Ezekiel 24:1-11

1 On the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year, the LORD spoke his word to me. He said,

2 "Son of man, write down today's date. The king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem this very day.

3 Tell these rebellious people a story. Tell them, 'This is what the Almighty LORD says: Put the pot on the fire; put it on. Pour water in it.

4 Cut the meat into pieces, all the best pieces, the thigh and shoulder. Fill the pot with the meatiest bones

5 selected from the best sheep. Pile wood under the pot. Bring the mixture in the pot to a boil. Cook the bones that are in it well.

6 "'This is what the Almighty LORD says: How horrible it will be for that city of murderers, for that tarnished pot. Its tarnish will not come off. Empty the meat out of it piece by piece without choosing any particular piece.

7 Blood is still in that city. The blood was poured on a bare rock. It wasn't poured on the ground where dust would cover it.

8 In order to stir up my fury so that I would pay that city back, I put the blood of its victims on a bare rock. Now that blood can't be covered.

9 "'This is what the Almighty LORD says: How horrible it will be for that city of murderers. I, too, will pile the wood high.

10 Pile it high, and light the fire. Cook the meat thoroughly, stir the mixture, and let the bones burn.

11 Then set the empty pot on the coals so that it gets hot and its copper glows. Its impurities will melt away, and its tarnish will burn off.

Ezekiel 24:1-11 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.