Ezekiel 24
24
The Parable of the Boiling Pot
# 24:1–2 Ezekiel 24 is the ninth panel (I) in the chiastic parallel structure in Ezekiel. This section contains an oracle depicting the “cooking pot” judgment on Jerusalem (24:3, 6). This panel I constitutes the corresponding parallel with panel I1 in ch. 33, which contains the oracle describing Ezekiel as a “watchman” for the house of Israel and in which Jerusalem’s fall is invoked and explained. 1-2Yahweh spoke to me and said: “Son of man, write down today’s date: January 15, the ninth year of your captivity, # 24:1–2 This sentence is significant, for it contains the exact date Nebuchadnezzar would begin to attack Jerusalem. No doubt, this prophecy’s fulfillment established Ezekiel’s authority as an accurate prophet. See 2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 52:4. for this is the very day the king of Babylon begins his attack on Jerusalem. 3Pronounce 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.
4-5Take one of the best of the flock,
kill it, cut it in pieces,
then put the best pieces in the pot # 24:4–5 The pieces in the pot symbolize the people of Jerusalem and fugitives from surrounding towns who sought refuge in the city. The “best pieces” would be the leaders of the city. —
the thighs, the shoulders, and the choicest joints. # 24:4–5 See Gen. 32:24–32. The thighs and shoulders are symbols of the strength of the flesh.
Fill the pot with the most tender cuts,
pile firewood underneath it
and boil it until the bones
are thoroughly cooked.
6“ ‘For the Lord Yahweh says this:
Disaster is in store for the bloody city, # 24:6 That is, Jerusalem.
for you are like a scum-filled cooking pot
that no amount of scrubbing can make clean!
Empty the pot, piece by piece, # 24:6 The people of Jerusalem would perish, not en masse, but in different portions at different times.
in whatever order it comes. # 24:6 Or “don’t even allow lots to be cast for them.” The reference here is to the people of Jerusalem. After the siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC, the Babylonians had cast lots to see whom they would take away into exile. Now, everyone would go.
7For your city is still full of bloodshed.
Your people have poured the blood
of your murdered victims on the bare rocks. # 24:7 Jewish scholars see this as a reference to the martyrdom of the prophet Zechariah, who was killed in the temple courts.
You didn’t bother to pour it on the ground
where at least the dust could cover it. # 24:7 To leave the blood of a dead animal uncovered was against the law (see Lev. 17:13); so much more a person’s blood.
8To 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!
9“ ‘I, Lord Yahweh, say to you:
Doom is in store for the city of bloodshed.
I, too, will pile up wood for the fire.
10Heap on the firewood! Light it!
Cook the meat well until the broth boils away, # 24:10 Or “mix in the spices.”
until the bones are burned up!
11Set 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.
12But it still can’t be cleaned # 24:12 The Hebrew text is so uncertain that some translations omit it entirely. Others change the Hebrew to read “She has wearied me with toil.” and its scum can’t be removed, so into the fire you go!
13“ ‘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. 14I, 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.’ ”
Death of Ezekiel’s Wife
15Yahweh spoke to me and said, 16“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. # 24:16 Or “the delight of your eyes.” But you must not weep or wail or let your tears stream down your cheeks. 17Let 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. # 24:17 In that culture and time, mourners would go barefoot with their heads uncovered and their lower face covered with a veil. God instructed Ezekiel to dress normally and act like nothing had happened as a sign that Jerusalem’s grief would come suddenly with no time to grieve or lament. The dearest thing to Ezekiel was his wife. The dearest thing to Jerusalem was her temple. Don’t cover your face, # 24:17 Literally “Do not cover your mustache.” Also in v. 22. and don’t eat the customary food of mourners.”
18So, 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. 19The people then said to me, “What’s the meaning of this? Why are you acting this way?”
20Then Yahweh spoke to me and I replied, “Yahweh told me 21to 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. 22Then you will do as I have done; you will not cover your faces nor eat the customary food of mourners. 23You 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. 24Thus 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.’ ”
25“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. 26And on that day a survivor from Jerusalem will bring you the report. 27That same day, # 24:27 That is, the day when Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem. 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. # 24:27 This affirmation that Ezekiel will no longer be silent indicates the lifting of the prophet’s mute condition, imposed upon him by God, except when God spoke directly to him, and he conveyed those messages to the people (see Ezek. 3:26–27; 33:22). And you will be a living symbol of hope for them, # 24:27 Ezekiel’s prophetic messages in the second half of the book will begin to focus more and more on the promised hope of divine forgiveness and spiritual renewal for the people of God. and they will see and acknowledge that I am Yahweh!”
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Ezekiel 24: TPT
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