Ezequiel 11

1 Entonces el Espíritu me levantó y me llevó a la puerta oriental de la casa del SEÑOR que mira al oriente. Y he aquí, a la entrada de la puerta había veinticinco hombres, y entre ellos vi a Jaazanías, hijo de Azur, y a Pelatías, hijo de Benaía, jefes del pueblo.

2 Y El me dijo: Hijo de hombre, estos son los hombres que maquinan iniquidad y dan malos consejos en esta ciudad,

3 los cuales dicen: "¿No está cerca el tiempo de edificar casas? Esta ciudad es la olla y nosotros la carne."

4 Por tanto, profetiza contra ellos, profetiza, hijo de hombre.

5 Entonces el Espíritu del SEÑOR cayó sobre mí, y me dijo: Di: "Así dice el SEÑOR: 'Así habéis dicho, casa de Israel, yo conozco vuestros pensamientos.

6 'Habéis multiplicado vuestros muertos en esta ciudad, habéis llenado sus calles de muertos.'

7 "Por tanto, así dice el Señor DIOS: 'Vuestros muertos, los que habéis dejado en medio de la ciudad, son la carne, y ella es la olla; pero yo os sacaré de ella.

8 'Habéis temido la espada, y espada traeré sobre vosotros'declara el Señor DIOS.

9 'Y os sacaré de en medio de la ciudad, os entregaré en manos de extraños y traeré juicios contra vosotros.

10 'A espada caeréis; en los confines de Israel os juzgaré; y sabréis que yo soy el SEÑOR.

11 'Esta ciudad no será olla para vosotros, ni vosotros seréis carne en medio de ella; hacia los confines de Israel os juzgaré.

12 'Y sabréis que yo soy el SEÑOR; porque no habéis andado en mis estatutos ni habéis ejecutado mis ordenanzas, sino que habéis obrado conforme a las costumbres de las naciones que os rodean.'"

13 Y sucedió que mientras yo profetizaba, Pelatías, hijo de Benaía, murió. Entonces caí sobre mi rostro, y clamé a gran voz y dije: ¡Ah, Señor DIOS! ¿Vas a acabar por completo con el remanente de Israel?

14 Entonces vino a mí la palabra del SEÑOR, diciendo:

15 Hijo de hombre, tus hermanos, tus parientes, los hombres en el destierro contigo y toda la casa de Israel, todos ellos, son aquellos a quienes los habitantes de Jerusalén han dicho: "Alejaos del SEÑOR; a nosotros se nos ha dado esta tierra en posesión."

16 Por tanto, di: "Así dice el Señor DIOS: 'Aunque yo los había echado lejos entre las naciones, y aunque yo los había dispersado por las tierras, sin embargo fui para ellos un santuario por poco tiempo en las tierras adonde habían ido.'"

17 Por tanto di: "Así dice el Señor DIOS: 'Yo os recogeré de entre los pueblos y os reuniré de las tierras entre las cuales habéis sido dispersados, y os daré la tierra de Israel.'"

18 Cuando lleguen allí, quitarán de ella todas sus cosas detestables y todas sus abominaciones.

19 Yo les daré un solo corazón y pondré un espíritu nuevo dentro de ellos. Y quitaré de su carne el corazón de piedra y les daré un corazón de carne,

20 para que anden en mis estatutos, guarden mis ordenanzas y los cumplan. Entonces serán mi pueblo y yo seré su Dios.

21 Pero en cuanto a aquellos cuyo corazón va detrás de sus cosas detestables y abominaciones, haré recaer su conducta sobre su cabezadeclara el Señor DIOS.

22 Entonces los querubines alzaron sus alas con las ruedas a su lado, y la gloria del Dios de Israel estaba por encima, sobre ellos.

23 La gloria del SEÑOR se elevó de en medio de la ciudad, y se detuvo sobre el monte que está al oriente de la ciudad.

24 Y el Espíritu me levantó y me llevó a Caldea, a los desterrados, en visión por el Espíritu de Dios. Y se alejó de mí la visión que había visto.

25 Entonces hablé a los desterrados de todas las cosas que el SEÑOR me había 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.