Ezek 13.1-23 is a prophecy against the false prophets and prophetesses (Isa 8.20; Deut 13.1-5; Deut 18.14-22; Matt 7.15).
v 1…Then the word of the Lord (Yehovah) came to me saying,
v 2…”Son of man (when this is used, Ezekiel represents the people), prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration (out of their mind and heart-like prophecy and teachers today-1 Pet 2.1), ‘Listen to the word of the Lord!
v 3…Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “Woe to the foolish (“nevalim” or God denying fool) prophets (“navi’im”-a Hebrew play on words) who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing (he denounces the false expectations of the people and those who fed them. They pretended to hear from Yehovah, a foolish thing to do. God will deal with them).
v 4…O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among the ruins (enemies of God-Luke 13.32; Song 2.15).
v 5…You have not gone up into the breaches nor did you build the walls around (they did not uphold the moral foundations nor stop the enemy from getting in; the sins of the people had made gaps) the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the Lord (in the judgment Yehovah has decreed when Babylon comes; they did not study or teach the truth-Isa 62.10-12).
v 6…They see falsehood (vanity, nothing) and lying divination who are saying, ‘The Lord declares,’ when the Lord (Yehovah) has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word (they trusted their own false prophecies and teachings; this is done today).
v 7…Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, ‘the Lord declares,’ but it is not I who have spoken?”
v 8…Therefore (as a result), thus says the Lord God, “Because you have spoken falsehood and seen a lie (by publicly saying the Lord told them), therefore behold (take note), I am against you,” declares the Lord God.
v 9…So my hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of my people (Hebrew word for council is “sowd” is and one of three words for “congregation.” The other two are the “kahal” at large, and “adat” which means a specific congregation. Sowd refers to the “mystical body or congregation” being built into the kingdom of God-Matt 16.18; Psa 89.7, 111.1; Jer 15.17; Prov 3.19, 11.13; Amos 3.17; 1 Cor 3.10-the inner council or foundation), nor will they be written in the register (after the return from the exile; it also alludes to the roll of citizens in the kingdom of God) of the house of Israel (to possess the land again; also alludes to the New Jerusalem-Rev 22.15) that you may know that I am the Lord (proof that he has spoken).
v 10…It is definitely because they misled my people by saying, “Peace!” (to a nation) when there will be no peace. And when anyone builds a wall (their false prophecies), behold, they plaster it over with whitewash (the illusion to disguise the fragility of their promises and the unsoundness of the wall).
v 11…So tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it (their false prophecy wall) will fall. A flooding rain (deluge) will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall (to stone the false wall), and a violent wind will break out (and destroy the wall).
v 12…Behold, (take note), when the wall has fallen (their prophecies prove false), will you not be asked, “Where is the plaster with which you plastered it (the illusion and the promises of peace and safety they gave the people; the plausible arguments, etc.)?”
v 13…Therefore, thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “I will make a violent wind break forth in my wrath. There will also be in my anger a flooding rain and hailstones to consume it in my wrath (destructive forces, like the Babylonians, to consume the work of the false prophets-armies seen as a flood-Isa 8.6-8; Jer 12.5; Rev 12.15-16).
v 14…So I shall tear down the wall (exposing the falseness of their prophecies) which you plastered over with whitewash (the illusions, the plausible arguments for their false words) and bring it to the ground, so that its foundation is laid bare (by the destruction of Jerusalem); when it falls you will be consumed in its midst (the false prophets will perish) and you will know that I am the Lord (proof of what he said).
v 15…Thus I shall spend my wrath on the wall (their false protective hedge) and on those who have plastered it over with whitewash (lies, plausible arguments); and I will say to you, ‘The wall is gone and its plasterers (false prophets) are gone,
v 16…the prophets of Israel who prophesy to Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ declares the Lord God.
v 17…Now you, son of man, set your face (put on a bold countenance) against the daughters of your people (false prophetesses) who are prophesying from their own inspiration (heart). Prophesy against them (these women are going to suffer the same fate),
v 18…and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Woe to the women who sew coverings together over all the joints of my hands (so he can’t touch them), and make veils for the heads of every stature (or “size so that it fits the person” so that they cannot see or hear God, or dull the senses-this is figurative meaning they cover up God’s word by their false prophecies so people cannot discern the truth, like “pulling the wool over their eyes” in a modern idiom) to hunt down lives (like Nimrod in Gen 10.9)! Will you hunt down the lives of my people, but preserve the lives of yourselves (by being paid or given food for their false prophecies)?
v 19…And for (with) handfuls of barley and fragments of bread, you have profaned me (by cloaking their false prophecies in the name of Yehovah) to my people to put to death some who should not die (by their false prophecies they killed innocent people who got caught up in the madness) and to keep others alive who should not live (the guilty ones who believed them survived) by your lying to my people who listen to lies.
v 20…Therefore (as a result), thus says the Lord God, “Behold (take note), I am against your coverings by which you hunt lives (to catch the people in their false prophecies) with which you hunt, I will make the souls fly. And I will tear them from your arms, and I will send out the souls, souls which you are hunting, to make them fly (like setting a bird free-Deut 22.7; God will set the souls which they have caught free so they can fly away).
v 21…I will tear your veils and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall no more become a prey in your hands; and you will know that I am the Lord.
v 22…Because (here is the reason) you disheartened the righteous with falsehood (lying predictions) when I did not cause him grief, but you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserved his life (by their optimistic prophecies).
v 23…Therefore, you (women) shall no more see vanity (false prophecies); or practice divination, and I will deliver my people out of your hand; and you will know that I am the Lord (proof that what he says here is true).”
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