Ezequiel 11

1 Juicio a los líderes de Israel
Luego el Espíritu me levantó y me llevó a la entrada oriental del templo del Señor
, donde vi a veinticinco hombres prominentes de la ciudad. Entre ellos estaban Jaazanías, hijo de Azur, y Pelatías, hijo de Benaía, quienes eran líderes del pueblo.

2 El Espíritu me dijo: «Hijo de hombre, estos son los hombres que piensan hacer maldades y dan consejos perversos en esta ciudad.

3 Le dicen al pueblo: “¿Acaso no es un buen momento para construir casas? Esta ciudad es como una olla de hierro. Aquí adentro estamos a salvo, como la carne en la olla”.

4 Por lo tanto, hijo de hombre, profetiza contra ellos en forma clara y a viva voz».

5 Entonces vino sobre mí el Espíritu del Señor
, y me ordenó que dijera: «Esto dice el Señor
a los habitantes de Israel: “Yo sé lo que ustedes hablan, porque conozco cada pensamiento que les viene a la mente.

6 Ustedes asesinaron a muchos en esta ciudad y llenaron las calles con cadáveres.

7 »”Por lo tanto, esto dice el Señor
Soberano: es cierto que esta ciudad es una olla de hierro, pero los trozos de carne son las víctimas de la injusticia de ustedes. En cuanto a ustedes, pronto los sacaré a rastras de esta olla.

8 Les haré caer la espada de la guerra que tanto temen, dice el Señor
Soberano.

9 Los expulsaré de Jerusalén y los entregaré a extranjeros que ejecutarán mis castigos contra ustedes.

10 Serán masacrados hasta las fronteras de Israel. Ejecutaré juicio contra ustedes y sabrán que yo soy el Señor
.

11 No, esta ciudad no será una olla de hierro para ustedes ni estarán a salvo como la carne dentro de ella. Los juzgaré, incluso hasta las fronteras de Israel,

12 y sabrán que yo soy el Señor
. Pues se negaron a obedecer mis decretos y ordenanzas; en cambio, han imitado las costumbres de las naciones que los rodean”».

13 Mientras yo aún profetizaba, murió de repente Pelatías, hijo de Benaía. Entonces caí rostro en tierra y clamé: «Oh Señor
Soberano, ¿vas a matar a todos en Israel?».

14 Esperanza para Israel en el destierro
Luego recibí este mensaje del Señor
:

15 «Hijo de hombre, el pueblo que aún queda en Jerusalén habla de ti, de tus parientes y de todos los israelitas desterrados. Dicen: “¡Ellos están lejos del Señor
, así que ahora él nos ha dado a nosotros la tierra que les pertenecía!”.

16 »Por lo tanto, diles a los desterrados: “Esto dice el Señor
Soberano: ‘A pesar de que los esparcí por los países del mundo, yo seré un santuario para ustedes durante su tiempo en el destierro.

17 Yo, el Señor
Soberano, los reuniré de entre las naciones adonde fueron esparcidos y les daré una vez más el territorio de Israel’”.

18 »Cuando los israelitas regresen a su patria, quitarán todo rastro de sus imágenes repugnantes y sus ídolos detestables.

19 Les daré integridad de corazón y pondré un espíritu nuevo dentro de ellos. Les quitaré su terco corazón de piedra y les daré un corazón tierno y receptivo,

20 para que obedezcan mis decretos y ordenanzas. Entonces, verdaderamente serán mi pueblo y yo seré su Dios.

21 Sin embargo, a todos los que añoren las imágenes repugnantes y los ídolos detestables, les daré su merecido por sus pecados. ¡Yo, el Señor
Soberano, he hablado!».

22 La gloria del Señor
abandona a Jerusalén
Luego los querubines desplegaron las alas y se elevaron por el aire con las ruedas junto a ellos y la gloria del Dios de Israel se sostenía en el aire por encima de ellos.

23 Entonces la gloria del Señor
se levantó de la ciudad y se detuvo sobre la montaña que está al oriente.

24 Después el Espíritu de Dios me llevó de regreso a Babilonia,
al pueblo desterrado. Así terminó la visión de mi visita a Jerusalén.

25 Entonces les relaté a los desterrados todo lo 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.