Ezekiel 24 Study Notes

24:15-16 A blow resulted in a sudden death either from combat (1Sm 4:17; 2Sm 18:7) or from plague or disease (Ex 9:14; Nm 14:37; 17:13; 25:8-9). The statement take the delight of your eyes away from you is reminiscent of God’s command to Abraham (Gn 22) to offer his son as a sacrifice.

24:17 In this passage five of the typical gestures of ancient Israelite mourning are alluded to: groaning (Is 24:7; Mal 2:13), removing one’s turban or sandals (2Sm 15:30), covering one’s lips (Mc 3:7), and eating special mourning bread (Hs 9:4). In addition, dust was often thrown atop the head (Jos 7:6; 1Sm 4:12). These practices were never prescribed in the law, but they became standard responses to tragedy.

24:18-19 Ezekiel’s behavior was so unusual that the people asked him to explain.

24:20-21 The destruction of the sanctuary included the fall of the city. God’s destruction of the people’s sanctuary is one of the covenant punishments prescribed for national disobedience in the Mosaic law (Lv 26:31). Jerusalem died (as did Ezekiel’s wife), and with it the temple and the prescribed methods of worship. This created a first-rate identity crisis for Hebrews who wished to remain faithful to God.

24:22-24 The people were not permitted to mourn; Jerusalem’s fall was foretold and yet they persisted in sin. Thus they should have expected this judgment. The Mosaic law did not call for mourning over those who were justly executed for their crimes, and in like manner the citizens of Jerusalem had no right to mourn for the just execution of their city. Besides, they would not have time to mourn in any event since they would immediately be taken as captives to Babylon.

24:25-26 This prophecy, which says a fugitive arriving from fallen Jerusalem will mark the end of Ezekiel’s silence, is fulfilled in 33:21-22.

24:27 Ezekiel’s ability to speak again will signal that his six-year ministry of announcing judgment is over; a new ministry of consolation will begin.