Ezekiel 21
21
Yahweh’s Sword
1 # 21:1 No other chapter in the Bible speaks more of Yahweh’s sword. Ezekiel 21 has been called the Song of the Sword. The Hebrew word for sword is used fourteen times in this chapter. Fourteen is the biblical number of salvation and deliverance. For the believer today, the “sword” is a metaphor for the Word of God. See Eph. 6:17–18; Heb. 4:12. Just as Jesus is the Word of God with a sword coming from his mouth (see Rev. 19:15), we who follow him will be the “sword company,” who are conformed to his image and speak his words from our mouths. The words of his mouth are our cutting edge. Ezekiel 21 is the seventh panel (G) in the chiastic parallel structure in Ezekiel. This section contains an oracle dealing with Babylon as the instrument of Yahweh’s judgment against Israel. This panel G constitutes the corresponding parallel with panel G1 in ch. 35, which contains an oracle of judgment against Edom for attacks against Israel and for their rejoicing over the destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. Yahweh spoke to me again, saying, 2“Son of man, turn toward Jerusalem # 21:2 Or “set your face toward Jerusalem.” and denounce her place of worship. # 21:2 Or “sanctuaries.” Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and say to the people, ‘Yahweh says to you: I am your enemy, and I am about to draw my sword and destroy the good and evil alike. 4I am going to use my drawn sword to cut off the upright and wicked alike, everyone alive from the south to the north. 5Then everyone will know that I, Yahweh, am the one who has unsheathed my sword, and I will not put it back again!’
6“Son of man, groan with bitter grief before their eyes. Groan as though your heart is breaking with sorrow. 7And when they ask, ‘Why these groans?’ reply, ‘Because of what I’ve heard is about to happen. Every heart will melt with fear, and every hand grow limp. Everyone will faint with fright and wet themselves. # 21:7 The Hebrew reads literally “and every knee will run with water,” an image consistent with the classic depiction of visceral fear that gives rise to incontinence. Behold, it is coming now! It is here!’ I, Lord Yahweh, have spoken.”
A Poem—Yahweh’s Sword
8Yahweh spoke to me again, saying, 9“Son of man, prophesy the message that I, the Lord, give you:
“A sword, a sword of judgment
has been sharpened and polished,
10sharpened for a great slaughter, # 21:10 Or “to slaughter a slaughter.”
polished to flash like lightning!
Should we rejoice in the dynasty # 21:10 Or “scepter,” a symbol of kingly authority. The historical context leaves us without doubt that this oracle refers to the impending demise of the Judean kingdom at the hands of the Babylonian army under King Nebuchadnezzar. of my son, Judah? No!
The sword despises every such stick. # 21:10 The last sentence of this verse is so unintelligible in the Hebrew text that a few translations omit it entirely. It could be understood in three ways: (1) It refers to the way Judah despised all the warnings of God. (2) It refers to the sword of God that takes no account of the status of the one it punishes. (3) It refers to the way King Zedekiah despised Nebuchadnezzar and disregarded the threats of the Babylonians. There is no doubt that in this chapter the “sword” refers to Yahweh’s divine instrument of judgment (viz., the Babylonian army) against his people for their willful violation of his covenant over hundreds of years. And the statement that the “sword despises every such stick [or “wooden rod,” i.e., the scepter of royal authority]” means that the power of the invading Babylonian forces was unstoppable and inevitable. For under the permissive will of God, Nebuchadnezzar’s army was granted leave to arrogantly trample on the Judean kingdom, without having any respect whatever for the legitimacy of her governing authority.
11I handed over the sword for someone to polish
so he can use it,
sharp, shiny, and ready
for the hand of the executioner.
12Shout and wail, son of man,
for the sword will come against my people,
and all the leaders of Israel.
They are thrown to the sword like the rest of my people.
So beat your breast in anguish, # 21:12 Or “slap your thigh.”
13for surely, I am testing my people.
What if the scepter of Judah,
despised by the sword, does not survive? # 21:13 Or literally “What if even the rod that despised will not survive?” or “What if even the rod despises? It will not be!”
I, Lord Yahweh, have spoken.
14“So prophesy, son of man, and strike hand to hand in anger! # 21:14 Or “clap your hands together.” See v. 17.
Let the sword strike twice, even three times. # 21:14 Or “And the sword will be doubled a third time,” with the possible meaning of “Let the sword be twice, three times [as cruel].”
For the sword is prepared for those to be slain,
a mighty sword to terrify,
with a great slaughter from every side!
15This sword will make them stumble and fall,
and their hearts will melt with fear.
I have posted the threatening sword at every gate # 21:15 Or “I have taken the sword from its sheath at the [city] gates.”
to flash like lightning, polished for the slaughter.
16Slash to the right, and ready on the left,
whichever way your blade turns!
17I also will strike hand to hand in anger
and satisfy my fury!
I, Yahweh, have spoken.”
The King of Babylon Comes to Destroy Jerusalem
18Then Yahweh said to me: 19“Son of man, mark out two roads for the king of Babylon to come with his sword; both should originate from the same land. Then put up a signpost at the place where the road branches off to the city. # 21:19 The signpost will indicate the city where each road leads. God was telling Ezekiel to make it easy for the King of Babylon to choose which city he wanted to attack. 20Mark out the routes for the sword to come to Rabbah-of-the-Ammonites, and to Judah, and its fortress of Jerusalem. 21For the king of Babylon is already at the place where the two roads begin. He is consulting his gods to decide which way to go by shuffling arrows and throwing them on the ground to see where they point. # 21:21 This was the ancient practice of belomancy, tossing arrows with the names of enemies written upon them. He asks his favorite idols # 21:21 The Hebrew word teraphim means “household gods [figurines].” for advice, and he examines the liver of a sacrificed animal. # 21:21 This is the only instance in the Bible of a person seeking omens through studying the liver of an animal, a practice known as hepatoscopy. 22It tells him to take the road on the right leading to Jerusalem, so the king decides to go there. His plan is to ready the battering rams to be prepared when he gives the order for slaughter. His army will shout the battle cry and set up the battering rams against the gates. They will make siege ramps and construct siege towers.
23“The people of Jerusalem will believe that these omens are false, for they have made sworn treaties and think they are safe. But Nebuchadnezzar’s decision to attack will remind them of their sins against God, and as a result, they will be captured. 24Therefore, Lord Yahweh says, ‘You have uncovered your waywardness by parading all your evil deeds. You flaunt your sins in everything you do. Because of this, your enemies will capture you by force!
25-26“ ‘As for you, wicked and unholy prince of Israel, # 21:25–26 That is, King Zedekiah. Lord Yahweh has a message for you. Your doom is approaching. Your time is up, and I will put an end to your crimes. Take off your royal turban and remove your crown. Everything is about to be turned upside down. Lowly ones will be raised up, and those who seem important now will become nobodies. # 21:25–26 See Matt. 20:16; 1 Cor. 1:26–29. 27A ruin, a ruin, I will make this city a ruin # 21:27 The three-fold use of the word “ruin” stresses how terrible will be the destruction of Jerusalem. The Hebrew word for “ruin” (’awwah) is a play on the word for “guilt” or “punishment” (’awon) in vv. 23–25. —until the one arrives, the rightful ruler. # 21:27 Who is this “rightful ruler”? Some believe the rightful ruler was Jehoiachin, previously dethroned. Some see it as a reference to Nebuchadnezzar, whom God was using to punish Jerusalem, or as perhaps a cryptic reference to the future Messiah, our Lord Jesus. See Gen. 49:10. Then I will hand him the crown to rule.’ ” # 21:27 Jesus Christ is the one who has the right to wear the “turban” of vv. 25–26 (as our High Priest) and the “crown” (as the King). He is the one who initiated the King-Priest ministry after the order of Melchizedek. And he has made us part of his King-Priest ministry on earth. See 1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10.
Yahweh’s Punishment of the Ammonites
28“Son of man, prophesy and announce what I, Lord Yahweh, say to the mocking # 21:28 The term herpatam has the literal meaning of “their reproaches” or “their expressions of contempt.” However, in this context it is clear that these meanings also contain an element of mocking or taunting directed toward the people of Israel, as is made abundantly clear in Ezek. 25:3, 6; compare 36:15. Ammonites: ‘A sword, a sword is drawn and ready for slaughter! It is a sharp, polished sword to flash like lightning and to destroy. # 21:28 The “sword” becomes a metonymy for the armies of the king of Babylon. 29The visions you had are false. When you consulted your gods about what would happen, their answers were lies. Your day of judgment has come! It’s high time for your punishment to reach its climax. The sword is going to cut off your heads!
30“ ‘Put the sword back in its scabbard. # 21:30 In vv. 30–32, God is speaking of the punishment coming to Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon for what they did to Jerusalem. God is going to punish the very “sword” he used to destroy the city. God will punish Nebuchadnezzar and his people in their homeland—that is, Nebuchadnezzar will die in Babylon. I will punish you in the land where you were born, the land of your origin. 31I will vent my fury on you, blow the fire of my rage against you, and hand you over to brutal men whose skill is destruction. 32You will be fuel for the fire. Babylonian blood will flow in your homeland, and no one will remember anything about you. I, Yahweh, have spoken.’ ”
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Ezekiel 21: TPT
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