Ezekiel, an Aaronic priest, was among those whom King Nebuchadnezzar took as captives into exile along with King Jehoiachin, members of the royal family, officials of the realm, warriors, and skilled craftsmen. (2 Kings 24:12-15) In the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin, commonly considered to have been the year 593 BCE, Ezekiel received his commission to serve as YHWH’s prophet. (1:1-3) Verse 3 of Ezekiel chapter 1 says, “The word of YHWH came to Ezekiel the son of Buzi the priest in the land of the Chaldeans.” This wording in the third person could indicate that Ezekiel, like Jeremiah and other prophets, did not personally compile and write the record of his words, visions, and activity.
Like Jeremiah in Jerusalem, so Ezekiel in Babylon declared the word of YHWH that Jerusalem would be besieged and fall before the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. Neither those then living in Jerusalem and the realm of the kingdom of Judah nor the exiles in Babylonia wanted to hear this message, and they refused to repent of their wrongdoing. Prophets of falsehood lulled the people into a false sense of security, proclaiming that Jerusalem would not be conquered and that the exiles in Babylonia would soon be returning. (Jeremiah 5:1-5; 26:1-11; 27:16-18; 28:2-4; 29:20-28; Ezekiel 2:3-7; 3:24-27) The words of Ezekiel 3:25 suggest that the exiles in Babylon did not even want Ezekiel to leave his house. Possibly because the people did not want to hear the message, YHWH directed Ezekiel to perform symbolic actions that vividly portrayed the severe punishment they would experience.
Besides foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and what would befall the people, Ezekiel prophesied against Ammon, Moab, Edom, the Philistines, the city of Tyre and its “leader,” prince, or ruler, and Egypt and its ruler, Pharaoh. (Ezekiel 25:1-32:32; 35:1-15) After the desolation of Jerusalem and the the territory of the kingdom of Judah, the message Ezekiel made known apparently changed. The word of YHWH through Ezekiel pointed forward to the time when the devastated land would be restored and the exiles would be able to return. In the concluding part of the book of Ezekiel (40:1-48:35), a new arrangement for the worship of YHWH is outlined, an arrangement centered in a temple that would be far grander than the one that had been built during the reign of King Solomon. From this new temple, a river would flow that would provide life-imparting water.
Only fragments of the text of Ezekiel survive in six manuscripts from Qumran and one from Masada. With a few insignificant exceptions, the wording that is preserved corresponds to that of the Masoretic Text. Based on the space between the first seven preserved letters of verse 13 of chapter 5 and the next and last four preserved letters in this verse, the text in one scroll fragment (11QEzek) appears to have been shorter than is the Masoretic Text. Another place where the text seems to have been shorter and different is in the wording of verses 16 and 17 in manuscript fragment 4QEzekᵅ. The space that remains for the wording from the five preserved letters of verse 15 and the only preserved word of verse 17 is insufficient to accommodate the intervening words found in verses 16 and 17 of the Masoretic Text.
The Septuagint contains numerous departures from the extant Hebrew text. There is evidence that translations into Greek are based on Hebrew copies that differed in significant ways. The oldest partially preserved Greek text is in P967, considered to date from the third century CE. In this papyrus manuscript, the text is shorter than is contained in manuscripts of the fourth and fifth centuries (Codex Vaticanus and Codex Alexandrinus), and it is arranged differently. The wording of chapters 38 and 39 follows that of chapter 36, then the words of chapter 37 precede those of chapters 40 to 48.
In the commentary that follows, reference is made to the Septuagint and the Targum of Ezekiel. Comments focus on significant differences, including omissions and expansions of the text.
The “thirtieth year” may have been the thirtieth year of Ezekiel’s life. It was on the fifth day of the fourth month (mid-June to mid-July) of this year that Ezekiel was among the exiles from the kingdom of Judah by the “river Chebar,” probably one of the major canals in ancient Chaldea. At this time, the “heavens” opened up to Ezekiel, and he “saw visions of God.” (1:1; see the Notes section.) The thirtieth year was also the “fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin,” which is commonly understood to have been the year 593 BCE. Ezekiel had been taken into exile along with Jehoiachin, members of the royal family, officials of the realm, warriors, and skilled craftsmen. (1:2; 2 Kings 24:12-15)
According to a cuneiform inscription (British Museum 21946), King Nebuchadnezzar “encamped against the city of Judah [Jerusalem]” and on the second day of the month Adar [mid-February to mid-March (the twelfth month)]” captured the city and seized the “king” (Jehoiachin). This would mean that the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile was about four years later. It was then that Ezekiel’s service as a prophet began, and it continued at least until the twenty-seventh year of this exile or about twenty-two years. (29:17) Aside from the name “Buzi,” nothing else is known about Ezekiel’s father. Like his contemporary Jeremiah who served as a prophet in the kingdom of Judah, Ezekiel was a priest. It was by the river Chebar (probably one of the major canals in ancient Chaldea) that Ezekiel received a “word” or message from YHWH. The “hand of YHWH” came upon him, indicating that he had become the chosen prophet under his power or control. In the Targum, the reference is to the “spirit of prophecy from before the Lord.” (1:3)
Ezekiel observed a powerful wind coming from the north. He apparently saw a huge cloud drawing nearer. Within this cloud, a fire was flickering or flashing (literally, “taking hold of itself”), and a bright glow surrounded the cloud. In the midst of this cloud and the fire, Ezekiel saw what appeared to him something like electrum, an alloy of gold and silver that gleamed brightly. (1:4)
Apparently as the cloud came closer, Ezekiel saw the “likeness of four living beings.” Their basic form was like that of a man (an earthling), but there were other features that differed significantly from that of a human. (1:5) Each one of the living beings had “four faces” and “four wings.” (1:6) Their legs were straight. Unlike the human leg that has a knee, the legs of the living beings apparently were like straight pillars, and the feet were round like those of the hooves of a calf. Equipped with wings, they did not need legs and feet like those of humans for walking or running. The living beings could fly or glide. According to the Septuagint, their feet “were winged.” The living beings gleamed like burnished copper or bronze. (1:7) Under the wings, there apparently were arms with hands that looked like those of a man. One hand would have been on each of the four sides of the living being. Therefore, when Ezekiel looked directly at the face on a specific side, he would have seen a hand on the right and the left. Each of the living beings had the same set of faces and wings. (1:8; see the Notes section.) The wings that extended above the faces of the living beings joined or touched those of the other living beings. (Compare 1:11.) With a face on each of their four sides, the living beings could move forward in any direction without having to turn. (1:9; see the Notes section.)
Apparently the face that Ezekiel saw directly looking in his direction was that of a man. To the right of this face was that of a lion and to the left that of a bull. Behind the face of the man was that of an eagle. If the face of a man represented the noble qualities humans possess, the other faces could represent features in which humans do not excel — strength (bull, Proverbs 14:4), boldness or fearlessness (lion, 2 Samuel 17:10; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Proverbs 28:1), and speed (eagle, Habakkuk 1:8). (1:10)
After again referring to the “faces” of the living beings, the verse continues with a comment about the wings. One set of two wings spread out above the face of each living being and touched or joined those of the other living beings. The other set of two wings covered their bodies. Ezekiel was able to see the legs, suggesting that the upper part of the body of each living being was covered. (1:11)
The spirit controlled the movement of the four living beings, probably meaning that all of them went straight forward in unison, apparently as the spirit of God impelled them. Their having a face on each side made it possible for them to go forward without having to turn. (1:12)
The appearance of the living beings resembled “burning coals of fire” or fire from burning coals. According to the Septuagint, an “appearance like burning coals of fire” was “in the midst of the living beings.” “Among the living beings, something that had the “appearance of torches” moved to and fro. The fire was radiant, and “lightning went forth from the fire.” (1:13)
The living beings seemingly moved rapidly, darting back and forth “like the appearance of lightning” or like lightning flashes. (1:14; see the Notes section.)
Near the four faces of each of the four living beings, Ezekiel saw a large wheel, the bottom part of which touched the “earth” or the ground. (1:15) All four wheels were of identical construction, with a wheel within a wheel, and they gleamed like topaz (tarshísh; transliterated as tharsis in LXX), a transparent or translucent gemstone. The words “the wheel within the wheel” could mean that each of the four wheels was intersected at right angles with another wheel. A number of modern translations are specific in expressing this basic meaning regarding the wheels. “Each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.” (NLT) “Each wheel was exactly the same and had a second wheel that cut through the middle of it.” (CEV) “Each had another wheel intersecting it at right angles.” (TEV) (1:16; see the Notes section.) Such a design of the wheels would have facilitated movement in any one of four directions without having to turn. A number of modern translations are more specific in their renderings than is the Hebrew text and convey different meanings. “As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not turn about as the creatures went.” (NIV) “The wheels could move in any of the four directions.” (TEV) “When they moved in any of the four directions they never swerved from their course.” (REB) “The beings could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved.” (NLT) (1:17)
Seemingly, the rims at the top of the large wheels were so high above the ground that they appeared terrifying to Ezekiel, and all four rims were covered with “eyes” all around. This suggests that the rotation of the wheels was purposeful as if they were seeing every detail of the area being traversed. (1:18; see the Notes section.) The living beings and the wheels moved in perfect unison. Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved beside them; and whenever the “living beings rose from the earth [or the land], the wheels rose.” (1:19) The “spirit,” apparently God’s spirit, animated everything, making fully coordinated movement possible. Wherever the spirit went or directed, the living being would go, and the wheels would rise along with them. This was because the spirit that was “in the living beings,” guiding, controlling, or directing them, was also the animating power in the wheels. (1:20; see the Notes section.) The feature regarding unified movement and its source is repeated. When the living beings went, the wheels would go. When the living beings stood, the wheels would stand. When the living beings rose, the wheels would rise along with them. This was because the “spirit of the living beings” was “in the wheels,” animating them. (1:21)
Ezekiel saw what looked like an “expanse,” firmament, or platform that was spread out “over the heads of the living beings,” and this expanse had the appearance of “dreadful,” awesome, or dazzling “ice,” probably meaning that it was as bright as ice when reflecting sunlight. The Septuagint indicates that the firmament looked like “crystal.” (1:22)
Under the “expanse” or platform, two wings of each living being were “straight” or stretched out above their heads. The position of each straight or outstretched wing is referred to as a “woman to her sister,” probably meaning that the tip of each outstretched wing touched the outstretched wing of the living being in the closest proximity. According to the Septuagint, the outstretched wings were “flapping” one to the other. The other set of two wings served to cover much of the body of each living being. (1:23)
To Ezekiel, the moving wings of the living beings sounded like “many waters,” likely resembling the roar of waves crashing against the shore. The sound was also like the voice of the Almighty, probably meaning thunder, and like the noise of a large military force. When not moving, the living beings let down their wings, apparently folding them against their sides. (1:24)
Ezekiel heard a sound from above the “expanse” or platform that was over the heads of the living beings. The Hebrew text repeats the words about their letting down their wings, but this repetition is not included in the Septuagint. (1:25)
Above the “expanse” or platform over the heads of the living beings, there was what looked like a throne fashioned from “sapphire,” a transparent or translucent precious stone that probably was deep blue in color. The Septuagint refers to the throne as being on the sapphire platform. Seated on the throne was one whose likeness was the appearance of a man. (1:26)
From the waist up of the one seated on the throne, Ezekiel saw what appeared to him like the glow of electrum, an alloy of gold and silver that gleamed brightly, and like flames of fire all around. The appearance of the seated one from his waist downward was like flames of fire and surrounding brightness. (1:27) Ezekiel also saw what looked like a rainbow (“the bow that is in the cloud on a day of the rain”) and brightness all around the seated figure. Possibly this brightness glowed like the colors of the rainbow and formed a bow around the one seated on the throne. Ezekiel recognized the appearance to be the “likeness of the glory of YHWH.” Apparently filled with reverential fear, he dropped to his knees and bowed low, with his face touching the ground. He then heard the voice of the one seated on the throne speaking directly to him. (1:28)
Notes
According to the Targum, the “thirtieth year” mentioned in verse 1 started counting from the time in the reign of King Josiah when Hilkiah the high priest found the book of the Torah in the temple.
The Targum makes a distinction in verse 8 between the living beings and the cherubs. It says that the “hands” were used to take burning coals from among the cherubs and to give these coals to the seraphs. The seraphs then sprinkled the coals on the place of the wicked ones, to annihilate the sinners who transgressed God’s word.
In verse 9, the Septuagint does not mention “wings.” It indicates that the faces of the four living beings did not turn when they were moving. They moved in the direction of the focus of a specific face.
The wording in verse 14 is not in the Septuagint.
In verse 16, the Hebrew word tarshísh may designate topaz, but this is not certain. Common renderings in translations are “topaz” and “chrysolite.”
Verse 18 of the Septuagint rendering contains no reference to fear or terror in connection with the rims of the wheels.
The opening words of verse 20 in the Septuagint are, “Wherever the cloud was, there the spirit [was ready] to go.”
So that he might speak to him, YHWH addressed Ezekiel as “son of man” and told him to “stand upon [his] feet.” The directive for him to stand called upon Ezekiel to be alert and attentive to everything he would hear. (2:1; see the Notes section.)
When YHWH spoke to him, Ezekiel sensed that the “spirit” (God’s spirit) came into him. Impelled by the spirit, he stood up “upon [his] feet,” ready to hear the words of YHWH. The Septuagint says regarding the effect the spirit had on Ezekiel, “The spirit came upon me and raised me up and set me upon my feet.” (2:2)
YHWH commissioned Ezekiel to go to the “sons of Israel,” his own people. Their being designated as “rebellious nations” may refer to the people of the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel and the people of the kingdom of Judah. All of them had rebelled against YHWH. They and their “fathers” or ancestors had transgressed against him, disregarding his commands, and this had continued to that “day” or the very time in which Ezekiel lived. (2:3; see the Notes section.)
The “sons” or people of Israel were “hard” or obstinate of “face.” Their countenance reflected a stubborn and unresponsive attitude. They were “stout of heart” or unyielding and defiant in their inmost selves. When being sent to them, Ezekiel had a difficult assignment as the prophet who would be proclaiming an unpopular message. He was to identify the source of his words, saying to the people, “Thus says the Lord YHWH.” (2:4; see the Notes section.)
Whether the people, having proved to be a “rebellious house,” listened to or refused to hear the message proclaimed to them, they would still know that a prophet had been in their midst. The Septuagint says regarding the people and Ezekiel, “They will know that you are a prophet in their midst.” (2:5; see the Notes section.)
Again addressing Ezekiel as “son of man,” YHWH told him not to be afraid of the people and their words, indicating that he should be bold and fearless in proclaiming the message despite their stubborn resistance and hostility. The Targum says that he should not fear them or their words even if they rebel and contend against him. In their response to Ezekiel, the first Hebrew word used to describe them is the plural form of saráv. There is uncertainty about the meaning of this verb. The word saráv could identify the people as obstinate or rebellious persons. Another possible significance is that the people were hurtful like nettles. They were also likened to “thorns” and “scorpions.” The Targum indicates that their works were like scorpions. Ezekiel was sitting among “scorpions,” suggesting that he found himself in an environment that could cause him harm. The Septuagint says regarding the people, “They will rage and rise up against you round about, and you are dwelling in the midst of scorpions.” Nevertheless, Ezekiel was told not to be afraid of their words and not to be dismayed or terrified at their faces, “for they are a house of rebellion” or a rebellious people. The implication was that he should not be afraid because YHWH would be with him as he faithfully served as his prophet. (2:6; see the Notes section.)
Ezekiel was to speak YHWH’s “words” to the people regardless of whether the rebellious ones would listen to or refuse (be terrified [LXX]) to hear these words. According to the Targum, the objective was that the people might obey the instruction and stop sinning. (2:7)
YHWH again addressed Ezekiel as “son of man” and said to him, “Hear [or listen to] what I am saying to you. Do not be rebellious like the rebellious house [of Israel]. Open your mouth, and eat what I am giving to you.” As the text that follows reveals (3:1), the item intended for Ezekiel to eat was not customary food, but he was to eat it without protesting. (2:8; see the Notes section.) He saw a hand reaching out to him (probably the hand of one of the living beings or cherubs [10:20]), and this hand held a scroll. (2:9) When the scroll was unrolled before Ezekiel, he saw that it had writing on both front and back. The wording consisted of “laments [or dirges] and moaning [expressions prompting sorrow] and woe [pronouncements of calamity or doom].” (2:10; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In this chapter (verses 1, 3, 6, and 8), as is the case throughout the entire book of Ezekiel, the prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This designation would have reminded him of his being an earthling or a mortal with a commission from the eternal Sovereign upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
In verse 3, the Septuagint does not include the reference to “nations.”
The wording of verse 4 in the Septuagint is shorter than that of the Hebrew text. “And you shall say to them, Thus says the Lord.”
In verse 5, the Septuagint opens with the words, “Whether they hear or be terrified …”
The Targum interprets the words in verse 10 differently. It indicates that the nations would exercise dominion over the people of the house of Israel if they transgressed against the Torah. If they heeded the Torah, God would remove lamentation, groaning, and mourning from them.
Ezekiel was instructed to eat what he found and then, more specifically, to eat the scroll that had been held out to him and to go to speak to the “house of Israel” (“the sons [or people] of Israel” [LXX]). (3:1; see the Notes section.) Obediently, he opened his mouth, and YHWH had him eat the scroll. (3:2) The directive for Ezekiel to cause his “belly” to eat and to fill his innards with the scroll may have served to assure him that he would not vomit up what normally would have been indigestible. In Ezekiel’s mouth, the scroll was as sweet as honey. Since YHWH is never the source of evil but only of good, everything that proceeds from him is delightful or sweet to his devoted servants. Even the pronouncements of punitive judgments are “sweet,” for they are merited and expressions of flawless justice. Therefore, besides the honor to serve YHWH as his prophet, the words of YHWH would have been sweet to Ezekiel. (3:3; see the Notes section.)
The designation “house of Israel” apparently applied to the Israelite exiles among whom Ezekiel was to enter to speak to them YHWH’s “words.” (3:4; see the Notes section.) Ezekiel was not being sent to foreigners, to persons whose speech sounded unintelligible to him and whose tongue or language would seem “heavy” to him. This could refer to a “language” that was hard or difficult or that the tongue of the speakers appeared to be impaired, expressing words in a way that sounded like gibberish to one unfamiliar with the foreign language. Ezekiel was being sent to his own people who spoke the same language he did. (3:5) He was not being sent to one of many peoples speaking a foreign language or being “heavy of tongue” (either having a difficult language or expressing themselves in a manner that sounded like gibberish to a person who did not know the foreign language). If YHWH had sent Ezekiel to a foreign-language-speaking people, they would have listened to him. (3:6) The “house [or people] of Israel,” however, would not listen to Ezekiel, for they were unwilling to listen to YHWH. They were “strong of forehead” (“contentious” [LXX]) and “hard of heart,” suggesting that they were stubborn or defiant and, in their “heart” or inmost self, unyielding and unresponsive.(3:7)
So that Ezekiel would be able to carry out his commission boldly and fearlessly, YHWH prepared him for the resistance and hostility he would encounter. He made his “face” or countenance as “hard” or as resistant to change as the faces of the people, and his “forehead as hard as their foreheads” (strengthened Ezekiel’s controversy against the controversy of the people [LXX]). (3:8)
YHWH assured Ezekiel that he would be up to the assignment to confront the rebellious “house” or people of Israel despite their obstinate and unyielding disposition and unresponsiveness. He had made Ezekiel’s forehead hard like a diamond or emery, “harder than flint.” Therefore, he was not to be afraid of them or terrified at their “faces,” their stubborn and defiant resistance to the message he would be proclaiming to them. According to the Septuagint, Ezekiel’s controversy with the rebellious people would be stronger than a rock or crag in everything or continually. (3:9)
For Ezekiel to take YHWH’s word into his “heart” would mean for him to make it a precious part of his inmost self. To hear it with his ears would signify to give undivided attention to it. (3:10; see the Notes section.)
After entering among the exiled people (literally, the “sons of your people”) who by then had been in Babylonian exile for at least four years (1:2), Ezekiel was to say to them, “Thus says the Lord YHWH.” Regardless of whether they listened or stubbornly refused to listen, he was to speak to them YHWH’s word or message. (3:11)
Either a “wind” or God’s spirit lifted Ezekiel up and took him away, possibly away from the glorious visionary scene and back to the actual circumstances. While this visionary movement of Ezekiel was occurring, the four-wheeled vehicle also appears to have been in the process of departing. Behind him, Ezekiel heard the “sound of great shaking,” probably a loud rushing sound. It may be that the four living beings or cherubs then uttered the doxology, “Blessed be the glory of YHWH from its place,” possibly meaning praised be the majesty of YHWH in its exalted heavenly place. The Targum is more specific in indicating that the living beings were the ones offering praise and saying the words of the doxology. (3:12) The sources of the “great shaking” or the loud rushing sound are identified as being the sound from the beating wings of the four living beings or cherubs as these wings touched (literally, “kissed”) one another, and as being the sound from the movement of the gigantic wheels beside the cherubs. (3:13)
Ezekiel sensed that a wind or God’s spirit had lifted him up and was transporting him. When the visionary aspect of his experience had ended, he proceeded to go, “bitter in the heat [or rage] of [his] spirit.” Possibly because he would be proclaiming a severe message of judgment to his own people who would be obstinate and unresponsive, Ezekiel was bitter and filled with indignation. His being bitter and going in the rage of his spirit also harmonized with his having consumed the scroll that contained “laments and moaning and woe.” (2:10; 3:2) According to the Septuagint, he went under the impulse of his own spirit. The “hand [power, control, or hold] of YHWH” on Ezekiel was “strong,” compelling him and strengthening him to carry out his commission. (3:14)
Ezekiel came to the exiles who were residing at Tel-abib by the river Chebar, probably one of the major canals in ancient Chaldea. He then took up residence where they were dwelling. While there for “seven days,” he sat “stunned” in their midst. His being stunned may have been on account of the vision he had seen and the assignment to fulfill the role of a prophet. Another possible reason for his being stunned could have been because of feeling a need for time to reflect on everything he had seen and heard. (3:15; see the Notes section.) At the end of the seven days, the “word of YHWH” came to him. (3:16) This “word” or message explained the role Ezekiel was to fill. YHWH made him to be a “watchman” or lookout to the “house [or [people] of Israel.” In that capacity, Ezekiel would hear from the “mouth of YHWH” a “word,” evidently a message about impending punitive judgment for unfaithfulness, and then was to give the warning to the people that YHWH had conveyed to him. (3:17; see the Notes section regarding “son of man.”)
If YHWH said to a wicked man (“lawless man” [LXX]), “You will definitely die [literally, dying you will die],” and Ezekiel, in his role as a watchman, failed to warn him to turn away from his wicked way [“his ways” (LXX)] so that he might live, the man would die for his guilt, but YHWH would require his blood from Ezekiel’s hand. Ezekiel would be held accountable for his death because of having withheld from him the opportunity to repent and to continue to live. (3:18)
If Ezekiel warned the wicked man (“lawless man” [LXX]) and he did not turn away “from his wickedness and his wicked way [his lawlessness and his way (LXX)],” the man would die for his guilt. For having faithfully discharged his commission as a watchman, Ezekiel, however, would deliver his own “soul” or life. He would share no responsibility for the death of the wicked man. (3:19)
If a righteous man turned away from his righteousness (righteous deeds [LXX]) and committed injustice (transgression [LXX]) and YHWH placed a “stumbling block” before him, causing him to fall or to experience calamity, he would die. His righteous deeds would not be remembered or taken into consideration, for he had ceased to be an upright man and merited punishment for his wrongdoing. If Ezekiel had failed to warn the individual, YHWH would require that one’s blood from his hand. Ezekiel would be held accountable for neglecting to give the warning that might have saved the man’s life. (3:20)
If Ezekiel warned the righteous man not to sin and he stopped sinning, the righteous man would live because he responded to the warning that had been given to him. For faithfully discharging his responsibility as a watchman, Ezekiel would deliver his own “soul” or life. (3:21)
The “hand” (power or control) of YHWH was upon Ezekiel, and he was instructed to “arise” and go to the plain. YHWH would speak to him there. The plain likely was an uninhabited area some distance from the nearest town or city. (3:22) Ezekiel did get up and headed for the plain. He then saw the “glory of YHWH” standing there, like the glory or majesty (“like the vision and like the glory” [LXX]) that he had seen “by the river Chebar,” probably a major canal in Chaldea. (See 1:4-28.) Apparently overwhelmed with reverential fear, Ezekiel dropped to his knees and bowed down, with his face touching the ground. (3:23)
God’s spirit entered into Ezekiel, impelling him to “stand up on [his] feet.” YHWH began to speak to him, telling him, “Go, shut yourself in the midst of your house.” The instruction appears to be that Ezekiel was to go into seclusion or hiding because of the extreme hostility of his own people. (3:24) Seemingly, their opposition to Ezekiel as YHWH’s prophet would be comparable to their tying him up with cords and not permitting him to go out among them. They apparently would do everything they could to hinder or stop him from proclaiming the word of YHWH to them. (3:25; see the Notes section regarding “son of man” and the interpretation of the Targum.) When YHWH had no message for him to proclaim, Ezekiel would be mute. It would then be as if YHWH had made his tongue stick to the roof of his mouth, and he would not say anything to reprove the people, for they were a “rebellious house,” unwilling to respond to any correction and defiantly refusing to abandon their wayward course. They did not deserve to hear words of reproof. (3:26) When, however, YHWH had a message for Ezekiel, he would open the prophet’s mouth. Ezekiel would then say to the people, “Thus says the Lord YHWH.” The one who was willing to listen should listen, and the one choosing not to listen could refuse to listen. Ezekiel could expect unresponsiveness, for the people proved to be a “rebellious house.” (3:27; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In this chapter (verses 1, 3, 4, 10, 17, and 25), as is the case throughout the entire book of Ezekiel, the prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This designation would have reminded him of his being an earthling or a mortal with a commission from the eternal Sovereign upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
The Septuagint, in verse 15, differs from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It indicates that Ezekiel, in a state of having been lifted up, “entered among the captivity” or among the people who had been taken into Babylonian exile. He then moved about among those who were residing by the river Chebar. He “sat” or resided there for “seven days” and lived or went about “in their midst.”
The Targum interprets the binding of Ezekiel (verse 25) to mean that God imposed his word upon the prophet as with the chains that restrain prisoners.
According to the words of verse 27 in the Targum, the one listening should heed the instruction, and the one refraining should refrain from sinning.
YHWH instructed Ezekiel to take a brick, place it before him, and “engrave upon it a city, Jerusalem.” (4:1; see the Notes section.) He was then to stage a mock siege against the engraved city, apparently with models that he would fashion. These models included a siege wall, a bulwark or ramp, encampments, and battering rams that he would position against the representation of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was to set the battering rams (engines of war [LXX]) all around this representation (4:2) and take a “plate [or griddle] of iron,” positioning it as an iron wall between himself and the brick on which the representation of Jerusalem was engraved. With his face focused against the engraved city, he was to enact a mock siege against it as a “sign for the house [or people] of Israel.” This “sign” indicated that Jerusalem would be besieged and conquered. (4:3)
Lying on his left side, Ezekiel would be placing the “guilt [injustices (LXX)] of the house [or people (sons [LXX])] of Israel upon it.” For the number of days that he would be lying on his left side, he would be bearing their guilt. If he lay on his left side with his head to the west (the direction to Jerusalem from Babylon), his face would be looking north, the location of the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. The left side would have been bearing the weight of Ezekiel’s body representative of a heavy burden of guilt. (4:4; see the Notes section.)
For each year of guilt, Ezekiel would lie on his side for one day, thereby bearing the guilt of the “house [or people] of Israel.” The total number of days was to be 390. (4:5; see the Notes section.) YHWH commanded that Ezekiel complete the number of days and directed him to “lie on his right side,” bearing the “guilt of the house [or people] of Judah” 40 days (“a day for a year, a day for a year”). If he lay on his right side with his head to the west (the direction to Jerusalem from Babylon), his face would be looking to the south, the location of the kingdom of Judah. The right side would have been bearing the weight of Ezekiel’s body, representative of a heavy burden of guilt. (4:6; see the Notes section.)
YHWH directed Ezekiel to set his face to the siege of Jerusalem (the city engraved on a brick), to bare (“strengthen” [Targum]) his arm (unencumbered by clothing) so as to be in a position to strike, and to prophesy against Jerusalem, evidently to proclaim the certain conquest of the city. (4:7)
To prevent Ezekiel from turning from one side to the other, YHWH declared that he would put cords upon him. This restraint would continue until the time the days of the mock siege were completed. According to the interpretation in the Targum, God decreed his word upon Ezekiel to be as binding as cords that would prevent him from turning from one side to the other. (4:8; see the Notes section.)
Bread consisting of a mixture of grains, beans, and lentils would not have been ceremonially clean for a man who observed the Mosaic law, as the priest Ezekiel would have done faithfully. (Compare Leviticus 19:19.) Yet YHWH instructed him to put wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt into one vessel and then to use this mixture for making bread. This would be the only food Ezekiel would have to eat during the time he would be lying on his side and enacting the mock siege of Jerusalem. The stipulated period for this was 390 days (190 days [LXX]). No mention is made about what he was to do during the course of the 40 days of lying on his right side. (4:9) Ezekiel’s daily diet was limited in weight to 20 shekels. Based on the average weight of discovered ancient shekels, the amount of food would have been about 8 ounces (c. 230 grams), basically a starvation diet. This prescribed diet served to illustrate the extreme famine conditions that would come to exist inside besieged Jerusalem. The words “from time to time you will eat it” may mean that Ezekiel was to partake of this meager amount of food from one day to the next. (4:10) His intake of water was limited to “one sixth of a hin” (c. 1.3 pints; c. .6 liter). As in the case of the ingredients for the bread, Ezekiel had to measure the amount of water to determine the limited quantity he could drink “from time to time.” (4:11)
For Ezekiel to eat the bread he baked “like a cake of barley” could mean to eat it plain, without anything on it. Before the “eyes” of the people or when they could observe what he was doing, Ezekiel was to use human excrement as fuel for the fire needed to bake his bread. (4:12) For him to bake bread consisting of a mixture of ingredients and using excrement for fuel served to illustrate tangibly that the exiled “sons” or people of Israel would be eating “their bread unclean among the nations.” They would be living among persons who would be unclean to them and, therefore, in unclean lands. The exiled people would themselves be unclean, with the food they would be eating also being unclean. YHWH is represented as identifying himself as the one who would be driving the people away from their land to the territories of other nations. This is because he would permit this to take place. (4:13)
Ezekiel objected to his having to use human excrement, saying, “Ah, Lord YHWH! Look, I myself have [literally, my soul has] not been defiled.” He had not made himself ceremonially unclean by eating the meat from an animal that had died of itself or from an animal that a beast of prey had torn. (Compare Exodus 22:31[30]; Leviticus 11:39, 40.) During the course of his entire life, from his youth onward, he had never put any foul meat into his mouth. (4:14) In response to Ezekiel’s objection, YHWH granted Ezekiel to use cattle mature instead of human excrement as the fuel needed for baking his bread. (4:15)
YHWH determined to break the “staff of bread” in Jerusalem. As a literal staff provides support, bread or food supports or sustains life. The breaking of the “staff of bread” meant that the food supply would be cut off from the people as a consequence of the siege of Jerusalem. The limited amount of available bread needed to be weighed or measured out daily so as not to run out completely. Anxiety would accompany eating, with the fear being that soon there might not be any bread. Water also would be scarce, requiring that the people drink it by measure and doing the drinking in terror, fearful that they could soon be without any water. (4:16; see the Notes section regarding “son of man.”) Suffering from lack of bread and water, the people would stare at one another (literally, a “man and his brother”) in a dazed or shocked state and would waste away, dying a slow death, in their guilt (“injustices” [LXX]). (4:17)
Notes
In this chapter (verses 1 and 16), as is the case throughout the entire book of Ezekiel, the prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This designation would have reminded him of his being an earthling or a mortal with a commission from the eternal Sovereign upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
According to verse 4 of the Septuagint, Ezekiel was to lie on his left side for 150 days. Possibly the number 150 was introduced into the text from the reference in Genesis 7:24 to the 150 days during which the flood waters overwhelmed the earth. Nothing in the biblical account relating to the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel fits a period of guilt that lasted for 150 years (according to an application of the words about a “day for a year” [4:6]). The number 150, however, could represent a period of punishment.
One cannot be certain about how the 390 days (verse 5) relate to 390 years of guilt in the history of Israel. The record in 1 and 2 Kings regarding the number of years the kings reigned indicates that the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel existed for a much shorter time than 390 years. One possible explanation could be that the guilt of the “house [or people] of Israel,” though starting with the rebellion against the royal house of David and the introduction of idolatrous worship at the direction of Jeroboam (the first king of the newly formed ten-tribe kingdom of Israel), included the guilt of the people of the kingdom of Judah. Punishment for that total record of guilt came when the warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem. Accordingly, the 390 years could represent the period from the establishment of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel until the destruction of Jerusalem. The inclusion of the people in the kingdom of Judah as part of the record of guilt would not rule out a shared guilt with people from other tribes. Priests, Levites, and people from all the other tribes who wanted to be faithful to YHWH left the territory of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Jeroboam, and likely their descendants were still living in the realm of the kingdom of Judah. (2 Chronicles 11:13-17) Doubtless a significant number of these descendants shared in the idolatrous practices and other iniquities or injustices of which the people of the kingdom of Judah had made themselves guilty, and their wrongdoing could be regarded as a continuation of the record of guilt of the “house of Israel.”
Another possibility is that the 390 days (verse 5) and 40 days (verse 6), or 430 days combined, relate to past history that represented future developments. According to Exodus 12:41, the Israelites left Egypt as a free people after 430 years. The release from Babylonian exile proved to be like a second exodus. Therefore, on this basis, the 430 days could be representative of the period of exile for the entire house of Israel, Israelites from all the tribes. The period of 40 days (with the accompanying formula [a “day for a year”]) is mentioned in Numbers 14:34. There the reference is to the 40 days that the Israelite spies spent in reconnoitering the land of Canaan, and the corresponding disciplinary punishment of 40 years of wandering in the wilderness that would end with the death of the generation that faithlessly accepted the bad report from ten of the twelve spies and then rebelliously refused to enter the land. (Numbers 14:26-38) The 40 days could then represent the time of disciplinary punishment for the people of Judah that would terminate with their being able to return to their own land, with 40 years marking the end for the unfaithful generation that would not be able to return.
If the 40 days mentioned in verse 6 are associated with a 390-day period that represents 390 years from the formation of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel until the destruction of Jerusalem, then the 40 days either represent 40 years of the final part of the 390 years or an additional 40 years. About 40 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah was commissioned to be YHWH’s prophet in the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign (Jeremiah 1:1-3), and his basic message was that the Babylonians would conquer Jerusalem and the people would be taken into exile. As the prophecy of Huldah confirmed a few years later, the severe punishment for unfaithfulness was certain to befall the kingdom of Judah. (2 Kings 22:3, 10-20) In itself, however, the wording of verse 6 suggests that the “forty days” are to be added to the 390 days and, therefore, may be understood to represent a period of additional 40 years. Although the Septuagint reads 150 days instead of 390 days, it indicates, in verse 5, that the 40 days designate an additional period. The Septuagint refers to God as having given Ezekiel “two injustices” of the house of Israel for “190 days” (150 plus 40) and then (in verse 6) mentions that he should lie on his right side and take upon himself the “injustices of the house of Judah [Ioudas] for 40 days.” Idolatrous practices on an extensive scale began during the 40-year reign of King Solomon and before the establishment of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. (1 Kings 11:4-7, 29-42) Therefore, it could be conjectured that the 40 days represent the entire period of 40 years during which the record of guilt of the house of Judah had its beginning.
Ezekiel’s being restrained from turning (verse 8) does not appear to mean that he was rendered immobile for 390 days and then 40 days. The enactment of the mock siege of Jerusalem involved more than his lying on his side. For his daily portion of food, he needed to weigh a specific amount of the stored ingredients (wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt) and bake bread with them. Though he was allowed to drink very little water, he still had to get it from a source and then measure out the prescribed quantity. To bake the bread, he had to obtain cattle manure as fuel for the fire. Although his intake of food and water would be very limited, he would still have to relieve himself. Moreover, while sleeping he could not enact a mock siege. As verse 12 may be regarded to indicate, the objective of Ezekiel’s actions was for people to see them. During the night, this would not have been the case. Therefore, Ezekiel may have lain on his left side and then on his right side for considerable time during the course of each of the 390 and 40 days, but this apparently would not have been for 24 hours each day.
YHWH instructed Ezekiel to take a sharp sword and to use it like a barber’s razor to cut the hair of his head and his beard. After weighing the hair, he was to divide it (5:1) into three parts (four parts [LXX]). (See the Notes section.) Upon the completion of the mock siege of the city of Jerusalem that he had engraved earlier on a brick, Ezekiel was to burn one third of the hair in the midst of the engraved city. In the Septuagint, the reference is to burning a quarter of the hair in the midst of the city and then an additional quarter in its midst. Another third (quarter [LXX]) of the hair was to be struck with the sword all around the engraved city, and the last third (quarter [LXX]) was to be scattered to the wind. Regarding what this third part represented, YHWH declared, “I will unsheathe a sword after them” (after the people who had been scattered among the nations as exiles). According to the Targum, God would incite those who would do the slaying with the sword. (5:2)
From the portion of the hair designated for scattering, Ezekiel was to take a few hairs and wrap them up in his “skirts” (“garment” [LXX]) or the loose ends of his garment, indicating that there would be some who would survive the impending calamity. (5:3) Other hairs he was to toss into the midst of the fire and burn them up. This action revealed that a fire would go forth or spread to “all the house [or people] of Israel.” (5:4; see the Notes section.)
Concerning Jerusalem, the Lord YHWH declared, “This [is] Jerusalem. In the midst of the nations I have set her, with lands round about her.” As the words that follow suggest, the implication is that Jerusalem was surrounded by the lands of other nations and ended up learning from them and adopting their practices. (5:5) In her conduct (as engaged in by the people), Jerusalem proved to be more wicked than the surrounding nations. Jerusalem (as representing the people) rebelled against God’s commands and his statutes more than the people in the lands round about. His professed people rejected his “judgments” or ordinances and did not “walk” or conduct themselves according to his statutes. (5:6) They were more “tumultuous,” wilder, or acted with far less restraint than the nations round about them. The people refused to walk or to conduct themselves according to YHWH’s statutes and to act in harmony with his “judgments” or ordinances. So corrupt were the people that they did not even act according to the “judgments” or ordinances of the nations round about them. Therefore, the Lord YHWH expressed his decision against his people, focusing on Jerusalem as the place that represented them. (5:7)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as saying that he was against Jerusalem (literally, “you” [singular and feminine gender]) and would execute his judgments in her midst “in the eyes of the nations,” or for the people of other nations to see. (5:8) YHWH determined to do to Jerusalem (representing the rebellious people) what he had never done before and the like of which he would never do again “because of all [her] abominations,” or the detestable things his disobedient people had committed. These abominations included idolatrous practices, oppression, and injustices, and the punishment for these abominations would be very severe. (5:9) During the extreme conditions of famine that would come to exist in besieged Jerusalem, fathers would eat sons, and sons would eat fathers. In Jerusalem, YHWH would execute punitive judgments and scatter any survivors to every “wind” or in all directions. (5:10)
YHWH is quoted as solemnly declaring, “Therefore, as I live, … my eye will not pity, and I will not be compassionate.” He would not look upon the suffering people with any sense of sorrow or feel any compassion for them. This was because they had defiled his sanctuary with their abominable and loathsome things, engaging in practices that were disgusting to him. He would “diminish” them or, according to the Targum, “cut off the strength of [their] arms.” The Septuagint indicates that he would reject them. (5:11)
One third of the people would die from pestilence or from infectious disease that would spread among the famished persons living in the unsanitary conditions of Jerusalem under siege. Another third would perish from the sword of warfare. The remaining third would be scattered to “every wind” or in all directions. The scattered survivors of the siege and conquest would not be secure, for YHWH would permit the sword of warfare to follow them. Therefore, he is quoted as declaring that he would “unsheathe the sword after them.” As in verse 2, the Septuagint refers to a quarter of the people, with a specific calamity being designated to affect each quarter. A quarter of the people would perish by “death” or pestilence, and the other three quarters respectively would die from famine, be scattered, and perish by the sword. (5:12)
In the punishment to come upon the rebellious people, the anger of YHWH would come to its end. He would cause his fury to “rest” upon them and “console” himself. This could mean that the unmitigated wrath of YHWH would be directed against the people, and he would be satisfied in having executed the punishment that justice required. The Septuagint says that his wrath and his fury would be brought to an end upon them. At the time YHWH would bring his rage to finish upon the people, they would know that he himself had spoken in his “jealousy” or in his right to undivided devotion from them. (5:13)
The singular feminine suffixes in the Hebrew text indicate that the reference is to Jerusalem. YHWH decreed, “I will make you a desolation [or a desolated place] and [an object of] reproach among the nations round about you before the eyes [or in the sight] of all [persons] passing by.” According to the Septuagint, God would make Jerusalem and “her daughters” (probably designating nearby towns) into a wilderness. (5:14) Jerusalem would become an object of “reproach” and of “taunt” or of words of insult, a “warning” regarding the fate of those who rebel against YHWH, and a “horror,” something terrifying, to the nations round about the city. This would occur at the time YHWH would execute his judgments upon Jerusalem in expression of his anger and rage and with furious reproofs or chastisements. There would be no change in the severe judgment, for YHWH had spoken, and his word would be carried out without fail. (5:15)
As if shooting a bow, YHWH would send “deadly arrows of famine” against the people. These arrows would bring about destruction when they would be sent against them. YHWH’s adding famine could refer to his permitting famine conditions to intensify, breaking the “staff of bread” or allowing the food supply to be completely cut off from the people. (5:16; also see the comments on 4:16.) YHWH declared that he would send famine and wild beasts against the people, and the beasts of prey would bereave them of children. The devastation of the land would force predators out of their usual habitat, leading to the death of children that might encounter them. The singular feminine suffixes in the concluding phrases indicate that Jerusalem is the focus of the words. “Pestilence” would pass through Jerusalem or infectious disease would spread within the besieged city, and also “blood” would pass through, for the conquering warriors would slay many. YHWH would permit this to happen. Therefore, he is represented as bringing the sword upon Jerusalem. (5:17)
Notes
In verse 1, the prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This designation would have reminded him of his being an earthling or a mortal with a commission from the eternal Sovereign upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
In verse 4 of the Septuagint, the expression the “house of Israel” is part of the wording that introduces the words in verse 5. “And you shall say to all the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord …”
A “word” or message from YHWH came to Ezekiel (6:1), directing him to set his face to the “mountains of Israel” and to prophesy against them. (6:2; see the Notes section.) To the “mountains of Israel,” Ezekiel was to say, “Hear the word of the Lord YHWH. Thus says the Lord YHWH to the mountains and to the hills and to the ravines and to the valleys [groves (LXX)], See, I even will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.” Throughout the territory of the kingdom of Judah, high places or sites for idolatrous worship existed on mountains and hills and in ravines and valleys, and enemy warriors would destroy these high places. (6:3) Altars for presenting sacrifices at the high places would become desolate, and incense altars (“shrines” or “sacred precincts” [LXX]) would be broken. YHWH would be using enemy warriors as his agents of destruction, and they would slay worshipers at the high places. He permitted this to happen. Therefore, he is quoted as identifying himself as the one who would cause the slain to fall before (literally, “before the face of”) the idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt] (6:4), who would lay the “carcasses of the sons [or people] of Israel” before [literally, “before the face of] “their idols [literally, dungy things],” and would scatter the bones of those slain round about the altars. (6:5; see the Notes section.)
In all the dwelling places of the people, their cities would be laid waste, the “high places” or cultic sites would be ruined. The altars at these sites would be broken, the idols smashed, and the incense altars (“shrines” or “sacred precincts” [LXX]) cut down, and the “works” of the people or all the appendages of idolatry wiped out. Nothing would remain at the devastated high places. The “works” could also include everything that the people had constructed in the cities that would be conquered and reduced to rubble. (6:6; see the Notes section.) In the midst of the people, the slain would fall as the enemy warriors continued their campaign of conquest. This would happen in expression of YHWH’s judgment. Therefore, the people would know or be forced to recognize that he is YHWH, the God who does not tolerate wrongdoing indefinitely and fulfills the word about punitive judgment that he made known through his prophets. (6:7)
The words “and I will leave” are followed by a preposition and an infinitive that can mean “to be,” “to become,” or “to happen” or come to pass. Modern translations commonly interpret the Hebrew to mean that God would leave a remnant or survivors, but do not include a rendering that incorporates a form of the infinitive “to be” in the next phrase. Among the renderings are the following: “But I will spare some. Some of you shall escape the sword among the nations and be scattered through the countries.” (NRSV) “But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world.” (NLT) “I will let some escape the slaughter and be scattered among the nations.” (TEV) In the Septuagint, the phrase “and I will leave” is not included. (6:8; see the Notes section.)
The survivors would remember YHWH “among the nations” where they had been taken into captivity. This would take place after the severe punishment had brought them to repentance. This punishment or discipline would be the means by which YHWH would break their “whorish heart,” or their inclination to engage in the veneration of idols. The “heart” of the people, or they in their inmost selves, had departed from YHWH, and their “eyes” had whored after idols, longingly seeking opportunities to engage in idolatry. Upon being brought to repentance, they would look upon themselves as loathsome on account of the evils they had committed and all their abominations or their disgusting idolatrous practices. According to the Septuagint, they would “strike their faces for all their abominations.” (6:9) At that time, they would “know” or come to recognize that YHWH was indeed the Sovereign, the one to whom they were accountable. It had not been in vain that he had spoken through his prophets about the “evil” or calamity that he would bring upon them. (6:10; see the Notes section.)
The meaning of the clapping of the hands and the stamping of the foot depends upon whether they are divinely commanded reactions to the horrific calamity the people would experience or are the divinely commanded reactions to the merited execution of punitive judgment. A number of modern translations have added words to identify the divinely commanded acts as reactions that express despair or horror. “The LORD God then said: Ezekiel, beat your fists together and stomp your feet in despair! Moan in sorrow, because the people of Israel have done disgusting things and now will be killed by enemy troops, or they will die from starvation and disease.” (CEV) “This is what the Sovereign Lord says, Clap your hands in horror, and stamp your feet. Cry out because of all the detestable sins the people of Israel have committed. Now they are going to die from war and famine and disease.” (NLT) The wording of the Septuagint suggests that the clapping of the hands and the stamping of the foot are divinely commanded responses to the execution of merited punitive judgment. “Thus says the Lord, Clap [with] the hand and stomp [with] the foot and say, Good, good, over [or because of] all the abominations of the house of Israel. By the sword and by death [or pestilence] and by famine, they will fall.” In the Septuagint, the Hebrew expression that may be rendered “alas” or “aha” is translated as “good” and repeated. On account of the God-dishonoring practices of the “house [or people] of Israel,” they would die by the sword of the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar or perish from famine or infectious disease. (6:11)
Those who were far away from the wielding of the sword of warfare would die from pestilence (“die by death” [LXX]). Although having succeeded in escaping the slaughter, they would be physically weak, have limited resources, and find themselves in circumstances that would make them vulnerable to infectious disease. Those near the attacking enemy warriors would fall or perish by the sword. Others who had escaped death by pestilence or sword would die from famine. Thus by sword, pestilence, and famine, YHWH would bring his anger to a finish against his wayward people. (6:12) The people would then “know” or be forced to recognize that he is YHWH, the God who does not tolerate wrongdoing indefinitely and fulfills the word about punitive judgment that he made known through his prophets. This would be when the slain would lie among their idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]), all around their altars, and at the cultic sites on all the high hills, on all the tops of the mountains, and in groves — all the locations where the people offered sacrifices or incense (literally, “pleasing odor”) to their idols (literally, “dungy things”). (6:13)
YHWH declared that he would stretch out his hand (“destructive power” [LXX]) against his people, desolate their land, and devastate all their habitations. The desolation would extend from the wilderness, probably the arid area (the Negeb) south of the mountainous region of Judah, to Diblah (possibly a location in the north), suggesting that the entire territory from south to north would be reduced to a wasteland. When that happened, the people would “know” or be forced to recognize that the God whom they had disobeyed is YHWH, the God who does not tolerate wrongdoing indefinitely and acts according to the word he has made known through his prophets. (6:14; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In verse 2, the prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This designation would have reminded him of his being an earthling or a mortal with a commission from the eternal Sovereign upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
In the Septuagint, the wording of verse 5 is shorter. “And I will scatter your bones around your altars.”
In verse 6, the Septuagint does not mention the “works.”
Verse 8 in the Septuagint is rendered like a compound introductory phrase for the words that are completed in verse 9. Those who would be delivered from the sword and come to be among the nations and scattered in the lands would remember God.
The shorter text of verse 10 in the Septuagint is, “And they will know that I, the Lord, have spoken.”
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 14, the desolation would extend from the “wilderness [or desert] of Deblatha.”
Ezekiel received another “word” or message from YHWH. (7:1) Concerning the “land of Israel,” the Lord YHWH declared, “An end has come, the end upon the four wings [or corners] of the earth.” The expression the “four wings of the earth” probably is to be understood as applying to the entire territory of the kingdom of Judah that the warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar would devastate. (7:2) YHWH’s anger was not with the land itself but with the people who had defiled it, for they were guilty of engaging in idolatry, oppression, and injustice. Therefore, his wrath, though affecting the land, would be let loose against the wayward people. They would be judged “according to [their] ways” or their corrupt conduct and punished for all their abominations, especially their veneration of foreign deities. (7:3 [7:7]; see the Notes section.) YHWH declared, “My eye will not pity you, and I will not be compassionate.” He would not look upon the suffering people with any sense of sorrow or feel any compassion for them. YHWH would punish them for their corrupt ways. They merited punishment, for their “abominations” were in their midst. As to what would then follow, the word of YHWH continued, “And you will know that I am YHWH.” They would then know or be forced to recognize YHWH as the God who does not tolerate wrongdoing indefinitely and who acts according to the word he has made known through his prophets. (7:4 [7:8, LXX])
By means of repetition, the certainty of the coming disaster is expressed. The Lord YHWH is quoted as saying, An “evil [or a calamity], one [notable] evil — look, it is coming.” According to another reading, “evil after [literally, another] evil — look, it is coming.” (7:5) An “end has come. The end has awakened [or is about to reveal itself] against you [the land and the wayward people]. Look, it is coming.” (7:6) “The doom [tsephiráh] has come to you, the one inhabiting the land. The time has come; the day [is] near, tumult and not the shouting [on] the mountains,” possibly the joyous shouts of the people at the sites used for idolatrous worship or their joyous shouts on the mountain slopes at harvesttime. According to the Targum, the people would be unable to escape to mountain strongholds. (7:7; see the Notes section.) In the Septuagint, similar thoughts are expressed in verses 3, 4, and 7. “The end has come upon you, the one inhabiting the land; the time has come, the day has drawn near, not with tumult nor with labor pains.” (7:3, 4, LXX) “Now the end [is coming] to you, and I will send [calamity] upon you, and I will take vengeance upon you for all your ways [or corrupt conduct] and give against you all your abominations,” or exact punishment for all your loathsome practices. (7:7, LXX)
YHWH would pour out his wrath upon the disobedient people, bringing his anger against them to a finish. His judgment would be “according to [their] ways” or their evil practices. He would punish them for “all [their] abominations [literally, bring upon (them) all (their) abominations],” which included all their idolatrous observances. (7:8 [7:5, LXX])
With minor variations, the expressions of verse 4 are repeated (which see). In the concluding phrase, YHWH is quoted as saying, “And you will know that I am YHWH, [the one] smiting.” At the time they suffered siege and conquest from the enemy warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar, the people would know or be forced to recognize that this was an expression of YHWH’s punitive judgment against them. He was the one striking them. (7:9 [7:6, LXX])
The “day” that is referred to as coming is YHWH’s day for executing judgment by means of the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. In the next phrase, the Hebrew word (tsephiráh) that appears in verse 7 is found here. To be consistent, the word may be assigned the conjectural meaning “doom.” The only other occurrence of tsephiráh is at Isaiah 28:5, where it has the meaning “wreath,” “garland,” or “crown.” This significance does not appear to fit the context. Doom, however, had indeed come for the wayward people of the kingdom of Judah. A number of modern translations convey this significance. “The day is coming, doom is here; it has burst upon them.” (REB) “See, the day! See, it comes! Your doom has gone out.” (NRSV) “The day is here! It has come! Doom has burst forth.” (NIV) In the Septuagint, the rendering is, “See, the end is here! See, the day of the Lord!” The phrase that includes the Hebrew word tsephiráh is missing. The “rod” that blossomed could be the instrument that YHWH would use to punish his disobedient people, and the “pride” that budded could designate the arrogance of the disobedient people that had become clearly manifest in their defiantly refusing to heed the word of YHWH that the prophets proclaimed. Instead of “rod,” a number of modern translations contain the interpretive renderings “injustice,” “violence,” and “wickedness.” “Injustice and arrogance are everywhere.” (CEV) “Injustice buds, insolence blossoms.” (REB) “Violence is flourishing. Pride is at its height.” (TEV) “The people’s wickedness and pride have blossomed to full flower.” (NLT) The Septuagint rendering could be understood to indicate that the arrogance of the people had sprouted even though the “rod” for punishment had blossomed, being ready for use against them. In the Targum, the reference could be to King Nebuchadnezzar as the “ruler’s rod” for inflicting punishment. (7:10)
Apparently among the people in the kingdom of Judah, “violence” had “risen up into a rod of wickedness.” This could mean that it had increased to the point of coming to be a rod that was used to inflict serious harm or that the resulting wickedness merited to be punished severely as with a rod. In the Targum, the reference is to “violent men” as having risen up to give their support to the wicked. The Septuagint rendering seems to indicate that the rod would break the “support of the lawless one and not with tumult nor with haste.” Modern translations contain various interpretive renderings. “Violence leads to flagrant injustice.” (REB) “Violent criminals run free.” (CEV) “Their violence has grown into a rod that will beat them for their wickedness.” (NLT) “Violence has grown into a rod to punish wickedness.” (NIV) “The violent have risen up to wield a scepter of wickedness.” (NAB, revised edition). A literal rendering of the rest of the verse could be, “Not of them, and not their crowd [or abundance], and not their wealth, and not preeminence among them.” There is uncertainty about the actual meaning of the words that are here translated “wealth” and “preeminence,” and the significance of the phrases is also obscure. Perhaps the implied thought is that nothing would save the violent ones from perishing when God’s time for executing his judgment arrives, or that neither they nor anything they possess would continue to exist. Interpretive renderings in modern translations include: “None of the people will be left, none of that crowd — no wealth, nothing of value.” (NIV) “None of these proud and wicked people will survive. All their wealth and prestige will be swept away.” (NLT) “But none of them [violent ones] shall remain; none of their crowd, none of their wealth, for none of them are innocent.” (NAB, revised edition) “Is it [the violence or injustice] not their fault, the fault of their turbulence and tumult? There is nothing but turmoil in them.” (REB) According to the Targum, nothing would remain of the violent men — not their crowd, not their children, not the children of their children. (7:11)
The time to come was the time for the execution of YHWH’s judgment against his people to arrive. In that “time” or “day,” enemy warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar would devastate the land, plunder possessions, and take survivors into exile. Therefore, the buyer had no reason to rejoice about his purchased property, for it would soon be lost to him The seller did not need to mourn because adverse circumstances had forced him to part with his property, for otherwise he would have lost it through enemy conquest. YHWH’s wrath was directed against everyone (literally, “all its crowd”). (7:12)
For decades to come, there would be no possibility for those taken into exile to return to their own land. As long as those taken into exile were still alive (literally, “while in the lives their life”), the seller would not be able to return to the property he sold. The “vision,” or the fulfillment of the divinely decreed and revealed coming punitive judgment, would affect everyone (literally, “all its crowd”). It would “not turn back” or be hindered or stopped from taking place. A “man,” by [or because of] his iniquity,” would not be able to hold on to his life. The words in the Septuagint could be rendered, “A man, in the eye [perhaps meaning in the sight of God], will not hold on to his life.” (7:13)
At the blowing of a trumpet, or at the sounding of an alarm, all the people would be getting ready. No one among them, however, would go out to battle the enemy warriors. They would be paralyzed by fear, for YHWH’s wrath would be directed against them (literally, “all its crowd”). The shorter rendering in the Septuagint is, “Trumpet with a trumpet, and judge everything.” (7:14)
Outside the protective city walls, the “sword” of the enemy would be wielded against the people. Inside the besieged city, famine and pestilence (“death” [LXX]) or infectious disease would be claiming victims. Enemy warriros would kill anyone whom they encountered in the field. Persons in the besieged city would perish from famine or pestilence (“death” [LXX]). (7:15)
On the mountains, where they had fled to escape from the enemy, the survivors would be like “doves of the valleys,” individually moaning like these birds over their guilt. The Septuagint represents God as saying that he would slay all of them for the injustices they individually had committed. (7:16) Faced with the enemy warriors, all the people would prove to be helpless, with “all hands” dropping down instead of being used in a successful defense. All the knees would drip with water. Fright would cause involuntary urination. (7:17) In expression of their grief and pain, people would gird themselves with sackcloth, covering the bare skin of their loins with a coarse cloth made from goat’s hair. The terrifying situation would cover them with “shuddering.” They would be in the grip of horror. There would be “shame on all faces,” for all the people would be helpless and in fear. In expression of their sorrowful circumstances, they would shave off the hair of their head. (7:18)
Tossing silver into the streets and coming to view gold as something abhorrent (like the impurity resulting from menstruation) indicated that these precious metals were valueless in the “day” or the time for the execution of YHWH’s punitive judgment. They would furnish no deliverance from his fury. Gold and silver would provide nothing that could satisfy the people (literally, “their soul”) or any of their needs. They were not items with which they could fill their stomachs. For the people, precious metal was the “stumbling block of their iniquity.” The wrongful use they made of it caused their calamitous fall. The Septuagint indicates that it became a “test of their injustices,” possibly meaning that it exposed them as having been guilty of serious wrongs. (7:19)
For the people, the “beauty of [their] ornament” was the basis for “pride.” This arrogance was especially evident in their idolatrous practices. To them, their images were like a beautiful ornament. They used gold or silver when fashioning “images of their abominations, their detestable things,” or of the foreign deities that they venerated. YHWH declared that this beautiful ornament would become a loathsome thing. According to the interpretation of the Targum, the “beautiful ornament” was the temple that God had given to the people “for glory” or as something truly glorious in which they could take pride. They, however, venerated “images of abominations” (foreign deities) in the temple. Therefore, YHWH made the ornament or temple into something contemptible. (7:20)
Possibly regarding the precious metal that was used for making idols, YHWH is quoted as saying that he would give it into the “hand of foreigners” (enemy warriors) “for plunder.” The designation “wicked ones of the earth” or land apparently also refers to enemy warriors. They would have no regard for the idols conquered peoples worshiped and would profane these idols by removing the gold or silver for other purposes. (7:21)
YHWH would turn his face away from the people, refraining from coming to their aid in their time of distress. The “hidden” or “precious place” could designate the temple, the city of Jerusalem, or the land that YHWH had given to his people. Renderings in modern translations include “treasured land” (NLT, REB), “treasured place” (NIV), “treasured Temple” (TEV), and “treasure-house” (NJB). The Septuagint identifies it as God’s “visitation,” possibly meaning the place that he guards. According to the Talmud, the reference is to the “land of the dwelling of [God’s] Shekinah [Shechinah].” Enemy warriors would enter the place and defile it. They would plunder treasures and, therefore, are called “robbers.” (7:22)
The making of the chain may refer to putting captives in chains and then leading them into exile. This fate did befall the people (Jeremiah 40:1) because the land had become full of “judgment of bloods,” probably meaning full of unjust judgments that resulted in shedding much innocent blood. Jerusalem apparently was the city that had become full of violence. The Septuagint rendering differs significantly. Seemingly, the enemy invaders are portrayed as causing befouling or confusion, for the land would be “full of peoples” (evidently foreign peoples), and the “city” (Jerusalem) would be “full of lawlessness.” According to the Targum, the land was full of persons who merited execution.(7:23)
The large military force under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar is called the “worst of nations,” for the warriors would cause extensive devastation in the land and much loss of life. By using these warriors as his instrument for punishing his disobedient people, YHWH would be bringing them into the land and having them take possession of the houses of his people. The defending warriors among the people would be powerless and fall before the enemy invaders. As everything would take place by YHWH’s permission, he would be the one who would bring an end to the proud strength of his people (both valiant warriors and fortresses). Their “holy places,” probably the sites used for idolatrous worship, would be profaned, for the enemy invaders would reduce them to ruins. (7:24)
The advance of the enemy troops would cause shuddering among the people. They would long for an end to the conflict, but there would be no peace. (7:25) One disaster would come on the heels of another disaster, and one report would follow another report, with each report giving rise to increasing fear. The people would seek a “vision” from a prophet (not a prophet of YHWH like Jeremiah whom they opposed). They would want guidance in their time of distress, but none would be provided. The people would look to a priest for “law” or instruction, but none would be forthcoming. Such instruction would perish, as also would the counsel of elders. The elders would be unable to give any sound advice for dealing effectively with the threatening circumstances. (7:26)
The suffering and devastation from the Babylonian military campaign against the kingdom of Judah would cause the “king,” Zedekiah, to mourn. Any chieftain, high official, or prominent man in the realm would wrap himself “in devastation”or be in a state of despair and weakness. The “hands of the people of the land” (the general population) would be “disturbed,” trembling in fear, for they would be without strength to defend themselves. By means of the enemy troops, YHWH would act against the people “according to their way” or their corrupt conduct. He would “judge them according to their [own] judgments.” They had dealt unjustly and harshly with innocent people. Therefore, the judgment again them would be severe, causing them experience the ruthless treatment they had meted out to others. Regarding that time, YHWH declared, “They will know that I [am] YHWH.” The people would be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who does not tolerate lawlessness indefinitely and executes punitive judgment at the time and by means of the agency of his choosing. (7:27; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In verse 2, prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This designation would have reminded him of his being an earthling or a mortal with a commission from the eternal Sovereign upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
For verses 3 through 9, the arrangement of the text in the Septuagint differs from that in the Masoretic Text.
In verses 7 and 10, the rendering “doom” is conjectural. The Targum says that the “kingdom has been revealed.” Possibly this means that God’s royal authority in the capacity of judge had come to be in evidence, for the time for the punishment of the wayward people had arrived.
In verse 27, the initial part of the Septuagint text is shorter. It says that a “ruler will clothe himself with destruction” or devastation, “and the hands of the people of the land will be lamed.” The Targum does not refer to judgments but indicates that God would exact payment from the disobedient people according to their deeds.
Ezekiel happened to be in his house “in the sixth year” of the exile of King Jehoiachin, which year is commonly considered to have been 592 BCE. It was then the fifth day of the sixth month (mid-August to mid-September [fifth month (LXX)]). “Elders of Judah were sitting” before Ezekiel, possibly because of having come to him to hear a message from YHWH. At that time, the “hand of YHWH fell” upon Ezekiel, indicating that God’s spirit became operative upon him. The Targum does not use the expression “hand” but refers to the “spirit of prophecy from before the Lord God.” (8:1)
Ezekiel saw the likeness of a figure that had the “appearance of fire” or that shown brightly. According to the Septuagint, it was the “likeness of a man” or a likeness that resembled the human form. From his “loins” or waist downward, the appearance looked like fire; and from the “loins” upward, the appearance was like “electrum,” an alloy of gold and silver that gleamed brightly The Targum avoids any reference to a human form. It indicates that the “glory” was too great for the eye to see, being impossible to look upon. (8:2)
The bright likeness reached out with the “form of a hand”and took hold of Ezekiel by a lock of the hair of his head. A “spirit,” either God’s spirit or a wind for which God was responsible, lifted Ezekiel up and carried him “between the earth and the heavens,” or in midair between the land below and the sky above, and brought him to Jerusalem. This did not occur literally but “in visions of God” or in a visionary manner that had God as its source. In vision, Ezekiel arrived at the “entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north.” It was the inner court of the temple and the place where the “image of jealousy,” one “provoking to jealousy,” was located. According to the Targum, it was an object that provoked to anger, meaning that the idolatrous object incited God’s anger. As an object of the people’s defiant refusal to be exclusively devoted to YHWH, the “image of jealousy” was highly offensive to him. The Septuagint refers to it as the “stele [pillar or monument] of the buyer.” (8:3)
The vision of the “glory of the God of Israel” that Ezekiel had seen previously occurred at the location of a plain in Babylonia. (3:22, 23) Likely the plain was an uninhabited area some distance from the nearest town or city. The presence of the glory of YHWH in the proximity of the temple indicated that he had come to direct attention to the abominable practices of the people against whom he would express punitive judgment. (8:4)
In response to the divine directive to “lift up [his] eyes in the direction of the north,” Ezekiel did so. He then saw “north of the gate of the altar” the object that provoked YHWH to jealousy or anger (LXX), the image of jealousy in the entrance. The “gate of the altar” could refer to the inner temple gate that led to the altar of burnt offering. Modern translations vary in the meanings their renderings convey. “So I looked, and there to the north, beside the entrance to the gate near the altar, stood the idol that had made the Lord so jealous.” (NLT) “I saw that disgusting idol by the altar near the gate.” (CEV) “In the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.” (NIV) “There in the entry north of the altar gate was this statue of jealousy.” (NAB, revised edition) In the Septuagint, there is no mention of an idol. It indicates that Ezekiel saw the gate that led to the east. (8:5; see the Notes section.)
YHWH asked Ezekiel whether he saw the “great abominations” or detestable things (“great lawless things” or deeds [LXX]) in which the “house [or people] of Israel” engaged at his sanctuary. Their defiling practices were such as to drive him away from it, or cause him to abandon the temple as his representative place of dwelling and to let it be destroyed. Although Ezekiel had seen the disgusting “image of jealousy,” he would come to see even greater abominations (“greater lawless things” or deeds [LXX]). (8:6; see the Notes section.)
YHWH brought Ezekiel to the “door” or entrance leading into the court, apparently the inner temple court. Then Ezekiel “saw a hole in the wall,” evidently in the wall that surrounded the court. (8:7) YHWH commanded him to “dig into the wall.” Upon doing so, Ezekiel saw a door or entrance there, probably an entrance into a chamber on the perimeter of the court. (8:8; see the Notes section.) YHWH directed him to enter so that he could see the vile abominations or disgusting things (“lawless things” or deeds [LXX]) people of Israel were committing there. (8:9) Ezekiel entered and saw all kinds of crawling things and detestable beasts or unclean wild animals and idols (literally, “dungy things [an expression of contempt]) of the “house [or people] of Israel” carved on the wall of the place where he then found himself. (8:10; see the Notes section.)
Seventy elders of the “house [or people] of Israel” were standing where Ezekiel had entered. Probably the most prominent among them was “Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan,” the only one mentioned by name. Each of the elders had a censer in his hand, and smoke from the burning incense in the censer rose in the form of a cloud. When burning incense before the representations engraved on the wall, all the men made themselves guilty of idolatry. (8:11) YHWH asked Ezekiel whether he had seen what each one of the “elders of the house [or people] of Israel” was doing “in the dark in the rooms of his show piece” or idol. Perhaps the reference to rooms is to niches for the idolatrous representations to which the elders burned incense. According to the Septuagint, the rooms were private rooms — hidden bedchambers. Apparently because they saw no help coming from YHWH to deal with the serious military threat from the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar, they felt that YHWH had left the land. Seemingly they reasoned that his departure from the land meant that he could not see what they were doing in secret. (8:12)
YHWH told Ezekiel that he would see even greater abominations or detestable practices (“lawless things” or deeds [LXX]) in which the people of Israel engaged. (8:13) After having been taken to the north side of the temple precincts at the “entrance of the gate of the house [or temple] of YHWH,” Ezekiel saw seated women who were “weeping for Tammuz,” a Mesopotamian fertility god. This deity is thought to have been the Dumuzi mentioned in ancient Sumerian texts. Tammuz was also the name of the month that corresponds to mid-June to mid-July. By then summer heat had dried up much of the vegetation, and worshipers of Tammuz appear to have associated this development to his death. The wailing of the women apparently was over the death of Tammuz. (8:14) YHWH is quoted as then saying to Ezekiel, “Have you seen [this], son of man? You will see still greater abominations [practices (LXX)] than these.” These words indicated that Ezekiel would witness even more shocking detestable idolatrous acts. (8:15; see the Notes section regarding “son of man.”)
From his position at the “entrance of the temple of YHWH” with a view of the “inner court of the house [or temple] of YHWH,” where he had been taken, Ezekiel saw twenty-five men with their backs to the temple. Located between the temple porch (ailam [LXX], a transliteration of the Hebrew word) and the altar of burnt offering, these men faced east and were bowing down, worshiping the sun. This act was a flagrant rejection of YHWH, for the temple was his representative place of dwelling. (8:16)
Again YHWH is quoted as asking Ezekiel, “Have you seen [this], son of man?” This is followed with the rhetorical question as to whether it was too slight a thing “for the house [or people] of Judah to commit the abominations [lawless things or deeds (LXX)] that they commit here,” filling the land with violence (lawless things or deeds [LXX]) and further provoking YHWH to anger. There is uncertainty about the significance of the concluding phrase in the question (“putting the branch to their nose”). The expression “their nose” in this phrase was anciently identified as a scribal emendation, with the alternate reading being “my nose.” In the Septuagint, the reference could be to those engaged in mocking as if thumbing their noses. “Putting the branch to [the] nose” appears to have been a highly offensive act, and the branch may even have been a phallic representation. Modern translations vary in their interpretive renderings. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger?” (NLT) “Look how they insult me in the most offensive way possible!” (TEV) “Look at them at their worship, holding twigs to their noses.” (REB) (8:17; see the Notes section regarding “son of man.”)
In view of the detestable idolatrous practices and the violence and injustices with which the people had filled the land, YHWH determined to express his wrath against them. His “eye” would not pity them, and he would not be compassionate. YHWH would not look upon the suffering people with any sense of sorrow or feel any compassion for them. In their distress, they would cry out to him. Although they would cry out with a loud voice in his hearing (literally, “ears”), he would not listen to them, refusing to provide any aid or relief. The Targum says that he would not hear their prayers. (8:18; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In this chapter (verses 5, 6, 8, 12, 15, and 17), as elsewhere in the book of Ezekiel, the prophet is addressed as “son of man.” This served to remind him that he was an earthling or mortal with a commission from the eternal God YHWH upon whom cherubs are in attendance.
The Septuagint, in verse 7, does not mention a hole in the wall, and verse 8 also does not refer to a wall.
In verse 10, the Septuagint does not mention the wall, resulting in ambiguity. It also does not refer to crawling things and detestable beasts but refers to “vain [or worthless] abominations” and “all the idols of the house of Israel.”
In verse 18, the Septuagint does not include the phrase about crying out with a loud voice and not being heard.
In Ezekiel’s hearing (literally, “in my ears”), YHWH called out with a loud voice, directing those who would be making a visitation of the city (a visitation for punitive action against Jerusalem) to draw near. Each one was equipped with a destroying implement or weapon in his hand. (9:1; see the Notes section.) From the direction of the upper temple gate, the gate facing north, six men came, each one with “his implement of slaughter in his hand.” The six men apparently represented the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar that invaded from the north and would devastate Jerusalem, including the temple. Among the six men was another man. He was dressed in linen clothing and had a scribe’s inkhorn or writing case at his waist. All seven men entered the inner court of the temple and then stood “beside the altar of copper” or bronze (the altar of burnt offering). (9:2; see the Notes section.)
The “glory of the God of Israel” had been above the “expanse,” firmament, or platform over the four living beings or cherubs. This “glory” or dazzling brilliance that appeared in the likeness of a man (1:26; 3:22, 23; 8:2, 4) moved to the threshold [inner court (LXX)] of the house” or temple, probably the threshold of the entrance into the Most Holy. From that position, YHWH is represented as calling out to the man dressed in linen clothing and with a scribe’s inkhorn or writing case at his waist (a “girdle on his waist” [LXX]). (9:3; see the Notes section.)
YHWH said to the man dressed in linen clothing, “Pass through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark [sign (LXX)] on the foreheads of the men [or people] moaning and groaning over all the abominations [lawless deeds (LXX)] that are done in the midst of it.” Those who were sighing and groaning were persons who lived uprightly and were deeply distressed about the idolatrous practices, oppression, and injustices they witnessed among the people of Jerusalem. The word translated “mark” is the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, taw. In ancient times, the letter “taw” was written like an “X.” A number of modern translations reflect this in their renderings. “Pass through the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and mark an X on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the abominations practiced within it.” (NAB, revised edition) “Mark with a cross the foreheads of those who groan and lament over all the abominations practised there.” (REB) “Mark a cross on the foreheads of all who grieve and lament over all the loathsome practices in it [Jerusalem].” (NJB) (9:4)
In his “ears” or in his hearing, Ezekiel heard YHWH tell the six men with the weapons, “Pass through the city after him [the man dressed in linen clothing] and strike. Your eye shall not have pity, and you shall not show compassion.” They were not to look with pity upon the people nor have any feeling of compassion for them. (9:5) The men with the weapons were to slay old men and young men, virgins, little children, and women. They, however, were not to go near anyone who had previously been marked. The men were instructed to begin the punitive action at the sanctuary. Their first victims were the old men in front of the temple (literally, “before the face of the house”). According to the Septuagint, the “men of the elders” were “inside, in the house,” which could mean inside the temple complex. (9:6)
The idolaters at the temple would not have considered their practices as disgusting and as polluting the sacred precincts. From YHWH’s standpoint, however, the temple was defiled, and his command to the six men with the weapons was to pollute it even more with dead bodies. They were to fill the temple courts with the slain. In response to the directive to go forth, they did so and began striking down the unmarked people “in the city,” Jerusalem. (9:7; see the Notes section.)
With the slaughter occurring all around him, Ezekiel finally found himself alone. He dropped to his knees, fell upon his face, and cried out, “Ah, Lord YHWH, are you destroying all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath upon Jerusalem?” The Targum refers to Ezekiel as making the plea, “Hear my petition.” (9:8)
In response to Ezekiel’s reaction to the slaughter conveyed to him in a vision, YHWH revealed why the punitive judgment was merited. The “guilt of the house [or people] of Israel and Judah” was “exceedingly great” (literally, “with muchness, muchness”). The “land” was “full of bloods,” with much innocent blood having been shed through acts of violence and judicial corruption, and the city, Jerusalem, was full of injustice. It appears that, because of not seeing any help coming from YHWH, the people said that he had “forsaken the land” (the “inhabitants” of the land [Targum]) and did not see, having no knowledge of what they were doing. (9:9; see the Notes section.)
YHWH was fully aware of everything that was taken place among the people. He determined that his “eye” would not have pity or look with any pity on the people during the time for the execution of punitive judgment nor would he show any compassion. The consequences for “their way” or their corrupt course of conduct would come upon “their head” as merited punishment. (9:10)
To report what he had accomplished, the man dressed in linen clothing and with a writer’s inkhorn at his waist said to YHWH, “I have done as you commanded me.” (9:11; see the Notes section.)
Notes
The Septuagint, in verse 1, indicates that the “judgment” of Jerusalem had drawn near.
In verse 2, the Septuagint says that one man was clothed with a robe (one that reached down to the feet) and had a “girdle of sapphire upon his waist.”
According to the interpretation of verse 3 in the Targum, the glory had been in the Holy of Holies or the Most Holy.
The rendering of verse 7 in the Septuagint is shorter than the wording of the Masoretic Text. “And he [God] said to them, “Pollute the house [the temple], and fill the ways with carcasses, [you], the ones going out, and strike” or slay.
Instead of being “full of bloods” (verse 9), the Targum says that the land was full of those who deserved to be slain. The Septuagint refers to the land as being filled with “many peoples.”
In verse 11, as in verse 3, the Septuagint says that the man was clothed with a robe and had a “girdle on his waist.”
The commission of the man dressed in linen clothing reveals the deep concern YHWH has for his devoted servants. It indicates that, regardless of how perilous circumstances may become, a remnant of godly persons will survive and benefit from his loving attention and care.
Upon the “expanse,” firmament, or platform that was over the heads of the cherubs (or the four living beings), Ezekiel saw something that, in appearance, resembled a sapphire stone, a transparent or translucent precious stone that probably was deep blue in color, and the object looked like a throne (10:1; compare 1:22, 26.)
Apparently the one seated on the object that resembled a throne instructed the man dressed in linen (in the “robe” [LXX]) to go in between the wheelwork (or the wheels), beneath the cherubs. From between the cherubs, he was to take “coals of fire” or fiery coals. After filling the hollows of both hands with these coals, the man dressed in linen clothing was to toss them “over the city,” Jerusalem. Ezekiel saw him going in to obtain the coals. (10:2) When the man went in, the cherubs were standing to the “right of the house” or temple, and a “cloud,” a manifestation of YHWH’s presence, filled the inner court. The right side of the temple would have been the south side, and a number of modern translations so render the text. “Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the temple.” (NIV) “The cherubim were standing at the south end of the Temple.” (NLT) “The creatures were standing to the south of the Temple.” (TEV) “The winged creatures were standing south of the temple.” (CEV) If, however, the right side of the temple is viewed as being in relation to the right of the man as he entered, this would have been the north side of the temple, where Ezekiel had earlier seen the cherubs before the “glory of the God of Israel” moved from above them to the threshold of the temple. Therefore, if the right side denotes the south side of the temple, this would indicate that the cherubs went to the south side, but the account makes no mention of any movement on their part. (10:3; see 8:3, 4; 9:3.)
There appears to be a repetition of what was earlier said in verse 3 of chapter 9. The “glory of YHWH” had moved from above the cherubs to the “threshold of the house” or temple. This resulted in gradually filling the temple with the “cloud” (“dense cloud” [Targum]) and the court came to be filled with the “brightness of the glory of YHWH.” (10:4) The sound of the beating wings of the cherubs (the four living beings) could be heard clear to the outer court of the temple. This loud sound was “like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks,” probably meaning that it was as loud as thunder. In a powerful way, the sound would have called attention to YHWH’s presence at the temple to execute punitive judgment. (10:5)
At this time the Almighty commanded the man dressed in linen clothing to “take fire” (or fiery coals [10:2]) “from between the wheelwork, from between the cherubs.” Ezekiel saw the man go in and then to stand beside one of the wheels. (10:6) One of the four cherubs reached out with his hand to the fire between them, took “fire” from it, and put the fire or fiery coals into the hands of the man dressed in linen clothing (the “holy robe” [LXX]). With the “fire” or fiery coals in his hands, the man departed. (10:7) Ezekiel saw what appeared to be the form of a man’s hand (men’s hands [LXX]) under the wings of the cherubs. (10:8) He also saw a wheel beside each one of the four cherubs, and it looked to him that the wheels gleamed “like topaz” (tarshísh [“like the appearance of a carbuncle stone” [LXX]), a transparent or translucent gemstone. (10:9; see the Notes section.) All four wheels looked the same. The words “the wheel within the wheel” could mean that each of the four wheels was intersected at right angles with another wheel. A number of modern translations are specific in expressing this basic meaning regarding the wheels. “Each wheel had a second wheel turning crosswise within it.” (NLT) “Each wheel was exactly the same and had a second wheel that cut through the middle of it.” (CEV) “Each one had another wheel which intersected it at right angles.” (TEV) (10:10)
If the reference is to the four wheels, they are either described as going on their “four sides” or rims or as moving in four directions. When changing directions, the wheels did so without turning. They would move in the direction that the heads of all four living beings or cherubs were facing. Numerous modern translations are more specific in their renderings than is the Hebrew text and vary in applying the words of this verse either to the wheels or to the cherubs. “As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the cherubim faced; the wheels did not turn about as the cherubim went. The cherubim went in whatever direction the head faced, without turning as they went.” (NIV) “They could move in any direction without turning. The wheels moved together whenever the creatures moved.” (CEV) “When they moved, they went in any of the four directions without veering as they moved; in whatever direction the first cherub faced, the others followed without veering as they went.” (NAB, revised edition) “When the cherubim moved in any of the four directions, they never swerved from their course; they went straight on in the direction in which their heads were turned, never swerving.” (REB) “The cherubs could move in any of the four directions they faced, without turning as they moved.” (NLT) (10:11)
“All their flesh” or the whole body of each cherub, their backs, hands, wings, and the wheels beside them were “full of eyes all around,” indicating that they could see clearly everywhere they would be going. Each of the four cherubs had one of the four wheels alongside. (10:12) In his hearing (literally, “in my ears”), Ezekiel heard the wheels being called “wheelwork” (ha-galgal, possibly denoting “whirling wheels” [gelgel (LXX), a transliteration of the Hebrew expression]). (10:13)
Each one of the four cherbus had four faces — the first face, the face of a cherub; the second face, the face of a man; the third face, the face of a lion, and the fourth face, the face of an eagle. If the face of a man represented the noble qualities humans possess, the other faces could represent features in which humans do not excel — power (cherub), boldness or fearlessness (lion, 2 Samuel 17:10; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Proverbs 28:1), and speed (eagle, Habakkuk 1:8). According to the earlier description of the four living beings or cherubs, the face of the cherub was the face of a bull. (10:14; compare 1:10 and see the Notes section.) Earlier, “by the river Chebar,” probably one of the major canals in ancient Chaldea, Ezekiel had seen the same four living beings or cherubs. At this later time, he saw them rise skyward. (10:15)
The cherubs and the wheels functioned in perfect harmony. Whenever the cherubs moved, the wheels went right along with them. When the cherubs lifted up their wings to rise above the earth or ground, the wheels did not change direction away from them but moved alongside them. (10:16) When the cherubs stood still, the wheels remained motionless. When the cherubs rose, the wheels rose with them. This was because the same “spirit” (God’s spirit [the “spirit of life” [LXX]) that was in the cherubs or that motivated them was in the wheels. (10:17)
The “glory of YHWH,” the impressive brilliance of his presence, moved from the “threshold of the house” or temple and then came to stand still over the four cherubs. This suggested that YHWH had abandoned the temple and that it would not continue to exist. (10:18; see 1:25-28.) Ezekiel saw the cherubs lift up their wings and rise from the “earth” or ground. As they rose, the wheels went along with them. The cherubs, with the wheels alongside them, stopped at the eastern entrance of the gate of the house or temple of YHWH, and the “glory of the God of Israel” was above them. (10:19)
The four living beings were the same ones Ezekiel had seen beneath the “glory of the God of Israel” (the brilliant manifestation of God’s presence) by the river Chebar, probably one of the major canals in ancient Chaldea. Apparently on the basis of their position beneath the “glory of the God of Israel,” Ezekiel recognized that the four living beings were cherubs. (10:20; compare 1:1, 26-28 and Exodus 25:22; Leviticus 16:2.) Each one of the four living beings had four faces, and each one had four (eight [LXX]) wings. Underneath their wings, Ezekiel saw the resemblance of a man’s hands. (10:21) The likeness of the faces of the four living beings were same faces he had seen by the river Chebar. These living beings or cherubs moved straight ahead in the direction in which they faced. (10:22)
Notes
This chapter includes descriptions that are provided in greater detail in chapter 1.
In verse 9, the Hebrew word tarshísh may designate topaz, but this is not certain. Common renderings in translations are “topaz” and “chrysolite.”
The words of verse 14 are missing in the oldest extant manuscripts of the Septuagint. In the Hebrew text, the face of the cherub is in the first position. Ezekiel 1:10, however, refers to the face of the man first, the face of the lion second, and the face of the bull third.
The “spirit,” either God’s spirit or a strong wind of which God was the source, lifted Ezekiel and transported him to the “eastern gate of the house [or temple] of YHWH.” The temple itself faced the east. At the entrance of the eastern gate, Ezekiel saw twenty-five men, including two princes (leaders [LXX]) of the people, Jaazaniah the son of Azzur and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah. (11:1)
YHWH revealed to Ezekiel that the twenty-five men were devising what would prove to be injurious and were giving bad counsel in Jerusalem. Their devising of harm may have included plotting rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon and counseling King Zedekiah to seek military aid from Egypt to support the plot. (11:2)
After King Jehoiachin, members of the royal family, princes, warriors, skilled craftsmen, and other prominent ones were taken into Babylonian exile, the twenty-five men apparently believed that they had no reason for concern about the city’s security. The initial words they are quoted as saying are somewhat obscure. A literal rendering of the Hebrew text would be, “Not near to build houses.” When understood as a question, this could mean that the men felt that the time was near for proceeding with building projects in Jerusalem. Another significance could be that they thought there was no need for building houses, for dwellings were available for occupancy because of having been vacated by the people who were taken into exile. Modern translations vary in their interpretive renderings. “Is it not a good time to build houses?” (NLT) “We will soon be building houses again.” (TEV) “Let’s build more houses.” (CEV) “The time has not yet come to build.” (REB) “No need to build houses!” (NAB, revised edition) “There will be no house-building yet awhile.” (NJB) According to the Septuagint, the question is, “Have not the houses been built recently?” Within the walls of the city, the men regarded themselves as safe, comparable to meat that remains within the confines of a cooking pot and is in no danger of being burned up by the fire underneath it. (11:3)
In view of their bad schemes and their senseless counsel that contradicted the message he had conveyed through his prophets, YHWH instructed Ezekiel to prophesy against the men. Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God upon whom cherubs are in attendance. (11:4)
The “spirit of YHWH” (spirit of prophecy [Targum]) fell upon Ezekiel, and he received a message to proclaim. “Thus says YHWH, So you say, O house of Israel. I know the things that come into your mind [literally, spirit].” Apparently the words of leaders among them and those of false prophets persuaded the “house” or people of Israel to consider themselves secure in Jerusalem. Therefore, they spoke or expressed themselves to this effect, and YHWH was fully aware of their thoughts (“deliberations” or plans [LXX]). (11:5)
Particularly the leaders and other prominent ones in Jerusalem would have been responsible for many people to be killed in the city, causing the streets to be filled with the slain. Those who were killed may have disagreed strongly with the scheming of the leaders or have been victims of injustice and oppression. (11:6) “Therefore” (because of the bloodguilt the men had incurred), the Lord YHWH declared, “Your slain whom you have placed in the midst of [Jerusalem] are the flesh, and [the city is] the cooking pot, and one [I (LXX), YHWH] will bring you out of the midst of it.” Whereas the dead would remain inside, the surviving men of the military campaign against Jerusalem would be forcibly removed as captives. (11:7)
The people had feared the “sword” of war being wielded against them, and the Lord YHWH purposed to bring the sword upon them. According to the Targum, the people feared those who slay with the sword, and they would be the ones God would be bringing upon them. (11:8) He would take survivors of the military campaign out of the midst of Jerusalem, give them into the hand (or power) of foreigners (the conquerors or the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar), and execute judgments against them. (11:9)
People would fall by the sword that Babylonian warriors would be wielding against them. By means of the conqueror, YHWH would judge the people “at the border [borders (LXX)] of Israel.” The “border” or “borders” (LXX) could refer to the northern limits of Israelite territory and control that anciently existed in the time of kings David and Solomon. If so, the judgment that King Nebuchadnezzar pronounced against King Zedekiah, his sons, and others at Riblah may be regarded as YHWH’s judgment at the border or borders of Israel. It was his judgment, for he permitted it to take place. (2 Kings 25:6, 7, 18-21) When the prophetic words were fulfilled, the people came to “know” or were forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who does not tolerate lawlessness indefinitely and executes judgment by means of an instrument and at a time of his choosing. (11:10)
The city of Jerusalem would not be like a cooking pot that keeps the contents from being consumed by fire nor would anyone be like the meat in such a pot. There would be no place of safety or security within the fortifications of Jerusalem, for YHWH would execute judgment “at the border [borders (LXX) of Israel.” (11:11; see verse 10.) This development would cause the people to “know” or force them to recognize YHWH as the God who punishes those who defy him and disregard his commands. Punitive judgment was merited, for the people had not walked or conducted themselves in harmony with his statutes and did not do what his judgments required, but they acted according to the judgments or ordinances of surrounding nations. (11:12; see the Notes section.)
While Ezekiel was prophesying, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. As the prophet was in Babylon, the death of Pelatiah in Jerusalem was revealed to him in a vision. In response to this, Ezekiel dropped to his knees, “fell down upon [his] face, and cried with a loud voice,” saying, “[Hear my prayer (Targum)] Ah, Lord YHWH, will you make a complete end of the remnant of Israel?” Apparently Ezekiel considered the sudden death of Pelatiah to indicate that judgment would be executed against the other twenty-four men (11:1) and all the remaining ones of the people. (11:13)
Ezekiel received a “word” or message from YHWH. The Targum refers to this message as the “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (11:14)
Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH upon whom cherubs attended. The “brothers” of Ezekiel were fellow Israelites. In the Septuagint, they are also called “men of your captivity,” for they had been taken into exile as captives. They and all the house or people of Israel had a right to repurchase their inheritance in the land from which they had been exiled. The reference to “all the house of Israel” could include the descendants of Israelite exiles the Assyrians took into captivity from the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. Prior to the destruction of Jerusalem, the inhabitants of the city gave no consideration to the repurchase rights of Israelite exiles. These inhabitants are quoted as saying, “Go far from YHWH. To us, the land is given for a possession.” Probably because of their having YHWH’s temple in their city, they believed that the exiles were far from him, and they wanted this circumstance of the exiles to continue. In their view, the land inheritance the exiles lost had been given to them as their possession. (11:15)
The Lord YHWH had permitted Israelites to be taken into exile. Therefore, he is quoted as having put them far away among foreign nations and scattered them among various lands. Nevertheless, he would become a sanctuary to them in the lands to which they had been exiled. The Hebrew text could be understood to mean that this would be for a little while or in a little way. His being a sanctuary for a little while could indicate that the exile would end and that during this little while YHWH would still be with his people in whatever foreign land they might find themselves as exiles. He would care for them and preserve them as a people. If the meaning of the Hebrew text is “little way,” this could suggest that YHWH’s presence with the exiles would not be the same as if they were in their own land, for they would still be subject to a foreign power and to mistreatment. In the Targum, the interpretation is that God had given the Israelite exiles synagogues that were places of worship only second to the temple in Jerusalem. (11:16; see the Notes section.) YHWH promised to gather the exiled Israelites from among the foreign peoples, to assemble them out of the lands to which they had been scattered, and again to give them their own land (the land of Israel). (11:17)
The ones returning to the land of Israel would be a repentant people who had benefited from the divinely decreed punitive judgment they had experienced. Upon their return to the land, they would clear out of it all disgusting and detestable things (lawless deeds [LXX]). This would include idols and all appendages of idolatry. (11:18) The stubborn refusal of the people to heed YHWH’s commands that had led to military defeat and exile would cease. They would prove to be a changed people. This is indicated in YHWH’s giving them “one [another (LXX)] heart,” or an inner motivation that would be undivided in its love for him and devoted to doing his will, and putting a “new spirit” inside them. This “new spirit” would be a powerful motivating force that would prompt them to live in harmony with his commands. YHWH would remove (or cause to be taken from them) a “heart of stone,” an inner self that stubbornly resisted to living in harmony with his requirements. He would give them (or cause them to have) a “heart of flesh,” an inner self that would willingly yield to his will for them. (11:19) With a different heart and new spirit, the people would “walk” or conduct themselves in harmony with his statutes and act according to his “judgments” or ordinances. They would prove to be a people having an approved relationship with YHWH, and he would be their God, acknowledging them as uniquely belonging to him as his people. (11:20)
Israelites whose hearts or inmost selves inclined them to walk or to conduct themselves according to their detestable and disgusting things (their idolatry and lawless ways) would face serious consequences . The penalty for pursuing their own way would come upon their heads or upon them. (11:21)
After having received YHWH’s word or message about future developments, Ezekiel saw the cherubs raise their wings, and a wheel was beside each one of the four cherubs. The glory of YHWH, the magnificent divine splendor described earlier (1:26-28), was above them. (11:22) The “glory of YHWH” ascended “from the midst the city” or from over Jerusalem and began to stand over the mountain on the “east side of the city.” The Targum is specific in identifying this mountain as the Mount of Olives. (11:23)
Ezekiel found himself being lifted up and transported to the exiles in Chaldea or Babylonia. This occurred in a vision through the operation of the “spirit of God” (the “prophetic spirit … from before the Lord” [Targum]). The vision Ezekiel had seen ascended from him, suggesting that it faded away. (11:24) With the vision having ended and his being back at the actual location in Chaldea, Ezekiel was in a position to relate to the exiles everything that YHWH, through the operation of his spirit, had shown to him. (11:25)
Notes
In verse 12, the Septuagint does not include the words about not walking in YHWH’s statutes and not carrying out his judgments but acting according to the judgments of surrounding nations.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 16 represents the developments as being future, indicating that those who were still living in Jerusalem would be cast out into the nations and scattered. For them, God would be a small or diminished sanctuary in the places to which they would be exiled.
YHWH’s “word (“word of prophecy from before the Lord [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (12:1) He was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God. Ezekiel found himself in a “rebellious house,” among people guilty of “injustices” [LXX]). They defiantly refused to act in harmony with YHWH’s commands. As a “rebellious house,” the people were unresponsive, as if unable to see although they had eyes and if unable to hear although they had ears. (12:2; see the Notes section.)
YHWH directed Ezekiel to prepare baggage for exile and to enact going into exile before the eyes or in the sight of his fellow exiles then already in Babylon. This baggage would have contained only a few essential items, possibly including a mat used for sleeping and a skin bottle for water. To portray going into exile, Ezekiel was to leave his own place for another location before the “eyes” of the people. This was an enactment for his fellow exiles to watch and apparently served to impress upon them the serious consequences that would result from continuing to be a “rebellious house [people (Targum)].” (12:3; see the Notes section.)
In the daytime so that his actions could be watched, Ezekiel was to take out of his place baggage like baggage exiles would be carrying to distant lands. Then, in the evening, apparently at a time when he could still be observed, Ezekiel was to depart from his place like a captive to be taken into exile. (12:4)
Walls of houses and other buildings commonly were constructed of mud brick. This made it possible for Ezekiel to obey the instructions to dig a hole through the wall and then to leave through the opening with his baggage. This was to be done before the “eyes” of the people or as something for them to see. (12:5) While they would be watching (literally, “before their eyes”), Ezekiel was to lift the baggage on his shoulder and, after the onset of evening darkness, depart with his face covered so as not to see the “earth” or the ground. According to the Septuagint, Ezekiel was to leave concealed from his place. His actions served as a “sign” to the “house of Israel,” for YHWH had made him a sign to the people of Israel. (12:6)
Ezekiel did exactly what he had been commanded. In the daytime, he brought out his baggage from his place like baggage for exile. Then, in the evening, he dug through the wall by hand and left (left “concealed” [LXX]) during the time of darkness, carrying the baggage upon his shoulder. Ezekiel did so as people watched (literally, “before their eyes”). (12:7)
YHWH’s “word” (“word of prophecy from before the Lord” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel in the morning following his enactment relating to exile. (12:8) YHWH is quoted as saying to him, “Son of man, has not the house [people] of Israel, the rebellious house [people (Targum)] said to you, What are you doing?” (12:9; see the Notes section.) The “utterance,” burden, or response of the Lord YWHW (“Lord Lord” [LXX]) for Ezekiel to relate was meant for the prince (ruler [LXX]) or King Zedekiah in Jerusalem and for “all of the house [people] of Israel in the midst of them.” The plural suffix rendered “them” could be understood to apply to Jerusalem and to the king who was in the city. The Septuagint refers to “the ruler and the leader.” (12:10) Ezekiel was to tell the king and the people that he was a “sign” to them. What he had done when enacting going into exile would “be done to them” or would be their experience. They would go “into exile, into captivity” (“into exile and into captivity” [LXX]). (12:11; see the Notes section.)
The prince (ruler [LXX]) or King Zedekiah in the midst of the people would do lifting or carrying upon his shoulder after dark and go out of city. Those accompanying him would dig through the wall, creating an opening through which to depart. According to the Septuagint, the ruler would be lifted or carried upon shoulders. He would “cover his face” so that his “eye” would not see the “earth” or land. The Targum interprets the reason for his not seeing the land as being that he had “sinned with his eyes.” According to the Septuagint, the ruler would cover his face so that no eye would see or recognize him and that he would not see the earth or land. (12:12; see the Notes section.)
In view of what he permitted to happen to King Zedekiah, YHWH is represented as saying, “I will spread my net over him, and he will be taken in my snare. And I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans, and he will not see it, and there he will die.” Zedekiah was captured, blinded at Riblah, and taken as a captive to Babylon. (2 Kings 25:4-7) As a blind man, he did not see the land of the Chaldeans and died there. (12:13)
YHWH is quoted as declaring that he would “scatter to every wind” or in every direction all those around King Zedekiah as helpers and his troops, unsheathing his sword after them. According to 2 Kings 25:5, all the warriors with Zedekiah were scattered . (12:14)
Upon being dispersed “among the nations” and scattered in various lands, the people would come to know or be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who does not tolerate lawlessness indefinitely and will execute punitive judgment against those who choose to disregard his commands. (12:15)
At the time for punitive judgment, YHWH would let a few men or a remnant escape or survive the sword of warfare, famine resulting from siege and conquest, and pestilence (“death” [LXX]) or infectious disease that would spread in the unsanitary conditions of siege among the famished people. The effect on the remnant of survivors would be that, wherever they went among the nations as exiles, they would confess or acknowledge their suffering to have resulted from “all their abominations” (lawless deeds [LXX]) — their idolatrous practices and wayward conduct. The dire consequences would impress upon them that YHWH was the God who had acted against them. (12:16)
Another “word” (“word of prophecy “ [Targum]) came to Ezekiel from YHWH. (12:17) He was directed to illustrate what the people would be facing during times of siege. Ezekiel was to eat his bread or food with trembling (“pain” or “grief” [LXX]). This would indicate that the scarcity of food and the probability of running out of food entirely would give rise to fear. Likewise, Ezekiel’s drinking water with horror (“torment and affliction” [LXX]) would serve to show that little potable water would be available during the time of siege and would likely cease to exist. (12:18; compare 4:16, 17, and see the Notes section regarding “son of man.”)
Ezekiel was instructed to tell the “people of the land,” apparently fellow exiles in Babylonia, “Thus says the Lord YHWH regarding the ones residing in Jerusalem in the land of Israel, Their bread they will eat with fearfulness and their water they will drink in horror, for their land will be stripped of its fullness [or everything it contains] because of the violence [impiety (LXX)] of all those residing in it.” The inhabitants of Jerusalem would be in a state of anxiety when eating, fearful that shortly there might not be any bread or food. Water also would be scarce, causing the people to experience terror when drinking because they would know that they could soon be without any water. The enemy military force would devastate the land, cutting off life’s essentials from the besieged people. On account of the violence directed especially against the poor who were often the victims of injustice and oppression, the people of Jerusalem would experience siege and conquest. (12:19; compare 4:16, 17.)
The enemy military force would devastate the inhabited cities in the territory of the kingdom of Judah and transform the land into a desolate waste. When this would come to pass, the people would know or be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who does not leave oppression and injustices unpunished. (12:20)
Again YHWH’s “word or message (“word of prophecy from before the Lord” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (12:21) This message related to a proverb the people were using regarding the land of Israel. They did not believe that the punitive judgment Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and other prophets had proclaimed would actually be executed. Therefore, the people mockingly took up the proverb, “The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing.” Even if some calamity were to come, they imagined that it would be in the distant future and of no concern to them. As to the visions the prophets had seen and made known, the people reasoned that the message of these visions had not been fulfilled and so never would be. (12:22; see the Notes section regarding the expression “son of man.”)
Through Ezekiel, YHWH reproved the people for using the proverb that did not take the message he conveyed through his prophets seriously. Ezekiel was to tell them, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, I will put an end to this proverb, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel.” The very opposite of the thoughts expressed with the mocking proverb would take place. The days for the execution of punitive judgment were at hand, and the “word [or message] of every vision” would be fulfilled. (12:23) Once the message of YHWH’s prophets began to be fulfilled, there would not be any false or deceptive vision that contradicted what they had proclaimed nor would there be “smooth” divination or divination that supported a favorable outcome. “False vision” and “smooth divination” would not continue “in the house of Israel” or among the people of Israel (“in the midst of the sons of Israel” [LXX]). The Septuagint indicates that there would no longer be someone who would resort to divination “for favor” or to please those hearing it. (12:24)
YHWH declared that he would speak the word (his “words” [LXX]) or message, and it would be performed (he would “speak and act and no more delay” [LXX]). There would be no postponement. The Lord YHWH is quoted as telling the “rebellious house” (rebellious people” [Targum]), “For in your days, … I will speak a word, and I will do it,” fulfilling the message about coming punitive judgment. (12:25)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy from before the Lord” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (12:26; see the Notes section.) This word revealed what the people (the “house of Israel”) said about his prophesying. “The vision that he sees” (“the teaching that he teaches” [Targum]) is “for many days” or for a distant future time, and “he prophesies about times far off” or times that were of no concern to them because the prophecies would not be fulfilled during their lifetime. (12:27; see the Notes section regarding the expression “son of man.”) Therefore, he was to tell them that the Lord YHWH would not delay the fulfillment of all his words any longer. He would do what he had declared. The Septuagint quotes the Lord as saying, “I will speak and act.” (12:28)
Notes
In this chapter (verses 2, 3, 9, 18, 22, 27), Ezekiel is repeatedly addressed as “son of man.” This reminded Ezekiel that he was a mortal in the service of YHWH, the eternal God with cherubs in attendance upon him.
In verse 11, the Septuagint represents Ezekiel as doing or performing signs in the midst of Jerusalem (literally, “her”).
The Septuagint rendering of verse 12 represents the ruler as the one who would go out concealed through the hole that he had dug in the wall. Ancient Greek codex P967 does not include the words, “and he himself will not see the earth” or land.
The ancient Greek codex (P967) omits the wording in verse 26 through 28, and continues the text with the words in verse 1 of chapter 13.
YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (13:1) YHWH is quoted as addressing Ezekiel as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God. He directed Ezekiel to “prophesy against the prophets [false prophets (Targum)] of Israel,” for they had no message from him but were making proclamations “out of their [own] heart” or their own thoughts. YHWH, however, had a message for them and, through Ezekiel, he said, “Hear [or listen to] the word of YHWH.” (13:2) They were not to be left in any doubt about the source of the message Ezekiel would be making known to them. It was introduced with the words, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Woe to the foolish prophets who walk [or follow] after their [own] spirit [or inclination and imagination] and have seen nothing.” They had received no vision from YHWH and, therefore, had nothing to proclaim other than what originated in their own imagination. These prophets were “foolish,” proclaiming messages contrary to what YHWH’s prophets were making known. Their folly consisted of senselessly, deliberately and defiantly contradicting the word of YHWH. Therefore, they would experience woe or calamity. (13:3) The “prophets” (false prophets [Targum]) in Israel were “like foxes among ruins [in the deserts or desolate areas (LXX)].” With their burrowing, foxes do additional damage, undermining portions of walls that might still be standing. Likewise, the proclamations of false prophets had a ruinous effect on those who believed them. Their words lulled the people into a false sense of security as they continued to engage in divinely disapproved practices. The false prophets did nothing constructive. (13:4)
The prophets should have admonished the people to repent and to abandon their lawless ways so as to escape having YHWH express his wrath against them. False prophets, however, had not gone up into the breaches, acting in ways that would have spared the people from punitive judgment. They had done nothing comparable to building a protective wall “for the house of Israel,” a wall that would “stand in battle in the day of YHWH.” Instead, they had left the people in a state that merited YHWH’s wrath. According to the Targum, the false prophets had not performed good deeds nor had they petitioned for the house of Israel, praying that mercy might be shown to the people at the time for the arrival of those making war against them. (13:5; see the Notes section.)
What the false prophets saw or visioned was falsehood, and they “divined a lie.” Yet they attributed their utterances to YHWH even though he had not sent them. They still expected him to fulfill their word. According to the Targum, they insisted that their word would be fulfilled. The Septuagint refers to those saying the “Lord says” as not having been sent by him and as beginning to raise up a “word” or a false message. (13:6)
When identifying their words as a “pronouncement of YHWH” although he had not spoken anything to them, the false prophets were seeing a vain, worthless or delusive vision and expressing a lying divination. This thought is expressed in the form of a question that YHWH is quoted as directing to them. In the Septuagint, the question is shorter than it is in the Hebrew text. “Have you not seen a lying vision and spoken vain [empty or worthless] divinations?” According to the Targum, the question is, “Have you not prophesied false prophecies?” (13:7)
The Lord YHWH declared that he was against the false prophets because they had uttered vanities, delusions, or worthless things and had visioned a falsehood that they then proclaimed as truth. They deluded the people into thinking that no calamity would befall them for their disregard of YHWH’s commands and the words he directed to them through his prophets. The Targum refers to the false prophets as prophesying falsehood and teaching lies. (13:8)
YHWH would direct his “hand” (the striking power of his might [Targum]) “against the prophets [false prophets (Targum)]” who were visioning “vanity,” emptiness, or worthlessness and divining falsehood (prophesying falsehood and teaching lies [Targum]). These false prophets would not be in the council or intimate group of YHWH’s people. According to the Septuagint, they would have no part in the “instruction” of his people. The Targum indicates that they would not share in the “secret good that is concealed” or reserved for God’s people. There would be no place of honor for the false prophets. They would not be in the “writing of the house of Israel,” indicating that their names would not be found in a listing of God’s people. There would be no written record of them. At the time others would be returning to the “land of Israel,” these false prophets would not be among them. When the judgment would be executed against them, they would know that it had come upon them from YHWH. They would then know or be forced to recognize that he is a God who does not leave unpunished those who act contrary to his commands and ways. According to the interpretation of the Targum, the false prophets would not be in the record for eternal life that is recorded for the righteous ones of the house of Israel. (13:9)
The false prophets misled the people when saying, “Peace [Peace, peace (LXX)],” but there was no peace. (Compare Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11.) They maintained that all was well, with nothing to threaten security. Through his true prophets, however, YHWH had made known that punitive judgment would soon be executed against the rebellious people. The false sense of security into which the lying prophets lulled the people was comparable to the building of an unstable wall that provided no defensive value or security. The flimsy wall was covered with whitewash. In the Targum, the false prophets are likened to a person who plasters with mud that is not strengthened with a mixture of straw. (13:10)
To those applying the whitewash, YHWH through Ezekiel declared that the wall would come crashing down. This would result from means comparable to a torrential downpour, a destructive hail, and a fierce wind. (13:11; see the Notes.) The wall representing the false claim that all was well for the people would tumble down at the time the foretold calamity would befall them. Then the question for the false prophets or the ones who did the whitewashing would be, “Where is the plaster with which you plastered [the wall]?” The implication is that the whitewash would have disappeared, revealing the unstable wall that would collapse. (13:12)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as telling the false prophets that he would make a tempestuous wind break out in his wrath, cause a torrential rain in his anger, and, for annihilation, have hailstones fall in his wrath. (13:13) By this means, he would break down the wall that the false prophets had covered with whitewash, leveling it to the ground and laying its foundation bare. The prophets’ false claims of security (represented as their whitewashing of the wall) would then be fully exposed as a delusion. In the Hebrew text, the verb for “falls” that appears in the next phrase is followed by a feminine suffix (“she will fall”) and apparently refers to the fall of Jerusalem, for the word for “wall” is masculine gender. In the midst of the city, the false prophets would come to their finish (“with reproofs” or in disgrace [LXX]). They would then know or be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who executes punitive judgment against those who act contrary to his commands and will. (13:14; see the Notes section.)
YHWH would direct his “wrath upon the wall [the city (Jerusalem) (Targum)] and upon those who covered it with whitewash (“the false prophets who prophesied false prophecies” [Targum]). He is quoted as saying to them, “The wall is no more, and those covering [plastering] it are no more.” According to the interpretation of the Targum, Jerusalem is no more, and neither are the false prophets. (13:15; see the Notes section and the comments in verse 10 about the wall.) Those covering the wall with whitewash are next identified as the “prophets [false prophets (Targum)] of Israel who are prophesying about Jerusalem and seeing visions of peace for her.” Their visions were mere delusions, for they imagined that the city and its inhabitants were secure, with no reason to fear that the people would soon be the recipients of YHWH’s punitive judgment for having transgressed his commands and disregarded the messages he had made known through his prophets. Contrary to what the false prophets were saying, there was no peace. The Targum says concerning the false prophets that they were leading Jerusalem astray with a teaching of peace. (13:16)
YHWH next directed Ezekiel’s attention to the “daughters” of his people, more specifically prophetesses whose utterances came from their own “heart” or were the products of their own imagination. When divinely commissioned to prophesy against these prophetesses, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man.” This would have reminded him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. (13:17) To the prophetesses, Ezekiel was to say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Woe upon those who are sewing bands upon all wrists [literally, joints of my hands] and who are making veils for the head of every stature [or size (every age or both young and old [LXX])] to hunt for souls [pervert souls (LXX)]. Are you hunting souls of my people [the souls of my people you have perverted (LXX)], and will you preserve alive souls for your benefit [and souls they have preserved or kept alive (LXX)]?” The Septuagint concludes with the words, “The souls of my people were perverted, and souls they have preserved” or kept alive either themselves or persons who chose to follow them. (13:18)
Apparently the false prophetesses resorted to magical practices, but exactly what they did cannot be determined from the Hebrew text. This is also evident from the variety of interpretive renderings in modern translations. “Woe to those who sew pads on all arm-joints and make bonnets for the head of every person, in order to entrap! Can you hunt down lives among My people, while you preserve your own lives? (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Disaster is in store for women who sew ribbons round each wrist and make headcloths for people of all sizes, in their hunt for souls! Are you to hunt the souls of my people and keep your own souls safe?” (NJB) “Woe betide you women who hunt men’s lives by sewing magic bands on the wrists and putting veils over the heads of persons of every age! Are you to hunt the lives of my people and keep your own lives safe?” (REB) “You women are doomed! You sew magic wristbands for everyone and make magic scarves for everyone to wear on their heads, so that they can have power over other people’s lives. You want to possess the power of life and death over my people and to use it for your own benefit.” (TEV) “What sorrow awaits you women who are ensnaring the souls of my people, young and old alike. You tie magic charms on their wrists and furnish them with magic veils. Do you think you can trap others without bringing destruction on yourselves?” (NLT) “Tell them they’re doomed! They wear magic charms on their wrists and scarves on their heads, then trick others into believing they can predict the future. They won’t get away with telling those lies.” (CEV) (13:18)
With their lies, the prophetesses profaned YHWH among his people (his favor for his people [Targum]), for they, like the false prophets, probably spoke their falsehoods in his name. For their services, they accepted handfuls of barley or pieces of bread. The prophetesses put to death the “souls who should not die and preserved alive the souls who should not live.” They did this with their lies to God’s people, the ones who listened to falsehood. According to the Septuagint, they declared vain, empty, or worthless declarations. Either through their misleading utterances they caused people to continue in a course that would mean death for them or, with their lying expressions, caused innocent persons to be killed. These prophetesses, however, supported lawless persons who merited death, making utterances that allowed them to escape the severe punishment they deserved. (13:19)
YHWH determined to destroy the influence of the prophetesses. He is quoted as declaring, “Look, I am against your bands with which you are hunting souls as for birds, and I will tear them from your arms, and I will set free [literally, send away] the souls that you hunt, souls” that you hunt as if they were “birds.” YHWH would not permit the prophetesses to cause his people to go astray with their magical devices and lying utterances, but would let his people escape from their snares. According to the Septuagint, he would send away into dispersion the souls or persons whom the prophetesses perverted. (13:20) YHWH would tear off the veils of the prophetesses and deliver his people out of their “hand,” power, or control. The people would cease to be like prey in the hand of these women. Upon the fulfillment of the punitive judgment, the prophetesses would “know” or be forced to recognize YHWH as the God who had acted against them and as the one who does not indefinitely tolerate those who act contrary to his will. (13:21)
The prophetesses “discouraged the heart of the righteous one” (or disheartened the upright person ) with falsehood, discouraging the very one whom YHWH had not discouraged or pained. They “strengthened the hands of the wicked one,” encouraging the wicked one to continue engaging in corrupt practices and not to turn away from his wicked way so that he might escape punitive judgment and preserve his life. (13:22) “Therefore,” in view of what the prophetesses had done, they would no longer see or vision vanity, delusion, emptiness, or worthlessness and no more engage in divination. YHWH determined to rescue his people from their “hand,” power, or control. Then the prophetesses would “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who had executed judgment against them. (13:23)
Notes
In verse 5, the Septuagint rendering differs from the Masoretic Text. It indicates that the false prophets did not stand up in firmness or strength and “gather flocks [a flock (P967)] to the house of Israel. They did not arise [stand up (P967)], the ones saying, In the day of the Lord.”
In verse 11, the Septuagint refers to God as giving stones that can be hurled. Whereas P967 indicates that the wall would then fall (“it will fall”), other Greek manuscripts say that “they [the stones] will fall.”
In verse 14, the wording of the Septuagint relates everything to the wall, with no allusion to Jerusalem. According to the interpretation of the Targum, God would break down the city in which the prophets had prophesied false prophecies.
With reference to the wall, verse 15 in the Septuagint adds, “It will fall.”
Among the Israelite exiles in Babylon were elders of the people. Certain ones of these “men of the elders of Israel” came to Ezekiel and seated themselves before him (literally, “before [his] face”). (14:1) At that time, YHWH’s “word” or message (a “word of prophecy from before the Lord” [Targum])] came to Ezekiel. (14:2)
YHWH is quoted as raising the question about the elders, “Should I let myself be inquired of at all by them?” The reason for a negative answer to this rhetorical question was that the elders did not have an approved standing before him. They had taken “their idols [literally, dungy things (an expression of contempt); thoughts (LXX)] into their heart” and had set the “stumbling block [or cause] of their iniquity [punishment of their injustices (LXX)] before their faces.” Their having taken “their idols into their heart” suggests that they were devoted to idolatry in their inmost selves. The Septuagint rendering could be understood to indicate that the “thoughts” to which they had a heartfelt attachment were contrary to God’s purpose. Instead of having the commands of YHWH before them at all times, the elders placed the “stumbling block of their iniquity” or the cause of their serious transgression — idols — before themselves. (Compare Romans 1:19-31.) The Septuagint rendering suggests that the injustices resulted in punishment for them. (14:3)
If a man (literally, “man, man”) of the house of Israel came to a prophet while attached in his “heart” or inmost self to his “idols” (literally, dungy things [an expression of contempt]; thoughts [LXX]) with the “stumbling block [or cause] of his iniquity [punishment of his injustices (LXX)]” set before his face, YHWH would answer him in keeping with the “multitude of his idols (literally, dungy things). The individual would receive the answer that his attachment to idols deserved. YHWH’s answer would be that severe punitive judgment would befall the idolater. (14:4; see verse 3 for additional comments.)
YHWH purposed to take hold of the heart of the “house of Israel.” The reason for his doing so was that all of them had strayed from him through their idols (literally, “dungy things”). His capturing the heart could mean that he would be taking hold of the inner self or every thought to make a judicial examination in order to determine the appropriate punishment. Another possible significance is that the purpose of taking hold of the heart, inner self, or every thought was to turn it away from idolatry and other corrupt practices. According to the interpretation of the Targum, God determined to bring the house of Israel near to himself, extending to the people the opportunity to repent in their hearts. Renderings in modern translations include: “Thus I will hold the House of Israel to account for their thoughts, because they have all been estranged from Me through their fetishes.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “All those idols have turned the Israelites away from me, but by my answer I hope to win back their loyalty.” (TEV) “When they hear my message, maybe they will see that they need to turn back to me and stop worshiping those idols.” (CEV) “In this way I hope to win back the hearts of the House of Israel who have all been estranged from me by their foul idols.” (NJB) The Septuagint represents the purpose of the divine action to be the turning of the house of Israel away “according to their hearts” that were estranged from God through their “thoughts.” This suggests that God let the people go astray in keeping with their thoughts, thoughts that were contrary to his will. (14:5)
The “house [or people] of Israel” had become estranged from YHWH through their idolatry. Therefore, he instructed Ezekiel to tell the people, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Return [to my worship (Targum)] and turn away from your idols [literally, “dungy things (an expression of contempt)] and turn away your faces from all your abominations [remove from yourselves the worship of your idols (Targum)].” The people of Israel needed to return to YHWH and abandon their idolatrous practices and everything else that was disgusting to him. According to the Septuagint, they were to turn away from their “practices and all [their] impieties” and to “turn [their] faces around.” (14:6)
YHWH declared that he himself would answer “any man [literally, man, man] of the house of Israel” and any resident alien (proselyte [LXX, Targum]) in Israel who separated himself from him and took his idols (“thoughts” [LXX]) into his “heart” and put the “stumbling block [or cause] of his iniquity [punishment of his injustice (LXX)] before his face” and yet went to inquire of him through his prophet. Both Israelites and resident aliens were under the command to shun idolatry. (Leviticus 17:7-9) For either one of them to turn away from YHWH, becoming attached to idols (literally, “dungy things”) and to focus on the object that would cause him to fall into sin, would merit severe punitive judgment. YHWH’s answer to the idolatrous inquirer of a prophet would be a declaration of punishment. (14:7; see the Notes section.) YHWH would set his face against the man, expressing his wrath against him. In view of the punitive judgment that would befall him, the man would come to be a warning sign and the subject of a proverbial taunt. YHWH would cut him off from the midst of his people (make him into a wilderness and into an extinction [LXX], bringing him to a complete end) , and the people of Israel would then know or come to recognize YHWH as the God who punishes those who disregard his commands. (14:8)
In case a prophet did not declare the word of YHWH but made a proclamation that was not true, indicating that he had been fooled or deceived, YHWH is the one who identified himself as having deceived him. This would be from the standpoint that he allowed the prophet to say what the disobedient people wanted to hear. Although permitting the prophet to be deluded by his own thoughts, YHWH would punish the false prophet, stretching out his “hand [the striking power of (his) might (Targum)] against him” and destroying him from the midst of his people Israel. He would not remain alive among God’s own people. (14:9)
The deluded ones would have to “bear their guilt” or the punishment that their wrongdoing deserved. According to the Septuagint, “they will receive their injustices,” evidently meaning that they would experience the merited punishment for their unjust dealings. The punishment would be the same for the one inquiring and the “prophet” (“false prophet” [Targum]). (14:10) This would serve as a warning to the “house [or people] of Israel” no more to go astray from YHWH and no longer to pollute themselves with all their transgressions. As a result of their changed course as a repentant people, they would then be YHWH’s approved people, and he would be their God to whom they were exclusively devoted. (14:11)
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to the message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (14:12) Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God. The sin of the people is represented as a sin of the land, for the sin of the inhabitants defiled the land. YHWH is quoted as declaring that when a land sinned against him and acted unfaithfully (more literally, treacherously committed a treacherous act), he would stretch out his “hand” (lift the striking power of [his] might [Targum]) against it, “break its staff of bread” or cut off its food supply, “send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast.” Both the people and the domestic animals would perish. (14:13) The Lord YHWH declared that, if they were in [the land]” at the time punitive judgment was executed, Noah, Daniel [Danel], and Job would save only “their soul,” their lives, or themselves “by their righteousness.” (4:14; see the Notes section.)
The devastation of the land that invading enemy troops caused would result in large predators like lions moving into depopulated areas. Children of survivors might encounter these wild animals (“evil [or harmful] beasts” [LXX]), and these encounters could prove to be fatal. The risk of attack by predators also would lead people to avoid passing through the desolated areas. This development involving predators occurred by YHWH’s permission. Therefore, he is represented as identifying himself as the one who would cause the wild animals to pass through the land. (14:15) If the “three men” (Noah, Daniel, and Job) were in the land, they would not be able to save sons or daughters from becoming the victim of a wild animal. They would only deliver themselves, and the land itself would become a desolate place. This was certain to take place, for YHWH solemnly declared it with the words in the form of an oath, “As I live.” (14:16)
Again because YHWH would allow it to happen for his purpose, he is quoted as being the one to bring the sword upon the land, to let the sword pass through it, and to cut off from it man and beast (or domestic animal). In the Targum, the reference is to those who kill with the sword. (14:17) If the three men (Noah, Daniel, and Job) were in the land, they would not be able to save sons or daughters from the sword of warfare but would only be able to save themselves. The certainty is confirmed with YHWH’s quoted expression in the form of an oath, “As I live.” (14:18)
YHWH is next represented as saying what the outcome would be if he were to “send pestilence” or infectious disease (“death” [LXX]) upon the land and “pour out [his] wrath upon it with blood [or through bloodshed (by slaying [Targum])],” resulting in the cutting off of man and beast (or domestic animal) from the land. (14:19) If Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land, they would only be able to deliver themselves “by their righteousness” or their upright standing as approved men before YHWH. They would not be able to save son or daughter, and this was confirmed by YHWH’s solemn declaration, “As I live.” (14:20; see the Notes section.)
The Lord YHWH revealed that he would send his four evil judgments or hurtful punishments — sword, famine, evil beasts or ferocious predators, and pestilence (“death” [LXX]) — upon Jerusalem, to cut off from the city “man and beast” or domestic animal. He would let the inhabitants of Jerusalem have the sword of warfare wielded against them, suffer from famine during the siege and conquest of the city, be in danger from large predators that would frequent depopulated areas outside the city, and be afflicted with pestilence or infectious disease from having become weak physically on account of lack of food and potable water and from having lived in unsanitary conditions during the siege. (14:21)
The text suggests that there would be comparatively few survivors, and they would be taken to Babylon with their sons and daughters. Upon seeing the “way” (ways [LXX]) or the conduct and the dealings (thoughts [LXX]) of these survivors, the earlier exiles from the kingdom of Judah would be consoled (feel regret [LXX]) regarding the “evil” or calamity that YHWH brought or permitted to befall Jerusalem. The earlier exiles would come to recognize that the severe punishment was merited. (14:22) Observing the way (ways [LXX]) or conduct and actions (thoughts [LXX]) of the survivors, the earlier exiles would come to know or recognize that everything YHWH did or allowed to happen to Jerusalem was just and not without cause. On account of the corruption and injustices that existed among the inhabitants of the city, he had to take severe punitive measures by means of the instrument of his choosing — the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. Therefore, when witnessing the lawless way in which the survivors conducted themselves, the earlier exiles would take comfort regarding the destruction of Jerusalem. It had to happen. (14:23)
Notes
In verse 7, P967, like the Masoretic Text, does not include the additional concluding words found in other manuscripts of the Septuagint and that may be rendered, “by which he is entangled.”
In verses 14 and 20, the Hebrew spelling of the name “Daniel” is not the same as in the book of Daniel. The Septuagint, however, does not spell the name differently. In the Hebrew text of Ezekiel, there is no yod (Y) in the name, and so it may be read as “Danel.” Different spellings for the same name are not uncommon. One example is that there are two spellings for the Babylonian monarch who conquered Jerusalem — “Nebuchadnezzar” and “Nebuchadrezzar.” (2 Kings 24:1; Jeremiah 21:2) Therefore, in verses 14 and 20, Daniel may be considered to have been the same person and a contemporary of Ezekiel. His being mentioned along with Noah and Job indicates that he was already well known for his outstanding example as a righteous or upright person, one fully devoted to YHWH. A comparatively modern view that has gained acceptance is that “Danel” is the wise and just folk hero mentioned in ancient Ugaritic literature.
YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to it as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (15:1) As at other times, Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he is a mortal in the service of the eternal God. YHWH is represented as asking him about how the wood of the vine (probably a grapevine) differs from any of the branches of trees in the forest. In the Septuagint, the question pertains to what the wood of the vine might become in relation to all the wood of tree branches in the forest. (15:2) As the answers to the rhetorical questions indicate, wood from a vine is useless. From the wood of a vine, nothing could be made that would be suitable for work. No part of the wood could be used as a peg from which to hang a vessel. (15:3) The wood could serve as fuel for the fire. When the fire has consumed both ends of the branch from a vine and charred the remaining middle part, that part cannot be used for anything functional. (15:4)
When whole, the wood from a vine cannot be fashioned into a tool that could be used for work. “How much less” so when fire has consumed and charred the wood could it be utilized for anything useful! (15:5) Ezekiel was to make known how this applied to the populace of Jerusalem. “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which [wood] I have given [or assigned] to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” This expression of judgment indicated that, in view of the serious wrongdoing of the people, they deserved severe punishment. (15:6) YHWH purposed to set his face against them, causing them to experience the full expression of his anger. Although they seemingly might escape from the fire (or the punishment YHWH had determined for them), the fire would consume them. They would not be able to escape the punitive judgment that was certain to be executed against them. At the time YHWH would direct his face against the wayward people, they would “know” or come to recognize that YHWH is the God who does not tolerate serious wrongdoing indefinitely and who is the one who took action against them by means of the instrument of his choosing — the warriors under the command of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. (15:7) The Lord YHWH, when permitting the enemy military invasion to succeed, would make the land desolate because his people had been unfaithful to him. (15:8)
YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum identifies this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (16:1) Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. As YHWH’s prophet, Ezekiel was to “make known to Jerusalem her abominations” or the disgusting conduct and practices of the city’s inhabitants. According to the Septuagint, he was to “testify” to Jerusalem concerning her “lawless deeds.” (16:2)
YHWH is quoted as indicating Jerusalem to have had a Canaanite origin. Although Jerusalem was a Jebusite city, the Jebusites appear to be included as being represented by the two prominent peoples that anciently occupied the land — the Amorites and the Hittites. On this basis, the “father” of Jerusalem was identified as the “Amorite,” and the “mother” as the Hittite. (16:3)
Ancient Jerusalem is portrayed as an unwanted baby girl that was exposed to the elements and left to perish. Her umbilical cord had not been cut (her breasts had not been bound [LXX]), and she had not been washed, rubbed with salt, and swaddled. (16:4; see the Notes section.) No “eye” looked with pity upon the abandoned baby girl, with no one compassionately doing any one of the aforementioned acts that were customary for newborn babies. She had simply been tossed on the surface of a field, for she was abhorred from the “day” of her birth, apparently because of not being desired as a baby boy would have been. (16:5; see the Notes section.)
YHWH represented himself as passing by and seeing Jerusalem like a baby girl that was kicking about in the blood from the time of birth. While still in her blood, he said to her, “Live.” The imperative is repeated, assuring that the baby girl would not die but would grow up. In the Septuagint, the verb for “live” is not repeated, and the entire phrase in which the verb “live” appears may be rendered, “From your blood [is] life.” (16:6; see the Notes section.)
On account of what YHWH did for her, the abandoned baby girl flourished like abundant vegetation in a field, grew up, and became “great” or tall. The reference to her arrival at “ornament of ornament” could mean that she grew up to be a beautiful woman, a woman with fully developed breasts and luxuriant hair. Still, she continued to be nude, without attire and adornment with costly jewelry. (16:7)
YHWH is represented as passing by and seeing the mature young woman that Jerusalem had become, a woman ready to be loved as a wife. He then is portrayed as spreading the skirt of his garment (“wings” [LXX]) over her, covering her nudity and, with an oath-bound covenant or agreement, making her his own. The reference to spreading the skirt” may here represent an engagement. (16:8; compare Ruth 3:9 and see the Notes section.) YHWH is depicted as washing the young woman with water, removing all traces of blood, and applying oil to her body. (16:9; see the Notes section.) He then clothed her with an embroidered robe and leather (“hyacinth” [LXX]) footwear, bound or girded her in fine linen, covered her with costly fabric (possibly silk [a veil of hair (LXX)]) (16:10; see the Notes section), adorned her with ornaments, putting bracelets on her wrists or arms and a chain or necklace around her neck (16:11; see the Notes section), and placed a ring in her nose, earrings in her ears, and a beautiful crown on her head. (16:12; see the Notes section.)
Under YHWH’s care, Jerusalem is portrayed as a woman who adorned herself with gold and silver and dressed herself with fine linen, costly fabric (possibly silk [a veil of hair (LXX)]), and embroidered cloth. Her food included fine flour, honey, and olive oil. She became very beautiful and attained a standing for royal estate. (16:13; see the Notes section.) On account of her beauty, the “name” or reputation of Jerusalem went out among the nations. Her “beauty” was “perfect” or flawless in view of the splendor that YHWH had bestowed on her. (16:14)
Instead of appreciating what YHWH had done for her, Jerusalem (as representing the people) trusted in her beauty and, because of the “name” or reputation she had come to have among the nations, engaged in prostitution, making herself available to everyone passing by. Her prostitution involved idol worship, a flagrant violation of the covenant concluded with the Israelites at Mount Sinai and which covenant bound the people to YHWH like a wife to her husband. (16:15; see the Notes section.)
Jerusalem is represented as taking some of her garments and making colorful “high places” or colorful shrines for idolatrous worship and there prostituting herself. The Masoretic Text then concludes with obscure wording, “not coming in, and not shall be.” In the Septuagint, there is similar wording, “you shall by no means enter, nor shall it by any means be” or take place. Renderings in modern translations include: “Such things should not happen, nor should they ever occur.” (NIV) “It has never happened before, nor will it happen again!” (NAB, revised edition) “These things should never have happened!” (CEV) “… not in the future; not in time to come.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) (16:16)
From beautiful ornaments, from YHWH’s gold and his silver that he had given her, Jerusalem fashioned images of the male figure and engaged in prostitution with them. As violations of her covenant obligations to her Owner YHWH, her idolatrous practices constituted prostitution. (16:17) She took her embroidered garments and used them to dress the images and placed the oil and incense that belonged to YHWH before the idols (literally, “their faces”). The oil and incense were his, for trees and plants are the products of his creation. (16:18) Likewise all food products belonged to him. Yet the people (as represented by Jerusalem) took the “bread” or food, the fine flour, olive oil, and honey with which YHWH had fed them, and placed these before the idols (literally, “before their faces”) as a pleasing aroma. (16:19) Even more shocking was the practice of taking their sons and daughters, children who belonged to YHWH, and sacrificing them to the nonexistent deities that the idols represented. This occasioned the rhetorical question, “Was that not enough of your harlotries?” (16:20) The people slaughtered YHWH’s sons, for the Israelites were his people. They passed their sons through the fire as an offering to nonexistent deities. (16:21)
Jerusalem (as representing the unfaithful Israelites), while engaging in disgusting practices and harlotries — idolatry — gave no thought to what YHWH had done for her. She did not remember the “days” or time of youth when she was in an abandoned, helpless, and nude state, kicking about in the blood associated with her birth. (16:22)
After Jerusalem (as representing the people of the kingdom of Judah) had made herself guilty of “all [her] evil” or wrongdoing, the Lord YHWH declared “woe, woe” to her. In the Targum, the woe or calamity is expressed against the people who had sinned and had not repented. (16:23; see the Notes section.) Apparently for idolatrous purposes (practices represented as prostitution), Jerusalem is portrayed as having built a mound [a “whorehouse” [LXX]) for herself and an elevated place (having made or given public notice [LXX]) for herself in every square.(16:24; see the Notes section.) To be noticed as being available to engage in abominable acts, Jerusalem is depicted as having built an elevated place (“brothels” [LXX]) at the “head of every way” or street. She then made her beauty something abhorrent, for she offered herself (literally, spread out her feet or legs) to every passerby (joined the passerby in idol worship [Targum]) and increased her acts of harlotry (the number of “idols” [Targum]). (16:25)
Besides involvement in idolatrous practices, the prostitution of Jerusalem (as representing the people, particularly the king and princes in the realm of the kingdom of Judah) included forming alliances with foreign powers for military protection. This, too, was an act of disloyalty to YHWH, for the people and their rulers were to put their full trust in him for their well-being and security. Jerusalem prostituted herself to the “sons of Egypt, her neighbors.” These Egyptians are described as “great of flesh,” or as having a large male organ, apparently to heighten the image of Jerusalem’s willingness to prostitute herself to them. Jerusalem thus greatly offended YHWH with her frequent acts of prostitution. (16:26)
To punish Jerusalem (as representing the people of the kingdom of Judah), YHWH stretched out his “hand” (the striking power of his strength [Targum]) against her. He diminished her “allotted portion,” probably meaning that he permitted enemy forces to seize part of the territory of the kingdom of Judah. The Hebrew word for “allotted portion” can also mean something that is prescribed or a statute. This explains why the Septuagint indicates the reference to be to laws. According to the interpretation of the Targum, God withheld “good.” He gave Jerusalem (probably meaning part of the territory of the kingdom of Judah) to the “soul” of those hating her. The ones hating her are identified as the “daughters of the Philistines [allophyles (LXX)],” and the “soul” of these enemies probably is to be understood as meaning their “desire.” Even the Philistines found the lewd conduct of Jerusalem shocking and, therefore, are spoken of as having been “humiliated” or “put to shame” on account of it. According to the Septuagint, the allophyles or the people of another tribe turned Jerusalem aside from her way in which she behaved impiously. The Targum contains a significantly different interpretation. It says that, if God had sent his prophets to the Philistine cities, they would have responded submissively. (16:27)
Jerusalem is represented as prostituting herself to the “sons [daughters (LXX)] of Asshur” or Assyria, but was not sated with her repeated acts of harlotry. As in the case of the Egyptians, prostitution with the Assyrians involved entering into a military alliance with them. (16:28; see 2 Kings 16:7-9.)
The designation “Canaan” also was used to refer to merchants. In this context, “land of Canaan” evidently refers to Chaldea or Babylonia as a land of merchants. Jerusalem did prostitute herself with Chaldea. (See 2 Kings 20:12-18; Isaiah 39:1-7.) Numerous modern translations make this significance more specific than does the Hebrew text. “You increased your prostitutions again, now going to Chaldea, the land of traders; but despite this, you still were not satisfied.” (NAB, revised edition) “Then you increased your promiscuity to include Babylonia, a land of merchants, but even with this you were not satisfied.” (NIV) “You added to your lovers by embracing Babylonia, the land of merchants, but you still weren’t satisfied.” (NLT) “So you went after Babylonians. But those merchants could not satisfy you either.” (CEV) (16:29; see the Notes section.)
Regarding Jerusalem, the words YHWH is quoted as saying may be translated, “How weak [is] your heart!” Translators have variously rendered these words. “How wild your lust!” (NAB, revised edition) “How weak-willed you are …” (NIV) “What a sick heart you have …” (NLT) “You would have done anything to get what you wanted.” (CEV) “How simple-minded you are!” (NJB) Based on a different vocalization of the Hebrew text, the expression may be translated, “How I was filled with your rage” (probably meaning YHWH’s fury against Jerusalem). This significance is found either in the main text or in the footnotes of a number of translations. “How you anger me!” (REB) “I am filled with anger.” (NJB, footnote) “How furious I was with you.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition], footnote) The reason for the statement about Jerusalem was that she had engaged in the deeds of a brazen prostitute, for the people of the kingdom of Judah had been guilty of idolatry and, through their kings and princes, guilty of entering alliances with foreign powers. (16:30; see the Notes section.)
“At the head of every way” or street, Jerusalem (the people of the kingdom of Judah) had built a “mound” (a “brothel” [LXX]) and an elevated place (a “platform” [LXX]) or a site for engaging in practices that constituted prostitution from YHWH’s standpoint. Unlike a prostitute, however, Jerusalem scorned hire, not seeking any payment. (16:31) The reference to an adulterous wife who takes “strangers instead of her husband” apparently applies to Jerusalem or God’s people who proved to be unfaithful to him. The Targum is explicit in making the application to the congregation of Israel as being like a wife whom her husband loves but who is unfaithful to him, abandons him, and pursues strangers. (16:32; see the Notes section.) “All harlots” receive “gifts” or payments for their services, but Jerusalem is portrayed as having given gifts to “all [her] lovers” and even bribing others to come to her. This she did, through the kings and princes of the kingdom of Judah, when seeking alliances with foreign powers. (16:33; see the Notes section.) In her harlotries, Jerusalem differed from other women, with no prostitution like hers being practiced. She paid hire and received no hire. Neither the idolatrous practices in which the people of the kingdom of Judah engaged nor their alliances with foreign powers benefited them. (16:34)
“Therefore,” in view of what she (or the people of the kingdom of Judah) had done, Jerusalem is addressed as a prostitute and called upon to “hear” or to listen to the “word of YHWH.” (16:35) The Lord YHWH is quoted as directing attention to her abominable acts. Her shame (menstruation or the uncleanness resulting therefrom) had been laid bare and her nakedness exposed (literally, poured out) in her harlotries with her lovers and all her abominable idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]). To the nonexistent deities that the idols represented, Jerusalem (the people of the kingdom of Judah) had sacrificed their sons and thus gave their “blood” to them. (16:36; see the Notes section.)
The “lovers” of Jerusalem were all the foreign powers with whom the people of the kingdom of Judah, through their kings and princes, made alliances. From all around, YHWH purposed to gather against her all the lovers with whom Jerusalem took pleasure and also those whom she hated and to expose her “nakedness” (“evil deeds” [LXX]) to them so that they might see all her “nakedness” (“shame” [LXX]). (16:37)
YHWH’s judgment against Jerusalem would be severe. It would be the judgment that was rendered against adulteresses and women guilty of bloodshed. Jerusalem (or the people of the kingdom of Judah) would experience having YHWH bring upon her the “blood of wrath and jealousy.” This could mean that, in expression of his “wrath and jealousy” on account of her unfaithfulness, she would have her blood shed. (16:38) YHWH would deliver Jerusalem into the “hand” or power of her former lovers and of those whom she hated. They would cast down her “mound” or lofty place (“brothel” [LXX]) and break down her “elevated places” (“platform” [LXX]). In this context, the “mound” and the “elevated places” could designate sites used for idolatrous worship. Her former lovers and those whom she hated would strip off the garments of Jerusalem, seize her beautiful ornaments, and leave her naked and exposed. The kingdom of Judah, with its capital city Jerusalem, would be reduced to ruins, and many of the people would perish. Survivors would be taken into exile as captives. (16:39) This would happen when YHWH would bring against Jerusalem an enemy host that would hurl stones at her and slay her “with their swords.” (16:40) The warring host would burn the houses of Jerusalem, executing judgments against her “before many women.” In this case, “many women” could refer to the populace of other cities that would witness the destruction of Jerusalem. By means of the severe punishment, YHWH would stop Jerusalem (or the surviving people of the kingdom of Judah) from whoring (or engaging in idolatry) and no longer giving hire to those whoring with her (either in idolatrous practices or through alliances). (16:41; see the Notes section.)
After his rage against Jerusalem had been brought to rest or been satisfied, YHWH would turn his jealousy away from her or from the people of the kingdom of Judah, remain quiet or calm, and no longer be angry (“anxious” [LXX]). (16:42)
Jerusalem did not remember the “days of [her] youth” or the time when YHWH first turned his attention to her and the Israelites experienced his loving care. The Israelites failed to show appreciation for what he had done for them and provoked him with their idolatry, alliances with foreign powers, and other deeds that were contrary to his commands. Therefore, he determined to requite their deeds upon their head, causing them to experience the serious consequences for their “way” or wayward course of conduct. The lewdness, depravity, or obscenity (“impiety” [LXX]) that Jerusalem added to her abominations may refer to the disgusting ceremonial prostitution in which the people engaged at the sites for idolatrous worship and their horrendous practice of child sacrifice. “Abominations” (“lawless deeds” [LXX]) would have included idolatry and corrupt practices like oppression of the poor. (16:43)
The introductory “look” serves to focus attention on the thought that is about to be expressed. Regarding Jerusalem, the proverb used against her would be, “Like mother, her daughter.” Jerusalem had been a Canaanite city before King David made the place his capital. As a result of this change from a Canaanite city to an Israelite city, Jerusalem became the “daughter” of her “mother.” Eventually, her actions as the daughter, or the conduct and deeds of the Israelites, came to be disgusting like those of her Canaanite mother and, in fact, proved to be even more abominable. (16:44)
Jerusalem is spoken of as the “daughter” of her “mother” and the “sister” of her “sisters.” Regarding the “mother” and the “sisters,” the text says that each of them loathed their “husband” and “sons” (“children” [LXX]). Possibly the loathing of husbands and sons or children alludes to the abominable practices of ceremonial prostitution and child sacrifice at sites for idolatrous worship. In the Targum, the reference is to the “daughter of the land of Canaan” and acting like the Canaanites whose parents and children were banished. The sisters are identified as Sodom and Gomorrah. The mother of the Israelites is identified as Sarah who lived among the Hittites but did not act like them, and the father as Abraham who lived among the Amorites but did not conduct himself according to their counsel. Both the Hebrew text and the Septuagint, however, identify the mother as a Hittite and the father as an Amorite, indicating that Jerusalem (or the people of the kingdom of Judah) engaged in abominable practices like those of the people of the ancient Jebusite or Canaanite city. As in verse 3, Hittites and Amorites, the most prominent peoples of Canaan, represent all the Canaanites, including the Jebusites. (16:45) The older sister is identified as Samaria with her “daughters” or neighboring towns. Her dwelling or location had been “left” (when facing east) or north of Jerusalem. To the “right” (when facing east) or south of Jerusalem had been the dwelling or location of the younger sister, Sodom with her “daughters” or neighboring towns. (16:46; see the Notes section.)
At first, Jerusalem (or the people) did not follow the course of or act according to the disgusting practices of Samaria and Sodom (the people in those places). Then, within a short time, Jerusalem, “in all [her] ways,” conducted herself more corruptly than had Samaria and Sodom. (16:47) YHWH is quoted as solemnly declaring, “As I live.” This solemn declaration precedes the statement that Sodom and her “daughters” or neighboring towns had not acted like Jerusalem and her “daughters” or neighboring towns. The conduct of the people of the kingdom of Judah was even more shocking than that of Samaria and Sodom. (16:48)
The initial “look” directs attention to the serious guilt of Sodom the “sister” of Jerusalem. Sodom’s guilt (“lawlessness” [LXX]) is identified as having been “pride,” an inordinate elevated view of self coupled with a disregard and even disdain for others. Sodom and her “daughters” or neighboring cities were “sated with bread” (overfed or gluttonous) and at ease and undisturbed or in a complacent and carefree state. Although having an abundance, Sodom refused to “strengthen the hand of the poor and needy” or deliberately refrained from responding with compassionate help. (16:49) She and her daughters were haughty and did what was abominable before the “face” of YHWH or before him, and he removed them when he “saw.” The Masoretic Text contains no specific reference to what YHWH saw, and many modern translations render the words according to the reading of a number of other Hebrew manuscripts. “I did away with them as you have seen.” (NIV) “As you have seen, I removed them.” (NAB, revised edition) “So I wiped her out, as you have seen.” (NLT) In case the original wording is “I saw,” the meaning could be that YHWH took notice of what Sodom and her daughters were doing. (16:50; see Genesis 18:20, 21.)
The sin of Samaria (representing the sin of the people of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel) was not even half of Jerusalem’s sin. Jerusalem (representing the people of the kingdom of Judah) engaged in more abominations than Samaria. By comparison, Jerusalem, in view of all the committed abominations, made her “sisters” Samaria and Sodom appear righteous. (16:51) It was shameful for Jerusalem to have done this. Therefore, she had to bear her disgrace for having made a favorable case for her “sisters.” By reason of all the sins Jerusalem had committed, conducting herself more detestably than her “sisters,” they were revealed as being more righteous than she was. (16:52)
The people who perished at the time of the destruction of Sodom and the ancestors of those who perished were long dead, and no identifiable descendants were then living. Also no survivors of the Assyrian conquest of Samaria were alive when Ezekiel prophesied. Accordingly, for the “captivity” or the body of captives (“fortunes,” according to numerous modern translations) to be gathered, to be “turned back” (LXX), or restored, particularly for “Sodom and her daughters” or neighboring towns, would require a resurrection and future judgment. (Compare Matthew 11:23, 24; Luke 10:12-15.) In the case of “Samaria and her daughters” or neighboring towns, only descendants of those who survived the conquest of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel could be restored to their land. For Jerusalem or the people of the kingdom of Judah, restoration to their land would have included the return of exiled survivors of the Babylonian conquest and their offspring. The prophetic words provided hope for a future restoration to Jerusalem “in the midst of” or along with “Sodom and her daughters” and “Samaria and her daughters.” (16:53) That there would be a restoration for Jerusalem despite all the detestable practices of the people of the kingdom of Judah would be a consolation for “Sodom and her daughters” and “Samaria and her daughters,” apparently from the standpoint of there being a hope of a reversal of their fortunes in the future. This is because their conduct was not as abominable as that of Jerusalem or the people of the kingdom of Judah and so their judgment could not be more severe and be without any possibility of any future change in their condition. At the same time, by comparison, Jerusalem would have to bear her disgrace at that time. (16:54; see the Notes section.)
The divine promise was that the “sisters” of Jerusalem (“Sodom and her daughters” or neighboring towns and “Samaria and her daughters” or neighboring towns) would “return to their former estate [be restored (LXX)]” and so would Jerusalem and her “daughters” or neighboring towns. (16:55) In the “day” or time of Jerusalem’s “pride,” when the people of the kingdom of Judah, took great pride in their position, considering themselves to be YHWH’s people, Sodom was a byword, occasioning but an expression of contempt from the mouth. (16:56) This was before the wickedness of Jerusalem was exposed, and the people of the kingdom of Judah then suffered the consequences for their unfaithfulness to YHWH. All basis for pride ended, and Jerusalem became the object of reproach from the “daughters of Aram [Syria]” or Edom (according to the reading of other Hebrew manuscripts) and from all her “daughters” or neighboring peoples round about. On all sides, the “daughters of the Philistines [allophyles (LXX), those of another tribe]” or the people of Philistia despised Jerusalem. (16:57) It was then that Jerusalem or the people of the kingdom of Judah had to bear the consequences for having been guilty of lewdness (impieties [LXX] or godless actions) and abominations (lawless deeds [LXX]). (16:58)
The Lord YHWH declared that he would deal with Jerusalem according to what the people of the kingdom of Judah had done. They had violated the covenant that had been concluded with their ancestors before they entered the land of Canaan. This covenant was associated with YHWH’s oath or solemn declaration, promising blessings for obedience to his commands and warning of curses for disobedience. (Deuteronomy 27:9, 10, 15-26; 28:1-68; 29:1) By violating the commands that were part of the covenant, the people of the kingdom of Judah despised YHWH’s oath. Therefore, they were dealt with accordingly and experienced the curses regarding which they had been warned. (16:59; see the Notes section.)
Despite the disobedience of his people, YHWH would remember his covenant that had been concluded with them centuries earlier (“in the days of your youth”). The feminine singular suffix meaning “your” is part of the Hebrew word for “youth” and refers to Jerusalem, and here represents the people who were bound by the terms of the covenant that had been concluded with their ancestors. Unlike the people, YHWH remembered this covenant and dealt with them accordingly. He promised to establish an eternal covenant with them (literally, “you,” with the singular feminine suffix referring to Jerusalem as representing the people). This “eternal covenant” apparently is the same as the “new covenant” mentioned in Jeremiah 31:31-33. (16:60) At the time of the establishment of the “eternal covenant,” Jerusalem (representing the people) would remember her ways or past wayward conduct and be ashamed upon receiving her sisters (the older ones [Samaria and her daughters]) and the younger ones [Sodom and her daughters]). YHWH would give them to Jerusalem as “daughters [for a building (LXX)].” The concluding phrase (“not on account of your covenant”) is obscure. Possibly it means that uniting others to YHWH’s people, persons who would become like “daughters” to them, was not a feature set forth in the covenant. The fulfillment may point to the time when both Jews and non-Jews would become one people as beneficiaries of the new covenant and have an equal standing as beloved children of God forgiven of their sins on the basis of their faith in the promised Messiah, Anointed One, or Christ — Jesus the unique Son of God. (16:61; Acts 10:34-43; Ephesians 2:11-22; see the Notes section.)
YHWH is quoted as declaring, “And I, I myself, will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am YHWH.” The suffix that is translated “you” is feminine gender and singular. It applies to Jerusalem and is referred to representatively as designating the people. At the time of the establishment of the covenant with them, the people would “know” or recognize YHWH as their God to whom they should be exclusively devoted. (16:62) They would then remember and be ashamed. This apparently concerns remembering their former transgressions and being ashamed of their waywardness. As a people restored to YHWH’s favor, they would not open their “mouth” or make any expression because of their shame on account of wrongdoing. The Lord YHWH promised that he would make an atonement for or forgive them for all that they had done. (16:63)
Notes
Regarding the wording of verse 4, the Targum refers to the congregation of Israel while enslaved and oppressed in Egypt as being like a newborn baby that is abandoned in a field.
According to the Septuagint rendering of the words in verse 5, God is the one whose eye did not spare the baby girl that represented Jerusalem. The Targum, however, identifies Pharaoh as the one with the eye that did not look with pity on the Israelites. He did not do even one good thing for them but decreed their extermination when commanding that male babies be cast into the Nile River.
The Targum does not refer to the defiling blood associated with birth (verse 6), but first mentions the “blood of the circumcision” and then indicates that God would redeem his people “by the blood of the Passover lambs.”
In verse 7, the Septuagint does not contain the expression “ornament of ornaments” but refers to entering into “cities of cities” or into the largest of cities. In the Targum, the focus is on the Israelites who were in Egypt. They became numerous and strong as a people, and the time for their redemption from enslavement and oppression arrived on account of the good deeds of their forefathers.
The Septuagint (in verse 8) does not refer to a “time of love” but reads, “time of those passing through” or of temporary lodgers. In the Targum, the focus continues to be on the Israelites in Egypt. God revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush because the time for the redemption of the Israelites had arrived so that they might become his people.
The Targum interprets the wording of verse 9 to refer to redeeming the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt, putting an end to the horrific tyranny to which they had been subjected, and leading them to freedom. For the wording in verses 10 through 13, the Targum continues with a description of what God did for the Israelites. He provided them with garments from the precious things of their enemies, put costly shoes on their feet, consecrated priests who would serve him while wearing linen headgear and the high priest while dressed in colorful garments, improved the people with the “perfection of the words of the Torah” and sanctified them with the “holiness of [his] great name.” God placed the ark of the covenant among the people, caused his cloud to cover them, appointed an angel to lead them in the way, put his tabernacle in their midst, fed them manna, and made them prosper.
In verse 13, the Septuagint does not include any reference to “royal estate.”
Verse 15 of the Masoretic Text concludes with the words that may be translated, “let it be to him.” This could mean “let the act of prostitution be to the one passing by.” Rahlfs’ printed Greek text ends the verse with the phrase that may be rendered, “what should not be,” but these words are not included in fourth-century Codex Vaticanus.
In verse 23, the text of the Septuagint is shorter and continues with the wording of verse 24. “And it came to be after all your evil deeds, says the Lord, you also built a whorehouse for yourself and gave public notice for yourself in every square.”
Printed Greek texts of the Septuagint, in verse 29, read, “And you multiplied your covenants with the land of the Chaldeans.” The oldest extant Greek text (P967), however, says, “And you multiplied your covenants with the land of the Canaanites and Chaldeans.”
In verse 30, the Septuagint departs significantly from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It quotes the Lord as saying, “What shall I decree for your daughter … in that you have done all these things, the work of a whoring woman? And you have whored three times among your daughters.”
The text of verses 32 and 33 in the Septuagint may have arisen through a misreading of the Hebrew wording. Jerusalem is portrayed as being like an adulterous wife who takes payments “from her man” or husband and gives payments to all who whore with her.
In verse 36 of the Septuagint, the reference is to Jerusalem as pouring out brass or copper (money). For this reason, her shame would be revealed in her harlotry with her lovers and in all the thoughts of her lawless doings and through all the blood of her children that she had given to the idols (the nonexistent deities that the idols represented).
In verse 41, Rahlfs’ printed Greek text says “your harlotry,” but the ancient Greek codex (P967) does not include the word “your.”
The former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, with its capital in Samaria, included the descendants of the oldest sons of Jacob. On this basis, Samaria could be regarded as being the “older sister.” Sodom may be identified as the “younger sister” because of having been a smaller city. If the reference to older and younger relates to the size of both places, Samaria may be viewed as the older sister because of being the larger city. (Verses 46 and 61)
In verse 54, the wording of the Septuagint departs from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It indicates that Jerusalem would have to bear her pain or torment and would be disgraced for all that she had done in provoking God to anger.
The text of verse 59 in the Septuagint does not mention the “oath” but refers to dishonoring “these things.” In the oldest extant Greek text (P967), the introductory words (“thus says the Lord”) are omitted.
In Hebrew, the consonants for “as daughters” and “for a building” are the same. This explains why the Septuagint says “building” in verse 61. The interpretation of the Targum relates to warfare. It indicates that, even though the people did not heed the Torah, God would hand over to them countries that were stronger and those that were smaller than their own.
YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (17:1) Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The prophet was directed to “propound a riddle” and to “speak a proverb” or likeness (literally, “liken a likeness”). In the Hebrew text, the verb translated “propound” is the verb form of the word rendered “riddle,” and the verb “speak” translates the verb form of the word for “proverb” or likeness. “Riddle” and “proverb” are parallel expressions. A riddle, like a proverb, can make a deeper impression on the mind than would a mere statement. This is because it requires thought and reflection to ascertain its meaning. (17:2)
YHWH is identified as the author of the riddle or the proverb. The Lord YHWH is quoted as telling about a “great eagle with great wings” or a large wingspan and “long pinions [full of talons (LXX),” abundant in variegated plumage. This eagle “came to Lebanon and plucked off the top of the cedar” there. The “great eagle” represented King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and the large outstretched wings suggested that many peoples were subject to him. “Lebanon” designated Jerusalem, for the palace complex contained impressive buildings of extensive cedarwood construction. Like a tall cedar on a lofty location, the royal administration in the line of David towered above the people. The topmost part of the cedar (“select parts of the cedar” [LXX]) primarily represented King Jehoiachin. King Nebuchadnezzar removed him and his princes from their elevated position and took them as captives into exile. (17:3) Among those taken into exile were the king, members of the royal household, princes or officials, skilled craftsmen, and other prominent persons. (2 Kings 24:12, 15, 16) Accordingly, the topmost part of the “young twigs” or “shoots” (“tops of the tender part” [LXX]) could include all the elite members of society who were exiled. The “great eagle” or King Nebuchadnezzar took this “topmost part” to the “land of Canaan” and placed it “in a city of merchants.” The designation “Canaan” also was used to refer to traders. In this context, “land of Canaan” evidently designates Chaldea or Babylonia as a land of merchants. A number of modern translations are specific in making this meaning explicit. “He carried it away to a city filled with merchants. He planted it in a city of traders.” (NLT) “[He] brought it to a land of merchants, set it in a city of traders.” (NAB, revised edition) “[He] carried it to a nation of merchants and left it in one of their cities.” (CEV) “He carried it off to a land of traders, and planted it in a city of merchants.” (REB) The “city of traders” or “merchants” was Babylon. (17:4; see the Notes section.)
King Nebuchadnezzar, the “great eagle,” took “from the seed of the land and planted it in a field [as] seed.” This “seed” was planted by “abundant waters” and so could grow like a willow. In the Septuagint, the reference is to a “plant by abundant water” and one that was set out “for attention,” suggesting that the plant would be attentively tended and observed. The “seed” was Zedekiah, the uncle of King Jehoiachin. He owed his position to the “great eagle,” for King Nebuchadnezzar elevated him to the kingship to replace Jehoiachin. Although in a secure position as if planted by a source of much water, Zedekiah did not come to enjoy the standing of a lofty cedar. He was but a vassal king and thus resembled a willow, a tree that does not attain a great height. (17:5) According to the riddle, the seed sprouted and became a “spreading vine” (a “weak vine” [LXX]) that was “low of height.” Its “branches turned toward him,” apparently the “great eagle,” and the roots came to be or remained under the vine. The planted seed developed into a mature vine and “brought forth branches and put out boughs,” shoots, or foliage (“spread its climbers” [LXX]). While subject to the “great eagle” or King Nebuchadnezzar, King Zedekiah resembled a low, spreading vine in a secure position and with the potential for continued growth, comparable to producing branches and shoots or leafage. (17:6)
When another “great eagle with great wings” or a large wingspan and “much plumage” (“many talons” [LXX]) came, the vine hungrily extended its roots toward this eagle and sent forth its branches toward him for him to water it, “away from the bed where it had been planted.” This other “great eagle” was the Egyptian Pharaoh Hophra, and King Zedekiah turned to him, desiring not to continue to be subject to King Nebuchadnezzar, the stronger “great eagle.” (17:7) Zedekiah’s secure position as a vassal of King Nebuchadnezzar was comparable to a vine in good soil and supplied with abundant water, a vine that had been transplanted so that it might grow branches, bear fruit, and develop into a majestic or impressive vine (a “big vine” [LXX]). (17:8)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as raising questions about how matters would turn out for the “vine” or King Zedekiah for turning to the other “great eagle,” the Egyptian Pharaoh Hophra. “Will it thrive? Will not one pull up its roots and strip off its fruit? [Will not its tender roots and the fruit rot? (LXX)] And will [not] all the leaves of its growth wither? [And will not all its early sprouts wither? (LXX)] It will wither.” The ruinous end for the vine would not require a “great arm” or mighty power nor many people to pull it up from its roots. In a weak position on account of his rebellion and without effective aid from Egypt, Zedekiah would not escape having King Nebuchadnezzar, the “great eagle,” rip him away from his kingship and his land. Zedekiah would prove to be like a vine that is easily pulled up from the roots. (17:9) The questions regarding the vine continued. “And look, upon being transplanted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither [literally, to wither, wither] when the east wind strikes it? It will wither away on the bed where it sprouted.” The word “look” serves to focus attention on the questions, and the answer is that the vine will not flourish but will dry up completely. Like the searing wind coming from the arid region in the east, the Babylonian military force that would be coming to take punitive action against Zedekiah would bring him in his position as vassal king to an inglorious end like a vine that withers. (17:10; see the Notes section.)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (17:11) Ezekiel was to ask the “rebellious house,” exiles from the kingdom of Judah who were then in Babylon, “Do you know what these things [the things the riddle conveyed] mean?” The word “look” then focuses attention on the explanation that follows. The “king of Babylon,” Nebuchadnezzar, “came to Jerusalem and took her king and her princes” (the “top of the cedar” [verse 3]) and brought them to him [as captives] to Babylon” (a “city of traders” [verse 4]). (17:12; see the Notes section.) “And he took [one] of the royal seed [Zedekiah, the uncle of King Jehoiachin] and made [literally, cut] a covenant with him and put him under an oath [evidently to be loyal to him as vassal king]. And the principal men of the land he took away” (as captives into exile). (17:13) The reason for King Nebuchadnezzar’s action was for the kingdom of Judah to “become low” or a “weak kingdom” (LXX), unable to “lift itself up” to its former position of strength. It would only be able to “stand” or continue to exist if Zedekiah kept the covenant or agreement that King Nebuchadnezzar had made with him. In this way, Zedekiah, with the kingdom over which he ruled, came to be like a vine that was dependent on a water source to thrive (verses 5 and 6) or was dependent upon King Nebuchadnezzar who had placed him in his position as vassal king. (17:14)
Zedekiah rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar by “sending his messengers” or ambassadors to Egypt to request “horses and a multitude of people” (a large military host) to support his objective to free himself from being subject to Nebuchadnezzar. That Zedekiah would fail in his attempt to turn to the other “great eagle [verse 7],” the Egyptian Pharaoh Hophra, is conveyed by means of rhetorical questions. “Will he succeed? Can he who does such things escape? Can he break the covenant and escape?” (17:15; see the Notes section.)
The word of the Lord YHWH starts with the solemn declaration, “As I live,” indicating that the judgment against Zedekiah would indeed take place. King Nebuchadnezzar had made Zedekiah king, and Zedekiah despised “his oath,” the oath he had taken to be a loyal vassal, and broke “his covenant” or agreement with Nebuchadnezzar. Therefore, with Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah would die in Babylon. According to the Septuagint rendering, the reference is to “my oath” and “my covenant. The oath and the covenant are attributed to God, apparently from the standpoint that Zedekiah took the oath and entered the covenant in God’s name. (17:16)
At the time a siege rampart (a “palisade” [LXX]) would be cast up and a siege wall (“engines of war” [LXX]) built to “cut off many souls” or the lives of many persons, Zedekiah would receive no effective help from Pharaoh Hophra’s military force and his great company or many assembled warriors, to counter the threat from the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. (17:17; Jeremiah 44:30) King Zedekiah had despised his oath when he broke the covenant that obligated him to remain subject to King Nebuchadnezzar, and he had “given his hand” to indicate his agreement with the terms of the covenant. “All the things” Zedekiah did included despising his oath, refusing to act in harmony therewith, and violating his covenant obligations. Consequently, he would not be able to escape from the punitive action of King Nebuchadnezzar. (17:18)
Again with a solemn declaration (“as I live”), YHWH declared that he would bring upon the head of Zedekiah the merited punishment for despising the oath and breaking the covenant. The oath and the covenant are identified as YHWH’s covenant (“my oath” and “my covenant”), for it was in God’s name that Zedekiah swore and entered the covenant with Nebuchadnezzar. (17:19) Using the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar, YHWH purposed to spread his net over Zedekiah, capture him in this net, bring him to Babylon, and judge him there for being unfaithful to him in his rebellious actions. Although King Nebuchadnezzar judged Zedekiah at Riblah, the punitive judgment continued in Babylon, for he remained imprisoned there until the day of his death. (17:20; 2 Kings 25:6, 7; Jeremiah 52:10, 11; see the Notes section.)
As for “all the fugitives” of Zedekiah “with all his troops,” they would fall by the sword, and the survivors would be scattered to “every wind” or in every direction. At the time this occurred, the people would know or recognize that YHWH was the God who had spoken or made these developments known in advance through his prophets. (17:21)
The destruction of Jerusalem and the end for the kingdom of Judah did not mean that there would never again be a king in the royal line of David. YHWH purposed to take a tender twig from the topmost twigs of the lofty cedar and transplant it “upon a high and lofty mountain.” In the Targum, the application is made specific. It refers to the “kingdom of the house of David” as being “likened to the lofty cedar,” and that from there God would bring near a “child” and “anoint and establish him on a high and lofty mountain.” (17:22; see the Notes section.) YHWH would plant the “twig” (establish the “child” [Targum]) on a mountain, a height of Israel,” so that it would flourish, producing branches, bearing fruit, and growing into a majestic cedar. Under this cedar, birds of all kinds would dwell (“every beast” or wild animal would rest [Rahlfs’ printed Greek text]) and nest (“every fowl” or winged creature would rest [LXX]) in the shade of its branches. According to the Targum, the child would be established on the holy mountain of Israel and become a mighty king. The righteous ones would rely on him, and the lowly ones would dwell “in the shade of his kingdom.” (17:23; see the Notes section.)
At the time the prophetic words would be fulfilled, “all the trees of the field” (“all the kings of the nations” [Targum]) would “know” or recognize that YHWH had abased the “high tree” (the “kingdom that was mighty” [Targum]) and elevated the low tree (the “kingdom that was weak” [Targum]) and dried up the green tree (“humbled the kingdom of the nations that was strong like a green tree” [Targum] and caused the dry tree to sprout or flourish (“made mighty the kingdom of the house of Israel that had been as weak as a withered tree” [Targum]). YHWH had declared that this would take place, and it would most assuredly happen. (17:24)
Notes
In its interpretation of the words in verse 4, the Targum preserves the meaning “land of Canaan.” It refers to a land that was not subject to servitude like the land of Canaan prior to the time the Israelites entered it.
Verse 10 in the Septuagint departs somewhat from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. “And look, it thrives [literally, is fattened]. Will it prosper? Will it not be dried up in dryness as soon as the searing wind touches it? It will wither together with the lump [or soil] of its sprouting.”
In verse 12, the Septuagint starts with the expression “son of man,” reminding Ezekiel of his position as a mortal in the service of the eternal God.
The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) words the last phrase of verse 15 as a statement, not a question.
In verse 20, the Septuagint does not include the reference to Babylon and to God as entering into judgment.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 22 indicates that the Lord would take twigs or branches “from the choice parts of the cedar.” It then quotes him as saying, “I will snip off from the top of their heart, and I will plant on a high mountain.” The words “top of their heart” do not convey an understandable meaning and may involve an early scribal error. The quotation continues from verse 22 to verse 23, “And I will hang him on a lofty mountain of Israel …” This appears to be an interpretive rendering that alludes to the death of Jesus Christ while in a suspended position on an elevated location in the land of Israel. (Compare John 3:14; Galatians 3:13.)
In verse 23, numerous Greek manuscripts, including P967, do not mention “every beast” but refer to “every bird.”
The Targum interpretation of the words in verse 23 also indicates that the child would become a king who is victorious in warfare, assembling armies and building fortresses. This portrayal of the Messianic king is also one that is conveyed in Revelation 19:11-16, where the “King of kings and Lord of lords” is depicted as leading heavenly armies against the nations.
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, this message is identified as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (18:1)
The people in the land of Israel used the proverb (“parable” or likeness [LXX]), “Fathers have eaten the sour grapes, and the teeth of the sons are set on edge.” They were asked, “What do you mean when repeating this proverb?” The apparent meaning was that their forefathers had been guilty of wrongdoing and yet they as their sons or children had to bear the penalty for their transgressions. In the Targum, this significance is explicitly expressed. “Fathers have sinned, and sons have been punished.” The proverb was one that did not acknowledge that the “sons” themselves had sinned and merited punishment. (18:2; see the Notes section.) With a solemn expression worded in the form of an oath (“as I live”), the Lord YHWH declared that this proverb was not to be used in Israel. (18:3)
An introductory “look” served to focus the attention of the people on YHWH’s declaration. “All souls” or the persons or lives of all were his. To him belonged the “soul [life or person] of the father” and the “soul” [life or person] of the son.” The “soul” or person who sinned was the one who would die. All persons were individually responsible for their own actions and would bear the consequences for their own wrongdoing, not that of someone else. (18:4; see the Notes section.)
A “righteous man,” one who does what is just and right (literally, “judgment” or justice and “righteousness”), is the one who will live. (18:5; see the Notes section.) The just and right actions included not eating “on the mountains” or at sites on high places devoted to idolatrous worship, not lifting up the eyes to look reverently “to the idols [literally, dungy things (an expression of contempt)] of the house of Israel,” not defiling the “wife of a neighbor” or refraining from committing adultery and engaging in ceremonial prostitution, and not approaching a menstruating woman or wife to have sexual relations. (18:6)
The upright man would not oppress anyone. He would return the object he had taken as a pledge for the repayment of a loan. (Deuteronomy 24:10-13) The righteous man would not seize anything by robbery, and he would compassionately give of his bread or food to the hungry one and a garment to one who was insufficiently clothed. (18:7) Loans often were made to persons in need, and the lender was not to profit from the adversity of others. The righteous man would not lend (lend his silver [LXX]) at interest and would not make himself guilty of usury. (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36, 37) He would withhold his “hand from injustice,” never acting in an unjust manner in his dealings with others, and “true judgment [justice]” he would render “between a man and a man [his fellow],” refusing to show partiality. (18:8) The righteous man “walked” or conducted himself according to YHWH’s statutes and heeded his judgments or ordinances. He could be certain of continuing to live, for the Lord YHWH gave him the assurance that he would indeed live (literally, “to live, he will live”). (18:9)
A man may have a son who happened to become a robber or a violent man (a “pest” or corrupt person [LXX]), one who shed blood, and proved to be a “brother of one of these” evil actions. The Septuagint rendering of the expression a “brother to one of these” may be translated, “committing sins.” In the Targum, the reference is to doing one of these things to a brother. Modern translations commonly omit any mention of a “brother” (“does any of these other things” [NIV]; “does any of these things” [NAB, revised edition; NRSV]). In the context of the Hebrew text, the designation “brother” may be understood to indicate a close relationship with wrongdoing. (18:10)
Seemingly, regarding the father, the text says that “he does not do [any] of all these” things. The father did not make himself guilty of the corrupt practices in which his wayward son engaged. In the Septuagint, the son is the one identified as not walking or conducting himself according to the way of his righteous father. The lawless son ate “on the mountains” or at the sites for idolatrous worship and thus had communion with nonexistent deities. He also defiled the wife of his fellow by committing immorality with her, probably including participation in ceremonial prostitution as part of a cultic ritual. (18:11) The ruthless or evil actions of the corrupt son included oppressing the afflicted and the poor, seizing things by robbery, refusing to return the object that was pledged for the repayment of a loan, lifting up the eyes or looking reverently to idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]), and engaging in what was abominable or disgusting (“lawless deeds” [LXX]) from YHWH’s standpoint. (18:12) The son refused to make interest-free loans to the needy but made himself guilty of usury, charging excessive interest, and profiting from the adversity of others by taking interest. YHWH’s judgment respecting the son was that he would not continue to live because of all the abominable things he had done. The son would die (literally, “dying, he will die”). His “blood” would be upon his own head, for he merited severe punishment for his lawless actions. (18:13)
A son may see all the sins his father has committed. Although he “sees,” he does not engage in like corrupt practices. According to the Septuagint, the son “fears” or has a wholesome fear of God and so does nothing like the deeds in which his father engaged. (18:14) The son did not eat “on the mountains” or at the elevated sites for idolatrous worship and thereby share in communion with nonexistent deities. His “eyes” were not lifted up to “idols [literally, “dungy things” (an expression of contempt); did not set his eyes to the thoughts (LXX)] of the house of Israel,” abstaining from looking reverently to idols. He also did not defile the wife of his fellow, maintaining moral purity and shunning participation in ceremonial prostitution. (18:15) The son did not oppress anyone, seize pledges for loans, and resort to robbery. Instead, he responded with compassion for the needy, giving from his bread or food and providing a garment to those who were insufficiently clothed. (18:16) If the reference is to the withholding of his hand from the “poor” or afflicted one, this could be understood to mean that he did not use his hand or power in an oppressive or unjust manner. The Septuagint indicates that he turned his hand away from injustice. He did not make himself guilty of usury or charge excessive interest and did not take interest from debtors, refusing to derive benefit from their unfortunate circumstances that had forced them to borrow funds. The son was faithful in adhering to YHWH’s judgments or ordinances and in walking or conducting himself according to his statutes. In view of his upright conduct, YHWH promised that the son would continue to live (literally, “living, he will live”) and would not die for the iniquity of his father. (18:17)
The righteous son’s father would die for his own iniquity, and attention is focused on this aspect with the word “look.” His father would most certainly die, for he committed extortion or oppression and robbery of his “brother,” a fellow Israelite. Among “his” own people (“my people” [LXX], God’s people), he did not do what was good. (18:18)
To the declaration of YHWH through Ezekiel, the people would respond, “Why does the son not bear [anything] for the iniquity of the father?” This was because the son practiced “judgment” or justice and “righteousness” (“righteousness and mercy” [LXX]) and observed all of YHWH’s statutes. Therefore, YHWH promised that he would indeed continue to live (literally, “living, he will live”). (18:19) The “soul” that is sinning is the person who will die. A “son will not bear [anything] for the iniquity of the father, and the father will not bear [anything] for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous one will be upon him” or have a bearing on the outcome for him, and the “wickedness [lawlessness (LXX)] of the wicked one [lawless one (LXX)] will be upon him” or have a bearing on the outcome for him. All will be held accountable for their own actions. (18:20)
If a wicked or corrupt (lawless [LXX]) man turned away from his sins (lawless deeds [LXX]) and then observed all of YHWH’s statutes and practiced “judgment” or justice and “righteousness” (“righteousness and mercy” [LXX]), he would “live” (literally, “living, he will live”). He would not die. (18:21) His record of former transgressions would not be “remembered” or reckoned against him. For “his righteousness,” the uprightness according to which he conducted himself after his turning away from lawlessness, he would continue to live. (18:22; see the Notes section.) By means of a question, the Lord YHWH declared that he had no delight in the death of someone wicked but desired that the individual turn back from “his ways” (“his wicked way” [LXX]) and continue to live. (18:23; compare 1 Timothy 2:3, 4; 2 Peter 3:9.)
When a “righteous man turns from his righteousness” or stops doing what is right and engages in unjust practices corresponding to “all the abominable things [lawless deeds (LXX) that the wicked [lawless (LXX) man has done, will he live?” The answer is that his righteous deeds would not be “remembered” or given any consideration. He would die “for the unfaithfulness” of which he made himself guilty and “for his sin [sins (LXX)]” that he committed. (18:24)
It appears that the people thought that a previous record of doing what is right should have merit and that the person who engaged in wicked practices should be punished even if he had stopped his lawless course. Therefore, in anticipation of their response, they are quoted as saying. “The way of the Lord is not equitable [literally, measured (that is, measured according to what is standard)].” The reply of YHWH called upon the “house” or people of Israel to “hear” or to listen to his words, “Is not my way equitable? Are not your ways not equitable?” YHWH’s manner of dealing was just or right. The flaw was with the people. Their ways, including their reasoning, were wrong. (18:25; see the Notes section.)
“When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness” (or from doing what is right) and commits “injustice [transgression (LXX)], he shall die for them” (apparently the unjust deeds). The Septuagint says, “and he dies.” “For the injustice [transgression (LXX)] he committed, he will die.” (18:26) “When the wicked [lawless (LXX]) man turns away from his wickedness [lawlessness (LXX)] that he has carried out and practices judgment [or justice] and righteousness, he will keep his soul [or himself] alive.” (18:27) In view of his seeing (considering or recognizing) and turning away “from all his transgressions [impieties (LXX)] that he had committed,” he would live (literally, “living, he will live”); he would not die. (18:28)
In response to the words of YHWH, the “house [or people] of Israel” would say, “The way of the Lord is not equitable [literally, measured (that is, measured according to what is standard)].” His answer came in the form of rhetorical questions. “Are my ways not equitable, O house of Israel? Are not your ways not equitable?” The people needed to adjust their thinking, for their view was wrong. (18:29)
The Lord YHWH declared his purpose to the “house [or people] of Israel.” He purposed to judge each man or person “according to his ways” or the manner in which he conducted himself. Nevertheless, YHWH gave the people an opportunity to change. His appeal to them was for them to turn back “from all [their] transgressions [impieties (LXX)],” letting nothing be a “stumbling block” that could lead them to sin. According to the Septuagint, the impieties should not be to them a punishment for injustice. (18:30)
The people were admonished to cast away all of their transgressions (“impieties” [LXX]) that they had committed (“against me” [against God], LXX) and make for themselves a “new heart” (an inner self fully devoted to YHWH) and a “new spirit” (a motivating power that would impel them to live uprightly). This was essential for them to continue to live. Therefore, the rhetorical question directed to the people was, “Why should you die, O house of Israel?” (18:31) The Lord YHWH did not have delight in the death of anyone. Therefore, he admonished the people to “turn” (from their wrongdoing) “and live.” (18:32; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In the Septuagint, the words of verse 2 refer to Ezekiel as “son of man” or a mortal in the service of the eternal God. The Masoretic Text does not include this expression at the beginning of the verse. In the Septuagint, the “parable” is mentioned as being “among the sons of Israel,” but the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) says, “in Israel, on the land.”
The introductory “look” is missing in verse 4 of the Septuagint.
In verse 5, the oldest extant Greek text (P967) does not include “judgment” or justice, but other manuscripts of the Septuagint do.
Rahlfs’ printed Greek text (in verse 22) includes the words that may be rendered “all his transgressions, which he committed.” The oldest extant Greek text (P967), however, omits “which he committed.” It then continues with two words meaning “not” and which words may be translated “by no means.” The transgressions will by no means be remembered.
In verse 25, Rahlfs’ printed Greek text includes the words, “Hear now, all the house of Israel.” The oldest extant Greek text (P967) does not contain these words and those that follow (“does my way not lead straight?”) According to the interpretation in the Targum of verses 25 and 29, the contention of the people was that the “good ways of the Lord” had not been declared to them. His answer in the form of a rhetorical question was that these ways had been declared to them.
In verse 32, the Septuagint does not include the imperative for the people to “turn and live.”
Ezekiel was directed to “take up a lamentation for the princes of Israel.” It was a lamentation or dirge, for it focused on the calamities that befell the kings of Judah. In the Septuagint, the singular noun “ruler” appears, possibly alluding either to King Jehoiachin or King Zedekiah, the last monarch. (19:1; see the Notes section.)
The monarchs of the kingdom of Judah were descendants of the first Judean king, David. So it may be that the “mother” of the “princes of Israel” represents the royal line of David. Another possibility is that the “mother” represents Judah, for David was a member of that tribe. Either the royal line of David or Judah appears to be likened to a lioness that made her lair “among young lions,” or was surrounded by the rulers of other kingdoms, and raised “her cubs,” or produced kings. According to the Septuagint, the “mother” was a cub “born in the midst of lions” and made her own “cubs” numerous, coming to be the source of a succession of monarchs The oldest extant Greek text (P967) identifies the mother as a “cub” and then says that this cub made its cubs numerous in the midst of lions. (19:2; see the Notes section.)
Eventually, one of the cubs among the many that the mother reared became a strong lion that learned to seize prey and even devoured man (men or people [LXX]). This lion was Jehoahaz whom the people made king of the realm of Judah after his father King Josiah was killed at Megiddo in a battle with the Egyptian Pharaoh Necho (Neco, Nechoh). The accounts in 2 Kings 23:30-34 and in 2 Chronicles 36:1-4 regarding the reign of Jehoahaz provide few details about his reign that lasted a mere three months. During this time, he may have initiated efforts against Egyptian interests, for Pharaoh Necho made him a prisoner. At Riblah, a considerable distance north of the territory of the kingdom of Judah. Pharaoah Necho confined Jehoahaz. This suggests that he was seized in Jerusalem and taken as a captive to Riblah. The accounts in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles reveal that Jehoahaz conducted himself in an evil or corrupt manner. He may have been responsible for injustices that led to executions. Possibly this is the reason for his being portrayed as a man-eating lion. (19:3)
The “nations” that heard about Jehoahaz may designate the warriors under the command of Pharoah Necho and the foreign troops allied with him. He was caught “in their pit” (“in their destruction” [LXX]) or captured like an animal that falls into a camouflaged pit. Jehoahaz was depicted as being taken to Egypt with “hooks” (literally, “thorns” [“in a muzzle” (LXX)]). Anciently, captives often had their cheeks or noses pierced so that hooks or rings could be inserted, and they would then be led away by means of ropes that were attached to the hooks or rings. (19:4)
When the “mother” saw or came to recognize that she had waited but that her hope had been lost, she took another one of her cubs, making him a lion or king. The waiting may have been for Jehoahaz to be returned from Egypt, but the hope did not materialize. This development required that another king begin to rule over the territory of the kingdom of Judah. The immediate successor of Jehoahaz was Jehoiakim, another son of King Josiah. His reign appears to be passed over, for it was his son Jehoiachin who was taken into Babylonian exile. (19:5; also see verse 9.)
The lion is portrayed as roaming about “in the midst of lions,” suggesting that the kings of other nations surrounded the monarch whom the lion represented and possibly also indicating that this lion acted in the oppressive manner of foreign rulers. No longer a cub, the predator had become a strong lion, had learned how to seize prey, and had even become a man-eating beast. According to 2 Kings 24:9, Jehoiachin continued his father Jehoiakim’s bad practices. Therefore, his reign of three months and ten days (2 Chronicles 36:9) could be regarded as an extension of Jehoiakim’s reign, and the description of the lion’s actions may be viewed as reflecting the rule of both monarchs. Jehoiakim acted like a vicious predator. He proved to be a harsh oppressor, killed the prophet Urijah (Uriah), and made himself guilty of shedding other innocent blood. (Jeremiah 22:13-18; 26:20-23) As one who acted like his father, Jehoiachin fittingly could be represented as a man-eating lion. (19:6)
There is a measure of obscurity about the additional activity ascribed to the king who is represented as a lion. According to the Masoretic Text, “he knew his widows.” This could be interpreted to mean that he knew the widows of the men for whose death he had made himself responsible. Another significance could be that he “knew” these widows from the standpoint of his having ravished or oppressed them. On the basis of the Targum and an emendation of the Hebrew word for “widows,” a number of modern translations convey a different significance. “He destroyed fortresses.” (CEV) “He demolished fortresses.” (NLT) “He ravaged their strongholds.” (NAB, revised edition, NRSV) “He broke down their strongholds.” (NIV) These renderings suggest that he engaged in successful military campaigns, but there is no indication in the books of Jeremiah, 2 Kings, and 2 Chronicles that Jehoiakim participated in warfare or that Jehoiachin continued it. The reading of the Septuagint suggests that the translator read the Hebrew word for “know” as the similar verb for “pasture.” This appears to have led to the rendering, “And he would pasture in his boldness.” It appears preferable to retain the meaning “widows” and to consider the description that follows to relate to the devastating impact the rule of Jehoiachin had when continuing the oppressive measures of his father Jehoiakim. According to Jeremiah 22:17, the “eyes” or focus of Jehoiakim and his “heart” or inner self and thought were on dishonest gain, on the shedding of innocent blood to achieve his unworthy objectives, and on engaging in “oppression.” In view of Jehoiachin’s continuing to imitate the bad example of his father, this would have contributed to the devastation or ruin of “cities” in the territory of the kingdom of Judah, and the “sound of his roaring,” or the harsh and unjust commands proceeding from him, would have had a devastating effect on the land and all the inhabitants. (19:7)
The rebellion of King Jehoiakim against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led to punitive action that culminated in the exile of his son Jehoiachin. After this rebellion, the kingdom of Judah faced attacks from Chaldean, Syrian, Moabite, and Ammonite raiders, and this development would have affected Jehoiachin. (2 Kings 24:1, 2) It appears to be alluded to with the reference that surrounding “nations” from the provinces “set against him” or, based on an emendation, “camped against him.” The attackers, specifically the troops of King Nebuchadnezzar, “spread their net over him.” He was caught in their pit like a lion that is trapped. (19:8)
It appears that Jehoiachin was portrayed as a caged lion controlled with hooks or rings. In this captive state, Jehoiachin was transported to the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. According to the Septuagint, Jehoiachin, under the figure of a lion, was muzzled and caged. As a captive deprived of his position as king, Jehoiachin would no longer be able to let his voice, comparable to the roar of a lion, be heard “upon the mountains of Israel” or anywhere in the realm of the kingdom of Judah. (19:9)
The “mother” of the king could designate the royal line of David or Judah, the tribe to which David and the other monarchs in the dynasty belonged. This “mother” is likened to a “vine.” According to the Targum, the “congregation of Israel” is likened to a vine when it heeded the Torah. After the word for “vine,” the Masoretic Text continues with the phrase “in your blood,” but these words do not convey a comprehensible meaning. A number of modern translations render the words about the vine according to the reading of two Hebrew manuscripts (a “vine of your vineyard”). The Septuagint rendering is, “like a blossom on a pomegranate.” The “vine” flourished, for it was “planted by waters.” Abundant available water made it possible for the vine to be fruitful and come to have many branches. (19:10)
For the vine, the branches came to be “strong staffs, scepters of dominions.” This could mean that branches of the vine represented the men who reigned as kings. They were like strong rods or like men who wielded authority. The Targum says that they were “mighty rulers,” monarchs who were powerful enough to subjugate kingdoms. With the scepter being the symbol of royal authority, they were “scepters” or kings over their realms. It appears that the vine is described as lofty because one of the branches was particularly prominent. This branch would have been a monarch, with his prominence being likened to “his height” that stood out “among the branches” or among other men. The loftiness of the branch caused it to be seen “with the abundance of its boughs,” likely meaning “with its thick foliage.” Although the Hebrew text contains plural nouns, a number of modern translations render the words to apply to one significant branch, with evident reference to one king. “One strong branch grew into a royal scepter. So tall it towered among the clouds, conspicuous in height, with dense foliage.” (NAB, revised edition) “Its strongest stem became a ruler’s scepter; it towered aloft among the thick boughs; it stood out in its height with its mass of branches.” (NRSV) “And she had a mighty rod fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered highest among the leafy trees, it was conspicuous by its height, by the abundance of its boughs.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) In Hebrew, the word for “vine” is feminine gender, but, starting with the reference to “his height,” the suffixes are all masculine gender. Translations that render the text to apply throughout to the vine do not preserve this gender difference. “It had stout branches, sceptres for those who bear rule. It grew tall, finding its way through the foliage; it was conspicuous for its height and many boughs.” (REB) “Its branches were strong and grew to be royal scepters. The vine grew tall enough to reach the clouds; everyone saw how leafy and tall it was.” (TEV) “Her strong branches became symbols of authority, and she was taller than all other trees — everyone could see how strong and healthy she was.” (CEV) The Septuagint focuses on the vine. “And there came to be for it a rod of strength for a tribe of leaders, and it was elevated in its greatness in the midst of trunks [the principal stems of vines], and one saw its greatness in the abundance of its branches,” twigs, or shoots. (19:11; see the Notes section.)
“In fury,” the wrath of King Nebuchadnezzar and his warriors, the vine (the royal line of David, Judah, or the kingdom of Judah) was uprooted and cast down to the “earth” or ground. The searing wind from the east or the arid wilderness region to the east of the kingdom of Judah dried up the fruit of the vine, and its “strong rod” or stem (evidently representing the monarch) “was torn off and dried up. Fire consumed it.” It appears that the “strong rod” here represents Zedekiah, the last monarch of the kingdom of Judah. (19:12; see the Notes section.)
With King Zedekiah and surviving subjects coming to be exiles in Babylon, the vine ceased to be in the territory of the kingdom of Judah. Therefore, it is portrayed as being “planted in a wilderness, in a dry [or waterless] and thirsty land.” The once thriving condition of the kingdom of Judah and the royal line of David ended. (19:13)
From a “rod” of the vine, fire burst forth. The Septuagint says that the fire came from a rod of the “choice parts” (probably meaning “choice twigs”) of the vine. This fire consumed the “fruit” of the vine and left no “strong rod” remaining in it. So there was no “scepter” (“rod of strength” [LXX]) to exercise rulership. King Zedekiah, because of his rebellion against King Nebuchadnezzar, proved to be the “rod” from which the destructive fire burst forth. His refusal to continue to be a loyal vassal king led to punitive action. The warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar conquered the kingdom of Judah, destroyed the capital Jerusalem, and took most of the survivors as captives into exile. Thus the “vine” was destroyed as by a raging fire. No “scepter” or monarch of the royal line of David remained in the former territory of the kingdom of Judah. (19:14; see the Notes section.)
The portrayal of the developments regarding the royal line of David and the kingdom of Judah constituted a lamentation or dirge, and the calamitous end that was destined to come would occasion a lamentation or dirge. (19:14; see the Notes section.)
Notes
The royal line that began with David exercised dominion over all twelve tribes. This may be the reason for the reference (in verse 1) to the “princes of Israel” instead of the princes of Judah. After ten tribes revolted and established an independent kingdom, the people living in the territory of the kingdom of Judah likely considered only the kings of the royal line of David as legitimate kings of Israel.
In verse 2, the reference to being “in the midst of lions” may also indicate that the lioness chose to have close association with these lions or foreign rulers and adopted their God-dishonoring ways. (Compare 1 Kings 11:1-8; 14:21-24; 2 Kings 21:2-9.)
In verse 11, the oldest extant Greek text (P967) does not use the expression “rod of strength.” It reads, “rod.” Regarding the vine, the Targum indicates that it was elevated by its might over other kingdoms, being superior to them in its military forces and its many valiant warriors.
The Septuagint (in verse 12) refers to the “choice parts” of the vine as being dried up by a “scorching wind.” Then, regarding the “choice parts,” probably meaning choice twigs, the Septuagint continues, “they were punished” (P967). Rahlfs’ printed Greek text says, “it [the vine] was punished.” According to the Targum, a king who was as fierce as the east wind, struck down the people. The “mighty rulers were exiled, and the nations that were as fierce as fire destroyed them.”
The Targum (verse 14) links the fire to the nations that slaughtered the people. They are described as being “as fierce as fire.”
The concluding part of the Hebrew text of verse 14 may be rendered, “This [is] a lamentation and will become a lamentation.” In the Septuagint, the wording is somewhat different. “It is a tribe for a parable [or likeness] of a lamentation, and it will be [or serve] for a lamentation.” Possibly the thought is that what happened to the “tribe,” or the people of the kingdom of Judah, would prove to be a parable, likeness, or illustration of other developments that would become the subject of a lament or dirge. The Targum refers to the prophet Ezekiel as having uttered a lamentation. The words he spoke are identified as a prophecy that would become a lamentation.
The “seventh year” of the exile of King Jehoiachin is commonly considered to have been the year 591 BCE. It was on the tenth day of the fifth month (mid-July to mid-August) in this year that some “elders of Israel” (“elders of the house of Israel” [LXX]) came to Ezekiel so that, through him, they could inquire of YHWH. While they were seated before him (20:1), YHWH’s “word” or message came to him. In the Targum, the message is identified as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (20:2) Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of YHWH, the eternal God. The declaration of the Lord YHWH for the “elders of Israel” was, “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, I will not be inquired of by you.” That YHWH would not respond favorably to them is made certain with the solemn declaration in the form of an oath (“as I live”). (20:3) The elders were not in a fit condition for YHWH to deal with them, for they were in line for serious censure. Ezekiel was told, “Will you judge them? Will you judge [them], son of man?” Evidently because the elders had not rejected the course of their forefathers, they were to be reminded about the abominations or disgusting practices of their “fathers” or ancestors. (20:4; see the Notes section.)
The “day” of YHWH’s “choosing Israel” is linked to the time Moses was sent back to Egypt to request that Pharaoh release his people. YHWH’s lifting up his “hand” appears to refer to his declaring his words with a solemn oath to the “seed of the house of Jacob,” the descendants of Jacob, or the people of Israel. He made himself known to them as YHWH their God. The rendering of the Septuagint represents God as taking hold of the people with his hand and identifying himself as their God. (20:5; see Exodus 3:13-17; 6:2-8 and the Notes section.)
YHWH is represented as lifting up his hand, evidently to indicate with an oath the certain fulfillment of his word. He promised the Israelites that he “would bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land [he] had searched out [prepared (LXX)] for them,” a land “flowing with milk and honey.” Of “all lands,” it was exceptionally beautiful. This land was Canaan, a fertile land with good pastures for flocks and herds. This meant that cows and female goats would supply abundant milk. Besides wild honey, the people would be able to obtain much honey from fruits. (20:6; see the Notes section.)
YHWH commanded the people that each one of them should discard the “detestable things of his eyes” (the images of nonexistent deities on which the individual looked with reverent attention). The people were not to defile themselves with the idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; practices [LXX]) of Egypt. Venerating idols would make the people unclean, for YHWH was their God to whom they were to be exclusively devoted. (20:7)
The people rebelled against YHWH and refused to listen to him. They did not discard the “destable things of their eyes” (the idols on which their eyes focused reverently). Instead of abandoning the idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; “practices” [LXX]) of Egypt, they continued to defile themselves with them as worshipers of the nonexistent deities the images represented. Therefore, YHWH decreed that he would “pour out” his wrath upon the people, apparently by not shielding them from oppressive enslavement to the Egyptians. He thus brought his anger against them to its finish or completion “in the midst of the land of Egypt.” (20:8)
In order for his “name,” his reputation, or for him himself not to be “profaned before the eyes of the nations,” or before the people of other nations who would come to know about developments in Egypt, YHWH took action for his people. If the Israelites had continued to be enslaved, people of other nations would have concluded that YHWH was not the God who could help his people, resulting in reproach on his name or on him. Therefore, among the nations where the Israelites found themselves, YHWH made himself known when bringing his people out of Egypt before the “eyes” of people of other nations so that they might see his great power. (20:9)
YHWH led the Israelites “out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness,” the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula to the east of Egypt. (20:10) At Mount Sinai in that wilderness, YHWH gave the Israelites his statutes and made known to them his “judgments” or ordinances. (Exodus 19:1, 16-19; 20:1-23:19) The “man” or the person who kept the statutes and judgments or ordinances would live by them. Obedience would mean life for him. According to the Targum, this would mean “living by them in eternal life.” This interpretation apparently relates to life in the world to come, for faithful adherence to the commandments did not guarantee well-being and security in the present life. (20:11; the interpretation of the Targum is also found for the text of verses 13 and 21.) As a “sign” between him and the Israelites, YHWH gave them his “sabbaths” for them to know that he their God sanctified them, setting them apart as his own people. The people were to observe numerous sabbaths — the seventh day of the week as a day of rest from customary labors (Exodus 20:8-11; 34:21; Deuteronomy 5:12-15), the seventh year during which the land was not to be cultivated (Leviticus 25:2-7), the fiftieth year or Jubilee year (Leviticus 25:8-34), Abib or Nisan 14 (Passover), 15 and 21 (Exodus 12:14-20; Deuteronomy 16:1-8), Sivan 6 (Pentecost [Leviticus 23:15-21; Numbers 28:26-31; Deuteronomy 16:9-12]), Ethanim or Tishri 1 (Leviticus 23:24, 25), 10 (Day of Atonement [Leviticus 23:27-32]), 15, and 22. (Leviticus 23:34-36) These “sabbaths” were a sign that YHWH had chosen the Israelites to be his holy or sanctified people whom he had delivered from enslavement in Egypt. (20:12)
Instead of appreciating what YHWH had done for them, the “house” or people of Israel rebelled against him in the wilderness of Sinai. They failed to walk or to conduct themselves according to his statutes and rejected his judgments or ordinances. One example of this was their request for Aaron to make a representation of a god for them when Moses was away on a height of Mount Sinai. Thereafter they venerated the golden calf that was made at the direction of Aaron. (Exodus 32:1-9) Obedience to YHWH’s statutes and ordinances would have benefited the people, for it would have meant life for them. (See the comment on verse 11 regarding the interpretation of the Targum.) The people greatly profaned YHWH’s “sabbaths,” the ones he had given to them. Although the Israelites were told that no manna would be provided on the seventh day or the Sabbath, some of them still left their tents to look for it. (Exodus 16:25-29) On account of the rebelliousness of the people, YHWH declared that he would “pour out” his wrath upon them “in the wilderness,” making a complete end of them. (20:13; see Exodus 32:7-10.)
Although the Israelites deserved to be punished severely, YHWH did not choose to exterminate them out of regard for his “name” or reputation. If he had destroyed all the Israelites, his name would have been profaned “before the eyes of the nations” or the people of the nations who would learn about this. It was before the “eyes” of people of these very nations that YHWH had brought the Israleites out of Egypt. Therefore, if they had perished in the wilderness of Sinai, people from various nations would have concluded that YHWH had bad intentions for the Israelites and could not fulfill his promises to them. (20:14; compare Exodus 32:12, 13; Numbers 14:13-16; Deuteronomy 9:25-29.)
When the Israelites accepted the unfavorable report from ten of the spies who had been sent into the land of Canaan, they began to complain against Moses and Aaron and gave consideration to appointing a leader who would return with them to Egypt. They even wanted to stone Caleb and Joshua for encouraging them not to rebel against YHWH and not to be fearful about entering the land of Canaan. (Numbers 14:1-10) It was then that YHWH “lifted up [his] hand” or solemnly declared with an oath that he would not bring the adult generation that had left Egypt “into the land [he] had given them, a land “flowing with milk and honey.” According to the Septuagint, he “lifted up his hand against them in the wilderness” so as not to lead them into the land. “Of all lands,” it was an outstandingly beautiful land. (20:15; see verse 6 and the accompanying note for additional comments; compare Deuteronomy 8:7-9.) YHWH’s judgment against the people was based on their rejecting his “judgments” or ordinances, refusing to “walk” or to conduct themselves according to his statutes, profaning his sabbaths, and following the promptings of their “heart” or inner selves to pursue idolatry (going after “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; going after the “thoughts” or reasonings of their “heart” or inner selves [LXX]). (20:16)
Although they deserved to be annihilated, YHWH spared them (his eye looked upon them with pity). He “did not make a complete end of them in the wilderness.” YHWH continued to care for them in the wilderness, making it possible for the younger generation to survive so as to be able to enter the land of Canaan. (20:17; see Numbers 14:22-24, 29-38; Deuteronomy 8:2-4, 14-16.) “In the wilderness,” YHWH told the “sons” or “children” (LXX) of the older generation not to “walk” or to conduct themselves according to the statutes of their “fathers” and not to observe their “judgments” or ordinances (statutes and ordinances that were not in harmony with YHWH’s commands). The “sons” or children were not to defile themselves (mix themselves up [LXX]) with the “idols” (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; “practices” [LXX]) of their “fathers.” This required that they shun idolatry and remain exclusively devoted to YHWH. (20:18) YHWH their God commanded them, “Walk in [or conduct yourselves according to] my statutes and observe my judgments” or ordinances, “and perform them.” (20:19) “And sanctify [or treat as holy] my sabbaths,” observing them as times of rest and remembering that they constituted a “sign” between YHWH and the Israelites. As a people, the Israelites had been given these sabbaths, and YHWH was their source. Accordingly, by reason of the sabbaths, the people would “know” or have to recognize that YHWH was their God to whom they should be exclusively devoted. (20:20)
During about four decades of wandering in the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, the “sons” or “children” (LXX) of the older generation that left Egypt became adults. They also rebelled against YHWH, not walking or conducting themselves according to his “statutes” and not observing his “judgments” or ordinances. Obedience to YHWH’s statutes and ordinances would have benefited the “sons” or children, for it would have meant life for them. (See the comment on verse 11 regarding the interpretation of the Targum.) Besides disregarding these statutes and ordinances, the “sons” or children defiled YHWH’s “sabbaths” or the sabbaths that he had given them, for they did not faithfully observe the seventh day in the manner he commanded. Therefore, YHWH said that he would “pour out” his wrath “upon them” (“in the wilderness” [LXX]) and bring to an end his “anger against them in the wilderness.” (20:21; see the Notes section.)
Although the younger Israelite generation merited his severe judgment for disobedience, YHWH turned back his hand or withheld the use of his power to annihilate them. He did so in order for his “name” not to be “profaned in the eyes of [before (LXX)] the nations” in whose eyes or sight he had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. The destruction of the Israelites would have caused the people of the nations who came to know about it to reason that he was not a God who could care for his people, and their wrong conclusion would have brought reproach on him. (20:22)
“In the wilderness,” YHWH lifted up his “hand” (as when swearing a solemn oath) to the Israelites, declaring that he would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands. The apparent reference is to his making known to them the future calamities that would befall them for disobedience to him. They would be exiled from their own land and taken as captives to other countries. (20:23; see the Notes section and Leviticus 26:27-33; Deuteronomy 28:64-67.) This would happen to them because they failed to observe his “judgments” or ordinances, rejected his statutes, profaned his sabbaths (the sabbaths he had given them) by not keeping them as required, and set their “eyes” or reverently focused their attention on the “idols [literally, dungy things] of their fathers [or forefathers],” refusing to abandon idolatry. According to the Septuagint, their “eyes” were focused on following the “thoughts” of their fathers or forefathers. (20:24)
In view of the people’s disregard for his statutes and ordinances that would have meant life for them, YHWH abandoned them to their own harmful ways. He is represented as giving them, or permitting them to have, “statutes that were not good” and “judgments” or ordinances by which they could not live, or which proved to be ruinous to them. (20:25) YHWH defiled them or allowed them to be polluted with their “gifts” or sacrifices when they offered (passed through the fire) their firstborn sons. He did not prevent them from engaging in the abominable practice of child sacrifice so that he might bring them to ruin. On account of this severe punishment, they would come to “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who does not tolerate unfaithfulness to him. (20:26)
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. To the “house” or people of Israel, Ezekiel was to say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, In this still, your fathers [forefathers or ancestors] blasphemed me by their treacherous acts with me.” Through their course of unfaithfulness, the forefathers of the Israelites brought great reproach on YHWH. According to the Septuagint, they “angered him by their transgressions” against him. (20:27)
After YHWH fulfilled his oath-bound promise (having “lifted up” his hand as when solemnly declaring with an oath) to give the Israelites the land of Canaan, the people defiled the land with idolatrous practices. On the locations they saw on every high hill or under every leafy tree or in groves, they established sites to offer sacrifices (“to their gods” [LXX]) and to present the “provocation of their offering” or the offering that provoked YHWH’s wrath against them for their unfaithfulness to him. On the hills and in the groves, the people also made “soothing aromas” or burned incense and poured out libations. (20:28; see the Notes section.)
YHWH is quoted as saying to the people, “What [is] the high place [Abama (LXX); Abana (P967)] to which you are going? And the name it is called is High Place [Abama (LXX); Abana (P967)] down to this day.” The words directed to them should have caused the people to think about what they and their forefathers had done at the high places or sites devoted to idolatrous worship. (20:29)
The question the Lord YHWH directed to the “house [or people] of Israel” through Ezekiel was, “After the manner [in the lawless deeds (LXX)] of your fathers [forefathers or ancestors] are you defiling yourselves, and after their abominations are you whoring?” They were being asked whether they were continuing in the idolatrous practices of their forefathers? Worship of images that represented nonexistent deities constituted prostitution, for it was an act of unfaithfulness to YHWH to whom the people were bound to be exclusively devoted as a faithful wife is to her husband. (20:30)
The people defiled themselves when they offered their “gifts” or sacrifices and caused their sons to pass through the fire, presenting them as a sacrifice to the idols that represented nonexistent deities. To that very day, the Israelites had defiled themselves with their “idols” (“dungy things” [an expression of contempt]). As an unclean or defiled people, they were unacceptable to YHWH. Therefore, the words he directed to the people were, “Shall I be inquired of by you, O house [or people] of Israel?” The answer to the rhetorical question is preceded by wording in the form of an oath. “As I live, says the Lord YHWH, I will not be inquired of by you.” They could not expect any favorable response from him. (20:31; see the Notes section.)
That which would come up into the spirit or mind of the people would never be. They were saying to themselves or thinking that they could be “like the nations, like the tribes of the lands,” serving or worshiping “wood and stone” or images of nonexistent deities fashioned from wood and stone. This would never be acceptable to YHWH. If they were to be his people, they could not be like the idolatrous people of the nations. For any of them to be his people, they would have to abandon all idolatrous practices and be exclusively devoted to him. (20:32)
The “Lord YHWH” solemnly declared (“as I live” [wording in the form of an oath]), “With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with poured-out wrath, I will be king over you.” After experiencing the display of YHWH’s might and the expression of his anger on account of their unfaithfulness, those who benefited from the severe punishment would have him as their king. (20:33) He would bring them out from among the peoples and gather them out of the lands where they had been “scattered among them.” YHWH would do this “with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with poured-out wrath.” The action may refer to the power that he would manifest when delivering his people and expressing his wrath against those who had mistreated them. (20:34) Still, YHWH would discipline his people, preparing them to be acceptable to him. He would bring them “into the wilderness of the peoples” and “enter into judgment” with them there, doing so “face to face.” Their experience would prove to be like a second exodus, the first one being the exodus from Egypt. (20:35) As YHWH had “entered into judgment” with their “fathers” or forefathers “in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,” he would enter into judgment with the exiles in Babylonia. The “wilderness of the land of Egypt” may designate the wilderness in the Sinai Peninsula. It was in that wilderness that YHWH repeatedly executed his judgments upon rebellious Israelites. The judgment of the exiles from Babylonia would determine the ones whom he found acceptable. (20:36) Like a shepherd in relation to the sheep, YHWH would make the people pass “under the rod” to examine them “and bring them into the bond of the covenant,” or put them under obligation to adhere to the requirements of the covenant that had been concluded with them. (20:36) Upon making his examination, YHWH would purge out from among the people the “rebels” (“impious ones” [LXX]) and those who had transgressed against him. Although these rebels and transgressors would be brought out of the land of their alien residence, they would not enter the “land of Israel.” At that time, the people of Israel would “know” or come to recognize YHWH as the God who executes judgment against unfaithful ones. (20:38)
Through Ezekiel, the Lord YHWH declared that the people could go ahead and serve or worship their idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]). They could, however, not expect his favor. If they refused to listen to him, he would not permit his “holy name” to be profaned by the “gifts” or sacrifices they would me making to their idols (“dungy things”). According to the Septuagint rendering, the people were admonished to forsake their “practices” or their wayward course of life. (20:39)
YHWH would recognize as his own people only those who rejected idolatry. On his “holy mountain, on the mountain of the height of Israel [on a high mountain (LXX)],” is where the entire “house of Israel” would serve or worship him in their land. For Ezekiel’s contemporaries, the “holy mountain” was the eminence in Jerusalem on which YHWH’s temple stood. It was there that YHWH would be pleased with the repentant people or would accept them as his own. He would require them to go to the temple and bring their “contributions” or offerings and the “firstfruits” or choicest of their offerings “with all [their] holy things.” These “holy things” may designate all the other offerings the people would bring to the temple. According to the Septuagint, God would look upon, apparently with favor, the “firstfruits” of the people and the “firstfruits” they had set apart “in [or among] all [their] sanctified things.” (20:40)
As if they were like a “soothing aroma” (possibly meaning like the odor from sacrifices or incense), YHWH would be pleased with the people or accept them after he had delivered them from those who had kept them captive as exiles and gathered them from the lands to which they had been scattered. Upon his having acted for his people, YHWH would be “sanctified” in them, or by what he had done for them, “before the eyes of the nations.” The people of other nations would witness YHWH’s act of deliverance and thus would come to see YHWH as the God who cares for his people. (20:41)
The house or people of Israel would come to “know” or recognize that YHWH is the God who fulfills his word. This would occur when he would bring them back to the “land of Israel,” the “land” that he swore (as when lifting up his hand to make an oath) to give to their “fathers” or ancestors. (20:42)
Upon being restored to their land, the people would regretfully remember their former ways and all the acts by means of which they had defiled themselves, and they would “loathe,” or be ashamed of, themselves (literally, “in [their] faces”) for all the evils or wrongs they had previously committed. The Septuagint says regarding the people, “You will strike your faces for all your evil deeds [injustices (P967)].” The expression “strike your faces” may here denote a gesture of sorrow and shame. (20:43)
By the manner in which YHWH would deal with them for the sake of his “name” or reputation, the people would “know” or come to recognize him as the God who acts according to his word. The “house of Israel” would then recognize that they did not merit his favorable attention, for they had acted corruptly. (20:44)
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (20:45 [21:1])
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The prophet was told to set his “face toward the southern region” (Thaiman [Teman in Edomite territory], LXX) and then to make a proclamation (literally, “drip”) “against the south” (“look upon Darom” [LXX]) and to “prophesy against the forest of the field of the Negeb” (or “south” [the “forest (or grove) leading to Nageb” (LXX)]). The thought underlying the Hebrew word “drip” in connection with the utterance of the prophet suggests that the proclamations would be like water to those listeners who were thirsting for the word of YHWH. Here, however, the idiomatic expression “drip” may basically mean “proclaim.” In the Negeb, the arid region south of the mountainous territory of Judah, there are no forests. Therefore, in this context, the Hebrew expression for “forest of the field” may be understood to denote “scrub land.” (20:46 [21:2]; see the Notes section.) To the “forest [or scrub land] of the Negeb,” Ezekiel was to say, “Hear the word of YHWH. Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will consume in you every green tree and every dry tree. And the intense flame [literally, flame of flame] will not be extinguished, and all faces from south to north [from east to north (LXX)] will be scorched by it.” The people were to listen to the message from YHWH, and the word for “look” served to focus their attention on this message. On account of the devouring fire, nothing would escape the flames. All “faces” or everyone throughout the affected region would experience the calamity. (20:47 [21:3]) At the time the destructive fire would be unleashed, “all flesh” or everyone would “see,” “know” (LXX), or recognize that YHWH had kindled it and that it would not be extinguished. (20:48 [21:4])
Instead of taking to heart the serious message Ezekiel proclaimed, the people seem to have considered his illustrations, likenesses, or parables entertaining. They heard what he said but did not act on the word of YHWH that he made known to them. Apparently this caused him to exclaim in discouragement, “Ah Lord YHWH! They are saying of me, Is he not a composer of proverbs [more literally, one who likens likenesses]?” The thought the people were expressing appears to be that Ezekiel was an expert in formulating proverbs, parables, or likenesses and, therefore, was someone they found entertaining as a speaker. (20:49 [21:5]; 33:30-32; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In verse 4, Rahlfs’ printed text directs the question to Ezekiel, “Will you punish with punishment?” The oldest extant Greek text (P967), however, quotes the Lord as saying, “Will I punish with punishment?”
The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) contains a partially preserved shorter text for verses 5 and 6. It omits the words, “saying, I am the Lord your God, in that day …” The concluding part of verse 5 continues with the words, “and I took hold of them with my hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.” Also, in verse 5, it says “Israel,” not “house of Israel.”
In the last phrase of verses 6 and 15 of the Septuagint, the land of Canaan is identified as a “honeycomb beyond”, or in comparison with, every other land. The text of verse 6 in P967 does not contain the Greek word for “prepared.” It indicates that the land was one that God swore to give to the “fathers” or forefathers of the people.
In verse 12, the Masoretic Text contains the words that may be rendered “I [am] YHWH,” and ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint read, “I [am the] Lord.” The text of the oldest Greek manuscript (P967) is longer. “I [the] Lord [am] their God.” As elsewhere in this manuscript, both the words for God and Lord are abbreviated.
In verse 21, the Septuagint does not end with the phrase “in the wilderness,” but it appears earlier in the text. The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) begins this phrase with the conjunction “and.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 23 represents God as lifting up his hand against the Israelites.
In verse 28, the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) does not mention that the people’s sacrifices were made “to their gods.” It states that they “sacrificed their sacrifices there.”
The Septuagint wording of verse 31 differs somewhat from the reading of the Hebrew text. “And by the firstfruits of your gifts, by the things you have set apart, you have defiled yourselves in all your thoughts to this day. And am I to answer you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, says the Lord, I will not answer you [literally, if I will answer you] and [or even] if it will arise upon this your spirit.” The phrase about the “spirit” may mean that God would not answer even though the thought that he would do so would come to mind of the people.
In verse 46 (21:2), the proper names in the Septuagint (Thaiman, Darom, and Nageb) are basically transliterations of the Hebrew words.
The rendering of verse 49 (21:5) in the Septuagint differs somewhat from the extant Hebrew text. “And I said, By no means Lord, O Lord. They are saying to me, Is not this a parable [or likeness] being spoken?”
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (21:1[6])
Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The prophet was told to set his “face toward Jerusalem,” make a proclamation (literally, “drip”) “toward the holy places [or sanctuaries], and prophesy against the land of Israel.” With reference to the utterance of the prophet, the Hebrew word for “drip” could indicate that the proclamation would be like water to those listeners who were thirsting for the word of YHWH. In this context, however, the verb for “drip” may simply be an idiomatic expression meaning “proclaim.” The message for Jerusalem, the “holy places” or sanctuaries, and the “land of Israel” pertained to imminent ruin. The plural “holy places” or sanctuaries may apply to the entire temple complex in Jerusalem. (21:2[7]; see the Notes section.)
To the “land of Israel,” Ezekiel was to say, “Thus says YHWH, Look, I am against you, and I will draw forth my sword from its sheath and cut off from you both righteous one [unjust one (LXX)] and wicked one [lawless one (LXX)].” The verb for “look” serves to direct attention to what YHWH was about to do. He would use enemy warriors to devastate the “land of Israel” or the territory of the kingdom of Judah and strike down those residing in the land. As this would take place according to his purpose, YHWH is the one represented as drawing forth the sword from its sheath. The slaughter by the sword would be indiscriminate. Both upright and lawless persons would perish. (21:3[8]; see the Notes section.)
The unsheathed “sword” that would cut off “righteous one and wicked one” (“unjust one and lawless one” [LXX]) was to be wielded “against all flesh from south to north [east to north (LXX)].” This suggests that all persons in the path of the sword, not just Israelites, would be killed. The sword of war would be directed against the territory of the kingdom of Judah. Therefore, anyone who would seek to escape had to flee northward, and any of those being taken into exile would also be heading north. Even though they may have survived the wielding of the sword in the south, this sword would continue to pursue them. The people of other nations would also have the sword directed against them, for the Babylonian troops that served as YHWH᾿s instrument to execute his judgment continued triumphing in their military campaigns. (21:4[9])
At the time the prophetic words were fulfilled, “all flesh” or all persons who witnessed the fulfillment would “know” or come to recognize that YHWH had drawn out his sword from its sheath. This would be the case because the sword of warfare came against the kingdom of Judah and all other nations as had been proclaimed beforehand through the prophets. The sword of warfare would continue with the slaughter to the very end. It would not be returned to its sheath. (21:5[10])
Again Ezekiel was reminded of his being but a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, for he, as at other times, was addressed as “son of man.” In view of the calamity that would befall the people from the wielding of the sword, Ezekiel was to “sigh with the breakdown of loins”; and “in bitterness,” he was to sigh before the “eyes” of the people or in their sight. The expression “breakdown of loins” could refer to intense emotional pain, and the calamity would result in bitterness for the people. (21:6[11])
The people would ask Ezekiel why he sighed or groaned. His reply was to be: “At news. For it [the calamity that the prophetic report had revealed] will come, and every heart will melt” (the courage of the people would fail). “All hands will drop down” or become enfeebled, unable to make any defense against the sword of war. “Every spirit” (the activating or motivating power of the inner self [all flesh and every spirit (LXX)]) “will grow faint” or become downcast. From fright, “all knees” would become wet, for “water” or urine would flow down upon them. Everything described was certain to occur, and the word for “look” focused attention on this. “Look, it comes, and it will be, says the Lord YHWH. (21:7[12]; see the Notes section.)
Again YHWH᾿s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (21:8[13]) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. “Son of man, prophesy and say, Thus says the Lord, A sword, a sword is sharpened and also polished.” The sword to be wielded in warfare was readied for slaughter. According to the interpretation of the Targum, the “sword of the king of Babylon” would slaughter, and the “sword of the Ammonites” would be sharpened and used to destroy. (21:9[14])
As a sharpened sword, it would be effective as a weapon of slaughter. Polished, the sword would be like “lightning” or would flash, and its flashing would cause fear among persons under attack. There is uncertainty about the meaning of the rhetorical question that follows. “Or shall we exult?” If this question is for Ezekiel᾿s fellow exiles in Babylon, the wielding of the sword would provide no basis for rejoicing but would occasion dread regarding the calamity that would befall the people in Jerusalem and the rest of the territory of the kingdom of Judah. Therefore, the answer to the question about exulting would be, No. According to the interpretation in the Targum, the “house” or people of Judah and Benjamin exulted when the tribes of Israel were exiled because of worshiping idols. The expression the “rod [or scepter] of my son” may be understood to apply to the royal authority of the king in the line of David. As the one who representatively sat on the throne of YHWH (1 Chronicles 28:5), the king is identified as his “son.” (2 Samuel 7:12-14) At the time the sword would be wielded against the kingdom of Judah, no consideration would be shown for the kingly authority of the monarch in the royal line of David. The king would be treated just like any tree that was to be cut down. He would be deprived of his royal authority as other rulers had been. The scepter or royal authority would be rejected like that of any other kingly authority. In the Septuagint, the command is directed to the sword. “Slaughter; treat with contempt [or destroy]; put away every tree.” The Targum contains a completely different interpretation. It says that the “house” of Judah and Benjamin went astray after “images of wood.” (21:10[15])
For it to be ready for warring, the sword would be handed over for polishing so that it could be handled as a flashing weapon. To serve as an effective weapon, the sword was sharpened. Polished and sharpened, the sword was “given into the hand of a slayer.” This slayer was the Babylonian military force under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. The Septuagint rendering may be understood to indicate that Jerusalem would be given into the hand of one who thrusts the sword or who uses it to slaughter. According to the oldest extant Greek text (P967), the reference is to the “hand” or power of the sword. The Targum indicates that the punishment for the people would be that they would be given into the “hand of the king of Babylon.” (21:11[16])
The sword had come against YHWH’s people. Therefore, Ezekiel (a mere mortal [“son of man”]) was to “cry out and wail” on account of the devastating attack the people would experience. This sword would not let the king and his princes or officials escape, for it was directed against all the chieftains or prominent men of Israel. Along with the people generally, the prominent men would be “delivered over to the sword.” Likely to express shock and grief regarding the calamity, Ezekiel was to strike upon his thigh, probably the right thigh. The directive to Ezekiel in the Septuagint was for him to “clap upon [his] hand.” (21:12[17])
The somewhat obscure introductory Hebrew wording has often been translated to relate to “examination” or “testing.” “Testing will surely come.” (NIV) More specifically, God is quoted as doing the testing. “I am testing my people.” (CEV, TEV) Other translations use the verb “consider” as an introduction to the words that follow. (NRSV, Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) The Septuagint rendering could be translated “for justice [or judgment] has been rendered.” According to the Targum, the prophets prophesied, but the people did not repent. If the Hebrew text does relate to “examination” or “testing,” the thought could be that the examination revealed the people to be corrupt and to deserve severe punishment. Even the “rod” or the “scepter” (the monarch who was in possession of the scepter or royal authority) would be rejected as a man not to be preserved from harm. The “scepter” or royal authority would cease to exist, for no king in the line of David would continue to rule. (21:13[18]; see the Notes section.)
Ezekiel was again addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. He was directed to “prophesy” and to clap his hands (literally, “strike palm against palm”). The clapping could have applauded the punitive judgment against the wayward people or it could have been a sign of horror or astonishment about the slaughter the sword would effect. There is a measure of uncertainty about how the wording about the sword is to be understood, and this is reflected in the renderings of modern translations. “Let the sword fall twice, thrice; it is a sword for killing.” (NRSV) “Then take the sword and brandish it twice, even three times, to symbolize the great massacre.” (NLT) “Let the sword strike twice, a third time. It is a sword of slaughter.” (NAB, revised edition) “My vicious sword will attack again and again.” (CEV) The Septuagint directs the words to Ezekiel, “Double a sword. The third sword is for the mortally wounded ones — the great one for the deadly wounded ones, and it [you (P967)] will astound them.” This sword is one for “great slaughter,” and it encircled the people, letting no one escape the calamity. (21:14[19]; see the Notes section.)
When faced with the “sword,” the “heart” of the people would “melt” or their courage would fail. Many of the people would come to be fallen or mortally wounded persons “at all their gates,” the gates of the cities. YHWH is represented as saying that that he gave or appointed the sword for slaughtering and made it like “lightning” or caused it to flash. It was polished for slaughter. Regarding the sword, the Septuagint concludes with the words, “Good! It has come to be for slaughter [not in P967]. Good! It has come to be for flashing. (21:15[20])
The sword was to reveal itself to be sharp when striking to the right or to the left. In whatever direction its “face” or cutting edge was, the sharp sword was to go into action, striking with all its fury. (21:16[21])
YHWH is quoted as saying that he would clap (literally, strike one palm against the other palm) and bring his wrath to rest. Possibly the clapping of his hands may mean that he would applaud the punitive action of the sword. The execution of his judgment by means of the Babylonian military force under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar would bring to an end his anger with the people of the kingdom of Judah and those of other lands. (21:17[22])
Again YHWH’s word or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum identifies this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (21:18[23]) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The prophet was to mark “two ways” or two directions “for the sword of the king of Babylon” (Nebuchadnezzar) to come to launch an attack. The sword would come from the same land, Babylonia or Chaldea. Thereafter as it moved onward, the “sword” (representing the Babylonian military force under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar) would come to a fork in the road. For both directions, a sign (literally, “hand”) was to be made at the “head” or beginning of each “way” leading to a city. (21:19[24]) Ezekiel was to mark one way for the “sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon,” the Ammonite capital that was situated on a tributary of the upper Jabbok. The other way for the sword to come was against Judah, against the fortified capital city Jerusalem (“against Judea and against Jerusalem in its midst” [LXX]). (21:20[25]; see the Notes section.)
At the fork in the road (literally, “mother of the way” [“ancient way” (LXX)], Nebuchadnezzar the “king of Babylon” would stand in front of the “two ways.” By means of divination, he would determine which way to choose. He would shake the arrows. Probably the arrows would have been previously marked to indicate Rabbah or Jerusalem. Then, after shaking the arrows in the quiver, Nebuchadnezzar would have pulled out one of them. Teraphim were idols, and Nebuchadnezzar probably consulted the teraphim through a priest who accompanied the troops. The third form of divination involved looking at a liver. This would have been a liver from a sacrificed animal, and the appearance of the liver would have been the means for determining which city was to be first in line for siege and conquest. (21:21[26]; see the Notes section.)
In Nebuchadnezzar’s right hand, the result from the divination pointed to Jerusalem as the auspicious city for attack. The siege would involve positioning battering rams before the walls and against the gates. Opening the “mouth for slaughter” could refer to shouting a war cry or to giving the command to proceed with the slaughter. Raising the “voice” or “sound” could either be for “shouting” or for signaling an alarm with a trumpet. Another part in preparation for the siege would be casting up an earthen mound or ramp for moving the battering rams in place and building a siege wall or siege works. (21:22[27]; see the Notes section.)
Seemingly, to the people in the territory of the kingdom of Judah, including the capital city Jerusalem, the divination that pointed to an attack against Jerusalem appeared like a “vain [empty or false] divination in their eyes” or in their sight. They seem to have trusted in the strong fortifications of the city and the military aid that would be coming from Egypt. (Compare Jeremiah 37:7-9.) The people, as represented by King Zedekiah, had sworn allegiance to the Chaldeans as represented by King Nebuchadnezzar. Therefore, although Zedekiah was the one who swore the solemn oath to be a loyal vassal king, the people are the ones to whom the swearing to the Chaldeans appears to be attributed. Zedekiah’s oath also obligated his subjects not to rebel against the Chaldeans and their King Nebuchadnezzar. The one who would bring to remembrance “their guilt” (“their injustice” [LXX]) may be understood to have been Nebuchadnezzar, and this “guilt” or rebellion against him would have resulted in their being caught as victims of his punitive warring. (21:23[28]; see the Notes section.)
YHWH is quoted as saying to the people through Ezekiel that they had caused their “guilt” (“injustices” [LXX]) to be remembered through the uncovering or revealing of their transgressions (“impieties” [LXX]). As a result, their sins appeared “in all [their] doings [in all (their) impieties and in (their) practices (LXX)].” Evidently because the people had come to remembered for their wrongdoing, they would be taken “by the hand” or seized to be killed or exiled. The Targum identifies the “hand” to be that of the “king of Babylon,” Nebuchadnezzar. According to the Septuagint, the meaning appears to be that the people caused their impieties and corrupt practices to be remembered and would be captured on account of them. P967, the oldest extant Greek text, indicates that the people would be “destroyed by these [their impieties and their practices].” (21:24[29])
The “prince” or leader (more literally, an “elevated one”) of Israel was the king, Zedekiah. In the Septuagint, he is addressed as “profane [or defiled], lawless one [wicked one (Hebrew text)].” He had polluted himself and proved himself to be lawless when breaking the oath he had made in the name of YHWH to be a loyal vassal king and when acting contrary to YHWH's word conveyed through the prophet Jeremiah. The Hebrew adjective may also be rendered “profane.” Another possibility is that it means “mortally wounded” and could indicate that, on account of his rebellious course, Zedekiah was as good as dead. The “day” or time for his punitive judgment had arrived. It was then the “time” for an “end” of iniquity (“injustice” [LXX]). The measure of iniquity or injustice had reached its limit and, therefore, would end upon the execution of severe punishment (literally, “in the time of iniquity — an end”). As the representative of the nation, the king was the one held accountable. The imperative the Lord YHWH directed through his prophet Ezekiel to Zedekiah was, “Remove the turban, and take off the crown. This, not this [or that (This will not be such [LXX])]. Elevate the low thing [or one], and abase the high thing [or one].” “Turban” and “crown” appear to be parallel expressions. The words pointed to the forced removal of Zedekiah’s “turban” or “crown.” He would lose his position as monarch and, therefore, the crown that it represented. The expression “this, not this [or that],” probably applies to the reversal that would occur. What had been low would be exalted, and what had been elevated would be made low. The Septuagint indicates that the king was the one who abased the high thing and elevated the low thing. According to the interpretation of the Targum, the turban would be taken from the high priest Seraiah and the crown from Zedekiah. Neither this one (Seraiah) nor that one (Zedekiah) would “endure in his place.” Though the crown belonged to Zedekiah, it would be removed from him and given to “Gedaliah.” It cannot be determined for certainty whether the reference to elevating or abasing is to be regarded in a general sense or whether it applied to the abasing of Zedekiah and the elevation of Nebuchadnezzar through his triumph. (21:25[30])
YHWH declared, “A ruin, a ruin, a ruin [injustice, injustice (LXX) I will make it [feminine gender]. Even this will not be until he comes whose judgment [it is], and I will give it [the judgment] to him.” The Hebrew pronominal suffix rendered “it” is feminine gender, and both the Hebrew nouns for “turban” and “crown” in the previous verse are feminine gender. In the Septuagint, the word for “turban” is feminine gender, but the word for “crown” is masculine gender. The basic thought appears to be that the royal authority represented by the “turban” or the “crown” would come to a ruinous end (an utter ruin as indicated by the repetition), suggesting that kingship in the royal line of David would terminate. If the words “whose judgment” are regarded as having a messianic application, the meaning would be that there would be no restoration until such time as the “Anointed One, the Messiah, or Christ arrived, and YHWH would give the kingship to him. The Septuagint refers to the coming of one to whom it belongs or it is due or to one who is fit. A number of modern translations render the words in a way that allows for a messianic understanding of the words, but others interpretively indicate that “judgment” here means punishment. “It will not be restored until he comes to whom it rightfully belongs; to him I will give it.” (NIV) “I shall bring about such ruin as never was, until one comes who is the rightful ruler; and I shall install him.” (REB) “I shall bring such ruin as never was before, until the rightful ruler comes, on whom I shall bestow it.” (NJB) “Nothing will be the same until the one comes to whom I have given it for judgment.” (NAB, revised edition) “I will leave Jerusalem in ruins when my chosen one comes to punish this city.” (CEV) “I will make the city a ruin. But this will not happen until one comes whom I have chosen to punish the city. To him I will give it.” (TEV) (21:27[32])
Although King Nebuchadnezzar would attack and conquer Jerusalem, he would not spare the Ammonites. This is indicated by the prophetic message Ezekiel was commissioned to proclaim. Again the prophet was addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. Regarding the “sons of Ammon” and their “reproach,” probably the taunts of the Ammonites relating to the fate of the kingdom of Judah and the capital Jerusalem, the Lord YHWH directed Ezekiel to say, “A sword, a sword being drawn for slaughter, being polished to endure [possibly as much as the warring required (for an end [or to bring about an end or destruction] (LXX)]” and for “lightning” or to cause the sword to flash (“awake that you may flash” [LXX]). (21:28[33])
It may be that diviners in Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, divined the falsehood that the city would remain secure. But Rabbah, or the Ammonite inhabitants, would end up “on the necks of the slain, profane wicked men [mortally wounded lawless ones (LXX)] whose day” had come “in the time of iniquity [injustice (LXX)] — an end.” The “day” of judgment had arrived when the measure of iniquity or injustice had reached its limit and, therefore, would end upon the execution of severe punishment. (21:29[34])
After having accomplished its appointed task, the sword was to return to its sheath. This warring sword was created in Babylonia or Chaldea, the “land of [its] origin,” and it was there (“in the place of your own daughter” [P967]),” that YHWH purposed to judge it — the Chaldean war machine — for its wrongs. Although warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar had served as YHWH’s agency to execute his judgment, they did not act with any recognition thereof and made themselves guilty of great evil in their military campaigns. (21:30[35])
YHWH would pour out his wrath on the “sword,” the Babylonian military machine, blowing upon it with the fire of his wrath (as if to intensify the fire that would melt the sword or bring an end to Babylon as a military power). The instrument for accomplishing the ruin is not named but is identified as “brutish men, craftsmen of destroying.” They would not spare the Babylonians and would be skilled in bringing about their destruction. In the fulfillment, this proved to be the troops under the command of Cyrus. (21:31[36]) The “sword” would become fuel for the fire. Its “blood,” probably referring to the Babylonians who wielded the sword, would come to be in the midst of its own land. This sword would not be remembered, for the military machine of Babylon would come to its end. The end was certain, for thus YHWH had spoken through his prophet. (21:32[37])
Notes
In verse 2(7), the Septuagint starts with the words, “Therefore, prophesy, son of man. Set your face upon Jerusalem and look upon their holy places” or “holy things” (the “holy places” or “holy things” of the people).
The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) starts verse 3(8) with the words that may be rendered, “Thus says the Lord.” Other Greek manuscripts represent Ezekiel as being told, “and say to the land of Israel.”
In the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967), the words “all flesh and” are not included in verse 7(12).
The Hebrew word for “rod” or “scepter” in verse 13(18) can also mean “tribe.” This is the reason the Septuagint refers to the tribe as being rejected. The Targum says that the “tribe of the house of Judah and Benjamin” would go into exile and would not survive on account of their evil deeds.
In verse 14(19), the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) does not include the phrase, “ the great one for the deadly wounded ones.”
The ancient site of Rabbah (verse 20[25]) is linked to the modern city of Amman, Jordan.
In verse 21(26), the Septuagint describes Nebuchadnezzar’s means of divination somewhat differently than does the extant Hebrew text — (1) throwing up a rod (rods [P967]), (2) consulting “carved things,” and (3) inspecting livers “at his right.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 22[27] differs somewhat from the extant Hebrew text. It lists the actions against Jerusalem as follows: “to erect a palisade, to open the mouth in a shout, to raise the voice with a cry, to erect a palisade against her gates and to erect a mound [or ramp], and to build siege engines.”
The wording of the Hebrew text of verse 23[28] is obscure. This has resulted in varying interpretive renderings that are not readily apparent from the original-language text. “The people of Jerusalem will think it is a false omen, because of their treaty with the Babylonians. But the king of Babylon will remind the people of their rebellion. Then he will attack and capture them.” (NLT) “In their eyes, the oaths they had sworn to them were like empty divination; but this shall serve to recall their guilt, for which they shall be taken to task.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “The people will think that the auguries are groundless, the king of Babylon will remind me of their wrongdoing, and they will fall into his hand.” (REB) “The people of Jerusalem won’t believe this because of the treaties they have made. But this prediction is to remind them of their sins and to warn them that they will be captured.” (TEV) “Everyone in Jerusalem had promised to be loyal to Babylonia, and so none of them will believe that this could happen to them. But Babylonia’s king will remind them of their sinful ways and warn them of their coming captivity.” (CEV) “The inhabitants will believe that these omens are idle, for they have received sworn guarantees, but he will bring their guilt to mind and capture them.” (NJB) The text in the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) is also obscure. “And he [was or will be] to them like one divining a divination before them, and he is remembering injustice [for them] to be captured.”
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, this message is referred to as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (22:1) As at other times, Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The question about judging that was directed to him apparently related to proclaiming a judgment based on a record of serious sins. The context indicates that the “city of bloods” is Jerusalem, with the plural word “bloods” indicating that much innocent blood had been spilled in the city. This was on account of judicial corruption, oppression that reduced people to extreme poverty, and the abominable practice of child sacrifice. Ezekiel was to make known to the city or the inhabitants all the abominable deeds (“lawless deeds” [LXX]) that had been committed. (22:2)
According to the message from the Lord YHWH for Ezekiel to proclaim, Jerusalem had been guilty of shedding blood “in her midst” or within the boundaries of her walls. This had not stopped and would continue until her “time” came, the time for punitive action to be taken against her. Jerusalem or the inhabitants of the city had become defiled by making idols (literally, “dungs things” [an expression of contempt]) to worship. The Septuagint refers to Jerusalem as devising “thoughts” or plans against herself. (22:3)
With the blood that had been shed, Jerusalem (or the inhabitants of the city) had incurred serious guilt. The inhabitants of Jerusalem had defiled themselves with the idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; “thoughts” or plans [LXX]) they had made. Their record of bloodshed and idolatry brought near the “days” for punitive judgment, and they would come to the end of their “years.” In view of their abominable practices, YHWH would cause or allow the inhabitants of Jerusalem to be reproached by the peoples of other nations and to be mocked in all lands that came to know about the calamity that had befallen them. (22:4)
The people of lands near Jerusalem and of lands that were far away would mock her or the inhabitants. The city is identified as “defiled” in “name” or reputation and great in “tumult” or “confusion” (“abundant in lawless deeds” [LXX]). Jerusalem was a place where “confusion” or unrest existed, probably on account of injustices and oppression. (22:5) The “princes of Israel” or the leaders of the people should have been upholding the law and dealing justly. Instead, they used their “arm” or power against the people and shed innocent blood. They apparently accepted bribes and rendered judgments that proved to be ruinous to the needy ones among the people. According to the oldest extant Greek text (P967), the leaders were sworn to their relatives so as to shed blood. (22:6) The inhabitants of Jerusalem had no regard for parents, but treated father and mother with contempt. They defrauded the resident alien (proselyte [LXX]) and oppressed the orphan and the widow. (22:7)
The plural Hebrew and Greek noun relating to that which is “holy” could either refer to things that were holy from YHWH’s standpoint or to “holy places” (the temple complex). By their corrupt actions, the people despised what was holy. The sabbaths were YHWH’s sabbaths, for he had given them to the people. They, however, profaned them by their failure to observe them according to his requirements. (22:8)
Among the inhabitants of Jerusalem could be found men who slandered, and their false accusations led to the shedding of innocent blood. The Septuagint refers to “robbers.” There also were men who ate on the mountains, apparently partaking of offerings made to nonexistent deities at the elevated sites established for the veneration of idols. Men engaged in lewdness (“unholy things” [LXX]) in the midst of Jerusalem. Lewdness likely included involvement in ceremonial prostitution. (22:9)
The uncovering of a father’s “nakedness” refers to having sexual relations with his wife, concubine, or the same woman. Also contrary to God’s law, men chose to have sexual relations with, or to humiliate, a woman in an impure condition on account of menstruation. (22:10; Leviticus 18:7, 8, 19) Men made themselves guilty of adultery and incest. They engaged in the detestable deed of having sexual intercourse with the wife of an associate, committed sexual immorality with a daughter-in-law, or had sexual relations with a sister, the daughter of their own father, and thus humiliated her. (22:11; Leviticus 18:9, 15, 20)
To pervert justice, men accepted bribes and then condemned guiltless ones and had their blood shed. Instead of making loans to needy ones without charging interest, corrupt men exacted interest from them and made themselves guilty of usury. Through fraudulent means, oppressive men made unjust profit from their companions or neighbors. According to the Septuagint, the corrupt men brought their evil to completion by means of oppression. These men had no regard for YHWH, acting as if he did not exist. They conducted themselves as persons who had forgotten him as one to whom they would have to render an account for their actions. (22:12)
The introductory words “and look” served to call attention to what YHWH was about to do and the reason for his punitive action. Apparently in expression of his anger, he would strike his “palm” or his hands together against the unjust gain that the oppressive people had made and the innocent blood that had been spilled in the midst of Jerusalem. In the Septuagint, the reference is to the things Jerusalem (or the inhabitants) had brought to completion and had done. (22:13)
The question for the people to answer in view of the execution of YHWH’s sure judgment against them was: “Can your heart [or your courage] endure or can your hands be strong in the days that I shall be dealing with you?” YHWH had declared his purpose to take action, and he would do what he had stated. The obvious answer to the question was that the courage of the people would fail, and they would have no strength to stop the punishment that would befall them. (22:14)
By means of the warriors under the command of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, YHWH would scatter his disobedient people among the nations and disperse them throughout various lands. This severe punishment would serve to bring a remnant of the people to repentance and thus prove to be the means for ending their unclean condition. (22:15)
As exiles in the lands to which they had been scattered, the people would be “profaned” or dishonored within themselves before the “eyes of the nations.” This could mean that they would keenly sense within themselves that, in the sight of people of other nations, they were deprived of all dignity as if they were filth. Their punishment would force them to “know” or recognize that YHWH is not a God who tolerates unfaithfulness to him. A number of modern translations have rendered the words according to a Hebrew manuscript reading that makes the application to God, not the people. “And when I have been dishonored among the nations because of you, you will know that I am the LORD.” (NLT) “In you I will allow myself to be desecrated in the eyes of the nations; thus you shall know that I am the LORD.” (NAB, revised edition) The Septuagint rendering may have arisen through a misreading of the Hebrew text and could be understood to mean that God would make others heirs “before the eyes of the nations” or that he would receive his inheritance among his people “before the eyes of the nations.” (22:16)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, this message is identified as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (22:17)
As at other times, Ezekiel is addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. To YHWH, the “house [or people] of Israel” had become like dross or like base metals (copper, tin, iron, and lead). The people were no longer precious to him like silver, but were like the worthless scum on the surface of molten silver. In the Septuagint, they are referred to as being like silver mixed up with copper, iron, tin, and lead. The people were impure or defiled. (22:18)
All of the people had become like worthless dross (“one mixture” [LXX]). Therefore, YHWH declared, “Look, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.” The word “look” serves to call attention to what YHWH would do. As the context reveals, the gathering of the people “into the midst of Jerusalem” was for the purpose of taking punitive action against them. (22:19)
Silver (“and gold” [P967]), copper, iron, lead, and tin, upon being gathered into a furnace, would be subjected to a blasting of fire to smelt the metal. YHWH, in his anger, likewise would gather the disobedient people and smelt them like metal in expression of his wrath. (22:20) He would gather them and blow upon them “with the fire of [his] wrath,” smelting them in the midst of Jerusalem (verse 19) as if they were metal inside a furnace. (22:21) Their distressing experience would then be comparable to being subjected to the fire that smelts silver in a furnace. The disobedient people would be smelted in the midst of Jerusalem as a consequence of the suffering that would befall them during the Babylonian siege and capture of the city. Although many of the people proved to be like valueless dross, others would be moved to repentance and thus come to be like refined silver. As the severe punishment had been made known in advance through the prophets, the people would come to “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH had poured out his wrath upon them. (22:22)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum identifies this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (22:23) Upon being addressed as “son of man,” Ezekiel was reminded of his being a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. Apparently the message was directed to Jerusalem (“say to her”). The circumstances of the city and all the people there would be comparable to an unclean land or a land under a curse, for no rain would descend upon it in a “day of indignation” or the time when YHWH’s anger would be expressed against it. Without needed rain, all vegetation would dry up. For Jerusalem to come to be like a drought-stricken land would mean that it would be reduced to ruins. (22:24)
The severe punishment was warranted, for in the city there were both those who actively misled the people and those who allowed themselves to be misled. There were prophets in Jerusalem who were in league with one another to proclaim falsehoods that lulled the people into a false sense of security. The decisions that the leading inhabitants of Jerusalem made on the basis of the false prophecies proved to be ruinous, for they led to unsuccessful warfare and much loss of life among the defenders of the kingdom of Judah. Therefore, the prophets are fittingly likened to a roaring lion that tears prey. These prophets, by their false utterances, brought death to others and so the devouring of a “soul” or a person is attributed to them. The victorious invaders of the land pillaged treasure and other precious items, and the false prophets were responsible for this development. Many men died in battle, leaving behind their wives as widows. In this case, the prophets made themselves responsible for multiplying widows in the midst of Jerusalem. (22:25; see the Notes section.)
The priests in Jerusalem failed the people. Instead of upholding God’s law and instructing the people to follow it, they did violence to the law. This could have been by their wrong conduct and erroneous teaching that excused God-dishonoring practices. Their serious failures profaned “holy things” or “holy places” (the temple complex). The priests did not make a clear distinction for the people between what was holy and what was profane or common and what was ceremonially unclean and what was clean. They did not teach the people to observe the sabbaths according to the God-given requirements, but they hid their eyes from the God-given sabbaths, treating them as not needing to be kept. The priests represented YHWH. Therefore, their wrong conduct and teaching brought reproach on him or caused him to be profaned. (22:26)
The princes or rulers in Jerusalem were corrupt, oppressive, and unjust. Therefore, they were like wolves tearing prey. They shed innocent blood and destroyed “souls” or people so as to procure gain for themselves. (22:27)
With false visions and by divining lies, the prophets in Jerusalem did what was comparable to whitewashing a wall. They obscured the reality that the moral condition of the people incurred YHWH’s anger and that calamity was certain to befall them on account of their unfaithfulness to him. The prophets misled the people into believing that their well-being and security were not threatened in any way, and they represented their words as having YHWH as their source. They would say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH.” He, however, had not spoken to them. They had no revelation from him. (22:28; see the Notes section.)
The “people of the land,” those residing in the territory of the kingdom of Judah, including Jerusalem, engaged in defrauding, robbery, and oppression of the needy in their midst. They took advantage of the resident alien (proselyte [LXX]) among them, defrauding the individual without any possibility of redress. The resident alien would never have a favorable judgment rendered for him. (22:29)
YHWH represented himself as looking for a man among the people who would build a wall, a wall that would serve to shield them from the unleashing of his wrath against them, or for a man who would stand in the breach before him (literally, [his] face) to protect the people. According to the Septuagint, the man God was looking for would be one who conducted himself uprightly and would be standing before his “face” or before him soundly “in the time of the land” (the time for expressing his wrath) so that he might not wipe out the land completely (apparently meaning those living in the territory of the kingdom of Judah, including Jerusalem). This suggests that the man would be like Moses who stood in the breach, pleading with YHWH not to destroy the people. YHWH, however, did not find such a man. (22:30; Exodus 32:7-14; see the Notes section.)
In view of his not finding the man for whom he was looking, YHWH determined to “pour out” his indignation upon the wayward people, consuming them with the “fire of [his] wrath.” He would bring the consequences of their corrupt “way” or their course of life upon their “head,” letting them experience the severe punishment that their unfaithfulness to him merited. (22:31)
Notes
In verse 25, the Septuagint does not mention “prophets,” but it refers to “leaders.” These leaders are represented as “devouring souls by domination” or on the basis of the authority they had.
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 28, the prophets would be anointed. The future tense verb “will fall” is linked to the prophets. This could mean that those anointing the prophets would fall before them or that the prophets themselves would fall. The Targum refers to the false prophets as being like a person who builds a wall and plasters it with plain mud or clay that is not strengthened with straw.
According to the interpretation of the words of verse 30 in the Targum, the man would be one in possession of “good deeds” and would pray that mercy be shown to the people of the land.
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, this message is identified as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (23:1) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message that was conveyed to him in the form of an allegory concerned “two women” who were the “daughters of one mother.” In verse 4, these two woman are identified as Samaria and Jerusalem, representing the Israelites as being a divided nation with two separate kingdoms — the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel and its capital Samaria and the kingdom of Judah and its capital Jerusalem. The one mother from whom all the Israelites descended could either be Sarah the wife of Abraham or Rebekah the wife of Isaac. Another possibility is that the one mother represents the nation that came to be divided into two separate kingdoms. In the Targum, the reference is to “two countries” that were like two women who were the daughters of one mother. (23:2)
Already while in Egypt, the Israelites defiled themselves with the idolatrous practices of that land. This early period in the history of Israel as a nation is likened to the “youth” of the two women. Their involvement in idolatry constituted a serious act of unfaithfulness to YHWH and, therefore, is represented as prostitution. The Targum does not refer to prostitution but indicates that the people went astray in idolatry and carried out corrupt deeds. According to the Hebrew text, the “breasts” of the two women were pressed or fondled (“their breasts fell” [LXX]) and the “bosoms of their virginity” were squeezed. The Septuagint says that they “lost their virginity.” (23:3)
The older sister was named Oholah, and the younger sister was named Oholibah. Both sisters belonged to YHWH, for he had chosen their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be the men through whom their descendants would become his own people. Moreover, the Israelites became his unique people when they entered a covenant with YHWH at Mount Sinai. This covenant bound them to YHWH in a relationship like that of a wife to her husband. The people increased in number, and thus Oholah and Oholibah could be described as having borne sons and daughters. Oholah is identified as Samaria, and Oholibah as Jerusalem. The capital Samaria represented the Israelites who came to be part of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, and the capital Jerusalem represented the Israelites who came to be part of the kingdom of Judah. Oholah could be considered as the older sister, for among the Israelites in the ten-tribe kingdom were descendants of Reuben and Simeon, the oldest sons of Jacob, and of Joseph, the firstborn son of his wife Rachel. The name “Oholah” means “her tent.” This name appears to allude to the Israelites of the ten-tribe kingdom as having their own centers for idolatrous calf worship at Dan and Bethel. On this basis, Samaria, as representing the ten-tribe kingdom, could be spoken of as having its own tent or sanctuary that was divinely disapproved. Oholibah means “my tent is in her,” apparently pointing to the temple of YHWH that was located in Jerusalem. (23:4; see the Notes section.)
Although Oholah belonged to YHWH, she prostituted herself. She lusted after her lovers. These lovers are identified as the “Assyrians” (Asshur) who were near (neighbors) or coming near to her. The Israelites of the ten-tribe kingdom, through their monarch and royal officials, negotiated with Assyria, seeking the aid and protection of this strong military power. This involvement constituted prostitution, for it demonstrated lack of trust in YHWH as the protector of those who were devoted to him as their God. Evidence of seeking Assyrian support come from the reigns of Menahem and of Hoshea, the last king of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. Menahem paid a large sum in silver to Assyrian monarch Tiglath-pileser III (Pul). He exacted the tribute amount from wealthy men, each of whom had to pay 50 silver shekels. (2 Kings 15:19, 20) An inscription of Tiglath-pileser III indicates that he placed Hoshea as king over Israel and received a sizable tribute in gold and silver talents. Hoshea paid tribute in subsequent years, including in the time of Tiglath-pileser’s successor Shalmaneser V. (23:5; 2 Kings 17:3, 4; see the Notes section.)
Oholah’s lust is represented as directed to Assyrians who were clothed in purple or royal attire. These Assyrians included governors and officials or commanders, all of them being “desirable” or handsome young men. “Calvrymen riding upon horses” also were the objects of Oholah’s lusting. (23:6) To the choicest “sons” or men of Assyria (Asshur), Oholah prostituted herself, doing so by looking to them for support and paying tribute to the Assyrian monarch. Additionally, she, or the people of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, became defiled upon adopting idolatry (“thoughts” [LXX]; “practices” [P967]) from Assyria. This defilement was with the representations of nonexistent deities (“dungy things” [an expression of contempt]). (23:7)
The “prostitution” or idolatry that began with the people whom Oholah represented began in Egypt, and it continued when the ten tribes formed an independent kingdom and Jeroboam, the first monarch, instituted calf worship at Dan and Bethel. That idolatry never ended during the time the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel existed and became even more abhorrent with the introduction of Baal worship. On account of idolatry and political alliances with foreign powers, Oholah is portrayed as a prostitute with whom men had lain, whose “virgin bosom” they had handled (whose “virginity” they took [LXX]), and upon whom they had poured out their lust. (23:8) Therefore, YHWH delivered Oholah into the “hand” or power of her lovers, “into the hand of the sons of Assyria” (Asshur), for whom “she had lusted.” Her lovers were those with whom she had entered into an alliance for military aid. (23:9) These lovers turned against her when she did not yield to their desire, refusing to pay the tribute they imposed. They warred against her, thereby uncovering her nakedness or exposing her as a humiliated, rejected prostitute. The former lovers “seized her sons and her daughters, and “slew her with the sword.” The people of the ten-tribe kingdom were either killed in war or from its consequences, and survivors were exiled. Oholah, as representing the kingdom, ceased to exist as if slaughtered with the sword. When this judgment was executed against Oholah, she (or the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel and the people of the realm) became a byword among those who came to know about her fate. (23:10; see the Notes section.)
Oholibah (representing the kingdom of Judah and the people of the realm) saw what had happened to her sister Oholah, but she did not take the warning lesson to heart. In her lust, Oholibah conducted herself worse than her sister and exceeded her in acts of prostitution. She made herself guilty of shocking idolatrous practices, including child sacrifice, and of entering into alliances with foreign powers. (23:11)
Oholibah lusted after the “sons of Asshur” (the Assyrians). That lust was directed to Assyrian governors and officials or commanders. These governors and commanders appear to be additionally described as “near,” near ones, or neighbors. They were magnificently attired. Oholibah also lusted after “cavalrymen riding upon horses, all of the men being “desirable” or handsome young men. One notable case of that lust occurred during the reign of Ahaz, the monarch of the kingdom of Judah. Pekah, the king of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, had made an alliance with the Syrian king Rezin, joining in a plot to remove Ahaz as king and to replace him with the son of Tabeel. Instead of trusting the word of YHWH through the prophet Isaiah indicating that the plot would fail (Isaiah 7:1-6), Ahaz appealed to Assyrian monarch Tiglath-pileser III to save him from the attack of the troops of Rezin and Pekah and paid a sizable tribute in silver and gold. (23:12; 2 Kings 16:5-9; regarding “near,” see the Notes section on verse 5.)
Through idolatry and military alliances, Oholibah became polluted. YHWH is quoted as saying, “And I saw that she was defiled.” Oholah and Oholibah had followed the same course of being unfaithful to YHWH. (23:13) The harlotries of Oholibah, in the form of alliances, did not end with the Assyrians. She was portrayed as fixing her amorous attention on the Chaldeans. Oholibah saw depictions of men “carved on the wall, images of Chaldeans” portrayed in “vermillion.” According to the Septuagint, the images were made with a stylus. (23:14) These images were of men with a “belt [colorful embroidered work (LXX)] around their loins” and “with flowing turbans [brightly colored tiaras (LXX)] upon their heads.” They looked like “adjutants” or military officers, “all of them” being representations of Babylonian natives, for Chaldea was the land of their birth. (23:15)
The sight of the images of the Chaldeans or Babylonians is represented as causing Oholibah to lust after them and to “send messengers to them in Chaldea.” Possibly after King Josiah died in a battle with the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco (Necho, Nechoh), the people of the kingdom of Judah may have come to regard the Chaldeans as a people with whom to be on friendly terms. (2 Chronicles 35:20-24) This would especially have been the case after the Chaldean crown prince Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Neco at Carchemish in the fourth year of the reign of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim whom Pharaoh Neco had installed as king. (2 Kings 23:34; Jeremiah 46:1, 2) This decisive victory marked the start of Babylonian dominance in the region that included the territory of the kingdom of Judah. So it may be that Jehoiakim sent messengers with tribute to Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar became king subsequent to the death of his father Nabopolassar. Jehoiakim and officials in the kingdom of Judah may have considered an alliance with Chaldea as essential for securing continued freedom from Egyptian control. (23:16)
The alliance with Chaldea must have led to repeated contact with the messengers whom King Nebuchadnezzar sent to Jerusalem. This contact seems to be represented as prostitution in which Oholibah engaged and by means of which she defiled herself. According to the interpretation of the Targum, the Babylonians defiled her with idolatry. In time, Oholibah tired of the Chaldeans, and “her soul” or she herself turned away from them in disgust. This happened when King Jehoiakim rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar. (23:17; 2 Kings 24:1)
Through her alliances with foreign powers and also her idolatry, Oholibah is represented as prostituting herself and exposing her nakedness. As a consequence, YHWH (his “soul” or he himself) turned away in disgust from Oholibah just as he (his “soul”) had turned away from her sister Oholah. In the case of Oholah, this meant being left without YHWH’s protection when the Assyrian troops attacked and conquered the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. (23:18; see the Notes section.)
Oholibah increased her acts of harlotry to an extent that brought to remembrance the “days of her youth” when she prostituted herself “in the land of Egypt.” It was in Egypt that the Israelites polluted themselves with the idolatrous practices of the Egyptians, failing to remain exclusively devoted to YHWH. (23:19)
To express Oholibah’s lust or her desire to prostitute herself, her lovers (the “Chaldeans” [LXX]) are described as having the “flesh” (or the privates) of donkeys and the “emission” (“genitals,” LXX) of horses. (23:20) She focused her attention on the lewdness (“lawlessness” [LXX]) of her youth, apparently longing for the idolatry in which she had engaged while in Egypt. This appears to be likened to having “bosoms pressed” or handled and breasts fondled. (23:21)
In view of her unfaithfulness to him, the Lord YHWH declared regarding Oholibah, “Look, I am arousing your lovers against you,” the ones from whom “you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side.” The introductory “look” serves to focus attention on what YHWH was about to do. (23:22) The lovers are identified as the “sons of Babylon and all the Chaldeans, Pekod [possibly ancient Puqudu] and Shoa [possibly the Qutu] and Koa [possibly the Sutu], along with all the sons of Asshur [all the Assyrians], desirable young men, all of them governors and officials or commanders, adjutants or military commanders and called ones [possibly elite warriors], all of them riding on horses.” Pekod, Shoa, and Koa probably were peoples from a region east of the Tigris River. (23:23) These lovers would come against Oholibah. There is uncertainty about the meaning of the Hebrew noun that is linked to “chariots,” with suggested possible meanings being “rattling” and “multitude.” According to the Septuagint, the ones attacking would come from the “north.” The military force would include “chariots and wheelwork,” and a “host of peoples.” Each one of them would be equipped with buckler, shield, and helmet. The warriors would set themselves against Oholibah (the kingdom of Judah) all around. YHWH would let them render judgment, and their judging would be according to their judgments. These judgments would be harsh and cruel, with nothing to mitigate them. (23:24)
As the former lovers would be acting with his permission, YHWH is quoted as directing his “jealousy,” ardor, or indignation against Oholibah. Allowed to deal with Oholibah in fury and according to their cruel practices, the lovers are represented as disfiguring her, cutting off her nose and ears. Any remaining ones or survivors would fall by the sword. The Targum interprets this to indicate that the princes and nobles would be exiled and that the people generally would be slain with the sword. The sons and daughters of Oholibah (or the people residing in the realm of the kingdom of Judah) would be seized, and the remaining ones or survivors would be “consumed by fire.” According to the Targum, the choicest land would be burned. (23:25) The former lovers would also strip the clothes off Oholibah and take away her beautiful articles. (23:26)
YHWH declared that he would put an end to the lewdness (impieties [LXX]) of Oholibah and her harlotry that began “in the land of Egypt.” She would then no longer lift her eyes to, or longingly focus her attention on, the idolatry that constituted lewdness and harlotry. Oholibah would no longer remember Egypt. This could relate both to the idolatry of the Egyptians and to the military alliances of the kingdom of Judah with them. In the Targum, the reference is to the “idolatry of the Egyptians.” (23:27)
In expression of his anger with Oholibah (the unfaithful people of the kingdom of Judah), YHWH determined to hand her over into the “hands” or power of those whom she hated, into the hands of her former lovers from whom she (her “soul”) had turned away in disgust. This was fulfilled when the Babylonian troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar conquered the kingdom of Judah. (23:28) As the word of YHWH through Ezekiel indicated, they took action against Oholibah “in hatred” or ruthless hostility, taking away from her all the product of her labor and reducing her to an exposed state of nudity. Her nakedness, harlotry, and lewdness was then uncovered. The prophetic words indicated that the kingdom of Judah, including the capital Jerusalem, would be completely devastated. Its fate would be comparable to that of a prostitute who became the object of intense hatred. She would be forcibly stripped of all her clothing and ornaments and violated in a cruel manner. (23:29; see the Notes section.) This would happen to Oholibah because she had conducted herself like a prostitute with other nations, polluting herself with idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; “thoughts” of the people of the nations [LXX]). (23:30)
Oholibah walked or conducted herself according to the way of her “sister” Oholah, engaging in idoltary and forming alliances with foreign powers. Therefore, YHWH decreed that he would give Oholibah the same “cup” that he had given to her sister. The Targum refers to this “cup” as a “cup of punishment.” Oholibah (or the people of the kingdom of Judah) would have to partake of the bitter potion of conquest, devastation of the land, and exile. (23:31)
To indicate that Oholah (the sister of Oholibah [Samaria or the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel]) had been forced to drink much, the cup containing the bitter potion of conquest and exile is described as “deep and wide” or large. According to the declaration of the Lord YHWH through Ezekiel, it was the same cup from which Oholibah (Jerusalem or the kingdom of Judah) would be forced to drink. This would result in causing Oholibah to become the butt of laughter and mockery as if she had become intoxicated from excessive drinking. (23:32)
Oholibah would be filled with “drunkenness and sorrow” (“faintness” [LXX]) from the bitter potion of conquest and exile. This was the cup from which her sister Samaria (Oholah or the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel) had been forced to drink. On account of what it meant for Samaria or the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, the cup is described as a “cup of horror and devastation [cup of destruction (LXX)],” for the people would be appalled or horrified at what they would be facing and the land would be desolated. (23:33; see the Notes section.) There would be no way for Oholibah to avoid having to drink from this cup, for this is what the Lord YHWH had declared as certain to occur. The people of the kingdom of Judah would be forced to drink every drop of the bitter potion of conquest and exile to an extent comparable to having to gnaw the sherds of the cup into which this potion had penetrated. The distressing experience would be such as to prompt the tearing of the breasts. (23:34; see the Notes section.)
Oholibah had forgotten YHWH, giving no consideration to accountability to him, and had cast him behind her back, treating him as if he did not exist. Therefore, Oholibah (or the people of the kingdom of Judah) would come to experience the consequences for “lewdness” (“impiety” [LXX]) and “prostitution” (idolatry and making alliances with foreign powers). (23:35)
Ezekiel was again addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was but a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. For Ezekiel to “judge” Oholah and Oholibah would involve pointing out the serious wrongs that merited severe punishment. He would need to make known the abominable deeds that they had committed. Oholah had already been punished and that punishment continued for the people of the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. The punishment for Oholibah or the people of the kingdom of Judah was to occur in the immediate future. (23:36)
Oholah and Oholibah had committed adultery. The people of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah included many who were unfaithful to their marriage mates and a majority of the people who were unfaithful to YHWH by reason of their idolatry and alliances with foreign powers. There was blood on their hands, for they had shed innocent blood when perverting justice and oppressing the poor. The “sons” or “children” (LXX) whom they had borne to YHWH they passed through the fire or offered in sacrifice to the nonexistent deities that their images represented. The sacrificed sons or children belonged to YHWH, for he was the Creator and the One with whom the Israelites were in a covenant relationship. The blood of these sacrificed sons or children was part of the abundant innocent blood the people had spilled. (23:37)
By their abominable practices, the people of the kingdom of Judah (Oholibah) had defiled YHWH’s sanctuary (the temple), doing so “on the same day” they had venerated idols. The people also profaned his sabbaths. They were YHWH’s sabbaths, for he had given them to the Isaelites, and they profaned them when not observing them according to his requirements and when not treating them as sacred. (23:38) After slaughtering their “sons” or “children” (LXX), offering them to idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]), the people would come into YHWH’s sanctuary (the temple) and defile it, for they entered as unclean persons who had offered up their offspring to nonexistent deities. This shocking act of defilement they carried out “in the midst of [YHWH’s] house.” (23:39)
Representing the nation (Oholibah or the people of the realm of the kingdom of Judah), the monarch would send a messenger to a foreign power at a distant location to propose a military alliance. When messengers arrived from that foreign power, they were welcomed, and the response was like that of a harlot who makes herself as attractive as possible, bathing herself, painting her eyelids, and adorning herself with ornaments. Commonly, a black color paint was used to make the white of the eyes stand out more prominently. During the period of Ezekiel’s prophetic activity, Babylon and Egypt were the military powers with which the kingdom of Judah (Oholibah) was allied at different times. (23:40) The overtures for alliances were comparable to what a harlot would do to invite men to have relations with her. Oholibah is represented as having seated herself on a stately couch, spread a table before it, and placed YHWH’s incense and oil upon the table. The items were YHWH’s incense and oil, probably because they should have been offered to him. (23:41) The ones who responded to Oholibah’s welcoming preparations were like a boisterous and carefree crowd. The multitude included drunkards from the wilderness. They were like men without restraint as would be men given to drink to whom intoxicants were unavailable while they were in the arid desert. Those who came to Oholibah and also Oholah are portrayed as putting bracelets on the wrists or arms and beautiful crowns on the heads of the women. (23:42; see the Notes section.)
Regarding a woman worn out by adultery or harlotry, the quoted words of YHWH are somewhat obscure and have been variously understood. This is reflected in the renderings of modern translations. “That worn-out one still has adulteries in her! Now they engage her as a prostitute and she ...” (NAB, revised edition) “Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is.” (NIV) “To destruction with adultery! Look, they are still going on with those same fornications of hers.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “That woman, worn out with adultery! Are they going to fornicate with her too?” (NJB) “I said to myself that they were using as a prostitute a woman worn out by adultery.” (TEV) “Ah, that woman, grown old in adultery! Now they will commit fornication with her — her of all women!” (REB) In the Targum, the reference is to the people of the congregation of Israel who were worn out by sins. It then continues with the positive thought that the people would give up idolatry and return to worshiping their God. The wording of the Septuagint may be rendered, “Do they not commit adultery with these [women]? And [with] works of a prostitute, she also prostituted herself.” (23:43)
The men (representing the messengers from the foreign powers with which alliances were desired) came as one would go to a prostitute. In this manner, “they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, women of lewdness” or loose women. The Septuagint says that they went in to “commit lawlessness.” (23:44)
Those judging the women or administering the merited punishment are described as “righteous men.” This is because the depravity of Oholah and Oholibah made these men appear righteous. The judgment is represented as being the judgment for adulteresses and for women who shed blood. Oholah and Oholibah were both adulteresses (on account of practicing idolatry and entering into military alliances with foreign powers) and shedders of innocent blood. Through judicial corruption, oppression of the poor, and the abominable practice of child sacrifice, much innocent blood came to be on the hands of the women. (23:45) The punishment was carried out by a host or military force, terrorizing and despoiling Oholah and Oholibah. In the case of Oholah, it was the Assyrians who had decades previously conquered the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel, and the effects from that punitive judgment had not ended when Ezekiel prophesied. In his time, the Babylonian forces under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar brought an end to the kingdom of Judah and destroyed the capital city Jerusalem. (23:46)
The attackers are represented as hurling stones against Oholah and Oholibah, dispatching them with swords, slaying their sons and daughters, and burning their houses. (23:47) By this means, YHWH acted to bring an end to the lewdness or depravity “in the land. The fate of Oholah and Oholibah was to serve as a warning to “all women” or to all other nations that they should not conduct themselves as Oholah and Oholibah had. (23:48; see the Notes section.) These two women had to pay for their lewdness or depravity and to bear the “sins of [their] idols” (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]; impiety [LXX]). The “sins of [their] idols” were the idolatrous practices in which the people engaged. Upon experiencing the severe punitive judgment, the people would “know” or be forced to recognize the Lord YHWH was the God who did not tolerate unfaithfulness to him and had puished them. (23:49)
Notes
For the wording of verse 4, the Targum contains a different interpretation. It indicates that the people prospered with sons and daughters when they served God.
The plural form of the Hebrew word qaróv, meaning “near,” is found in verse 5. It appears to refer to the Assyrian lovers as being “near” or neighbors to Oholah, and this basic significance has the support of the Septuagint. Numerous modern translations, however, do not convey this meaning. They render the Hebrew word as “warriors.” (NAB, NIV, Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) The rendering “warriors” is based on considering the plural form of the word qaróv in the text to be an Aramaic loanword that means “able to fight.”
The interpretation of the Targum for the words in verse 10 indicates that the lovers took the sons and daughters of Oholah captive and slaughtered her people with the sword. According to the rendering of the Septuagint, punitive judgment against Oholah came upon her “daughters.”
For the text of verse 18, the Targum does not use wording that relates to prostitution but refers to Oholibah as having her disgraceful conduct exposed and her shame seen. The oldest Greek text does not include the opening phrase (“And she uncovered her prostitution). It begins with the wording, “And they uncovered her shame.”
The Targum (verse 29) indicates that Oholibah would be left homeless and forsaken, and her idolatry and sins would be exposed.
In verse 33, the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) refers to the cup as being filled with faintness and describes it as a cup of “insecurity and destruction.”
For verse 34, the Septuagint contains different wording. After indicating that Oholibah would drink from the cup, it says that God would remove her festivals and new moons (or new moon observances).
In verse 42, the Septuagint opens with a reference to a “sound of harmony” or music.
Verse 48 of the Septuagint concludes with the thought that the women would “by no means act according to their impieties.”
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, this message is identified as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” It was then the tenth day of the tenth month (mid-December to mid-January) of the ninth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin and of the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah. (Jeremiah 52:4) The year is commonly thought to have been 588 BCE. (24:1)
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. He was instructed to write down the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year, for it was on that very day that the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, began the siege of Jerusalem. According to the Septuagint, Ezekiel was to make a written record from that day onward. (24:2) YHWH’s word directed him to relate a parable or likeness to the “rebellious house” (“rebellious people” [Targum]) “and to say to them, Thus says the Lord YHWH, Set on the pot, set [it] on, and also pour water into it. [24:3] Put pieces [of meat] into it, all good pieces, thigh and shoulder. Fill [the pot] with choice bones [separating flesh from the bones (LXX)].” (24:4) It appears that the meat was to be from the “choicest of the flock.” According to the Hebrew text, “bones” were to be piled under the pot. In this case, the Hebrew word for “bones” apparently designates fuel or pieces of wood. In the Septuagint, the reference is to burning the bones underneath the meat from choice animals. The Hebrew expression “boil the boilings” probably means boil the pieces of meat. As for the bones in the pot, they were to be cooked. (24:5)
YHWH is quoted as pronouncing “woe” or calamity upon Jerusalem, the “city of bloods” or the city in which much innocent blood had been shed on account of judicial corruption, oppression of the poor, and the abominable practice of child sacrifice. The defiled or morally corrupt condition of Jerusalem is likened to rust in or on the sides of the pot, which rust could not be removed. As for the contents of the pot that represented Jerusalem, all pieces of meat were to be taken out of it “piece by piece,” and no lot was to be cast over the city, seemingly because nothing of value would remain. The pieces probably refer to the survivors of the conquest of Jerusalem who would be taken from the city and exiled. In the Targum, the reference is to exile, and it refers to the people as being driven out of Jerusalem because of there being no repentance. (24:6)
In the midst of Jerusalem, innocent blood had been shed. It was not concealed, being visible as if it were on a bare rock instead of having been poured out on the ground and covered with dust. The Septuagint rendering represents God as the One who exposed the shed blood, putting it, as it were, on a bare rock and not pouring it out on the ground to be covered by earth. The Targum indicates that the blood had been shed with premeditation and not unintentionally and that there was no repentance for it. (24:7)
To arouse his anger for the purpose of avenging the innocent blood that had been spilled, YHWH represented himself as putting the shed blood on a bare rock so that it would not be covered. (24:8) “Therefore,” the Lord YHWH declared, “Woe to the city of bloods [Jerusalem, the city where much innocent blood had been shed]. I also will make the pile great.” The pronouncement of “woe” indicated that the people in Jerusalem would experience great distress and suffering on account of siege and conquest. Inside the city, the people would be like the contents of a cooking pot, and the fire underneath it would not be extinguished. This is because the “pile” of wood would be great, assuring that the fire would keep burning and heating the pot. According to the Targum, God would make the misfortune of Jerusalem great. (24:9)
The military action that King Nebuchadnezzar and his warriors would undertake against Jerusalem (the pot [or city] and its contents [the people]) was comparable to piling up many pieces of wood under the cooking pot, kindling the fire, and making sure that the meat in the pot ended up being boiled well. The reference to mixing “spices” apparently relates to adding seasoning as would be common when boiling meat. The intense fire under the pot was to char the bones in it, suggesting that the conquest of Jerusalem would mean death for many and would not leave a large number of survivors. In the Targum, the interpretation relates to the attacking warriors. There should be numerous kings or rulers, armies assembled, siege troops equipped for war, and warriors invited against Jerusalem, causing the valiant defenders of the city to be confounded. The Septuagint rendering could be understood to indicate that the meat was to be thoroughly cooked and the amount of broth lessened in the process. (24:10)
Contextually, it is apparent that the pot was to be “set empty upon the coals.” This, however, is not specifically stated in the text. The Hebrew word for “pot” is masculine gender, but the pronominal suffix of the verb “set” is feminine, creating an ambiguity (“set her” instead of “set him [the pot]”). A number of modern translations, however, have rendered the verse according to the apparent contextual meaning. “Now set the empty pot on the coals.” (NLT) “Put the empty pot on the coals to make it hot.” (NJB) “Now set the empty bronze pot on the coals.” (TEV) “Then set the empty pot over the hot coals until it is red-hot.” (CEV) The objective of the action was to heat the copper pot to the point that the metal would “burn” or “glow,” that the filth attached to the sides of the pot would melt, and that the rust would be consumed or would vanish. According to the interpretation of the Targum, the ones engaging in unclean things would melt away in the midst of Jerusalem, and the sin of Jerusalem would be destroyed. (24:11)
The opening words of the Hebrew text are obscure. They may be rendered, “Labors; she has wearied.” Perhaps the thought is that the “labors” or great efforts involved in bringing an end to Jerusalem (represented by the pot) had a wearying effect. The Septuagint rendering does not include any corresponding words but continues with the thought that the “rust” or moral corruption of Jerusalem would not come out and that this rust would be “shamed” or exposed. Similarly, the Hebrew text indicates that the large amount of rust or the thick rust would not go out of Jerusalem (“her”). It concludes with the words, “Into fire, her [Jerusalem’s] rust” or moral filth. Perhaps the meaning is that, because the rust could not be melted away, the hot pot with the rust on its sides should be tossed into the fire. According to the Targum, Jerusalem would be set on fire because of her many sins. (24:12)
In the “uncleanness” or defilement of Jerusalem, lewdness or depravity existed. The people had become completely corrupt. Still, YHWH would have cleansed Jerusalem, but the city (as representing the people) would not be cleansed. The people chose to continue in their defiled state. Therefore, no cleansing would occur until YHWH’s fury against Jerusalem or her rebellious people had come to rest or had ended. (24:13)
What YHWH had declared through Ezekiel would occur. The calamity that had been portrayed with the heated cooking pot would come upon Jerusalem. By means of the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar, YHWH would act against the city and the inhabitants. He would not show restraint, not have pity, and not have regret. The attackers (God, according to the Septuagint) would judge or administer the severe punishment that the corrupt ways and actions (“thoughts” [LXX]; “practices” [P967]) of the people of Jerusalem merited. According to the Septuagint rendering, God would make no distinction nor have any pity. (24:14; see the Notes section.)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, the reference is to a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (24:15) The prophetic word indicated that Ezekiel himself would experience a severe personal blow. As previously, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” indicating that he was but a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. By a stroke, YHWH would take away from Ezekiel the delight or desirable one (his “wife” [24:18]) of his eyes. This may mean that YHWH would let Ezekiel’s wife die, taking no action to preserve her life. In response, Ezekiel was not to display any of the customary signs of mourning. He was not to wail in grief, weep, or have tears run down his cheeks. (24:16; see the Notes section.) Ezekiel could “sigh,” but not aloud as one would when mourning the dead. He was to bind his turban upon his head, to put sandals on his feet, not to cover his mustache (the lip or lower part of the face), and not to eat the “bread of men” or the bread or food of which mourners customarily partook. (24:17; see the Notes section.)
In the morning of the next day after receiving the word of YHWH regarding his wife, Ezekiel spoke to people who, along with him, found themselves as exiles in Babylon. In the evening of that day, his wife died. Then, in the morning of the next day, he dressed himself as usual and did not engage in customary acts of mourning over the loss of his wife. (24:18) This prompted the people to ask him about how what he had done related to them. (24:19) In response, Ezekiel said that the word of YHWH (word of prophecy from before the Lord [Targum]) had come to him. (24:20)
The message was, “Say to the house [people] of Israel, Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I am defiling my sanctuary [or temple], the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, the compassionate object of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind.” Regarding these “sons and daughters,” YHWH’s declaration was, “By the sword they will fall.” The word “look” focused attention on what YHWH was about to do. As for Ezekiel’s fellow exiles in Babylon, they did not believe that the temple in Jerusalem would be defiled and reduced to ruins by the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar. The magnificent temple gave them a sense of security, making it an object of their strength and an edifice in which they could take pride. This temple was a structure that their eyes beheld with great delight, and their soul or they themselves had intense feelings about it, feelings that were comparable to the compassionate concern and care one would have for a dearly beloved child. Among Ezekiel’s fellow exiles, numerous parents still had children in Jerusalem, and these sons and daughters would perish as victims of war. (24:21)
At the time news about the destruction of the temple and the death of their sons and daughters would reach them, the exiles in Babylon would respond like Ezekiel had subsequent to the death of his wife. They would be numb and unable to bring themselves to act in a manner that was customary for mourners. The people would not cover the “lip” or the lower part of the face, and no one would eat the “bread of men,” or the bread or food that mourners commonly ate. (24:22; see the Notes section.) Instead of dressing like mourners, the people would wear turbans on their heads and sandals on their feet. They would pine or waste away “in their iniquities” or because of the sins that they had committed, and they would “groan” among one another on account of the calamity. (24:22; see the Notes section.)
To his fellow exiles, Ezekiel would be a sign, revealing the punitive judgment that was certain to occur and the effect it would have on them. According to all that he did after the death of his wife, the people would do. When this happened, they would “know” or be forced to recognize the Lord YHWH as the God who does not tolerate wrongdoing indefinitely and executes punitive judgment by means of the agency of his choosing. (24:24)
Again Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The question directed to him indicated what YHWH would do. “Will it not be on the day [when] I take from them their stronghold, the exultation [or joy] of their glory, the delight of their eyes, and the elevated object of their soul, [and] their sons and their daughters [24:25], an escapee will come to you and cause your ears to hear?” (24:26) The “stronghold” apparently refers to the temple, for the exiles would not have believed that YHWH would let his temple be destroyed. Therefore, they would have looked upon it as a source of security like a strong fortress. In view of its magnificence, the temple occasioned exultation or joy, and it was an object of glory or of great pride. The temple was an edifice that the people beheld with great delight as one would a very desirable object. It was a structure of a highly elevated nature like an exceedingly precious treasure. (24:25) An escapee or survivor of Jerusalem’s destruction would make known to Ezekiel what had happened and also would tell him about the death of the sons and daughters of his fellow exiles in Babylon. (24:26)
“In that day,” when the report from a survivor of the destruction of Jerusalem would reach him, Ezekiel would cease to be mute in relation to prophesying to fellow Israelites. Apparently after the death of his wife and the explanation of his actions about not mourning, Ezekiel said nothing more that personally affected the exiles in Babylon. The message about the fulfillment of YHWH’s word ended the period of silence. Everything Ezekiel did and said made him a sign to his fellow Israelites, and they would come to “know” or recognize YHWH as their God whose word had been fulfilled and who had commissioned Ezekiel as his prophet. (24:27)
Notes
In verse 14, the Septuagint concludes with additional wording, “Therefore, I will judge you according to your acts of bloodshed [literally, bloods]; and according to your thoughts, I will judge you, the infamous defiled one and [the one] abundant in embittering [or the one greatly rebelling against] me.”
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 16, God would take away the “desires” of Ezekiel’s “eyes in battle,” and Ezekiel was not to “beat” his breast in grief nor to “weep.”
The Septuagint (in verse 17) refers to a “sighing of blood” (probably meaning a sighing on account of bloodshed), “of a loin” (possibly a loin covered with sackcloth), “of mourning.” The hair of his head should not be braided and no sandals should be on his feet. By no means should he be comforted by words coming from the lips of others, and he should not eat the “bread of men.” The oldest Greek manuscript (P967) indicates that there would be no sighing.
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 22, the people would not receive any comfort from the “mouth” of others.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 23 indicates that the people would not shave their heads in expression of mourning. It refers to the “hair” as being on their heads and sandals on their feet.
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. In the Targum, this message is identified as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (25:1) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” reminding him that he was a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. He was directed to set his “face” toward, or direct his attention to, the “sons of Ammon” (the Ammonites) and to “prophesy against them.” (25:2)
“Say to the sons of Ammon [the Ammonites],” Ezekiel was told, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Because you said Aha! [in expression of malicious glee] over my sanctuary when it was profaned [by the victorious warriors who destroyed the temple], and over the land of Israel when it was desolated [by the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar], and over the house [or people] of Judah when it went into exile [to the land of Chaldea or Babylonia] [25:3], therefore, look, I am giving you to the sons [or people] of the East for a possession, and they will set up their encampments in you [in your land] and situate their dwellings [or tents] in you [in your land]. They will eat your fruit, and they will drink your milk.” These words indicated that the Ammonites would be conquered and their land would be devastated. Nomadic people from the east would then enter the land and partake of its produce and the milk of cows and goats. The word “look” served to focus attention on these developments. (25:4; see the Notes section.)
YHWH determined to transform Rabbah (the “city of Ammon” [LXX], an ancient location linked to modern Amman, Jordan) into a place where camels would pasture and the “sons of Ammon,” or the territory where the Ammonites resided, into a region where flocks could rest. According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities, X, ix, 7), King Nebuchadnezzar warred against the Ammonites five years after he devastated Jerusalem. At that time the Ammonites would have come to “know” or have been forced to recognize that YHWH was the God who, through his prophets, had made known in advance what would happen to them. (25:5)
The word of YHWH, conveyed through Ezekiel, censured the Ammonites for having clapped their “hand” (“hands [P967]), stamped their “foot,” and rejoiced with “all contempt [or malicious glee] in [their] soul [or in their whole being] over the land of Israel” (or over the devastation of the land, the military defeat of the kingdom of Judah, and the exile of the surviving people). (25:6) “Therefore,” the word of YHWH through his prophet continued, “Look, I have stretched out my hand [directed my power] against you and will hand you over as spoil to the nations [that will conquer Ammon], and I will cut you off from the peoples [cause you to cease existing as a people], and will make you perish from the lands. I will destroy you, and you will know that I am YHWH.” The word “look” directed attention to what YHWH would do. Upon the fulfillment of his word, the Ammonites would “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH was the God who had expressed his punitive judgment against them, for he announced their downfall in advance. (25:7)
“Moab and Seir,” the Moabites and Edomites, had expressed the thought that the “house” [or people] of Judah” was “like all the [other] nations,” nations that had been conquered. These words implied that there was nothing different about the people of Judah, for their God had not acted to prevent the conquest of the land and the exile of the surviving people. (25:8; see the Notes section.) In view of what the Moabites said, YHWH is quoted as declaring that he would be “opening the shoulder [slope or flank] of Moab with its cities, with its cities on its frontier, the glory of the land — Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim.” To focus attention on this development, the words are introduced with the verb “look.” The reference appears to be to exposing the eastern part of Moab to invasion. As the desert stretched eastward from this frontier, it likely was not heavily fortified. The three cities, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim, must have been significant in view of their being identified as the “glory of the land.” (25:9; see the Notes section.)
To the “sons of the East [Kedem (LXX)]” or the nomadic peoples residing east of Moab, YHWH determined to give Moab along with the “sons of Ammon” (the Ammonites and their land) as a possession. At that time, the “sons of Ammon” would no longer be remembered among the nations, suggesting that they would cease to exist as a distinct people. (25:10; see the Notes section.) By means of the agency of his choosing, YHWH would execute punitive judgments upon Moab. Upon the fulfillment of these judgments, the people would know or be forced to recognize YHWH as the God who had acted against them. According to the ancient Jewish historian Josephus (Antiquities, X, ix, 7), King Nebuchadnezzar engaged in a military campaign against the Moabites five years after he devastated Jerusalem. (25:11)
The Lord YHWH censured Edom (Idumea [LXX] or the Edomites) for having taken vengeance “against the house of Judah,” making themselves guilty of a serious offense when taking vengeance against the people. This happened when the Edomites sided with the enemies of the people of Judah and took advantage of their defeat. (25:12; see Obadiah 10-14 and the Notes section.) “Therefore,” the Lord YHWH is quoted as saying, “I will stretch out my hand [or direct my power] against Edom [Idumea (LXX)] and cut off from it man and beast, and I will make it a ruin from Teman [an Edomite city or district] even to Dedan [a prominent Edomite city a considerable distance away]. By the sword they [the Edomites] will fall.” According to the Septuagint, the people who were pursued from Thaiman [Teman] would “fall by the sword.” (25:13)
YHWH determined to take vengeance against Edom (Idumea [LXX]) “by the hand [or agency] of [his] people Israel.” The Israelites would be acting in keeping with divine wrath against the Edomites. In the second century BCE, “Hyrcanus,” according to Josephus (Antiquities, XIII, ix, 1), “subdued all the Idumeans,” permitting them to stay in the country if they submitted to circumcision and made use of the “laws of the Jews.” “They were so desirous of living in the country of their forefathers that they submitted to the use of circumcision.” Whether this or an earlier campaign of warfare should be regarded as the fulfillment of the prophetic word cannot be determined for a certainty. Upon the execution of vengeance against them, the Edomites would know that the Lord YHWH had taken action against them through his people. (25:14)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as referring to the Philistines (“allophyles [those of another tribe], LXX) as acting vengefully in taking vengeance with “contempt [rejoicing (LXX), probably a malicious glee] in the soul,” or with a hateful inclination in their very being, against the Israelites, with the aim of destroying them. Their objective respecting the Israelites originated from age-old hostility. (25:15) “Therefore,” the Lord YHWH declared that he would stretch out his hand or use his power against the Philistines (“allophyles [those of another tribe], LXX). He would “cut off the Cherethites [Cretans (LXX)] and destroy the rest of the seacoast.” The close association with the Philistines suggests that the Cherethites were Philistines or related to them. As for the “rest of the seacoast,” this could designate the survivors of military action against the Philistines along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. (25:16) Upon letting the Philistines experience “great vengeance [plural in Hebrew, indicating either many or severe acts of vengeance] along with wrathful punitive discipline, YHWH would come to be known by the Philistines as having executed vengeance against them. (25:17)
Notes
In verse 4, the Septuagint says that the “sons of Kedem” (a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “east”) would encamp “with their belongings [your belongings (P967); those of the Ammonites].” According to the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967), the “sons of Kedem” would dismantle their tents in the territory of the Ammonites. The Septuagint, including P967, says that the “sons of Kedem” would drink the “fat” or the fatness of the Ammonites. This may mean that they would partake of the rich liquid products.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 8 does not include any reference to Seir. Instead of “house of Judah,” the Septuagint says “house of Israel and Judah.”
The wording of verse 9 in the Septuagint differs significantly from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. “Therefore, look, I will lame the shoulder of Moab from the cities at its extremities, a choice land, the house of Asimouth above the spring of the city by the sea.” The reading of the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) could be understood to indicate that God would take away choice land from the border cities of Moab.
The noun “Kedem” in verse 10 of the Septuagint is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “east.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 12 adds the thought that the Edomites resented, or bore a grudge against, the people of Judah.
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” According to the extant Hebrew text, this was in the “eleventh year” after the exile of King Jehoiachin. The date, however, is incomplete. Although the first of the month is mentioned, the month is not specified. In the Septuagint, there also is no reference to the month. Manuscript evidence from the Septuagint varies respecting the year. There are manuscripts that agree with the reading of the Masoretic Text, but the oldest extant Greek text (P967) says the “tenth year” and Codex Alexandrinus says the “twelfth year.” Various assumptions have been made regarding what the original reading of the Hebrew text may have been, and these have been incorporated in a number of modern translations. “This word of the LORD came to me on the first day of the first month in the eleventh year.” (REB) “On the first day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year, the word of the LORD came to me.” (NAB, revised edition) “In the eleventh month of the twelfth year, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me.” (NIV, copyright 2011) (26:1)
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The city of Tyre (“Sor” [LXX], a transliteration of the Hebrew designation for Tyre) is represented as rejoicing over the conquest of Jerusalem and saying, “Aha [Good (LXX)]! Broken [are] the gates of the peoples, swung open to me. I will be filled now that she has been devastated.” The thought appears to be that Tyre rejoiced with malicious glee because of benefiting from the destruction of Jerusalem. Instead of continuing to pass through Jerusalem, the wealth accumulated from trade would come to Tyre, greatly enriching the city. (26:2; see the Notes section.)
In view of the attitude that Tyre (or the Tyrians) displayed, the Lord YHWH declared his judgment against the city, with the introductory “look” focusing attention on what he determined to do. He would bring many nations (or warriors from numerous nations) against the Tyre, and they would resemble the waves that are cast up in the sea. (26:3) The warriors from these nations would “destroy the walls of Tyre” and demolish the “towers” of the city. YHWH is then quoted as saying, “I will scrape her soil from her and make her a bare rock.” This indicated that the site of Tyre would be leveled. Ancient histories confirm that the mainland part of Tyre was completely destroyed for the construction of a causeway or mole to the island city. According to Diodorus Siculus of the first century BCE (Book XVII, 40, 4), Alexander the Great “demolished what was called Old Tyre [mainland Tyre] and set many tens of thousands of men to work carrying stones to construct a mole two plethra [about 200 feet (c. 61 meters)] in width. He drafted into service the entire population of the neighboring cities and the project advanced rapidly because the workers were numerous.” In the first century CE, Quintus Curtius Rufus (Histories of Alexander the Great, ) Book IV, ii, 18, 19) wrote, “A great amount of rocks was available, supplied by Old Tyre …” (26:4)
The leveled site of the city would become a place where fishers would spread out their nets. As a mainland coastal city that included an island in the Mediterranean, Tyre is fittingly described as being “in the midst of the sea.” The Lord YHWH decreed that Tyre would become a “spoil to the nations.” According to the Jewish historian Josephus (Against Apion, I, 21), King Nebuchadnezzar “besieged Tyre for thirteen years in the days of Ithobal, their king.” Nothing is said about how the Tyrians were affected and what losses they incurred. Ezekiel 29:17-20 reveals that, despite the tremendous efforts of the warriors under the command of Nebuchadnezzar, there were no “wages,” suggesting that the campaign did not result in any gain commensurate with the effort that had been involved. It was not until 332 BCE, in a siege that lasted from January to July, that Alexander the Great with his troops reduced Tyre to the condition portrayed in the prophetic words. In the first century CE, Quintus Curtius Rufus wrote the following about the fate of the city after the conquest of Alexander the Great: “The extent of the bloodshed can be judged from the fact that 6,000 fighting-men were slaughtered within the city’s fortifications. It was a sad spectacle that the king’s fury then provided for the victors: 2,000 [Tyrians], by the killing of whom the rage subsided, now hung fastened to timbers all along the huge expanse of the beach.” (26:5)
The “daughters” of Tyre were nearby towns or villages in a dependent relationship with the city. They were “in the field” or in surrounding territory of the mainland. The inhabitants of those towns or villages would perish by the sword of warfare. As this had been previously revealed, the people would “know” or come to recognize YHWH as the God who had determined this punitive judgment for them. (26:6)
The attack against Tyre would come from the “north.” Troops would not be traveling westward through the arid desert, but would march northward from the east and then take a northerly route to the west. YHWH purposed to use “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon.” As Babylon was then the dominant power in the region, Nebuchadnezzar is referred to as a “king of kings.” YHWH is quoted as saying that Nebuchadnezzar would be coming with horses, chariots, cavalrymen, and a throng of “many people” or a great military force of many warriors. (26:7; see the Notes section.)
Nebuchadnezzar with the warriors under his command would “slay with the sword” the “daughters,” or the people of the towns or villages “in the field” or on the mainland. These towns or villages were dependent on Tyre and, therefore, are designated as “daughters.” Against Tyre, Nebuchadnezzar would erect a siege wall or have a siege wall built. The “mound” that would be thrown up likely would have been a ramp that could be used for rolling the battering rams against the city wall. The raising of a shield against Tyre could refer to arranging the essential protection for the warriors from the defenders of Tyre. (26:8; see the Notes section.)
King Nebuchadnezzar, with the warriors under his command, would strike against the walls of Tyre with a battering ram and break down the towers with axes (literally, “swords”). The Septuagint says that he would cast down the walls and towers of the city with “his swords.” (26:9)
The dust the many horses of the attackers would stir up would cover Tyre. Noise from cavalrymen, wheels, and chariots (“wheels of his chariots” [LXX]) would be so overwhelming as to shake the walls of the city. Nebuchadnezzar would enter the gates of Tyre as one would enter a city that had been breached (“from a plain” [LXX]). (26:10)
The “hoofs” of the horses would trample all the streets of Tyre, and the inhabitants of the city would be slain by the sword. Strong pillars would fall to the earth. According to the Septuagint, the foundation of Tyre’s power would be leveled to the ground. (26:11) Enemy warriors would seize the riches of Tyre as spoil and plunder the goods. They would break down the walls of the city and tear down the houses in which the people took delight. The troops would cast stones, timbers, and soil “into the midst of the waters.” This could have reference to the constructing of a causeway between the mainland and the island that occurred during the military campaign of Alexander the Great. (26:12) Music would cease from Tyre. YHWH is quoted as saying that he would stop the singing and that the sound of harps or lyres would no longer be heard. According to the Septuagint, he would cause the “multitude” of “musicians” in Tyre to cease. (26:13)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as saying that he would make Tyre into a bare rock where fishers would spread their nets. The reverses that befell Tyre over the centuries prevented the city from attaining the prosperity and importance that it once enjoyed. Possibly it is from this standpoint that one may understand that Tyre was not rebuilt or restored. (26:14)
At the sound of the fall of Tyre, the groaning of the wounded, and the slaughter of people in the city, the islands or coastlands would “shake.” The inhabitants would be filled with terror as if being shaken by a powerful earthquake. (26:15)
Princes, chieftains, or rulers (“from the nations” LXX]; not in P967) “of the sea” (“from the nations of the sea” [LXX]), or on the islands or coastlands that were associated with Tyre in commercial activity, would “step down from their thrones,” remove their robes (“remove the miters from their heads” [LXX]), and strip off their garments of variegated work or their embroidered garments. With trembling, they would clothe themselves, probably putting on sackcloth in expression of distress and mourning. They would seat themselves on the ground, tremble every moment, and stare in astonishment at Tyre, apparently over the calamity that had befallen city. (26:16)
The princes, chieftains, or rulers would raise a dirge over Tyre, saying, “How you have vanished, O inhabitress from the seas, O renowned city that was mighty on the sea” (dominated the Mediterranean Sea as a commercial power involved in extensive trade). Apparently on account of the dominant position of Tyre, the dirge next referred to the city as causing or spreading terror to “all her inhabitants,” probably meaning to all those residing nearby. (26:17) “In the day” or at the time of the fall of Tyre, islands or coastlands would tremble, indicating that the people living there would tremble in fear. The islands in the Mediterranean Sea, or the people inhabiting them, would be dismayed or disquieted because of the passing of Tyre. (26:18; see the Notes section.)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as declaring what he would be doing to Tyre or what he would let happen to the city. He would reduce Tyre to a ruin “like cities that are not inhabited,” effecting this by bringing up the “deep” over the city and covering it with “great waters” or with a large quantity of water. The Targum interprets this to mean that God would bring against Tyre “armies of nations” as “numerous as the waters of the deep” (or the sea), and many nations would cover the city. Like a destructive flood, warriors from numerous nations would sweep over Tyre. (26:19)
The quoted words attributed to YHWH personify Tyre, referring to the city as descending into the pit to which people long previously had descended at the time of their death. Tyre would then be made to dwell in the lowest part of the netherworld among ancient ruins “with those going down into the pit.” Tyre would not be inhabited. YHWH’s giving beauty “in the land of the living” could signify that the end of Tyre as if disappearing into the pit like a dead person would remove a serious blot from the land of the living and thus beautify that land. According to the Septuagint, Tyre would not “rise [again] on the land of life.” The Targum interprets the phrase as meaning that God would make the land of Israel joyful. (26:20)
The Lord YHWH decreed that he would make Tyre into a horror, apparently by reason of the fact that the city would be reduced to ruin. It would come to be as if it had never existed as the dominant commercial power in the region. The city would become like a place for which one might search but one which never would be found. (26:21; see the Notes section.)
Notes
Verse 2 of the Septuagint rendering indicates that Jerusalem “was broken” and then refers to nations as having been destroyed. The text continues, “she has turned to me — full, she was made desolate.” This could mean that, in her affliction, the people of Jerusalem cried out to God. Whereas Jerusalem had been filled with people, the city was reduced to ruins. The Targum refers to Jerusalem as having supplied goods to the nations.
Verse 7 identifies King Nebuchadnezzar as the instrument that would devastate Tyre. In the description that follows in this chapter, there are aspects that were not fulfilled until the time of Alexander the Great. So it appears that the military campaign of King Nebuchadnezzar may be regarded as the initial phase of the overthrow of Tyre, with the ultimate ruin coming much later in the time of Alexander the Great. The prophecy about Tyre may then be understood to have had a progressive fulfillment.
The rendering of the words of verse 8 in the Septuagint differs somewhat from the reading of the Masoretic Text. According to the Septuagint, Nebuchadnezzar would establish an “outpost” against Sur (Tyre), form a siege encirclement, construct a “palisade” all around Tyre, surround the city with weapons, and direct his “lances” against it.
The wording of verse 18 in the Septuagint is shorter than that of the Masoretic Text. “And the islands will have fear from the day of your fall.”
For verse 21, the wording in the Septuagint is shorter than that of the Masoretic Text. “I will give you over to destruction, and you will not exist any longer.”
kiel 27:1-36
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (27:1) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message from YHWH directed Ezekiel to raise a lament over Tyre (Sor). (27:2; see the Notes section.)
The message Ezekiel was to declare to Tyre identified the city as “residing at the entrances to the sea.” This could mean that the location of Tyre gave the city ready access for trade with the islands and coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, it was fitting for Tyre to be identified as a “merchant of the peoples” on many islands and coastlands. The Lord YHWH quoted the city as saying, “I [am] perfect in beauty.” (“I clothed myself with my beauty.” [LXX]). This prideful expression apparently was based on Tyre’s having become a prosperous city through trade. (27:3)
The description of Tyre as a city with territories “in the heart of the seas” could refer to having trading partners on islands in and areas on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In her role as a significant maritime commercial power, Tyre is likened to a seaworthy ship that her builders or skilled craftsmen had made perfect in beauty. (27:4; see the Notes section.) “All the planks” were made of evergreen trees from Senir or Mount Hermon. The skilled workers used a “cedar from Lebanon” to construct the “mast.” (27:5) They fashioned the oars from big trees or oaks obtained from Bashan, a region in the northern part of the area on the west side of the Jordan and which was known for its thriving forests. Possibly the “board” made with “ivory” could describe the deck or the bridge as having sections that were beautified with inlays of ivory. The Septuagint identifies the items made of ivory as “holy things.” According to the Hebrew text, the “board,” deck, or bridge was constructed from the wood (possibly box-tree wood) obtained from the coasts of Kittim” or Cyprus. The obscure Septuagint rendering appears to refer to “wooden houses from the islands of the Chettiin.” (27:6)
Variegated or patterned fine linen from Egypt served as the sail of the ship that represented Tyre. This distinctive sail appears to be described as an “ensign” or banner that rose above the ship. The “covering” or awning for the deck of this vessel consisted of blue and purple material from the “islands” or “coasts” of Elishah (Italy [Targum]). (27:7; see the Notes section.)
Men residing in Sidon (an ancient major Phoenician city that has been linked to modern Saida) and Arvad (a location that has been identified with Arwad, a small island a short distance from the coast of northern Syria) were rowers of the ship, and sages or skilled men of Tyre piloted it. (27:8; see the Notes section.)
“Elders of Gebal” and sages or skilled men from there (considered to have been the ancient Byblos that has been linked to modern Jebeil on the Mediterranean coast) are described as the ones doing the caulking of the vessel’s seams or leaks. According to the Septuagint rendering, these men “strengthened” or supported the counsel of Tyre. The city itself was a major center of trade, with “all the ships of the sea and their mariners” there bartering for her merchandise. (27:9; see the Notes section.)
Tyre had the assistance of warriors from Persia (Paras), Lud (Lydians [LXX]), and Put (Libyans [LXX]). Individually, these mercenaries in the Tyrian military force from distant Persia to the east and north Africa to the southwest hung “shield and helmet” in Tyre and, as valiant fighters, added “splendor” or fame to the city. (27:10)
“Sons [or men] of Arvad,” besides serving as skilled rowers (27:8), were in position all around the walls of Tyre as part of the “army,” and “valorous men” (or “Gammadites” [“men of Gammad”]) were stationed in or on the towers. The warriors “hung their shields round about” the city walls. As valiant defenders of Tyre, the warriors perfected the beauty of Tyre. Another possible meaning is that, by hanging their shields on the walls, they made the beauty of Tyre complete. (27:11; see the Notes section.)
Ancient Tarshish has been linked to the Iberian Peninsula. Silver, iron, tin, and lead were mined there, and the merchants of Tyre traded goods for these metals. The Septuagint includes “gold” as another one of the metals and identifies those with whom Tyre engaged in commercial activity as Carthaginians, people living on the coast of northwestern Africa. (27:12)
Tyre traded with Javan, Tubal, and Meshech, receiving slaves (“souls of man”) and copper or bronze items from these regions. Javan has been identified with Greece, and the Septuagint rendering is “Hellas” or Greece. Tubal is considered to have been in eastern Asia Minor to the northeast of Cilicia, and Meshech also has been linked to Asia Minor. The Septuagint does not include a reference to Tubal and Meshech. It says, “Hellas [Greece] and the whole [of the land] and the adjacent [regions].” (27:13)
For their wares, the Tyrians received horses, horsemen or steeds, and mules from Beth-togarmah or the house of Togarmah. Greek manuscripts contain various spellings for “Togarmah” — Thergama, Thaigrama, Thorgama, and Thegram (P967). Togarmah has been associated with the Armenians who were anciently known for their horses and mules. (27:14)
“Sons [or people] of Dedan” traded with Tyre. Many islands or coastlands are identified as traders of Tyre’s “hand,” probably meaning in the service or under the control of the city. The people of Dedan appear to have resided in a region near Edom in the northwestern part of Arabia. They brought ivory tusks (literally, “horns of ivory”) and ebony (the black or dark brown inner heartwood believed to have been obtained from Diospyros ebenum) as a “gift” (tribute or payment) to Tyre. (27:15; see the Notes section.)
The Masoretic Text identifies “Aram” as a trading partner of Tyre “because of the abundance of [her] works” or the abundance of available wares that were the product of commercial activity. Instead of “Aram,” numerous Hebrew manuscripts say “Edom,” and the Septuagint rendering is “men” (evidently because the Hebrew noun was read as ’adhám). For the merchandise of Tyre, the Edomites or the Syrians traded emeralds or turqoise, material that was dyed purple, variegated cloth, fine linen, corals, and rubies. (27:16; see the Notes section.)
“Judah and the land [sons or people (LXX)] of Israel” (the former territory of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel) were involved in trade with Tyre. For their merchandise, the Tyrians received “wheat of Minnith” (a place east of the southern end of the Jordan River), pannag (probably a food product, perhaps milled grain), honey, olive oil, and balsam. The Septuagint lists a number of other products — myrrh, cassia, and “first honey” (possibly honey of the best quality). (27:17)
Damascus, the Syrian city, participated in commercial activity with Tyre for the abundance of the city’s “works,” or the many products available there, and the greatness of all its wealth. The merchants from Damascus traded in “wine of Helbon” (Thebes [in Egypt], P967). Ancient Helbon (Chelbon [LXX]) has been linked to a site not far to the northwest of Damascus. There is uncertainty about the meaning of the Hebrew word tsachár that describes the wool. The word has been rendered “white,” “reddish gray,” and Zahar (a place that has not been identified with any known site, with the name itself being a transliteration of the Hebrew designation). The Septuagint says “wine from Miletus,” a city on the west coast of Asia Minor. (27:18; see the Notes section.)
“Vedan and Javan from Uzal” traded wrought iron, cassia, and calamus for the merchandise of Tyre. There is uncertainty about the location of Vedan. It has been linked to a site near Medina in the Arabian Peninsula. There also is a possibility that the rendering could be “And Dan.” One cannot be certain about the significance of the designation “Javan from Uzal,” for Javan is commonly associated with Greece. Perhaps the reference is to a Greek colony that was located in the Arabian Peninsula or in Syria (if Uzal is to be identified with the region of Izalla). Modern translations vary considerably in their renderings. “Javan exchanged wrought iron, cassia, and aomatic cane from Uzal for your wares.” (NAB, revised edition) “They offered wine from Helbon, wool from Zahar [27:18] and casks of wine from Izal in exchange for your wares: wrought iron, cassia and calamus.” (NIV) “Dan and Javan, from Uzal onwards, supplied you with wrought iron, cassia and reeds in exchange for your goods.” (NJB) (27:19; see the Notes section for the Septuagint rendering of verses 18 and 19.)
Dedan traded with Tyre for saddlecloths. (See verse 15.) According to the Septuagint, Tyre obtained choice animals for chariots from Dedan (Daidan). (27:20)
“Arabia” [or men from there] and all the princes [or chieftains] of Kedar” (probably a region in the northwestern area of the Arabian Peninsula) were traders in the “hand” of Tyre or closely associated with the city’s commercial enterprises. From them, the merchants of Tyre received lambs, rams, and goats. The Septuagint says, “camels and rams and lambs.” (27:21)
Merchants from Sheba (Saba [LXX]) and Raamah (Ragmah [LXX]) traded with Tyre. From them, Tyre received the best of all kinds of spices or aromatics (“first” spices or aromatics [LXX], likely meaning the best of these products), all sorts of precious stones, and gold. Sheba probably was a region in southwestern Arabia, and Raamah may have been in the same general area. (27:22)
Other merchants who came to Tyre included those from Haran, Canneh, and Eden, “traders of Sheba,” Asshur and Chilmad. Haran was located in upper Mesopotamia, as likely also were Canneh and Eden. “Traders of Sheba” are considered to have come from the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The location of Chilmad is unknown. It may have been situated in the same region as Asshur, a place that has been identified with a site on the west bank of the Tigris. (27:23; see the Notes section.) There is a measure of uncertainty about the specific items traders from the previously mentioned places brought to Tyre. This is evident from the various renderings found in modern translations. “These were your merchants in choice fabrics, embroidered cloaks of blue, and many-colored carpets tied up with cords and preserved with cedar.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “They sold you luxurious clothing, purple cloth, and embroidery, brightly colored carpets, and well-made cords and ropes.” (TEV) “They were your dealers in choice stuffs: violet cloths and brocades, in stores of coloured fabric rolled up and tied with cords.” (REB) “They traded rich clothes, embroidered and purple cloaks, multi-coloured materials and strong plaited cords for your markets.” (NJB) “They gave you expensive clothing, purple and embroidered cloth, brightly-colored rugs, and strong rope.” (CEV) The Septuagint rendering indicates that the merchants brought hyacinth-colored material, choice treasures or specialties that were bound with cords, and cypress wood or products made from cypress wood. (27:24; see the Notes section.)
“Ships of Tarshish,” vessels fit for navigating the entire Mediterranean Sea to the distant Iberian Peninsula, sailed from Tyre. Apparently these ships were laden with goods to be traded and then would return with a full load of imports on the “heart of the seas” ([sea (LXX), likely meaning far out on the Mediterranean). According to the Septuagint, Carthaginians were the merchants in these ships. (27:25; also see verse 12 and the Notes section.)
Tyre is apparently represented as a ship, and the rowers of this ship have brought it into “great seas” (the high sea [many waters [LXX]). There “in the heart of the seas” (“sea” [LXX], likely meaning far out on the Mediterranean), the “east wind” wrecked the ship that represented Tyre. According to the Septuagint, it was the “south wind.” The “wind” may be understood to designate the strong military force that would be coming against Tyre. The warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar did come from the east, and the hot searing wind from the east proved to be ruinous. It dried up the vegetation. The Targum interprets the reference to be to a “king as mighty as the east wind.” Possibly, because the book of Ezekiel was translated in Egypt, where the south wind is the destructive wind, “east wind” was changed to “south wind.” (27:26)
“In the day,” or at the time, Tyre would be overthrown or be wrecked like a ship during a violent storm, everything and everyone would be lost — riches, wares, merchandise, mariners, captains, pilots, or sailors, caulkers of seams or leaks (“counselors” [LXX]), traders in merchandise, all the warriors of Tyre, and all the company in the midst of the city. All this would “sink into the heart of the seas” (“sea” [LXX]) or like a vessel far out at sea. (27:27)
With Tyre becoming like a wrecked vessel that could no longer navigate, the trading partners in other regions would be impacted adversely. Captains, pilots, or sailors would cry out in great distress. Like a powerful earthquake, the very loud sound of their cry would rock the land along the coast. According to the Septuagint, the outcry would be that of Tyre, and it would cause the pilots, captains, or sailors to become terrified (literally, “fear with fear”). (27:28) Rowers, mariners, captains, pilots, or sailors would leave their ships and stand on the land or shore as unemployed men. (27:29) They would wail over Tyre, letting their voice be heard, and would cry out bitterly. In expression of their grief, they would “cast dust on their heads and wallow in ashes,” suggesting that they would seat themselves on ashes. (27:30) Other expressions of grief over Tyre would include shaving off the hair (literally, balding with baldness), putting on sackcloth (a coarse cloth that was worn around the loins over the bare skin), and weeping “in bitterness of soul” (a bitterness affecting their entire being), accompanied “with bitter wailing.” (27:31; see the Notes section.)
The “sons” of those who would mourn over the overthrow of Tyre are represented as raising a lament over the city, saying, “Who [is] like Tyre, like one silenced in the midst of the sea?” For Tyre to be brought to silence would mean the end of all activity in the city. It would be transformed into a desolate place. (27:32; see the Notes section.)
Wares from Tyre came to regions all around the Mediterranean Sea, supplying goods that many peoples wanted. Therefore, these peoples were satisfied with what they received. With the abundance of the wealth in Tyre’s possession and the mixed goods or the merchandise that was made available, Tyre enriched “kings of the earth,” or the rulers of the various regions where Tyrian merchants engaged in trade. (27:33; see the Notes section.)
The dirge continues regarding Tyre under the figure of a ship. “Now you are broken by the seas [in the sea (LXX)], in the depths of waters [depth of water (LXX)]. Your merchandise and all your company in your midst have fallen [or sunk].” The fate of Tyre was comparable to that of a ship that is wrecked during a severe storm and sinks with its entire cargo and crew. (27:34; see the Notes section.)
Everyone who would come to know about the overthrow of Tyre would be shocked and terrified. All those residing on the islands or in coastal regions would stare at fallen Tyre in astonishment. Kings or rulers would tremble in horror, recognizing that they were far more vulnerable to conquest than strongly fortified Tyre had been. The “faces” of everyone would take on a greatly troubled or fearful appearance. According to the Septuagint, tears ran down the faces of the kings (literally, “their face wept”). (27:35)
“Traders among the peoples” would whistle or hiss at fallen Tyre, doing so likely out of fear and shock. The overthrow of Tyre would be so unexpected that the fallen city would give rise to “horrors” or “terrors,” possibly because of making people aware that they could suffer the same fate. Tyre would cease to exist as the city it had once been. For all time to come, Tyre would never again function as the prominent trading center in the region. The Septuagint says regarding Tyre, “You have become destruction, and no longer will you be into the age [or in all time to come].” Numerous modern translations have similarly rendered the Hebrew word that may be translated “horrors.” “You have come to a horrible end.” (NIV) “Destruction has come on you.” (REB) “You have come to a dreadful end.” (NRSV) (27:36)
Notes
In verse 2, the oldest extant Greek text (P967) reads, “And you, son of man.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 4 translates the Hebrew word that is understood to mean “territories” or “borders” as “Beelim.” (“In the heart of the sea of Beelim, your sons have clothed you with beauty.” [Or, according to another reading: “In the heart of the sea, your sons have clothed you with beauty for Beelim.”)
It is not possible to make a positive identification of the region that was called “Elishah.” (Verse 7) The Septuagint contains a transliteration of the Hebrew designation, but the wording departs from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It indicates that the fine linen served as bedding or bed covering and that the hyacinth and purple material functioned as apparel for Tyre. Seemingly, both the fine linen and the hyacinth and purple cloth wrapped Tyre with “glory” or magnificence.
In verse 8, the Septuagint begins with the words “your rulers” or “the rulers” (P967), and they are then identified as men inhabiting Sidon.
Verse 9 of the Septuagint appears to indicate that “all the ships of the sea and their rowers” reached the remotest west (literally, “west of the west”).
Modern translations vary in their renderings of verse 11. Often the words that may be translated “and your army” (NRSV, footnote) and “valorous men” are rendered as proper nouns. “The sons of Arvad with their army manned your walls all round, while the Gammadians manned your towers; hanging their shields all round your walls, they completed your beauty.” (NJB) “Soldiers from Arvad guarded your walls, and men from Gamad guarded your towers. They hung their shields on your walls. They are the men who made you beautiful.” (TEV) “The men of Arvad and Helech were on your walls all around and Gamadites on your towers; they hung their shields around your walls, they made your beauty perfect.” (NAB, revised edition) “Men of Arvad and Cilicia manned your walls on every side, men of Gammad were posted on your towers; they arrayed their bucklers around your battlements, making your beauty perfect.” (REB) “Your guards came from Arvad and Cilicia, and men from Gamad stood watch in your towers. With their weapons hung on your walls, your beauty was complete.” (CEV) The wording of the Septuagint differs somewhat from the reading of the extant Hebrew text, but it does not support the renderings “Helech” or “Cilicia” and “men of Gammad.” “Sons of Aradians and your [military] force upon your walls were guards in your towers. They hung their quivers round about on your harbor walls. They perfected your beauty.”
Instead of “sons of Dedan,” the Septuagint (in verse 15) says “sons of Rhodians [Aradians (Codex Alexandrinus)].” This suggests that the translator read the initial Hebrew letter daleth as a resh. According to the Septuagint, the Rhodians were merchants of Tyre who increased the city’s trade. It appears that Tyre was involved in exchanging wages, or gain from commerce, for ivory tusks.
There is considerable uncertainty about the meaning of the Hebrew words that are rendered “emeralds” or “turquoise” and “rubies” in verse 16. The Septuagint wording departs significantly from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It indicates that, besides dealing in numerous products of trade, Tyre was the market for “men,” evidently slaves. From Tharsis, Tyre received “oil of myrrh” and variegated material, and Ramoth and Chorchor supplied goods for her market.
For the wording of verses 18 and 19, Greek manuscripts vary and differ somewhat from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. “Damascus [was] your trader on account of the abundance of all your power. Wine [came] from Chelbon and wool from Miletus [27:18], and wine they delivered to your market. From Asel [came] iron for working [implements (or wrought iron)], and a wheel is [wheels are] among your sundries.” The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967] refers to “wine from Asel.” A new sentence then starts with the words, “They delivered iron for working [implements] to your market …”
In verse 23, the Septuagint refers to traders from four locations — Charran (Haran), Channa (Canneh, but Chanaan [Canaan] in P967 and Codex Alexandrinus), Assour (Asshur) and Charman (Charma [P967]).
The reading of the oldest extant Greek manuscript links cypress wood (verse 24) to ships (“in cypress ships” [ships made from cypress wood]).
In verse 25, the Septuagint, after the reference to Carthaginians as merchants for Tyre, seems to represent the city as a ship that was filled with merchandise, “exceedingly loaded down in the heart of the sea.”
The words of verse 31 are missing from the Septuagint.
Modern translations (in verse 32) commonly do not retain the rendering “their sons.” Printed Hebrew texts on which they are based contain a footnote suggesting that “their sons” may be a gloss. The reason given for deleting “their sons” is, “on account of the metre.” The Septuagint, however, includes “their sons,” and the words are not omitted in the oldest extant Greek text (P967). It says, “And their sons will raise a lamentation over you and a wailing for you [Sor (Codex Vaticanus); Tyre (P967)].” It may be noted that the prophecy regarding Tyre had a progressive fulfillment. Therefore, “sons” or descendants of those who mourned over what befell Tyre during the siege of the warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar could well have been among those who mourned after Alexander the Great and his military force conquered and devastated the island city of Tyre.
In the Septuagint, the wording of verse 33 begins with the question, “How great a wage did you find from the sea?” The reference apparently is to profit from trade conducted with ships loaded with goods and which plied the Mediterranean. Regarding Tyre, the verse continues, “You filled nations from your abundance, and you enriched all the kings of the earth from your mixed goods.”
Regarding Tyre, verse 34 in the Septuagint concludes with the words, “all your rowers,” indicating that they had fallen.
YHWH’s “word” or message again came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (28:1) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message was for the prince or ruler of Tyre (Hebrew, tsor; Tyre [LXX]). “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Because your heart [is] proud and you say, I [am] a god; in the seat of gods, I sit in the heart of the seas” (sea [LXX], possibly meaning in a secure position as one surrounded by the protective barrier of water). “And you [are] a man, and not a god, and you make your heart like the heart of a god.” The reference to the “heart” may be understood to indicate that the ruler of Tyre imagined in his inner self that he possessed the wisdom associated with the “heart” or inmost being of a god. Although a mere mortal, the ruler of Tyre felt secure and not limited in carrying out his enterprises and plans and, therefore, viewed himself as being the equal of a deity. The Targum says about him, “no need of you exists,” indicating that he was not indispensable. (28:2)
The initial “look” focuses attention on the ruler of Tyre, identifying him as “wiser than Daniel.” This could mean that he regarded himself as the man who was wiser. Although a contemporary of Ezekiel, Daniel apparently had become well known for his wisdom. Those who do not believe the book of Daniel to be historical conjecture that the Daniel mentioned in the book of Ezekiel is some well-known folk hero. They point to the fact that the spelling of the name is different. There is no yod (Y) and so the name may be read as “Danel.” Different spellings for the same name, however, are not uncommon. One example is that there are two spellings for the Babylonian monarch who conquered Jerusalem — “Nebuchadnezzar” and “Nebuchadrezzar.” (2 Kings 24:1; Jeremiah 21:2) Like Daniel who came to be known for revealing mysteries, the prince of Tyre is identified as one from whom no secret was hidden or one who imagined that to be the case. The Septuagint rendering implies that the ruler of Tyre was not wiser than Daniel. “Are you wiser than Daniel? Have not the sages instructed you in their knowledge?” (28:3; see the Notes section)
With the application of his wisdom and understanding relating to trade, the ruler of Tyre had acquired wealth for himself and amassed gold and silver in his treasuries. The Septuagint rendering suggests that it was not by his knowledge and prudence that the ruler of Tyre had gained power and filled his treasuries with gold and silver. (28:4)
By the abundance of his wisdom or skill in trade, the ruler of Tyre had increased his wealth, and his wealth caused him to be arrogant in his “heart” or his inmost self. The Septuagint expresses the thought somewhat differently. “By the abundance of your wisdom and your trade, did you increase your power? Did your heart become arrogant [by reason of] your power?” (28:5)
“Therefore” (in view of the attitude of the ruler of Tyre), the Lord YHWH declared, “Because you make your heart like the heart of gods [god or a god (LXX), 28:6], therefore, look, I will bring foreigners against you, terror-inspiring nations, and they will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom [against you and the beauty of your knowledge (LXX)] and defile your splendor [bring down your beauty to destruction (LXX)].” (28:7) The reference to making the heart like the heart of gods may be understood to mean that the ruler of Tyre imagined himself to be the equal of a god because of what he had accomplished by his wisdom or skill. (28:6) Therefore, YHWH purposed to use the warriors of various nations (“foreign pests from the nations” [LXX]) or ruthless warriors from the nations) to punish him for his haughtiness and to bring about his downfall. His wisdom or skill would then prove to be useless, no longer beautiful or splendid, and the ruler’s own splendor or magnificence would be defiled or would cease to exist. (28:7; see the Notes section.) The terror-inspiring foreign warriors would bring him down “into the pit” or the realm of the dead. “In the heart of the seas [sea (LXX)]” or on the high seas, he would die the death like those of the mortally wounded. (28:8)
“Before the face” or in the presence of those who would be slaying him, would the ruler of Tyre still say, “I [am] a god” even though he was but a “man and not a god in the hand [or power] of those wounding [him]?” The implied answer is, No. (28:9) According to the declaration of the Lord YHWH, the ruler of Tyre would die the “death of the uncircumcised at the hand of foreigners.” This indicated that he would perish in dishonor as a man who had no favorable standing among God’s people. He would die at the hand of foreign warriors. The Septuagint rendering could be understood to mean that he would perish “among the crowd of the uncircumcised” at the “hands of foreigners [foreign hands (P967)].” (28:10)
Again YHWH’s word or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (28:11) Addressed as “son of man,” or as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, Ezekiel was told to raise a lamentation or dirge over the “king of Tyre and say to him, Thus says the Lord YHWH, You [were] sealing proportion [whatever has the right proportion and, therefore, that which is flawless or perfect].” He is then described as “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.” The “sealing” could be understood to indicate that the king, in his own person, put a confirmatory seal on what constituted one who was in possession of wisdom and beauty or splendor. In the Septuagint, he appears to be represented as a seal impression of a likeness or pattern and is referred to as a “crown of beauty.” Modern translations vary in their renderings of the Hebrew participle that means “sealing.” “You set the seal on perfection.” (REB) “You were a seal of perfection.” (NAB, revised edition) “You were the model of perfection.” (NLT) “You were once an example of perfection.” (TEV) (28:12)
The king of Tyre is represented as having been “in Eden, the garden of God” (“in the delight of the paradise of God” [LXX]). This may be descriptive of the ideal location of Tyre. To the east of the city rose the Lebanon Range, with its magnificent cedars. On the well-watered lower mountain slopes closest to Tyre, grain, grapevines, and fruit and nut trees flourished. The king was impressively arrayed in splendid garments and magnificently adorned. He appeared as a man covered with precious and semi-precious stones — carnelian or ruby, topaz, beryl, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise or garnet, and emerald. The settings and sockets were gold. Possibly the words “your settings and your sockets in you” may indicate that the precious and semi-precious stones were mounted in gold settings. The “day” the king was created perhaps refers to the day he was installed as king (or when the Tyrian dynasty had its start), and it would have been then that he was given magnificent royal apparel and the dazzling ornamentation that had been prepared for him. Another interpretation found in modern translations identifies the “day” as the when the future king was born. The day of birth, however, does not fit the context, for the reference is not to a specific king of Tyre but to the Tyrian dynasty or line of monarchs. (28:13; see the Notes section.)
There is a question as to whether the king of Tyre is identified as being a “cherub, an anointed one,” one that is “covering” as with outstretched wings or whether he is represented as being with this cherub. Depending on the vowel pointing, the first word preceding “cherub” either means “you” or “with the.” If the reference is to the king of Tyre as the cherub, he would have been “anointed” or installed as ruler, and in his official capacity he would have been like a cherub, providing protection for his subjects. In the Targum, there is no reference to a cherub. Regarding the king of Tyre, it says that he was “anointed for a kingdom” and that God had given him greatness. The Hebrew text portrays the king of Tyre as being “on the holy mountain of God” and walking about “in the midst of stones of fire.” Possibly this imagery serves to express the secure position in which the king of Tyre found himself as if under divine protection and able to walk about on glowing coals without experiencing any harm. Another possible meaning for the expression “stones of fire” is made explicit in a number of modern translations. “You lived on my holy mountain and walked among sparkling gems.” (TEV) “You walked among gems that dazzled like fire.” (CEV) “You walked among the gems that shined like fire.” (NCV) The Targum contains an interpretation that significantly departs from the wording of the Hebrew text. It says that the king of Tyre looked with contempt upon the holy mountain (where YHWH’s temple was located) and wanted to exercise dominion over the “holy people” or God’s own people. (28:14; see the Notes section regarding the Septuagint rendering.)
During the reigns of kings David and Solomon, the king of Tyre or the ruling dynasty, was on friendly terms with the nation of Israel. (2 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 5:1-12; 1 Chronicles 14:1; 2 Chronicles 2:3-16) Possibly it is with reference to this early time that the king of Tyre is referred to as “blameless” in his “ways from the day” he was “created.” That circumstance changed, and the Tyrian dynasty became hostile to the Israelites. (Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:9, 10) It was then that “iniquity was found” in the king of Tyre. (28:15)
The abundance of the trade carried out under the direction of the king of Tyre “filled [his] midst with violence [storerooms with lawlessness (LXX)], and [he] sinned.” He made himself guilty of the violent and sinful acts that were linked to commerce. This would have included failure to live up to agreements, fraudulent commercial transactions, and the cruelty and abuses associated with the slave trade. (Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:9, 10) As a consequence, he would be deprived of his secure position on the “mountain of God.” The significance of the next phrase about the “cherub” depends upon whether the king of Tyre is regarded as the cherub or whether the king of Tyre was “with the cherub.” Both meanings are found in modern translations. “I [YHWH] have destroyed you, O shielding cherub, from among the stones of fire.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “I have thrown you down from the mountain of God and destroyed you, guardian winged creature, amid the coals.” (NJB) “The guardian cherub banished you from among the stones that flashed like fire.” (REB) “The cherub drove you out from among the fiery stones.” (NAB, revised edition) According to the Septuagint, the king of Tyre was “wounded from the mountain of God, and the cherub led [him] out from the midst of the fiery stones.” The oldest extant Greek text (P967) indicates that the “cherub” led him in a wounded state “from the mountain of God.” (28:16)
The king of Tyre’s “beauty,” or the grandeur, prosperity, and luxury that he enjoyed, made him arrogant in his “heart” or his inmost self. He corrupted his “wisdom,” skill, or expertise in commercial ventures because of the splendor he came to possess and which caused him to have an exalted view of himself and to act in senseless or evil ways. Therefore, YHWH determined to cast him down from his lofty position. Before the “face of kings” or before them, YHWH would place him in a debased condition so that they might gaze upon him. According to the Septuagint, the divine objective was for the king of Tyre to become an “example,” apparently a warning example. (28:17)
Through the “unrighteousness” or dishonesty of his commerce, the king of Tyre incurred great guilt, causing his sanctuaries to be profaned. Part of the ill-gotten gains would have been presented as gifts or offerings to the deities that were worshiped in these sanctuaries and thus would have defiled them. On account of the corruption, YHWH purposed to use the instrument of his choosing to bring severe punishment upon the king of Tyre and his subjects. It would be as if a fire burst forth from the king of Tyre (as he was responsible for fraudulent practices that led to retribution) and then consumed him. He would come to his end as if the fire had reduced him to ashes on the ground “before the eyes of everyone seeing” him. According to the Septuagint, God would bring the “fire from the midst” of the king of Tyre, and he would reduce him to ashes upon the ground. The Targum indicates that God would bring nations as strong as fire against the king of Tyre, and they would destroy him. (28:18)
Everyone among the peoples who knew the king of Tyre would be aghast. He would become “terrors” (“destruction” [LXX]). This could mean that the king of Tyre would come to a frightful end. Another possible significance could be that his downfall would terrify those who came to know about it, for it would lead them to conclude that they could suffer the same fate because their position was less secure than his had been. The king of Tyre (or the Tyrian dynasty) would cease to exist for all time to come. The Targum says that God would make him as if he had never existed. (28:19)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message came to Ezekiel. The Targum refers to this message as a “word of prophecy from before the Lord.” (28:20) Addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, Ezekiel was told to set his “face toward Sidon,” focusing his attention on Sidon, and then to prophesy against the city. Sidon was a prominent seaport about 22 miles (c. 35 kilometers) north of Tyre. Although Tyre had been a Sidonian colony, it became more prominent than Sidon, the former principal Phoenician city. (28:21)
Ezekiel was directed to quote the words of the Lord YHWH, “Look, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will be glorified in your midst, and they will know that I am YHWH when I execute judgments in her and I am sanctified [or reveal my holiness] in her.” The initial “look” served to focus attention on what YHWH was about to do. His action against Sidon by means of the instrument of his choosing would glorify him as the only true God who fulfills his word as made known through his prophets. Everyone who would come to know about the execution of the previously announced punitive judgments against Sidon would know or come to recognize this. The holiness of YHWH would be revealed, for the merited judgment would demonstrate that he, the holy God, will punish those who persist in acting corruptly or lawlessly. (28:22)
The punitive judgment against Sidon would come in the form of a military attack. This would take place by YHWH’s permission and, therefore, he is quoted as declaring that he would be sending “pestilence” (“death” [LXX]) into Sidon and blood into the streets of the city. The inhabitants of Sidon would be weakened from lack of food and would have to endure under the unsanitary conditions that siege created, causing pestilence or infectious disease to spread among them. Once the enemy warriors entered the city, they would slay the defenders and the people, causing blood to be spilled in the streets. Those slain with the sword coming from every side would “fall in the midst” of Sidon. All who would be affected or come to know about these developments would “know” or come to recognize that the Lord YHWH is the God who unfailingly carries out his previously announced judgment and does not tolerate wickedness indefinitely. (28:23)
YHWH’s punitive judgment against the enemies of his people would result in relief for them. No longer would the “house” or people of Israel have to be subjected to those who would harm them like briers and thorns that tear into the flesh. YHWH’s people would no more be treated with contempt among hostile neighboring peoples. At that time, they would know or come to recognize that the Lord YHWH is the God who had fulfilled his word. (28:24)
Through Ezekiel, the Lord YHWH made known that he would gather the “house” or people of Israel from among the peoples in the various regions where they had been scattered as exiles. Among his restored people, YHWH would be sanctified “in the sight of the nations,” for people of other nations would come to recognize that he had made this restoration possible. The people of Israel would again reside in their own land, the very land that he had “given” to his “servant Jacob,” the forefather of the Israelites. YHWH’s promise that the descendants of Jacob would be given the land of Canaan was so certain of fulfillment that Jacob is identified the one who received the land. (28:25)
The Israelites would reside in security (“in hope” [LXX]) on their God-given land and build houses and plant vineyards there. They would be able to dwell there securely (“in hope” [LXX]) upon the execution of YHWH’s judgments against all surrounding peoples who had treated them with contempt. The fulfillment would mean that his people would “know” or come to recognize that he is the true God (“and the God of their fathers” [LXX, but not in P967] who can be relied upon to fulfill his word and who will execute punitive judgment upon those who act contrary to his will. (28:26)
Notes
A number of modern translations render the words of verse 3 in a manner that suggests that the prince of Tyre was not wiser than Daniel. “You think you’re wiser than Daniel and know everything.” (CEV) “What, are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret beyond your grasp?” (REB) Oh yes, you are wiser than Daniel, nothing secret is too obscure for you!” (NAB, revised edition) “You think you are wiser than Danel, that no secret can be kept from you.” (TEV)
In verse 7, the oldest extant Greek text (P967) does not include the words “you and,” but corresponds to the reading of the Masoretic Text. The Targum refers to the “adornment of your wisdom,” suggesting that the ruler of Tyre did not possess real wisdom. There was only a pretended wisdom, comparable to an attractive covering that hid the reality.
There is uncertainty about which precious and semi-precious stones the Hebrew words found in verse 13 designate. The Greek terms may be rendered sardius, topaz, emerald, carbuncle, sapphire, jasper, silver, gold (but P967 omits “silver and gold”), ligyrion (stone of Liguria), agate, amethyst, chrysolite, beryl, and onyx. Regarding the king of Tyre, the Septuagint continues, “With gold, you filled your treasuries and the coffers by you.” The Targum provides a different interpretation. It represents the king of Tyre as delighting himself in his great prosperity and luxury as if he were residing in “Eden, the garden of the Lord.” Instead of mentioning gems, the Targum says that the king was granted riches, grandeur, and honor, with these being his adornment. The “settings” and “sockets” are identified as those of the king’s body — the orifices and organs on which his life depended. From the “day” he was created, these orifices and organs were prepared for him.
Considerable uncertainty exists whether the Hebrew word shóham designates onyx. Here, in verse 13, the rendering onyx has the support of the Septuagint, but the Septuagint is inconsistent in how it renders shóham where it is found in the Hebrew text (berýllion [beryl], ónyx, prasinos [“light green” stone], sárdion [sardius], smáragdos [“bright green” stone, probably emerald], and soóm [possibly carnelian]).
The wording of verse 14 in the Septuagint could be rendered, “With the cherub, I placed you on the holy mountain of God. In the midst of the fiery stones, you came to be.” There is a possibility that the Septuagint translator was governed by what he knew about ancient Tyre. If that is the case, the king’s being “with the cherub” could mean that he was under the protection of the principal deity of Tyre, Melqart (Melkart, Melkarth). On ancient Tyrian coins, this deity is depicted as riding a winged creature, a hippocampus (a mythological creature with the upper part of a horse and the lower part of a fish). The expression “mountain of God” could mean “great mountain,” a mountain that the worshipers of Melqart would have regarded as holy.
YHWH’s “word” or message (a “word of prophecy” [Targum]) again came to Ezekiel. It was then the twelfth day of the tenth month (mid-December to mid-January) in the tenth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin. This is commonly considered to have been the beginning of the year 587 BCE. (29:1)
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. He was to “set [his] face toward Pharaoh the king of Egypt,” focusing his attention on him, and to “prophesy against him and against all Egypt.” The fulfillment of the prophetic message would impact him and all of his subjects. (29:2)
The message for Pharaoh was, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I am against you, Pharaoh the king of Egypt, the great dragon lying in the midst of his streams, who says, My Nile is [the streams are (LXX)] my own, and I made” it (“them” [LXX]). As at other times, the initial “look” serves to direct attention to the message. The “streams” may designate the water flowing through the irrigation canals along the Nile or the rivulets of the Nile Delta that have their source in the water of the Nile. Possibly because Pharaoh, as the ruler, exercised total dominion over Egypt, including the Nile on which the populace depended for water, he is portrayed as a “great dragon” or sea monster, perhaps a crocodile, lying in the midst of the streams. He is depicted as proudly claiming the Nile as being his own, apparently because it was a major and vital part of the land over which he ruled. Pharaoh did not literally make the Nile, but the irrigation system along the Nile would have been constructed and maintained at his direction. It may be from this standpoint that the words “I have made” could be understood. The interpretation of the Targum has Pharaoh saying that the kingdom belonged to him and that he had conquered. (29:3)
YHWH purposed to express his punitive judgment against Pharaoh. He would deal with him as if he were a dragon or sea monster, placing “hooks” (literally, “thorns”) in his jaws and then pulling him up “from the midst of [its] streams.” At the same time, the fish that YHWH represented himself as making cling to the sea monster would also be pulled up. These “fish” probably designate the subjects of Pharaoh. (29:4) Once having forcibly removed him from the water, YHWH represents himself as casting the “great dragon” or sea monster and “all the fish” into the “wilderness.” The sea monster would “fall upon the open field” and perish, remaining without being gathered or buried and becoming food for beasts and carrion-eating birds. (29:5)
In view of their punitive judgment that was made known through YHWH’s prophet, all the Egyptians would come to “know” or recognize YHWH as the God who fulfills his word. Through their kings, the people of the kingdom of Judah had come to be allied with the Egyptians for military assistance to assure their security. The Egyptians, however, were but a “staff of a reed to the house of Israel.” Although appearing to be sturdy, the main part of a reed is weak and breaks easily under the pressure of weight. The Egyptian military force simply was not strong enough to provide security from the warriors under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (29:6) When the people of the kingdom of Judah sought to support themselves on the Egyptians as on a reed, looking to them for military aid, the reed broke and put every shoulder out of joint. Upon leaning on the Egyptians as if they happened to be a reed, this reed broke and caused all the loins or hips of the people of the kingdom of Judah to become unsteady. The Septuagint says, “You broke every loin of theirs.” The Targum indicates that the Egyptians could not be a reliable protector of the people in the realm of the kingdom of Judah. (29:7)
The Lord YHWH declared, “Look, I am bringing a sword upon you and will cut off man and beast from you.” The introductory “look” serves to draw attention to what YHWH was about to do. In the form of the military force under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar, YHWH would bring a sword upon Egypt. That “sword” of warfare would slay man and beast. (29:8) The land of Egypt would become a desolated region and a waste. At that time the Egyptians would know YHWH as the God who had fulfilled the message of judgment that Ezekiel had previously made known regarding Egypt and its ruler, Pharaoh. Punishment was certain to come, for Pharaoh had arrogantly claimed that the Nile was (the “streams” [LXX] or the irrigation canals were) his and that he had made it (“them” [LXX]) . (29:9)
YHWH is quoted as identifying himself as being against Pharaoh and against his “streams,” either the irrigation canals or the rivulets of the Nile Delta, and declaring that he would reduce the “land of Egypt” (Mizraim) to “waste [areas] of desolation from Migdol to Syene as far as the border of Ethiopia” (Cush). Migdol may have been a prominent frontier city in northern Egypt (Magdolos [LXX], possibly a site not far from Pelusium [Tel el Farame]), whereas Syene was located at the southern extremity of the country. Syene has been linked to Aswan. The Septuagint says, “I will make [literally, give] the land of Egypt into a wilderness and [give it to] a sword and [for] destruction.” (29:10) Through the desolated region, no “foot of man and foot of beast” would pass. The region would remain uninhabited for forty years. No extant ancient history refers to this forty-year period of continued devastation. Therefore, it cannot be definitively established whether this occurred after the conquest by King Nebuchadnezzar and his troops or took place subsequent to another military campaign against Egypt. (29:11)
YHWH represented himself as making Egypt (Mizraim) a “desolation in the midst of [other] desolated lands” and Egyptian cities “in the midst of [other] cities” that had been reduced to ruins. The desolation would be for “forty years.” Egyptians who survived the enemy military campaign would be scattered among the nations and dispersed among various lands. According to the Targum, YHWH declared, “I will exile the Egyptians.” (29:12) The Lord YHWH made known that, after the forty years of continued devastation, he would gather the “Egyptians from the peoples among whom they had been scattered.” (29:13) He would bring back the “captivity of Egypt,” probably meaning the Egyptians who had been taken as captives into exile, bringing them back “to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin.” Ancient Pathros is commonly considered to have been the region south of the Egyptian city of Memphis on the west bank of the Nile and extending southward to Syene (identified with modern Aswan). The identification of Pathros as the land of origin for the Egyptians fits the comments of ancient Greek historians who locate the first Egyptian kingdom in this region. Egypt, however, was not to attain the former position of power but was to become a lowly or weak kingdom. (29:14) It would become lower than other kingdoms, never able to exalt itself above other nations. YHWH is quoted as declaring, “I will diminish them [the Egyptians] so that they will never again rule over [other] nations.” The Septuagint indicates the result to be that the Egyptians would not be numerous among the nations. (29:15)
The “house [or people] of Israel” would never again put their trust in Egypt for military aid. The Egyptians would only be a reminder to the people of Israel about their having erred seriously (“for a hope recalling lawlessness” [LXX]) or been unfaithful to YHWH when turning to them for help. Based on the fate of Egypt, the people of Israel would know or recognize that YHWH their God is the fulfiller of his word and the one whom they should trust completely and exclusively as their helper. (29:16)
Again a “word” or message (a “word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel from YHWH. It was then the first day of the first month (mid-March to mid-April) in the twenty-seventh year. This would have been the twenty-seventh year of the exile of King Jehoiachin and is commonly considered to have been the year 571 BCE. (29:17)
Addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, Ezekiel received a message regarding Nebuchadrezzar (Nebuchadnezzar) the king of Babylon. The Babylonian monarch was identified as having served as YHWH’s instrument in causing his army to labor with great labor or a strenuous military assault against Tyre. During the siege, the head of every warrior became bald, probably from the chafing of the helmet, and the shoulder was rubbed bare or hairless, likely from carrying the needed materials for the construction of siegeworks. The tremendous effort involved in the military campaign brought no return in the form of abundant booty for Nebuchadnezzar and the warriors under his command. Although he had acted as YHWH’s instrument to punish Tyre, he had not received any “wages” for his service. (29:18) Therefore, the Lord YHWH declared that, in payment for the service against Tyre, he would give Nebuchadnezzar the land of Egypt, letting him attain a great military victory. The wages for his army would be the great wealth of Egypt that would be procured through plundering and pillaging. (29:19) This repayment was certain, for the Lord YHWH is quoted as basically repeating the promise. “As his recompense for which he [Nebuchadnezzar] labored, I have given him the land of Egypt because they [he and his warriors] worked for me.” (29:20)
“On that day” or at the time Egypt would be reduced to a lowly kingdom, YHWH would cause a “horn” to sprout for the “house [or people] of Israel,” suggesting that there would be a renewal of the strength of his people and that they would cease to be captive exiles. As for Ezekiel, he would be given “an opening of mouth among them [his fellow exiles],” probably meaning that he would be able to speak a message relating to restoration. The people would then “know” or recognize YHWH as their God who had acted to fulfill his word. (29:21)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (30:1) Addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, Ezekiel was directed to prophesy and say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Wail, Alas for the day.” Apparently those called upon to wail over the calamity that would be coming upon them included the Egyptians, Ethiopians (Cushites), and various other peoples. (See verse 5.) The “day” would be a day of judgment. (30:2; see the Notes section.) This “day” was then near. The judgment was one that would come about through the instrument of YHWH’s choosing. Therefore, the day was identified as the “day of YHWH.” It was a day that would mean gloom for all whom it would affect and so it is described as a “day of clouds” or a day when any bright prospects would be eclipsed as with a covering of dark clouds. It would be the “time” YHWH had appointed for people of the nations to be punished for their wrongs. (30:3; see the Notes section.)
The “sword” of warfare would come into Egypt. Upon seeing the slain fall, the victorious military force carrying away Egypt’s wealth, and the country’s “foundations” torn down or the land left in ruins, the Ethiopians would come be in anguish. They would fear that they would likewise be attacked. (30:4) All those who would be fighting with the Egyptians would fall by the same sword of warfare. These are identified as Ethiopia (Cush), Put, Lud, “all the mixed company,” Chub, and “sons of the land of the covenant.” Put and Lud probably were located in northern Africa. Those designated as the “mixed company” may either have been foreign mercenaries or, more specifically, warriors from nomadic tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. The location of Chub is not known, but one conjectural identification is Libya. “Sons of the land of the covenant” may identify Judeans who were residing in Egypt and fought alongside the Egyptians. This is the apparent significance of the Septuagint rendering, for it refers to them as “sons of my [God’s] covenant.” (30:5; see the Notes section.)
YHWH declared that supporters of Egypt would fall and that the strength in which the Egyptians took pride would come down, ceasing to exist. The entire land of Egypt would be impacted, with the sword of warfare slaying people from Migdol to Syene. Migdol may have been a prominent frontier city in northern Egypt (Magdolos [LXX], possibly a site not far from Pelusium [Tel el Farame], a place about 20 miles [32 kilometers] southeast of Port Said). Syene was located at the southern extremity of the country. The ancient site has been linked to Aswan. (30:6)
“In the midst of desolated lands,” the Egyptians would find themselves in a state of ruin. Likewise, “in the midst of” other desolated cities, Egyptian cities would be devastated. (30:7)
The message YHWH conveyed through his prophet revealed that devastation would come upon Egypt. Therefore, he is the one quoted as setting a “fire in Egypt.” According to the Targum, this would be through the use of nations “as fierce as fire.” All “helpers” of Egypt, supporters or allies, would be broken or shattered. Subsequent to these developments the Egyptians would come to “know” or be forced to recognize YHWH as the God whose message against Egypt had been fulfilled. (30:8)
Possibly because the devastation of Egypt would be a fulfillment of his word, YHWH is represented as having messengers go forth from before his “face” or from his presence. These messengers would travel by ships from Egypt down the Nile to Ethiopia, probably to report the defeat the Egyptians had suffered. Likely because of their military strength, the Ethiopians had regarded themselves as secure, but the arrival of the messengers would cause anguish or panic. “On the day of Egypt,” or the time Egypt would suffer devastation, the Ethiopians would come to fear that they could likewise be conquered. It appears that the introductory “look” serves to announce that either Egypt or Ethiopia would face a day of calamity (“look, it comes”). (30:9; see the Notes section.)
“By the hand” or the military might of “Nebuchadrezzar [Nebuchadnezzar] the king of Babylon” as his instrument, YHWH would bring the “multitude of Egypt” to its end. This “multitude” may designate the large fighting force. (30:10) “He [Nebuchadnezzar] and his people [or warriors] with him, the most fear-inspiring or ruthless of nations (“pests being sent from the nations” [LXX]), would come into Egypt and devastate the land. They would “draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land” with those whom they would slay. (30:11)
YHWH declared that he would make the “streams,” either the irrigation canals of the Nile or the rivulets of the Nile Delta, dry land and “sell” or deliver Egypt “into the hand [or power] of evil men” (Nebuchadnezzar and his troops), desolating the land “and its fullness [or everything in it] by the hand of foreigners” (the military strength of foreign enemies). (30:12) The Lord YHWH would also “destroy the idols” (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]) and bring an end to the “worthless things” or images of Noph (Memphis [LXX], a capital of ancient Egypt that is linked to a site on the west side of the Nile and to the south of modern Cairo). No longer would there be a prince or ruler “in the land of Egypt.” YHWH would put “fear in the land of Egypt,” apparently the fear of the oppressive Babylonian power that would subjugate the country. (30:13; see the Notes section.)
YHWH is quoted as declaring that he would desolate Pathros [Pathoures (LXX)],” a region of Egypt that may have bordered on the northern boundary of ancient Cush or Ethiopia, “set fire in Zoan” (Tanis [LXX], a city situated in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta), and execute judgments against No (Thebes [Diospolis (LXX)], a one-time capital of ancient Egypt and the chief center for the veneration of the god Amon). (30:14) His wrath would be poured out on Sin (Sais [LXX], Pelusium [Tel el Farame], a place about 20 miles [32 kilometers] southeast of Port Said), the “fortress [strength (LXX)] of Egypt” (an important fortress city that functioned as a vital part in Egyptian defenses). YHWH would “cut off the multitude of No” (Thebes [Memphis (LXX)], Alexandria [Targum]). Possibly the “multitude of No” or Thebes consisted of the city’s defending warriors. (30:15; see the Notes section.)
YHWH is quoted as setting a “fire in Egypt.” Sin (Pelusium [Tel el Farame]; Syene [LXX], a place at the southern extremity of Egypt) would then be in great agony. No (Thebes [Diospolis (LXX)], Alexandria [Targum]) would be breached. The Hebrew text may to understood to mean that Noph (Memphis) would face “adversaries of the day”or at daytime. According to the Targum, enemies would encompass Memphis “day in and day out.” Instead of referring to “adversaries of the day,” many modern translations follow the Septuagint rendering, indicating that water would pour through the breached city. (30:16)
Young men of On (“trouble” or “wickedness” [according to the vowel points of the Masoretic Text]; Heliopolis [LXX]) and Pibeseth (Bubastos [LXX]) would fall by the sword, and the “women” (LXX) of the conquered cities (“they” [Hebrew text and P967], the cities) would go into captivity. On or Heliopolis was a city situated on the east bank of the Nile and not far to the northeast of modern Cairo. Pibeseth or Bubastos (Bubastis) was a city in the Nile Delta. (30:17)
At the time YHWH would break the “bars,” “scepters” (LXX), or the dominion of Egypt, the “day” would be darkened for Tehaphnehes (Tahpanes [Taphnas (LXX)]), a city in the Delta region of Egypt. All hope would be eclipsed for the surviving inhabitants of the city. The military strength in which the people of Tehaphnehes took pride would cease. It would then be as if dark clouds had covered the city. According to the Targum, a “king” would “cover her with his armies” as would a “cloud that rises and covers the land.” “Daughters” of Tehaphnehes or the people of nearby towns and villages would go into captivity. (30:18) Upon YHWH’s use of his agency to execute judgments against Egypt, the Egyptians would know or be forced to recognize that YHWH was the God who had acted against them. (30:19)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (a “word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. It was then the seventh day of the first month (mid-March to mid-April) of the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s exile. This is commonly considered to have been the year 587 BCE. (30:20; see the Notes section.)
Addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, Ezekiel heard the message revealing to him that YHWH would break the “arm” (“arms” [LXX]) or strength of “Pharaoh the king of Egypt.” The word for “look” served to focus on what would cease to be possible for Pharaoh. His “arm” or the military strength that was at his disposal would remain broken. It would not be bound up, bandaged, or be healed. It would never regain the strength to seize the sword of warfare to wield it effectively. (30:21) The Lord YHWH declared that he was “against Pharaoh the king of Egypt” and would “break his arms,” the “strong one” (the one that had not been broken) and the arm that previously had been broken, and would cause the sword to fall “from his hand.” This indicated that the military force available to Pharaoh would not be able to launch an effective defense against the enemy warriors. (30:22) The surviving defeated Egyptians would be scattered “among the nations” and dispersed throughout various lands. (30:23) The agency YHWH would use to defeat the Egyptians would be Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and his troops. Therefore, YHWH is quoted as saying that he would “strengthen the arms [or power] of the king of Babylon” and give him his sword “into his hand,” granting him permission to wield this sword against the Egyptians. At the same time, YHWH would “break the arms of Pharaoh,” letting him be deprived of all defensive power. Pharaoh would then “groan groans” or do much groaning as a defeated ruler before the triumphant king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. The Septuagint rendering indicates that the king of Babylon would direct the sword against Egypt, take plunder, and seize spoils. (30:24)
Apparently to emphasize that the king of Babylon would be victorious, YHWH is quoted as repeating what he would do. “I will strengthen the arms [the military might] of the king of Babylon, and the arms [the military strength] of Pharaoh will fall.” And they [the Egyptians] will know [or be forced to recognize] that I am YHWH when I place my sword into the hand [the power] of the king of Babylon. He [Nebuchadnezzar] will extend it [the sword] against the land of Egypt.” (30:25) “And I will scatter the Egyptians [survivors of the military conquest] among the nations and disperse them among [various] lands. And they will know [or be forced to recognize] that I am YHWH,” the God who had used King Nebuchadnezzar to carry out his punitive judgments against them. (30:26)
Notes
In verse 2, the Septuagint does not include a verb for “wail.” It represents God as saying, “Oh, oh, the day!”
The Septuagint wording of verse 3 is shorter than the extant Hebrew text. “For near is the day of the Lord, a day for an end of the nations it will be.”
Instead of Ethiopia, the Septuagint in verse 5 says “Persians.” Put, Lud, and Chub appear to be rendered as Cretans, Lydians, and Libyans.
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 9, the messengers are represented as hurrying to destroy Ethiopia, and there is no reference to ships. The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) indicates that “great disturbance,” upheaval, or tumult would occur among the Ethiopians, but other manuscripts do not include the word meaning “great.”
The wording of verse 13 in the Septuagint differs from that of the extant Hebrew text. It quotes the Lord as saying, “I will destroy nobles from Memphis and rulers from the land of Egypt, and they will not still be” or continue to exist.
The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) does not refer to Sin or Sais in verse 15. It indicates that God would pour out his wrath “upon all the strength of Egypt.”
P967, the oldest extant Greek manuscript, says “tenth year” in verse 20, not “eleventh year.”
YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum] again came to Ezekiel. It was then the first day in the third month (mid-May to mid-June) of the eleventh year (tenth year [P967]) of the exile of King Jehoiachin. This is generally regarded to have been the year 587 BCE. (31:1)
Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message related to “Pharaoh the king of Egypt and to his multitude,” primarily his troops and probably also his subjects. Both in the Hebrew text and the Septuagint, the question was for Pharaoh. “Whom are you like in your greatness?” (“To whom have you likened yourself in your loftiness?” [LXX]). (31:2) The initial word rendered “look” focuses attention on the answer to the question. This answer was, “An Assyrian, a cedar [cypress (LXX)] in Lebanon,” with beautiful branches and abundant growth for shade. The height of the tree appeared to reach the clouds. Assyria had decades earlier been conquered. Therefore, the reference to an “Assyrian” could recall the time when Assyria was a mighty military power that dominated the region. Although the Septuagint and the Vulgate also refer to the “Assyrian,” a number of modern translations have rendered the text according to an emendation. “I know: a cedar tree in the Lebanon.” (NJB) “You [Pharaoh and his multitude] are like a cedar in Lebanon.” (TEV) “There was once a cedar tree in Lebanon.” (CEV) According to another interpretation, Pharaoh and his multitude were being told that their fate would be like that of Assyria, the mighty power that was compared to a massive tree. “Assyria! It is Assyria! A cedar of Lebanon — beautiful branches, thick shade, towering heights, its crown in the clouds!” (NAB, revised edition) “You [Pharaoh and his multitude] are like mighty Assyria, which was once like a cedar of Lebanon.” (NLT) (31:3)
Abundant “waters” made the cedar grow big; the “deep,” with its boundless supply of water, caused the tree to attain a great height. Streams flowing from the deep surrounded the place where the cedar was planted, and rivulets reached “all the trees of the field [plain (LXX)]” or the surrounding area or forest. In the Targum, the interpretation is based on the one whom the tree represented. With a large force, he subjugated kings and appointed governors over the lands he came to control. (31:4) With the most favorable access to the water from the deep, the cedar grew higher than all the other trees. Its boughs multiplied and its branches lengthened significantly because they were abundantly supplied with water (literally, “from abundant waters in its sending forth”; “from abundant water” [LXX]). The Targum indicates that the one whom the tree represented became loftier than all the kings of other nations. His troops were numerous, and his auxiliaries triumphed over many nations on account of his brilliance. (31:5)
Apparently to indicate the extensive dominion that Pharaoh exercised, the cedar (cypress [LXX]) was portrayed in impressive terms. “All the birds of the heavens” nested on its boughs. “Under [all (P967]) its branches, all the wild animals of the field [plain (LXX)] gave birth,” and “great nations” resided in the region where the cedar cast its shadow. (31:6; see the Notes section regarding the interpretation of the Targum.) “In its greatness,” the cedar was beautiful, including “in the length of its limbs.” This came to be the case because its root system extended downward to “abundant waters.” The Septuagint rendering attributes the beauty of the tall cypress to its many branches and its roots that reached down to much water. (31:7; see the Notes section regarding the Targum.)
When compared with other trees “in the garden of God” (“paradise of God” [LXX]),” the towering cedar (cypress [LXX]) was a tree without equal. Other “cedars” (“cypresses” [LXX]; “and cedars” [P967]) could not rival it. As to the cedar’s (cypress’s) boughs, “firs” or “junipers” (pines [LXX]) did not resemble it in impressiveness. The branches of “plane trees” (“silver firs”[LXX]) were insignificant when compared to those of the cedar. In beauty, no other tree “in the garden of God” (“paradise of God” [LXX]) resembled it. (31:8; see the Notes section regarding the Targum.)
YHWH is quoted as saying regarding this tree, “I made it beautiful in the abundance of its branches, and all the trees of Eden [the trees of the paradise of God’s delight (LXX); “the trees of the delight of God’s paradise” (P967)] envied it.” These words reveal that YHWH had allowed Pharaoh to attain to great wealth and extensive dominion. The Targum indicates that the handsomeness God granted to Pharaoh came from his many valiant warriors. On account of his great power, kings trembled before him. (31:9)
The Lord YHWH made known his judgment against the cedar (cypress [LXX]) that primarily represented Pharaoh. This tree is described as having attained great height, with its top being among the “branches” (“clouds” [LXX]). On account of the tree’s loftiness, its “heart” had become arrogant. This indicated that, as a ruler, Pharaoh, had come to have a dominant position, exercising dominion over other lands, and this made him proud in his inmost self. (31:10) Therefore, YHWH determined to deliver Pharaoh and his warriors and subjects, as represented by the tree, “into the hand [or power] of a mighty one of the nations.” This “mighty one” or “ruler” (LXX) was Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar in command of a strong military force. He dealt with Pharaoh as if he were a lofty tree to be cut down. As YHWH used Nebuchadnezzar and the troops under his command as the agency to execute punitive judgment against Pharaoh, YHWH is the one who represents himself as casting Pharaoh out “according to his wickedness” or on the basis of his evil deeds. These deeds would have included aggressive warfare and oppression of conquered peoples. (31:11)
“Foreigners, the terror-inspiring ones of the nations” (ruthless foreign enemies; “foreign pests from the nations” [LXX]), would act against Pharaoh, bringing ruin to him, his subjects, and his land, as if cutting down a lofty tree and leaving it where it fell. The branches of this huge tree would fall “on the mountains and in all of the valleys, and its boughs would “lie broken in all the wadis of the land.” In the Targum, this description is applied to Pharaoh’s armies that fell on the mountains and the auxiliaries that were “scattered among all the rivulets.” “All the peoples of the earth” who had been under the shadow of the tree would leave it and abandon it. The Septuagint rendering appears to represent “all the peoples of the nations” as “coming down from the shelter” of the tree branches and dashing the tree to the ground. (31:12)
“All the birds of the heavens [heaven (LXX)]” would dwell or nest on the fallen tree, and “all the wild animals of the field [earth or land (P967)]” would be on “its branches.” The Targum interprets this to indicate that birds would dwell on the “pile of the slain” and that wild animals would be on the corpses of the troops, with their presence there evidently being to feed on the victims of war. (31:13)
The judgment against the towering cedar (cypress [LXX]) would serve as a warning to the other trees by the waters. They were not to grow high and set their tops “among the branches [clouds (LXX)],” reaching up to them in height, for all of them would be delivered to death. In time, these trees would descend to the land below, among mortals (literally, “sons of man”), with those “going down into the pit.” According to the interpretation of the Targum, kings should not exalt themselves because of being in possession of power and impose tyranny on their respective realms. Those who serve the state should not lord over people by reason of their authority. This is because all of them are doomed to die. (31:14)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as expressing what would happen at the time the lofty cedar (cypress [LXX]) would fall. “In the day when it goes down to Sheol [the realm of the dead; Hades (LXX)], I will prompt mourning.” According to the Septuagint, the “abyss” or the deep would mourn for the cypress upon its descent into Hades. YHWH then represents himself as covering the “deep,” which supplied the tree with abundant water, and restraining the streams that issued forth from it. On account of the fallen cedar (cypress [LXX]), he would darken Lebanon, plunging it into a state of gloom; and because of the fate of the cedar (cypress [LXX]), “all the trees of the field [plain (LXX)],” the surrounding trees, or the forest, would “faint.” (31:15; see the Notes section for the interpretation of the Targum.)
At the sound of the fall of the cedar, YHWH represents himself as causing the nations to tremble, evidently in fear, when he would cast the tree down to Sheol with those descending into the pit. Seemingly because they were not alone in having earlier experienced a like fate, “all the trees of Eden [trees of delight (LXX)” there in the land below, the “choice and best” trees of Lebanon, all those “drinking water” (or all the trees that had previously had an abundant supply of water), were “comforted.” The Septuagint says that, “on earth,” these trees “comforted” the fallen tree. According to the interpretation of the Targum, those who experienced comfort included all the kings, governors, the wealthy, and the servants of the state who were in the realm of the dead. (31:16)
Those having gone down into Sheol (the realm of the dead; Hades [LXX]) “to those slain by the sword” could either refer to the trees that had preceded the cedar (cypress [LXX]) there or other trees (representing allies) who would go down with the cedar. Both meanings are found in modern translations. “They will go with it to the world of the dead to join those that have already fallen.” (TEV) “Its allies, too, were all destroyed and had passed away.” (NLT) “They too like him had gone down to Sheol, to those slain by the sword.” (REB) “They too, like the great cedar, had gone down to the realm of the dead, to those killed by the sword.” (NIV) After the word for “sword,” the Masoretic Text reads, “and his arm; they dwelt under his shadow among the nations.” The “arm” may refer to those who were the “arm” or strength, supporters or allies, of the one whom the cedar represented, and they benefited from his shadow or protection. In this case, the Hebrew word for “arm” has also been rendered according to an emendation meaning “seed” or “offspring.” “And its offspring among the nations, once living in its shade, went down to Sheol with it, to those who have been slaughtered by the sword.” (NJB) The Septuagint supports this rendering (“and his seed [offspring], those dwelling under his shelter”). (31:17)
The application regarding the lofty cedar (cypress [LXX]) is initially introduced with a question, “Whom are you thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden?” (“To whom [or what] were you likened?” [LXX]) Although being a magnificent and lofty tree, the cedar (cypress [LXX]) would be “brought down with the trees of Eden [trees of delight (LXX)] to the land below.” Then follows the description of the fate of the one whom the tree represented. “You will lie among the uncircumcised [in a state of disgrace], with those slain by the sword.” The concluding words provide the specific application concerning the cedar (cypress [LXX]). “This [is] Pharaoh and all his multitude [all the multitude (or fullness) of his strength (LXX)], says the Lord YHWH.”
Notes
The Targum interprets the words of verse 6 to indicate that the one represented by the tree conquered strongly fortified cities with his troops and subjugated all the lands of the earth under his governors. Many nations resided in the shadow of his kingdom. According to the interpretation of verse 7, he was triumphant with his auxiliaries and numerous valiant warriors, for many nations feared him. The wording of verse 8 continues in the same vein. Powerful kings could not succeed against him. The might he had “from before the Lord” made it impossible for rulers to stand up before his troops. No king was like him in the power that he possessed.
For the wording of verse 15, the Targum represents the developments as affecting the world. It was covered or filled with trouble. Lands were laid waste, and many nations trembled, seemingly in fear of what had happened to the one whom the cedar represented. God is quoted as saying that he made the “faces of kings dark” over that one, and all the monarchs of the nations beat the “shoulder over him.”
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (a “word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. It was then the first day of the twelfth month (mid-February to mid-March) in the twelfth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin. This is commonly considered to have been the year 585 BCE. (32:1; see the Notes section.)
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message for him to make known was in the form of a dirge “over Pharaoh, king of Egypt.” There is a measure of obscurity about the meaning of the opening words of this dirge. A literal rendering would be, “A lion of nations — you have been cut off.” This could mean that Pharaoh was doomed or certain to come to ruin. The Septuagint says, “You were like a lion of nations.” In their renderings, modern translations have been more specific than is the Hebrew wording of the text, with some also departing from it. “You are like a lion among the nations.” (NIV) “Oh great beast among the nations, you are doomed!” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Young lion of the nations, your end has come.” (REB) “You liken yourself to a lion among nations.” (NAB, revised edition) “You act like a lion among nations.” (TEV) “You act like a lion roaming the earth.” (CEV) “You think of yourself as a strong young lion among the nations.” (NLT) “You consider yourself a lion among the nations.” (NRSV) In view of his power, authority, and seemingly secure position, Pharaoh could appropriately be likened to a lion. With reference to his record as ruler, Pharaoh was more like a dragon or monster “in the seas,” causing ruin through warfare and oppression of his subjects and the peoples whom he vanquished. Like a sea monster (possibly a crocodile), Pharaoh thrashed about in his streams, troubled or churned up water with his feet, and fouled, polluted, or muddied streams, causing devastation and destruction. According to the interpretation of the Targum, Pharaoh was like a “monster in the seas” by bringing about the ruin of other lands with his troops. (32:2)
The Lord YHWH declared punitive judgment against Pharaoh, dealing with him as if he were a sea monster. YHWH would cast his “net” over him, using an “assembly of many peoples” or a large military host. This host of enemy warriors would haul Pharaoh up as if having caught him in a dragnet (God’s dragnet). The Septuagint refers to God as doing this with his “hook.” (LXX). (32:3)
Pharaoh, like a sea monster that had been caught and dragged out of the water, would be left lying on the land after having been hurled upon the field. The “birds of the heavens” could then dwell (evidently for the purpose of feeding) on the monster, and the wild animals could share in feeding on the carcass to satisfaction. (32:4; see the Notes section.)
Regarding Pharaoh as represented by a sea monster or dragon, YHWH declared, “I will place your flesh on the mountains and fill the valleys with your heap.” There is uncertainty about the significance of the Hebrew word here rendered “heap.” It could refer to a large pile of corpses, refuse, or a high stature. It has variously been translated “rotting corpse” (TEV), “rotting flesh” (CEV, Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]), “worms that feed on it” (on the carcass of the monster) (REB), “corruption” (NJB), “carcass” (NRSV), “bones” (NLT), “remains” (NIV), and “corpse” (NAB, revised edition). The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) reads, “fill all the earth from your blood.” (32:5) YHWH is quoted as continuing to express what would happen to the dead sea monster. He would drench the land with the sea monster’s flowing blood “up to the mountains,” and the wadis would be filled from the monster. The Septuagint refers to the “earth” or land as coming to drink the excrement or the fluid from the dragon’s decaying corpse. (32:6)
A time of gloom, with no bright prospects in sight, would follow when the sea monster would be extinguished. It would then be as if YHWH had covered the “heavens,” darkening the stars so that they could not be seen and covering the sun with a cloud. There would also be no light from the moon. (32:7; see the Notes section.) The Lord YHWH is quoted as declaring that he would make every light-emitting body “in the heavens” dark, and put darkness upon the land that Pharaoh, the great sea monster, had controlled. (32:8)
At the time YHWH would be bringing the “fracture,” the remaining ones, the “captivity (LXX) or the body of captives (the survivors of the military campaign against Pharaoh) among the nations in lands unknown to the Egyptian ruler, the “hearts of many people” would be vexed or disturbed. This could mean that, seized with fear about what could also happen to them, peoples of other nations would find themselves in a state of upheaval and fright in their inmost selves. (32:9)
By means of the overthrow of Pharaoh, YHWH would cause many peoples to be appalled. They would be in a state of shock and apprehensive about the ruin that could also come to them. Their kings would “shudder with shudder” or in horror because of what would be happening to Pharaoh when YHWH would be brandishing his sword “before their faces,” before them, or in their presence. “Every moment” each one of these kings would tremble “for his soul” or his own life in the “day” or at the time of Pharaoh’s downfall. According to the Septuagint, these kings would “accept” or expect their own overthrow. (32:10)
The Lord YHWH revealed that the “sword of the king of Babylon” (Nebuchadnezzar) would “come upon Pharaoh.” (32:11) According to the Septuagint, this sword would be coming with the “swords of giants.” The Hebrew text indicates that, by means of the swords that valiant warriors wielded, YHWH would cause the multitude of Pharaoh to fall. These warriors, “all of them,” under the command of Nebuchadnezzar were identified as terrible or ruthless ones among nations (“pests from nations” [LXX]), suggesting that they would not spare anyone. They would bring the “pride of Egypt” (everything in which the Egyptians took pride) to ruin. “All of [Egypt’s] multitude,” warriors and the people generally, would perish as victims of war. The Septuagint indicates that “all the strength of Egypt” would be crushed. (32:12)
All the livestock that pastured by “many waters,” along the banks of the Nile, streams, and rivulets, would be killed. As YHWH would be using the Babylonian troops to bring about the destruction of the domestic animals, he is the one quoted as taking this action. The destruction of human and animal life would mean that people and livestock would not be entering and passing through the “waters,” muddying them with their feet or their hoofs. (32:13) YHWH’s use of the troops under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar would effect this change in the “waters.” Therefore, he is quoted as saying that he would make the “waters” of Egypt (rivers, streams, and rivulets) clear, and he would cause all rivers or streams to flow as would oil — smoothly without any disturbance. (32:14)
After his use of the military force under the command of King Nebuchadnezzar to desolate the land of Egypt, strip it of its “fullness” or everything valuable, and to strike down (“scatter” [LXX]) the inhabitants of the land, YHWH is the one whom the Egyptians would “know” or be forced to recognize as the God who had acted against them. (32:15)
The expressions of judgment (the “prophecy” [Targum]) against Egypt constituted a “dirge.” Upon its fulfillment, people (you, he, and they [in Greek manuscripts]) would chant it. Like professional female mourners, the “daughters of [other] nations” would chant the dirge “over Egypt and over all its multitude.” This was certain to occur, for the Lord YHWH had made it known in advance through his prophet. (32:16)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. It was then the twelfth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin, which is generally considered to have been the year 585 BCE. Although the Hebrew text contains the day of the month (the “fifteenth day”), the month is not included. According to the Septuagint, it was the first month (mid-March to mid-April). (32:17; see the Notes section.)
As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The prophet was to wail over the “multitude [strength (LXX)] of Egypt” and to cause it [the multitude] to go down, “her [Egypt] and the daughters of majestic nations,” to the land below, with “those descending into a pit.” Ezekiel could not literally plunge Egypt and the “daughters” (or the people) of other major nations into the pit or the netherworld. The judgment message from YHWH that Ezekiel proclaimed, however, would unfailingly be fulfilled. Therefore, through his proclamation of YHWH’s “word,” Ezekiel was bringing Egypt and other major powers down to the netherworld or to their end. According to the Septuagint rendering, “the nations” would bring down the “daughters” of Egypt “dead into the depths of the earth.” (32:18)
The next verse begins with the question in which the Hebrew verb is masculine gender and could apply to Pharaoh as the representative of Egypt. “Whom do you surpass in beauty?” The implied answer may be that there is nothing that would prevent a humiliating end. The verse continues, “Go down, and be laid with the uncircumcised,” or in a state of dishonor. A number of modern translations make the application to Egypt specific and are more interpretive than are literal renderings of the Hebrew text. “O Egypt, are you lovelier than the other nations? No! So go down to the pit and lie there among the outcasts.” (NLT) “Do you think you are more beautiful than anyone else? You will go down to the world of the dead and lie there among the ungodly.” (TEV) “You may be more beautiful than the people of other nations, but you will also die and join the godless in the world below.” (CEV) In the Septuagint, there is no corresponding wording for the Hebrew text here, but it is found in verse 21. (32:19)
The Egyptians would “fall in the midst” of others (possibly allies) who would be “slain by the sword.” Egypt would be delivered (literally, “she is delivered”) to a “sword.” There is some uncertainty about how the Hebrew verb for “draw” or “drag” is to be understood in relation to the phrase “her [Egypt] and all her multitudes,” which would have included many warriors. Modern translations vary in their renderings. “A sword is drawn. Those who marched with her, together with all her hordes, will descend into the company of those slain by the sword.” (REB) “The Egyptians will fall with the many who have died by the sword, for the sword is drawn against them. Egypt and its hordes will be dragged away to their judgment.” (NLT) “The people of Egypt will fall with those who are killed in battle. A sword is ready to kill them all.” (TEV) “Among those slain by the sword they will fall, for the sword has been appointed! Seize Egypt and all its hordes.” (NAB, revised edition) “They shall lie amid those slain by the sword, [amid those slain by] the sword [Egypt] has been dragged and left with all her masses.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) The Septuagint rendering may be understood to indicate that the Egyptians would fall with Pharaoh (literally, “him”) in the midst of those mortally wounded by the sword, and all his strength would “lie down” (as if it had gone to sleep). (32:20)
Mighty warriors (“giants” [LXX]) who had preceded him in their descent to Sheol or the realm of the dead are represented as speaking to Pharaoh with his “helpers” or allies as they come to join them. Pharaoh and his allies would have to go down to the realm of the dead and there lie down like the uncircumcised or in a state of dishonor as persons slain by the sword. (32:21; see the Notes section regarding the Septuagint rendering.) “Asshur” (Assyria) and “all her company” or her warriors were already in Sheol or the realm of the dead. All around this “company” were burial places. “All of them” were slain men, “fallen by the sword.” According to the Septuagint, the burial place of the company was in the “depth of a pit.” (32:22) “Her [Asshur’s or Assyria’s] burial places” were located in the “remotest parts of a pit,” and “her company” of warriors were “round about her burial place, all of them slain men, having fallen by the sword.” In the past, these warriors “spread terror in the land of the living” during the course of their military campaigns. (32:23; see the Notes section.)
Elam (Ailam [LXX]), an ancient kingdom that was located in what is today southwestern Iran, “and all her multitude [his force (LXX)],” were in Sheol or the realm of the dead. The multitude of warriors were round about the burial place of Elam. All of them were slain men, having “fallen by the sword.” They descended as uncircumcised men, or in a state of dishonor, to the land below or to the netherworld. In the past during the course of aggressive warfare, these men “spread their terror in the land of the living,” but they ended up having to “bear their shame [torment or punishment (LXX)]” as vanquished men “with those descending into a pit.” (32:24; see the Notes section.) “In the midst of slain men,” a bed was positioned for Elam “with all her multitude.” “Her [Elam’s] burial places,” apparently the ones for her multitude of warriors, were round about this bed. All of these warriors were “uncircumcised,” or in a state of disgrace, men “slain by the sword.” While alive, they had “spread terror in the land of the living” as participants in campaigns of conquest. With others descending into a pit as slain warriors, they bore their shame as defeated men. Thus, “in the midst of the slain,” the multitude of Elam had been placed. (32:25; see the Notes section.)
Meshech (Mosoch [LXX]), Tubal (Thobel [LXX]), and “all their multitude [strength (LXX)]” or their many warriors were in Sheol, the realm of the dead. Tubal is considered to have been in eastern Asia Minor to the northeast of Cilicia, and Meshech also has been linked to Asia Minor. The reference to the “burial places” being “round about him” could mean round about the multitude. All the warriors were “uncircumcised” or in a state of dishonor, victims of the piercing sword of war. Formerly, while engaged in campaigns of conquest, “they spread their terror in the land of the living.” (32:26) The Hebrew text could be understood to indicate that this multitude of warriors would not lie down with the valiant heroes who had fallen from among the “uncircumcised” (or from among those who, as dead men, were no longer in a state of honor) and who had descended into Sheol (the realm of the dead) with their weapons of war. At the time of burial, the swords of the fallen men were placed “under their heads.” Apparently their iniquities resulting from ruthless slaughtering in warfare were the “iniquities upon their bones,” a violent record that remained attached to them even after their death. With their brutal military campaigns, the warriors caused terror “in the land of the living.” (32:27; see the Notes section regarding the Septuagint rendering.)
The apparent application of the next words is to Pharaoh or to Pharaoh and his multitude (verses 31 and 32), and a number of modern translations make the application specific in their renderings. “You, too, Pharaoh, will be broken and will be among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.” (NIV) “Pharaoh, you also will lie broken in the company of the uncircumcised dead, lying with those slain by the sword.” (REB) You too, Egypt, will lie crushed and broken among the outcasts, all slaughtered by the sword.” (NLT) “That is how the Egyptians will lie crushed among the uncircumcised who were killed in battle.” (TEV) “You Egyptians will be cruelly defeated, and you will be buried alongside these other godless soldiers who died in battle.” (CEV) Pharaoh and his many warriors would not be spared humiliating defeat, but would come to be in the company of the “uncircumcised” or among the vanquished dead in a state of dishonor. (32:28)
“Edom, her kings, and all her princes” or chieftains (“the rulers of Asshur [Assyria]” [LXX]) were in Sheol, the realm of the dead. Although they had been in possession of might, they were lying with those who had been “slain by the sword.” Among the “uncircumcised” or those in a condition of dishonor, they were lying “with those descending into a pit,” into the place where the dead are. (32:29)
All the “princes of the north” and “all the Sidonians” were in Sheol, the realm of the dead. The mention of the Sidonians who resided north of the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel suggests that the “princes of the north” included the ruler of Tyre and other rulers in Phoenicia. Regarding these rulers, the expression “in their terror by their might” likely denotes the terror to which they gave rise by reason of the military might at their disposal. Yet, despite this, they went down in shame, or as humiliated defeated ones, “with the slain.” These rulers came to lie, uncircumcised or in a dishonorable state, with those having been “slain by the sword,” and these men bore “their shame [their torment or their punishment (LXX)] with those descending into a pit.” In their disgraced condition, they were no different than all the others in the place where the dead found themselves. (32:30; see the Notes section.)
Pharaoh would see all the ones who had preceded him in their descent to Sheol, the realm of the dead. His being “consoled for all his multitude” could be understood to indicate that he would comfort himself with the thought that he and his multitude were not alone in having experienced a humiliating overthrow. That “Pharaoh and all his army” would be “slain by the sword” or suffer military defeat was certain, for the Lord YHWH had revealed this in advance through his prophet. (32:31)
The Masoretic Text represents the Lord YHWH as declaring, “For I spread his terror in the land of the living.” This could signify that YHWH would cause Pharaoh and his multitude to experience terror or would permit Pharaoh to be a ruler whose military campaigns caused terror among the people of other nations. To emphasize the certainty of the overthrow of Pharaoh and his multitude, the quoted words of YHWH continue, “He [Pharaoh] will be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised [those in a dishonorable condition], with those slain by the sword.” This would be the fate of “Pharaoh and all his multitude” (primarily his many warriors but also his subjects). (32:32; see the Notes section.)
Notes
In verse 1, manuscripts of the Septuagint vary in the dating of the message Ezekiel received. The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) and fourth-century Codex Vaticanus, like the Masoretic Text, say that it was the “twelfth year,” but the reading of Codex Alexandrinus is the “eleventh year.” Instead of the “twelfth month,” P967 and Codex Vaticanus say that it was the tenth month (mid-December to mid-January).
In verse 4, the Masoretic Text ends with the words “beasts [or wild animals] of all the earth [or the whole earth].” The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) contains corresponding wording, but another Greek manuscript reading is, “all the beasts of the whole earth.”
According to the interpretation of the Targum of verse 7, God’s dimming the glory of Pharaoh’s realm would cover him with trouble. His warriors, who were numerous as the stars, would be greatly reduced through conquest, for a king would cover him with his troops.
Instead of the “twelfth year” in verse 17, P967 (the oldest extant Greek manuscript) says “tenth year.”
The wording of verse 21 in the Septuagint differs from that of the Masoretic Text and incorporates words from verse 19. “And the giants in the depth of the pit will say, To whom are you superior? Go down, and lie with the uncircumcised in the midst of those [mortally] wounded by the sword.” (P967) According to another manuscript reading, the giants say, “Be in the depth of the pit. To whom are you superior? …”
According to the interpretation of the Targum for the words in verse 23, the reason for the destruction was tyrannical domination “over the land of Israel.”
In verse 24, the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) does not include the phrase about “torment” or “punishment.”
For the wording of verse 25, Greek manuscripts contain a shorter text that continues the sentence from the previous verse (“in the midst of the [mortally] wounded”). The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) omits these words and the entire wording of verse 26.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 27 indicates that the warriors of Mosoch (Mechech) and Thobel (Tubal) did lie down with the “giants” who had fallen in the distant past and had descended “into Hades,” the realm of the dead. The Septuagint concludes with the thought that these warriors had terrified “giants in the land of life” or of the living (“in the life” [P967]).
Instead of “Sidonians,” verse 30 in the Septuagint says, “commanders of Assour” (Assyria).
For the wording of verse 32, modern translations vary in rendering it according to the Masoretic Text or according to an emendation thereof. “I strike terror into the land of the living; Pharaoh and all his masses are laid among the uncircumcised, along with those who were slain by the sword — said the Lord GOD.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Although I had him spread terror in the land of the living, Pharaoh and all his hordes will be laid among the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword, declares the Sovereign LORD.” (NIV) “I caused the king of Egypt to terrorize the living, but he and all his army will be killed and laid to rest with all the uncircumcised who die in battle.” (TEV) “I sent him to terrify people all over the earth. But he and his army will be killed and buried alongside other godless soldiers in the world of the dead. I, the LORD God, have spoken.” (CEV) “Although I have caused his terror to fall upon all the living, Pharaoh and his hordes will lie there among the outcasts who were slaughtered by the sword. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” (NLT) “Though he spread terror throughout the land of the living, yet he with all his hordes is laid with those slain by the sword, in the company of the uncircumcised dead. This is the word of the Lord GOD.” (REB) “For he spread terror in the land of the living; therefore he shall be laid to rest among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain by the sword — Pharaoh and all his multitude, says the Lord GOD.” (NRSV) “For having spread terror through the world of the living, he will be laid with the uncircumcised, with those slaughtered by the sword, Pharaoh and all his throng — declares the Lord Yahweh.” (NJB)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (33:1) As at other times, Ezekiel was addressed as “son of man,” as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. “To the sons of [his] people” or to fellow Israelites,” the message related to a man whom the “people of the land” would appoint as “their watchman” or sentinel at a time when YHWH would be bringing a “sword” (“those who slay by the sword” [Targum]) against their land or permitting the people of the land to come under enemy attack. (33:2) If the appointed watchman “sees the sword coming against the land and blows the shofar (a ram’s-horn trumpet) to warn the people (33:3) and a man hears the sound of the shofar but fails to act in harmony with the warning signal, he could not blame the watchman for his death when the sword arrives against him. “His blood” would come to be “on his [own] head,” for he would have made himself responsible for his death because of ignoring the warning signal of the watchman. (33:4) The individual would have no excuse for his inaction. He heard the “sound of the shofar” but did not heed the warning, and so “his blood” would come to be upon him. He would bear the responsibility for his own death. If he had heeded the warning, his “soul” or his life would not have been lost. (33:5)
If a “watchman sees the sword [those who slay by the sword (Targum)] coming and does not blow the shofar,” failing to warn the people, and the “sword comes and takes away from them a soul” or a life, the man who perishes would die for his own iniquity. The watchman, however, would bear responsibility for his death because he did not sound the warning signal. Therefore, YHWH would hold the watchman accountable, asking back the shed blood “from his hand.” The watchman would forfeit his life. (33:6)
YHWH had appointed Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal, in his service as a watchman (“teacher” [Targum]) to the “house” [or people] of Israel.” From YHWH (literally, “from [his] mouth”), Ezekiel would hear the “word” or message. Whenever this occurred, Ezekiel was to give YHWH’s warning to the people. (33:7)
If YHWH said to a wicked person, “Wicked man, you will surely die [literally, dying, you will die], and Ezekiel failed to warn the man “to turn [away] from his [corrupt] way,” the man would die for his own iniquity, but Ezekiel would be held accountable. YHWH would ask back the blood of the man from Ezekiel’s hand. The prophet would have made himself bloodguilty for not giving the warning and, therefore, would forfeit his life. (33:8)
If Ezekiel warned the wicked man to turn away from his evil way, but the man “did not turn from it,” that man would die for his own iniquity, but Ezekiel would have preserved his own “soul” or life. (33:9)
Addressed as “son of man,” as a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, Ezekiel received a message for the “house” or people of Israel. He was to tell the people, “Thus you have said, “For our transgressions and our sins are upon us and in them we are wasting away, and how can we live?” The thought appears to be that the people of Israel felt that the punishment for their transgressions and sins was just too great for them to bear. They simply could not imagine continuing to live under this heavy burden. (33:10)
With a solemn expression worded like an oath (“as I live”), the Lord YHWH declared through Ezekiel that he had no pleasure in the death of a wicked man but wanted the individual to turn from his evil way and to continue living. This was followed by an appeal to the people of Israel, “Turn back, turn back from your evil ways. For why should you die, O house of Israel?” If they abandoned their lawless course, the people would continue to live. (33:11)
Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of the eternal God, was to tell the “sons” of his people, his fellow Israelites, that the “righteousness of the righteous man” would not provide the basis for delivering him “in the day of his transgression” or at a time when he would be found guilty of serious wrongdoing. “In the day” or time of his having turned away from his wickedness, the former wickedness of the wicked man would not cause him to stumble to a calamitous fall, and the man who formerly had been righteous would not continue to live in the “day of his sinning” or in the time of his abandonment of his upright way of life. (33:12) If YHWH were to tell a righteous man that he would “surely live” (literally, “living, he will live”) and that man trusted “in his righteousness” (his former course of upright living) and committed iniquity, “all his righteous deeds” would not be “remembered” or taken into account. He would die “in the iniquity” that he had committed, perishing as the lawless man that he was at the time of YHWH’s judgment. (33:13)
If YHWH were to say to a wicked man, “You will surely die” (literally, “dying, you will die”), and that man then turned away “from his sin” and did “what is lawful and right” (33:14), he would not die. His changed course would become evident by his actions. As God’s law required, the former wicked man would return the pledge he had taken, give back what he had seized by robbery, conduct himself according to the “statutes of life” (or the commands of God that would lead to a continuance of life), and would not commit iniquity or serious transgression. In that case, the man would surely live (literally, “living, he will live”); he would not die. (33:15) “All his [former] sins that he committed” would not be “remembered against him” or be the basis for a punitive judgment. As one who had changed his course and done what is “lawful and right,” the man would continue to live. (33:16)
Regarding the manner in which YHWH dealt with individuals, the “sons” of Ezekiel’s people or fellow Israelites would say, The “way of the Lord” is not right (literally, “measured,” that is, measured according to a just standard). It was “their way,” however, that was not right. Apparently they thought that former good deeds and former evil deeds should be taken into account at the time of judgment, whereas YHWH’s judgment was based on the uprightness or evil of individuals at the time of judgment. (33:17) If a righteous man turned away “from his righteousness” and committed iniquity, he would die for his serious wrongs. At the time of judgment, he would be revealed as a wicked man deserving of death. (33:18) If a wicked man turned away “from his wickedness” and then did what is “lawful and right,” he would “live by them [the lawful and right things he did].” The man would continue to live because, at the time of judgment, he would be an upright man who conducted himself in a divinely approved manner. (33:19)
The people still objected, saying that the “way of the Lord” is not right (literally, “measured,” that is, measured according to a just standard), but they were wrong. Therefore, to the “house [or people] of Israel,” YHWH repeated his standard of true justice. He would judge each man or individual “according to his ways” or according to his conduct at the time for the execution of judgment. (33:20)
On the fifth day of the tenth month (mid-December to mid-January) in the twelfth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin, an escapee from Jerusalem arrived and told Ezekiel that the city had been conquered (literally, “struck down”). The year is commonly considered to have been 585 BCE. (33:21; see the Notes section.) In the evening before the arrival of the escapee, the “hand of YHWH” or his spirit came to be upon Ezekiel. As had previously been revealed to Ezekiel, his muteness respecting prophesying that would affect the exiles was to end at that time. (24:27) So, in fulfillment of his word, YHWH did open Ezekiel’s mouth before the escapee came to him in the morning, and Ezekiel ceased to be mute. (33:22)
YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel (33:23), a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message from YHWH revealed to him that the few survivors in the desolated areas of the conquered kingdom of Judah (the “land of Israel”) imagined that the land had been given to them to possess. Their thinking was that they were more numerous than Abraham, who, though being only “one,” received possession of the land (not in actuality but on the basis of YHWH’s promise that was unerringly fulfilled). (33:24) Therefore, the Lord YHWH declared through Ezekiel that they would not come to possess the land, for they had acted contrary to his commands. They ate meat with the blood, not slaughtering animals properly so as to drain the blood. Instead of being exclusively devoted to YHWH as their God, they continued to “lift up [their] eyes to [their] idols” (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]), revering the nonexistent deities that these idols represented and expecting their help and favorable attention. The survivors in the land had also made themselves guilty of shedding innocent blood. In view of these detestable acts, YHWH’s rhetorical question was, “And should you possess the land?” (33:25; see the Notes section.)
Among the survivors, other serious transgressions had been committed. They “stood” upon their “sword,” either using it to seize what they wanted or relying on it (instead of on YHWH) for their security. The “abomination” they practiced likely was their involvement in idolatry. Instead of being faithful to their wives, men committed adultery with the wives of companions, neighbors, or fellow Israelites. Therefore, YHWH’s rhetorical question was repeated, “And should you possess the land?” (33:26; see the Notes section.)
With a solemn declaration that was worded like an oath (“as I live”), the Lord YHWH declared through Ezekiel that the lawless people then living in the desolated areas would “fall by the sword,” and wild animals would devour the one perishing in the open field, and individuals who had taken refuge “in strongholds and in caves” would die from pestilence (by “death” [LXX]) or infectious disease. (33:27)
YHWH decreed that he would make the land a “desolation and a waste,” an uninhabited and devastated place. The “pride of its strength” (possibly meaning the power the people once had before the Babylonian conquest and in which they took great pride) would end. “Mountains of Israel” or the mountainous and hilly areas of the land would become so desolate that no one would pass through these areas, possibly because of fearing attack from wild animals. (33:28) After YHWH had caused the land to be transformed into a “desolation and a waste,” an uninhabited and devastated area, because of all the “abominations” (idolatry and other God-dishonoring actions), the people would “know” or be forced to recognize YHWH as the God who had expressed his judgment against them. (33:29)
YHWH revealed to Ezekiel (a “son of man” or mortal in his service) that the “sons of [his] people,” fellow Israelites, would talk together about him as they stood beside walls and at the entrances of their houses. To one another, they would say each man to his “brother” or fellow Israelite, “Come, and [let us] hear what word [or message] is issuing from YHWH.” (33:30) They would then come to Ezekiel as a group (literally, “as people come”) and sit before him “as [God’s] people,” probably meaning as if they truly were YHWH’s people and wanted to hear his word and act on it. Although they would hear Ezekiel’s words, they would not do the things he said to them. Their failure to heed his words was linked to “their mouth” and “their heart.” The phrase about the “mouth” is somewhat obscure, and this is reflected in the variety of renderings found in translations. “They produce nothing but lust with their mouths.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Their mouths are full of lustful words.” (NLT) “‘Fine words!’ they will say with insincerity.” (REB) “Love songs are on their lips.” (NAB, revised edition) “Their mouths speak of love.” (NIV) “Loving words are on their lips.” (TEV) “They claim to be faithful.” (CEV) The Septuagint says, “Falsehood [is] in their mouth.” “Their heart” was prompting them to make unjust gain. In thought or in their inner selves, they were bent on taking advantage of others. According to the Septuagint, their heart was after “unclean things,” the things that led to moral defilement. (33:31)
The word for “look” focused attention on who Ezekiel was to the people who came to him. They regarded him as one who entertained them with a “song of love,” had a “beautiful voice,” and was accomplished in playing a stringed instrument. The Septuagint says that Ezekiel was to them like the “tone of a pleasant-sounding, well-tuned stringed instrument.” Though they heard his words, they refused to heed them. (33:32)
When the message that Ezekiel had proclaimed was fulfilled (literally, “when it comes — come it will”), the people would “know” or be forced to recognize that a prophet had been in their midst. (33:33)
Notes
In verse 21, the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) says that it was the “tenth year,” but other Greek manuscripts agree with the reading of the Masoretic Text. A number of Hebrew manuscripts indicate that it was the “eleventh year,” and this is also the reading of the Syriac. Instead of the “tenth month,” Greek manuscripts say that it was the “twelfth month.”
Printed Greek texts do not include the words of verse 26 and only contain the introductory words of verse 25 (“Therefore, say to them, Thus says the Lord Lord”). Fifth-century Codex Alexandrinus, however, does contain the wording that corresponds to that of the Masoretic Text.
YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel. (34:1) As at other times, he was addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. The message for him to make known was directed against the “shepherds [rulers or leaders] of Israel.” Through Ezekiel, the Lord YHWH declared, “Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves. Should not the shepherds feed the sheep?” Instead of being actively concerned in promoting the welfare of the people subject to them, the rulers oppressed and exploited them. (34:2) Their harsh actions toward the people were like those of uncaring shepherds who ate the “fat” or best part (consumed the “milk” [LXX]) of the sheep, clothed themselves with the wool, slaughtered fatlings, and, instead of leading the flock to good pasture, did not feed or tend the sheep. (34:3)
The “shepherds” or rulers had no regard for the poor, afflicted, or suffering people. They were like shepherds who did nothing to strengthen or help the weak, tend the sick so that they might recover, bandage the injured, bring back the ones that had strayed, and search for the lost one of the flock. Instead, the rulers dominated over the people with severity and with harshness. According to the Septuagint, they exhausted the strong ones with toil. (34:4) In view of there being no caring “shepherd” or ruler over them, God’s people (his “sheep”) became the victims of foreign powers (“food for every wild animal of the field”) and were scattered. The Targum indicates that the people were “handed over for destruction to all the kingdoms of the nations.” (34:5) Like sheep, the people wandered “over all the mountains and on every high hill.” They came to be scattered “over all the face of the earth” or over an extensive area far beyond their own land. The people were like lost sheep, but no one searched for them or endeavored to find them (lead them back [LXX]). (34:6)
“Therefore (on account of their failure), the shepherds or rulers of Israel were called upon to “hear” or to pay attention to the “word [or message] of YHWH.” (34:7) With words formulated like an oath (“as I live”), the Lord YHWH solemnly declared, “Because my sheep have become spoil and my sheep have become food for every wild animal of the field [victims of foreign powers], for there was no [caring] shepherd and my shepherds [the rulers who themselves were Israelites or God’s people] did not search for my sheep, and the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed my sheep [the rulers had no concern for their subjects]” (34:8), “therefore, you shepherds [rulers], hear [pay attention to] the word of YHWH.” (34:9) “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I am against the shepherds [rulers].” The word rendered “look” focused attention on what YHWH had determined regarding the “shepherds,” “I will require my sheep at their hand,” holding them accountable for their failure to exercise their authority for the benefit of the people. “I will stop them from tending the sheep,” depriving them of all power over them. “The shepherds will no longer feed themselves,” exploiting their subjects and oppressing them. YHWH’s word continued, “I will rescue my sheep from their mouth [the mouth of the shepherds], and they will not be food for them.” No longer would YHWH’s sheep have to endure the oppressive domination of rulers who exploited them for their base objectives. (34:10)
Regarding what he would do for his sheep, the Lord YHWH is quoted as saying, “Look, I myself” (or, “here I am”), “and I will search for my sheep and look for them.” After the troops under the command of Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and devastated the territory of the kingdom of Judah and after the remaining survivors in the land fled to Egypt, all the people who had been scattered or taken into Babylonian exile, including those who were exiled with King Jehoiachin, found themselves in circumstances comparable to those of scattered sheep. (34:11) Through Ezekiel, YHWH promised that he would not leave his people in this vulnerable condition. Like a shepherd searches for any scattered animals of his flock when he is among his sheep, YHWH promised to seek out his “sheep and rescue them from all the places to which they had been scattered in a day of cloud and gloom.” This “day of cloud and gloom” was the time when the people from the territory of the kingdom of Judah were taken into Babylonian exile, for it was a time when these exiles had no hope of ever being able to return to their own land. (34:12; see the Notes section.) Through Ezekiel, YHWH expressed his purpose regarding his people, “I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the lands and will bring them to their own land and tend them on the mountains of Israel by the wadis and in all the inhabited places of the land.” This was fulfilled after Babylon fell to the troops under the command of the Persian monarch Cyrus. Through the agency of Cyrus, YHWH made it possible for a remnant of his exiled people to be gathered from the regions to which they had been scattered, to return to the territory of the former kingdom of Judah, to rebuild Jerusalem, and to restore the devastated places. (34:13)
In the capacity of their shepherd, YHWH promised to care for his sheep or the remnant of his restored people. “I will feed them in good pasturage, and their pasture will be on the mountains, [on] the heights of Israel. There they will lie down in good pasture, and they will feed on fat [lush or rich] grazing land on the mountains of Israel.” The Septuagint refers to their “folds” as being on the “high mountains of Israel.” There they would “sleep,” and there they would “rest in fine luxury” (or in a flourishing condition). (34:14; see the Notes section.) Instead of having the oppressive shepherds of the past, the restored people would have YHWH as their caring shepherd. His promise through Ezekiel was, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will let them lie down [rest (LXX)].” The Septuagint then adds (but not P967, the oldest extant Greek manuscript), “And they will know that I am the Lord.” (34:15; see the Notes section.)
Like a caring shepherd, YHWH would search for any lost sheep, bring back one that had strayed, bandage any injured sheep, strengthen or care for the sick one. Any member of the flock comparable to a sheep that injured the others and became fat or strong at their expense would be annihilated. YHWH would feed bad sheep with “judgment” or “justice,” executing the deserved punitive judgment against them. According to the Septuagint, God would “watch the strong one.” The Greek text then concludes with the words, “and I will feed them with judgment.” (34:16)
Regarding his “sheep” or his people, the Lord YHWH said, “Look, I will judge between a sheep and a sheep, between rams and he-goats.” The introductory word rendered “look” focuses attention on the judgment. This judgment of the sheep or the people would be based on the way each person treated fellow Israelites. In the context, the “rams and he-goats” represent leaders of the people and others who made themselves guilty of oppression and exploitation. (34:17) They are the ones who were described as animals that fed on “good pasture” but then trampled down what was left after their grazing. These oppressive ones were like rams and he-goats that drank of clear water but then stamped around in the remaining water, muddying it for the rest of the flock. (34:18) The experience of YHWH’s “sheep” or people was comparable to that of animals that were forced to graze on the pasture which the rams and he-goats had trampled and to drink the water that the rams and he-goats had muddied with their hoofs. (34:19)
“Therefore,” in view of what had been the lot of the oppressed people, the Lord YHWH said to the oppressors, “Look, I, I myself will judge between a fat [strong (LXX)] sheep [rich man (Targum)] and an emaciated [a weak (LXX)] sheep” [poor man (Targum)]” — the prosperous oppressor and the struggling lowly oppressed one. (34:20) The leaders of the people and other oppressors were like animals that pushed with their “flank and shoulder” and thrust with their horns against “all the weak ones” until they had “scattered them abroad.” In the Targum, the oppressors are identified as men who oppressed others with “wickedness and force” and, with their strength, crushed all of the weak ones. The corrupt leaders and other evil exploiters were responsible for the loss of YHWH’s care, aid, and protection. Therefore, the scattering of the sheep was attributed to them. In the Septuagint, the reference is to afflicting the “abandoned” (or faint) one. (34:21)
YHWH promised to save or deliver his “sheep” or flock, liberating those whom he regarded as his own from being an object of plunder. He would “judge between a sheep [ram (LXX)] and a sheep [ram (LXX)]” (“a man and a man” [Targum]). At the time for judgment, the wicked oppressors would be held accountable for their actions and would be punished. (34:22; see the Notes section.)
To replace the oppressive “shepherds” or rulers of the past, YHWH purposed to set over his people one shepherd who would “feed” or care for them. This one would be his “servant David,” the ruler who would truly “feed” the people and be a shepherd to them. After a remnant of Jewish exiles returned to their own land after the fall of Babylon, they did not have a king in the royal line of David over them. Therefore, the reference is to the future “son of David,” the promised Messiah or Anointed One, who appeared in the first century CE and came to be known as “Jesus” or Jehoshua and is the highly exalted king by God’s appointment since his death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven, the invisible spirit realm. The time will come when he, as “King of kings and Lord of lords,” will exercise the complete authority his Father and God granted him over everything in heaven and on earth. Even today, all who accept his authority over them benefit from his care and help as a loving shepherd. By reason of what he accomplished when surrendering his life, his “sheep” are forgiven of their sins and restored to a relationship of oneness with him and his Father. (34:23; see John 10:1-18; Acts 3:13-26; 1 John 2:1, 2.) YHWH’s promise to these “sheep” is, “I, YHWH, will be their God, and my servant David a leader [ruler or prince] in their midst. I, YHWH, have spoken.” This indicated that those whom YHWH recognized as the “sheep” would have his approval as their God, and they would benefit from the rule of his “servant David,” the Anointed One, Messiah, or Christ. (34:24)
The blessings that the “sheep,” God’s people, would enjoy under the rule of the “son of David” are portrayed in terms of security and prosperity. YHWH would make a “covenant of peace” with his people, assuring them of a life free from insecurity. Any danger of attack by wild animals (or like threats) would be banished from the land so that even wilderness regions where beasts of prey formerly roamed would be safe for habitation and forests would be places where people could sleep without fear. (34:25; compare Leviticus 26:6 and see the Notes section.) YHWH would make his people and the places “round about [his] holy hill [the elevated site in Jerusalem where the temple was located] a blessing,” probably meaning the object of his blessing. According to the Septuagint, God would “give” the people a place of dwelling “all around [his] mountain.” The Targum interprets the words of this verse to mean that God would settle his people “all around [his] holy temple.” YHWH promised to send down rain for his people “in its season” or when needed. The rains would be “showers of blessing,” for they would make it possible for crops to flourish. (34:26) Trees would be productive, and the land would yield abundant harvests. The people would then reside in security on their land. Upon their liberation from the oppressive yoke they had formerly borne and their rescue from the “hand” or power of those who had enslaved them, the people would “know YHWH,” or recognize him as the God who had brought about their deliverance. (34:27) They would cease to be the prey of other nations, no longer being submitted to enemy invasions and conquest. No wild animal would “devour” or harm them. They would reside in security (“in hope” [LXX]), and no one would make them afraid. (34:28)
YHWH’s raising up for his people a “plantation for a name” (“plant of peace”) could relate to his granting permanent productivity to the land or to his raising up the “son of David,” his servant “Sprout,” Shoot, or Branch (Zechariah 6:12, 13) as king. (Isaiah 11:1-5) The renderings of numerous modern translations make the application to the productivity of the land. “I will make their land famous for its crops.” (NLT) “I will make their fields produce large amounts of crops.” (CEV) “I will give them fertile fields.” (TEV) “I shall make their crops renowned.” (REB) “I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops.” (NIV) “I shall make splendid vegetation grow for them.” (NJB) “I will prepare for them peaceful fields for planting.” (NAB, revised edition) A case could be made for these interpretive renderings in view of the words about famine that follow. The people would not be “removed” or destroyed by famine or hunger in the land. According to the Targum, they would never again be wanderers on account of famine. The people would no longer have to endure the “reproach of the nations,” evidently because of no more coming to be in distressing circumstances from famine or enemy invasion. (34:29) They would then know that YHWH their God was with them, and that he acknowledged them as his people, the “house of Israel.” As his people, they benefited from his blessing. (34:30)
YHWH is quoted as identifying his “sheep, the sheep of [his] pasture,” as men (literally, “man” [collectively]) or as mortals dependent upon him, and he was their God, the Eternal One, the one on whom they could rely for everything. (34:31; see the Notes section.)
Notes
The wording of verse 12 in the Septuagint differs somewhat from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It refers to the shepherd as seeking “his flock by day, when darkness and cloud” are “in the midst of the sheep separated [from the flock].” Like a shepherd, God would seek his “sheep and drive them away from every place to which they had been scattered in a day of cloud and darkness.”
In verse 14, the wording of the oldest extant Greek text (P967) differs in a minor way from other Greek manuscripts. “In good pasture, I will feed them on a high mountain of Israel, and their flock will be there, and they will sleep, and there they will rest in fine luxury, and they will be fed in fat [lush or rich] pasture on the mountains of Israel.”
In the Hebrew text of verse 15, the quoted words of YHWH are attributed to him with the expression that may be rendered, “Thus says the Lord.” In the Septuagint, the words, “Thus says the Lord Lord” could be understood to introduce the text of verse 16.
For the wording in verse 22, the oldest extant Greek text (P967) does not include the phrase, “and I will judge between ram to ram.”
According to the Septuagint rendering of the words in verse 25, God would make a “covenant of peace” with David.
In verse 31, the Septuagint does not include the words that identify the “sheep” as “men” or mortals.
YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel (35:1), a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of the eternal God, directing him to “set [his] face [or focus his attention] against Mount Seir and prophesy against it.” “Mount Seir” is another name for the land of Edom, including its inhabitants the Edomites. Like the Israelites, the Edomites were descendants of Abraham and Isaac. They were closely related, for the Israelites descended from Jacob, and the Edomites from his twin brother Esau or Edom. The Edomites, however, did not treat the Israelites as their brothers. (35:2) Therefore, the Lord YHWH declared through Ezekiel, “Look, I am against you Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand [my power] against you, and I will make you a complete devastation [literally, a devastation and a desolation (a wilderness, and you will be desolated [LXX])].” (35:3) “I will lay your cities waste, and you will become a devastation, and you will know that I am YHWH.” Upon being conquered and their cities reduced to ruins, the Edomites would “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH had executed his punitive judgment against them. (35:4)
The Edomites revealed their perpetual hostility toward the Israelites when siding with their enemies. They handed the “sons [or people] of Israel” over to the hand or power of the sword at the time they faced calamity, “at the time of [their] punishment [literally, cutting off].” According to the Septuagint, the Edomites laid in wait treacherously for the “house of Israel” by the “hand of enemies, with a sword.” The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) indicates that the Edomites acted against the “house of Israel” by the “hand of [enemy] nations,” with a “sword.” This was “at a time of injustice, at an end.” The “time of injustice” could designate a time when the people of Israel were dealt with unjustly as victims of warfare. Possibly the reference to an “end” could apply to the ruin that came to the Israelites. (35:5)
“Therefore” (on account of what the Edomites had done), the Lord YHWH solemnly declared with wording formulated like an oath (“as I live”) that he would prepare Mount Seir (Edom or the Edomites) “for blood,” possibly meaning that the Edomites would have their blood shed, and “blood” would “pursue” them. This pursuit suggests that the sword of war would continue to be directed against them to spill their blood. The Septuagint rendering could be understood to indicate that the Edomites had “sinned to blood,” apparently meaning that they had seriously made themselves guilty of shedding much blood. (35:6) When executing his judgment against Mount Seir or Edom, YHWH would make or allow it to become a complete devastation (literally, “a devastation and a devastation”), cutting off from the land all those “coming” from it and all those “going” to it. According to the Septuagint, God would destroy from Mount Seir or the land of Edom both men and beasts or livestock. (35:7) YHWH purposed to “fill” the mountains of Edom “with the slain. On the hills, in the valleys, and in all the wadis, those slain with the sword would fall. (35:8; see the Notes section.) YHWH would make or allow Edom to become “perpetual devastations,” and the cities of the land would cease to be inhabited. At the time this occurred, the Edomites would “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH was the God who had executed his punitive judgment against them. (35:9)
The Edomites assumed that the “two nations” and the “two lands” (the desolated territories of the realm of Israel and the realm of Judah) would become theirs to possess. They are quoted as having expressed themselves to this effect, but they had failed to recognize that the entire region continued to be under the control of YHWH. He “was there,” and the Edomites were not at liberty to take over the vacated and devastated land. (35:10) “Therefore,” the Lord YHWH solemnly declared (“as I live”) that he would deal with the Edomites according to the anger, jealousy, and hatred they had shown toward the people of Israel when he executed his punitive judgment against them. YHWH would then make himself known “among them” (the Israelites [Masoretic Text]) or among the Edomites [“to you” (LXX)]) (35:11) He had heard all the contemptuous expressions the Edomites had uttered “against the mountains [or hill country] of Israel.” They had said regarding the “mountains” or all the land areas, “They have been desolated. To us, they have been given to devour.” As far as the Edomites were concerned, the devastated land was theirs for the taking and for them to exploit. (35:12; see the Notes section.)
YHWH considered the arrogant expressions coming from the “mouth” of the Edomites respecting his people and their land as directed against him. They had multiplied their words against him, and he had heard what they said. (35:13) Therefore, the Lord YHWH made known that he would make “Mount Seir” a “devastation” or let Edom be laid waste. This apparently would cause “all the earth” or people everywhere to rejoice. In their renderings, a number of modern translations are more specific than is the wording of the Hebrew text. “I shall make you so desolate that the whole world will gloat over you.” (REB) “The whole world will rejoice when I make you desolate.” (NLT) “To the joy of the whole world, I shall make you a waste.” (NJB) “Everyone on earth will celebrate when I destroy you.” (CEV) (35:14)
The Edomites had rejoiced maliciously “over the inheritance of the house of Israel” at the time enemy warriors desolated it. Therefore, YHWH purposed to deal with the Edomites accordingly. “Mount Seir and all Edom, all of it,” would become a “devastation” or be reduced to ruins. No part of the land would be spared. Upon the fulfillment of YHWH’s word, the Edomites would “know” or be forced to recognize that YHWH is the God who had executed his punishment against them. (35:15)
Notes
The wording of verse 8 in the Septuagint differs somewhat from the reading of the Masoretic Text. “And I will fill the hills and your ravines with your [mortally] wounded; and on all your plains in you, the [mortally] wounded with the sword will fall.” In the oldest extant Greek text (P967), the words are structured differently. “And I will fill the hills and the ravines with your [mortally] wounded, and the [mortally] wounded will be on all your plains; they will fall by the sword.”
According to the reading of verse 12 in the Septuagint, God had heard the “sound” of the “blasphemies” of the Edomites.
YHWH’s directive to Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in his service, called upon him to “prophesy to the mountains of Israel (apparently meaning the entire land) and say, “Mountains of Israel, hear the word of YHWH.” Although the mountains did not have the capacity to “hear,” or to pay attention to, YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]), they would be affected by the future developments, and all who would be able to return to the “mountains of Israel” from exile could listen to the message and should have done so. (36:1)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as referring to the enemies of his people as saying, “Aha [Good (LXX)]! And the ancient heights have become our possession!” (36:2) “Therefore,” Ezekiel was to prophesy, proclaiming a message that pointed to a restoration of the ancient heights to a thriving state but a message that initially referred to their devastation. “From all sides,” there had been “desolations” from enemy invasions, and the people had been “crushed.” The “mountains of Israel” (or the entire land) had become the possession of the “remaining ones of the nations” or of the people of other nations. As a devastated land and a defeated people, the “mountains of Israel” and the inhabitants had become the object of disparaging talk of every tongue (or language) and of the “evil report” or gloating gossip of other peoples (a “reproach for nations” [LXX]). (36:3; see the Notes section.)
“Therefore” (in view of what had happened to the entire land of his people), the Lord YHWH is quoted as telling the “mountains of Israel” to “hear” his “word” or message. To indicate that no part of the land would remain unaffected by what he would do or cause to happen, he directed his “word” to the mountains, hills, wadis, valleys, the places that enemy troops had devastated and left behind in ruins, and the deserted cities that had been plundered and had become an object of mockery (trampling [LXX]) to the remaining nations round about. (36:4) To those who had shared in seizing the land of his people, the word of YHWH continued, “In the fire [or heat] of my zeal [fury (LXX)], I will speak against the rest of the nations, against Edom [Idumea (LXX)], all of it, that gave my land to themselves as a possession.” Their seizure of the land was accompanied with malicious glee (literally, “joy of all the heart”) and “contempt of soul” or an all-out contempt. They drove out the people so that they might plunder. According to the Septuagint, they dishonored “souls” (people of Israel) in order to destroy them by despoiling them. (36:5)
“Therefore” (in view of what enemy nations had done), Ezekiel was to “prophesy about the land of Israel and say to the mountains,” hills, wadis, and valleys, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I, in my zeal and in my wrath, speak because you have borne the reproach of the nations.” The word rendered “look” served to focus on what YHWH purposed to do in effecting a transformation of the devastated land. In the desolated state, the land had suffered reproach or shame from the people of surrounding nations. (36:6) “Therefore,” the Lord YHWH declared with an oath (literally, “I lifted up my hand” [as one would when swearing]) that the nations round about his land would have to bear reproach, indicating that they would be laid waste. The Septuagint indicates that God would raise his hand against the surrounding nations. (36:7) Whereas the lands of other nations would be devastated, the “mountains of Israel” would return to a flourishing state, yielding “branches” or being productive and bearing “fruit” for God’s “people Israel.” His people would be restored to their land (literally, “brought near to come”). According to the Septuagint rendering, God’s people would “consume” (“eat” [P967]) the grape cluster and the fruit of the mountains of Israel. (36:8)
YHWH is quoted as saying that he would be “for” the mountains (the land areas) or grant his favor to the land of Israel, and the introductory words (“for look, I”) serve to focus attention on this aspect. He would turn, or give his favorable attention, to the “mountains,” and they would be “cultivated and sown.” Apparently the designation “mountains” here represents the entire land — mountains, hills, valleys, and plains. (36:9) Upon the “mountains” or the land, YHWH would multiply “man” (“men” [LXX]) or the people, “all the house of Israel, all of it [to the end, to the last one, or totally (LXX)].” The cities that had been reduced to ruins would again be inhabited, and the devastated places would be rebuilt. (36:10) YHWH promised to multiply “man and beast” (people and domestic animals) upon the mountains or the land areas. People and animals would increase in number and be fruitful. YHWH would cause the mountains or land areas to be inhabited as they had been in the past, doing more good for them than had been the case in former times. As a consequence, the people would “know” YHWH, recognizing him as the God who had done this for them. (36:11) He would cause “man” (“men” [LXX]), “even [his] people Israel,” to walk on the mountains or the land areas, and they would possess the land, and the mountains or land areas would be the inheritance of the people of Israel. The mountains or land areas would no longer bereave the people of children. This former bereavement may have reference to the death of children from famine when the land produced little, from infectious disease, or from the slaughter by enemy troops in the land. (36:12)
Apparently regarding the land of Israel, YHWH is quoted as referring to people as saying that it devoured “man” (“men” [LXX]) and caused its “nation” or “nations” (Israel and Judah) to be bereaved of children. When droughts, insect plagues, or enemy invasions led to poor or ruined harvests, the cultivated land areas appeared as though they devoured the starving populace and brought about the bereavement of children. Malnourished people died from lack of food and infectious disease. As enemy troops marched through the land, it seemed as though the land had turned against its inhabitants. People perished as victims of warfare, from lack of food and potable water in besieged towns and cities, and through encounters with beasts of prey that had left or been forced out of their usual habitat. Possibly the bereavement of children could allude to the abominable practice of child sacrifice. (36:13; see the Notes section.) YHWH declared that this would not continue. The land would no longer devour “man” (“men” [LXX]) or the people and bereave (stumble [Masoretic Text]) its “nation” or “nations” (Israel and Judah). (36:14; see the Notes section.)
YHWH would not permit the “insult of the nations” to be heard regarding the land of Israel nor to have the land bear the “reproach of peoples.” This indicated that the land would not be subjected to devastating enemy invasions and be left in ruins. The land would not cause its “nations to stumble,” possibly meaning that the land would be free from sites for idolatrous worship that formerly stumbled the people or led the “nations” of Israel and Judah to sin seriously against YHWH. (36:15; see the Notes section.)
Again YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel (36:16), a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of YHWH, the eternal God. The message related to the sinful action of the people of Israel, the merited punishment they experienced, and their future restoration. While the “house [or people] of Israel” resided in the God-given land, they defiled it with their “way” or corrupt conduct and their “doings” or wrong actions. To YHWH, their abominable “way” or conduct had become like the “uncleanness” of a woman in a state of impurity. According to the oldest extant Greek text (P967), the people defiled the land with “their idols,” “their way” or conduct, and “their sins.” (36:17) YHWH poured out his wrath upon them for the “blood” they had poured out on the land and for having defiled the land with their idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]). The innocent blood that was spilled would have included that of children who were sacrificed to nonexistent deities. Additionally, judicial corruption led to wrongful executions of guiltless persons. (36:18; see the Notes section.)
By means of conquering enemy troops, YHWH scattered his disobedient people “among the nations” and dispersed them throughout many lands. In keeping with their “way” or conduct and their “doings” or actions (“sin” [LXX]), YHWH judged them. (36:19)
Wherever the people of Israel came to be among the nations, they were responsible for profaning God’s “name” or his reputation [“holy name” (LXX)] as the God who could aid and protect them. People of those nations would say regarding them, “They are the people of YHWH, and out of his land they had to go,” implying that he was powerless to prevent the exile of his people. (36:20) On the basis of concern (literally, “compassion” or intense feeling) for his “holy name” that the “house of Israel” caused to be profaned among the nations among which they had been scattered as exiles, YHWH purposed to take action. (36:21) “Therefore,” the Lord YHWH directed Ezekiel to say to the “house” or people of Israel, “Not for your sake am I about to act, O house of Israel, but for the sake of my holy name that you have profaned among the nations to which you came” as exiles. In view of their conduct, the people did not merit having YHWH’s favorable attention and being restored to their land. (36:22)
YHWH purposed to “sanctify his great name” or make his reputation holy, clearing it of all reproach that had come upon it through his people who had been scattered among the nations. The people of these nations would then know or be forced to recognize that he is YHWH, the God who had taken action for his people. Thus before the “eyes” of the people of the nations, YHWH would be sanctified in relation to his people. Apparently the sanctification would occur through what the people of the nations could observe about the changed status of his people. (36:23; see the Notes section.) YHWH purposed to take his people “from the nations,” gather them “from all the lands” to which they had been exiled, and bring them back to their own land. (36:24)
YHWH determined to cleanse his people from their uncleanness, doing so as if sprinkling clean water upon them. The uncleanness resulting from their idolatry would be removed, for they would be cleansed from their idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]). This promise particularly found its fulfillment in the cleansing from sin that was made possible when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, surrendered his life. (36:25; see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Hebrews 9:13, 14; 10:14-18; 1 John 2:2.) To all who are cleansed in this way, YHWH would give a “new heart,” a transformed inner self, and put within them a “new spirit,” a new activating, motivating, and energizing power that would cause them to have a disposition that would motivate them to think, speak, and act in a divinely approved manner. The former “heart of stone,” one that was unresponsive to divine guidance and commands would be removed and replaced with a “heart of flesh,” one that would be responsive to doing God’s will. (36:26; compare Jeremiah 31:31-34.) With those into whom YHWH would put his spirit, he would act so that they would observe his statutes and carry out his “judgments” or ordinances. His spirit would be the motivating power in their lives, impelling them to be upright in disposition, word, and action. (36:27)
A repentant remnant of the people of Israel did return from exile and again lived in the land that YHWH had given to their “fathers” or ancestors. He recognized them as his people, and he proved to be their God to whom they were devoted and who cared for them. All who centuries later accepted Jesus as the unique Son of God and his sacrifice for them were assured of a permanent residence in a spiritual realm associated with the heavenly Jerusalem. (36:28; see John 14:2, 3; Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:22-24.)
YHWH saved or freed his people from all their defilements, forgiving their sins. He is quoted as saying that he would “summon the grain and make it abundant,” not letting the people suffer from famine. Centuries later, all who put faith in Jesus as the unique Son of God experienced his Father’s loving care and flourished spiritually. (36:29) To indicate that his people would not suffer from any lack or have to endure the “reproach of famine among the nations,” YHWH is quoted as promising to make fruit trees produce abundantly and to cause the “field” or the crops growing in the field to increase. The people would not be subjected to insults on account of any serious lack. (36:30)
After experiencing a great change in their circumstances as former exiles, the liberated repentant remnant of God’s people would recall their “evil ways” or corrupt conduct and their bad dealings. They would be ashamed about their past behavior and actions, loathing themselves for who they had been as persons guilty of serious sins and abominations. These abominations would have included idolatry and the associated rites, including the abhorrent practice of child sacrifice. (36:31; how this applied to persons who became devoted disciples of Jesus Christ, see Romans 6:20, 21; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 4:1-4.)
The Lord YHWH made known to his people that he would not effect their deliverance from exile for their sake. They did not merit it. They, the “house of Israel,” needed to repent, looking upon their past ways or corrupt conduct with shame and humiliation. According to the Septuagint, they needed to “turn back from [their] ways,” abandoning their sinful behavior. (36:32) “In the day” or at the time the Lord YHWH would cleanse his people from all their iniquities, he would make it possible for them to inhabit the cities that had been reduced to ruins and to rebuild the places that had been laid waste. (36:33) The land itself would then be cultivated and not remain desolate “in the eyes” or the sight of all passersby. (36:34)
Persons who saw the former desolate condition of the land would say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden [garden of delight (LXX)],” and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are now “fortified and inhabited.” (36:35) People of the nations remaining round about the land of Israel would “know” or come to recognize that YHWH had “rebuilt” (or caused to be rebuilt) the “ruined places” and had “planted that which was desolate” or caused the fields that had been laid waste to be cultivated. Through Ezekiel, YHWH had made known his purpose regarding the land. He had spoken, and he would do or fulfill what he had revealed. (36:36)
YHWH would permit his people, the “house of Israel,” to seek him to make an appeal, and he would act for them. Apparently the plea would be for them to be able to increase in number. This is suggested by YHWH’s promise that he would increase them with “man” or with people “like a flock” of sheep or goats. (36:37) At the time of the annual festivals, many sheep and goats would be offered in sacrifice. They would be unblemished animals, a sacred flock, acceptable as offerings to YHWH. Like such a large sacred flock at Jerusalem during the festivals, the formerly devastated cities of the land of Israel would be filled with “flocks of man” or people. At that time, the people of Israel would know or recognize YHWH as their God who had acted to fulfill his promise. (36:38)
Notes
The Hebrew text of verse 3 is somewhat obscure, and this has resulted in varying interpretive renderings. “Just because they eagerly lusted to see you become a possession of the other nations round about, so that you have become the butt of gossip in every language and of the jibes from every people — ” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Because they made you desolate indeed, and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became an object of gossip and slander among the people.” (NRSV) “Because you have been ridiculed and hounded on all sides for becoming a possession for the remaining nations and have become a byword and a popular jeer, …” (NAB, revised edition) “When the neighboring nations captured and plundered the mountains of Israel, everyone made fun of Israel.” (TEV) “Your enemies have attacked you from all directions, making you the property of many nations and the object of much mocking and slander.” (NLT) “You mountains of Israel, all round you men gloated over you and trampled you down when you were seized and occupied by the rest of the nations; your name was bandied about in common gossip.” (REB) “Your enemies sneered and said that you mountains belonged to them. They ruined and crushed you from every side, and foreign nations captured and made fun of you.” (CEV) The Septuagint indicates that the “mountains of Israel” were dishonored and hated.
According to the Septuagint rendering of the concluding phrase of verse 13, the land had become childless “by” its own nation (or “from” its own nation [being bereaved of its own nation]).
The rendering of verse 14 in the Septuagint does not follow the reading of the Masoretic Text about stumbling but agrees with Hebrew manuscripts that mention bereaving. In verse 15, the Septuagint does not contain a phrase about stumbling or bereaving. A number of modern translations emend the phrase in verse 15 to correspond to that of numerous Hebrew manuscripts in verse 14. “You shall never again devour your people or rob your nation of its children.” (NAB, revised edition) “You will never again rob the nation of its children.” (NJB) “The land will no longer rob the nation of its children.” (TEV)
The Septuagint rendering of verse 18 is shorter than the reading of the Hebrew text. “And I poured out my fury upon them.”
In the oldest extant Greek text (P967), verse 23 does not include the words, “and the nations will know that I am the Lord in my being sanctified among you before their eyes.” Additionally, the entire section from verses 24 through 38 is not included.
YHWH’s “hand” or power came to be operative on Ezekiel. By means of his spirit, YHWH brought him in vision out from his location and set him down “in the midst of the plain,” an area full of [human (LXX, but not in P967)] bones. (37:1; see the Notes section.) Then, by means of his spirit, YHWH led Ezekiel round about among the bones. The words “and look” served to focus attention on the bones. There were “very many” of them on the surface of the plain, and they were “very dry.” (37:2)
The question YHWH is quoted as having directed to Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in his service, was, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel personally did not know the answer but recognized YHWH as the one who did and replied, “Lord YHWH, you know [these things (LXX)].” (37:3) YHWH then said to Ezekiel, “Prophesy [or proclaim] over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of YHWH.” This indicated that the ones whom the bones represented should listen or pay attention to YHWH’s word regarding what he would be doing for them. (37:4) To “these bones,” the Lord YHWH declared, “Look, I will cause spirit [a life breath (spirit of life [LXX]) to enter you, and you will live” or be restored to life. (37:5) YHWH promised that sinews and flesh would come to be upon the bones and that the reconstructed bodies would be covered with skin. He would put “spirit” (a life breath) into the reconstructed bodies, and they would live again. As fully restored persons from a condition comparable to dry bones, the individuals would “know” or recognize YHWH as the one who had accomplished this astonishing transformation. (37:6)
When Ezekiel prophesied or made the proclamation as he had been commanded to do, he heard a “noise.” It was a rattling sound, and bones for forming each respective skeleton came together, matching bone to matching bone. (37:7) As Ezekiel observed the developments, he saw that sinews and flesh had come to be on the reconstructed skeletons, and the reconstructed bodies were covered with skin. At the time, the bodies were not animated. There was no “spirit” or life breath in them. (37:8)
YHWH instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the “spirit,” breath, or wind, and to say to it, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Come from the four spirits [or winds (the four compass directions)], O spirit [breath or wind], and put spirit [or breathe] into these slain ones, that they may live” or be restored to life. (37:9) As YHWH had commanded him, Ezekiel prophesied or made a proclamation. Then “spirit” or breath came into the reconstructed bodies. They came to life and “stood upon their feet — a very, very great host [company or gathering (LXX)]) The formerly dry bones came to be restored individuals, standing like a strong army. (37:10)
Ezekiel was again addressed as “son of man,” a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, and the dry bones in the plain were identified for him as being “all the house [or people] of Israel.” They are then quoted as saying about themselves, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope has vanished, and we are cut off,” “lost” (LXX), or doomed to have no future. In the estimation of the exiles, there appeared to be no possibility of their ever returning to their own land. (37:11) “Therefore” (in view of their discouragement and their having lost all hope), Ezekiel was to prophesy and tell the people, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I am opening your graves and will raise you from your graves, O my people, and I will bring you into the land of Israel.” In their state of exile, the people appeared to be like the deceased who had no possibility of being set free from the restraints of death. This condition was to end, for YHWH would make it possible for the people to return to their own land. (37:12) YHWH would open their graves and bring them up from their graves, freeing them from the restraints that had kept them in exile. Upon the fulfillment of this promise, the people would know or recognize YHWH as the God who had done this for them. (37:13) He would put his “spirit” into them, animating what had initially appeared to be mere dry bones in a plain. They would come to life, and YHWH would settle the restored people on their own land. The people would then “know” or recognize that YHWH had spoken and had done what he said he would. (37:14)
YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) again came to Ezekiel (37:15), addressing him as “son of man,” a mortal in his service, and telling him, “Take a stick and write on it, For Judah and the sons [or people] of Israel partnered with [attached to (LXX)] him. And take another stick and write on it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and all the house of Israel partnered with [added to (LXX)] him.” The descendants of Ephraim, the son of Joseph, became the dominant tribe of the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. Therefore, the whole “house of Israel” became associated with Joseph through Ephraim. The stick for Judah represented the stick for the people of the former two-tribe kingdom of Judah, and the “stick of Ephraim” or the one for Joseph represented the people of the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel. (37:16) The directive to Ezekiel was for him to join the two sticks, holding them together, so that they would come to be or appear to be like one stick in his hand. (37:17) After he had completed this symbolic act, the people would ask him, “Will you not tell us what these [actions mean] to you?” (37:18)
In response to the people’s question, Ezekiel was to say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I am taking the stick of Joseph that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel partnered with him, and I will join them” with the “stick of Judah and make them one stick; and they will become one in my hand.” The word “look” served to focus attention on what YHWH would do. The stick of Joseph was represented as being in the “hand” or under the control of Ephraim, for Ephraim was the dominant tribe and the one from whom the first king of the ten-tribe kingdom came. According to the Septuagint rendering, the tribes of Israel (the ten tribes of the former kingdom of Israel) would become “one rod” in the hand of Judah, or would become a united realm under the rule of a king of the tribe of Judah. (37:19) Before the “eyes” or in full view of the people, Ezekiel would hold in his hand the two sticks on which he had written. (37:20)
The explanation of Ezekiel’s symbolic act followed. “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I will take the sons [or people] of Israel from among the nations to which they have gone and will gather them from all sides and bring them to their [own] land.” (27:21) “I will make them one nation in the land, upon the mountains of Israel, and one king will be king over them all.” “They will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms.” A remnant of the descendants of exiled Israelites from the tribes that constituted the former ten-tribe kingdom of Israel did return to their land. In the centuries that passed, however, they did not have a king of the royal line of David from the tribe of Judah reigning over them. Therefore, this prophecy pointed forward to the time the future Anointed One, Messiah, or Christ would rule over a united people. This one appeared in the first century CE, bore the name Jesus, and was identified by his devoted followers as the “Son of God” and the “king of Israel” or the Messiah (27:22; Matthew 16:16; John 1:49)
As a restored people, the Israelites would no longer defile themselves with idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]), with their abominations, including such disgusting practices as child sacrifice and ceremonial prostitution, and with their transgressions. YHWH promised to deliver them in “all their dwellings [from their backslidings, according to another reading of the text (lawless deeds [LXX])] in which they sinned” and to “cleanse them.” They would then truly be his people, and he would be their God to whom they were exclusively devoted and who would care for them. Their being delivered would mean that they would be freed from condemnation for past sins, be forgiven, and would cease to stray from the course YHWH approved. They would be a cleansed people, no longer stained with transgressions. (37:23)
YHWH’s “servant David” would be king over the purified people. They would have only “one shepherd,” the one ruler in the person of the “servant David.” The people would then “walk” or conduct themselves according to YHWH’s judgments or his ordinances, and they would keep his statutes, faithfully conforming themselves to them. YHWH’s “servant David” is the Anointed One, Messiah, or Christ. Jesus, the unique Son of God, occupies this position as King of kings and Lord of lords.” (37:24; see the Notes section.)
The restored people would dwell in the land that YHWH had given to his “servant Jacob,” the forefather of the Israelites. It was the land where their “fathers” or ancestors had resided, and they and their “sons” or children and their grandsons or grand children would reside there for all time to come, and for all time to come YHWH’s “servant David” would be their prince or ruler. (37:25; see the Notes section.)
With his people, YHWH promised to make a “covenant of peace,” assuring them that they would have his attentive care and blessing as a people who had been reconciled to him. This covenant and its benefits would be permanent. The people would be firmly established in their realm and increase in number, and YHWH’s sanctuary would be in their midst for all time to come. From the first century CE onward, the members of the true Israel continued to increase in number, and they were under the attentive care of their king, YHWH’s “servant David.” Therefore, it could be said of them, that they were in a secure position in their land or realm. With his sanctuary being in their midst, the people would benefit from God’s presence at all times. They would never be without his care and aid. (37:26) YHWH’s dwelling place or his presence would be with his people. He would be their God, the God with whom they had an approved relationship and to whom they desired to be faithful, and they would be his people, enjoying his recognition as persons whom he approved. (37:27) When the evidence would be unmistakable that YHWH had sanctified his true people, “Israel,” making them holy or pure in his sight as persons forgiven of their sins, and that his sanctuary was in their midst permanently, people of the nations would “know” or come to recognize that YHWH was the one who had done this for them. (37:28)
Notes
In the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967), the words of chapter 37 appear after those of the concluding verse of chapter 39.
The prophet’s words of verse 24 pointed prophetically to Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. In the prophecy, the expressions are such as to suggest the restoration of an earthly kingdom under the rule of the Messiah, Jesus. Those who accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah and the unique Son of God understood that his reign would not be of an earthly kind but would be heavenly. Therefore, the words that point to the uniting of Israelites from the northern kingdom of Israel with the people of the two-tribe kingdom of Judah may be understood to signify that all who come to recognize Jesus as their rightful king will form one united body, comparable to just one flock of sheep.
In view of the link of permanent residence in the land to YHWH’s “servant David,” the promised Messiah, the land may be understood to represent what the ultimate inheritance of all true Israelites will be. (Verse 25) According to Hebrews 11:16, this would be a better place, a “heavenly one.” It appears that the promise about residence in the land was expressed in language that accommodated the understanding of the people prior to the time the Messiah arrived.
YHWH’s “word” or message (“word of prophecy” [Targum]) came to Ezekiel (38:1; see the Notes section), a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of the eternal God, telling him to “set [his] face [or focus his attention] against Gog of the land of Magog, the chief prince [or chief of Rosh (ruler of Ros [LXX])] of Meshech [Mosoch (LXX)] and Tubal [Thobel (LXX)],” and to “prophesy against him.” It appears that “Gog of the land of Magog” designates a ruler who would exercise authority over people of other nations and, with them, initiate an all-out assault against God’s devoted people. Historically, in the second century BCE, the descendants of the Israelites who returned from Babylonian exile did face an assault from Antiochus Epiphanes who was determined to eradicate the worship of YHWH. The prophetic language, however, seems to point to a development that is still future and appears to relate to the one to whom the apostle Paul referred as the “man of sin” or the “man of lawlessness.” (See the comments on Daniel 8:12, 13; 11:31, 36; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, and the Notes section of chapter 2 of 2 Thessalonians.) Meshech has been linked to a region in western and central Asia Minor, and Tubal is thought to have been in eastern Asia Minor to the northeast of Cilicia. (38:2; see the Notes section.) The Lord YHWH declared that he was “against Gog, the chief prince [or chief of Rosh (ruler of Ros [LXX])] of Meshech [Mosoch (LXX)] and Tubal [Thobel (LXX)].” (38:3; see the Notes section.)
YHWH determined to turn Gog around from the direction of his planned attack and to put “hooks” in his jaws, dragging him away with all his military force. In this army, there would be horses and horsemen arrayed in full armor, all of the warriors forming a great host equipped with buckler and shield, and “all of them wielding swords.” (38:4; see the Notes section.) In the military force, there would be warriors from Persia, Cush (or Ethiopia) and Put (Libya [Libyans (LXX)]), “all of them with shield and helmet.” (38:5) There also would be “Gomer and all its armies” and, from the distant north, “Beth-togarmah (or house of Togarmah [house of Thergama (LXX); house of Eregrama (P967)]) “with all its armies.” Many peoples would be with Gog in the campaign against YHWH’s people. The people of Gomer have been linked to the Cimmerians who anciently are thought to have settled in an area north of the Black Sea but who later, after the Scythians drove them out, warred in Asia Minor. Togarmah has been associated with the Armenians who were anciently known for their horses and mules. (38:6)
The challenge directed to Gog is, “Be prepared and prepare yourself, you and all the host assembled around you, and be a guard for them.” The thought appears to be that Gog should ready himself for the assault on God’s people and assume the command of the assembled military force. (38:7) Gog would be mustered or mobilized for action “after many days” or long after Ezekiel’s time. At the concluding part of the years or in the distant future, Gog would come against the land that had been restored from having the sword of warfare wielded against it and against its inhabitants who had been gathered out from many peoples. The land is identified as the “mountains of Israel” that long had been in a state of devastation. That desolated condition had ended, and the inhabitants had been brought back to their own land from many peoples and enjoyed dwelling in security. (38:8) Gog would come up against this land, coming in like a fierce storm. With his hordes, he and many peoples would cover the land as with dark clouds. According to the Septuagint, Gog would “come up like rain and come like a cloud to cover [or to flood] the land.” (38:9) The Lord YHWH revealed that, “in that day” or at that time, matters would come into Gog’s “heart” or he would have evil thoughts in his inmost self and devise a wicked scheme. (38:10)
Gog is quoted as saying that he would go up against a land of unwalled villages (a “rejected land” [LXX]) against a people who are “quiet,” not being troubled by any disturbance, and who are “residing in security” or “peace” (LXX), “all of them residing without [any protective] wall” and having no bars and gates or doors to keep out intruders. From all appearances, the people would be vulnerable, having no defenses to protect them from an enemy military force. (38:11)
Gog’s objective would be “to seize spoil and to plunder extensively [literally, to plunder plunder], to turn [his] hand against the [formerly] devastated places” but which had become inhabited, and against the people who had been gathered “from the nations” and who had acquired livestock and property. The reference to YHWH’s people as residing at the “navel” or “center of the earth” may be because their residence is associated with the Jerusalem, the center for pure worship. This link to divinely approved worship would make their place of dwelling the most important one in the earth. (38:12)
Sheba (Saba [LXX]), Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish (Carthaginian merchants [LXX], in northeastern Africa [merchants of the sea (Targum)]) and all its “young lions” (“villages” [LXX]) are represented as asking Gog, “Are you coming to seize spoil? Have you assembled your hosts to plunder plunder, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and property, to plunder great [or a large amount of] plunder?” Sheba is commonly associated with an area in the southwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula, and Dedan is considered to have been east of the northeastern coast of the Red Sea in the northwestern region of Arabia. Tarshish has been linked to the Iberian Peninsula. The Hebrew designation for “young lions” could refer to the kings, and this is the interpretation found in the Targum. (38:13)
“Therefore” (in view of Gog’s objective), Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH, was directed to prophesy, telling Gog, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, In that day [or at that time]) will you not know that my people Israel are dwelling in security?” According to the Septuagint, the wording of the question indicates that Gog would be aroused against God’s people Israel when they would be settled “in peace” or without any fear of attack. Gog would “know” or be fully aware of the seemingly vulnerable condition of God’s people and consider this to be the opportune time for launching an assault against them. (38:14) Gog would come from his place, from the most remote parts north of the land of God’s people. He and many peoples with him would be riding on horses and form a large company and a mighty army. (38:15)
Gog would come up against God’s people Israel, “like a cloud covering the earth” or like the cloudy sky that extends from horizon to horizon and thus appears to cover the entire visible land area. This would take place at the concluding part of the “days” or in the distant future. YHWH would permit this to happen and, therefore, he represented himself as bringing Gog against the land of his people and using this development to make people of the nations “know” or recognize him as the God who had taken action against Gog, sanctifying himself through Gog “before their eyes” or in the sight of people of the nations. YHWH would sanctify himself as the God who delivered his people and who overthrew Gog and his mighty host. (38:16)
The Lord YHWH is quoted as saying to Gog, “Are you not he of whom I spoke in former days by my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in those days [for] years that I would be bringing you against them [the people of Israel]?” Apparently even before Ezekiel lived, prophets of Israel made known the message about the future assault on God’s people. None of their preserved prophecies contain specific references to Gog. One explanation for this could be that much about the service of the prophets is not included in the highly condensed accounts regarding their activity. Although not mentioning Gog, one prophet who appears to refer to his future attack is Joel (3:1, 2 [4:1, 2]). It is also possible that the words of other prophets about future enemy attacks may be understood as alluding to the final assault by Gog and his army. (38:17; see, for example, Micah 5:4, 5.)
“In that day,” or at the time, of Gog’s coming into the land of Israel, YHWH’s wrath would be aroused (literally, “my wrath will rise up in my nose [or nostrils]”). (38:18; see the Notes section.) In his “zeal” or ardor and the “fire of [his] wrath” or his blazing anger, YHWH would make known his purpose. At the time of Gog’s attack, a “great shaking” would occur in the land of Israel. This tremendous upheaval would come about from the action YHWH would be undertaking against Gog and his military force. (38:19) “Before the face” of YHWH, or at his presence that would become apparent from his activity, everything would be affected as though shaken by an earthquake — the “fish of the sea,” the “birds of the heavens,” the “beasts of the field,” all “creeping things on the ground,” including the smallest creatures, and all men or humans “on the face of the earth” or land. Mountains would be thrown down, cliffs would fall, and every wall would tumble to the “earth” or ground. The oldest Greek manuscript (P967) concludes with the thought that this would happen so that “all the nations” would “know” or come to recognize that God was with his people. (38:20)
YHWH would summon a “sword” (“fear” [LXX]) against Gog throughout “all [his] mountains” or the entire land of his people. In the attacking military force of Gog, the sword of every man would be wielded against his “brother” or fellow. (38:21; see the Notes section.) YHWH would then “enter into judgment” with Gog and his military force. The means for executing this judgment would be “pestilence” (“death” [LXX]) or infectious disease, “blood” or the shedding of the blood of the attackers. Torrential rain, hailstones, fire and sulfur would descend upon Gog and his hordes, and the “many people” with him. (38:22) Through this act in defense of his people, YHWH would magnify himself, sanctify himself, and make himself known before the eyes of many nations. As a consequence, the people of the nations would “know” or come to recognize YHWH as the God who delivers his people. His greatness would be revealed in his completely overthrowing Gog and his hordes, and he would sanctify himself in clearing his name from any previous reproach of people of the nations who did not believe that he could deliver those who were devoted to him. The Septuagint adds that God would be glorified. (38:23)
Notes
In the oldest extant Greek text (P967), the words of this chapter are found after the text of chapter 36.
Those who take the reference in verse 2 to be to Rosh (Ros [LXX]) link it to a region in Russia. “Magog” has not be identified with any known area.
In verse 3, the declaration of YHWH begins with a word that may be rendered “look.” This word apparently serves to focus attention on the statement that follows.
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 4, God would assemble Gog and all his force. It indicates that the great assemblage would be equipped with “shields and helmets and swords.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 18 continues the concluding phrase in the next verse (“my wrath will arise, also my zeal [or jealously]”).
In verse 21, the oldest extant Greek text (P967) includes the word for “sword” after the word for “fear” (“fear of a sword”).
YHWH directed Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in his service, to prophesy against Gog and say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Look, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince [or chief of Rosh (ruler of Ros [LXX])] of Meshech [Mosoch (LXX)] and Tubal [Thobel (LXX)].” The word rendered “look” serves to focus attention on the message. Meshech has been linked to a region in western and central Asia Minor, and Tubal is thought to have been in eastern Asia Minor to the northeast of Cilicia. (39:1; see the Notes section and the comments on 38:2.)
YHWH purposed to turn Gog around, lead him on, and bring him up from the remote parts of the north, and cause him to come against the “mountains of Israel” or the land of his people. Although YHWH is the one represented as taking the action, he would be allowing Gog to pursue his hostile objective. This would then serve to provide the occasion for YHWH to bring about the complete overthrow of Gog and all those with him. (39:2) YHWH represented himself as the one who would strike the “bow” from Gog’s left hand and make the “arrows” drop from his right hand. The Septuagint continues with the words, “and I will cast you down upon the mountains of Israel.” (39:3) According to the extant Hebrew text, Gog would “fall on the mountains of Israel” or on the land of God’s people. Along with him would fall all his hordes and the peoples with him. YHWH would give their corpses to every kind of “bird of prey” or carrion birds and to “beasts of the field” or wild animals to be devoured. (39:4)
Gog would “fall on the face of the field,” fully exposed. His end would be certain, for YHWH, through Ezekiel, had declared that this would happen. (39:5) On “Magog,” the territory of Gog’s domain, and on those residing securely on the islands or coastlands, YHWH determined to “send fire” or bring about their overthrow as by a lightning strike. Magog has not been identified with any known region. At the time of judgment, people would “know” or recognize YHWH as the God who had acted against Gog and all of his supporters. (39:6)
In the past, YHWH permitted his disobedient people to suffer conquest and exile. This brought reproach on his name or reputation, for people of other nations wrongly concluded that he could not help or protect his own people This would not happen again. YHWH would “make known” his “holy name” in the midst of his people, delivering them from all harm. Therefore, his “holy name” would not be profaned by any false conclusions or views regarding him. Instead, people of the nations would “know” or come to recognize YHWH as the “Holy One in Israel,” the God whose promises could be relied upon and who truly cared for his people. (39:7)
The introductory “look” focuses attention on what was certain to occur. “It is coming, and it will come to pass.” This declaration of the Lord YHWH apparently refers to the “day” of judgment against Gog and his military force. Through Ezekiel, YHWH had spoken regarding this “day.” (39:8; see the Notes section.)
After the destruction of Gog and his large army, the residents of the “cities of Israel” would be going out into the surrounding area to collect the military equipment of the killed warriors — bucklers, large shields, bows, arrows, hand rods or clubs, and spears. The weapons would serve as fuel. Apparently to indicate that the military force coming against them would be great, God’s people are represented as burning the military equipment for “seven years.” (39:9) They would not need to collect any wood from the “field” or open countryside or cut down any trees in the forests. The quantity of weapons would be ample for all the fuel they needed. The destruction of the enemy force would mean that God’s people could despoil those who had despoiled them and could plunder those who had plundered them. (39:10)
YHWH would give to Gog and his horde a burial place in a valley of Israel. This valley is described as one where people pass through on the “east of the sea.” According to the Targum, the location is “east of the sea of Gennesaret” (the Sea of Galilee) and near “two mountains” that are not named. Another interpretation identifies the “sea” as the Dead Sea. After the burial of Gog and his horde, the valley would be called “Hamon-Gog” or the valley of Gog’s multitude. (39:11; see the Notes section.) To cleanse the land from the defilement of many corpses or the bones of the dead, the “house [or people] of Israel” would be occupied “for seven months” in burying them. (39:12) “All the people of the land” would do the burying. To the people of Israel, this activity would be for a “name,” something noteworthy or to their credit, “on the day” that the Lord YHWH would be glorified, evidently for having taken action to deliver his people from Gog and his military force. (39:13)
A group of men (literally, “men of continuity” or men being in continual employment) would have the task of passing through the land to bury the dead that still remained on the “face of the earth” or land in order to cleanse the land from the defilement of corpses or bones. These men would make their search until the end of a seven-month period. Apparently their search would start after the people of Israel had spent seven months in burying the corpses of Gog’s slain warriors. (39:14) When seeing a human bone, one passing through the land would set up a marker by it. This marker would remain until the bone had been removed and then buried in the “Valley of Hamon-Gog” (“the Gai, the mass grave of Gog” [LXX]). (39:15; see the Notes section.) Possibly to memorialize the deliverance from the attack of Gog and his horde, there would be a city near the valley. That city would be called “Hamonah,” meaning “multitude.” According to the Septuagint, the name of the city would be “Mass Grave.” (39:16)
After Gog and his horde perish and before any remains would be buried, carrion birds and wild animals would feed on the corpses. Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in the service of YHWH, was directed to relate the word of the Lord YHWH to every kind of bird and “all beasts of the field,” saying, “Assemble and come. Gather yourselves from all sides to my sacrifice that I am sacrificing for you, a great sacrifice [or sacrificial feast] on the mountains [on all the mountains [P967]) of Israel. And you will eat flesh and drink blood.” (39:17) The birds and wild animals would feed on the flesh of mighty ones or valiant warriors (giants [LXX]) and drink the blood of princes or rulers of the earth. Apparently the dead, “all of them,” are likened to rams, male lambs, he-goats, bulls, “fatlings of Bashan” (fattened livestock from the region of Bashan on the east side of the Sea of Galilee). These are all animals that would commonly be slaughtered for an impressive feast. (39:18) The birds and wild animals would be eating “fat” until they were filled and would drink blood until they were drunk at the sacrifice (or sacrificial feast) that YHWH would be “sacrificing” or preparing for them. (39:19) They would be satisfied at YHWH’s “table,” at the feast he prepared for them. They would be feeding on “horse and chariot” (the one riding in the chariot [the charioteer]; rider [LXX]), mighty man (giant [LXX]) and “all kinds of warriors.” (39:20)
At the time of the overthrow of Gog and his horde, YHWH would be manifesting his “glory among the nations,” for people of the nations would recognize that he had brought about this overthrow. “All the nations” or the people of the nations would see the “judgment” that he had executed on Gog and the mighty army with him. They would see that YHWH had laid his “hand” upon Gog and his military force, directing his power to bring about their destruction. (39:21) In view of their deliverance from the attack of Gog and his troops, the “house of Israel” would “know” or recognize YHWH as their God “from that day” of deliverance “and beyond” or from that time onward. (39:22)
The “nations” or people of the nations would come to “know” or recognize that the “house of Israel” went into exile “for their iniquity,” because they acted treacherously toward YHWH. It was for this reason that he hid his face from the people of Israel, not coming to their aid, and “gave them into the hand of their adversaries.” The people, “all of them,” fell by the “sword” of warfare that was wielded against them. (39:23; see the Notes section.) YHWH dealt with his disobedient people in keeping with “their uncleanness,” their defilement from idolatry and other abominable actions, and their “transgressions” of his commands. He “hid [his] face from them,” refusing to grant them his favorable attention and help. According to the Septuagint rendering, he turned his face away. (39:24)
The Lord YHWH promised to restore the “captivity” or the fortunes of Jacob and to “have mercy on all the house of Israel.” YHWH would also be jealous or have zeal for his “holy name.” “Jacob” and “house of Israel” are parallel expressions that, in the basic sense, apply to the people who had descended from Jacob. In this context, the reference is to the people whom YHWH acknowledged as his own. They would cease to be in a captive state, enjoying security and freedom from all threats because of his protective care, and would continue to be recipients of his compassionate concern. YHWH’s being jealous or zealous for his name indicated that he would not allow it to be profaned as it had been in the past when people of other nations regarded the calamities that befell the disobedient Israelites as evidence that he could not help or protect them. (39:25; see the Notes section.)
The time would come when God’s people would once again reside in their own land in security, with no one making them tremble with fear. This may be understood as taking place after they had borne their shame, insult, or humiliation and the consequences for all their treachery in which they engaged toward YHWH. (39:26; see the Notes section.)
After he would bring the Israelites “from the peoples” and gather them “from the lands of their enemies,” YHWH would sanctify himself “among them before the eyes [or in the sight] of many nations.” Upon seeing the return from exile, people of the nations would recognize that YHWH had done this. He would thus be sanctified, indicating that he had helped his people. (39:27) The people of the nations would then “know” or come to recognize YHWH as the God who sent his people into exile (or let them be exiled) and then “gathered them [back] into their own land.” He would not leave anyone remaining behind in exile, making it possible for all who wanted to return to do so. (39:28; see the Notes section.) YHWH would not hide his face from his people (the “house of Israel”) upon his pouring out his spirit upon them. With his spirit upon them, they would be motivated to conduct themselves in a manner that he approved, and he would be attentive to them. The Septuagint rendering conveys a different meaning. It says that God “poured out [his] wrath upon the house of Israel.” (39:29)
Notes
Those who consider the reference in verse 1 to be to Rosh (Ros [LXX]) link it to a region in Russia.
The wording of verse 8 in the oldest extant Greek text (P967) corresponds to that of the Hebrew text. Other Greek manuscripts contain additional words. “Look, it is coming, and you will know that it will be [or come to pass].”
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 11, God would give Gog a notable place, a “tomb in Israel,” the “mass grave of those coming, toward the sea [or of those coming to the sea],” and “they [the people of Israel] will enclose the opening of the ravine, and they will bury Gog and all his multitude there. And it will be called the Gai, the mass grave of Gog.” “Those coming” may refer to the ones who would be coming to launch an assault on God’s people. The words “toward the sea” could then be understood to mean that the burial place of Gog and his multitude would be near the sea.
The designation “Gai” in verses 11 and 15 of the Septuagint is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “valley.”
It may be that, starting with the words of verse 23, the message about Gog ends, and a new subject respecting the people of Israel begins. If not already with the text of verse 23, the subject matter does more specifically appear to change in verse 25, focusing on the return from exile but also pointing forward to a restoration to divine favor on a greater scale than the Israelites experienced upon being permitted to return to their land.
In verse 26, the meaning of the words depends on the tense that is chosen to render the verbs and upon a diacritical mark on the initial letter of the first verb, a diacritical mark that changes a “sin” to a “shin.” When read as a “sin,” the meaning of the first verb is “bear,” but its meaning is “forget” when the “sin” is read as a “shin.” Modern translations vary in their renderings. “They will bear their shame and all their trespasses that they committed against Me, when they dwell in their land secure and untroubled.” (Tanakh, 1985 edition) “They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them.” (NLT) “They will live safely in their own land, but will be ashamed when they remember their evil ways and how they disgraced me.” (CEV) “They will forget their shame and all their unfaithfulness to me, when they live once more in their homeland undisturbed and free from terror.” (REB) “When they are once more living in safety in their own land, with no one to threaten them, they will be able to forget how they were disgraced for having betrayed me.” (TEV) “They will forget their disgrace and all the acts of infidelity which they committed against me when they were living safely in their own country, with no one to disturb them.” (NJB) The Septuagint does not support the rendering “forget.” It says, “And they will receive their shame and the iniquity they committed when residing on their land in peace, and there will be no one to make them afraid.”
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 28, the concluding words represent God as saying, “when I appear to them [his people] among the nations [the people of the nations].”
Ezekiel’s reference to the “twenty-fifth year of our exile” refers to the twenty-fifth year when King Jehoiachin, members of the royal household, warriors, skilled artisans, metalworkers, and others, including Ezekiel, were taken into Babylonian exile. (2 Kings 24:12-16) This was also the fourteenth year after Jerusalem fell to the troops under the command of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. The month was Nisan, the first month of the year, and the tenth day of that month. These specifics are commonly considered to indicate that it was the spring of 573 BCE. At that time the “hand of YHWH” came to be on Ezekiel, or YHWH’s spirit became operative on him. (40:1)
Not literally but “in visions [a vision (LXX)] of God” or in “visions” that had God as their source, Ezekiel was transported to the “land of Israel” and was set down on a “very high mountain.” Apparently to the south of that location, Ezekiel saw what appeared to him like the “structure” of a city. (40:2) Upon being brought to the location, he saw a man there, a man who had the “appearance of [gleaming (LXX)] copper” or bronze. This man had a “flax [a builders’ (LXX)] cord” in his hand and also had a “measuring reed.” He stood at the “gate” of what had looked to Ezekiel like the “structure” of a city. The man was an angel who served as Ezekiel’s guide. (40:3)
The man or angel said to Ezekiel, “Son of man” [or mortal], see with your eyes and hear with your ears, and set your heart [or give undivided attention] to all that I will show you, for you were brought here that I might show [these things] to you. Proclaim all that you see to the house [or people] of Israel” or to fellow Israelite exiles. (40:4; see the Notes section.)
Ezekiel saw a temple complex [literally, a “house”] with a wall all around it. It appears that it was this complex that, according to verse 2, looked to him like the “structure” of a city. The angel who functioned as Ezekiel’s guide held a “measuring reed of 6 cubits” in his hand. This cubit was a handbreadth longer than a standard cubit. The angel measured the structure, apparently the wall, and it was “one reed” (c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters) wide and one reed high. (40:5; see the Notes section.) After climbing the seven steps of the gate that faced east, the angel measured the threshold. It was one reed wide. (40:6, 22, 26; see the Notes section.) This gate led to a passageway on both sides of which were “chambers” or alcoves. Each alcove (thee [LXX]) was “one reed” long and one reed wide. There was a distance of 5 cubits (c. 8¾ feet; c. 2.7 meters) between the alcoves. These alcoves functioned as guard chambers. As in the case of the eastern “threshold of the gate,” the “threshold of the gate” at the opposite side of the passageway measured “one reed.” Apparently there were two porches, with the “porch” on the west side of the passageway being referred to as the “porch of the gate from the house” or the one that was closer to the temple than the one on the east side. A number of modern translations are more specific in their renderings than is the Hebrew text. “And the threshold of the gate next to the portico facing the temple was one rod deep.” (NIV) “And the threshold of the gate by the vestibule of the gate at the inner end was one reed deep.” (NRSV) “Beyond the guardrooms there was a passageway 10 feet long that led to an entrance room which faced the Temple.” (TEV) “The threshold of the gateway at the end of the vestibule on the side facing the temple was one rod.” (REB) (40:7; see the Notes section for verses 5 and 7.)
The angel “measured the porch of the gate from the house.” The distance was “one reed” (c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters). Perhaps this means that the angel measured the width of the inside passageway of the porch, doing so while being at the far end of the porch opposite the “house” or temple. The Septuagint contains a different rendering, and provides no clarification for the obscure Hebrew text. It indicates that the length and breadth of the “third thee” (chamber or alcove) was one “reed.” (40:8)
Seemingly, the angel next measured the exterior of the “porch of the gate” from north to south. The dimensions were 8 cubits (c. 14 feet; c. 4.2 meters) for the main section and 2 cubits (c. 3½ feet; c. 1 meter) for the pillars or supports. It appears that the angel measured the section of the porch that faced the temple (literally, “from the house”). It may be that the threshold was recessed. This could explain why the threshold was two cubits narrower than the distance from the pillar on the north side to the one on the south side of the section of the porch that faced the temple (literally, the “porch of the gate from the house”). (40:9; see the Notes section.)
On each side of the passageway of the east gate, there were three alcoves or guard chambers. The dimensions for each of the six guard chambers were identical, as also were the dimensions of the pillars or supports. (40:10; see the Notes section.)
The angel “measured the width of the entry of the gate.” It was 10 cubits (c. 17½ feet; c. 5.3 meters). The “length of the gate” itself was 13 cubits (c. 22¾ feet; c. 6.9 meters) or 3 cubits more than the entrance. In this case, the designation “length” appears to apply to the dimension of the wider interior passageway of the gate when measured from side to side. A number of modern translations convey this basic meaning. “The man measured the gateway entrance, which was 17½ feet wide at the opening and 22¾ feet wide in the gateway passage.” (NLT) “Next, the man measured the width of the passageway, and it was twenty-two feet, but the two doors of the gate were only sixteen feet wide.” (CEV) “He measured the entrance of the gateway; it was ten cubits wide, and the width of the gateway itself throughout its length was thirteen cubits.” (REB) (40:11)
There was a barrier or wall of one cubit (c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters) in front of the alcoves or guard chambers [theim [LXX]) on both sides of the passageway. The alcoves [thee (LXX)] were 6 cubits square(c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters). (40:12; see the Notes section.) It appears that the angel measured a section of the gate from the rear (literally, “roof”) of one alcove or guard chamber (“wall of the thee [LXX]) to the rear (literally, “roof”) of the one (“wall of the thee [LXX]) on the opposite side. The distance was 25 cubits (c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters). According to verse 11, the “length of the gate” or the distance from one side to the other was 13 cubits, and this would have been the width of the passageway between the alcoves along its sides. With each alcove or guard chamber being 6 cubits square, the distance from the rear wall of one to the rear wall of the one on the opposite side would have been 25 cubits. Seemingly, the words that may be rendered “opening opposite opening” or “door opposite door” (“gate upon [across from] gate” [LXX]) serve to indicate that the distance was from one side to the opposite side. (40:13)
The obscure Hebrew text makes it difficult to determine what the angel “made” or measured. A literal rendering would be, “He made the pillars 60 cubits [c. 105 feet; c. 32 meters] and to the pillar of the court the gate round about.” The Septuagint is also obscure and includes transliterations of Hebrew words. “And the atrium of the ailam [porch] of the gate 60 cubits — 20 theim [chambers] of the gate all around.” Modern translations vary in their conjectural renderings, with some using wording from the Septuagint. “He measured along the faces of the projecting walls all around the inside of the gateway — sixty cubits. The measurement was up to the portico facing the courtyard.” (NIV) “He measured the dividing walls all along the inside of the gateway up to the entry room of the gateway; this distance was 105 feet.” (NLT) “He made the vestibule — 60 cubits — and the gate next to the support on every side of the court.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “He measured also the vestibule, twenty cubits; and the gate next to the pilaster on every side of the court.” (NRSV) “He measured the porch: twenty cubits: the court surrounded the gate on all sides.” (NJB) “All around the courtyard of the gatehouse were posts six cubits high.” (NAB, revised edition) “… the vestibule twenty cubits across; the gateway on every side projected into the court.” (REB) “He measured the entrance room at the far end of the passageway, and it was thirty-four feet wide.” (CEV) (40:14)
The distance “from the front [literally, face] of the gate at the entrance” (“atrium of the outer gate” [LXX]) to the “front [literally, face] of the porch of the inner gate” (“atrium of the ailam [porch] of the inner gate” [LXX]) was 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters). This apparently was the total length of the passageway from the entrance to the exit. (40:15; see verse 21.)
All around the gate structure, with its six alcoves or guard chambers, two porches or vestibules, and pillars, supports, or walls that functioned as partitions, there were openings or windows. These openings could either be understood to have been narrowing (larger on the outside than on the inside) or that they could be “closed” or shuttered. Modern translations vary in the specific meaning they convey. “The recesses — and their supports — had windows with frames on the interior of the gate complex on both sides, and the interiors of the vestibules also had windows on both sides.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “There were recessed windows that narrowed inward through the walls of the guard alcoves and their dividing walls. There were also windows in the entry room.” (NLT) “The alcoves and the projecting walls inside the gateway were surmounted by narrow parapet openings all around, as was the portico; the openings all around faced inward.” (NIV) “There were small openings in the outside walls of all the rooms and also in the inner walls between the rooms.” (TEV) “There were recessed windows in the cells on all sides and in the posts on the inner side of the gate.” (NAB, revised edition) “Both cells and pilasters had embrasures all round inside the gateway, and the vestibule had windows all round within.” (REB) “The recesses and their pilasters had windows, with shutters on the inside of the gateway all around, and the vestibules also had windows on the inside all around.” (NRSV) “All round inside the gate there were trellised windows in the guardrooms and in their piers; similarly, in the porch there were windows all round.” (NJB) The Septuagint refers to the “windows” as being “hidden” or “covered” and indicates that these “windows” were in the theim (alcoves or chambers) and the ailam (porches) “all around inside the gate of the court.” According to the Septuagint, the figures of palm trees were on the sides of the ailam (porches), but the Hebrew text indicates that palm trees were depicted on the “pillars,” supports, or dividing walls. (40:16)
The angel conducted Ezekiel “into the outer court,” where he then saw chambers and a pavement that had been constructed “for the court.” In all, thirty chambers around the outer perimeter of the court faced the pavement. According to the Septuagint, there also were colonnades around the court, and the chambers were situated in the colonnades. (40:17) Three gates or gateways provided access into the outer court, and the lower pavement ran the full length along the sides of these gates. The Septuagint indicates that “colonnades” were at the rear of the gates, with the lower colonnade being along their length. (40:18)
In the visionary temple complex, there were two courts or courtyards, with the inner court being higher than the outer one. The angel measured the outer court, doing so from in front (literally, “before the face”) of the lower gate to the front (literally “before the face”) of the inner or higher court (or the distance between the lower gate and the higher gate that provided access to the inner court). According to the Septuagint, he measured the distance “from the atrium of the outer gate inwards up to the atrium of the gate looking outward.” Possibly the meaning is from the porch that faced the court as one entered it to the porch of the gate through which one left the outer court to enter the higher inner court. Like the Septuagint, the Hebrew text says that the measured distance was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). After “100 cubits,” the Hebrew text says, “the east and the north.” This could mean that the distance was 100 cubits between the gates on the east side and the gates on the north side. The rendering of the Septuagint indicates that the measurement of 100 cubits was in relation to the atrium of the gate that faced eastward and that the angel led Ezekiel northward. (40:19)
On the north side of the temple complex, the angel measured the length and width of the gate that faced north and which gate provided access to the outer court. (40:20) Inside the gate or gateway were three alcoves or guard chambers on both sides of the passageway. The measurement of the “pillars,” supports, or dividing walls (and of the porch was the same as that of the “first gate,” the one on the east side. The length of the gate or gateway was 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters), and the width was 25 cubits (c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters). (40:21; see the Notes section and also verses 13 and 15.)
The openings or windows of the gate or gateway and its porch (ailammo [LXX]) and its palm trees (the depictions of palm trees inside the gateway) were of the same dimensions as those of the gate that faced east. Access to the gateway was by means of seven steps, and these led into a porch (ailammo [LXX]). (40:22; see the Notes section.)
The north gate or gateway of the inner court was opposite the north gate that led into the outer court, just as the east gate of the inner court was opposite the east gate that provided access to the outer court. From gate to gate, the angel measured the distance to be 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). (40:23)
The angel led Ezekiel to the south of the visionary temple complex. There on the south side of the complex was another gate. The angel measured “its pillars and its porch.” As for the dimensions, they were the same as those for the gate on the east side and the one on the north side. The Septuagint indicates that the angel measured the gate and “the thee [chambers] and the aileu [pillars] and the ailammo [porches].” (40:24; see the Notes section.)
In the south gate or gateway and its porch, there were openings or windows all around. The Hebrew phrase that may literally be rendered, “like the windows of these” could refer to the windows of the east gate and the north gate. According to the Septuagint rendering, the windows of the gate and the ailammo [porches or vestibules] were like the windows of the ailam (porch). The length of the south gate was 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters), and the width was 25 cubits (c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters). (40:25; see the Notes section.) Seven steps led to the entrance of the southern gate and its porch or vestibule (ailammo inside [LXX]). On the pillars or supports at the entrance of this gate, there were representations of palm trees, with each side of the entrance decorated with a palm tree. (40:26; see the Notes section.)
There was a gate on the south side of the inner court. The angel measured on the south side from the outer gate to the inner gate, and the distance was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). As the Septuagint rendering indicates, this was the measurement for the court on the south side. (40:27)
The angel led Ezekiel to the inner court through the south gate. This gate had the same dimensions as the gates that provided access to the outer court. (40:28) The alcoves or guard chambers (the thee [LXX]), the pillars or supports (the aileu [LXX]), and the porch (the ailammo [LXX]) had the same dimensions as the other gates. As in the case of the other gates, openings or windows were round about in the south gate and in its porch (the ailammo [LXX]). The length of the gate was 50 cubits (c. 87.5 feet; c. 27 meters), and the width was 25 cubits (c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters). (40:29; see the Notes section.)
There is uncertainty about the reference to “porches round about — 25 cubits [c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters] long and 5 cubits [c. 8¾ feet; c. 2.7 meters] wide.” A number of Hebrew manuscripts do not contain these words, and they are also missing in the Septuagint. (40:30)
The porch or vestibule (ailammo [LXX]) of the south gate through which one needed to pass to enter the higher inner court faced the outer court. Eight steps led to the entrance of the south gate, and the pillars or supports (aileu [LXX]) on each side were decorated with representations of palm trees. (40:31)
The angel led Ezekiel to the east side of the inner court and measured the gate there. The dimensions of this gate were the same as those of the other gates. (40:32) It had the same measurements as the other gates for the alcoves or chambers (the thee [LXX]), the pillars or supports (the aileu [LXX]), and the porch (the ailammo [LXX]). As in the case of the other gates, openings or windows were round about in the east gate and in its porch (the ailammo [LXX]). The length of the gate was 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters), and the width was 25 cubits (c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters). (40:33; see the Notes section.)
The porch or vestibule (ailammo [LXX]) of the east gate through which one needed to pass to enter the higher inner court faced the outer court. Eight steps led to the entrance of the east gate, and the pillars or supports (aileu [LXX]) on each side were decorated with representations of palm trees. (40:34)
The angel led Ezekiel to the north gate and measured it. Its dimensions were the same as those of the other gates (40:35), including the alcoves or chambers (the thee [LXX]), the pillars or supports (the aileu [LXX]), and the porch (the ailammo [LXX]). The gate had windows round about, and its length was 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters), and the width was 25 cubits (c. 43¾ feet; c. 13.3 meters). (40:36; see the Notes section.)
The porch or vestibule (ailammo [LXX]) of the north gate through which one needed to pass to enter the higher inner court faced the outer court. Eight steps led to the entrance of the north gate, and the pillars or supports (aileu [LXX]) on each side were decorated with representations of palm trees. (40:37)
There is a measure of obscurity about the reference to a “chamber and its opening [or door] at the pillars [or supports] of the gates.” Although the Hebrew word for “gate” is plural, the context suggests that the north gate is meant. It appears that the chamber was located at the side of the pillars or supports of the north gate, with the entrance to the chamber being from the porch of the gate. In this chamber, the holocausts or burnt offerings were washed. A number of modern translations are more specific in their renderings than is the Hebrew text. “Opening off the vestibule of the gateway was a room in which the whole-offerings were to be washed.” (REB) “In the outer courtyard there was an annex attached to the inner gateway on the north side. It opened into the entrance room that faced the courtyard, and there they washed the carcasses of the animals to be burned whole as sacrifices.” (TEV) “A door led from the entry room of one of the inner gateways into a side room, where the meat for sacrifices was washed.” (NLT) “There was a room, the entrance to which was in the porch of the gateway, where they washed the burnt offerings.” (NJB) “There was a chamber opening off the vestibule of the gate where burnt offerings were washed.” (NAB, revised edition) “A room with a doorway was by the portico in each of the inner gateways, where the burnt offerings were washed.” (NIV) (40:38; see the Notes section.)
As one entered the “porch of the gate,” there were two tables on both sides. These tables were used for slaughtering the animals that would be presented as holocausts, sin offerings, and guilt offerings. (40:39; see the Notes section.) In relation to the position of one who went up to the entrance of the north gate, there were two tables on the outside and on the other side of the “porch of the gate” there also were two tables. (40:40; see the Notes section.) Altogether there were eight tables for the slaughtering of sacrificial victims — four tables inside the porch and four tables outside. (40:41)
The four tables for the holocausts were of “hewn stone.” The dimensions were “one and a half cubits [c. 31½ inches; c. 80 centimeters] long, one and a half cubits wide, and one cubit [c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters] high.” The instruments for slaughtering the animals to be used for holocausts or other sacrifices were on the tables. (40:42; regarding the cubit, see the Notes section on verse 5.)
There is considerable uncertainty about the significance of the Hebrew word shephattáyim. The Vulgate rendering is labia (lip), and that of the Septuagint is geisos (cornice or border). In the Targum, the reference is to pegs. If the Hebrew word relates to a ledge around the tables, this could mean that the instruments for slaughtering were placed on it, and the surface of the tables was for the flesh of the sacrificial victims. The meaning of the Hebrew text depends on the significance of the Hebrew word shephattáyim, and this accounts for the various renderings found in modern translations. “Ledges 3 inches [c. 8 centimers] wide ran around the edge of the tables. All the meat to be offered in sacrifice was placed on the tables.” (TEV) “Runnels a handbreadth wide went all round the top, and on these slabs was put the sacrificial flesh.” (NJB) “The flesh of the offerings was on the tables, and rims a hand’s breadth in width were fixed all round facing inwards.” (REB) “Shelves, one handbreadth wide, were attached all around the inside; and the sacrificial flesh was [laid] on the tables.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “And double-pronged hooks, each a handbreadth long, were attached to the wall all around. The tables were for the flesh of the offerings.” (NIV) “There were hooks, each 3 inches long, fastened all around the foyer walls. The sacrificial meat was laid on the tables.” (NLT) “All around the walls of this room was a three inch shelf [were three inch pegs (footnote)].” (CEV) (40:43; see the Notes section.)
Dining rooms for the temple singers were located in the inner courtyard outside the inner gate. One of the rooms was “on the side of the north gate,” and its front was to the south. The other room was on the “side of the east gate,” and its front was to the north. According to the Septuagint, the angel led Ezekiel into the inner court, and there were two rooms in the inner court. One of them was behind the gate that faced north and was oriented to the south, and the other room was behind the gate that faced south and was oriented to the north. Numerous modern translations likewise omit the reference to “singers” and basically follow the rendering of the Septuagint. “Outside the inner gate, within the inner court, were two rooms, one at the side of the north gate and facing south, and another at the side of the south gate and facing north.” (NIV) “Inside the inner courtyard were two rooms, one beside the north gateway, facing south, and the other beside the south gateway, facing north.” (NLT) “Outside the inner gatehouse there were two rooms on the inner courtyard, one beside the north gate, facing south, and the other beside the south gate, facing north.” (NAB, revised edition) “There were two rooms opening on the inner court, one facing south beside the north gateway and the other facing north beside the south gateway.” (TEV) “Then the man brought me right into the inner court, where there were two rooms, one at the corner of the north gateway, facing south, and one at the corner of the south gateway, facing north.” (REB) “The man then took me to the inner courtyard, where I saw two buildings, one beside the inner gate on the north and the other beside the inner gate on the south.” (CEV) (40:44)
The angel informed Ezekiel that the room facing south was for the priests who carried out duties at the temple. According to the Septuagint, these priests were entrusted with temple guard duty. (40:45) The room that faced north was for the priests who had the responsibility for the altar. This service was limited to the “sons [or descendants] of Zadok.” They were the only ones “from the sons [or descendants] of Levi” who could approach “YHWH to minister to him.” According to Josephus (Antiquities, X, viii, 6), Zadok was the first high priest to serve at the temple built under the direction of King Solomon. He initially became high priest after Solomon removed Abiathar of the house of Eli from the position of high priest and expelled him from Jerusalem for having supported Adonijah in his attempt to succeed his father David as king. (1 Kings 1:24-27; 2:26, 27) The office of high priest continued in the line of Zadok even after the period of exile in Babylon came to an end. (40:46)
The angel measured the square inner court. It was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters) in length and width. The altar was “in front of [literally, before the face of] the house” or temple. (40:47)
The angel took Ezekiel to the “porch [ailam (LXX)] of the house” or temple and measured the pillars [or supports (ail [LXX])] of the porch [ailam (LXX)].” These pillars or supports apparently were side walls on the right and left side of the temple entrance. Each side wall was 5 cubits (c. 8¾ feet; c. 2.7 meters), probably deep or thick. Regarding the gate, the extant Hebrew text then reads, “and the width of the gate 3 cubits [c. 5¼ feet; c. 1.6 meters] from here and 3 cubits from here.” It appears that the text is incomplete and that the Septuagint preserves the missing words. The Septuagint says that the width of the doorway was 14 cubits [c. 24½ feet; c. 7.5 meters]. Modern translations have commonly included text from the Septuagint. “The width of the entrance was fourteen cubits and its projecting walls were three cubits wide on either side.” (NIV) “The width of the gateway was fourteen cubits, and that of the corners of the gateway three cubits in each direction.” (REB) “The entrance itself was 24½ feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were an additional 5¼ feet long.” (NLT) (40:48)
The length of the temple porch (ailam) was 20 cubits (c. 35 feet; nearly 11 meters) and its width 11 cubits (c. 19¼ feet; nearly 6 meters) or, according to the Septuagint, 12 cubits (c. 21 feet; c. 6.4 meters). Steps led up to the entrance, and the Septuagint indicates the number of steps to have been ten. There were pillars or columns by the jambs of the porch, one pillar on one side and the other pillar on the opposite side. (40:49)
Notes
Expository comments: The temple complex Ezekiel saw in vision included features that were not mentioned in the description of the temple that was built during the reign of King Solomon. In chapter 40, details are provided regarding the gates by means of which the two temple courts could be accessed. A guard would be stationed in each of the six chambers or alcoves inside each of the three gates that led into the outer temple court, and the same layout of three gates existed for the priests who had authorized access to the inner court. This suggests that only divinely approved persons could share in the arrangement for worship that the visionary temple represented. Unworthy individuals would be debarred. The worship and the arrangement for worship would be untainted by defilement of any kind. (Compare Revelation 21:6-8, 22-17.)
According to the rendering of verse 4 in the Septuagint, the angel asked Ezekiel, “Have you seen, son of man?”
According to verse 5, the measurements in the book of Ezekiel are based on the long cubit. To limit the use of fractions, the cubit will be considered as being 18 inches or 45 centimeters, and the handbreadth as being 3 inches or 8 centimeters. This would make the long cubit about 21 inches (c. 53 centimeters). There is archeological evidence that the ancient Israelites commonly used a cubit of about 17.5 inches (c. 44.5 centimeters), with the handbreadth being about 2.9 inches (c. 7.4 centimeters). Based on these measurements, the long cubit would have been about 20.4 inches (c. 51.8 centimeters). Depending on whether the long cubit is reckoned at 21 inches (53 centimeters) or 20.4 inches (51.8 centimeters), the six-cubit measuring reed would have been 10.5 feet or 10.2 feet (or more than 3 meters) long.
The Hebrew text of verse 6 is somewhat obscure regarding the measurement of the threshold. Literally rendered, the text reads, “He measured the threshold of the gate one reed wide [or deep] and one threshold one reed wide [or deep].” Possibly this simply involves a repetition. The angel used his measuring reed and found the width or depth of the threshold to be the same as his measuring reed. Greek manuscripts vary in their renderings. According to the shorter rendering, the man or angel “measured out [or measured across] the ailam of the gate equal to [one] reed.” The word ailam is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “porch.” A longer Greek text says that the man or angel “measured the thee [a transliteration of the Hebrew word for chamber], six on one side and six on the other side, and the ailam of the gate [was] equal to the reed.”
In verse 7, the Septuagint includes transliterations of Hebrew words (thee, ailam, and thaielatha). It appears that thaielatha is an unusual transliteration of the plural Hebrew word for “chambers.” With the transliterated designations and other wording, the Septuagint rendering is difficult to understand. It says that the ailam (porch) between the thaielatha (chambers) was 6 cubits and that the “second thee” (chamber) equaled one reed in width and length, and that the ailam (porch) measured 5 cubits.
In verse 9, the Septuagint includes transliterations and refers to the “ailam [porch] of the gate” as bordering on the “ailam [porch] of the gate.” Like the Hebrew text, the given dimension is 8 cubits. The Hebrew word for the two-cubit “pillars” is transliterated as aileu. The Hebrew phrase including the expression “from the house” is rendered, “the ailam of the gate inside.” With the transliterations, the text of the Septuagint does not convey a clear meaning.
In verse 10, the Septuagint says that the “thee [chambers] of the gate” in front of the thee [chamber]” were “three on one side and three on the other side,” with the three having the same measure. The ailam (porch) had one measure “on this side and on that side.”
The transliterations theim and thee contribute to the obscurity the Greek text of verse 12.
The wording of verse 21 in the Septuagint includes transliterations of Hebrew words (the thee [chambers (the definite article is plural)], aileu [pillars, and ailammo [porch]). After ailammo, the Septuagint adds, “and its palms” (meaning the depictions of palm trees on the walls of the porch).
In verse 22, the Septuagint rendering ailammo is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for “porch.”
In verse 24 of the Septuagint, the transliterations of the Hebrew words are preceded by a plural definite article.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 25 includes transliterations of Hebrew words. A plural definite article precedes ailammo (porches or vestibules) and a singular definite article precedes ailam (porch).
Verse 26 of the Septuagint indicates that the palm tree representations were “on the aileu.” In this case, the definite article is plural and, therefore, the transliteration aileu designates “pillars.”
In verses 29, 33, and 36 of the Septuagint, a plural definite article precedes the first three transliterated words (thee, aileu, and ailammo), but a singular definite article precedes the second occurrence of the transliteration ailammo. Throughout this chapter, the Septuagint contains transliterations of Hebrew words.
The wording of verse 38 in the Septuagint departs significantly from that of the extant Hebrew text. “And its rooms and its doorways and its ailammo — at the second gate outlet [or drain].” In relation to the words of verse 39, this could mean that there was a drain in the second gate into which blood could flow when the sin and guilt offerings were slaughtered.
According to the Septuagint rendering of verse 40, there were two tables to the east “behind the flow [possibly the channel of the drain]” for the holocausts at the gate that faced north. “Behind the second [gate] and the ailam [porch] of the gate,” there also were two tables to the east.
The Septuagint wording of verse 43 differs significantly from that of the extant Hebrew text. “And they shall have a palm-sized hewn border [or cornice] all around.” Over the tables there were to be roofs to provide covering “from rain and from dryness” (or to shade the tables from the hot sun).
The angel led Ezekiel to the temple (or into the main section of the temple) and then measured the “pillars” (jambs or supporting walls) on either side of the entrance. Each one of these “pillars” (jambs or supporting walls) was 6 cubits (c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters) wide (or deep). According to the Masoretic Text, 6 cubits was the “width of the tent.” The word “tent” does not fit the context, and many translators have either omitted the phrase or emended it. In the Septuagint, there is no reference to a “tent,” and it says that the angel measured the ailam (the usual transliteration of the Hebrew word for “porch”) and that the ailam was 6 cubits on one side and 6 cubits on the other side. (41:1; see the Notes section.) The width of the entrance was 10 cubits (c. 17½ feet; c. 5.3 meters), with a 5-cubit (c. 8¾-foot; c. 2.7-meter) “shoulder” or projecting wall on either side. The main section of the temple was 40 cubits (c. 70 feet; over 21 meters) long and 20 cubits (c. 35 feet; c. 10.7 meters) wide. (41:2)
Ezekiel did not enter the most holy place of the temple. The angel alone went inside and measured the “pillar [jamb or supporting wall] of the entrance.” One of these pillars (jambs or supporting walls) would have been on the right side of the entrance and the other one on the left side of the entrance. Each wall was 2 cubits (c. 3½ feet; over 1 meter) wide or thick. According to a literal reading of the Hebrew text, “the entrance — 6 cubits [c. 10½ feet; over 3 meters], and the width of the entrance —7 cubits [c. 12¼ feet; c. 3.7 meters].” Modern translations commonly supply words to convey a more specific meaning. “The entrance was six cubits wide, and the projecting walls on each side of it were seven cubits wide.” (NIV) “The entrance was 10½ feet wide, and the walls on each side of the entrance were 12¼ feet long.” (NLT) “… the entrance itself, 6 cubits across; and the width of [the flanking wall on either side of] the entrance, 7 cubits.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “The entrance itself was six cubits, and the corners of the entrance were seven cubits in each direction.” (REB) (41:3; see the Notes section.)
For Ezekiel, the angel identified the square room that he measured as being the “most holy place.” It was 20 cubits (c. 35 feet; c. 10.7 meters) long and 20 cubits wide. (41:4; see the Notes section.) The angel measured the “wall of the house” or of the temple and found it to be 6 cubits (c. 10½ feet; over 3 meters). Although the Hebrew text does not specify which portion of the wall measured 6 cubits, modern translations vary in indicating this to have been either its thickness or its height. Each side chamber all around the outside of the temple was 4 cubits (c. 7 feet; over 2 meters) wide. (41:5) The side chambers appear to have been arranged one on top of another in three levels. In view of the obscurity of the extant Hebrew text, modern translations vary in their interpretive renderings. “The side rooms were on three levels, one above another, thirty on each level. There were ledges all around the wall of the temple to serve as supports for the side rooms, so that the supports were not inserted into the wall of the temple.” (NIV) “The arcades were arranged in three tiers, each tier in thirty sections. In the wall all round the temple there were rebatements for the arcades, so that they could be supported without being fastened into the wall of the temple.” (REB) “There were thirty side chambers, chamber upon chamber in three stories; terraces on the outside wall of the temple enclosing the side chambers provided support, but there were no supports for the temple wall itself.” (NAB, revised edition) “The side chambers were arranged one above the other, in 33 sections. All around, there were projections in the Temple wall to serve the side chambers as supports, so that [their] supports should not be the Temple wall itself.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) (41:6; see the Notes section.)
In the Hebrew text, the description of the arrangement of the chambers and the means of ascent is somewhat obscure. Based on what appears to be a similar arrangement for the temple that was built during the reign of King Solomon (1 Kings 6:6, 8), a structural feature made the chambers become correspondingly wider. Many modern translations are more specific in their renderings than is the original-language text and convey varying meanings. “The side rooms all around the temple were wider at each successive level. The structure surrounding the temple was built in ascending stages, so that the rooms widened as one went upward. A stairway went up from the lowest floor to the top floor through the middle floor.” (NIV) “Each level was wider than the one below it, corresponding to the narrowing of the Temple wall as it rose higher. A stairway led up from the bottom level through the middle level to the top level.” (NLT) “The winding passage of the side chambers widened from story to story; and since the structure was furnished all over with winding passages from story to story, the structure itself became wider from story to story. It was by this means that one ascended from the bottom story to the top one by way of the middle one.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “A broad passageway led up the side chambers, for the house was enclosed all the way up and all the way around. Thus the temple was widened by the ascent that went up from the lowest story through the middle one to the highest story.” (NAB, revised edition) “The higher up the arcades were, the broader they were all round by the addition of the rebatements, one above the other all round the temple; the temple itself had a ramp running upwards on a base, and in this way there was access from the lowest to the highest tier by way of the middle tier.” (REB) (41:7)
Round about the foundations of the side chambers, Ezekiel noticed that the “house” or temple had a raised platform or pavement (literally, a “height”). This pavement apparently provided the foundations for the side chambers and had either a length or a height of a “full reed” or 6 long cubits (c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters) (41:8; see the Notes section.)
The outer wall of each side chamber was 5 cubits (c. 8¾ feet; c. 2.7 meters) thick. There appears to have been an open paved area between the “house [or complex] of “side chambers of the temple” (41:9) and the chambers or rooms on the opposite side of the court. This open area was 20 cubits (c. 35 feet; c. 10.7 meters) wide “round about the house” or temple. (41:10) From the narrower open area, one could enter the rooms through a door facing north and another door facing south. The width of this narrower open area all around was 5 cubits (c. 8¾ feet; c. 2.7 meters). (41:11)
On the “corner of the west side” of the temple area, there was a structure that faced the “separation,” either a vacant section or a restricted space adjacent to this structure. The structure itself was 70 cubits (122½ feet; 37.3 meters) wide and 90 cubits (157½ feet; c. 48 meters) long, and the wall thereof was 5 cubits (c. 8¾ feet; c. 2.7 meters) thick. (41:12)
The angel measured the “house” or the temple. Its length was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). Including the “separation,” either the vacant or the restricted space on the west side of the temple, the structure there with its walls also was 100 cubits long (the length of the structure being 70 cubits, plus walls of 5 cubits each [a total of 10 cubits], and a vacant or restricted space of 20 cubits). (41:13)
The front of the temple faced east. Its width, including the “separation” (either the vacant or the restricted space), was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). (41:14)
The angel measured the length of the structure that faced the “separation,” either the vacant or the restricted space. This structure was located behind the temple or on the west side. Including the galleries or porches on either side of the structure, its length was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). (41:15a) Next the primary focus of the narrative changes to the materials and the decoration of the temple interior. “And the temple, the inner section [the corners (LXX)], and the porches of the court [the ailam (LXX), the outer one; the inner one (P967)] …” The Septuagint rendering completes the sentence and could be understood to mean that the ailam or “porches were roofed” or paneled. (41:15b)
According to the Masoretic Text, the phrase at the end of verse 15 continues in the next verse with a listing of other architectural features, “the thresholds and the closed [or shuttered] openings [or windows] and the galleries round about to the three…” Instead of being closed or shuttered, the openings or windows may have narrowed, being larger on the outside than on the inside. The Septuagint indicates that the windows were netted or latticed and permitted limited light to enter “round about to the three” (perhaps meaning to the three levels of chambers [verse 7]) and made it possible to look through them. A literal rendering of the Hebrew words that follow could be, “in front of the threshold wood paneling round about and [from] the floor [literally, earth] up to the openings [or windows], and the openings [or windows] were covered.” There is considerable uncertainty about the meaning of Hebrew text, and translators vary in their interpretive renderings. “The thresholds — and the windows with frames and the ledges at the threshold, all over the three parts of each, were completely overlaid with wood. There was wainscoting from the floor to the windows, including the window [frame]s.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “The windows had recesses and precious wood trim around all three sides except the sill. Paneling covered the walls from the floor up to the windows and even the window sections.” (NAB, revised edition) “The sanctuary, the inner room, and the entry room of the Temple were all paneled with wood, as were the frames of the recessed windows. The inner walls of the Temple were paneled with wood above and below the windows.” (NLT) “The sanctuary, the inner shrine, and the outer vestibule were panelled; the embrasures around the three of them were framed with wood all round. From the ground up to the windows … were carved figures, cherubim and palm trees …” (REB) “The entrance room of the Temple, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place were all paneled with wood from the floor to the windows. These windows could be covered.” (TEV) “The inside walls of the temple’s porch and main room were paneled with wood all the way from the floor to the windows, while the doorways, the small windows, and the three side rooms were trimmed in wood.” (CEV) “The inside of the Hekal and the porches of the court, the thresholds, the windows, the galleries on three sides, facing the threshold, were panelled with wood all round from floor to windows, and the windows were screened with latticework.” (NJB) The concluding phrases in the Septuagint indicate that the “house [or temple] and the nearby structures were made of wood all around,” as also were the “floor and [the area] from the floor to the windows, and the windows [probably the lattices] were folded back thrice for looking through.” (41:16)
To the area above the space of the opening or entrance and the “inner house” (or the inner room of the temple) and “on the outside” (of it) “and on the entire wall round about on the inside and on the outside,” there were “measures.” Possibly the Hebrew word for “measures” here refers to the consistent spacing of the carved representations on all the walls. (41:17)
Carved cherubs and palm trees adorned the walls, with the representation of a cherub being on each side of the figure of a palm tree. Every cherub had two faces. (41:18) The “face of a man” was “toward the palm tree on one side” and the “face of a young lion” was “toward the palm tree on the other side.” This was the arrangement of the ornamentation on the entire “house” or temple “all around.” (41:19) “On the wall of the temple [more specifically, the main part of the temple or the Holy],” there were carved cherubs and palm trees “from the floor [literally, the earth or ground] to [the area] above the opening” or entrance. (41:20) Apparently each temple doorpost was squared, and in front of the “holy place” there was an object that is described as an “appearance of an appearance.” (41:21; see the Notes section.) This object was a wooden altar measuring 3 cubits (c. 5¼ feet; c. 1.6 meters) in height and 2 cubits (c. 3½ feet; over 1 meter) in length. According to the Septuagint, the altar also was 2 cubits wide. Regarding the altar, the Hebrew text continues with the words, “its corners [or corner posts] and its length and its walls [were] wood.” The Septuagint says that the altar “had horns” and that “its base and its walls” were wooden. Concerning the altar, the angel said to Ezekiel, “This [is] the table which [is] before the face of YHWH.” (41:22)
The “temple” (more specifically, the main part of the temple or the Holy) and the “holy place” (or the Most Holy) had “two doors” or double doors. (41:23) Each one of these doors or doorways appears to have had two hinged leaves for opening and closing. (41:24) Carved representations of cherubs and palm trees adorned the temple doors. These representations were like those that had been made on the walls of the temple. There was a wooden canopy “in front of the porch [ailam (LXX)] outside.” (41:25; see the Notes section.)
The reference to the openings or windows as being “shut” could either be understood to indicate that they were shuttered or that they narrowed, being larger on the outside than on the inside. Possibly the Hebrew expression “here and here” refers to either side of the openings or windows. It appears that there were carvings of palm trees on the sides of the windows and of the “porch” (ailam [LXX]), and on the walls of the “chambers of the temple.” Whether the “canopies” were decorated with the figures of palm trees is questionable. A measure of obscurity in the Hebrew text has led to a variety of interpretive renderings in modern translations. Some of these renderings either omit much of the wording of the Hebrew text or supply additional words to convey a specific meaning. “On the sidewalls of the portico were narrow windows with palm trees carved on each side. The side rooms of the temple also had overhangs.” (NIV) “On both sides of the entry room were recessed windows decorated with carved palm trees. The side rooms along the outside wall also had roofs.” (NLT) “On both sides of the vestibule were embrasures, with palm trees carved at the corners.” (REB) “There were recessed windows and palm trees on the side walls of the vestibule. The side chambers of the temple also had latticework.” (NAB, revised edition) “At the sides of this room there were windows, and the walls were decorated with palm trees.” (TEV) “The walls on each side of this porch had small windows and were also decorated with carvings of palm trees.” (CEV) “And there were windows with frames and palm trees on the flanking walls of the portico on either side [of the entrance] and [on] the Temple’s side chambers [on] the latices.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition) (41:26; see the Notes section.)
Notes
Expository comments: The specifics about the temple Ezekiel saw in vision may well have provided a basis for the Jewish exiles to entertain the hope that the time would come when YHWH’s temple would once again be in Jerusalem. Certain details about this visionary temple, however, pointed to a development that transcended the role of the temple the military force under the command of Babylonian monarch Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed and which was rebuilt after the Jews returned from Babylonian exile. According to Ezekiel chapter 47, a life-giving stream would flow from the temple Ezekiel saw in vision. This indicates that a new arrangement for worship would come into existence. Apparently concerning this new arrangement for worship that would not be associated with any material edifice or geographical location, Jesus, the promised Messiah, Christ, or Anointed One, revealed to a Samaritan woman that true worshipers would not be worshiping at a temple in Jerusalem nor one on Mount Gerizim as had the Samaritans at an earlier time but would be worshiping God in “spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24)
The wording of verse 1 in the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) indicates that the angel went alone into the sanctuary.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 3 differs from the extant Hebrew text. “And he entered into the inner court and measured the ail of the doorway — 2 cubits, and the doorway — 6 cubits, and the shoulders of the doorway — 7 cubits on this side and 7 cubits on that side.”
In verse 4, the Septuagint applies the dimension of 20 cubits to the width of the “doors” (“gates” [P967]) in front of the sanctuary and indicates that the length of these doors was 40 cubits.
Ancient Greek manuscripts vary respecting the number of the “sides” (verse 6) or side chambers (33 twice; 30 thrice, twice [or 90 twice]; or 33).
In verse 8, the Septuagint has a transliteration of a Hebrew word (thrael) that is not in the extant Hebrew text. The Septuagint appears to indicate that, above the elevated thrael of the house or temple, there was a space round about between the “sides” (or side chambers). This space corresponded to a “reed” — six cubits.
In verse 21, the Septuagint does not refer to a doorpost. It indicates that the holy place and the sanctuary were opened on four sides.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 25 contains the word ailam, the usual transliteration of the Hebrew word for “porch.” Additionally, its rendering suggests that the wood was of excellent quality.
In verse 26, the Septuagint makes no reference to “canopies” and its wording differs significantly from the extant Hebrew text. It indicates that the angel measured on one side and on the other side up to the roofing (or ceiling) of the ailam (porch) and to the sides of the house (or temple) that were joined together.
The angel conducted Ezekiel into the outer court. There is a measure of obscurity about how the words that follow may be understood. Literally translated, the Hebrew text says, “the way of way, the north.” Possibly the meaning is that the angel led Ezekiel by way of a north way or through a north gateway. He then brought him “to the chamber” (probably meaning a chamber complex of dining rooms) that was “opposite the separation” (either a vacant or a restricted area) and “opposite the structure on the north” side. (42:1; see the Notes section.) The structure then appears to be described as being 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters) long and 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters) wide. One accessed this structure through a north entrance. (42:2)
The extant Hebrew text links the number “twenty” to the “inner court.” In relation to the words that follow, it appears that the reference is to an area of 20 cubits (c. 35 feet; c. 10.7 meters) in the inner court that faced a pavement of the outer court. Seemingly, a gallery with three levels bordered this 20-cubit area and stood opposite another gallery on the other side that overlooked the outer court pavement. (42:3; see the Notes section.)
In front of the chambers that functioned as dining rooms, there was a 10-cubit (c. 17½-foot; c. 5.3-meter) wide passageway “toward the inside.” It may be that this passageway occupied the space between two chamber complexes. The reference to a “way of one cubit” (c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters) may be to a walkway that bordered the chambers. Entrances to the chambers were on the north side. According to the Septuagint, the passageway was 10 cubits wide and 100 cubits long. Modern translations vary in either following the Hebrew text or the Septuagint and in their interpretation of the Hebrew phrase that may be literally rendered “toward the inside” and which phrase is not included in the Septuagint. “In front of the chambers was a walkway ten cubits wide on the inside of a wall one cubit wide. The doorways faced north.” (NAB, revised edition) “There was an areaway 10 cubits wide and a road of one cubit, running along the inner-court side of the chamber complex, but its entrances were on its north side.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “In front of the rooms was an inner passageway ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long. Their doors were on the north.” (NIV) “In front of the chambers was a passage on the inner side, ten cubits wide and one hundred cubits deep, and its entrances were on the north.” (NRSV) “In front of the rooms a passage, ten cubits wide and a hundred cubits long, ran towards the inner court; the entrances to the rooms faced north.” (REB) (42:4)
The upper chambers of the structure were narrower than the lowest and the middle ones. This was because the “galleries” took more space away from them than from the chambers on the other levels. (42:5; see the Notes section.)
The complex of chambers was arranged in three levels. It had no supporting pillars “like the pillars of the courts.” Therefore, the upper chambers appear to have been recessed from the floor or the level of the middle chambers and the middle chambers from the floor or the level of the lower chambers. (42:6)
A 50-cubit (c. 87½-foot; c. 27-meter) outside wall ran parallel to the chambers “in the outer court” (literally, “way of the court, the outer one”). The next phrase in the Hebrew text may be literally translated, “toward [the] face [or the front side] of the chambers.” This could mean that the wall extended to another chamber complex. Modern translations vary in their interpretive renderings. “In the outer court, a wall 50 cubits long ran parallel to the chamber complex up to the chambers [along the west wall (footnote)] in the outer court.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “An outside wall, fifty cubits long, ran parallel to the rooms and in front of them, on the side of the outer court.” (REB) “There was an outer wall parallel to the rooms and the outer court; it extended in front of the rooms for fifty cubits.” (NIV) “The outside walls ran parallel to the chambers along the outer court, a length of fifty cubits.” (NAB, revised edition) “There was an outer wall that separated the rooms from the outer courtyard; it was 87½ feet long.” (NLT) (42:7; see the Notes section.)
The “length of the chambers [or chamber complex] on the outer court” was 50 cubits (c. 87½ feet; c. 27 meters), and the length of the complex of chambers “before the face of the temple” (or opposite the temple) was 100 cubits (c. 175 feet; c. 53.3 meters). According to the Septuagint rendering, the combined length of the two chamber complexes was 100 cubits, with each one being 50 cubits. (42:8) From the outer court, the lower level of chambers or of the chamber complex could be entered on the east side. (42:9; see the Notes section.)
In front of the “separation,” the vacant or restricted area, and the “structure,” there were chambers or a complex of chambers that apparently functioned as dining rooms. This chamber complex is described as being “in the breadth of the wall of the court [by] way of the east,” possibly meaning that the complex was located alongside the wall of the court on the east side. Instead of “east,” the Septuagint says “south,” and a number of modern translations have adopted this rendering and have added words to convey a more specific meaning than is apparent from the Hebrew text. “To the south along the side of the restricted area and the building there were also chambers.” (NAB, revised edition) “In the thickness of the wall of the court, on the south side fronting the court and the building, were rooms.” (NJB) “On the south side along the length of the wall of the outer court, adjoining the temple courtyard and opposite the outer wall, were rooms.” (NIV) “On the south side of the Temple there were two blocks of rooms just south of the inner courtyard between the Temple and the outer courtyard. These rooms were arranged just like the rooms on the north.” (NLT) (42:10) A passage was in front of the “chambers” or the complex of chambers. These chambers and the passage were just like those on the north side. The length, width, all the exits, the arrangements, and the entrances were the same. In the Septuagint, there is no corresponding word for arrangements, plans, or layouts. It additionally refers to “curves” and “light” (or openings for light). (42:11)
The Hebrew text regarding the “entrances of the chambers” or complex of chambers is obscure. Literally, this text could be rendered, “And like entrances of the chambers [by] way of the south, an entrance at the head of the way, the way before the corresponding wall [by] way of the east as one enters them.” Modern translations have variously rendered the text interpretively in an effort to convey a more comprehensible meaning. “Similar to the doorways on the north were the doorways of the rooms on the south. There was a doorway at the beginning of the passageway that was parallel to the corresponding wall extending eastward, by which one enters the rooms.” (NIV) “Accordingly, the entrances to the chamber complex on the south side were approached from the east by the entrance at the head of the corresponding passage along the matching wall.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “So there was an entrance in the wall facing the doors of the inner block of rooms, and another on the east at the end of the interior walkway.” (NLT) “At the base of the chambers on the south side there was an entry at the end of a walkway in front of the protective wall by which one could enter from the east.” (NAB, revised edition) “Before the rooms on the south side there was an entrance at the end of each walk, opposite the corresponding wall on the east side, at their entries.” (NJB) (42:12; see the Notes section.)
The angel told Ezekiel that the north chambers and the south chambers that faced the separation (the vacant or restricted area) were “holy chambers” where the priests (the “sons of Saddouk” [Zadok], LXX) would be eating. These priests are described as persons who “approach YHWH,” or who are men granted to act as his representatives when performing their sacred temple duties. Besides eating in the chambers, the priests would deposit the “most holy offerings” there — the “most holy offerings,” the grain offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering, “for the place [is] holy.” The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) adds that, because the place is holy, no one other than the priests are permitted to enter it. (42:13) While inside the “holy place,” the priests had to take off the holy garments in which they customarily ministered, deposit them there, and put on other garments before they left for the area to which the people had access. (42:14)
After the angel had measured the “inner house” or inner temple area, he led Ezekiel “out [by] way of the gate” that faced east “and measured it [the area] round about.” The Septuagint rendering is more specific when referring to the measuring of the “plan of the house round about in arrangement.” Possibly this is to be understood that the measuring of the plan or layout of the temple complex proceeded in consecutive order. (42:15)
The angel measured the east side (literally, “wind”) with a measuring reed. Although the Hebrew text says “500 reeds by the measuring reed, round about,” it is commonly translated to refer to a length of 500 cubits (c. 875 feet; c. 267 meters). The Septuagint rendering contains the number 500 but does not identify the unit of measurement. Additionally, it mentions that the angel stood behind the gate that looked to the east and did the measuring. (42:16; see the Notes section.)
The angel measured the north side (literally, “wind”). It was “500 reeds [cubits (LXX)] by the measuring reed, round about.” According to the Septuagint, the angel “turned toward the north” and did the measuring. Translators commonly follow the Septuagint, referring to the dimension as being 500 cubits (c. 875 feet; c. 267 meters). The oldest extant Greek text (P967), however, does not include the wording of this verse. (42:17)
The angel measured the south side (literally, “wind”) — “500 reeds by the measuring reed.” In the Septuagint, the number 500 is included but the unit of measurement is omitted. It says, “And he turned toward the sea [the Mediterranean Sea to the west] and measured according to the face [or direction] of the sea — 500 by the measuring reed.” Modern translations commonly refer to 500 cubits (c. 875 feet; c. 267 meters), not 500 reeds. (42:18; see the Notes section.)
The angel “turned to the west side [literally, wind] and measured — 500 reeds by the measuring reed.” As in the previous verses, modern translations indicate the measurement to have been 500 cubits (c. 875 feet; c. 267 meters). (41:19; see the Notes section.)
The angel measured the four sides (literally, “winds”) of the area. A wall surrounded the area and served to separate the “holy” from the “common” or profane. Although the measurement for the length and breadth of the wall is given as 500, there is no reference to “reeds” or cubits.” The Septuagint says, “500 toward the east and 500 cubits [in] breadth.” Modern translations commonly insert “cubits” after 500 (c. 875 feet; c. 267 meters). (41:20)
Notes
In verse 1, the Septuagint indicates that the angel conducted Ezekiel “into the outer court” in an eastward direction to a location “opposite the gate toward the north.” After having been led inside, Ezekiel saw “five inner chambers” next to an open area and next to the “separation toward the north.”
Verse 3 of the Septuagint rendering could be understood to indicate that the “five inner chambers” (verse 1) were adorned with carvings like the “gates of the inner court” and like the “colonnades of the outer court.” Seemingly, stoas consisting of three stories were set in rows and faced each other.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 5 departs significantly from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It appears to indicate that the upper passages were the same as the one previously mentioned (verse 4), for the upper peristyle projected from the one beneath it and the space between. The architectural layout consisted of a “presityle and a space between, and thus stoas.”
The wording of verse 7 in the Septuagint departs significantly from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It refers to “light” outside as being like that in the chambers of the outer court. These chambers are described as being located in front of the chambers “toward the north.” Like the Hebrew text, the Septuagint refers to the length as being “fifty cubits.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 9 does not complete the last sentence. This sentence is continued in verse 10, with the words, “according to the light at the beginning of the passage.” Possibly the obscure wording means that there was an opening for light at the eastern entrance of the chamber complex.
The Septuagint rendering of the wording in verse 12, although differing from the Hebrew text, is likewise obscure. Regarding doorways, it seems to indicate that the ones for the rooms to the south “and according to the doorways at the beginning of the passage,” were entered from the east. There is an intervening phrase after the word translated “passage.” That phrase is, “upon a light interval of a reed.” Perhaps this means that there was a distance of a reed (c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters) for light at the entrance to the rooms.
If the unit of measurement in verses 16 through 20 is considered to be the “reed,” this would mean that a length of 500 reeds would be about 5,250 feet (1.6 kilometers).
In the Septuagint, the west side is mentioned in verse 18, and the south side in verse 19. This is the opposite of the order in the Hebrew text.
The angel brought Ezekiel to the gate facing east and, according to the Septuagint, led him out. (43:1) There he saw the “glory of the God of Israel” coming from the east. That “glory” would have been a magnificent brightness. The Septuagint indicates that the glory came by way of the gate that faced east. An impressive sound or roar like that of “many waters” in motion accompanied the arrival of the glory of the God of Israel. In the Septuagint, the sound is identified as that of a “camp” or as the loud shouting of many warriors. The divine “glory” or magnificent brightness lit up the “earth” or land. (43:2)
What Ezekiel saw in vision was like the vision he had seen when he “came to destroy [anoint (LXX) the city,” Jerusalem. The appearance was also like the vision that he had seen by the river Chebar. Overwhelmed with a sense of reverential awe by the sight, Ezekiel dropped to his knees and “fell upon his face.” Ezekiel’s coming to destroy the city may be understood to refer to his making known what he had seen in vision respecting what would happen to the people of Jerusalem. (See Ezekiel 9:8-10 and 10:1-7, 18-21.) A number of Hebrew manuscripts indicate that it was God, not Ezekiel, who came to destroy the city. The glorious visionary representation of the God of Israel that Ezekiel saw by the “river” (probably a major canal) is recorded in Ezekiel 1:4-28. In the Septuagint, the reference is to the “chariot” that is portrayed in the account of Ezekiel’s vision. (43:3)
The “glory of YHWH entered the house” or temple by the gate that faced east. (43:4) Ezekiel attributed his being lifted up and brought into the inner court of the temple complex to a “spirit.” This probably means that God’s spirit became operative upon him. There he saw that the “glory [or magnificent brightness] of YHWH filled the house” or temple. (43:5) While he stood in the inner court, Ezekiel heard a voice coming from the temple and addressing him. The “man” or angel who had served as his guide was also standing beside him there. (43:6) YHWH is represented as speaking to Ezekiel as a “son of man,” a mortal in his service. With reference to the temple, he said to him, This is the “place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will reside in the midst of the people of Israel for limitless time, and the house [or people] of Israel shall no more defile my holy name.” The people and “their kings” or rulers would cease to make themselves guilty of harlotry, engaging in idolatrous practices and thus proving unfaithful to YHWH as the God to whom they should have been exclusively devoted. In the past, they had defiled his “holy name” or him (the person whom the name represented) with their unfaithfulness. Their defiling by means of the “corpses of their kings” could refer to their entombing monarchs in the proximity of the sacred site or the setting up of memorials to corrupt kings. In the Septuagint, the reference is to the defilement by the “murders of their leaders” or rulers. The concluding expression in the Hebrew text could be rendered “on their high places” (their sites used for idolatrous practices). Another way to translate the Hebrew text (based on other manuscripts) is, “at their death.” “The house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they nor their kings, by their whoring, and by the corpses of their kings at their death [on their high places (footnote)].” (NRSV) There is a possibility that “corpses of kings” refers to lifeless idols, and the words of Jeremiah 16:18 lend a measure of support for this interpretation. In the Jeremiah passage, the reference is to “corpses” of detestable things or to lifeless representations of nonexistent deities. (43:7)
Regardless of whether the reference is understood to refer to dead kings or lifeless idols, the defilement resulted from close proximity to the sacred site. The people placed “their threshold by [YHWH’s] threshold and their doorposts by [his] doorposts, with [only] a wall between [him] and them.” “By their abominations,” their idolatrous practices and other corrupt deeds, the people defiled God’s “holy name,” bringing reproach upon him. Therefore, in his anger, he consumed them or permitted them to experience conquest and exile. (43:8)
YHWH would reside among his people, the house of Israel, if they removed their harlotry or idolatry and the “corpses of their kings” far away from him, no longer letting the dead bodies or lifeless idols be anywhere in his proximity. In the Septuagint, the reference is to their thrusting away from him “their harlotry and the murders of their leaders” or rulers. (43:9)
Addressed as “son of man,” Ezekiel was again reminded that he was but a mortal in the service of the eternal God YHWH. He was to tell the “house [or people] of Israel” about the “house” or temple that he had seen in vision and have them measure its design or form a mental image of it. Their doing so would make them ashamed of their iniquities, probably because the holiness of the temple complex would remind them of having seriously defiled themselves with abominable practices and thereby made themselves unacceptable to YHWH. According to the Septuagint, the people were to desist from their sins. (43:10)
When the people became ashamed of all that they had done, Ezekiel was to “make known to them” the layout of the temple and its arrangements, its exits and entrances, “all its layouts and all its statutes and all its layouts and all his laws.” To avoid redundancy, translators commonly do not render some of the Hebrew expressions and use wording that departs from a literal reading of the Hebrew text. “Make known to them the design of the temple — its arrangement, its exits and entrances — its whole design and all its regulations and laws.” (NIV) “Describe to them all the specifications of the Temple — including its entrances and exits — and everything else about it. Tell them about its decrees and laws.” (NLT) “Make known to them the plan of the Temple and its layout, its exits and entrances — its entire plan, and all the laws and instructions pertaining to its entire plan.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Tell them about the layout and design of the temple, its exits and entrances, with all its regulations and instructions.” (NAB, revised edition) “You are to describe to them the temple and its fittings, its exits and entrances, all the details and particulars of its elevation and plan.” (REB) “Describe for them the design and shape of the temple, the gates, the measurements, and how the buildings are arranged. Explain the regulations about worshiping there.” (CEV) Additionally, Ezekiel was to write down the particulars before the “eyes” of the people or while they were watching, providing them with a record of the layout of the temple complex and “all its statutes,” probably the statutes that governed the temple arrangements and services. The written record would make it possible for the people to carry out everything that was required of them. (43:11; see the Notes section.)
The “law of the house” pertains to maintaining the sanctity of the temple, never allowing it to become defiled. The temple and the entire surrounding area “on top of the mountain” was to be “most holy [literally, holy of holies].” For emphasis, the reference to “law” is repeated and the word for “look” serves to focus attention on it. “Look, this [is] the law of the temple.” (43:12; see the Notes section.)
The unit of measurement for the dimensions of the altar was the long cubit (a “cubit and a handbreadth” [c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters]). It appears that the Hebrew word for “bosom” (heyq) refers to a groove, trench, or gutter at the base of the altar. This “bosom” was one cubit deep and one cubit wide, with a rim of one span (half a cubit [c. 10½ inches; c. 26.7 centimeters]) around its edge. It may have been designed to function as a channel into which the blood would be poured. (See the Notes section on 40:5 regarding the long cubit.) In relation to the altar, the Septuagint renders the Hebrew word for “back” (gav) as “height,” and numerous modern translations likewise read, “height of the altar.” (43:13)
From the “bosom” (heyq) or trench at the base of the altar to the lower surrounding altar ledge was two cubits (c. 3½ feet; c. 1 meter). This ledge was one cubit (c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters) wide. From the “smaller” (apparently the lower) surrounding ledge to the “larger” (apparently the upper) surrounding ledge was “four cubits” (c. 7 feet; c. 2 meters). Like the lower ledge, the upper one was one cubit (c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters) wide. (43:14; see the Notes section.)
The altar hearth (ariel [LXX]) measured “four cubits” (c. 7 feet; c. 2 meters). Although not specifically stated in the text, the four-cubit dimension may be understood to apply to the height. A number of modern translations are explicit in conveying this significance in their renderings. “The height of the altar hearth shall be 4 cubits.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “The altar-hearth was four cubits high.” (REB) “The top of the altar, the hearth, rises another 7 feet higher.” (NLT) Four horns projected upward from the hearth, apparently one horn from each of the four corners. (43:15; see the Notes section.) The four sides of the altar hearth were the same dimension, with a length and width of 12 cubits (c. 21 feet; c. 6.4 meters). (43:16; see the Notes section.)
The surrounding ledge of the altar (apparently the upper ledge) had equal sides, with the length and width being 14 cubits (24½ feet; c. 7.5 meters). Its surrounding rim was half a cubit (c. 10½ inches; c. 26.7 centimeters) and the surrounding ledge one cubit (c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters). This could mean that the rim of the surrounding ledge was half a cubit high, and the ledge itself was one cubit wide. Approach to the altar was by means of “steps” that faced east. The length and width of the surrounding ledge was two cubits (c. 3½ feet; c. 1 meter) longer than the length and width of the altar hearth. With the altar consisting of three sections, the largest section was at the bottom and the smallest section, the hearth, at the top. (43:17; see verse 15.)
YHWH (“the Lord, the God of Israel” [LXX]) is quoted as telling Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in his service, “These [are] the ordinances for the altar on the day it is erected, [directives] for offering upon it holocausts and for splashing blood upon it.” (43:18; see the Notes section.)
The Levitical priests who would be entrusted with ministering to YHWH or performing sacred duties at the temple were to be from the “seed” or offspring of Zadok. To these priests, Ezekiel was instructed to give a “young bull, a son [or male] of the herd, for a sin offering.” (43:19) Regarding the bull that would be sacrificed, Ezekiel was told, “You shall take some of its blood and put it upon the four horns [of the altar] and on the four corners of [its] ledge and upon the surrounding rim [of the ledge].” In this way, he would cleanse or purify the altar and “make atonement for it.” According to the Septuagint rendering, the Levitical priests from the offspring of Zadok were the ones directed to apply the blood on “the four horns of the altar, and on the four corners of the propitiatory, and on the base round about.” (43:20; see the Notes section.) As for the sacrificed bull that served as the sin offering, its carcass was to be burned outside the sanctuary, apparently at an appointed place of the “house.” The place appears to be associated with the house or temple because the priestly function of burning was carried out at this designated location. Although the instructions for doing so are directed to Ezekiel in the Hebrew text, the Septuagint indicates that Levitical priests of the family of Zadok would be performing the required service. (43:21)
On the “second day” or the day after the carcass of the bull was burned, Ezekiel was told to bring an unblemished male goat as a sin offering. According to the Septuagint (but not P967), “two goats” were to be brought on the second day for a sin offering. The oldest extant Greek manuscript agrees with the Hebrew text in mentioning only one goat and expressing the directive to Ezekiel about the offering for sin. Other Greek manuscripts indicate that the Levitical priests were the ones to carry out this directive. In the concluding phrase, the Hebrew text changes to the third person plural verb, and so both the Hebrew text and the Septuagint are in agreement. The Hebrew text says, “And they shall cleanse [or purify (shall make atonement for [LXX])] the altar as they cleansed [or purified] it [as they made atonement (LXX)] with the bull.” (43:22)
After the altar had been purified, an unblemished young bull (literally, “bull, son of the herd”) and an unblemished “ram from the flock” were to be presented as offerings. The Hebrew text expresses the directive to Ezekiel, as does the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967). Concerning the Levitical priests, other Greek manuscripts say, “they shall offer.” (43:23) Both the Hebrew text and the Septuagint then represent the word of YHWH as directed to Ezekiel respecting the unblemished young bull and the unblemished ram, “You shall offer them before YHWH [the Lord (LXX)].” The priests, however, were the ones to cast salt upon the sacrificed animals and to offer them up as a holocaust to YHWH. (43:24)
Ezekiel was then told, “Daily, for seven days, you shall furnish a goat for a sin offering, and a young bull [literally, young bull, son of the herd] and a ram from the flock; they shall furnish unblemished ones.” Modern translations commonly do not preserve the third person plural verb (“they shall furnish”; literally, “they shall do” or “make”) in the concluding phrase. “You are also to provide a young bull and a ram from the flock, both without defect.” (NIV) “A young bull and a ram from the flock, all unblemished, shall be offered.” (NAB, revised edition) “You shall present unblemished ones.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) (43:25)
For seven days, the Levitical priests were to make atonement for the altar and to purify it. The Hebrew text concludes with the idiomatic expression “fill its hands,” and the Septuagint says, “their hands.” When applied to the altar, the meaning of the expression “fill its hands” would signify to “dedicate” or “consecrate” the altar. The Septuagint rendering “fill their hands” could be understood to mean that, upon the completion of the seven days, the Levitical priests would be fully installed or consecrated for their service at the temple. (43:26) From the eighth day onward, the priests would offer the holocausts and the “peace offerings” (“offerings of well-being,” or “communion sacrifices”). These offerings would then be acceptable to YHWH, and he would find delight in his people or bestow his favor on them. (43:27)
Notes
The Septuagint rendering of verse 11 departs somewhat from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It indicates that the people would be punished for all that they had done and concludes with the thought that they should observe all of God’s statutes and ordinances and perform them. The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) contains the Greek word for “judgments” or “decrees” (krímata), whereas other manuscripts read nómima, meaning “statutes” or “laws.”
In verse 12 of the Septuagint rendering, the reference is to the “diagram of the house” or temple “on top of the mountain.” There is no mention of the “law,” and there is no repetition.
The word ariel in verse 14 of the Septuagint is a transliteration of the Hebrew word that refers to the altar hearth. Unlike the Hebrew text, the Septuagint refers to the measurement from the ariel to up above the horns to be one cubit (c. 21 inches; c. 53 centimeters).
Instead of a word for “ledge” in verses 14 and 17, the Septuagint has the word for “propitiatory.”
In verses 16 and 17, the Hebrew text does not include the plural designation for “cubits,” but the Septuagint does.
In verse 18, the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) does not include the words “the God of Israel.” Additionally, it indicates that Ezekiel was the one to pour or splash the blood.
The Hebrew text of verses 20 through 26 is worded in a way that represents Ezekiel as being directed to perform priestly services. As a member of a priestly family, Ezekiel would have been authorized to serve at a rebuilt temple, but no temple like the one Ezekiel saw in vision has ever been built. Therefore, Ezekiel did not carry out any functions in connection with the altar. This suggests that what is being portrayed points to realities regarding divinely approved worship that transcend the arrangement for worship that was instituted in the time of Moses.
The angel who served as Ezekiel’s guide led him back to the outer sanctuary gate that faced east, “and it was shut.” (44:1) YHWH declared that this gate should remain shut, that it should not be opened, and that no man should enter it. The reason for the gate to remain shut was that “YHWH, the God of Israel” had come through it. This refers to the earlier entrance of the “glory of YHWH” into the temple by way of the east gate. (43:4) According to the Septuagint rendering, “the Lord, the God of Israel” would be entering through it. (44:2)
The one occupying the position of prince or leader would be permitted to sit inside the gate or gateway and there “eat bread before the face of YHWH,” or in YHWH’s presence. This prince would “enter by way of the porch [ailam (LXX)] of the gate” and would leave by the same way. The highly honored position of prince in the very presence of YHWH suggests that he may be the foretold Anointed One, Messiah, Christ or, according to Ezekiel 34:24, YHWH’s “servant David.” (44:3; see the Notes section.)
The angel led Ezekiel through the north gate to the front of the temple, making it possible for him to see what had taken place there. “And, look, the glory of YHWH [glory of the Lord (P967)] filled the house [or temple] of YHWH.” The introductory “look” serves to focus on what Ezekiel saw. Overwhelmed and in expression of reverential awe, Ezekiel dropped to his knees and “fell upon his face” or prostrated himself. (44:4)
YHWH called upon Ezekiel, a “son of man” or a mortal in his service, to “set [his] heart” or to give his complete attention to what would be revealed to him. He was to “see with [his] eyes,” evidently everything that would be conveyed to him in visions, and to “hear with [his] ears” everything that YHWH would tell him “about all the ordinances of the house [or temple] of YHWH and about all its laws [judgments or decrees (P967)].” Ezekiel also was to “set [his] heart” or to give his full attention to the “entrance of the house” or temple and to “all of the exits of the sanctuary.” (44:5)
To the rebellious “house [or people] of Israel,” Ezekiel was to say, “Thus says the Lord YHWH, Enough of all your abominations [lawless deeds (LXX)], O house of Israel.” It had been far too long that the people had engaged in disgusting idolatrous practices and made themselves guilty of other serious violations of God’s commands. (44:6) Their abominations or detestable practices included granting admittance into YHWH’s temple to foreigners who were “uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh.” These foreigners would have been persons who in their “heart” or inner self had no reverential regard for YHWH and who did not even conform to any outward manifestation (represented by the circumcision of the flesh) that would have indicated a desire to be associated with his people. Besides defiling the temple complex by bringing foreigners into it, the Israelites themselves, although they presented “bread” (meaning sacrifices), “fat, and blood” (the fat and blood of the animals that had been sacrificed), profaned the temple, for they carried out disgusting practices and violated the covenant that they should have been observing faithfully. (44:7)
The people failed to discharge the duties associated with YHWH’s “holy things.” It appears that they let foreigners be in charge of sacred responsibilities for which they alone should have been caring. A number of modern translations make this significance more specific than is apparent from the extant Hebrew text. “You have not discharged the duties concerning My sacred offerings, but have appointed them [aliens] to discharge the duties of My Sanctuary for you.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Instead of keeping charge of my holy things yourselves, you have put these men in charge of my sanctuary.” (REB) “Instead of caring for the service of my sanctuary, you appointed these foreigners to care for the service of my sanctuary.” (NAB, revised edition) “Instead of following the proper ways to worship me, you have put foreigners in charge of worship at my temple.” (CEV) “They have not taken charge of the sacred rituals in my Temple, but instead have put foreigners in charge.” (TEV) (44:8) It may be that the priests and Levites delegated to foreigners the sacred duties that they considered to be unpleasant, undesirable, or too menial. The Septuagint rendering could be understood to indicate that the foreigners were given guard duty in “all” (P967) God’s holy places. (44:8; see the Notes section.)
The Lord YHWH decreed that no foreigner, no man “uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh” or one who did not identify himself as being devoted to him, would be allowed to enter his sanctuary. No foreigner of all the “sons of aliens” among the “sons [or people] of Israel” would be permitted to enter. (44:9)
The Levites who forsook YHWH when Israel strayed from him, engaging in the veneration of idols (literally, “dungy things” [an expression of contempt]), would have to bear the consequences for being unfaithful to him. (44:10) Therefore, these Levites would function in the capacity of servants at YHWH’s sanctuary or temple. They would be stationed at the “gates of the house” or temple complex, be assigned to slaughter the animals to be offered, and serve the people who would be coming to the temple. (44:11)
In the past, the unfaithful Levites had served the people in front of their idols (literally, “dungy things”) and thus made themselves responsible for causing the “house of Israel” to stumble into sin. For this reason, YHWH raised his “hand” concerning or against them, and they would have to bear the consequences for their disloyalty to him. His raising of the hand could refer to his using it to strike or to lifting the hand when making an oath. If the reference is to expressing an oath, the thought would be that YHWH solemnly declared that the wayward Levites would have to bear their punishment. Both meanings are conveyed in modern translations. “I stretch out my hand against them — declares the Lord Yahweh — they will bear the weight of their guilt.” (NJB) “I have sworn with uplifted hand that they must bear the consequences of their sin.” (NIV) (44:12)
The formerly unfaithful Levites would be denied the kind of approach to YHWH that would be graned to the priests. They would not be permitted to draw near to any of YHWH’s “holy things, to the most holy things” (literally, “holies of holies”). This restriction would serve to remind them of the abominable things they did in the past and for which they bore their shame. (44:13) Nevertheless, YHWH would appoint them as caretakers, watchmen, or guards at the temple. Their role would be as men who rendered service in the temple complex and cared for everything that needed to be done there. For the proper functioning of temple service, various tasks, including maintenance work, needed to be performed. (44:14)
The Lord YHWH declared that the Levitical priests of the “sons of Zadok” who guarded his sanctuary, faithfully carrying out their duties, while the “sons [or people] of Israel” had strayed from him would be the ones who would be granted approach to him in order to serve him. These priests would be able to “stand before [his] face,” or to be in YHWH’s presence at his temple, to offer the fat and the blood of sacrifices. (44:15) They would enter his sanctuary and approach his “table,” or officiate at his altar, to render service to him. The priests of the family of Zadok would fulfill their duty to YHWH. (44:16)
Whenever they entered the “gates of the inner court,” the priests were to be attired in linen garments. They were not to wear anything that was made from wool when they served in the inner court (or inside the temple) or at its gates. (44:17) The priests were to have linen turbans on their heads, and wear linen drawers to cover their loins. Their being prohibited from girding themselves “with sweat” may be understood to refer to their not girding themselves with any material that could cause them to perspire. (44:18) Before leaving the inner court to enter the outer court where the people would be, the priests were to take off their linen garments in which they had officiated, deposit them in the holy chambers, and clothe themselves in other garments. This was so that they would avoid imparting holiness to the people with the garments they had worn in the inner court. As the people would not have been authorized to be in the presence of YHWH in the same manner as were the priests, their coming into contact with the holy garments would have been unacceptable and, therefore, would have led to adverse consequences for them. (44:19)
Priests were not to shave their heads but were to keep their hair trimmed. According to the Septuagint, they were to cover their heads. (44:20)
Priests were prohibited from drinking wine prior to entering the inner court. This assured that they would be in full control of their senses when performing their sacred duties. (44:21)
Regarding marriage, priests had stricter requirements than the people generally. They were not allowed to marry any divorced woman or any widow from the “house [or people] of Israel.” Priests could only marry Israelite virgins or widows of priests. (44:22; see the Notes section.)
Priests were responsible for teaching the people to distinguish between what is holy and what is common or profane and between what is unclean or defiled and what is clean or pure. (44:23) When functioning as judges in controversies (cases involving “blood” or the shedding of blood [LXX]), priests were to render decisions according to YHWH’s judgments. They were to observe all his “laws and statutes” regarding his appointed festivals and to maintain the sanctity of his sabbaths. (44:24)
Priests were not to approach any dead man or person so as not to defile themselves through contact with a corpse. Exceptions included a father, a mother, a son or a daughter, a brother, or an unmarried sister. (44:25) If a priest became defiled from contact with the dead body of any of these close relatives, he was required to perform the required cleansing procedure and thereafter wait seven days (44:26) before entering the “inner court” of the temple to officiate there. As YHWH required, the priest was then to present his “sin offering” for having defiled himself. (44:27)
Priests would not receive any land inheritance “in Israel” (“among the sons [or people] of Israel” [LXX]) as their possession. In view of their being granted the priesthood and exclusive service in YHWH’s temple, he was their “inheritance” or share, providing for them what they needed as did cultivated land and husbandry for the Israelites who farmed their land and raised animals. (44:28) For food, the priests could eat the grain and the meat of animals the people presented as grain, sin, and guilt offerings. Everything proscribed or devoted to YHWH “in Israel” would also become the possession of the priests. (44:29) The priests would receive the “first of all the firstfruits of all kinds” (or the first part of every crop the people harvested) and all the various contributions or gifts the people would be bringing to the temple. So that YHWH’s blessing might rest upon the individual homes of the people, they were to give to the priests a product that is called ‘arisáh in Hebrew. Lexicographers have suggested that ‘arisáh could refer to coarse meal, whole-grain flour, or bread dough. (44:30; see the Notes section.) Priests were prohibited from eating any bird or animal that had died of itself or been torn by a predator. (44:31)
Notes
In verse 3 of the Septuagint, ailam is a transliteration of the Hebrew word for porch.
Like the Hebrew text of verse 22, the oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) contains the expression “house of Israel.” Other Greek manuscripts say, “seed [or offspring] of Israel.”
In verse 30, the Septuagint does not appear to have a rendering for the Hebrew word ‘arisáh. It says, “and you shall give the firstfruits to the priest that he may set your blessings upon your houses.”
When the people would be allotting the land for the individual tribes of the nation, they were to set aside from the land a holy place as a contribution to YHWH. The dimensions of this portion were 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) in length and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers [20,000 (LXX), c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers]) in width, with the unit of measurement possibly to be understood as being the cubit. This entire area was to be holy. (45:1; see the Notes section.) From the land that was set aside, a portion measuring 500 [c. 875 feet; c. 266.7 meters] on each side was to be allotted for the “holy place” or the temple complex. All around the allotted portion, there was to be an open space of 50 [c. 87½ feet; c. 26.7 meters]. (45:2; see the Notes section.)
At this point, the directive to measure changes to second person singular (“you shall measure”). The measuring was done with a reed that had a length of six long cubits (c. 10½ feet or over 3 meters). (See the Notes section on Ezekiel 40:5.) In view of the second person singular verb (“you shall measure”), it may be that, in the vision, Ezekiel measured a length of 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) and a width of 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers [20,000 (LXX), c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers]). The sanctuary would then be a most holy structure in this measured section. (45:3; see the Notes section.)
As a sacred portion of the measured territory, the area outside the temple complex would be the land where the priests who served YHWH at the temple would have their homes. The measured territory would include the part set aside for the sanctuary or temple. (45:4)
An additional area measuring 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) in length and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers [20,000 (LXX), c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers]) in width would be granted to the Levites who served in the temple complex. According to the Hebrew text, they would have “20 chambers” as their possession. In this case, the Septuagint rendering appears to fit the context better. It refers to “cities” where the Levites would be living. (45:5)
The people were to given an area with a width of 5,000 (c. 1.7 miles; c. 2.7 kilometers) and a length of 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) for the city YHWH-Shammah and its surrounding territory. (48:15, 16, 35) This area would be alongside the holy contribution. The city itself would be for “all the house [or people] of Israel,” indicating that right to reside in the city would not be limited to one tribe. In the Septuagint, the concluding phrase could be rendered, “Thus the first fruit of the holy things for all the house of Israel they will be.” This could mean that the city and the surrounding area would be like the first fruit, or the section of land designated for the people of Israel, from the entire sacred territory. (45:6)
The prince or leader would have two parcels of land, one bordering the west side of the “holy contribution and the property of the city,” and the other one bordering the east side of the “holy contribution and the property of the city.” From the west side of his designated territory to the east side of his other designated parcel of land, the distance would correspond to one of the tribal territories extending from west to east. (45:7) This would be the prince’s property in Israel. The situation in the past when princes, rulers, or kings mistreated the people and appropriated land for themselves would cease. YHWH is quoted as declaring, “My princes shall no more oppress my people, and they shall let the house [or people] of Israel have the land according to their tribes.” These words indicated that the people would be secure in their allocated territories, with no fear of ever being deprived of any portion of their land. (45:8)
At this point, the message from the Lord YHWH is directed to the princes or leaders then among the people. He had enough of them and their corrupt actions. Through Ezekiel, YHWH commanded them to change their ways. “Thrust away violence and oppression and execute justice and righteousness. End your evictions of my people.” They needed to do what was just and right for the people, earnestly seeking to promote their well-being, and to stop depriving them of their land and homes. According to the Septuagint, they were to remove “oppression” from the people. (45:9)
The princes or leaders of the people had been guilty of defrauding them. Therefore, they were commanded to have “just” or honest balances for weighing and just or honest bath and ephah measures for determining liquid or dry quantities. The “bath” was a liquid measure of about 5.8 gallons (c. 22 liters), and the ephah was a dry measure of approximately 20 dry quarts (c. 22 liters). (45:10; see the Notes section.) The standard volume of the ephah and the bath measure was to be the same, with each one being one tenth of a homer. (45:11; see the Notes section.)
Standard weights used for business transactions were the shekel, the gerah, and the maneh or mina. Based on archeological evidence, the shekel has been calculated to have weighed 11.4 grams (0.403 ounce avoirdupois; 0.367 ounce troy). One shekel was to equal 20 gerahs (20 times 0.57 gram [0.01835 ounce troy]). The maneh or mina was to be reckoned as amounting to “20 shekels, 25 shekels, 5 and 10 shekels” or a total of 60 shekels. According to the Septuagint, the mina was to be “50 shekels,” and there also is archaeological evidence for a mina of 50 shekels. (45:12; see the Notes section.)
God’s people were to present the following special contribution: a sixth of an ephah (c. 3⅓ dry quarts; c. 3.7 liters) from every harvested homer (c. 200 dry quarts; c. 220 liters) of wheat and from every harvested homer of barley. (45:13; see the Notes section.) The amount of olive oil was measured by the “bath” It appears that the contributed amount was to be a “bath” from every “cor” or a tenth from every cor of oil. The “cor” was the liquid measure (c. 58.1 gallons; c. 220 liters), and the corresponding dry measure was the “homer,” which equaled ten ephahs or ten bath measures. (45:14; see the Notes section.) To make atonement for the people, one sheep from the flock out of every 200 (a “sheep from ten sheep” [LXX]) from the well-watered land of Israel (“from all the families of Israel” [LXX]) was to be presented in conjunction with the grain offering, the holocaust, and the peace offerings (offerings of well-being or communion sacrifices). (45:15)
This entire contribution was to be given to the “prince [or leader] of Israel.” (45:16) The apparent reason for this appears to be that he would be the one to make sure that the required offerings would be made. He personally would be responsible for the holocausts or burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the libations at the festivals, at the time of the new moon or on the first day of each month, on the sabbaths, and at all the appointed “festivals of the house [or people] of Israel.” The prince was to provide the sin offering, the grain offering, the holocaust, and the peace offerings (offerings of well-being or communion sacrifices) “to make atonement for the house [or people] of Israel.” (45:17)
The Lord YHWH declared that the sanctuary was to be cleansed or purified on the first day of the first month (Nisan or Abib [mid-March to mid-April]) For this purpose, an unblemished young bull was to be sacrificed as a sin offering. (45:18) The officiating priest was to take some blood from the sin offering and apply it to the “doorpost [doorposts (LXX)] of the house” or temple and to the “four corners of the altar ledge [the propitiatory and upon the altar (LXX)],” and the “doorpost [doorposts (LXX)] of the gate of the inner court.” (45:19) This procedure would also be followed to make atonement for the “house” or temple on the seventh day of the first month on account of defilement resulting from sin any man or person might have committed unintentionally or in ignorance. (45:20; see the Notes section.)
Passover was to be observed on the fourteenth day of the first month (Nisan or Abib [mid-March to mid-April]). Then, during the seven days of the festival, unleavened bread was the only bread to be eaten. (45:21) On the fourteenth day, the prince or leader was to provide a young bull as a sin offering “for himself [and the house (LXX), but not in P967] and for all the people of the land.” (45:22) For a holocaust to YHWH, the prince or leader was to provide seven unblemished young bulls and seven unblemished rams on each day of the seven-day festival. Additionally, for a sin offering, the prince was to provide a male goat on each day. (45:23)
A grain offering of one ephah (c. 20 dry quarts; c. 22 liters), which the prince would provide, was to accompany the sacrifice of each bull and each ram during the seven-day festival. He was also to provide a hin of olive oil for each ephah of grain. (45:24; see the Notes section.)
The festival of the seventh month (mid-September to mid-October) is not named in the verse, but it is referred to elsewhere in the Scriptures as the “festival of tabernacles” or booths. For seven days, starting with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the prince was to provide the same sin offering, holocaust, grain offering, and olive oil as he did for the seven-day festival of the first month. (45:25; see the Notes section.)
Notes
Expository comments: If the “prince” or leader referred to in this chapter is considered to be the future Anointed One, Messiah, Christ, or, according to Ezekiel 34:24, YHWH’s “servant David,” the responsibility for the sacrifices that was entrusted to him may be regarded as prophetically indicating that he alone would be offering the acceptable sacrifice that was needed to effect the forgiveness of sins. This would harmonize with the reality that the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ in the first century CE proved to be the sole basis for having one’s sins forgiven. All who would benefit from what Jesus Christ accomplished must put faith in him and accept the liberation from sin that his sacrificial death effected. The reference in verse 22 that refers to the prince as making a sin offering for himself and the people could be understood to point to the Messiah in his role as a sin bearer. (See Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24.)
In verses 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, the unit by which distances are measured is not specified. It is commonly assumed that the unit is the long cubit. In the commentary section, the approximate corresponding dimensions in feet and meters have been provided on the basis of this assumption. There is a possibility, however, that the assumption about the cubit is in error, and that the reference is to the reed. This would mean that the dimensions actually are six times greater, emphasizing the surpassing grandeur of the new arrangement for worship as represented by the visionary temple when compared with the magnificent temple that had been built during the reign of King Solomon.
In verse 10, the Septuagint refers to a “just measure” and a just choinix. The choinix was a liquid measure corresponding approximately to one quart or one liter.
The “homer” mentioned in verse 11 equaled approximately 220 liters (c. 200 dry quarts or c. 58.1 gallons). It appears that the Septuagint translator did not understand the Hebrew measures and transliterated “homer” as gomor and used métron (measure) for “bath” and choinix for “ephah.”
The Septuagint rendering of verse 12 is, “And the státhmion, twenty oboloí; the five síklois [shekels], five, and the ten síklois [shekels], ten, and fifty síklois will be your mna [mina].” The obolós or obol equaled a sixth of a drachma or about 0.57 gram. A mina of 50 shekels would equal about 570 grams (18.35 ounces troy) and a mina of 60 shekels would equal about 684 grams (c. 22 ounces troy).
In verse 13, the Septuagint refers to the contribution as a “first fruit.” The “ephah” is called métron (measure) and, in its second occurrence, oiphi, and the Hebrew word “homer” is transliterated as gomor.
The Septuagint rendering of verse 14 for the Hebrew “bath” is kotýle (c. 0.3 quart or liter), and the Hebrew word “homer” is transliterated as gomor.
The rendering of verse 20 in the Septuagint differs significantly from the reading of the extant Hebrew text. It says, “And thus you shall do in the seventh month; on the first day of the month, you shall take a portion from each one and make atonement for the house” or temple.
Sources vary in assigning a value to the “hin” mentioned in verse 24. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote in his Antiquities that a hin “contains two Athenian choas [III, viii, 3],” and that the “bath is able to contain 72 sextaries [VIII, ii, 9].” Other ancient sources indicate that two choes equaled 12 sextaries. With the bath measure reckoned at about 5.81 gallons or about 22 liters, a hin of two Athenian choas would be one sixth of a bath or about 7¾ pints (c. 3.7 liters).
In verse 25 of the Septuagint, the Hebrew expression for grain offering is transliterated as manaa.
The Lord YHWH declared that the gate of the inner court facing east should remain shut on the six work days. On the “day of the Sabbath” or the “day of the new moon” (the first day of the month), however, the gate should be opened. (46:1) From outside, the prince or leader should enter the porch (ailam [LXX]) of this gate and then position himself at the “doorpost of the gate.” In the inner court, the priests should sacrifice his holocaust and his peace offerings (offerings of well-being or communion sacrifices), and the prince should bow down in worship at the “threshold of the gate.” Thereafter he should leave by way of the gate he had entered, but the gate should be left open until the evening. (46:2; see the Notes section.) At the entrance of this gate, the “people of the land” (or the people generally) should “bow down” in worship before YHWH “on the Sabbaths and on the new moons” (or on the first day of each month). (46:3)
On the Sabbath day, the prince should offer to YHWH six unblemished male lambs and one unblemished ram. (46:4) For the ram, he should present a grain offering of an ephah (c. 20 dry quarts; c. 22 liters). In the case of the male lambs, he could choose the amount he wanted to present (literally, a “gift of his hand”) as a grain offering. Each ephah of grain was to be accompanied by a hin (c. 7¾ pints; c. 3.67 liters) of olive oil. (46:5; see the Notes section.) “On the day of the new moon,” the first day of each month, the offering should be one unblemished young bull, six unblemished male lambs, and an unblemished ram. (46:6) The grain offering required of the prince for the bull and also for the ram was one ephah (c. 20 dry quarts; c. 22 liters). For the male lambs, the amount of the grain offering is described as being “as much as his hand can reach,” probably meaning as much as he considered himself in a position to give. Additionally, the required amount for each ephah of grain was a hin (c. 7¾ pints; c. 3.67 liters) of olive oil. (46:7; see the Notes section.)
When the prince entered the temple complex, he was do so by way of the “porch [ailam (LXX)] of the gate” and then depart through this gate. (46:8; see the Notes section.) The “people of the land” or the people generally were to enter the temple complex either through the north gate or the south gate when coming before YHWH to worship at appointed times. There they would bow down in worship and thereafter leave by way of a gate they had not entered. The person who entered the north gate would leave through the south gate, and the one who entered the south gate would depart through the north gate. Unlike the prince, the people were required never to leave through the gate that they had entered. (46:9) At the time the people entered the temple complex, the prince also was to enter and to depart when they left. (46:10)
On festival days or at other appointed times, the required grain offering for each young bull and for each ram was one ephah (c. 20 dry quarts; c. 22 liters). The amount of olive oil for each ephah was to be a hin (c. 7¾ pints; c. 3.67 liters). The amount of the grain offering for the lambs apparently was a matter of choice (literally, a “gift of his hand”). (46:11; see the Notes section.)
The prince shall have opened to him the gate facing east when coming to present a “freewill offering,” either a “holocaust or peace offerings” (offering of well-being or a communion sacrifices), to YHWH. He should then “offer his holocaust or his peace offerings” as he customarily would on the Sabbath day. The prince would leave by way of the gate he had entered, and it would be closed. (46:12)
In the Hebrew text, the verb relating to the action of providing the unblemished year-old male lamb is second person singular (probably meaning the people), but the Septuagint indicates that the leader or prince would do this. Each day a lamb was to be offered, one lamb every morning. (46:13) Also in the case of the grain offering that accompanied the offering of the lamb, the Hebrew text may be understood to refer to the people as providing it, whereas the Septuagint attributes the act to the leader or prince. Each morning, a sixth of an ephah (c. 3⅓ dry quarts; c. 3.67 liters) was the grain offering to accompany the offering of the lamb. A third of a hin (c. 2.6 pints; c. 1.2 liters) of olive oil was to be used to moisten the flour of the grain offering. The regulation governing the grain offering to YHWH is identified as a statute for limitless time to come. (46:14; see the Notes section regarding the “hin.”) The lamb, the grain offering, and the olive oil were to be presented every morning as a perpetual holocaust (one to be regularly presented for limitless time in the future). (46:15; see the Notes section.)
YHWH declared that the prince’s gift of land to any one of his sons would become the inheritance of that son. This son could then pass on the property to his sons, and it would be their hereditary possession. (46:16) If the prince made a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, the servant would retain ownership of the property until the “year of liberty” (or the Jubilee), at which time the land would return to the prince. The inheritance of the prince could only be passed to his sons as their possession. (46:17) He would not be permitted to take any inheritance from the people, forcing them off their land. The prince could only give his sons an inheritance from his own property. This would prevent the people from being unjustly dispossessed (literally, “scattered”). (46:18)
The angel who served as Ezekiel’s guide led him through the entrance at the side of the gate to the priests’ holy chambers that faced north. Two different readings of the Hebrew text (one in the main text and the other one in the margin) then refer to what Ezekiel saw (a “place in the rear of them to the west”; a “place on both rear sides to the west”). The Septuagint does not include any reference to the “west” and only mentions a “separated place.” Many modern translations are more specific in their renderings than is the wording of the Hebrew text. “Then he led me into the passage at the side of the gate to the sacred chambers of the priests, which face north, and there, at the rear of it, in the west, I saw a space.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “Then the man brought me through the entrance at the side of the gate to the sacred rooms facing north, which belonged to the priests, and showed me a place at the western end.” (NIV) “He took me through the entrance at the side of the north gate that leads to the rooms of the Holy Place set apart for the priests. And there before us, to the west, was a space at the end.” (NJB) “Then the man took me to the entrance of the rooms facing north near the gate on the south side of the inner courtyard. These are holy rooms for the priests. He pointed out a place on the west side of the rooms …” (TEV) “The man who was showing me the temple then took me back to the inner courtyard. We walked to the south side of the courtyard and stopped at the door to the sacred rooms that belonged to the priests. He showed me more rooms at the western edge of the courtyard …” (CEV) “Then the man brought me through the entrance by the side of the gate to the rooms which face north, the rooms set apart for the priests, and, pointing to a place on their west side, he said to me …” (REB) (46:19)
After having brought Ezekiel to the location in the inner court of the temple complex, the angel told Ezekiel, “This [is] the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering.” It was also there that they would do baking with the flour of the grain offering (manaa [LXX]). In view of their doing the boiling and baking in the designated sacred area of the inner court, the priests would not be taking sacred items “into the outer court” and thus would avoid communicating holiness to the people. As the people would not have been authorized to be in the presence of YHWH in the same manner as were the priests, their coming into contact with the holy items would have been unacceptable and, therefore, would have led to adverse consequences for them. (46:20; see the Notes section.)
The angel conducted Ezekiel out of the inner court into the outer court and led him past the four corners of the court. In each corner of this outer court, Ezekiel saw another court or an enclosed area. (46:21) Each one of the four small courts measured 40 (cubits [LXX]; c. 70 feet; over 21 meters) in length and 30 (cubits [LXX]); c. 52½ feet; c. 16 meters) in width. (46:22) It appears that around the perimeter of these courts there were rows of stone or brick, and hearths or cooking places were located at the bottom of these rows. Modern translations commonly are more specific in their renderings than is the somewhat obscure wording of the Hebrew text. “A stone wall surrounded them on four sides, and ovens were built along the bottom of the walls all the way around.” (NAB, revised edition) “All four were enclosed by a wall, with hearths all round the bottom of the wall.” (NJB) “Along the inside of these walls was a ledge of stone with fireplaces under the ledge all the way around.” (NLT) “Each one had a stone wall around it, with fireplaces built against the wall.” (TEV) “Round each of the four was a course of stonework, with fire-places constructed close up against the stones.” (REB) “Around the inside of these smaller courtyards was a low wall of stones, and against the wall were places to build fires.” (CEV) (46:23; see the Notes section.) The angel explained to Ezekiel that the four areas at the corners of the outer court functioned as kitchens (literally, “houses of the cooking places”) where those ministering at the temple boiled the sacrifices of the people.(46:24)
Notes
Expository comments: If the “prince” in chapter 46 is the Anointed One, Messiah, Christ, or (according to Ezekiel 34:24) YHWH’s “servant David,” the sacrifices the priests offered for him may here be a prophetic indication that Jesus the Messiah or Christ, would live as a man according to the Mosaic law (Galatians 4:4) and would recognize the temple as his Father’s house (John 2:13-17) and the legitimacy of the priestly services. (Luke 5:14) As the unique Son of God, Jesus could speak of the temple as his Father’s house and, therefore, also could say that he was not obligated to pay the temple tax. (Matthew 17:24-27) Perhaps there is a prophetic allusion to this in what is stated in Ezekiel chapter 46 about where the “prince” was to enter and to leave the temple complex. His place of entering and departing differed from that of the people.
Although Jesus had no children as a man on earth, the prophetic words of Isaiah 9:6 and 7 indicate that the Messiah or Christ, the royal descendant in the line of King David, would be the “eternal Father.” These words do apply to Jesus Christ, for through him life will be bestowed on all who will have a share in the age to come, the time when he will be exercising dominion and when the last enemy death will be destroyed. (John 5:26-29; 1 Corinthians 15:25, 26) His role as the “eternal Father” would provide a basis for concluding that he could be prophetically referred to in Ezekiel chapter 46 as having “sons.” As the eternal Father, Jesus can give an inheritance to the sons who owe their life to him.
It should be noted, however, that not every aspect regarding the “prince,” his “sons,” and his “servants,” can be linked to Jesus Christ in a direct way, and it may be that there is an allusion to a future earthly administration under the “son of David,” the unique son of God. (Also see the expository comments on chapters 40 and 45 in the respective Notes sections.)
In verses 2 and 8, the Septuagint contains a transliterated form of the Hebrew word for “porch” (ailam).
Sources vary in assigning a value to the “hin” mentioned in verses 5, 7, and 14. The Jewish historian Josephus wrote in his Antiquities that a hin “contains two Athenian choas [III, viii, 3],” and that the “bath is able to contain 72 sextaries [VIII, ii, 9].” Other ancient sources indicate that two choes equaled 12 sextaries. With the bath measure reckoned at about 5.81 gallons or about 22 liters, a hin of two Athenian choas would be one sixth of a bath or about 7¾ pints (c. 3.67 liters).
The Septuagint translator does not appear to have understood the reference to the grain offering and the ephah. In verses 5, 7, and 11, the Septuagint rendering for the Hebrew expression designating a “grain offering” is a transliteration (manaa), and the rendering for the ephah measure is pémma (cake or pastry).
In verse 14, the Septuagint transliterates the Hebrew expression referring to the “grain offering” as manaa and renders “ephah” as “measure” (métron).
In verses 15 and 20, the Septuagint rendering for the Hebrew expression designating a “grain offering” is a transliteration (manaa).
The oldest extant Greek text of verse 23 says that the length was 30 cubits, not 40 cubits.
The angel who had guided Ezekiel led him back to the entrance of the “house” or temple. There, “from below the threshold” (atrium [LXX]) of the temple, Ezekiel saw water issuing forth to the east, for the temple faced east. The water was “flowing down from below the side” of the temple, the “south” or right side, “south [or the right side] of the altar.” There is a measure of obscurity about how the flow of water from below the south or right side of the temple may be understood, and this has contributed to a variety of renderings in modern translations. “The water was running down along the south side, to the right of the altar.” (REB) “There I saw a stream flowing east from beneath the door of the Temple and passing to the right of the altar on its south side.” (NLT) “The water was running out at the south of the altar, under the south wall of the Temple.” (Tanakh [JPS, 1985 edition]) “The water flowed out toward the right side of the temple to the south of the altar.” (NAB, revised edition) “It [the stream] began in the south part of the temple, where it ran past the altar and continued east through the courtyard.” (CEV) (47:1)
The angel conducted Ezekiel out of the inner court through the north gate and led him around the outside to the outer gate (“the gate of the court” [LXX]) that faced east. There Ezekiel saw water coming out on the south side of the temple complex. (47:2) Ezekiel’s guide (the “man” or angel), with a measuring line in his hand, walked eastward, measured off 1,000 cubits (c. 1,750 feet; c. 533 meters), and led Ezekiel through the “ankle-deep” water. (47:3) He measured another 1,000 cubits and led Ezekiel through the knee-deep water. Again the angel measured 1,000 cubits, and conducted Ezekiel through the water that then reached his loins or waist. (47:4) After the angel measured another 1,000 cubits, the water had become a river that could not be forded. To cross it, Ezekiel would have had to swim. (47:5)
The angel asked Ezekiel, “Have you seen, son of man [or mortal]?” Apparently the question related to whether Ezekiel had taken note of the developments regarding the flowing water that had become a river. The angel then led him back to the river bank. (47:6) On both sides of the river, Ezekiel saw very many trees growing all along its banks. (47:7)
The angel told Ezekiel that the water of the river continued on its way toward the “eastern region,” flowed down into the Arabah (the rift valley through which the Jordan River courses), and entered the “sea” (the Dead Sea). In view of its high salt content, the Dead Sea cannot support life. When, however, the water of the river reached this sea, its water would be “healed” or become fresh water. (47:8; see the Notes section.) Wherever the river flowed, the water would teem with life. Fish would become abundant in the sea that was formerly devoid of life. (47:9) Fishers would stand beside the sea all the way from En-gedi (a place commonly linked to a site at the mid-point of the western shore of the Dead Sea) to En-eglaim (possibly a site near the northwest end of the Dead Sea or a place on its southeast shore). If En-eglaim refers to a location on the eastern shore of the Dead Sea, the meaning could be that the sea would be healed or become fresh water from the western shore to the eastern shore. Along the shore of the sea, fishers would dry their nets. Many kinds of fish in the Dead Sea would become as abundant as those in the Great Sea (the Mediterranean). (47:10) The “swamps and marshes,” however, would not be “healed” but would remain salty, providing the essential salt that people would be using. (47:11).
All along the banks of the river, all kinds of trees would grow on both sides. These trees would yield abundant fruit for food, and their leaves would not wither. Every month the trees would bear new fruit, for they would be supplied with water from the river that had its source at the temple. The fruit of these trees would be used for food and the leaves for healing purposes. (47:12)
According to the word of the Lord YHWH, the land was to be divided “among the twelve tribes” based on the designated boundaries. In keeping with the right of firstborn originally given to Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:2), he (as representing the two tribes that descended from him) received two portions of the land. In the Septuagint, there is no mention of Joseph. It concludes with the thought that each of the “tribes of the sons of Israel” would have an allotment of land. (47:13)
The land should be divided equally as YHWH had “lifted up [his] hand” as when swearing an oath, promising to give the land to their “fathers” or ancestors. This land would be their inheritance. (47:14) The northern boundary of the land was to extend from the Great Sea (the Mediterranean) “by way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad.” There is uncertainty about where Hethlon and Zedad may have been located. One suggested site for Hethlon is about 22 miles (c. 35 kilometers) northeast of Tripoli in Lebanon, and Zedad has been linked to Sadad, about 65 miles (c.105 kilometers) northeast of Damscus. (47:15; also see Numbers 34:8.)
Other places on the northern boundary are listed as Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is on the border between Damascus and between Hamath, Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.” Hamath has been identified with a city situated on the Orontes River and about 50 miles (c. 80 kilometers) east of the Mediterranean coast. Berothah has been linked to Bereitan, located about 30 miles (less than 50 kilometers) northeast of Damascus. Sibraim and Hazer-hatticon have not been identified with any known sites. Hauran was a region east of the Sea Galilee and north of Gilead. (47:16; see the Notes section.)
The border extended from the “sea” (the Mediterranean) to “Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus” or north to the territory of Damascus. Possibly Hazar-enan may be identified with a site about 75 miles (c. 120 kilometers) northeast of Damascus. It appears that the Hebrew words after “Damascus” (“and north northward and on the border of Hamath”) indicate that the territory of Hamath was north of the territory of Damascus. The concluding phrase “and the north side” may be understood to refer to the northern limit of the territory. (47:17)
“On the east side,” the northern limit was “between Hauran” (east of the Sea of Galilee and north of Gilead) “and between Damascus,” probably meaning between the territories of Hauran and Damascus, with the territory of Damascus being the northernmost point. The border ran southward along the Jordan River, “between Gilead” on the east side and “between the land of Israel” on the west side, down to the “eastern sea,” the Dead Sea. The Hebrew text concludes with the words, “You shall measure to the eastern side.” In the Septuagint, there is no mention of measuring, but it refers to Phoinikon (Palm City). The words of the concluding phrase may be rendered, “These [are the borders] toward the east.” (47:18)
“On the south side,” the border extended to the south “from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribath-kadesh, [along] the torrent [wadi or river valley], to the Great Sea” (the Mediterranean). Tamar has been linked to a site about 20 miles (c. 30 kilometers) southwest of the Dead Sea. The “torrent” probably designates the wadi of Egypt that is commonly identified with Wadi el-‛Arish on the Sinai Peninsula. Meribath-kadesh may have been a place southeast of the wadi of Egypt and southwest of the Dead Sea. The concluding phrase of the Hebrew text (“and the south side southward”) may be understood to mean that the particulars referred to the southern border. (47:19)
“On the west side” (the seaward side), the boundary was the “Great Sea” or the Mediterranean. The territory extended from its southern limit northward, opposite the “entrance of Hamath.” This “entrance” may apply to the southern border of the territory that Hamath, a city on the Orontes River, formerly controlled. Instead of “entrance of Hamath,” the Hebrew expression could apply to a place named “Lebo-hamath” (a site that has not been identified with any known location). The Hebrew text concludes with the words, “this the side of the sea,” and may be understood to indicate that the locations mentioned in the text constitute the “west side,” the west border, or the west limit of the territory. (47:20)
The land within the designated boundaries was to be divided among the tribes of Israel. (47:21) The land would then be apportioned as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel and to any foreigners or resident aliens among them. These resident aliens and their “sons” or offspring would be treated as native Israelites and be given an allotment of land in the territory of the tribe where they resided. (47:22) The Lord YHWH declared that the foreigner or resident alien would be assigned his inheritance where he lived in the land. (47:23)
Notes
Expository comments: The stream that has its source in the temple of YHWH and progressively becomes deeper may be regarded as representing a life-giving provision that comes from him. This life-giving aspect is portrayed as a stream that supports trees on both banks, trees that bear fruit every month and have leaves with curative properties, and as a stream that transforms the Dead Sea to a body of water where an abundance of fish can flourish. Insofar as humans are concerned, all that is essential for eternal life, a life of an enduring relationship with God, is available through his unique Son, Jesus Christ. This includes forgiveness of sins, complete reconciliation with God as his approved children, and citizenship in the heavenly Jerusalem. (Compare Joel 3:18 [4:18]; Zechariah 14:8; Acts 2:38; 26:17, 18; Romans 5:10; Galatians 4:26.)
The feature involving the stream indicates that the temple Ezekiel saw in vision is not a structure that will actually be built at a future time. That temple represents the arrangement of worship that is not dependent on any geographical location or a specific building. It evidently is the worship to which Jesus Christ referred when speaking to a Samaritan woman. As Jesus explained, his Father is seeking those whose worship is not governed by externals. God is “spirit” and therefore is not to be linked in any way to the realm of the physical. Worship that is acceptable to him must be “in spirit and truth,” reflecting who he is (based on the complete revelation he has provided). Being “in truth,” such worship would also be genuine and not a mere expression of the lips or a ritualistic routine. (John 4:21-24)
Neither the people who returned from Babylonian exile nor their descendants ever occupied all the territory within the boundaries that are described in chapter 47. The particulars mentioned in this chapter likely provided a basis for the exiles to entertain the hope that they would be restored to their land.
It may also be that the words about the boundaries in chapters 47 and 48 serve to indicate that at a future time there would be an equitable distribution of land. This would appear to be when the whole creation will be liberated from bondage to decay and come to enjoy the marvelous freedom of the “sons [or children] of God.” (Romans 8:19-21) Based on the prophetic words in Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22 and the apparent reference to these words in 2 Peter 3:13, the liberation of the whole creation will become a reality when the old heavens and earth are replaced by “new heavens” and the “new earth.”
The land, bodies of water, and what appears to the eye like a celestial vault constitute the sphere, the world, or the heavens and the earth in which humans find themselves presently. On account of sin, people experience suffering and grief in this realm. God’s promise about creating new heavens and a new earth point to a transformation that will end the former distressing circumstances and positively affect the whole creation.
As evident from the context, the prophetic words of Isaiah do not refer to the destruction of the earth and the rest of the universe and their being replaced by a new planet and a new universe. The animals later mentioned are the same ones that exist on the earth presently. Those to whom the prophetic words were first made known would never have thought in terms of a destruction of Jerusalem but would have understood the expressions about Jerusalem to relate to a marvelous transformation. In the concluding part of Isaiah, the corpses of the rebels against God are depicted as lying in a place of refuse, where fires are kept burning and maggots feed on the bodies that the flames do not reach. If “new earth” meant a new planet, this would mean that the corpses of the godless would have to be preserved from the fire that consumes the old earth and then become part of the permanent scene in the new earth. (Isaiah 66:22-24) The marvelous transformation God will bring about is of such a nature that all the distress and sorrow that were part of life in the old environment of heavens and earth will not be remembered in a manner that would create emotional pain.
The translator of the Septuagint does not appear to have been familiar with the geography of Israel. In verse 8, it refers to the water as flowing “into Galilee, toward the east,” and down to “Arabia.”
In verse 16, Rahlfs’ Greek text refers to Berothah and Sebraim (Sibraim), additionally includes Eliam, and indicates that Berothah, Sebraim, Eliam, and the “court of Saunan” were “above the borders [or territory] of Auranitis [Hauran].” The oldest extant Greek manuscript (P967) does not contain the Greek word for “court.”
Verse 17 of Rahlfs’ Greek text refers to the “borders from the sea” as being from the “court of Ainan, the borders of Damascus and the [borders] to the north.
The listing of the tribes and their respective positions from north to south starts at the northern boundary. This northern boundary is literally described as being “to the hand of the way of Hethlon” (probably meaning passing along the way or road leading to Hethlon) to the “entrance of Hamath [or to or from Lebo-hamath] to Hazar-enon on the border of Damascus, over against [literally, to the hand of] Hamath [on the] north. The allotted territory for Dan would extend from the “east side to the sea” (the Mediterranean). There is uncertainty about where Hethlon may have been located. One suggested site is about 22 miles (c. 35 kilometers) northeast of Tripoli in Lebanon. The “entrance of Hamath” may designate the southern border of the territory that the city of Hamath on the Orontes River formerly controlled. Possibly Hazar-enan may be identified with a site about 75 miles (c. 120 kilometers) northeast of Damascus, and the “border of Damascus” apparently refers to the border of the territory of Damascus. (48:1)
The territory assigned to the tribe of Asher had that of Dan as its northern boundary and extended from the east side to the west side or to the Mediterranean Sea. (48:2) Likewise, the territory of Naphtali extended from the east side to the west side and bordered Asher on the north. (48:3) By the southern border of Naphtali, the territory of Manasseh extended from the east side to the west side. (48:4) The assigned territory of Ephraim extended from the east side to the west side and bordered the southern boundary of Manasseh. (48:5) By the southern border of Ephraim, the territory of Reuben extended from the east side to the west side. (48:6) The territory of Judah extended from the east side to the west side and bordered the southern boundary of Reuben. (48:7)
On the southern border of the territory of Judah would be the “contribution” that extended “from the east side to the west side” and which would be “set apart” for a sacred purpose. This contributed section of land was to be 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) wide, and its length was to correspond to that of the tribal territories from east to west. The sanctuary was to be located in the midst of the contributed land. According to the Septuagint rendering of this verse and verse 9, the dimension of 25,000 applies both to the length and the width. Additionally, the Septuagint refers to the sanctuary as being “in their midst,” apparently meaning the midst of the tribes. (48:8; see the Notes section.)
The dimensions of the “contribution” of land set apart for YHWH are: 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) the length and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers [20,000 (P967), c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers]) the width. (48:9; see the Notes section.)
The dimensions of the “contribution” of land set apart for the priests were to be 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) on the northern side and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers) in width on the western side, 10,000 in width on the eastern side, and 25,000 in length on the southern side. In the midst of the contributed land is where the “sanctuary of YHWH” (“the mountain of the holy places” [LXX]) was to be. (48:10; see the Notes section.)
The sacred territory for the priests was to be for the “sons of Zadok” or the descendants of Zadok. They would be honored to have this possession because they had been faithful to YHWH, keeping his charge and not straying when the “sons [or people] of Israel” and the Levites went astray. (48:11)
At the time the land was to be distributed among the tribes, the priests of the line of Zadok would come to have their portion of it as a most holy place (literally, “holy of holies”). It would border (be away from [LXX]) the territory of the Levites. (48:12)
The portion of land assigned to the Levites that bordered the territory of the priests was to have the following dimensions: 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) the length and 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers) the width. In the Hebrew text, these dimensions are repeated — the whole length 25,000, and the width 10,000. The Septuagint agrees with the Hebrew text regarding the length of 25,000. For the width, however, the number is 20,000 (c. 6⅔ miles; c. 10.7 kilometers). (48:13; see the Notes section.) None of the land assigned to the priests and the Levites could be sold, exchanged, or “alienated” (or transferred to be used by others), it being “holy to YHWH.” (48:14)
The width of the remaining piece of land is listed as being 5,000 (c. 1⅔ miles; c. 2.7 kilometers). Although not stated in the text, the reference to 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) is commonly understood to apply to the length of the land. This section of land would be for the city’s common use, designated for dwellings and open area such as pasture land. The city (YHWH-Shammah) would be in the middle of the territory. (48:15; see verse 35 and the Notes section.)
The city was to have the following dimensions: the north side, 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers); the south side, 4,500; the east side, 4,500, and the west side, 4,500. (48:16; see the Notes section.) Its open land area was to be 250 (c. 437½ feet; c. 133 meters) to the north, south, east, and west (or all around the city). (48:17; see the Notes section.) The remaining sections of the length of the sacred contribution of land on the east side and the west side would be 10,000 (c. 3⅓ miles; c. 5.3 kilometers). This land would be used to cultivate food crops for the workers in the city. (48:18) Workers “from all the tribes of Israel” in the city would perform the agricultural labor. (48:19)
The entire “contribution” of land was to be a square section of 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) on each side. This whole area, including the property of the city, was to be “set apart” as the “holy contribution.” (48:20) The remaining sections on either side of the “holy contribution” and of the property of the city — portions of land not designated for specific purposes — would belong to the prince. This would be from the 25,000 (c. 8⅓ miles; c. 13.3 kilometers) of the “contribution” of land to the “east border,” and “to the west from the 25,000 to the west border.” Accordingly, the land of the prince to the eastern and western limits would correspond to the eastern and western borders of the assigned tribal territories. In the midst of the land of the prince would be the “holy contribution and the sanctuary of the house” or temple. His land would be on the east and west side of the holy contribution in which the temple was located. (28:21; see the Notes section.) In the area of land not belonging to the prince would be the possession of the Levites and the property of the city. The territory of the tribe of Judah would border the land of the prince on the north side, and the territory of the tribe of Benjamin would border his land on the south side. (28:22; see the Notes section.)
Next the listing of the remaining tribal territories from north to south continues as follows: Benjamin, one portion from the east side to the west side (48:23); on the south border of the territory of Benjamin, one portion from the east side to the west side for Simeon (48:24); on the south border of the territory of Simeon, one portion from the east side to the west side for Issachar (48:25); on the south border of the territory of Issachar, one portion from the east side to the west side for Zebulun (48:26); on the south border of the territory of Zebulun, one portion from the east side to the west side for Gad. (48:27)
The southern boundary of Gad extended “from Tamar to the waters of Meribath-kadesh, to the torrent, [and] to the Great Sea” (the Mediterranean). Tamar has been linked to a site about 20 miles (c. 30 kilometers) southwest of the Dead Sea. The “torrent” probably designates the wadi of Egypt that is commonly identified with Wadi el-‛Arish in the Sinai Peninsula. Meribath-kadesh may have been a place southeast of the wadi of Egypt and southwest of the Dead Sea. (48:28)
The Lord YHWH declared that the land was to be allotted according to the designated portions as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel. (48:29)
The exists of the city located in the holy contribution were to be as follows: “On the north side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers) (48:30; see the Notes section), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Reuben, gate of Judah, and gate of Levi (48:31); “on the east side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Joseph, gate of Benjamin, and gate of Dan (48:32; see the Notes section); “on the south side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Simeon, gate of Issachar, and gate of Zebulun. (48:33; see the Notes section); “on the west side,” with a dimension of 4,500 (c. 1½ miles; c. 2.4 kilometers), three gates, each one named after a tribe — gate of Gad, gate of Asher, and gate of Naphtali. (48:34; see the Notes section.)
The circumference of the square city located in the holy contribution would be 18,000 (c. 6 miles; c. 9.600 kilometers). From then (literally, that “day”) onward, this city was to be named YHWH-Shammah (“YHWH is there”), indicating that YHWH would be present with his people. (48:35; see the Notes section.)
Notes
See the “Expository comments” in the Notes section of chapter 47.
In verses 8 -10, 13, 15-18, 20, 21, 30, 32-35, the unit by which distances are measured is not specified. It is commonly assumed that the unit is the long cubit. On the basis of this assumption, the approximate corresponding dimensions in feet or miles and meters or kilometers have been provided in the commentary section. There is a possibility, however, that the assumption about the cubit is in error, and that the reference is to the reed. This would mean that the dimensions actually are six times greater.
Verse 22 in the Septuagint does not contain a corresponding Hebrew word for the singular prince. It says “leaders.”
In verse 35, the Septuagint does not include a name for the city.