Contents:
Summary
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Summary:
Chapter 11: They who commit idolatry in Jerusalem will be punished. Exile will come about for refusing to recognize the rights of other Israelites. God will bring them back from Exile in order that they should remove idolatry from the land.

Chapter 12: The various stages of Exile of both Israel and Judah are depicted along with the destruction and desolation of the Land that will follow.

Chapter 13: Placators and Soothsayers are condemned.

Chapter 14: Everything has a reason. The wicked of Israel will be punished. Jerusalem will be re-settled by Judah and Israel.

Chapter 15: We must all improve our ways. If we do not meet our tasks we will be discarded by God.

To Read the Commentary. Please Scroll Down!

Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Ezekiel 11 to 15
Ezekiel 11
[Ezekiel 11:1] MOREOVER THE SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP, AND BROUGHT ME UNTO THE EAST GATE OF THE LORD'S HOUSE, WHICH LOOKETH EASTWARD: AND BEHOLD AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE FIVE AND  TWENTY MEN; AMONG WHOM I SAW JAAZANIAH THE SON OF AZUR, AND PELATIAH THE SON OF  BENAIAH, PRINCES OF THE PEOPLE.                     
These were the twenty-five men who had worshipped the sun in the Temple precincts mentioned previously:
<<AND HE BROUGHT ME INTO THE INNER COURT OF THE LORD'S HOUSE, AND, BEHOLD, AT THE DOOR OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR, WERE ABOUT FIVE AND TWENTY MEN, WITH THEIR BACKS TOWARD THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, AND THEIR FACES TOWARD THE EAST; AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE SUN TOWARD THE EAST  [Ezekiel 8:16].                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:2] THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, THESE ARE THE MEN THAT DEVISE MISCHIEF, AND GIVE WICKED COUNSEL IN THIS CITY:                     
They were leaders of the people.
 
[Ezekiel 11:3] WHICH SAY, IT IS NOT NEAR; LET US BUILD HOUSES: THIS CITY IS THE CALDRON, AND WE BE THE FLESH.                       
They said just as pot with water and meat in it protects the meat from being burned up so too would they be protected by virtue of their dwelling in Jerusalem close to the House of God.
 
[Ezekiel 11:4] THEREFORE PROPHESY AGAINST THEM, PROPHESY, O SON OF MAN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:5] AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD FELL UPON ME, AND SAID UNTO ME, SPEAK; THUS SAITH THE LORD; THUS HAVE YE SAID, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL: FOR I KNOW THE THINGS THAT COME INTO YOUR MIND, EVERY ONE OF THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:6] YE HAVE MULTIPLIED YOUR SLAIN IN THIS CITY, AND YE HAVE FILLED THE STREETS THEREOF WITH THE SLAIN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:7] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; YOUR SLAIN WHOM YE HAVE LAID IN THE MIDST OF IT, THEY ARE THE FLESH, AND THIS CITY IS THE CALDRON: BUT I WILL BRING YOU FORTH OUT OF THE MIDST OF IT.    
It will not be as they thought. The meat in the pot will be the corpses and not you. You will not be protected. You will be taken out of the pot (i.e. of the city) and punished.                
 
[Ezekiel 11:8] YE HAVE FEARED THE SWORD; AND I WILL BRING A SWORD UPON YOU, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:9] AND I WILL BRING YOU OUT OF THE MIDST THEREOF, AND DELIVER YOU INTO THE HANDS OF STRANGERS, AND WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS AMONG YOU.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:10] YE SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD; I WILL JUDGE YOU IN THE BORDER OF ISRAEL; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:11] THIS CITY SHALL NOT BE YOUR CALDRON, NEITHER SHALL YE BE THE FLESH IN THE MIDST THEREOF; BUT I WILL JUDGE YOU IN THE BORDER OF ISRAEL:                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:12] AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD: FOR YE HAVE NOT WALKED IN MY STATUTES, NEITHER EXECUTED MY JUDGMENTS, BUT HAVE DONE AFTER THE MANNERS OF THE HEATHEN THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT YOU. 
You will be punished because you did not keep the Law of God but went in the ways of the pagans around you.                   
 
[Ezekiel 11:13] AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN I PROPHESIED, THAT PELATIAH THE SON OF BENAIAH  DIED. THEN FELL I DOWN UPON MY FACE, AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, AND SAID, AH LORD GOD! WILT THOU MAKE A FULL END OF THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:14] AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:15] SON OF MAN, THY BRETHREN, EVEN THY BRETHREN, THE MEN OF THY KINDRED, AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHOLLY, ARE THEY UNTO WHOM THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID, GET YOU FAR FROM THE LORD: UNTO US IS THIS LAND GIVEN IN POSSESSION.
<< SON OF MAN, THY BRETHREN, EVEN THY BRETHREN, THE MEN OF THY KINDRED, AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHOLLY:  Eisemann quotes Commentators as saying that the three groups mentioned (THY BRETHREN, EVEN THY BRETHREN, THE MEN OF THY KINDRED) refer to the three previous exiles, i.e. The Tribes east of the Jordan (Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh), the tribes west of the Jordan, and the exiles from Judah who had been  taken to Babylon in the time of Jehoiakin before the destruction of the Temple. Ezekiel is speaking as if these exiles were being dispossessed by the people of Jerusalem. Rashi holds this view and so does the Radak. These are foremost Rabbinical Commentators. Other savants understand this passage in other ways but Ezekiel was speaking on several levels and the different interpretations do not necessarily contradict each other.
Ezekiel (37:15-28) saw the return of the Ten Tribes as an indispensable requirement for the deliverance of Israel and Judah.              
<<ARE THEY UNTO WHOM THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM HAVE SAID, GET YOU FAR FROM THE LORD: UNTO US IS THIS LAND GIVEN IN POSSESSION: Malbim understands this to mean, Not that the inhabitants of Jerusalem rejected the other exiles and said that they could not inherit with them but RATHER the people of Jerusalem thought that was the reality. They considered the other exiles to be irretrievably lost and not about to return.
 
This shows the importance of Brit-Am. We need assistance to get this message both to "Judah" and to "Israel". Those who can assist and do not do so may be guilty of perpetuating a situation that the Bible says is negative and that Scripture attaches guilt to. Everyone should do what they can whether through financial assistance or other help or both together.
In the same way that non-assistance is negative then assistance is a thousand times conducive to blessing.
 
Malbim: "ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WHOLLY. These were the rest of the tribes who were exiled at first by [the Assyrians represented by] Sancherib for they too will emerge a remnant [to be saved]. Even though these were not redeemed in the redemption of the Second Temple [led by Ezra] they will return in the Last Days." In Rabbinical Literature Sancherib represents all the Kings of Assyria and the Exile of Sancherib means the Exile of the Lost Ten Tribes.
 
[Ezekiel 11:16] THEREFORE SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; ALTHOUGH I HAVE CAST THEM FAR OFF AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE SCATTERED THEM AMONG THE COUNTRIES, YET WILL I BE TO THEM AS A LITTLE SANCTUARY IN THE COUNTRIES WHERE THEY SHALL COME.   
<<ALTHOUGH I HAVE CAST THEM FAR OFF AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND ALTHOUGH I HAVE SCATTERED THEM AMONG THE COUNTRIES: This can be understood on two levels, a physical one and a spiritual one. On the non-physical level it strengthens the theme we have been developing in our Commentary up to now.
1. The Exiles were distanced in a spiritual sense. They were far off "amongst the heathen" and would become like them. Even so,
2. In some way God would be with them even though they would not be openly aware of it or they would know Him only through a kind of spiritual screening of mixed truth and falsehood, i.e.  "WILL I BE TO THEM AS A LITTLE SANCTUARY".                
 
[Ezekiel 11:17] THEREFORE SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL EVEN GATHER YOU FROM THE PEOPLE, AND ASSEMBLE YOU OUT OF THE COUNTRIES WHERE YE HAVE BEEN SCATTERED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAND OF ISRAEL.                     
Eisemann understands this following passage to be referring to all of Israel, including the Lost Ten Tribes.
Malbim: "In the future God will ingather the Ten Tribes who were in faraway lands and did not return in the time of the Second Temple".
Ramban (Nachmanides) holds the same view we have been quoting that the prophecies are understandable on two levels:
1. The message potentially could have been fulfilled partly in the very time of Ezekiel if the people would have repented; and
2. The complete fulfillment of the Prophecy of reconciliation will only happen in the time of the Messiah.
 
[Ezekiel 11:18] AND THEY SHALL COME THITHER, AND THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THE DETESTABLE THINGS THEREOF AND ALL THE ABOMINATIONS THEREOF FROM THENCE.
The exiles (from the Ten Tribes) will remove their idols and cease their paganism in their places of exile. OR ELSE:
They shall first come back to the land and then they shall cast aside their idols"                           
 
[Ezekiel 11:19] AND I WILL GIVE THEM ONE HEART, AND I WILL PUT A NEW SPIRIT WITHIN YOU; AND I WILL TAKE THE STONY HEART OUT OF THEIR FLESH, AND WILL GIVE THEM AN HEART OF FLESH:                     
They will be given one heart, a spirit of unity, awareness of the truth, willingness and ability to fulfill God"s will, and the awareness that they capable of doing so and want to do so.
 
[Ezekiel 11:20] THAT THEY MAY WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND KEEP MINE ORDINANCES, AND DO THEM: AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD.
The bottom line is that in order to return and dwell in the Land of Israel all the statutes, ordinances, and commandments must be kept.
<<THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE: They shall be made aware of their Israelite Identity.
<<AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD: They will be reconciled with the Almighty.
 
[Ezekiel 11:21] BUT AS FOR THEM WHOSE HEART WALKETH AFTER THE HEART OF THEIR DETESTABLE THINGS AND THEIR ABOMINATIONS, I WILL RECOMPENSE THEIR WAY UPON THEIR OWN HEADS, SAITH THE LORD GOD.  
Those who do not repent will be punished. Alternately, Ezekiel had began to speak of reconciliation in the distant future. He now returns to the reality of his own time.                  
 
[Ezekiel 11:22] THEN DID THE CHERUBIMS LIFT UP THEIR WINGS, AND THE WHEELS BESIDE THEM; AND THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS OVER THEM ABOVE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:23] AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD WENT UP FROM THE MIDST OF THE CITY, AND STOOD UPON THE MOUNTAIN WHICH IS ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE CITY.                     
The Presence of the Almighty was departing from the city of Jerusalem. Until now the people had felt this presence. They had thought that since the House of God was in Jerusalem and God made His presence felt there then they would be protected from outsiders. Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel were telling them that such was not the case.
 
[Ezekiel 11:24] AFTERWARDS THE SPIRIT TOOK ME UP, AND BROUGHT ME IN A VISION BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD INTO CHALDEA, TO THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY. SO THE VISION THAT I HAD SEEN WENT UP FROM ME.                     
 
[Ezekiel 11:25] THEN I SPAKE UNTO THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY ALL THE THINGS THAT THE LORD HAD SHEWED ME.  

                   
Ezekiel 12
[Ezekiel 12:1] THE WORD OF THE LORD ALSO CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:2] SON OF MAN, THOU DWELLEST IN THE MIDST OF A REBELLIOUS HOUSE, WHICH HAVE EYES TO SEE, AND SEE NOT; THEY HAVE EARS TO HEAR, AND HEAR NOT: FOR THEY ARE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12: 3]  THEREFORE, THOU SON OF MAN, PREPARE THEE STUFF FOR REMOVING, AND REMOVE BY DAY IN THEIR SIGHT; AND THOU SHALT REMOVE FROM THY PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE IN THEIR SIGHT: IT MAY BE THEY WILL CONSIDER, THOUGH THEY BE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE. 
Ezekiel was to act out a "play: of actions symbolizing Exile.
Eisemann and Mablim interpret the whole scene to represent four exiles or aspects of exile:
1. The Lost Ten Tribes by Assyria: AND REMOVE BY DAY IN THEIR SIGHT: They went away to an uncertain area. They were removed elsewhere.
2. The early exile of Judah to Babylon with King Jehoiacin. REMOVE FROM THY PLACE TO ANOTHER PLACE: They moved from Judah to Babylon.
These two exiles had already taken place when Ezekiel received this prophecy.
3. The final exile of the remnant of Judah to Babylon.
4. The attempt by King Zedekiah to escape and his capture by the Babylonians.                   
 
[Ezekiel 12:4] THEN SHALT THOU BRING FORTH THY STUFF BY DAY IN THEIR SIGHT, AS STUFF FOR REMOVING: AND THOU SHALT GO FORTH AT EVEN IN THEIR SIGHT, AS THEY THAT GO FORTH INTO CAPTIVITY.                     
Here the last two scenes of exiles were represented.
 
[Ezekiel 12:5] DIG THOU THROUGH THE WALL IN THEIR SIGHT, AND CARRY OUT THEREBY.                     
This symbolized the attempt of Zedekiah to flee (cf. 2-Kings ch.25, Jeremiah 39:3-9).
<<AND ALL THE PRINCES OF THE KING OF BABYLON CAME IN, AND SAT IN THE MIDDLE GATE, EVEN NERGALSHAREZER, SAMGARNEBO, SARSECHIM, RABSARIS, NERGALSHAREZER, RABMAG, WITH ALL THE RESIDUE OF THE PRINCES OF THE KING OF BABYLON.                     
<<AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT WHEN ZEDEKIAH THE KING OF JUDAH SAW THEM, AND ALL  THE MEN OF WAR, THEN THEY FLED, AND WENT FORTH OUT OF THE CITY BY NIGHT, BY THE WAY OF THE KING'S GARDEN, BY THE GATE BETWIXT THE TWO WALLS: AND HE WENT OUT THE WAY OF THE PLAIN.                     
<<BUT THE CHALDEANS' ARMY PURSUED AFTER THEM, AND OVERTOOK ZEDEKIAH IN THE PLAINS OF JERICHO: AND WHEN THEY HAD TAKEN HIM, THEY BROUGHT HIM UP TO NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF BABYLON TO RIBLAH IN THE LAND OF HAMATH, WHERE HE GAVE JUDGMENT UPON HIM.   
<<THEN THE KING OF BABYLON SLEW THE SONS OF ZEDEKIAH IN RIBLAH BEFORE HIS EYES: ALSO THE KING OF BABYLON SLEW ALL THE NOBLES OF JUDAH.                     
<<MOREOVER HE PUT OUT ZEDEKIAH'S EYES, AND BOUND HIM WITH CHAINS, TO CARRY HIM  TO BABYLON.                     
<<AND THE CHALDEANS BURNED THE KING'S HOUSE, AND THE HOUSES OF THE PEOPLE, WITH FIRE, AND BRAKE DOWN THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM.                     
<<THEN NEBUZARADAN THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD CARRIED AWAY CAPTIVE INTO BABYLON THE REMNANT OF THE PEOPLE THAT REMAINED IN THE CITY, AND THOSE THAT FELL AWAY, THAT FELL TO HIM, WITH THE REST OF THE PEOPLE THAT REMAINED [Jeremiah 39:3-9].                     
This attempted flight of Zedekiah is what the actions of Ezekiel signify.
 
[Ezekiel 12:6] IN THEIR SIGHT SHALT THOU BEAR IT UPON THY SHOULDERS, AND CARRY IT FORTH IN THE TWILIGHT: THOU SHALT COVER THY FACE, THAT THOU SEE NOT THE GROUND: FOR I HAVE SET THEE FOR A SIGN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:7] AND I DID SO AS I WAS COMMANDED: I BROUGHT FORTH MY STUFF BY DAY, AS STUFF FOR CAPTIVITY, AND IN THE EVEN I DIGGED THROUGH THE WALL WITH MINE HAND; I BROUGHT IT FORTH IN THE TWILIGHT, AND I BARE IT UPON MY SHOULDER IN THEIR SIGHT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:8] AND IN THE MORNING CAME THE WORD OF THE LORD UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:9] SON OF MAN, HATH NOT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THE REBELLIOUS HOUSE, SAID UNTO THEE, WHAT DOEST THOU" 
 "THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL" is addressed. This term is usually applied (by the other Prophets, apart from Ezekiel) to the northern kingdom as distinct from Judah though here according to the simple meaning the message is directed mainly (or solely) to Judah.                
 
[Ezekiel 12:10] SAY THOU UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THIS BURDEN CONCERNETH THE PRINCE IN JERUSALEM, AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL THAT ARE AMONG THEM.
 <<THE PRINCE: This is referring to King Zedekiah.
 <<AND ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL THAT ARE AMONG THEM:   Apart from the tribe of Judah the inhabitants of Jerusalem also included people from the other tribes especially Simeon, Ephraim, Manassah, and Levi.               
 
[Ezekiel 12:11] SAY, I AM YOUR SIGN: LIKE AS I HAVE DONE, SO SHALL IT BE DONE UNTO THEM: THEY SHALL REMOVE AND GO INTO CAPTIVITY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:12] AND THE PRINCE THAT IS AMONG THEM SHALL BEAR UPON HIS SHOULDER IN THE TWILIGHT, AND SHALL GO FORTH: THEY SHALL DIG THROUGH THE WALL TO CARRY OUT THEREBY: HE SHALL  COVER HIS FACE, THAT HE SEE NOT THE GROUND WITH HIS EYES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:13] MY NET ALSO WILL I SPREAD UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL BE TAKEN IN MY SNARE: AND I WILL BRING HIM TO BABYLON TO THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS; YET SHALL HE NOT SEE IT, THOUGH HE SHALL DIE THERE.                     
<<YET SHALL HE NOT SEE IT, THOUGH HE SHALL DIE THERE: Nebuchadnezzar took out the eyes of Zedekiah.
 
[Ezekiel 12:14] AND I WILL SCATTER TOWARD EVERY WIND ALL THAT ARE ABOUT HIM TO HELP HIM, AND ALL HIS BANDS; AND I WILL DRAW OUT THE SWORD AFTER THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:15] AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, WHEN I SHALL SCATTER THEM AMONG THE NATIONS, AND DISPERSE THEM IN THE COUNTRIES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:16] BUT I WILL LEAVE A FEW MEN OF THEM FROM THE SWORD, FROM THE FAMINE, AND FROM THE PESTILENCE; THAT THEY MAY DECLARE ALL THEIR ABOMINATIONS AMONG THE HEATHEN WHITHER THEY COME; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:17] MOREOVER THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:18] SON OF MAN, EAT THY BREAD WITH QUAKING, AND DRINK THY WATER WITH TREMBLING AND WITH CAREFULNESS;                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:19] AND SAY UNTO THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD OF THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, AND OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL; THEY SHALL EAT THEIR BREAD WITH CAREFULNESS, AND DRINK THEIR WATER WITH ASTONISHMENT, THAT HER LAND MAY BE DESOLATE FROM ALL THAT IS THEREIN, BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE OF ALL THEM THAT DWELL THEREIN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:20] AND THE CITIES THAT ARE INHABITED SHALL BE LAID WASTE, AND THE LAND SHALL BE DESOLATE; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:21] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:22] SON OF MAN, WHAT IS THAT PROVERB THAT YE HAVE IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL, SAYING, THE DAYS ARE PROLONGED, AND EVERY VISION FAILETH"  
People were saying that the prophecies of the Prophets were not coming to pass. This chapter comes to tell us that the Prophecies did come tell and will do so in the future. We do not know the time-table but God does.                  
 
[Ezekiel 12:23] TELL THEM THEREFORE, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL MAKE THIS PROVERB TO  CEASE, AND THEY SHALL NO MORE USE IT AS A PROVERB IN ISRAEL; BUT SAY UNTO THEM, THE DAYS ARE AT HAND, AND THE EFFECT OF EVERY VISION.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:24] FOR THERE SHALL BE NO MORE ANY VAIN VISION NOR FLATTERING DIVINATION WITHIN THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:25] FOR I AM THE LORD: I WILL SPEAK, AND THE WORD THAT I SHALL SPEAK SHALL COME TO PASS; IT SHALL BE NO MORE PROLONGED: FOR IN YOUR DAYS, O REBELLIOUS HOUSE, WILL I  SAY THE WORD, AND WILL PERFORM IT, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:26] AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO ME, SAYING.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:27] SON OF MAN, BEHOLD, THEY OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL SAY, THE VISION THAT HE SEETH IS FOR MANY DAYS TO COME, AND HE PROPHESIETH OF THE TIMES THAT ARE FAR OFF.                     
 
[Ezekiel 12:28] THEREFORE SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THERE SHALL NONE OF MY WORDS BE PROLONGED ANY MORE, BUT THE WORD WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN SHALL BE DONE, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
 
Ezekiel 13
[Ezekiel 13:1] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:2] SON OF MAN, PROPHESY AGAINST THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL THAT PROPHESY, AND SAY THOU UNTO THEM THAT PROPHESY OUT OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, HEAR YE THE WORD OF THE LORD;  
Ezekiel is speaking against false prophets.                  
 
[Ezekiel 13:3] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; WOE UNTO THE FOOLISH PROPHETS, THAT FOLLOW THEIR OWN SPIRIT, AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING!                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:4] O ISRAEL, THY PROPHETS ARE LIKE THE FOXES IN THE DESERTS.                     
<<DESERTS: Hebrew "Charovot" meaning "ruined places" or "deserted areas". Just as foxes enter through broken down walls and cause greater damage so too do the false prophets take advantage of weakness to cause more harm (Moshkovitz, Daat Mikra).
 
[Ezekiel 13:5] YE HAVE NOT GONE UP INTO THE GAPS, NEITHER MADE UP THE HEDGE FOR THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL TO STAND IN THE BATTLE IN THE DAY OF THE LORD.
Instead of strengthening us, false prophets and bad leaders drag us down.                    
 
[Ezekiel 13:6] THEY HAVE SEEN VANITY AND LYING DIVINATION, SAYING, THE LORD SAITH: AND THE LORD HATH NOT SENT THEM: AND THEY HAVE MADE OTHERS TO HOPE THAT THEY WOULD CONFIRM THE   WORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:7] HAVE YE NOT SEEN A VAIN VISION, AND HAVE YE NOT SPOKEN A LYING DIVINATION, WHEREAS YE SAY, THE LORD SAITH IT; ALBEIT I HAVE NOT SPOKEN"                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:8] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE YE HAVE SPOKEN VANITY, AND SEEN LIES, THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST YOU, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:9] AND MINE HAND SHALL BE UPON THE PROPHETS THAT SEE VANITY, AND THAT DIVINE LIES: THEY SHALL NOT BE IN THE ASSEMBLY OF MY PEOPLE, NEITHER SHALL THEY BE WRITTEN IN THE WRITING OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, NEITHER SHALL THEY ENTER INTO THE LAND OF ISRAEL; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD GOD.                     
<<NEITHER SHALL THEY BE WRITTEN IN THE WRITING OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: Those who have done well and whom God has chosen have been recorded in the Book of the House of Israel.

 [Ezekiel 13:10] BECAUSE, EVEN BECAUSE THEY HAVE SEDUCED MY PEOPLE, SAYING, PEACE; AND THERE WAS NO PEACE; AND ONE BUILT UP A WALL, AND, LO, OTHERS DAUBED IT WITH UNTEMPERED MORTER:                     
<<SAYING, PEACE; AND THERE WAS NO PEACE: The Oslo Peace arrangements were a recipe for the murder of innocent Jewish people. Those who were responsible should take the blame. In effect, nearly all peace treaties forced on Israel had something of Oslo within them. Oslo just brought out into the open the ugly evil that nobody really wanted to admit to but everybody knew about.
 
[Ezekiel 13:11] SAY UNTO THEM WHICH DAUB IT WITH UNTEMPERED MORTER, THAT IT SHALL FALL: THERE SHALL BE AN OVERFLOWING SHOWER; AND YE, O GREAT HAILSTONES, SHALL FALL; AND A STORMY WIND SHALL REND IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:12] LO, WHEN THE WALL IS FALLEN, SHALL IT NOT BE SAID UNTO YOU, WHERE IS THE DAUBING WHEREWITH YE HAVE DAUBED IT"                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:13] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL EVEN REND IT WITH A STORMY WIND IN MY FURY; AND THERE SHALL BE AN OVERFLOWING SHOWER IN MINE ANGER, AND GREAT HAILSTONES IN  MY FURY TO CONSUME IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:14] SO WILL I BREAK DOWN THE WALL THAT YE HAVE DAUBED WITH UNTEMPERED MORTER AND BRING IT DOWN TO THE GROUND, SO THAT THE FOUNDATION THEREOF SHALL BE DISCOVERED, AND IT SHALL FALL, AND YE SHALL BE CONSUMED IN THE MIDST THEREOF: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:15] THUS WILL I ACCOMPLISH MY WRATH UPON THE WALL, AND UPON THEM THAT HAVE DAUBED IT WITH UNTEMPERED MORTER, AND WILL SAY UNTO YOU, THE WALL IS NO MORE, NEITHER THEY  THAT DAUBED IT;                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:16] TO WIT, THE PROPHETS OF ISRAEL WHICH PROPHESY CONCERNING JERUSALEM, AND WHICH SEE VISIONS OF PEACE FOR HER, AND THERE IS NO PEACE, SAITH THE LORD GOD. 
<<AND THERE IS NO PEACE: No, and there never was a chance of there being peace and they should have known that in advance. I did (and I said so, on this list),  and so did most other people. It was too obvious. The Palestinians were telling us to our faces that as soon as they could they would try and kill as many of us as they could even at their own self-expense.  People in positions of responsibility who did not realize this should have to make an accounting of themselves.                 
 
[Ezekiel 13:17] LIKEWISE, THOU SON OF MAN, SET THY FACE AGAINST THE DAUGHTERS OF THY PEOPLE, WHICH PROPHESY OUT OF THEIR OWN HEART; AND PROPHESY THOU AGAINST THEM, 
<<THE DAUGHTERS OF THY PEOPLE: Women also mislead us.                    
 
[Ezekiel 13:18] AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; WOE TO THE WOMEN THAT SEW PILLOWS TO ALL ARMHOLES, AND MAKE KERCHIEFS UPON THE HEAD OF EVERY STATURE TO HUNT SOULS! WILL YE HUNT THE SOULS OF MY PEOPLE, AND WILL YE SAVE THE SOULS ALIVE THAT COME UNTO YOU"                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:19] AND WILL YE POLLUTE ME AMONG MY PEOPLE FOR HANDFULS OF BARLEY AND FOR PIECES OF BREAD, TO SLAY THE SOULS THAT SHOULD NOT DIE, AND TO SAVE THE SOULS ALIVE THAT   SHOULD NOT LIVE, BY YOUR LYING TO MY PEOPLE THAT HEAR YOUR LIES?                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:20] WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST YOUR PILLOWS, WHEREWITH YE THERE HUNT THE SOULS TO MAKE THEM FLY, AND I WILL TEAR THEM FROM YOUR ARMS, AND WILL LET THE SOULS GO, EVEN THE SOULS THAT YE HUNT TO MAKE THEM FLY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:21] YOUR KERCHIEFS ALSO WILL I TEAR, AND DELIVER MY PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR HAND, AND THEY SHALL BE NO MORE IN YOUR HAND TO BE HUNTED; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
Moshkovitz (Daat Mikra) says that the women were making all kinds of spells and witchcraft and binding people with "magic" scarfs and so on.
 
[Ezekiel 13:22] BECAUSE WITH LIES YE HAVE MADE THE HEART OF THE RIGHTEOUS SAD, WHOM I HAVE NOT MADE SAD; AND STRENGTHENED THE HANDS OF THE WICKED, THAT HE SHOULD NOT RETURN FROM HIS WICKED WAY, BY PROMISING HIM LIFE:
They were giving the wicked false hope. If it were not for these delusions those who were stricken with misfortune may have repented and been able to better themselves.                     
 
[Ezekiel 13:23] THEREFORE YE SHALL SEE NO MORE VANITY, NOR DIVINE DIVINATIONS: FOR I WILL DELIVER MY PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR HAND: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
Ezekiel 14
[Ezekiel 14:1] THEN CAME CERTAIN OF THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL UNTO ME, AND SAT BEFORE ME.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:2] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:3] SON OF MAN, THESE MEN HAVE SET UP THEIR IDOLS IN THEIR HEART, AND PUT THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OF THEIR INIQUITY BEFORE THEIR FACE: SHOULD I BE ENQUIRED OF AT ALL BY THEM?
We all have some idol of some sort in our hearts, i.e. something whose importance we would be tempted place before our duty to the Almighty.                    
 
[Ezekiel 14:4] THEREFORE SPEAK UNTO THEM, AND SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; EVERY MAN OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL THAT SETTETH UP HIS IDOLS IN HIS HEART, AND PUTTETH THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OF HIS INIQUITY BEFORE HIS FACE, AND COMETH TO THE PROPHET; I THE LORD WILL  ANSWER HIM THAT COMETH ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS IDOLS;
<<ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS IDOLS: i.e. the less idols one has, the more chance he has of God listenting to him in time of trouble. We are all human. We may not be able to be as good as should be, or even any good at all, but whatever we do will be set in our favor. Even a small thing can sometimes set us on the right track.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:5] THAT I MAY TAKE THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IN THEIR OWN HEART, BECAUSE THEY ARE ALL ESTRANGED FROM ME THROUGH THEIR IDOLS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:6] THEREFORE SAY UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; REPENT,  AND TURN YOURSELVES FROM YOUR IDOLS; AND TURN AWAY YOUR FACES FROM ALL YOUR ABOMINATIONS.
<<UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: In this case both the ten tribes and Judah.                    
 
[Ezekiel 14:7] FOR EVERY ONE OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, OR OF THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH IN ISRAEL, WHICH SEPARATETH HIMSELF FROM ME, AND SETTETH UP HIS IDOLS IN HIS HEART, AND PUTTETH THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OF HIS INIQUITY BEFORE HIS FACE, AND COMETH TO A PROPHET TO ENQUIRE OF  HIM CONCERNING ME; I THE LORD WILL ANSWER HIM BY MYSELF:  
<<FOR EVERY ONE OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, OR OF THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH IN ISRAEL, WHICH SEPARATETH HIMSELF FROM ME: The stranger who sojourns with us and identifies with us will have the same rights as us {Ezekiel 47:22]. He also has the same responsibilities.                
 
[Ezekiel 14:8] AND I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST THAT MAN, AND WILL MAKE HIM A SIGN AND A PROVERB, AND I WILL CUT HIM OFF FROM THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.
Membership of the Israelite nation should be considered the most important thing we could have. From the above verse and other verses it sounds as if this membership can be lost, i.e. we can be cut off from our ancestry. We should do everything we can to avoid such a fate and be as good as we can.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:9] AND IF THE PROPHET BE DECEIVED WHEN HE HATH SPOKEN A THING, I THE LORD HAVE DECEIVED THAT PROPHET, AND I WILL STRETCH OUT MY HAND UPON HIM, AND WILL DESTROY HIM FROM THE MIDST OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.
A bad person who thinks he is inspired can sometimes be deceiving himself or be deceived by the Almighty.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:10] AND THEY SHALL BEAR THE PUNISHMENT OF THEIR INIQUITY: THE PUNISHMENT OF THE  PROPHET SHALL BE EVEN AS THE PUNISHMENT OF HIM THAT SEEKETH UNTO HIM; 
faslo prophets can bring disaster on themselves and on those who follow after them.                   
 
[Ezekiel 14:11] THAT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL MAY GO NO MORE ASTRAY FROM ME, NEITHER BE POLLUTED ANY MORE WITH ALL THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS; BUT THAT THEY MAY BE MY PEOPLE, AND I MAY BE THEIR GOD, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
 <<BUT THAT THEY MAY BE MY PEOPLE, AND I MAY BE THEIR GOD, SAITH THE LORD GOD: We must strive to be the people of God so that God will be with us.                   
 
[Ezekiel 14:12] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME AGAIN TO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:13] SON OF MAN, WHEN THE LAND SINNETH AGAINST ME BY TRESPASSING GRIEVOUSLY,  THEN WILL I STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON IT, AND WILL BREAK THE STAFF OF THE BREAD THEREOF, AND WILL SEND FAMINE UPON IT, AND WILL CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT:                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:14] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN, NOAH, DANIEL, AND JOB, WERE IN IT, THEY SHOULD DELIVER BUT THEIR OWN SOULS BY THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS, SAITH THE LORD GOD. 
<<DANIEL: This probably means Daniel the hero of the Book of Daniel though some say it is referring to an earlier person of similar name. In Hebrew the name translated as "Daniel" in the above verse is spelt slightly differently from the "Daniel" who was in the lions den. Even so, see our commentary on the next verse.
 
[Ezekiel 14:15] IF I CAUSE NOISOME BEASTS TO PASS THROUGH THE LAND, AND THEY SPOIL IT, SO THAT IT BE DESOLATE, THAT NO MAN MAY PASS THROUGH BECAUSE OF THE BEASTS:                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:16] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN WERE IN IT, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THEY SHALL DELIVER NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS; THEY ONLY SHALL BE DELIVERED, BUT THE LAND SHALL BE DESOLATE. 
It says that do to the beasts that would come on the land, no-one could pass through it apart from Noah, Daniel, and Job who would save ONLY themselves. What was so special about these three men in the present context" They were all associated with animals.
Noah took representatives of all the animals into the ark.
Daniel was thrown into the lions" den and was not harmed.
Job said that if one was good then he would not be harmed by animals. Job presumably had experience with wild beasts since he lived in a wild frontier area and had vast herds of cattle and camels traversing great distances: Job declared:
  <<AT DESTRUCTION AND FAMINE THOU SHALT LAUGH: NEITHER SHALT THOU BE AFRAID OF THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH [Job 5:22].
            
[Ezekiel 14:17] OR IF I BRING A SWORD UPON THAT LAND, AND SAY, SWORD, GO THROUGH THE LAND; SO THAT I CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT:                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:18] THOUGH THESE THREE MEN WERE IN IT, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD, THEY SHALL DELIVER NEITHER SONS NOR DAUGHTERS, BUT THEY ONLY SHALL BE DELIVERED THEMSELVES. 
The three men in question had apparently saved others as well as themselves.
Noah saved his family and through them all the beasts.
Daniel saved all the wise men of Babylon from being massacred.
Job saved the widow and orphan and indigent and probably many others. Through their own virtue these people had saved others. The verse is saying that things had become so bad that if these men were now present they would not be able to save others but only themselves. From the negative point of this verse we can learn positive ones:  
1. Usually, if you do good, your virtue helps not only yourself but other people as well.
2. We are expected to do what we can to help our fellow man.                
 
[Ezekiel 14:19] OR IF I SEND A PESTILENCE INTO THAT LAND, AND POUR OUT MY FURY UPON IT IN BLOOD, TO CUT OFF FROM IT MAN AND BEAST:                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:20] THOUGH NOAH, DANIEL, AND JOB WERE IN IT, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD,  THEY SHALL DELIVER NEITHER SON NOR DAUGHTER; THEY SHALL BUT DELIVER THEIR OWN SOULS BY THEIR RIGHTEOUSNESS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:21] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; HOW MUCH MORE WHEN I SEND MY FOUR SORE JUDGMENTS UPON JERUSALEM, THE SWORD, AND THE FAMINE, AND THE NOISOME BEAST, AND THE PESTILENCE, TO CUT OFF FROM IT MAN AND BEAST?                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:22] YET, BEHOLD, THEREIN SHALL BE LEFT A REMNANT THAT SHALL BE BROUGHT FORTH, BOTH SONS AND DAUGHTERS: BEHOLD, THEY SHALL COME FORTH UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL SEE THEIR WAY AND  THEIR DOINGS: AND YE SHALL BE COMFORTED CONCERNING THE EVIL THAT I HAVE BROUGHT UPON JERUSALEM, EVEN CONCERNING ALL THAT I HAVE BROUGHT UPON IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 14:23] AND THEY SHALL COMFORT YOU, WHEN YE SEE THEIR WAYS AND THEIR DOINGS: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I HAVE NOT DONE WITHOUT CAUSE ALL THAT I HAVE DONE IN IT, SAITH THE LORD  GOD.
The above verse can be understood several ways. Let us consider one of the plain meanings:
Despite everything God will save a remnant of sons and daughters.
When the actions and mannerisms of those saved are observed it will be understood why all the others were destroyed. This implies that they will still be bad after being saved: Even so, from this remnant the stock of the people is to grow and expand and their descendants will repent and be righteous.
 
 
Ezekiel 15
[Ezekiel 15:1] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 15:2] SON OF MAN, WHAT IS THE VINE TREE MORE THAN ANY TREE, OR THAN A BRANCH WHICH IS AMONG THE TREES OF THE FOREST?     
            Israel is likened to a vine in Psalm 80. The Psalm is actually speaking mainly about the Lost Ten Tribes ("EPHRAIM AND BENJAMIN AND MANASSEH" 80:2) and is worth reading: concerning the vine see verses 80:8-16. The boar who destroys [Psalms 80:13] it is actually Edom. The boar was a favorite symbol amongst early Celtic (especially on the Continent) and Germanic groups. Some of these were of Israelite origin and some were not, though they were related. The gods Essuvus amongst the Celts and some versions of Odin amongst the Germanics actually represent the ancestor-hero Esau.
 
<<GIVE EAR, O SHEPHERD OF ISRAEL, THOU THAT LEADEST JOSEPH LIKE A FLOCK; THOU THAT DWELLEST BETWEEN THE CHERUBIMS, SHINE FORTH.  [Psalms 80:1]                    
<<BEFORE EPHRAIM AND BENJAMIN AND MANASSEH STIR UP THY STRENGTH, AND COME AND SAVE US.   [Psalms 80:2]                   
<<TURN US AGAIN, O GOD, AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE; AND WE SHALL BE SAVED.  [Psalms 80:3]                    
<<O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, HOW LONG WILT THOU BE ANGRY AGAINST THE PRAYER OF THY PEOPLE"   [Psalms 80:4]                   
<<THOU FEEDEST THEM WITH THE BREAD OF TEARS; AND GIVEST THEM TEARS TO DRINK IN GREAT MEASURE. [Psalms 80:5]                     
<<THOU MAKEST US A STRIFE UNTO OUR NEIGHBOURS: AND OUR ENEMIES LAUGH AMONG THEMSELVES.  [Psalms 80:6]                    
<<TURN US AGAIN, O GOD OF HOSTS, AND CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE; AND WE SHALL BE SAVED.   [Psalms 80:7]                   
<<THOU HAST BROUGHT A VINE OUT OF EGYPT: THOU HAST CAST OUT THE HEATHEN, AND  PLANTED IT.  [Psalms 80:8]                    
<<THOU PREPAREDST ROOM BEFORE IT, AND DIDST CAUSE IT TO TAKE DEEP ROOT, AND IT FILLED THE LAND. [Psalms 80:9]                      
<<THE HILLS WERE COVERED WITH THE SHADOW OF IT, AND THE BOUGHS THEREOF WERE LIKE THE GOODLY CEDARS. [Psalms 80:10]                      
<<SHE SENT OUT HER BOUGHS UNTO THE SEA, AND HER BRANCHES UNTO THE RIVER. [Psalms 80:11]                     
<<WHY HAST THOU THEN BROKEN DOWN HER HEDGES, SO THAT ALL THEY WHICH PASS BY THE WAY DO PLUCK HER"  [Psalms 80:12]                    
<<THE BOAR OUT OF THE WOOD DOTH WASTE IT, AND THE WILD BEAST OF THE FIELD DOTH DEVOUR IT.   [Psalms 80:13]                   
<<RETURN, WE BESEECH THEE, O GOD OF HOSTS: LOOK DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND BEHOLD, AND VISIT THIS VINE;  [Psalms 80:14]                    
<<AND THE VINEYARD WHICH THY RIGHT HAND HATH PLANTED, AND THE BRANCH THAT  THOU MADEST STRONG FOR THYSELF. [Psalms 80:15]                     
<<IT IS BURNED WITH FIRE, IT IS CUT DOWN: THEY PERISH AT THE REBUKE OF THY COUNTENANCE.  [Psalms 80:16]                    
<<LET THY HAND BE UPON THE MAN OF THY RIGHT HAND, UPON THE SON OF MAN  WHOM THOU MADEST STRONG FOR THYSELF. [Psalms 80:17]                     
<<SO WILL NOT WE GO BACK FROM THEE: QUICKEN US, AND WE WILL CALL UPON THY NAME.  [Psalms 80:18]                    
<<TURN US AGAIN, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS, CAUSE THY FACE TO SHINE; AND WE  SHALL BE SAVED>>.  [Psalms 80:19]                    
               
 
 [Ezekiel 15:3] SHALL WOOD BE TAKEN THEREOF TO DO ANY WORK? OR WILL MEN TAKE A PIN OF IT TO HANG ANY VESSEL THEREON? 
The grapevine is technically a tree. If the vine produces grapes then it is highly valued and this is the purpose for cultivating it. If the vine does not fulfill its purpose then it is useless, just a troublesome weed. Even for the most simple things, such as making a "pin" (i.e. peg or hook) to hang things on, its wood is useless since it is weak and unmanageable. Same thing for human beings, same thing for nations: We all have our task in this world. Equality means doing our own thing and not that of someone else.                   
 
[Ezekiel 15:4] BEHOLD, IT IS CAST INTO THE FIRE FOR FUEL; THE FIRE DEVOURETH BOTH THE ENDS OF IT, AND THE MIDST OF IT IS BURNED. IS IT MEET FOR ANY WORK?                     
 
[Ezekiel 15:5] BEHOLD, WHEN IT WAS WHOLE, IT WAS MEET FOR NO WORK: HOW MUCH LESS SHALL IT BE MEET YET FOR ANY WORK, WHEN THE FIRE HATH DEVOURED IT, AND IT IS BURNED?                     
The point is that to some degree we all have our own unique task in life. We have to do what we can with what we have as we are. We cannot look at other people and say that since they are getting along with what they are so should we do the same. Some people have been called to do certain things and this is why they were placed on this earth. A good doctor would not necessarily succeed if he had to do the job of a plumber and vice versa.
As it is with individuals so it is with nations.
The nation of Israel has its own unique task.
The Ten Tribes have their task, Joseph amongst the tribes also has its unique goal.
Judah has its obligation and the national proclivity that should enable it to fulfill itself.
Even if you belief in Judaism that does not necessarily mean that you have to become Jewish.
Maybe God wants you to stay amongst "Joseph" and fulfill the purpose of your life in service to other Lost Israelites"
It is not always easy to know what one"s purpose should be in this world but we can do our best and God will guide us.
 
[Ezekiel 15:6] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; AS THE VINE TREE AMONG THE TREES OF THE FOREST, WHICH I HAVE GIVEN TO THE FIRE FOR FUEL, SO WILL I GIVE THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 15:7] AND I WILL SET MY FACE AGAINST THEM; THEY SHALL GO OUT FROM ONE FIRE, AND ANOTHER FIRE SHALL DEVOUR THEM; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, WHEN I SET MY FACE AGAINST THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 15:8] AND I WILL MAKE THE LAND DESOLATE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE COMMITTED A TRESPASS, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
On the simple level the Prophet is speaking to the inhabitants of Jerusalem just before the destruction of the First temple by the Babylonians. Because the people had sinned and had not fulfilled their national obligation their Land would be destroyed, many would be killed, and the remainder exiled to other places. On the prophetic level the prophet is referring to all Israel and warning us (you and I together) to improve our ways for our own sake and the sake of others.

Exekiel chs. 6 to 10

Exekiel chs. 16 to 20