W J 1-3. Sin. Security.
K 4-13. Prophecy. Judgment.
J 14,15. Sin. Security.
K 16-21. Promise. Restoration.
483 B.C.
Ezekiel 11)
1 Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me to the east gate (cp. 43:1) of the LORD'S house, which looks eastward: and behold at the entrance of the gate twenty-five men (these are not the same as in 8:16, but were princes of the People, a title never given to priests, who were called "princes of the sanctuary" [Isa. 43:28]. They were probably those referred to in Jer. 38:4); among whom I saw Jaazaniah (not the same as 8:11) the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
2 Then said He to me, "Son of man, these are the men that devise vanity, and give evil counsel in this city:
3 Which say, 'It is not near; let us build houses: it is the cauldron (see v.7,11), and we be the flesh.'
K c 4. Prophecy. Command.
d 5-12. Threatening.
c 13-. Prophecy. Event.
d -13. Deprecation.
4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man."
5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said to me, "Speak; Thus says the LORD; 'Thus have you said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your spirit, every one of them.
6 You have multiplied your slain in this city, and you have filled the streets thereof with the slain.'
7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD (Adonai Yahaveh); 'Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the cauldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
(They are not going to stay there.)
8 You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you (see 5:17), saith the Lord GOD.
(I.e Nebuchadnezzar.)
9 And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of foreigners, and will execute judgments among you.
10 You shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel (i.e. at Riblah, in the extreme north of the land [2 Kings 25:18-21. Jer. 52:24-27]. Cp. v.11); and you shall know that I am the LORD.
(That is the purpose. Father is not happy with those who will not obey Him.)
11 This city shall not be your cauldron, neither shall you be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
(Instead of destroying His children, He scatters them.)
12 And you shall know that I am the LORD: for you have not walked in My statutes, neither executed My judgments (see Deut. 4:1), but have done after the manners of the nations that are round about you.' "
(Example: Sodom and Gomorrah.)
13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died.
Then fell I down upon my face (see 1:28), and cried with a loud voice, and said, "Ah Lord GOD! will you make a full end (cp. Jer. 4:27; 5:10,18) of the remnant of Israel?" (Cp. 9:8. God has those that will keep His Word alive.)
14 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
15 "Son of man, your brethren, even your brethren, the men of your redemption, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, 'Get you far from the LORD: to us is this land given in possession.'
K e 16,17. Restoration.
f 18. Evil. Removal.
e 19,20 Conversion.
f Evil. Recompense.
16 Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD; 'Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries (cp. Jer. 30:11; 31:10,&c.), yet I will become to them as a holy place (or asylum, as in Isa. 8:14) for a little wile in the countries where they shall come.' '
(You need the truth to go into the sanctuary. He is there when you need Him.)
17 Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD; 'I will even gather you from the peoples (cp. Jer. 31:10. Deut. 30:3), and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the soil of Israel.' '
(The U.S.A. has become the super power of super powers.)
18 And they shall come there, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from there.
19 And I will give them one heart (cp. 36:25-27. Jer. 32:39), and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in My statutes, and keep My ordinances, and do them (cp. Deut. 12:30,31): and they shall be My People, and I will be their God.
21 But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, says the Lord GOD."
22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
25 Then I spoke unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had showed me.