Ezekiel 24:1-5

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

1 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
4 Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
5 take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.

Ezekiel 24:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 9

  • 1. S Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 26:1; Ezekiel 29:17
  • 2. Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk 2:2
  • 3. 2 Kings 25:1; S Jeremiah 39:1; Jeremiah 52:4
  • 4. S Isaiah 1:2; S Ezekiel 2:3,6
  • 5. S Ezekiel 17:2; Ezekiel 20:49
  • 6. Jeremiah 1:13; S Ezekiel 11:3
  • 7. S Ezekiel 11:7
  • 8. S Isaiah 34:12; Jeremiah 52:10
  • 9. Jeremiah 52:24-27; Micah 3:2-3
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