Yechezkel 12:1-16

1 2 The Davar Hashem also came unto me, saying,

2 Ben adam, thou dwellest in the midst of a bais hameri (rebellious house) which have eynayim to see, and see not; they have oznayim to hear, and hear not; for they are a bais meri (house of rebellion).

3 Therefore, thou ben adam, pack for the Golus thy belongings and go into captivity by day before their eyes; and thou shalt remove from thy makom (place, home) to another makom in their sight; it may be they will consider, though they be bais meri (a rebellious house).

4 Then shalt thou bring forth thy gear by day in their sight, as gear for the Golus; and thou shalt go forth at erev in their sight, as they that go forth into the Golus.

5 Dig thou through the kir (wall) in their sight, and carry out [everything] thereby.

6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy katef (shoulder), and carry it forth in the twilight; thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not ha’aretz; for I have set thee for a mofet (sign, symbol, portent) unto Bais Yisroel [see 2Kgs 25:7].

7 And I did so as I was commanded. I brought forth my gear by day, as gear for the Golus, and at erev I dug through the kir (wall) with mine yad; I carried it forth in the twilight, and I bore it upon my katef (shoulder) in their sight.

8 And in the boker came the Devar Hashem unto me, saying,

9 Ben adam, hath not Bais Yisroel, the bais hameri (the rebellious house), said unto thee, What doest thou?

10 Say thou unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem; This massa (burden) concerneth the nasi [i.e. Zedekiah] in Yerushalayim, and kol Bais Yisroel that are among them.

11 Say, I am your mofet; just as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall be carried away into the Golus and go into captivity.

12 And the nasi that is among them shall bear [his gear] upon his katef (shoulder) in the twilight, and shall go forth; they shall dig through the kir (wall) to carry out thereby; he shall cover his face, that he see not ha’aretz with the ayin (eye) [See 2Kgs 25:7].

13 My net also will I spread over him, and he shall be caught in My snare; and I will bring him to Bavel to Eretz Kasdim (Chaldeans); yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there [See 2Kgs 25:7].

14 And I will scatter toward every ruach (wind) all that are about him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the cherev after them.

15 And they shall know that I am Hashem, when I shall scatter them among the Goyim, and disperse them throughout the countries.

16 But I will leave a few anashim of them from the cherev, from the ra’av (famine), and from the dever; that they may declare all their to’avot among the Goyim to where they come; and they shall know that I am Hashem.

Yechezkel 12:1-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 12

In this chapter, under the sign of the prophet's removing household goods, is represented the removal of the king of Judah and his people from their own land into captivity; and under another sign, of the prophet's eating and drinking with quaking, and trembling, and carefulness, is set forth, either the famine that should be during the siege of Jerusalem, or the desolations following the taking of it; and the chapter is concluded with a reproof of the Jews flattering themselves that these prophecies respected times a great way off, and therefore hoped they would never be accomplished. The preface to the first sign is in Eze 12:1,2; which describes the people of the Jews as rebellious, and given up to judicial blindness and hardness; and suggests the cause of all their calamities: the order to prepare goods for removing, to show to the people; for digging a wall; carrying the stuff out in their sight, on his shoulders, at twilight; and covering his face when he did it, is in Eze 12:3-6; the execution of this order, which is declared in part for the whole, is in Eze 12:7; then follows the explication of this sign, Eze 12:8-11; and the application of it, first to King Zedekiah, in whom should be fulfilled several of the particulars mentioned, Eze 12:12,13; and to the people about him, and his army that should be scattered and fall by the sword, Eze 12:14; the end of which should be, that the Lord should be known, his power, truth, and righteousness, by a few that should escape the famine, pestilence, and sword, Eze 12:15,16. The second sign, with the explication and application of it, is in Eze 12:17-20; and the chapter is closed with a reproof of the Jews; the proverbial expression they used, and which the Lord resented, is cited Eze 12:21,22; and the prophet is bid to assure them that it should cease, or there should be no room for it; and also every vain vision and flattering divination, Eze 12:23,24; and that the word of the Lord should not be prolonged, but should quickly and certainly be accomplished; and that their hopes of the contrary were in vain, Eze 12:25-28.