Ezekiel 4:13

13 Then the LORD said, "In the same way, the people of Israel will eat unclean bread among the nations where I scatter them."

Ezekiel 4:13 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 4:13

And the Lord said, even thus shall the children of Israel,
&c.] Not the ten tribes only, or those who were among the other two, but all the Jews in captivity: eat the defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them;
so called, not because mixed, but baked in the above manner; which was a symbol of the defilements which they should contract upon various accounts, by dwelling among the Gentiles; so that this foretells their captivity; their pollution among the nations of the world; and that they should not be the holy people to the Lord they had been, and had boasted of. The Jews ^F11 cite this passage to prove that he that eats bread without drying his hands is as if he ate defiled bread.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 T. Bab. Sota, fol, 4. 2.

Ezekiel 4:13 In-Context

11 Measure out two-thirds of a quart of water, and drink it at set times.

12 Eat the bread as you would eat barley loaves. Bake the bread in front of people, using human excrement for fuel."

13 Then the LORD said, "In the same way, the people of Israel will eat unclean bread among the nations where I scatter them."

14 I answered, "Almighty LORD, I have never dishonored myself. From the time I was young until now, I have never eaten an animal that died by itself or was killed by other wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."

15 He said to me, "I will let you use cow manure in place of human excrement. Bake your bread over it."