Sins of the people over looked by Jehovah In the wilderness Per sistent idol atry and rebel lion the abominations of his eyes," and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God." "But they rebelled against me, and would not hear me; they did not cast away the abominations of their eyes, nor forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish mine anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for my name's sake,* lest it should be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I had made myself known to them, in bringing them out of the land of Egypt. 10So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. "And I gave them my statutes, and showed them mine ordinances, which if a man do he shall live thereby. Moreover I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that it is I, Jehovah, who sanctifieth them. 13But 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 thereby; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness to consume them. But I acted for my name's sake, lest it should be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out. 15Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands; because they had rejected mine ordinances, and walked not in my statutes, and profaned my sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. "Nevertheless mine eye spared them, and I destroyed them not, neither did I completely destroy them in the wilderness. 18 And I said to the children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am Jehovah your God; walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them; 20and keep my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am Jehovah your God. "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 thereby; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish mine anger against them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and acted for my name's sake, lest it should be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth. 23Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries, 24because they had not executed mine ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my sabbaths, and because their eyes were turned toward the idols of their fathers. 25 Moreover I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances wherein they should not live; and I defiled them by their own gifts, through u 26 r 207 I. e., idols and the corrupt practices connected with their worship. 209 1. e., so as to maintain his reputation. 2012 Ezekiel held the conception of the sabbath peculiar to later Judaism. For the history of the sabbath, ef. Vol. iv, § § 210, 217. 2023, 24 Cf. Dt. 5-11, the later conception of the early history. 1 causing all their first-born to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, so that they might know that I am Jehovah. at the places 27Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, Wor"Thus saith Jehovah: "In this also have your fathers blasphemed me, com- ship mitting a trespass against me. 28 For when I had brought them into the land, high which I swore to give to them, and whenever they saw any high hill, or leafy of tree, they offered there their sacrifice, and there they presented their sweet savor, and they poured out there their libations. Then I said to them, w What meaneth the high place to which ye go? So it has been called a high place to this day." 31 30 Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus saith Jehovah: "Do ye defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers, play the harlot after their abominations, and defile yourselves with all your idols by offering your gifts, by making your sons to pass through the fire, even to this day? and shall I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As I live," saith Jehovah, “I will not be consulted by you; and that which cometh into your mind shall not be, in that ye say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the lands, to serve wood and stone.' 32 35 Canaan Rejec tion of the re bellious people guilty 33. As I live,' saith Jehovah, 'surely with a mighty hand and with an out- Jehovah to stretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you; 34 and I judge will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the lands the wherein you are scattered, with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; 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 Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you," saith Jehovah, cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you by tale; purge out from among you the rebels, and those who 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,' the land of ration cilia the 39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith Jehovah: 'Go, let every man serve Restohis idols! But afterwards ye shall surely hear me; no more profane my holy and name with your gifts and with your idols; but on my holy mountain,' saith reconJehovah, 'there shall all the house of Israel, all of them serve me; there will tion for I accept them and there will I require your offerings and the chief of your faithful obligations with all your consecrated things. "Your sweet savors will I accept, exiles when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered and through you my holiness will be made evident in the sight of the nations. 42And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to 2028 So Gk. Heb. has a conflate reading. w2029 Possibly this vs. is secondary. 2030 I. e., thus show their infidelity to Jehovah. y 20 I. e., bring charges against. * 2037 So Gk., supported by the context. Heb., into the bond of the covenant, is obscure. The idea of the original evidently was that the restored exiles were to be sifted by being brought under the rod as a shepherd separates certain of his flock from the others. a 2040 So Gk. and Syr. Heb. adds, in the land. b 204 Heb., in sweet savor will I accept you. Command resent the flight of fugi tives give to your fathers. 43And there ye shall remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have defiled yourselves; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evil deeds that ye have committed. 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 Jehovah. § 113. The Certain Exile of King and People, Ezek. 121-20 Ezek. 12 'And this word of Jehovah came to me, 'Son of man, thou art to rep- dwelling in the midst of a rebellious house who have eyes to see, but they see not; ears to hear, but they hear not; for they are a rebellious house. And do thou, O son of man, prepare by day in their presence goods for removal; and remove from thy place to another place in their presence. Perhaps they may perceive although they are a rebellious house. Bring out thy goods by day in their presence as though for removal, and do thou go forth in the evening in their presence, as one who goes forth into exile. In their presence dig through the wall and go out through it. In their presence take up thy goods upon thy back. Go forth in the dark, covering thy face, so that thou wilt not see the land; for I have appointed thee as a sign to the house of Israel. "Then I did as I was commanded. I brought out my goods by day, as though they were goods for removal, and in the evening I dug through the wall and before their eyes I went forth in the dark, bearing them on my back. The sym bolic act Appli cation to the fate of Zedekiah and his And this word of Jehovah came to me in the morning, Son of man, hath not the rebellious house of Israel said to thee: 'What art thou doing? Say to them: "Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: "This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel, who are in her midst." "Say: 'I am a people sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them. They shall go into exile and captivity and the prince who is in their midst shall bear a burden on his back. He shall go forth in the dark. He shall dig through the wall and go out through it with covered face, so that he shall not see the land; 13and I will cast my net over him and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; and he shall not see it, and there shall he die 14And ali who are about him, his supporters, and all his troops, 13 § 113 The event recorded in this section must evidently be dated about 588 B.C.. when the news came that Zedekiah and his followers were yielding to the solicitations of the neignboring peoples and were on the point of rebelling or had already rebelled against Nebuchadrezzar. Cf. Introd., § 102. Ezekiel's method of declaring that this act would result only in disaster was most impressive. There is little doubt that the object lesson here described was carried out in minute detail. Nothing could have aroused the curiosity of the people to a higher pitch than the prophet's strange procedure. When the minds of his hearers had been thus prepared, Ezekial proclaimed his message with rare effectiveness. 123 So Gk. Heb. adds, and go forth as an exile. d 12 Probably the wall of soft clay which encircled the towns of southern Babylonia. e 125 So the vss. f 126 Supplying the object implied by the context. 126 So Gk., Syr., and Targ. h 127 So Gk. and Syr. Heb. adds, by hand. 1212 So Gk. 1212 So Gk., Syr., Targ., and Lat. Heb. introduces, and, before the verb. k 1212 So Syr. Heb. adds, with his eyes. 15And they will I scatter to every wind, and pursue them with the sword. bol of terror 17Then this word of Jehovah came to me: 18Son of man, Eat thy bread with Symquaking and drink thy water with trembling and apprehension. And say to conthe people of this land: 19 Thus saith Jehovah concerning the inhabitants of stant Jerusalem in the land of Israel: “They shall eat their bread with apprehension and drink their water with dismay; that the land may be shorn of all that is therein because of the violence of all its inhabitants, 20and that the inhabited cities may be laid waste and the land become a desolation. Thus shall ye learn that I am Jehovah." § 114. Condemnation of the False Prophets, Ezek. 12a1–133 cism Ezek. 12 This word of Jehovah came to me, 22Son of man, what is this Refutal proverb which ye have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision of the popular faileth.' Therefore say to them: "Thus saith Jehovah: "I will make this sceptiproverb cease, and they shall no longer use it as a proverb in Israel." But say to them: "The days are at hand and the fulfilment of every vision. For there shall be no longer any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. 25For I, Jehovah, will speak a word, and that word which I shall speak shall be performed and it shall be no longer delayed. For in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak a word and perform it," is the oracle of Jehovah.' This word of Jehovah also came to me, 27Son of man, behold the house of Israel are saying: The vision which he utters is for many days to come, and he prophesies for times that are far off.' 28Therefore say to them: "Thus saith Jehovah: "None of my words shall be longer delayed, for I speak a word and it shall be performed," is the oracle of Jehovah.' influ ence of the 13 'Moreover this word of Jehovah came to me, 'Son of man, prophesy Underagainst the prophets of Israel. Prophesy and say to them: Hear the word mining of Jehovah: Thus saith Jehovah: Woe to the foolish prophets who prophesy according to their own mindo and to what they have not seen. Like jackals popular on the ruins are thy prophets, O Israel. Ye have not gone up into the proph breaches, nor built up a wall for the house of Israel, that ye may stand up in battle in the day of Jehovah. "They see false visions and divine lies, saying, The oracle of Jehovah, when Jehovah hath not sent them. And they await § 114 Ezekiel, like Jeremiah, during the same period, turned with strong invective upon the false prophets and condemned them because they were encouraging the people in the fatal rebellion against Babylon. Cf. § 101. He recognized that they were archtraitors to the nation as well as to the God in whose name they spoke. In the same way he condemned the women of Judah, who trusted and encouraged their husbands to trust in heathen amulets and incantations to save them from Babylon. 123 So Gk. Heb adds, Lord, as frequently throughout the section. 132 Revising the Heb, as the context requires and the vss. indicate. 132 So Gk. Heb., to those who prophesy of themselves. 13 This phrase is omitted by the Gk. and O. Lat. P13 Correcting the Heb. according to the Gk., Targ., and Lat. ets Jeho vah's judgment upon them A similar judgment upon the women who practise the fulfilment of their words. 'Do ye not see a false vision and utter lying divinations ?q Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Because ye speak falsely and see lies, therefore behold I am against you, is Jehovah's oracle. My hand shall be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor inscribed in register of the house of Israel. And to the land of Israel they shall not come, that ye may know that I am Jehovah. 10Inasmuch as they have led my people astray by saying, Peace, when there was no peace; and if some one build a wall, they daub it over with whitewash; say to those who daub with whitewash," There shall be an overwhelming rain; and hailstones shall falls and a tempestuous wind shall rend it. 12And behold, when the wall is fallen, shall it not then be said to you, Where is the daubing with which ye daubed it? 13Therefore thus saith Jehovah, I will let loose a tempestuous wind in my wrath; and in mine anger there shall be an overwhelming rain, and in fury hailstones shall fall. 14Thus will I tear down the wall which ye have daubed with whitewash and cast it to the earth, and its foundations shall be laid bare, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst of it; that ye may know that I am Jehovah. 15 Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon those who daub it with whitewash. And it shall be said to you, Where" is the wall? where are those who daub it? 16the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem and see visions of peace for her when there is no peace," is the oracle of Jehovah.' 18 W 17 And do thou, O son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people who prophesy out of their own hearts, and do thou prophesy against them, and say, 'Thus saith Jehovah: "Woe to the women who sew bands on all wrists, and prepare long veils for the heads of persons of every height, to hunt lives. Ye hunt souls from among my people, and keep alive souls for yourselves. 19 And ye profane me among my people, for handfuls of barley divina- and bits of bread-to put to death those who should not die, and to keep alive those who should not live, by lying to my people who listen to your lies.” 20Therefore, thus saith Jehovah, “Behold, I am against your bands, wherewith you hunt lives, and I will tear them from your arms, and set free those whom ye hunt. "And I will tear off your long veils and deliver my people out of your hand and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. 22Because ye make sorrowful the heart of tion Ꮓ q 137 So Gk. Heb. adds, what is probably secondary, and say what is the oracle of Jehovah, though I have not spoken. 13 So Gk. and Syr. Heb. adds, and it shall fall. 13 Revising the corrupt Heb. as suggested by Targ, and Syr. Heb.. I will say. u 1315 So Syr. and parallel in 12. Heb. text is corrupt. 1318 The reference is evidently to certain forms of amulets which are supposed to exert a benign or malign influence. Here, as elsewhere in the O.T., it is the women who practise divination and keep alive the old Heb. rites. 1318 The Syr. and Targ. read simply, hands. 1319 Lit., souls. y 1320 Correcting the Heb. with the aid of the Syr. and Targ. 1320 So Gk. and Syr. The Heb. adds, as birds. The same phrase, which is found at the end of the verse, is also probably secondary. 1322 Correcting the corrupt Heb. with the aid of the VSS. |