Ezekiel 7:14-24

14 They have blown the horn, and everything is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my wrath overcomes the whole crowd.
15 Outside, the sword! Inside, plague and famine! Whoever is out in the field will die by the sword. Whoever is in the city, plague and famine will consume them.
16 And those who flee? They will turn up on the hills like valley doves, all of them moaning, those guilty ones.
17 Every hand will hang limp; urine will run down every leg.
18 They will put on mourning clothes, and horror will cover them. On every face, shame; on all their heads, baldness.
19 They will hurl their silver into the street, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and their gold won't deliver them on the day of the LORD's anger. They won't satisfy their appetites or fill their bellies. Their guilt will bring them down.
20 From their beautiful ornament, in which they took pride, they have made horrible and detestable images! Therefore, I've declared it an unclean thing for them.
21 I'll hand it over to foreigners as loot taken in war, to the earth's wicked ones as plunder—they will defile it!
22 When I hide my face from my people, foreigners will defile my treasured place. Violent intruders will invade it; they will defile it!
23 Make a chain! The earth is full of perverted justice, the city full of violence.
24 I'll bring up the cruelest nations, and they will seize their houses. I'll break their proud strength, and their sanctuaries will be defiled.

Ezekiel 7:14-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 7

This chapter contains a prophecy of the speedy destruction of the Jews, as being just at hand; of the particular judgments that should come upon them; of the horror that should seize them, and the distress that all ranks of men among them should be in, a few only escaping, who are described as in mournful circumstances. The destruction in general is denounced as being very near; the end being come, which is often repeated; and as it is represented as sudden, so without mercy; which is declared, Eze 7:1-14; the particular judgments, sword, pestilence, and famine, are mentioned in Eze 7:15, and the few that should escape are compared to mourning doves, Eze 7:16; the trembling, horror, and shame that should be upon all, are intimated in Eze 7:17,18; the unprofitableness of their gold and silver to deliver them, and the unsatisfying nature of these things, are expressed, Eze 7:19; the profanation and destruction of their temple are prophesied of, Eze 7:20-22; and for their murder, rapine, and oppression, it is threatened that their houses should be possessed by the worst of Heathens, and their holy places defiled; and one calamity should come upon another; when their application to prophets, priests, and ancient men for counsel, would be in, vain, Eze 7:23-26; and king, prince, and people, should be in the most melancholy and distressed circumstances, Eze 7:27.

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