Ezequiel 11

1 Então me levantou o Espírito, e me levou � porta oriental da casa do Senhor, a qual olha para o oriente; e eis que estavam � entrada da porta vinte e cinco homens, e no meio deles vi a Jaazanias, filho de Azur, e a Pelatias, filho de Benaías, príncipes do povo.

2 E disse-me: Filho do homem, estes são os homens que maquinam a iniqüidade, e dão ímpio conselho nesta cidade;

3 os quais dizem: Não está próximo o tempo de edificar casas; esta cidade é a caldeira, e nós somos a carne.

4 Portanto, profetiza contra eles; profetiza, ó filho do homem.

5 E caiu sobre mim o Espírito do Senhor, e disse-me: Fala: Assim diz o Senhor: Assim tendes dito, ó casa de Israel; pois eu conheço as coisas que vos entram na mente.

6 Multiplicastes os vossos mortos nesta cidade, e enchestes as suas ruas de mortos.

7 Portanto, assim diz o Senhor Deus: Vossos mortos que deitastes no meio dela, esses são a carne, e ela é a caldeira; a vós, porém, vos tirarei do meio dela.

8 Temestes a espada, e a espada eu a trarei sobre vós, diz o Senhor Deus.

9 E vos farei sair do meio dela, e vos entregarei na mão de estrangeiros, e exercerei juizos entre vós.

10 Caireis � espada; nos confins de Israel vos julgarei; e sabereis que eu sou o Senhor.

11 Esta cidade não vos servirá de caldeira, nem vós servirei de carne no meio dela; nos confins de Israel vos julgarei;

12 e sabereis que eu sou o Senhor; pois não tendes andado nos meus estatutos, nem executado as minhas ordenanças; antes tendes procedido conforme as ordenanças das nações que estão em redor de vós.

13 E aconteceu que, profetizando eu, morreu Pelatias, filho de Benaías. Então caí com o resto em terra, e clamei com grande voz, e disse: Ah Senhor Deus! darás fim cabal ao remanescente de Israel?

14 Então veio a mim a palavra do Senhor, dizendo:

15 Filho do homem, teus irmãos, os teus próprios irmãos, os homens de teu parentesco, e toda a casa de Israel, todos eles, são aqueles a quem os habitantes de Jerusalém disseram: Apartai-vos para longe do Senhor; a nós se nos deu esta terra em possessão.

16 Portanto, dize: Assim diz o Senhor Deus: Ainda que os mandei para longe entre as nações, e ainda que os espalhei pelas terras, todavia lhes servirei de santuário por um pouco de tempo, nas terras para onde foram.

17 Portanto, dize: Assim diz o senhor Deus: Hei de ajuntar-vos do meio dos povos, e vos recolherei do meio das terras para onde fostes espalhados, e vos darei a terra de Israel.

18 E virão ali, e tirarão dela todas as suas coisas detestáveis e todas as suas abominações.

19 E lhes darei um só coração, e porei dentro deles um novo espírito; e tirarei da sua carne o coração de pedra, e lhes darei um coração de carne,

20 para que andem nos meus estatutos, e guardem as minhas ordenanças e as cumpram; e eles serão o meu povo, e eu serei o seu Deus.

21 Mas, quanto �queles cujo coração andar após as suas coisas detestáveis, e das suas abominações, eu farei recair nas suas cabeças o seu caminho, diz o Senhor Deus.

22 Então os querubins elevaram as suas asas, estando as rodas ao lado deles; e a glória do Deus de Israel estava em cima sobre eles.

23 E a glória do Senhor se alçou desde o meio da cidade, e se pôs sobre o monte que está ao oriente da cidade.

24 Então o Espírito me levantou, e me levou na visão pelo Espírito de Deus para a Caldéia, para os exilados. Assim se foi de mim a visão que eu tinha visto.

25 E falei aos do cativeiro todas as coisas que o Senhor me tinha mostrado.

Ezequiel 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Divine judgments against the wicked at Jerusalem. (1-13) Divine favour towards those in captivity. (14-21) The Divine presence forsakes the city. (22-25)

Verses 1-13 Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should still plead with the Lord to have mercy on those who remain.

Verses 14-21 The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a new spirit. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The carnal heart, like a stone, cannot be made to feel. Men live among the dead and dying, and are neither concerned nor humbled. He will make their hearts tender and fit to receive impressions: this is God's work, it is his gift by promise; and a wonderful and happy change is wrought by it, from death to life. Their practices shall be agreeable to those principles. These two must and will go together. When the sinner feels his need of these blessings, let him present the promises as prayers in the name of Christ, they will be performed.

Verses 22-25 Here is the departure of God's presence from the city and temple. It was from the Mount of Olives that the vision went up, typifying the ascension of Christ to heaven from that very mountain. Though the Lord will not forsake his people, yet he may be driven away from any part of his visible church by their sins, and woe will be upon them when He withdraws his presence, glory, and protection.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 11

This chapter contains an account of the sins of the princes of Judah; a prophecy of their destruction; some comfortable, promises respecting those of the captivity; and the chapter is closed with the finishing of the vision of the Lord's removing from Jerusalem; and the whole being ended, the prophet related it to the men of the captivity. In Eze 11:1; the prophet, is shown five and twenty men, among whom were two he knew, and are mentioned by name, and were princes of the people; and he is told that these men devised mischief, and gave bad advice to the people, Eze 11:2,3; wherefore he is bid to prophesy against them, Eze 11:4; which he accordingly did, the Spirit of the Lord falling upon him, Eze 11:5; declaring that their secret evils were known, as well as their public ones; and that, seeing they had multiplied their slain, and had feared the sword, the sword should come upon them; some should fall by it, and others should be carried captive; the consequence of which would be, that God would be known, and his justice acknowledged, it being what their sins deserved, Eze 11:6-12; upon this prophecy being delivered out, one of the princes before named died immediately; which filled the prophet with great concern, and put him upon expostulating with God, Eze 11:13; wherefore, for his comfort, he is told, that though the inhabitants of Jerusalem had insulted their brethren that were carried captive, and looked upon the land of Israel as their own possession, that God would be a little sanctuary to them; that he would gather them out of all lands, and give them the land of Israel; that they should come thither, and remove all idolatry from it, and should have regenerating and renewing grace given them, to walk in the statutes and ordinances of the Lord, by which they should appear to be his people, and he to be their God, Eze 11:14-20; but as for such that continued in their abominable idolatries, these should receive a just recompence of reward, Eze 11:21; after which follows an account of the entire removal of the glory of the Lord from the city of Jerusalem, Eze 11:22,23; and the prophet being, in vision, brought again to Chaldea, reports the whole he had seen to them of the captivity, Eze 11:24,25.