Ezekiel 24:1-27

YAHWEH spoke to me and said: “Son of man, write down today’s date: January 15, the ninth year of your captivity, for this is the very day the king of Babylon begins his attack on Jerusalem. Pronounce this parable for these rebels: ‘Lord YAHWEH says to you: “ ‘Put a cooking pot on the fire; put it on and fill it with water. Take one of the best of the flock, kill it, cut it in pieces, then put the best pieces in the pot — the thighs, the shoulders, and the choicest joints. Fill the pot with the most tender cuts, pile firewood underneath it and boil it until the bones are thoroughly cooked. “ ‘For the Lord YAHWEH says this: Disaster is in store for the bloody city, for you are like a scum-filled cooking pot that no amount of scrubbing can make clean! Empty the pot, piece by piece, in whatever order it comes. For your city is still full of bloodshed. Your people have poured the blood of your murdered victims on the bare rocks. You didn’t bother to pour it on the ground where at least the dust could cover it. To awaken my anger and exact vengeance, I have put the blood of those you murdered on a bare rock where it will not be hidden! “ ‘I, Lord YAHWEH, say to you: Doom is in store for the city of bloodshed. I, too, will pile up wood for the fire. Heap on the firewood! Light it! Cook the meat well until the broth boils away, until the bones are burned up! Set the empty pot on the coals until it gets hot and the metal glows red-hot. The scum will become soft enough to scrub, and what is left will be burned off. But it still can’t be cleaned and its scum can’t be removed, so into the fire you go! “ ‘Jerusalem, the filth of your sexual immorality is infamous. Although I have tried to purify you, you were not cleansed of your filth, so now you will never be purged of your filth until I have emptied out my fury upon you. I, YAHWEH, have decreed it. The time has come, and I will do it! I will not hold back or relent. I will show you no pity. I will judge you according to the way you have lived and acted. I, Lord YAHWEH, have spoken.’ ” YAHWEH spoke to me and said, “Son of man, behold, in the blink of an eye I am about to take from you your heart’s dearest treasure, the one you love the most. But you must not weep or wail or let your tears stream down your cheeks. Let no one hear your sobbing; don’t show that you are grieving. Wrap a turban around your head, put sandals on your feet, and dress normally. Don’t cover your face, and don’t eat the customary food of mourners.” So, I preached to the people the next day as usual, and by evening, my wife had died. And I did as I had been instructed. The people then said to me, “What’s the meaning of this? Why are you acting this way?” Then YAHWEH spoke to me and I replied, “YAHWEH told me to prophesy to the people of Israel the words of Lord YAHWEH: ‘Behold! I am about to make my sanctuary ritually unclean. My temple has become your boast, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the joy of your hearts, and you believe it will keep you safe. But your children whom you left behind in Jerusalem will be killed by the sword. Then you will do as I have done; you will not cover your faces nor eat the customary food of mourners. You will keep turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn nor weep but will waste away for your sins and groan among yourselves. Thus Ezekiel is a sign for you. Everything he has done, you will do. And when this happens, you will certainly know that I am Lord YAHWEH.’ ” “And you, son of man, this is what will happen on the day that I deprive them of their temple-stronghold, their beautiful joy and glory, their heart’s desire, and their greatest treasure—I will also take away their sons and daughters. And on that day a survivor from Jerusalem will bring you the report. That same day, when he comes to you, your mouth will be opened, and you will be able to prophesy to the survivor and be silent no longer. And you will be a living symbol of hope for them, and they will see and acknowledge that I am YAHWEH!”