Ezekiel 12:1-20

The Exile Symbolized

1 The word of the LORD came to me:

2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.

3 “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.

4 During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.

5 While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it.

6 Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites.”

7 So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.

8 In the morning the word of the LORD came to me:

9 “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’

10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’

11 Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’ “As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives.

12 “The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land.

13 I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die.

14 I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword.

15 “They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.

16 But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

17 The word of the LORD came to me:

18 “Son of man, tremble as you eat your food, and shudder in fear as you drink your water.

19 Say to the people of the land: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says about those living in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will eat their food in anxiety and drink their water in despair, for their land will be stripped of everything in it because of the violence of all who live there.

20 The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ”

Ezekiel 12:1-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 12

In this chapter, under the sign of the prophet's removing household goods, is represented the removal of the king of Judah and his people from their own land into captivity; and under another sign, of the prophet's eating and drinking with quaking, and trembling, and carefulness, is set forth, either the famine that should be during the siege of Jerusalem, or the desolations following the taking of it; and the chapter is concluded with a reproof of the Jews flattering themselves that these prophecies respected times a great way off, and therefore hoped they would never be accomplished. The preface to the first sign is in Eze 12:1,2; which describes the people of the Jews as rebellious, and given up to judicial blindness and hardness; and suggests the cause of all their calamities: the order to prepare goods for removing, to show to the people; for digging a wall; carrying the stuff out in their sight, on his shoulders, at twilight; and covering his face when he did it, is in Eze 12:3-6; the execution of this order, which is declared in part for the whole, is in Eze 12:7; then follows the explication of this sign, Eze 12:8-11; and the application of it, first to King Zedekiah, in whom should be fulfilled several of the particulars mentioned, Eze 12:12,13; and to the people about him, and his army that should be scattered and fall by the sword, Eze 12:14; the end of which should be, that the Lord should be known, his power, truth, and righteousness, by a few that should escape the famine, pestilence, and sword, Eze 12:15,16. The second sign, with the explication and application of it, is in Eze 12:17-20; and the chapter is closed with a reproof of the Jews; the proverbial expression they used, and which the Lord resented, is cited Eze 12:21,22; and the prophet is bid to assure them that it should cease, or there should be no room for it; and also every vain vision and flattering divination, Eze 12:23,24; and that the word of the Lord should not be prolonged, but should quickly and certainly be accomplished; and that their hopes of the contrary were in vain, Eze 12:25-28.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 78:40; S Jeremiah 42:21
• 2. S Isaiah 6:10; Ezekiel 2:6-8; S Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; Mark 8:18
• 3. S Jeremiah 36:3
• 4. Jeremiah 26:3
• 5. ver 11; S Ezekiel 3:27; 2 Timothy 2:25-26
• 6. ver 12; 2 Kings 25:4; S Jeremiah 39:4
• 7. Jeremiah 52:7; Amos 4:3
• 8. ver 12; S Isaiah 8:18; S Isaiah 20:3; Ezekiel 4:3; Ezekiel 24:24
• 9. Ezekiel 24:18; Ezekiel 37:10
• 10. Ezekiel 17:12; Ezekiel 20:49; Ezekiel 24:19
• 11. Isaiah 8:18; Zechariah 3:8
• 12. S 2 Kings 25:7; S Jeremiah 15:2; Jeremiah 52:15
• 13. S Jeremiah 39:4
• 14. Jeremiah 52:7
• 15. Ezekiel 17:20; Ezekiel 19:8; Ezekiel 32:3; Hosea 7:12
• 16. S Isaiah 24:17-18
• 17. Ezekiel 1:3
• 18. S Jeremiah 39:7
• 19. S Jeremiah 24:8; S Jeremiah 52:11; S Lamentations 4:20; Ezekiel 17:16
• 20. S 2 Kings 25:5; S Jeremiah 21:7; S Ezekiel 5:10,12; Ezekiel 17:21
• 21. S Leviticus 26:33
• 22. S Jeremiah 22:8-9; Ezekiel 6:8-10; Ezekiel 14:22; Ezekiel 36:20
• 23. Lamentations 5:9; Ezekiel 4:16
• 24. Jeremiah 10:22; S Ezekiel 6:6-14; Micah 7:13; Zechariah 7:14
• 25. S Ezekiel 4:16; Ezekiel 23:33
• 26. Isaiah 7:23-24; S Jeremiah 4:7; S Jeremiah 25:9