Ezek. 11:1 Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
As Ezekiel’s vision continues, he is lifted up by the spirit and taken to the eastern gate of the temple that faces east. At the door of the temple are 25 men that I would assume to be the same ones referenced in 8:16. Two of the men are specifically identified since Ezekiel must recognize them. This Jaazaniah is a different one from the one leading the group of 70 in idol worship referenced in 8:11; they have different fathers. As noted in chapter 8, it would seem logical to conclude that these men are priests, the men entrusted with the spiritual leadership of the people.
Ezek. 11:2 Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
Ezek. 11:3 Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
Ezek. 11:4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
The Lord identifies these men as the principal leaders that are giving the people of the city advice that contradicts God’s message. The wording of the NLT was much clearer for verse 3: “They say to the people, ‘Is it not a good time to build houses? Our city is like an iron pot. Inside it we will be like meat—safe from all harm.’”
We know that Jeremiah is prophesying at this time as well, and he is delivering God’s message of judgment to come. These men are refuting the prophet of God and telling the people that they will be safe in Jerusalem. Ezekiel is told to prophesy against these men.
Ezek. 11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
Now the Lord gives Ezekiel the prophecy he is to declare. First, he identifies Himself as YHWH, the self-existent eternal God, their Creator, the One who knows every thought that crosses their minds. (cf comments at 8:12) This truth is affirmed many times in scripture.
1 Samuel 16:7 “But the LORD said unto Samuel…the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 “…for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts….”
Luke 16:15 “…God knoweth your hearts….”
Ezek. 11:6 Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.
Ezek. 11:7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
The Lord is declaring His people guilty of the deaths of those who lost their lives due to the wicked practices they had learned in association with their worship of idols. They had rejected Him and had lost their moral compass.
I believe America is reaping the same consequences for our own rejection of the Lord. In the name of freedom and tolerance we have pushed the Lord out of our schools, our government and our courts. As a result, there is no clear moral compass because we have rejected the only moral foundation—God’s word. When man makes “moral” choices without reference to God, acceptable behavior is determined more and more by the desires of the individual without respect for one another. It is becoming more and more like the scripture describes the days of Israel before they had a king—every man does what is right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6). That type of attitude is described in scripture as that of a fool.
Prov. 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes….
Allowed to continue on that path, society will become like that described in the days of Noah.
Gen. 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
The only bodies that are going to be “safe” in Jerusalem are those that are already dead at the hands of their own people. Those who are left to experience God’s judgment will be taken captive.
Ezek. 11:8 Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezek. 11:9 And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
Ezek. 11:10 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Throughout much of Israel’s history as a nation, they had feared attack from their enemies. The thing they have feared the most will become a reality. God is clear that He is going to give His people to the enemy in judgment of their sin. Many of them will be killed and not even given the opportunity to live in captivity.
Ezek. 11:11 This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
Ezek. 11:12 And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
The walled city of Jerusalem will not be adequate to protect them. God has declared judgment, and they will be caused to know that HE IS GOD. There is a verse in Psalms that applies here.
Psa. 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Again, He makes clear that their judgment is the consequence of rejecting Him and disobeying His laws and choosing to live like the heathen around them that serve impotent, false gods.
I think it is important to note that we can secure ourselves with the best technology and careful planning and preparation, but there is no defense on earth that can thwart the purposes of God. When He declares judgment, He ensures that it is implemented.
Ezek. 11:13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
This is confusing because Ezekiel is experiencing a vision. In that vision he prophesies as instructed. He then sees one of the 25 men fall dead after the prophecy. Ezekiel responds with great grief because he loves his nation and his people. He takes this as a sign that the Lord is going to destroy the nation. He has evidently forgotten the fact that the Lord marked a remnant of the faithful for preservation.
Ezek. 11:14 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 11:15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
The NLT again expresses the thought more clearly: “Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about their relatives in exile, saying, ‘They are far away from the LORD, so now he has given their land to us!’”
Those who had been taken captive already, of whom Ezekiel was a part, were considered to be the wicked ones that were experiencing God’s judgment. Those still left in the land believed that to be a sign that they were safe.
As is often done today, the people assessed circumstances incorrectly as evidence of God’s approval or disapproval. Things aren’t always what they appear to be. Job’s friends assumed he must have angered God to be in the condition he was in. Success in ministry is not always proven by huge numbers and material wealth. Most of the prophets had very limited response to their message and were not wealthy by the world’s standards. Most of the apostles experienced great hardship and suffering and ended up as martyrs. Ministries that become large and are financially prosperous are much more susceptible to the deceit of the enemy and becoming like the church of Laodicea:
Rev. 3:15-17 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked….
We need to be oh so careful to seek God’s will through His word and the leading of His Spirit to ensure that our plans and purposes are in accordance with His. We also need to be very careful about making quick judgments based on circumstance.
Ezek. 11:16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
God specifically rejects their assessment of the situation. He is the One that brought about the captivity of those in Babylon and other countries, but He has done it to protect them. They are the ones that will have the opportunity of benefiting from the refining fire of judgment. God will provide them protection as they turn to Him in faith. He is not limited to earthly boundaries. Ezekiel’s vision has made it clear that the Lord is no longer a sanctuary for the people in Israel because He is leaving it for the time being.
Ironside: “The temple might be destroyed. No place on earth would any longer be designated as that where Jehovah had set His name, but no soul would ever seek Him in vain. No matter what the circumstances in which His people were found, if any turned to Him with all their hearts He would reveal Himself to them and would Himself be a sanctuary unto them.”
Ezek. 11:17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
The time is coming, however, when God is going to regather His people from all the countries to which they have been scattered. Israel will again possess the land of Israel as God promised to Abraham.
Ezek. 11:18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
When the people return, they will cleanse the land of all the things that were associated with the worship of false gods.
Ezek. 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
Ezek. 11:20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
These verses are significant in determining the actual time being referenced. When the Lord regathers His people, He will “give them one heart.” In other words, they will be unified in their response to Him. He will also “put a new spirit within them.” No longer will they respond to Him with a hard stubborn heart; they will respond with a soft repentant submissive heart. At that time they will obey Him and will acknowledge Him as their God.
Even though we know that the nation of Israel was reconstituted in part after the Babylonian exile, this is not an accurate description of how the nation responded to God upon their return to Israel. This description has never accurately described the nation. This is obviously referencing a time yet future. Neither Ezekiel nor the people probably understood this at the time of his prophecy, but our lack of understanding never changes the truth. As was often the case, the prophet did not have a clear understanding of his prophecy. Ezekiel was speaking of the time at the end of the 70th week, the tribulation period yet to come, when the remnant of Israel will turn to God in faith and obedience never to rebel again. At that time, there will never again be a Jewish person that rejects his/her Lord. This was the truth referenced by the Apostle Paul.
Rom. 11:26-27 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Ezek. 11:21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
Those, however, who choose to reject God and follow their man-made idols and act wickedly will be judged accordingly. It’s the law of reaping and sowing.
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Gal. 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Ezek. 11:22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
Ezek. 11:23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
At this point Ezekiel sees the throne of God lifted by the cherubims to the top of the Mount of Olives. It’s interesting that the Lord removed Himself from the city, but He is still in a position of oversight.
Ezek. 11:24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
Ezek. 11:25 Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.
Finally, Ezekiel is taken back by the spirit to the land of Chaldea. The vision has ended. Evidently the Lord looses Ezekiel’s tongue at this point to share what he had seen with the elders that were sitting with him (cf 8:1).
This message obviously was not meant to impact those in Jerusalem who would be directly affected by the coming judgment. It was intended to declare the truth to God’s people in captivity in Babylon that He is in control and working on behalf of His people. There is hope for the future. Just as surely as He is carrying out judgment, He will fulfill His promise to bring them to a place of blessing and fellowship from which they will never again be separated. Scripture declares that prophecy is a unique proof of His truth and authority.
Is. 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Is. 48:5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.
Ezek. 12:1 The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 12:2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house.
This chapter seems to introduce a new message from YHWH for Ezekiel to share with the captives. God first emphasizes to Ezekiel that the Jewish people in exile were part of a rebellious house, a disobedient family (from the Hebrew). Like all humans they have eyes for seeing and ears for hearing, but they neither see nor hear with understanding and discernment. Why? Because they have rejected God in disobedience. This is obviously a reference to spiritual sight and hearing. It would seem that there had been little, if any, positive response to his message up to this point.
Constable uses a good quote from Cooper: “Sin blinds the heart and mind. Like Samson, who could not see that his chosen path was leading to the loss of his ministry, the sinner does not see the ultimate consequences of sin that produces death and destruction.”
Ezek. 12:3 Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
Ezek. 12:4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.
Ezek. 12:5 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.
Ezek. 12:6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.
Ezekiel is again instructed to act with the intent of presenting an object lesson, a visible demonstration of the truth being shared. Ezekiel is to pack up in full view of the people during the day and move to another place—to leave his home and relocate. The Hebrew for the word removing is a direct reference to going into exile/captivity. The way that he prepared would give a clear indication of the difference in moving by choice and moving into captivity. Why is Ezekiel acting out this little drama? Maybe, the Lord says, some of the people will be able to discern the intent of the message even though they are rebellious (bitter, disobedient). Ezekiel’s demonstration of leaving home is to represent the people going into captivity, and they are to accept this as God’s judgment; it will not be altered.
Ezekiel isn’t going to leave by the easiest and most direct route. He is to dig through the wall as they watch him and carry his stuff with him through the hole. This would seem to be a picture of the people of Jerusalem having to leave homes that were destroyed by the enemy. It also seems to picture the people bearing a great weight upon their shoulders as they head out into the oncoming darkness. This would seem to represent the heaviness of spirit of the captives as well as poor treatment at the hands of their captors. To head out into the darkness would picture heading into an evil, wicked place—a place of judgment. In fact, Ezekiel is to cover his face so that he can’t see the ground. This would seem to picture a man with no control over the direction he is headed.
This object lesson was intended as a sign or wonder for the house of Israel. Why? Because it is again God telling His people what He is doing; and when it comes to pass, they should recognize it as an affirmation of the truth of God’s word. This is a double-edged truth. They should understand that just as surely as the judgment comes to pass so will the predicted restoration.
Ezek. 12:7 And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.
We are now told that Ezekiel did exactly as he was instructed. He made preparations for going into captivity in the bright light of day, and then he dug through the wall as the sun was going down and carried his burden as he set off in the oncoming darkness. Point is made that all was done in full view of the people.
Ezek. 12:8 And in the morning came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,
Ezek. 12:9 Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou?
Ezek. 12:10 Say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; This burden concerneth the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.
The next day the Lord spoke to Ezekiel again and informed Ezekiel that He knew the people had questioned him about his actions. They obviously didn’t understand the object lesson. So the Lord graciously allows Ezekiel to give them an explanation.
The message is described as a burden, a message of doom. Ezekiel is to tell the people point blank that this message was a picture of what was going to happen to the prince, the ruling authority, in Jerusalem as well as the people that were left in the land. The prince being referenced is Zedekiah.
Ezek. 12:11 Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity.
Ezek. 12:12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.
Ezek. 12:13 My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there.
Ezekiel is to declare that his actions are representative of the judgment that God has declared for His people. The city of Jerusalem will be conquered and those that aren’t killed will be taken into captivity. Zedekiah will try to escape into the night through the city walls. He will end up going into captivity in Babylon as a blind man, and he will eventually die in Babylon. These events are described in more detail in 2Kings 25 and Jeremiah 39.
Ezek. 12:14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them.
No one would be left who could come to Zedekiah’s rescue. He witnessed the murder of his four sons as well as the nobles of Jerusalem before his own eyes were put out.
Jeremiah 39:6–7 “Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah. Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.”
Utley: “Every wind" is an idiom for every direction.”
Ezek. 12:15 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.
When the people realized that the word of God declared by His prophets was true, they will once again recognize that He is YHWH. If He has to scatter His people among the nations to prove it, so be it.
Ezek. 12:16 But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
This verse gives a glimmer of hope for the future. God will allow a remnant of the nation of Israel to escape death. This remnant will be those who are faithful to God and will boldly declare His truth and stand for righteousness. They will not be afraid to identify evil as evil. They will recognize God as THE ALMIGHTY. They will speak of God’s righteousness in judging His people by giving them up to captivity among the heathen. They will declare this truth among the heathen to ensure that they don’t misinterpret God’s judgment of His people as His inability to protect them.
Ezek. 12:17 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezek. 12:18 Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;
Ezek. 12:19 And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
Ezek. 12:20 And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel is now instructed to eat his food and drink his water depicting a state of fear and anxiety (from the Hebrew for carefulness). Ezekiel is to inform the captives that the people of Israel and Jerusalem are responsible for the destruction coming upon them. Their actions have resulted in this judgment. YHWH is going to judge them so decisively that they will have to recognize Him as LORD.
Ezek. 12:21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezek. 12:22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
The Lord now makes reference to a proverb that was well known in the land of Israel: “The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth.” The NLT states the truth more clearly: “Time passes, making a liar of every prophet.”
This statement reminds of a passage in 2Peter.
2Pet. 3:3-4 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
The people of Ezekiel’s day were just as ignorant as those today with that attitude. They interpret God’s longsuffering with His not caring or exercising His authority. Another verse in 2Peter gives us God’s point of view.
2Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Ezek. 12:23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.
Ezek. 12:24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
There is a point when God’s longsuffering mercy will end. For the nation of Israel in Ezekiel’s day, that time had come. The prophesied judgment had begun and would be completed as declared. God would no longer allow the false prophets to declare lies in His name and would affirm the message of His true prophets. They were speaking the message that the people wanted to hear rather than God’s truth. God was no longer going to tolerate such action.
I can’t help but make connection with the church of today. Everyone is more concerned about being tolerant and preaching a “feel good” message so that people leave the church comfortable in their sin. They are hesitant to declare God’s truth about sin that speaks against what is accepted in our society. The prophet Jeremiah declared this truth in the book of Lamentations:
Lam. 2:14 Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.
The CJB states it this way: “The visions your prophets saw for you were futile, just a whitewash. They did not expose your guilt, so as to reverse your fortunes - no, the visions they saw for you were alluring, but futile.”
And the NLT: “Your “prophets” have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not try to hold you back from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope.”
These “feel good” preachers rationalize their decision by the fact that more people will come to church if the message is positive. How are the unsaved multitudes ever going to recognize their need for salvation if they can discern no difference when comparing their lives with those that claim the name “Christian” and their sin is never identified as sin. I know God is greatly grieved and that the time is coming soon when His longsuffering will reach its limit regarding the “church” today.
Ezek. 12:25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.
This verse reiterates the truth of the previous verses. YHWH is going to declare His word and judge accordingly without delay. The people hearing the message would soon see the fulfillment of that message.
Ezek. 12:26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Ezek. 12:27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
Ezek. 12:28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.
Again the Lord declares that the prophecy given by Ezekiel will come to pass soon. The people need not think that the message is intended for the far future. Again, they were misinterpreting the Lord’s longsuffering.
Ironside’s summary observation resonates with me: “We may also see in all this a picture of that which prevails in Christendom at the present time. While the Scriptures clearly indicate the fact that we are living in the closing days of this dispensation, the professing Church, with very few exceptions, has settled down complacently in the world, and its leaders endeavor to make the people believe that those who talk of judgment beginning at the house of God are misguided fanatics, and that conditions were never better than those that now prevail. Yet the Word of God declares that, ‘As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be’ (Matthew 24:37); for as corruption and violence filled the antediluvian world, so we see corruption and violence on every hand today, and in the Church itself the characteristics of the last days, as depicted in 2 Timothy 3, are everywhere prevalent.
Oh, that we might have eyes to see and ears to hear, to understand the signs of the times and take heed to the Word of the Lord.”