Ezekiel 24:1-6

Parable of the Boiling Pot

1 The word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth [day] of the month:
2 "Son of man, write down today's date, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
3 Now speak a parable to the rebellious house. Tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Put the pot[a] on [the fire]- put [it] on, and then pour water into it!
4 Place the pieces of meat in it, every good piece- thigh and shoulder. Fill it with choice bones.
5 Take the choicest of the flock and also pile up the fuel[b] under it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it."
6 Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Woe to the city of bloodshed, the pot that has rust inside it, and whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; lots should not be cast for its contents.

Ezekiel 24:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 24

Is this chapter the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem is prophesied of; the former under the parable of a boiling pot; the latter is represented by the sudden death of Ezekiel's wife. The time of this prophecy was that very day the king of Babylon began the siege of Jerusalem, Eze 24:1,2, the parable of the boiling pot, Eze 24:3-5, the explanation and application of it to the city of Jerusalem, Eze 24:6-14, the prophet is told of the death of his wife, and bid not to mourn on that account, which accordingly came to pass, Eze 24:15-18, upon the people's inquiring what these things meant, he informs them that hereby was signified the profanation of the temple; and that their distress should be so great, that they should not use any set forms of mourning, but pine away and die, Eze 24:19-24, and the chapter is closed with assuring the prophet, that the day these things should come to pass, a messenger should be sent him, to whom he should open his mouth, and be no more dumb, Eze 24:25-27.

Footnotes 2

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