Ezekiel

Ezekiel, a priest, received a vision from God by the river Chebar in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity. In the vision, Ezekiel saw a whirlwind with a great cloud, fire, and a brightness, from which emerged four living creatures with four faces and four wings each. The creatures were accompanied by four wheels, full of eyes, that moved in synchronization with them. Above the creatures was a firmament with a throne, upon which was a figure resembling a man, surrounded by a fiery glow and a rainbow-like brightness, which Ezekiel recognized as the glory of the Lord.

God instructs Ezekiel to stand and speak to the rebellious nation of Israel, who have transgressed against Him along with their fathers. Ezekiel is told to deliver God's message, regardless of whether the people will listen or not, and not to be afraid of their words or looks. Ezekiel is then instructed to eat a scroll given to him by God, which contains lamentations, mourning, and woe.

Ezekiel is instructed to eat a scroll and speak God's words to the house of Israel, despite knowing they will not listen due to their impudent and hardhearted nature. God strengthens Ezekiel's face and forehead to withstand their rebellion. Ezekiel is then taken to the exiles at Telabib, where he sits in silence for seven days before receiving a message from God, appointing him as a watchman to warn the wicked and the righteous of impending judgment. Ezekiel is warned that if he fails to deliver God's warnings, the blood of the wicked will be on his hands.

God instructs Ezekiel to create a model of Jerusalem under siege, using a tile and an iron pan, to symbolize the impending siege of the city. Ezekiel is then told to lie on his left side for 390 days to bear the iniquity of the house of Israel, and afterwards to lie on his right side for 40 days to bear the iniquity of the house of Judah. During this time, Ezekiel is to eat a limited amount of food, made from a mixture of grains, and drink a limited amount of water, symbolizing the scarcity of food and water during the siege. God also instructs Ezekiel to bake his bread with cow's dung, which is later substituted for human dung, to symbolize the defilement of the Israelites' food during their exile.

The Lord instructs Ezekiel to shave his head and beard, then divide the hair into three parts, burning one part, striking another with a knife, and scattering the third in the wind, symbolizing the fate of Jerusalem. The Lord declares that Jerusalem has sinned more than the surrounding nations and will be punished with famine, pestilence, and the sword. A third of the people will die from these causes, a third will be scattered, and a third will fall by the sword. The Lord's anger will be accomplished, and the city will be made a waste and a reproach among the nations.

The Lord declares judgment on the mountains of Israel, promising to destroy their high places, altars, and idols, and to scatter the bones of the slain around their altars. The cities will be laid waste, and the people will be punished with sword, famine, and pestilence. A remnant will be left to remember the Lord among the nations where they are carried captive, and they will loathe themselves for their evil deeds. The Lord's hand will be stretched out to make the land desolate, and the people will know that He is the Lord.

The Lord declares that the end has come for the land of Israel, and He will judge them according to their ways, recompensing them for their abominations. The day of trouble is near, and the Lord's fury will be poured out upon them, with no pity or sparing. Violence and wickedness have risen, and none will remain, with no wailing for the dead. The Lord's wrath is upon the multitude, and they will not be able to strengthen themselves in their iniquity. The land will be devastated, and the people will be punished for their sins, with the Lord ultimately declaring that they will know He is the Lord.

The prophet Ezekiel is transported by the Spirit to Jerusalem, where he witnesses various idolatrous practices in the temple, including the worship of an image of jealousy, the depiction of creeping things and idols on the walls, and the worship of Tammuz and the sun. The elders of Israel are seen participating in these abominations, believing that God does not see them. Ezekiel is told that God will deal with them in fury, sparing no one and showing no pity, despite their cries for mercy.

God commands six men with destructive weapons and a seventh man with a writer's inkhorn to go through Jerusalem, with the man with the inkhorn marking the foreheads of those who lament the city's abominations, while the others are to slay everyone else, sparing only those with the mark. The execution begins at the sanctuary, where the elderly are killed first. The city is filled with the slain, and the prophet Ezekiel intercedes for the remaining Israelites, but God responds that their iniquity is too great and that He will not spare them. The man with the inkhorn reports back to God that he has completed his task.

God instructed the man clothed in linen to take coals of fire from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city, which he did. The glory of the Lord then rose from the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the house, filling it with a cloud and the brightness of God's glory. The cherubim, each with four faces and four wings, lifted off the ground, accompanied by the wheels, and stood at the east gate of the Lord's house, with the glory of God above them.

The prophet Ezekiel is taken to the east gate of the Lord's house, where he sees 25 men, including Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, who are devising mischief and giving wicked counsel in Jerusalem. God tells Ezekiel to prophesy against them, warning that they will be judged and punished for their sins, and that the city will not be a place of safety for them. Despite their wickedness, God promises to be a sanctuary for the Israelites who are scattered among the nations, and to one day gather them back to the land of Israel, giving them a new heart and spirit to follow His statutes.

The Lord instructs Ezekiel to act out a sign of the coming exile of the Israelites, by packing his belongings and pretending to go into captivity, to convey the message that the prince and the people of Jerusalem will be forced to leave their homes and go into exile. The Lord says that He will scatter the Israelites among the nations and disperse them in the countries, but will leave a few to declare their abominations among the heathen. The Lord also warns the people of Israel that they will eat their bread with carefulness and drink their water with astonishment, and that their land will be desolate because of their violence. The Lord declares that He will fulfill His words and that there will be no more vain visions or flattering divinations in Israel.

The Lord condemns the prophets of Israel who prophesy out of their own hearts and have seen nothing, comparing them to foxes in the desert. They have spoken lies and seen vanity, saying the Lord has spoken when He has not, and have given false hope to the people. The Lord will be against these prophets, and they will not be part of His people or enter the land of Israel. The Lord also condemns the prophetesses who sew pillows and make kerchiefs to hunt souls, and promises to tear these things from their arms and deliver His people from their hands.

God warns that those who set up idols in their hearts and seek guidance from prophets will receive answers according to their idolatry, and will be cut off from God's people. The punishment for the prophet and the seeker will be the same, and God will destroy the prophet from among His people. God also warns that when a land sins against Him, even the righteousness of three righteous men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, would not be enough to save the land from destruction, but only themselves. However, a remnant will be left in Jerusalem after God's four sore judgments, and they will be a comfort to those who see their ways and doings.

The Lord compares the people of Jerusalem to a vine tree, which is useless for any practical purpose and is only fit for burning. Even when it was whole, the vine tree was not suitable for any work, and now that it has been burned, it is even less useful. The Lord says He will treat the inhabitants of Jerusalem the same way, giving them over to destruction and making the land desolate as punishment for their trespasses.

The Lord describes Jerusalem's origins as a child abandoned and left to die, but He found her, cleaned her, and adorned her with beautiful clothes and jewelry, symbolizing His covenant with her. However, Jerusalem became proud of her beauty and began to prostitute herself to other nations, sacrificing her children to idols and forgetting her humble beginnings. The Lord condemns her actions, comparing her to her sisters Sodom and Samaria, who were also guilty of sin, but not to the same extent as Jerusalem. The Lord promises to restore Sodom and Samaria, and then restore Jerusalem, but only after she has been punished and humbled.

The Lord God instructs Ezekiel to tell a parable about two eagles and a vine, representing the kingdoms of Babylon and Judah. The first eagle, symbolizing Babylon, plucks the top branch of a cedar tree, representing Judah's king, and plants it in a new land, but the vine turns to another eagle, symbolizing Egypt, for support. The Lord God declares that the vine will wither and be destroyed for its rebellion against Babylon. The parable is then explained as a warning to Judah's king, who has broken his covenant with Babylon by seeking help from Egypt, and will therefore be punished.

The Lord God rejects the proverb that the children's teeth are set on edge because of the fathers' sins, stating that each soul is accountable for its own actions and will die for its own sin. A righteous person who follows God's statutes and judgments will live, while a wicked person who commits abominations will die. However, if the wicked person turns from their sins and follows God's ways, they will live, and if a righteous person turns to wickedness, they will die. The Lord God emphasizes that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that they turn from their ways and live.

The passage describes the downfall of Israel's princes, likening them to a lioness's cubs that grew strong and devoured men, but were eventually captured and taken away by other nations. A second lion cub also rose to power, but met the same fate. The passage then shifts to a metaphor of a vine, representing Israel, which was once fruitful and strong but was plucked up in fury and cast down to the ground, its strong rods broken and withered.

The Lord God refuses to be inquired of by the elders of Israel due to their rebellious and idolatrous ways. He recounts how He chose Israel, brought them out of Egypt, and gave them His statutes and judgments, but they consistently rebelled against Him and polluted His sabbaths. Despite this, God spared them from destruction for His name's sake. He warns the current generation that they will not be like the heathen, but will be brought out from the people and gathered from the countries where they are scattered, and will be purified and brought into a covenant with Him. God promises to accept them and sanctify Himself in them before the heathen when He brings them into the land of Israel.

The Lord declares judgment on Israel, stating that He will draw His sword and cut off both the righteous and the wicked, and that His sword will not return until all flesh has been punished. The prophet Ezekiel is instructed to prophesy against the land of Israel and to warn of the coming sword that will bring terror and destruction. The sword is described as being sharpened and furbished for slaughter, and the Lord declares that He will overturn the kingdom of Israel until the rightful ruler comes. The chapter also contains a prophecy against the Ammonites, who will be judged for their iniquity and destroyed by the sword.

The Lord God condemns the city of Jerusalem for its numerous abominations, including shedding blood, idolatry, and oppression of the weak. The city's leaders, including princes and prophets, are guilty of corruption, violence, and deceit, and have led the people astray. As a result, God will scatter the people among the nations, consume their filthiness, and pour out His indignation upon them. The people of Israel are likened to dross, worthless and impure, and will be gathered and melted in the fire of God's wrath.

The Lord compares the kingdoms of Israel and Judah to two sisters, Aholah and Aholibah, who both committed spiritual adultery by worshiping idols and forming alliances with foreign nations. Aholah, representing Samaria, was given over to her Assyrian lovers who destroyed her, while Aholibah, representing Jerusalem, continued in her idolatry and was eventually punished by her Babylonian lovers. The Lord declares that He will judge both sisters for their sins, and they will be punished according to the laws of adultery and murder. The chapter concludes with the Lord stating that He will put an end to their idolatry and that they will bear the consequences of their sins.

The Lord instructs Ezekiel to prophesy against Jerusalem, comparing it to a bloody city, a pot filled with scum and bones that must be purified by fire. The city's bloodshed and wickedness have reached a point where God's judgment is inevitable. Ezekiel is then told that his wife will die, and he is not to mourn or weep, but instead to continue prophesying to the people, serving as a sign of the desolation that will come upon Jerusalem. When the people ask Ezekiel about his actions, he explains that the Lord will profane the sanctuary and destroy the city, and the people will pine away for their iniquities.

The Lord declares judgment on the Ammonites, Moab, Edom, and Philistines for their actions against Israel. The Ammonites will be given to the men of the east as a possession, and their cities will be desolate. Moab will be judged for saying the house of Judah is like the heathen, and their cities will be given to the men of the east. Edom will be cut off and made desolate for taking vengeance on the house of Judah, and the Philistines will be destroyed for their perpetual hatred and desire for revenge.

The Lord declares judgment against Tyrus, stating that many nations will come against it, destroying its walls and towers, and leaving it a desolate place for spreading nets. Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, will be the instrument of this destruction, bringing a massive army to besiege and conquer the city. The city's riches and merchandise will be plundered, its people slain, and its pleasant houses destroyed. Tyrus will be reduced to a place of terror, never to be inhabited again.

The Lord describes the beauty and wealth of Tyrus, a city situated at the entry of the sea, with its skilled builders, merchants, and mariners from various nations. Tyrus' merchants traded in a multitude of riches, including precious metals, fine linens, and spices, making the city very glorious. However, the Lord declares that Tyrus will be broken by the seas, its riches and merchandise will fall, and its people will be destroyed, causing astonishment and fear among the inhabitants of the isles.

The Lord God condemns the prince of Tyre for his arrogance and claim to be a god, despite being a mere mortal, and warns that he will be brought down by strangers and die a humiliating death. The king of Tyre is described as a beautiful and wise being who was once in the Garden of Eden, but was corrupted by his own beauty and violence, and will be cast out and destroyed. The Lord also pronounces judgment on the city of Sidon, promising to send pestilence and bloodshed, but ultimately to restore and sanctify the house of Israel, allowing them to dwell safely in their land.

The Lord declares judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt, likening Pharaoh to a great dragon that will be caught and left to rot in the wilderness, and Egypt will be desolate for 40 years. The Lord will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, but after 40 years, they will be gathered and returned to their land, where they will be a lowly kingdom. As a result of Egypt's downfall, the Lord will give the land to Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, as wages for his army's service against Tyre.

The Lord declares that a day of judgment is near for Egypt, and the sword will come upon them, causing great pain and destruction. Egypt's allies, including Ethiopia and Libya, will also fall by the sword. The Lord will set a fire in Egypt, destroying the land and its idols, and the king of Babylon, Nebuchadrezzar, will be the instrument of this destruction. The Lord will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and they will know that He is the Lord.

The Lord compares Pharaoh to a majestic cedar tree in Lebanon, describing its grandeur and the life it supports, but notes that its pride and wickedness have led to its downfall. The tree is cut down by strangers and its branches are broken, leaving it a desolate ruin. The Lord says that Pharaoh will suffer a similar fate, being brought down to the nether parts of the earth to lie among the uncircumcised and those slain by the sword.

The Lord God declares that Pharaoh, king of Egypt, will be punished for his actions, and his land will be desolate and his people will be destroyed. The Lord will spread a net over Pharaoh and bring him up, then cast him out upon the open field, where he will be devoured by birds and beasts. The Lord will also darken the heavens and cover the sun and moon, and the destruction of Pharaoh will cause many nations to be amazed and afraid. The sword of the king of Babylon will come upon Pharaoh, and his multitude will fall, and the land of Egypt will be desolate. The Lord will also destroy the beasts of Egypt and make the waters deep and the rivers run like oil. The daughters of the nations will lament for Egypt and its multitude. The chapter also describes the fate of other nations, including Asshur, Elam, Meshech, Tubal, Edom, and the princes of the north, who will all be punished and lie with the uncircumcised in the pit.

The Lord appoints Ezekiel as a watchman to warn Israel of impending judgment, emphasizing the importance of warning the wicked to turn from their ways, lest their blood be on the watchman's hands. The Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that they turn from their ways and live. The righteousness of the righteous will not save them if they sin, and the wickedness of the wicked will not condemn them if they turn from their wickedness. The Lord will judge each person according to their ways, and those who continue in sin will be punished. The Israelites are rebuked for their idolatry, bloodshed, and other abominations, and are warned that they will be punished for their sins. Despite hearing the Lord's words through Ezekiel, the people refuse to obey, and instead treat his prophecies as mere entertainment.

God condemns the shepherds of Israel for feeding themselves and neglecting the flock, causing them to be scattered and devoured by beasts. God promises to search for and deliver the flock, holding the shepherds accountable for their actions. He will feed the flock in a good pasture and judge between the fat and lean cattle, saving the flock from being preyed upon. God will set up a single shepherd, David, to feed and care for the flock, and establish a covenant of peace, bringing safety and prosperity to the land.

The Lord declares judgment against Mount Seir, condemning its perpetual hatred and violence against Israel, and vows to make it desolate, laying waste to its cities and filling its mountains with the slain. The Lord will punish Mount Seir for its envy and blasphemy against the mountains of Israel, and for rejoicing in Israel's desolation. As a result, Mount Seir will be made desolate, and all of Idumea will know that the Lord is the one who has done this.

The Lord God speaks to the mountains of Israel, promising to restore them and the land after the heathen nations have desecrated and possessed them. The Lord will bring the Israelites back to their land, cleanse them of their filthiness and idols, and give them a new heart and spirit to follow His statutes. The land will be restored to its former glory, and the Israelites will be multiplied and prosperous, and the heathen nations will know that the Lord God has done this.

God showed Ezekiel a valley filled with dry bones, and Ezekiel prophesied to the bones, causing them to come together and be covered in flesh and skin, but they still lacked breath. Ezekiel then prophesied to the wind, and the breath came into the bones, bringing them to life as a great army. The bones represented the whole house of Israel, and God promised to restore them to their land and give them new life through His spirit. God also instructed Ezekiel to join two sticks together, representing the reunification of Judah and Israel under one king, and promised to gather the Israelites from among the nations and make them one nation in their own land, with David as their king.

God speaks against Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, warning that He will turn Gog back and bring him against the land of Israel in the latter days. Gog will come with a great army, including Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya, but God will be against him and will cause a great shaking in the land of Israel. God will call for a sword against Gog and his army, and will plead against them with pestilence, blood, and a destructive storm, ultimately sanctifying Himself and making His presence known to many nations.

God will destroy Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and his armies, causing them to fall on the mountains of Israel, where they will be devoured by birds and beasts. The people of Israel will burn the invaders' weapons for seven years, and the land will be cleansed of the dead bodies. God will then restore the house of Israel, bringing them back from captivity, and will pour out his spirit upon them, so that they will know he is their God.

The prophet Ezekiel is brought by God to a high mountain in the land of Israel, where he sees a man with a measuring rod who is measuring the dimensions of a temple. The man measures the gates, chambers, and walls of the temple, including the outer and inner courts, and Ezekiel is instructed to observe and report everything he sees. The measurements are given in detail, including the length and breadth of the gates, chambers, and walls, as well as the location of the altar and the priests' chambers.

The temple's entrance was measured at 10 cubits wide with 5 cubits on each side, and the inner sanctuary was 20 cubits long and 20 cubits wide. The side chambers were 3 stories high with 30 chambers on each floor, and the walls of the chambers were 5 cubits thick. The temple's height was a full reed of 6 great cubits, and the doors of the side chambers faced north and south. The building before the separate place was 70 cubits wide and 90 cubits long, and the house was 100 cubits long and 100 cubits wide. The door posts, windows, and galleries were decorated with cherubims and palm trees, and the altar was 3 cubits high and 2 cubits long.

The prophet Ezekiel is led to the outer court and shown a series of chambers, with the north and south chambers being designated as holy places where priests will eat and store sacred offerings. The chambers are described in detail, including their dimensions and layout. After measuring the inner house, Ezekiel is led to the outer gate and measures the entire area, finding it to be a square with a wall around it, 500 reeds long and 500 reeds wide, separating the sanctuary from the profane place.

The glory of the Lord enters the temple from the east, filling the house, and the Lord speaks to Ezekiel, stating that this is the place of His throne where He will dwell among the Israelites forever, but they must first put away their idolatry and defilement. The Lord instructs Ezekiel to show the house to the Israelites so they may be ashamed of their iniquities and measure its pattern. The Lord also provides the measurements and ordinances for the altar, including its construction and the rituals for its consecration, which involves a seven-day process of purification and sacrifice.

The Lord instructs Ezekiel that the east gate of the sanctuary will be shut, only to be used by the prince to eat bread before the Lord. The Lord then commands Ezekiel to mark well the ordinances and laws of the house of the Lord, and to tell the rebellious house of Israel to stop polluting the sanctuary with uncircumcised strangers. The Lord also instructs that the Levites who went astray will be ministers in the sanctuary but not priests, while the priests, the sons of Zadok, will come near to the Lord to minister. The priests are given specific instructions on their attire, behavior, and roles, including teaching the people to discern between the holy and profane.

The land of Israel is to be divided by lot, with a portion set aside as a holy oblation for the Lord, measuring 25,000 reeds in length and 10,000 reeds in breadth. This portion will include the sanctuary, the most holy place, and areas for the priests and Levites. The prince will also have a portion of land, and the city will be divided with a specific area for the prince and the people. The Lord commands the princes of Israel to remove violence and spoil, and to execute judgment and justice, and to use just balances and measures. The people are to offer a specific oblation to the Lord, including wheat, barley, oil, and animals, and the prince is to provide burnt offerings, meat offerings, and drink offerings on various occasions. The Lord also commands the people to observe the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, with specific offerings and rituals to be performed during these times.

The gate of the inner court is to be shut on the six working days, but opened on the Sabbath and new moon for worship. The prince is to enter through the gate and offer burnt and peace offerings, and the people are to worship at the gate on the Sabbath and new moon. Specific offerings are prescribed for the Sabbath, new moon, and feasts, and the prince is to follow the same procedures as on the Sabbath when making voluntary offerings. Additionally, a daily burnt offering of a lamb is to be made, and the prince's inheritance is to be given to his sons, not his servants.

The prophet Ezekiel is led by a man with a measuring line to a river that flows from the temple, and as they walk through the river, the water level rises from ankle-deep to a depth that cannot be passed over. The river flows into the desert and then into the sea, healing the waters and bringing life to everything it touches. The river's banks will be lined with trees that produce fruit and leaves for healing, and the river will be a place for fishermen to catch a great variety of fish. The chapter also describes the borders of the land that will be divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, with the river serving as a boundary.

The land of Israel is divided among the 12 tribes, with each tribe receiving a portion from the north to the south. The tribe of Levi is given a special portion for the priests, and the city is placed in the midst of the land, with the sanctuary of the Lord at its center. The city is surrounded by suburbs and has gates named after the tribes of Israel. The prince is given a portion of land on either side of the holy oblation, and the remaining land is divided among the rest of the tribes.