Ezequiel 11

1 Y EL espíritu me elevó, y metióme por la puerta oriental de la casa de Jehová, la cual mira hacia el oriente: y he aquí á la entrada de la puerta veinticinco varones, entre los cuales vi á Jaazanías hijo de Azur, y á Pelatías hijo de Benaías, príncipes del pueblo.

2 Y díjome: Hijo del hombre, estos son los hombres que maquinan perversidad, y dan en esta ciudad mal consejo;

3 Los cuales dicen: No será tan presto: edifiquemos casas: ésta será la caldera, y nosotros la carne.

4 Por tanto profetiza contra ellos, profetiza, hijo del hombre.

5 Y cayó sobre mí el espíritu de Jehová, y díjome: Di: Así ha dicho Jehová: Así habéis hablado, oh casa de Israel, y las cosas que suben á vuestro espíritu, yo las he entendido.

6 Habéis multiplicado vuestros muertos en esta ciudad, y habéis henchido de muertos sus calles.

7 Por tanto, así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Vuestros muertos que habéis puesto en medio de ella, ellos son la carne, y ella es la caldera; mas yo os sacaré á vosotros de en medio de ella.

8 Cuchillo habéis temido, y cuchillo traeré sobre vosotros, dice el Señor Jehová.

9 Y os sacaré de en medio de ella, y os entregaré en manos de extraños, y yo haré juicios en vosotros.

10 A cuchillo caeréis; en el término de Israel os juzgaré, y sabréis que yo soy Jehová.

11 Esta no os será por caldera, ni vosotros seréis en medio de ella la carne: en el término de Israel os tengo de juzgar.

12 Y sabréis que yo soy Jehová: porque no habéis andado en mis ordenanzas, ni habéis hecho mis juicios, sino según los juicios de las gentes que están en vuestros alrededores habéis hecho.

13 Y aconteció que, estando yo profetizando, Pelatías hijo de Benaías murió. Entonces caí sobre mi rostro, y clamé con grande voz, y dije: ¡Ah, Señor Jehová! ¿harás tú consumación del resto de Israel?

14 Y fué á mí palabra de Jehová, diciendo:

15 Hijo del hombre, tus hermanos, tus hermanos, los hombres de tu parentesco y toda la casa de Israel, toda ella son aquellos á quienes dijeron los moradores de Jerusalem: Alejaos de Jehová; á nosotros es dada la tierra en posesión.

16 Por tanto di: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Aunque los he echado lejos entre las gentes, y los he esparcido por las tierras, con todo eso les seré por un pequeño santuario en las tierras á donde llegaren.

17 Di por tanto: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Yo os recogeré de los pueblos, y os allegaré de las tierras en las cuales estáis esparcidos, y os daré la tierra de Israel.

18 Y vendrán allá, y quitarán de ella todas su torpezas, y todas sus abominaciones.

19 Y darles he un corazón, y espíritu nuevo daré en sus entrañas; y quitaré el corazón de piedra de su carne, y daréles corazón de carne;

20 Para que anden en mis ordenanzas, y guarden mis juicios y los cumplan, y me sean por pueblo, y yo sea á ellos por Dios.

21 Mas á aquellos cuyo corazón anda tras el deseo de sus torpezas y de sus abominaciones, yo tornaré su camino sobre sus cabezas, dice el Señor Jehová.

22 Después alzaron los querubines sus alas, y las ruedas en pos de ellos; y la gloria del Dios de Israel estaba sobre ellos encima.

23 Y la gloria de Jehová se fué de en medio de la ciudad, y paró sobre el monte que está al oriente de la ciudad.

24 Luego me levantó el espíritu, y volvióme á llevar en visión del espíritu de Dios á la tierra de los Caldeos, á los trasportados. Y partióse de mí la visión que había visto.

25 Y hablé á los trasportados todas las palabras de Jehová que él me había mostrado.

Ezequiel 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Divine judgments against the wicked at Jerusalem. (1-13) Divine favour towards those in captivity. (14-21) The Divine presence forsakes the city. (22-25)

Verses 1-13 Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should still plead with the Lord to have mercy on those who remain.

Verses 14-21 The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a new spirit. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The carnal heart, like a stone, cannot be made to feel. Men live among the dead and dying, and are neither concerned nor humbled. He will make their hearts tender and fit to receive impressions: this is God's work, it is his gift by promise; and a wonderful and happy change is wrought by it, from death to life. Their practices shall be agreeable to those principles. These two must and will go together. When the sinner feels his need of these blessings, let him present the promises as prayers in the name of Christ, they will be performed.

Verses 22-25 Here is the departure of God's presence from the city and temple. It was from the Mount of Olives that the vision went up, typifying the ascension of Christ to heaven from that very mountain. Though the Lord will not forsake his people, yet he may be driven away from any part of his visible church by their sins, and woe will be upon them when He withdraws his presence, glory, and protection.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 11

This chapter contains an account of the sins of the princes of Judah; a prophecy of their destruction; some comfortable, promises respecting those of the captivity; and the chapter is closed with the finishing of the vision of the Lord's removing from Jerusalem; and the whole being ended, the prophet related it to the men of the captivity. In Eze 11:1; the prophet, is shown five and twenty men, among whom were two he knew, and are mentioned by name, and were princes of the people; and he is told that these men devised mischief, and gave bad advice to the people, Eze 11:2,3; wherefore he is bid to prophesy against them, Eze 11:4; which he accordingly did, the Spirit of the Lord falling upon him, Eze 11:5; declaring that their secret evils were known, as well as their public ones; and that, seeing they had multiplied their slain, and had feared the sword, the sword should come upon them; some should fall by it, and others should be carried captive; the consequence of which would be, that God would be known, and his justice acknowledged, it being what their sins deserved, Eze 11:6-12; upon this prophecy being delivered out, one of the princes before named died immediately; which filled the prophet with great concern, and put him upon expostulating with God, Eze 11:13; wherefore, for his comfort, he is told, that though the inhabitants of Jerusalem had insulted their brethren that were carried captive, and looked upon the land of Israel as their own possession, that God would be a little sanctuary to them; that he would gather them out of all lands, and give them the land of Israel; that they should come thither, and remove all idolatry from it, and should have regenerating and renewing grace given them, to walk in the statutes and ordinances of the Lord, by which they should appear to be his people, and he to be their God, Eze 11:14-20; but as for such that continued in their abominable idolatries, these should receive a just recompence of reward, Eze 11:21; after which follows an account of the entire removal of the glory of the Lord from the city of Jerusalem, Eze 11:22,23; and the prophet being, in vision, brought again to Chaldea, reports the whole he had seen to them of the captivity, Eze 11:24,25.