Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Ezekiel-Chapter 12

Ezek 12.1-28 tells us about the approaching exile and it is addressed to those in Babylon who think the captivity will soon be over. This is also instruction for those in Jerusalem who are going to be carried away into exile.

1…Then the word of the Lord came to me saying,

v 2…”Son of man (Ezekiel representing the people), you live in the midst of the rebellious house (family of rebellion), who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear (spiritually speaking); for they are a rebellious house.

v 3…Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile (what you would take for a journey) and go into exile by day in their sight (so they might take notice and take it to heart). Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house.

v 4…And bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out at evening (Zedekiah fled at night) in their sight, as going into exile.

v 5…Dig a hole through a wall in their sight and go out through it (this signifies breaches in the wall of Jerusalem, and Zedekiah will try this).

v 6…Load the baggage on your shoulder in their sight (they had few belongings, they lost everything) and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you cannot see the land (of Babylon; Zedekiah was blinded and never saw Babylon), for I have set you as a sign (Hebrew “mophet” or wonder).”

v 7…And I did so, as I had been commanded. By day I brought out my baggage like the baggage of an exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands (escape at night and this is a picture of Zedekiah’s failed escape from Jerusalem); I went out in the dark and carried (it) upon my shoulder in their sight.

v 8…In the morning (the next morning) the word of the Lord (Yehovah) came to me saying,

v 9…”Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, “What are you doing (but nothing is recorded)?

v 10…Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “This burden (prophecy) concerns the prince (“Hebrew “nasi” meaning King Zedekiah) in Jerusalem, as well as all the house of Israel who are in it” (2 Kings 25.4; Jer 39.4, 52.7-his escape).'”

v 11…”Say, ‘I am a sign (mophet) to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they (Zedekiah and the people and his listeners) will go into exile, into captivity’.

v 12…And the prince (Zedekiah) who is among them will load his baggage on his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall to bring it out. He will cover his face (in a disguise) so that he cannot see the land with his eyes (the exiles thought the king would come as a conqueror to save them, but he is coming as a prisoner. This alludes to the fact that Zedekiah will be blinded and never did see the land of Babylon).

v 13…I shall also spread my net over him and he shall be caught in my snare. And I shall bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it (he was blinded at Riblah, the headquarters of Nebuchadnezzar, before he got there), though he shall die there.

v 14…And I shall scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops, and I shall draw out a sword after them (they were afraid and ran).

v 15…So they will know that I am the Lord (Yehovah) when I scatter them (the remnant) among the nations, and I spread them among the countries.

v 16…But I shall spare a few of them (by his mercy to preserve a remnant) from the sword, the famine, and the pestilence that they may tell all their abominations among the nations where they go (to show how far they had sunk and that God was correct in his punishments), and may know that I am the Lord (Yehovah used Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon to punish his people, that is why they fell. It was not because Babylon was so strong and Israel was weaker).”

v 17…Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying,

v 18…”Son of man, eat your bread with trembling (as one in fear), and drink your water with quivering and anxiety (apprehensive of danger).

v 19…Then say to the people of the land (in exile), ‘Thus says the Lord God concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem in the land of Israel (who the people in Babylon thought were living in peace and safety and would continue that way), “They will eat their bread in anxiety and drink their water with horror because their land will be stripped of its fullness on account of the violence of all who live in it.

v 20…And the inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation (be uncultivated and barren). So you shall know that I am the Lord (proof that what he said came true).”

v 21…Then the word of the Lord came to me saying (v 21-28 answers the scoffers),

v 22…”Son of man, what is this proverb you have concerning the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged (everything continues) and every vision fails (they believed the prophecies of Yehovah failed, or has already happened. This is what people say about the coming of the Birth-pains today).’

v 23…Therefore, say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “I will make this proverb cease so that they will no longer use it as a proverb in Israel.” But tell them, “The days draw near as well as the fulfillment of every vision (ending their mockery; a lapse in time does not mean a prophecy will not happen).

v 24…For there will no longer be any false vision (the false prophets will be proven wrong) or flattering divination (like most prophecies today, they say what the people want to hear for money) within the house of Israel.

v 25…For I the Lord (Yehovah) will speak and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed (this strengthens Jeremiah’s prophecies and sympathizes with him), for in your days, O rebellious house, I shall speak the word and perform it,” declares the Lord God.”

v 26…Furthermore, the word of the Lord came to me saying,

v 27…”Son of man, behold (take note), the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees (Ezekiel) is for many years (from now), and he prophesies of times far off (they weren’t concerned for the here and now-it’s the same today-2 Pet 3.3-11).’

v 28…Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “None of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed. ‘ ” declares the Lord God (not one stroke of it will pass away until all of it is given meaning-Matt 5.17-18).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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