Ezekiel Chapter 13
1 The LORD's word came to me, saying,
2 "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, 'Hear the LORD's word:
3 The Lord GOD says, "Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
4 Israel, your prophets have been like foxes in the waste places.
5 You have not gone up into the gaps or built up the wall for the house of Israel, to stand in the battle in the LORD's day.
6 They have seen falsehood and lying divination, who say, 'The LORD says;' but the LORD has not sent them. They have made men to hope that the word would be confirmed.
7 Haven't you seen a false vision, and haven't you spoken a lying divination, in that you say, 'The LORD says;' but I have not spoken?"
8 " 'Therefore the Lord GOD says: "Because you have spoken falsehood and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you," says the Lord GOD.
9 "My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who utter lying divinations. They will not be in the council of my people, neither will they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither will they enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD."
10 " 'Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, "Peace;" and there is no peace. When one builds up a wall, behold, they plaster it with whitewash.
11 Tell those who plaster it with whitewash that it will fall. There will be an overflowing shower; and you, great hailstones, will fall. A stormy wind will tear it.
12 Behold, when the wall has fallen, won't it be said to you, "Where is the plaster with which you have plastered it?"
13 " 'Therefore the Lord GOD says: "I will even tear it with a stormy wind in my wrath. There will be an overflowing shower in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to consume it.
14 So I will break down the wall that you have plastered with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered. It will fall, and you will be consumed in the middle of it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
15 Thus I will accomplish my wrath on the wall, and on those who have plastered it with whitewash. I will tell you, 'The wall is no more, neither those who plastered it;
16 to wit, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace,' " says the Lord GOD.' "
17 You, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy against them,
18 and say, "The Lord GOD says: 'Woe to the women who sew pillows on all elbows, and make kerchiefs for the head of persons of every stature to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of my people, and save souls alive for yourselves?
19 You have profaned me amongst my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to kill the souls who should not die, and to save the souls alive who should not live, by your lying to my people who listen to lies.'
20 "Therefore the Lord GOD says: 'Behold, I am against your pillows, with which you hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms. I will let the souls go, even the souls whom you hunt to make them fly.
21 I will also tear your kerchiefs, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they will be no more in your hand to be hunted. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
22 Because with lies you have grieved the heart of the righteous, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, and be saved alive.
23 Therefore you shall no more see false visions, nor practise divination. I will deliver my people out of your hand. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "
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Ezekiel Chapter 13 Guide
The next movement in the prophesying was a denunciation of false prophets and prophetesses. The prophets were not inspired by the Spirit of God, but followed their own spirit. In so doing they had, like foxes, destroyed the very fences of the vineyard of God instead of restoring and strengthening them. They had spoken in the name of the Lord without His authority. In the place of divine inspiration had been the divination of wickedness. Because of this, Jehovah was against them, and they would be cut off from the council of His people and from the land of Israel. Their immediate sin had been promising peace when judgment was determined. By their messages they had given a false sense of security, which Ezekiel likened to a wall built with untempered mortar. Against this Jehovah would proceed as a stormy wind, in fury sweeping it down with those who built it.
The prophetesses had been guilty of the same evil prophesying "out of their own heart" the things which pleased the people, and that for their own enrichment. Against them also Jehovah would proceed, delivering the people out of their hand.
This burden against the false prophets and prophetesses ended once more with the declaration of purpose, "Ye shall know that I am the Lord." It is a graphic setting forth of the awful peril of misrepresenting Jehovah. There is no deadlier sin than to profess to speak His messages, and at the same time be motivated by anything other than the glory of His name.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Ezekiel Chapter 13 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Heavy judgments against lying prophets. -- (1-9)
- The insufficiency of their work. -- (10-16)
- Woes against false prophetesses. -- (17-23)
Verses 1-9
Where God gives a warrant to do any thing, he gives wisdom. What they delivered was not what they had seen or heard, as that is which the ministers of Christ deliver. They were not praying prophets, had no intercourse with Heaven; they contrived how to please people, not how to do them good; they stood not against sin. They flattered people into vain hopes. Such widen the breach, by causing men to think themselves deserving of eternal life, when the wrath of God abides upon them.
Verses 10-16
One false prophet built the wall, set up the notion that Jerusalem should be victorious, and made himself acceptable by it. Others made the matter yet more plausible and promising; they daubed the wall which the first had built; but they would, ere long, be undeceived when their work was beaten down by the storm of God's just wrath; when the Chaldean army desolated the land. Hopes of peace and happiness, not warranted by the word of God, will cheat men; like a wall well daubed, but ill built.
Verses 17-23
It is ill with those who had rather hear pleasing lies than unpleasing truths. The false prophetesses tried to make people secure, signified by laying them at ease, and to make them proud, signified by the finery laid on their heads. They shall be confounded in their attempts, and God's people shall be delivered out of their hands. It behoves Christians to keep close to the word of God, and in every thing to seek the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Let us so trust the promises of God as to keep his commandments.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.