Ezekiel 6:2

2 Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy to them,

Ezekiel 6:2 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 6:2

Son of man, set thy face towards the mountains of Israel
Or cities of Israel, the inhabitants of them; not the ten tribes, for they had been carried captive long before this time, even in the times of Hezekiah; unless it can be thought that this prophecy is designed to show the reason of their captivity, which was their idolatry; or that it is directed to those of them which remained in the land, and were mixed with the other tribes; but rather the land of Judea is intended, in which were many mountains, and one part of it was called the hill country, ( Luke 1:39 Luke 1:65 ) ; and the mountains are mentioned, against which the prophet is ordered to direct his face, and look unto; partly because idolatry was much practised upon them; and partly to show the stupidity of the Jews, and the failure of the prophecy among them; that it was as well, or better, to speak to the mountains, than to them; for since they had so often put away the word of God from them, they were unworthy of it; wherefore such a direction to the prophet comes some degree of indignation and resentment: and prophesy against them;
as that the sword should be upon them, and the high places built upon them should be destroyed: or "unto them" {a}; direct the prophecy to them; speak to them as if they were capable of hearing: or "concerning them", as the Syriac version; and so the Targum, concerning their desolation.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 (Mhyla) "ad eos", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "ad illos", Piscator.

Ezekiel 6:2 In-Context

1 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

2 Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy to them,

3 and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: Thus says the Lord Yahweh to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.

4 Your altars shall become desolate, and your sun-images shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

5 I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.