Ezequiel 21:18-24

18 A palavra do SENHOR veio a mim:

19 “Filho do homem, trace as duas estradas que a espada do rei da Babilônia deve seguir, as duas partindo da mesma terra. Em cada uma delas coloque um marco indicando o rumo de uma cidade.

20 Trace uma estrada que leve a espada contra Rabá dos amonitas, e a outra contra Judá e contra a Jerusalém fortificada.

21 Pois o rei da Babilônia parará no local de onde partem as duas estradas para sortear a escolha. Ele lançará a sorte com flechas, consultará os ídolos da família, examinará o fígado.

22 Pela sua mão direita será sorteada Jerusalém, onde deverá preparar aríetes, dar ordens para a matança, soar o grito de guerra, montar aríetes contra as portas, construir uma rampa e levantar obras de cerco.

23 Isso parecerá um falso presságio aos judeus, que tinham feito uma aliança com juramento, mas o rei invasor os fará recordar sua culpa e os levará prisioneiros.

24 “Portanto, assim diz o Soberano, o SENHOR: Visto que vocês trouxeram à lembrança a sua iniquidade mediante rebelião ostensiva, revelando seus pecados em tudo o que fazem; por isso vão ser levados prisioneiros.

Ezequiel 21:18-24 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 21

This chapter contains an explanation of a prophecy in the latter part of the preceding chapter; and a new one, concerning the sword of the Chaldeans, and the destruction of the Jews and Ammonites by it. The prophecy of the fire in the forest is explained, Eze 21:1-5, upon which the prophet is directed to show his concern at it by sighing, in order to awaken the attention of the people to it, Eze 21:6,7, then follows a prophecy of a very sharp and bright sword, which should do great execution upon the people and princes of Israel; and therefore the prophet, in order to affect them, with it, is bid to howl and cry, and smite on his thigh; and smite his hands together, and the Lord says he would do so; all which is designed to set forth the greatness of the calamity and the distress, Eze 21:8-17, next the prophet is ordered to represent the king of Babylon as at a place where two ways met, and as at a loss which way to take, and as determined by divination to go to Jerusalem first, Eze 21:18-24, and then Zedekiah, the then reigning prince of Israel, has his doom pronounced on him, and he is ordered to be stripped of his regalia; and an intimation is given that there should be no more king over Israel of the house of David until the Messiah came, Eze 21:26,27 and the chapter is concluded with a prophecy of the destruction of the Ammonites in their own land, which should certainly be, though their diviners might, say the contrary, Eze 21:28-31.

above excuse or complaint about speaking in parables; wherefore the prophet is ordered to speak in plainer language to the people. It is very probable that the prophet delivered the prophecy recorded in the latter part of the preceding chapter in the figurative terms in which he received it; and he here is bid to explain it to the people, or to repeat it to them in clearer expressions. 28904-950610-1207-Eze21.2