Ezekiel Chapter 12
1 The LORD's word also came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don't see, who have ears to hear, and don't hear; for they are a rebellious house.
3 "Therefore, you son of man, prepare your stuff for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.
4 You shall bring out your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.
5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your stuff out that way.
6 In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don't see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel."
7 I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my stuff by day, as stuff for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.
8 In the morning, the LORD's word came to me, saying,
9 "Son of man, hasn't the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, 'What are you doing?'
10 "Say to them, 'The Lord GOD says: "This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel amongst whom they are." '
11 "Say, 'I am your sign. As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.
12 " 'The prince who is amongst them will bear on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry things out that way. He will cover his face, because he will not see the land with his eyes.
13 I will also spread my net on him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.
14 I will scatter towards every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them.
15 " 'They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them amongst the nations, and scatter them through the countries.
16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations amongst the nations where they come. Then they will know that I am the LORD.' "
17 Moreover the LORD's word came to me, saying,
18 "Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.
19 Tell the people of the land, 'The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel: "They will eat their bread with fearfulness, and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein.
20 The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD." ' "
21 The LORD's word came to me, saying,
22 "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?'
23 Tell them therefore, 'The Lord GOD says: "I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel;" ' but tell them, ' "The days are at hand, and the fulfilment of every vision.
24 For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25 For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word, and will perform it," says the Lord GOD.' "
26 Again the LORD's word came to me, saying,
27 "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, 'The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.'
28 "Therefore tell them, 'The Lord GOD says: "None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed," says the Lord GOD.' "
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Ezekiel Chapter 12 Guide
The prophet was next commanded to act in the sight of the people as an exile going forth from his country, preparing "stuff for removing," and carrying it forth from place to place. He obeyed the command, and its intention was fulfilled when the people inquired what he meant.
In response, he foretold the capture of the people and the princes in Jerusalem, and their being taken to Babylon, declaring that the prince (Zedekiah) would be taken captive to Babylon, but that he would not see it. This, of course, was fulfilled when Zedekiah's eyes were put out when he was taken.
Moreover, the prophet was charged to adopt another sign, that is, eating and drinking his bread and water with fear and with carefulness, and by that sign to foretell the desolations which would fall on the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The unbelief of the people had manifested itself in proverbs, one of which declared the failure of prophecy, and another, the postponement of its fulfilment to far distant times. In answer to this Ezekiel was charged to announce the imminence of the divine visitation and the fulfilment of every word that had been spoken.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Ezekiel Chapter 12 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- The approaching captivity. -- (1-16)
- An emblem of the consternation of the Jews. -- (17-20)
- Answers to the objections of scoffers. -- (21-28)
Verses 1-16
By the preparation for removal, and his breaking through the wall of his house at evening, as one desirous to escape from the enemy, the prophet signified the conduct and fate of Zedekiah. When God has delivered us, we must glorify him and edify others, by acknowledging our sins. Those who by afflictions are brought to this, are made to know that God is the Lord, and may help to bring others to know him.
Verses 17-20
The prophet must eat and drink in care and fear, with trembling, that he might express the condition of those in Jerusalem during the siege. When ministers speak of the ruin coming upon sinners, they must speak as those that know the terrors of the Lord. Afflictions are happy ones, however grievous to flesh and blood, that improve us in the knowledge of God.
Verses 21-28
From that forbearance of God, which should have led them to repent, the Jews hardened themselves in sin. It will not serve for an excuse in speaking evil, to plead that it is a common saying. There is but a step between us and an awful eternity; therefore it concerns us to get ready for a future state. No one will be able to put from himself the evil day, unless by seeking peace with the Lord.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.