Israelites even after they rejected Him and His Law. God continued to give them mercy.)

¹⁸ And I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

(Here we see that God spoke to the second generation in the wilderness. He told them to not walk as their fathers did.)

¹⁹ I am Jehovah your God: walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them;
²⁰ and hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God.
²¹ But the children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

(This generation of Israelites rebelled against God as well.)

²² Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.
²³ Moreover I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;
²⁴ because they had not executed mine ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.
²⁵ Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances wherein they should not live;

(Verse 25 did not mean that God’s Law was not good. The context here was that after God had scattered the people to other nations (verse 23), God would suffer them to live by the laws of the nations in which they lived.)

²⁶ and I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Jehovah.
²⁷ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In this moreover have your fathers blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.
²⁸ For when I had brought them into the land, which I sware to give unto them, then they saw every high hill, and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there also they made their sweet savor, and they poured out there their drink-offerings.

(It seemed as if the Israelites took every chance they could to worship something other than God.)

²⁹ Then I said unto them, What meaneth the high place whereunto ye go? So the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

(Bamah referred to the high places the people set up for idol worship.)

³⁰ Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Do ye pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play ye the harlot after their abominations?
³¹ and when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, do ye pollute yourselves with all your idols unto this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you;
³² and that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, in that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

(God gave His reason for not being inquired of by the elders (verse 1). The Israelites consistently rebelled against God and acted as the heathen nations, so God was going to treat them as heathens.)

³³ As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you:
³⁴ and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out;

(God will eventually regather Israel.)

³⁵ and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.
³⁶ Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, saith the Lord Jehovah.
³⁷ And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;
³⁸ and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.
³⁹ As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

(Here, God told them to go and serve their idols if they refused to obey Him, but no longer would God tolerate the people committing idolatry while professing His Name. God did not want His Name connected with evil.)

⁴⁰ For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.
⁴¹ As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

(The people will be gathered and will serve God in His holy mountain and God will be sanctified in them before the heathens.)

⁴² And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I sware to give unto your fathers.
⁴³ And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have polluted yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

(The Israelites would eventually loathe themselves when they finally recognized the evils they committed.)

⁴⁴ And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have dealt with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah.

(Again, the reason for all of this was so that the people would know Jehovah was God.)

⁴⁵ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
⁴⁶ Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;

(Ezekiel was told to prophesy against the forest (symbolizing people) of the south field (symbolizing Judah/Jerusalem.)

⁴⁷ and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
⁴⁸ And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
⁴⁹ Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?

(Again, the reason Jerusalem would be completely destroyed was so that the people would know Jehovah was God.)




Ezekiel 21
¹ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
² Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel;

(God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy against Israel, specifically toward Jerusalem and her sanctuaries.)

³ and say to the land of Israel, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth my sword out of its sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.
⁴ Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north:
⁵ and all flesh shall know that I, Jehovah, have drawn forth my sword out of its sheath; it shall not return any more.

(The judgment against Jerusalem would cause all people to know God was the executor of this judgment.)

⁶ Sigh therefore, thou son of man; with the breaking of thy loins and with bitterness shalt thou sigh before their eyes.
⁷ And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt say, Because of the tidings, for it cometh; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it cometh, and it shall be done, saith the Lord Jehovah.

(Ezekiel's "sigh" was a sign to the Jews that God's judgment was coming.)

⁸ And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
⁹ Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith Jehovah: Say, A sword, a sword, it is sharpened, and also furbished;

(Furbished meant "polished and brightened.")

¹⁰ it is sharpened that it may make a slaughter; it is furbished that it may be as lightning: shall we then make mirth? the rod of my son, it contemneth every tree.
¹¹ And it is given to be furbished, that it may be handled: the sword, it is sharpened, yea, it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer.

(The "slayer" was Nebuchadnezzar.)

¹² Cry and wail, son of man; for it is upon my people, it is upon all the princes of Israel: they are delivered over to the sword with my people; smite therefore upon thy thigh.

(Smiting upon the thigh was a symbol of grief for men.)

¹³ For there is a trial; and what if even the rod that contemneth shall be no more? saith the Lord Jehovah.
¹⁴ Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thy hands together; and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the deadly wounded: it is the sword of the great one that is deadly wounded, which entereth into their chambers.

(Verse 13 spoke to the fact that even though severe judgment was coming, there would still be a remnant. The phrase "doubled the third time" expressed the violence and force of the sword.)

¹⁵ I have set the threatening sword against all their gates, that their heart may melt, and their stumblings be multiplied: ah! it is made as lightning, it is pointed for slaughter.
¹⁶ Gather thee together, go to the right, set thyself in array, go to the left, whithersoever thy face is set.
¹⁷ I will also smite my hands together, and I will cause my wrath to rest: I, Jehovah, have spoken it.

(When the judgment was accomplished, God would cause His wrath to rest.)

¹⁸ The word of Jehovah came unto me again, saying,
¹⁹ Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the king of Babylon may come; they twain shall come forth out of one land: and mark out a place, mark it out at the head of the way to the city.
²⁰ Thou shalt appoint a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and to Judah in Jerusalem the fortified.
²¹ For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he shook the arrows to and fro, he consulted the teraphim, he looked in the liver.

(Ezekiel was told to appoint two ways that the sword of Babylon may come and to mark the ways with signs. The two paths led to Ammon and Judah. Ammon was from Lot.)

²² In his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to set battering rams, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up mounds, to build forts.
²³ And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, who have sworn oaths unto them; but he bringeth iniquity to remembrance, that they may be taken.
²⁴ Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.
²⁵ And thou, O deadly wounded wicked one, the prince of Israel, whose day is come, in the time of the iniquity of the end,

(This passage began with the image of Nebuchadnezzar choosing between striking Judah or Ammon first. Judah was struck first. Verse 25 concerned Zedekiah.)

²⁶ thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Remove the mitre, and take off the crown; this shall be no more the same; exalt that which is low, and abase that which is high.
²⁷ I will overturn, overturn, overturn it: this also shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.

(Zedekiah would be overturned and the crown would be no more "until [Christ] come whose right it is; and I will give it him." Judah would be overthrown.)

²⁸ And thou, son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah concerning the children of Ammon, and concerning their reproach; and say thou, A sword, a sword is drawn, for the slaughter it is furbished, to cause it to devour, that it may be as lightning;

(Nebuchadnezzar would strike Ammon second. Here was the prophecy concerning the Ammonites…)

²⁹ while they see for thee false visions, while they divine lies unto thee, to lay thee upon the necks of the wicked that are deadly wounded, whose day is come in the time of the iniquity of the end.
³⁰ Cause it to return into its sheath. In the place where thou wast created, in the land of thy birth, will I judge thee.
³¹ And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; I will blow upon thee with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, skilful to destroy.
³² Thou shalt be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in the midst of the land; thou shalt be no more remembered: for I, Jehovah, have spoken it.

(Ammon would also be destroyed.)

(This post covered prophecies that gave specific details how God's Judgment would come through Nebuchadnezzar.)

Day 249