Ezekiel 13 Footnotes

13:1–14:5 The second circumstance that led to the fall of Judah and Jerusalem was that the people listened to and heeded the false prophets. This section clearly defines the breakdown of the religious institutions in the decline of the culture. Ezekiel listed eight failures of these false prophets. (1) They prophesied out of their own minds, or “hearts” (Hb lev, the seat of the intention), and not what the Lord had told them (13:1-3,17). (2) They made the flock their prey (13:4). (3) They failed to reinforce the people’s faith in the time of crisis (13:5). (4) They preached deception as divine revelation (13:6-9). (5) They preached peace in the face of judgment (13:10-16). (6) They used magical methods to gain advantage over the people (13:18-21). (7) They discouraged the righteous and encouraged the wicked (13:22-23). (8) They set up idols in their hearts, enshrining their own wills (14:1-5).