以西结书 24

1 第九年十月初十日，耶和华的话又临到我说：

2 人子啊，今日正是巴比伦王就近耶路撒冷的日子，你要将这日记下，

3 要向这悖逆之家设比喻说，主耶和华如此说：将锅放在火上，放好了，就倒水在其中；

4 将肉块，就是一切肥美的肉块、腿，和肩都聚在其中，拿美好的骨头把锅装满；

5 取羊群中最好的，将柴堆在锅下，使锅开滚，好把骨头煮在其中。

6 主耶和华如此说：祸哉！这流人血的城，就是长锈的锅。其中的锈未曾除掉，须要将肉块从其中一一取出来，不必为他拈阄。

7 城中所流的血倒在净光的磐石上，不倒在地上，用土掩盖。

8 这城中所流的血倒在净光的磐石上，不得掩盖，乃是出於我，为要发忿怒施行报应。

9 所以主耶和华如此说：祸哉！这流人血的城，我也必大堆火柴，

10 添上木柴，使火着旺，将肉煮烂，把汤熬浓，使骨头烤焦；

11 把锅倒空坐在炭火上，使锅烧热，使铜烧红， ? 化其中的污秽，除净其上的锈。

12 这锅劳碌疲乏，所长的大锈仍未除掉；这锈就是用火也不能除掉。

13 在你污秽中有淫行，我洁净你，你却不洁净。你的污秽再不能洁净，直等我向你发的忿怒止息。

14 我 ─ 耶和华说过的必定成就，必照话而行，必不返回，必不顾惜，也不後悔。人必照你的举动行为审判你。这是主耶和华说的。

15 耶和华的话又临到我说：

16 人子啊，我要将你眼目所喜爱的忽然取去，你却不可悲哀哭泣，也不可流泪，

17 只可叹息，不可出声，不可办理丧事；头上仍勒裹头巾，脚上仍穿鞋，不可蒙着嘴唇，也不可吃吊丧的食物。

18 於是我将这事早晨告诉百姓，晚上我的妻就死了。次日早晨我便遵命而行。

19 百姓问我说：你这样行与我们有甚麽关系，你不告诉我们麽？

20 我回答他们：耶和华的话临到我说：

21 你告诉以色列家，主耶和华如此说：我必使我的圣所，就是你们势力所夸耀、眼里所喜爱、心中所爱惜的被亵渎，并且你们所遗留的儿女必倒在刀下。

22 那时，你们必行我仆人所行的，不蒙着嘴唇，也不吃吊丧的食物。

23 你们仍要头上勒裹头巾，脚上穿鞋；不可悲哀哭泣。你们必因自己的罪孽相对叹息，渐渐消灭。

24 以西结必这样为你们作预兆；凡他所行的，你们也必照样行。那事来到，你们就知道我是主耶和华。

25 人子啊，我除掉他们所倚靠、所欢喜的荣耀，并眼中所喜爱、心里所重看的儿女。

26 那日逃脱的人岂不来到你这里，使你耳闻这事麽？

27 你必向逃脱的人开口说话，不再哑口。你必这样为他们作预兆，他们就知道我是耶和华。

PREVIOUS 以西结书 23 NEXT 以西结书 25

以西结书 24 Commentary

Chapter 24

The fate of Jerusalem. (1-14) The extent of the sufferings of the Jews. (15-27)

Verses 1-14 The pot on the fire represented Jerusalem besieged by the Chaldeans: all orders and ranks were within the walls, prepared as a prey for the enemy. They ought to have put away their transgressions, as the scum, which rises by the heat of the fire, is taken from the top of the pot. But they grew worse, and their miseries increased. Jerusalem was to be levelled with the ground. The time appointed for the punishment of wicked men may seem to come slowly, but it will come surely. It is sad to think how many there are, on whom ordinances and providences are all lost.

Verses 15-27 Though mourning for the dead is a duty, yet it must be kept under by religion and right reason: we must not sorrow as men that have no hope. Believers must not copy the language and expressions of those who know not God. The people asked the meaning of the sign. God takes from them all that was dearest to them. And as Ezekiel wept not for his affliction, so neither should they weep for theirs. Blessed be God, we need not pine away under our afflictions; for should all comforts fail, and all sorrows be united, yet the broken heart and the mourner's prayer are always acceptable before God.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Chapter Summary

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.