Ezekiel 24:4

4 Put in it pieces of meat, all the best parts - the thigh, the shoulder; fill it with the choicest cuts,

Ezekiel 24:4 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 24:4

Gather the pieces thereof into it
fire being made, and the pot set on, and water poured into it, the next thing is, to put in the pieces that are to be boiled; and these are to be gathered; meaning the people of the land, that were to be gathered from the several parts of it, for their security, as they thought; but the event proved it was for their ruin: even every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder;
the princes and gentry, the great and the mighty, the rich and wealthy of the people; who, upon the invasion, got together in Jerusalem, to secure their persons and substance: fill it with the choice bones;
or with those pieces that have the choice bones, that are full of marrow; the strongest among the people; the soldiers, or such as were fit for war; the best of their militia, brought hither to defend the city; but, in fact, to be slain, as they were. The Targum is,

``gather the princes thereof into the midst of her, every terrible man and warrior; fill her with the army of the people.''

Ezekiel 24:4 In-Context

2 "Human being, write down today's date; because on this very day the king of Bavel has begun his attack on Yerushalayim.
3 And tell this allegory to these rebels; say that Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Put a pot on the fire; put it there, pour water in it;
4 Put in it pieces of meat, all the best parts - the thigh, the shoulder; fill it with the choicest cuts,
5 taken from the pick of the flock, and pile the bones underneath. Bring it to a rolling boil, till it's all cooked, even the bones.'
6 "Therefore Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Woe to the city drenched with blood, to the pot whose scum is in it, and whose scum has not been removed. Empty it piece by piece, without troubling to draw lots.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.