Ezekiel 14
14
Idols of the Heart
1 # 14:1 Ezekiel 14–19 contains a series of prophecies of God’s coming judgment, meant to show that God was right to punish the people using invading enemies to capture Jerusalem. One day, some leaders of Israel came to me to consult about what God was saying. While they were sitting there with me, 2Yahweh spoke to me, saying, 3“Son of man, these men have set up idols deep within their hearts. And they have set idols # 14:3 Or “the stumbling block of iniquity,” that is, idolatry. The implied meaning is that these leaders had idols set up both in their hearts and in their homes. before their eyes, so why should I let them ask me anything? # 14:3 Clearly, these men were hypocrites who wanted to hear a word from God while hiding idolatry in their hearts. They had no intention of forsaking their sins; they merely wanted to have a prophet give them a word they wanted to hear. 4So tell them this, ‘Lord Yahweh says: If any Israelite comes to consult with the prophet despite a heart that worships idols and eyes looking on that which leads into wickedness, I, Yahweh, will answer that person directly. I will give the answer that is deserved because of the great extent of the idolatry. 5And in this way I hope to capture the hearts of the people of Israel who have all been estranged because of all their idols.’
6“Therefore, prophesy to the people of Israel, ‘Lord Yahweh says to you: Repent! Come back to me and forsake your idols. Once and for all, turn your backs on all your detestable practices. 7If any Israelite or a foreigner living among you rejects me with idolatry of the heart and has intentionally gazed on that which leads into wickedness, yet goes to consult with a prophet, then, I, Yahweh, will answer that person myself. 8I will oppose that person! # 14:8 Or “I will set my face against that person.” I will cut the idolator off from my people as an example and a warning # 14:8 Or “a proverb.” to others. And then you will know that I am Yahweh. 9And if the prophet is tricked into speaking a prophetic word, it is I, Yahweh, who allowed this to happen, # 14:9 Or “enticed that prophet.” for I have decided to punish him with death. 10Both the prophet and the one who consults him will be equally punished for their guilt. 11I will do this so that they will never stray from me again or defile themselves with their rebellion. Then they will be my faithful people, and I will be their faithful God. For I, Lord Yahweh, have spoken.’ ”
God’s Justice
12 # 14:12 Ezekiel 14:12–17:24 is the fourth panel (D) in the chiastic parallel structure in Ezekiel. This section contains allegorical judgments against Israel, as well as the foretelling of new covenant blessing for the people of God. This section—panel D—constitutes the parallel with panel D1 in chs. 38–39, containing the Gog and Magog prophecies—symbolic judgment against the nations. There is likewise the promise of renewal and new covenant blessing for Israel. Yahweh spoke to me, saying: 13“Son of man, suppose all the people living in a certain country wander from me in pursuit of their sin, then I decide to come against them. I would punish them by destroying their food supply, inflicting famine on them, and causing people and animals to starve to death. 14Even if the three godly men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, # 14:14 These three godly men, Noah, Daniel (although Ezekiel uses a slightly different Hebrew spelling, “Danel”), and Job, were heroes in the Jewish faith and known for their virtue and exceptional integrity. Daniel was a contemporary of Ezekiel, and the Jews in captivity would have known who he was. all lived there, their righteous lives could only save themselves—no one else. I, Lord Yahweh, have spoken.
15“Or suppose I unleash wild animals on that country to roam through the land killing its people, # 14:15 Or “and [the animals] make it [the land] childless.” making the land so dangerous that no one would dare pass through it. 16Even if these three godly men lived there, as surely as I, Lord Yahweh, am the living God, they would not be able to save even their own children. They alone would be spared, and the country would become a desert.
17“Or suppose I were to bring war upon that country, sending enemies with swords to devastate the land and wipe out both people and animals. 18Even if these three godly men lived there, as surely as I, Lord Yahweh, am the living God, they would not be able to save either son or daughter; they alone would be saved.
19“Or suppose I were to send a pandemic on that country and pour out my wrath upon the people with a bloody death and wipe out both people and animals. 20Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job lived there, as surely as I, Lord Yahweh, am the living God—their righteousness would only be able to save themselves and not even their own children.”
Destruction of Jerusalem
21Lord Yahweh spoke to me, saying, “How much worse it will be for Jerusalem when I send my four dreadful scourges—sword, famine, wild animals, and pandemic—to destroy both people and animals. 22Even so, there will be a remnant left, a few who survive. Enemy soldiers will bring your wicked sons and daughters out of the city, and they will be brought here to Babylon. # 14:22 Or “and when they come out to you [in Babylon].” When you see them and realize how sinful are their ways and deeds, then you will not feel so sad when you understand that I, Yahweh, brought all these disasters upon Jerusalem. 23You will feel better when you see their evil way of life and actions, for then you will realize that I had a good reason to do what I did. I, Lord Yahweh, have spoken.”
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