The Order of Return in Ezekiel

Exekiel chs. 6 to 10 





Ezekiel 1 to 5

Vison of the Holy Chariot ("Mercabah") representing the Divine Presence that was departing from Jerusalem when the Temple was being destroyed.
Ezekiel is commanded to speak to the Rebellious "House of Israel". Ezekiel receives the obligation of Prophecy. Jerusalem shall be punished for 40 days, the House of Israel for 390 days. Famine is predicted.
Two Thirds of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and later two-thirds of all Israelites (?) will perish. There is an obligation to keep the Law.



The Book of Ezekiel

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 Chapters 1 to 5 


A Brit-Am
Biblical Commentary



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Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Summary of Individual Chapters:
Chapter 1: Vison of the Holy Chariot ("Mercabah") representing the Divine Presence that was departing from Jerusalem when the Temple was being destroyed

Chapter 2: What is a "son of man". Ezekiel is commanded to speak to the Rebellious "House of Israel".

Chapter 3: Ezekiel receives the obligation of Prophecy.

Chapter 4: Jerusalem shall be punished for 40 days, the House of Israel for 390 days. Famine is predicted.

Chapter 5: Two Thrids of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and later two-thirds of all Israelites (?) will perish. There is an obligation to keep the Law.


Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Ezekiel 1 to 5
Chapter 1: Historical Background:
            King Hezekiah was a righteous monarch. In the time of Hezekiah the last of the Ten Tribes and part of Judah were exiled by the Assyrians. These exiles became the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. Hezekiah was followed by his son,
Menasseh, who was wicked but later repented. After Menasseh came Ammon who was also bad. The son of Ammon was Josiah who was good. King Josiah attempted to reform Judah and also worked for a reconciliation with the Lost Ten Tribes in their places of exile. Josiah attempted to bring part of the Ten Tribes back and was partially successful on a temporary basis. When he died those few of the Ten Tribes who had returned and tried to resettle their former lands abandoned the project and returned to their kinfolk amongst the Scythians in the north.  King Josiah had been killed fighting the Ruler of Egypt on behalf of the Scythian Israelites. Eisemann says that if Josiah had have lived he may have averted the final calamity.
cf. <<THE BREATH OF OUR NOSTRILS, THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD, WAS TAKEN IN THEIR PITS, OF WHOM WE SAID, UNDER HIS SHADOW WE SHALL LIVE AMONG THE HEATHEN  [Lamentations 4:20].
            At the death of Josiah his son
Jehoahaz ruled for three months after which Pharoah of Egypt deposed him, then reigned his brother, Jehoiakim son of Josiah. After eleven years Jehoiakim was taken into captivity to Babylon. Jehoiakin (son of Jehoiakim) then reigned for three months when he too was taken to Babylon together with the elite elements of Jerusalem. Only the lowly people of the land remained. They were ruled over by King Zedekiah son of Josiah, brother of Jehoiakim and uncle of Jehoiakin. Zedekiah also ruled for eleven years. He rebelled more than once against Babylon. Consequently Jerusalem was completely destroyed and most of the rest of Judah exiled.
 

[Ezekiel 1:1] NOW IT CAME TO PASS IN THE THIRTIETH YEAR, IN THE FOURTH MONTH, IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH, AS I WAS AMONG THE CAPTIVES BY THE RIVER OF CHEBAR, THAT THE HEAVENS WERE OPENED, AND I SAW VISIONS OF GOD.   
            Eisemann points out that Prophetic books start out with the time of the prophecy given since events of the time determined the nature of the prophecy. This holds even though the full import of the message was for the distant future.  Ezekiel was with those captives of Judah who had been taken into exile with Jehoiakin.  According to tradition Ezekiel had received the gift of prophecy while still in the Land of Israel even though his book begins with his being in the land of Babylon.
            "THE RIVER OF
CHEBAR": Some say "Chebar" is another name for the River Euphrates. Others say that it was actually a large irrigation channel or a branch of the Euphrates that had been converted into an irrigation channel.  At that time the irrigation works of Mesopotamia (Iraq) were very sophisticated and superior to those now in use in modern Iraq.          
 
[Ezekiel 1:2] IN THE FIFTH DAY OF THE MONTH, WHICH WAS THE FIFTH YEAR OF KING JEHOIACHIN'S CAPTIVITY,                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:3] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME EXPRESSLY UNTO EZEKIEL THE PRIEST, THE SON OF BUZI, IN THE LAND OF THE CHALDEANS BY THE RIVER CHEBAR; AND THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS THERE UPON HIM.                     

[Ezekiel 1:4] AND I LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, A WHIRLWIND CAME OUT OF THE NORTH, A GREAT CLOUD, AND A FIRE INFOLDING ITSELF, AND A BRIGHTNESS WAS ABOUT IT, AND OUT OF THE MIDST THEREOF AS THE COLOUR OF AMBER, OUT OF THE MIDST OF THE FIRE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:5] ALSO OUT OF THE MIDST THEREOF CAME THE LIKENESS OF FOUR LIVING CREATURES. AND THIS WAS THEIR APPEARANCE; THEY HAD THE LIKENESS OF A MAN.  
This whole section has been given philosophical and mystical interpretations all of which we can learn from. In the meantime for our part we must recognize that at our present level the deeper meaning behind this passage is beyond our ken. For the time being do not dwell on the deeper meaning of this vision just take it in as a general impression and move onward to simpler passages.
"THEY HAD THE LIKENESS OF A MAN" i.e. they had the physical form of a man but only one of the four faces was that of a man.

 
 [Ezekiel 1:6] AND EVERY ONE HAD FOUR FACES, AND EVERY ONE HAD FOUR WINGS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:7] AND THEIR FEET WERE STRAIGHT FEET; AND THE SOLE OF THEIR FEET WAS LIKE THE SOLE OF A CALF'S FOOT: AND THEY SPARKLED LIKE THE COLOUR OF BURNISHED BRASS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:8] AND THEY HAD THE HANDS OF A MAN UNDER THEIR WINGS ON THEIR FOUR SIDES; AND THEY FOUR HAD THEIR FACES AND THEIR WINGS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:9] THEIR WINGS WERE JOINED ONE TO ANOTHER; THEY TURNED NOT WHEN THEY WENT; THEY WENT EVERY ONE STRAIGHT FORWARD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:10] AS FOR THE LIKENESS OF THEIR FACES, THEY FOUR HAD THE FACE OF A MAN, AND THE FACE OF A LION, ON THE RIGHT SIDE: AND THEY FOUR HAD THE FACE OF AN OX ON THE LEFT SIDE; THEY FOUR ALSO HAD THE FACE OF AN EAGLE.
There were four angels and each angel had four faces.                    
 
[Ezekiel 1:11] THUS WERE THEIR FACES: AND THEIR WINGS WERE STRETCHED UPWARD; TWO WINGS OF EVERY ONE WERE JOINED ONE TO ANOTHER, AND TWO COVERED THEIR BODIES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:12] AND THEY WENT EVERY ONE STRAIGHT FORWARD: WHITHER THE SPIRIT WAS TO GO, THEY WENT; AND THEY TURNED NOT WHEN THEY WENT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:13] AS FOR THE LIKENESS OF THE LIVING CREATURES, THEIR APPEARANCE WAS LIKE BURNING COALS OF FIRE, AND LIKE THE APPEARANCE OF LAMPS: IT WENT UP AND DOWN AMONG THE LIVING CREATURES; AND THE FIRE WAS BRIGHT, AND OUT OF THE FIRE WENT FORTH LIGHTNING.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:14] AND THE LIVING CREATURES RAN AND RETURNED AS THE APPEARANCE OF A FLASH OF LIGHTNING.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:15] NOW AS I BEHELD THE LIVING CREATURES, BEHOLD ONE WHEEL UPON THE EARTH BY THE LIVING CREATURES, WITH HIS FOUR FACES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:16] THE APPEARANCE OF THE WHEELS AND THEIR WORK WAS LIKE UNTO THE COLOUR OF A BERYL: AND THEY FOUR HAD ONE LIKENESS: AND THEIR APPEARANCE AND THEIR WORK WAS AS IT WERE A WHEEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A WHEEL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:17] WHEN THEY WENT, THEY WENT UPON THEIR FOUR SIDES: AND THEY TURNED NOT WHEN THEY WENT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:18] AS FOR THEIR RINGS, THEY WERE SO HIGH THAT THEY WERE DREADFUL; AND THEIR RINGS WERE FULL OF EYES ROUND ABOUT THEM FOUR.  
"RINGS" the word translated as "rings" more properly should be rendered as "backs".                  
 
[Ezekiel 1:19] AND WHEN THE LIVING CREATURES WENT, THE WHEELS WENT BY THEM: AND WHEN THE LIVING CREATURES WERE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, THE WHEELS WERE LIFTED UP.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:20] WHITHERSOEVER THE SPIRIT WAS TO GO, THEY WENT, THITHER WAS THEIR SPIRIT TO GO; AND THE WHEELS WERE LIFTED UP OVER AGAINST THEM: FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING CREATURE WAS IN THE WHEELS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:21] WHEN THOSE WENT, THESE WENT; AND WHEN THOSE STOOD, THESE STOOD; AND WHEN THOSE WERE LIFTED UP FROM THE EARTH, THE WHEELS WERE LIFTED UP OVER AGAINST THEM: FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING CREATURE WAS IN THE WHEELS.
"LIVING CREATURE" is "Chayah"; "Wheel" is "Ofen".    "Chayah" and "Ofen" are considered to be the names of different grades of angels. When loked at in this light the passage receives a different aspect, i.e. there were two grades of angels and the higher grade transmitted power to the lower.               
 
[Ezekiel 1:22] AND THE LIKENESS OF THE FIRMAMENT UPON THE HEADS OF THE LIVING CREATURE WAS AS THE COLOUR OF THE TERRIBLE CRYSTAL, STRETCHED FORTH OVER THEIR HEADS ABOVE.
 "CRYSTAL" in Hebrew "Korach" also translated as "Ice"                    
 
[Ezekiel 1:23] AND UNDER THE FIRMAMENT WERE THEIR WINGS STRAIGHT, THE ONE TOWARD THE OTHER: EVERY ONE HAD TWO, WHICH COVERED ON THIS SIDE, AND EVERY ONE HAD TWO, WHICH COVERED ON THAT SIDE, THEIR BODIES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:24] AND WHEN THEY WENT, I HEARD THE NOISE OF THEIR WINGS, LIKE THE NOISE OF GREAT WATERS, AS THE VOICE OF THE ALMIGHTY, THE VOICE OF SPEECH, AS THE NOISE OF AN HOST: WHEN THEY STOOD, THEY LET DOWN THEIR WINGS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:25] AND THERE WAS A VOICE FROM THE FIRMAMENT THAT WAS OVER THEIR HEADS, WHEN THEY STOOD, AND HAD LET DOWN THEIR WINGS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:26] AND ABOVE THE FIRMAMENT THAT WAS OVER THEIR HEADS WAS THE LIKENESS OF A THRONE, AS THE APPEARANCE OF A SAPPHIRE STONE: AND UPON THE LIKENESS OF THE THRONE WAS THE LIKENESS AS THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN ABOVE UPON IT.
"LIKENESS AS THE APPEARANCE OF A MAN": God has no form and it is forbidden to ascribe form to God.
<<I AM THE LORD THY GOD, WHICH HAVE BROUGHT THEE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, OUT OF THE HOUSE OF BONDAGE.                     
<THOU
SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.                     
<<THOU
SHALT NOT MAKE UNTO THEE ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, OR ANY LIKENESS OF ANY THING THAT IS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, OR THAT IS IN THE EARTH BENEATH, OR THAT IS IN THE WATER UNDER  THE EARTH [Exodus 20:-2-4].                     
  Nevertheless this "Likeness" in the vision of Ezekiel somehow or other represented the Divine Presence of God that was departing from Jerusalem when the Temple was being destroyed.                    
 
[Ezekiel 1:27] AND I SAW AS THE COLOUR OF AMBER, AS THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE ROUND ABOUT WITHIN IT, FROM THE APPEARANCE OF HIS LOINS EVEN UPWARD, AND FROM THE APPEARANCE OF HIS LOINS EVEN DOWNWARD, I SAW AS IT WERE THE APPEARANCE OF FIRE, AND IT HAD BRIGHTNESS ROUND ABOUT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 1:28] AS THE APPEARANCE OF THE BOW THAT IS IN THE CLOUD IN THE DAY OF RAIN, SO WAS THE APPEARANCE OF THE BRIGHTNESS ROUND ABOUT. THIS WAS THE APPEARANCE OF THE LIKENESS OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD. AND WHEN I SAW IT, I FELL UPON MY FACE, AND I HEARD A VOICE OF ONE THAT SPAKE.                     
 
 Chapter 2
[Ezekiel 2:1] AND HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, STAND UPON THY FEET, AND I WILL SPEAK UNTO  THEE.                     
"SON OF MAN" in Hebrew "Ben-Adam".  The expression "son of" can also denote "belonging to the category of".
The basic instincts of a being include:
1. Survival
2. Procreation
3. Self-expression either at the individual level or as part of the group.
A person tries to reconcile these three basic instincts and fulfill all of them at once. At all events the third category of self-expression is the highest and the one we all ultimately yearn after in some way. The Prophet is a person who has reached the highest plane a human being can strive for. He has fulfilled the definition of "man" at its highest level. He is a "son of man".

 
[Ezekiel 2:2] AND THE SPIRIT ENTERED INTO ME WHEN HE SPAKE UNTO ME, AND SET ME UPON MY FEET, THAT I HEARD HIM THAT SPAKE UNTO ME.                     
He spoke through the spirit but in most such cases he would have had to achieve a high level previously through his own efforts.
 
[Ezekiel 2:3] AND HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, I SEND THEE TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, TO A  REBELLIOUS NATION THAT HATH REBELLED AGAINST ME: THEY AND THEIR FATHERS HAVE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST ME, EVEN UNTO THIS VERY DAY. 
"CHILDREN OF ISRAEL" in most of the Prophets it is usually clear whether "Judah" is being addressed or the Ten Tribes of "Israel" or both together. With Ezekiel this is not so. In some cases Ezekiel uses the expression "Israel" when he appears to be only addressing Judah. 
 "TO A REBELLIOUS NATION" in Hebrew it says "al Goyim
HaMordim" i.e. "to Rebellious Peoples" in the plural. The People of Israel are referred to as  "Rebellious Peoples".                
 
[Ezekiel 2:4] FOR THEY ARE IMPUDENT CHILDREN AND STIFFHEARTED. I DO SEND THEE UNTO THEM; AND THOU SHALT SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 2:5] AND THEY, WHETHER THEY WILL HEAR, OR WHETHER THEY WILL FORBEAR, (FOR THEY ARE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE,) YET SHALL KNOW THAT THERE HATH BEEN A PROPHET AMONG THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 2:6] AND THOU, SON OF MAN, BE NOT AFRAID OF THEM, NEITHER BE AFRAID OF THEIR WORDS, THOUGH BRIERS AND THORNS BE WITH THEE, AND THOU DOST DWELL AMONG SCORPIONS: BE NOT AFRAID OF THEIR WORDS, NOR BE DISMAYED AT THEIR LOOKS, THOUGH THEY BE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 2:7] AND THOU SHALT SPEAK MY WORDS UNTO THEM, WHETHER THEY WILL HEAR, OR WHETHER THEY WILL FORBEAR: FOR THEY ARE MOST REBELLIOUS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 2:8] BUT THOU, SON OF MAN, HEAR WHAT I SAY UNTO THEE; BE NOT THOU REBELLIOUS LIKE THAT REBELLIOUS HOUSE: OPEN THY MOUTH, AND EAT THAT I GIVE THEE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 2:9] AND WHEN I LOOKED, BEHOLD, AN HAND WAS SENT UNTO ME; AND, LO, A ROLL OF A BOOK WAS THEREIN;                     
 
[Ezekiel 2:10] AND HE SPREAD IT BEFORE ME; AND IT WAS WRITTEN WITHIN AND WITHOUT: AND THERE  WAS WRITTEN THEREIN LAMENTATIONS, AND MOURNING, AND WOE.
 
Chapter 3
 [Ezekiel 3:1] MOREOVER HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, EAT THAT THOU FINDEST; EAT THIS ROLL, AND GO SPEAK UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:2] SO I OPENED MY MOUTH, AND HE CAUSED ME TO EAT THAT ROLL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:3] AND HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, CAUSE THY BELLY TO EAT, AND FILL THY BOWELS WITH THIS ROLL THAT I GIVE THEE. THEN DID I EAT IT; AND IT WAS IN MY MOUTH AS HONEY FOR SWEETNESS.
On the one hand Ezekiel (as we shall see) was bitter and distraught about the impending destruction of the Temple and about the disasters he would have to predict concerning Judah. One the other hand he was being revealed the truth. He was also to prophecy concerning the future redemption and reconciliation. The spirit of the Almighty entered into him and he felt a great strength. This was the sweetness.
The Commentator "
Metzudot David" says that the commandment to eat the scroll should not be understood literally. Ezekiel was commanded to study and absorb it and make it part of himself.                   
 
[Ezekiel 3:4] AND HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, GO, GET THEE UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND SPEAK WITH MY WORDS UNTO THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:5] FOR THOU ART NOT SENT TO A PEOPLE OF A STRANGE SPEECH AND OF AN HARD LANGUAGE, BUT TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL;                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:6] NOT TO MANY PEOPLE OF A STRANGE SPEECH AND OF AN HARD LANGUAGE, WHOSE WORDS THOU CANST NOT UNDERSTAND. SURELY, HAD I SENT THEE TO THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE HEARKENED UNTO THEE.   
If there had been a willingness to listen and understand the message would have beeen received.                   
 
[Ezekiel 3:7] BUT THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO THEE; FOR THEY WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO ME: FOR ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL ARE IMPUDENT AND HARDHEARTED.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:8] BEHOLD, I HAVE MADE THY FACE STRONG AGAINST THEIR FACES, AND THY FOREHEAD STRONG AGAINST THEIR FOREHEADS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:9] AS AN ADAMANT HARDER THAN FLINT HAVE I MADE THY FOREHEAD: FEAR THEM NOT, NEITHER BE DISMAYED AT THEIR LOOKS, THOUGH THEY BE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:10] MOREOVER HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, ALL MY WORDS THAT I SHALL SPEAK UNTO THEE RECEIVE IN THINE HEART, AND HEAR WITH THINE EARS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:11] AND GO, GET THEE TO THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY, UNTO THE CHILDREN OF THY PEOPLE, AND SPEAK UNTO THEM, AND TELL THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; WHETHER THEY WILL HEAR, OR WHETHER THEY WILL FORBEAR.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:12] THEN THE SPIRIT TOOK ME UP, AND I HEARD BEHIND ME A VOICE OF A GREAT RUSHING, SAYING, BLESSED BE THE GLORY OF THE LORD FROM HIS PLACE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:13] I HEARD ALSO THE NOISE OF THE WINGS OF THE LIVING CREATURES THAT TOUCHED ONE ANOTHER, AND THE NOISE OF THE WHEELS OVER AGAINST THEM, AND A NOISE OF A GREAT RUSHING.
It was as if he had a flashback to his previous vision about the Divine Chariot  and was once more in the presence of angels.                  

[Ezekiel 3:14] SO THE SPIRIT LIFTED ME UP, AND TOOK ME AWAY, AND I WENT IN BITTERNESS, IN THE HEAT OF MY SPIRIT; BUT THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS STRONG UPON ME.   
  "I WENT IN BITTERNESS": Ezekiel was upset abut the situation. He may have been depressed. Maimonides once quoted Aristotle to the effect that all great men have a tendency towards depression. Even the bad qualities that we have are often good ones that we are not utilizing properly.               
 
[Ezekiel 3:15] THEN I CAME TO THEM OF THE CAPTIVITY AT TELABIB, THAT DWELT BY THE RIVER OF CHEBAR, AND I SAT WHERE THEY SAT, AND REMAINED THERE ASTONISHED AMONG THEM SEVEN DAYS.  

"TELABIB" pronounced as Tel Aviv. The name literally means "The Hill of Spring". Theodore Herzl (1860-1904)

was one of the primary founders of the Zionist Movement in its modern form. He wrote a book called Altneuland (Old New Land, 1902). This was translated into Hebrew as "Tell Aviv". Later the name was given to a Jewish settlement besides the Port of Jaffa. The settlement later became the largest city in the  State of Israel. When I first came to Israel I used to enjoy visiting Tel Aviv. Nowadays I keep away or make my visits short. It is still a nice sea-side city and worth visiting but I prefer other parts of Israel.                 
 
[Ezekiel 3:16] AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF SEVEN DAYS, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:17] SON OF MAN, I HAVE MADE THEE A WATCHMAN UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: THEREFORE HEAR THE WORD AT MY MOUTH, AND GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:18] WHEN I SAY UNTO THE WICKED, THOU SHALT SURELY DIE; AND THOU GIVEST HIM NOT WARNING, NOR SPEAKEST TO WARN THE WICKED FROM HIS WICKED WAY, TO SAVE HIS LIFE; THE SAME WICKED MAN SHALL DIE IN HIS INIQUITY; BUT HIS BLOOD WILL I REQUIRE AT THINE HAND.  
The person who sins will be punished for his sin.
 If however you have the wherewithal to effectually rebuke the sinner and perhaps cause him to repent and you do not use this gift then you too will be punished. We are to be held accountable not only for the bad we did but also but the good we could have done and did not do it. 
                 
 
[Ezekiel 3:19] YET IF THOU WARN THE WICKED, AND HE TURN NOT FROM HIS WICKEDNESS, NOR FROM HIS WICKED WAY, HE SHALL DIE IN HIS INIQUITY; BUT THOU HAST DELIVERED THY SOUL. 
You may not be successful in trying to help others reform themselves but at least you will have fulfilled your duty. It will not be your fault in any way.                    
 
[Ezekiel 3:20] AGAIN, WHEN A RIGHTEOUS MAN DOTH TURN FROM HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND COMMIT INIQUITY, AND I LAY A STUMBLING-BLOCK BEFORE HIM, HE SHALL DIE: BECAUSE THOU HAST NOT GIVEN HIM WARNING, HE SHALL DIE IN HIS SIN, AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HE HATH DONE SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED; BUT HIS BLOOD WILL I REQUIRE AT THINE HAND.
 "HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH HE HATH DONE SHALL NOT BE REMEMBERED": The Sages said that according to its plain meaning this is not exactly so. They say that a person gets rewarded for his good deeds and punished for his bad ones. One does not exactly wipe out the other though good deeds can cause the punishment for bad ones to be mitigated, changed for the better, or put aside. When therefore does the above verse apply" When a person regrets the good deeds he has done, then his righteousness will not be remembered.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:21] NEVERTHELESS IF THOU WARN THE RIGHTEOUS MAN, THAT THE RIGHTEOUS SIN NOT, AND HE DOTH NOT SIN, HE SHALL SURELY LIVE, BECAUSE HE IS WARNED; ALSO THOU HAST DELIVERED THY SOUL.
Even righteous people can slip up and need to be constantly warned to look out for themselves.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:22] AND THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS THERE UPON ME; AND HE SAID UNTO ME, ARISE, GO FORTH INTO THE PLAIN, AND I WILL THERE TALK WITH THEE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:23] THEN I AROSE, AND WENT FORTH INTO THE PLAIN: AND, BEHOLD, THE GLORY OF THE LORD STOOD THERE, AS THE GLORY WHICH I SAW BY THE RIVER OF CHEBAR: AND I FELL ON MY FACE. 
"WENT FORTH INTO THE PLAIN": The Radak(Kimchi) suggests that this was the same plain mentioned in Genesis 11:
<<AND THE WHOLE EARTH WAS OF ONE LANGUAGE, AND OF ONE SPEECH.                     
<<AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THEY JOURNEYED FROM THE EAST, THAT THEY FOUND A  PLAIN IN THE LAND OF SHINAR; AND THEY DWELT THERE [Genesis 11:1-2]. 
They then built the Tower of Babylon (Babel) and consequently had their languages confused and were scattered over the fact of the earth. Something similar was about to happen to the Children of Israel (especially to Judah) and Ezekiel was about to prophesy about it.    
                
                  
"AS THE GLORY WHICH I SAW BY THE RIVER OF CHEBAR": Once more he saw the vision of the Divine Chariot as he had done by the River Chebar. The Divine presence was leaving Jerusalem and going into Exile.

[Ezekiel 3:24] THEN THE SPIRIT ENTERED INTO ME, AND SET ME UPON MY FEET, AND SPAKE WITH ME, AND SAID UNTO ME, GO, SHUT THYSELF WITHIN THINE HOUSE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:25] BUT THOU, O SON OF MAN, BEHOLD, THEY SHALL PUT BANDS UPON THEE, AND SHALL BIND THEE WITH THEM, AND THOU SHALT NOT GO OUT AMONG THEM:                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:26] AND I WILL MAKE THY TONGUE CLEAVE TO THE ROOF OF THY MOUTH, THAT THOU SHALT BE DUMB, AND SHALT NOT BE TO THEM A REPROVER: FOR THEY ARE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE.
Ezekiel was commanded to go into his house and regard himself as if he was a prisoner who could not leave and a dumb person who could not speak, until God would give him the message and send him to speak.                     
 
[Ezekiel 3:27] BUT WHEN I SPEAK WITH THEE, I WILL OPEN THY MOUTH, AND THOU SHALT SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; HE THAT HEARETH, LET HIM HEAR; AND HE THAT FORBEARETH, LET HIM FORBEAR: FOR THEY ARE A REBELLIOUS HOUSE.                     
 
Chapter 4
[Ezekiel 4:1] THOU ALSO, SON OF MAN, TAKE THEE A TILE, AND LAY IT BEFORE THEE, AND PORTRAY  UPON IT THE CITY, EVEN JERUSALEM:                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:2] AND LAY SIEGE AGAINST IT, AND BUILD A FORT AGAINST IT, AND CAST A MOUNT AGAINST IT; SET THE CAMP ALSO AGAINST IT, AND SET BATTERING RAMS AGAINST IT ROUND ABOUT.
            Ezekiel was told to do a physical action that would symbolize a larger event. Reversely we should realize that even small physical things that we do can have great significance on a spiritual level.                    
 
[Ezekiel 4:3] MOREOVER TAKE THOU UNTO THEE AN IRON PAN, AND SET IT FOR A WALL OF IRON BETWEEN THEE AND THE CITY: AND SET THY FACE AGAINST IT, AND IT SHALL BE BESIEGED, AND THOU SHALT LAY SIEGE AGAINST IT. THIS SHALL BE A SIGN TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
<<THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL: here "House of Israel" is referring to the northern ten-tribed kingdom.                   
 
[Ezekiel 4:4] LIE THOU ALSO UPON THY LEFT SIDE, AND LAY THE INIQUITY OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL UPON IT: ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS THAT THOU SHALT LIE UPON IT THOU SHALT BEAR THEIR  INIQUITY. 
 <<UPON THY LEFT SIDE: In Hebrew "left" is "smal" which also connotes "north", i.e. the "House of Israel" of the Ten tribes was to the north of Judah. A clan of Gad was known as "Tsifion" which can also mean "north": <<AND THE SONS OF GAD; ZIPHION>> [Genesis 46:16].   We have suggested that  "Tsifion" populated the area known as "Smal" in north Syria adjoining the Dananu of Dan and the Yadi of Judah.  Similarly the important province of Smaland (Smal-land) in Sweden also relates to Ziphion of Gad.            
 
[Ezekiel 4:5] FOR I HAVE LAID UPON THEE THE YEARS OF THEIR INIQUITY, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER  OF THE DAYS, THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS: SO SHALT THOU BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:6] AND WHEN THOU HAST ACCOMPLISHED THEM, LIE AGAIN ON THY RIGHT SIDE, AND THOU SHALT BEAR THE INIQUITY OF THE HOUSE OF JUDAH FORTY DAYS: I HAVE APPOINTED THEE EACH DAY FOR  A YEAR.
390 days for northern Israel.
40 days for Judah.
Commentators have offered various explanations for these numbers. They usually translate them into years saying that 390 days = 390 years and 40 days = 40 years. They also try to explain them in terms of historical events and processes that took place before the time of Ezekiel. These explanations are not convincing to us. Ezekiel was prophesying concerning the future. The days may really only be "days" and not years and the solution (at least in its full sense) is most likely yet to come.   
                 
 
[Ezekiel 4:7] THEREFORE THOU SHALT SET THY FACE TOWARD THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM, AND THINE ARM SHALL BE UNCOVERED, AND THOU SHALT PROPHESY AGAINST IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:8] AND, BEHOLD, I WILL LAY BANDS UPON THEE, AND THOU SHALT NOT TURN THEE FROM ONE  SIDE TO ANOTHER, TILL THOU HAST ENDED THE DAYS OF THY SIEGE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:9] TAKE THOU ALSO UNTO THEE WHEAT, AND BARLEY, AND BEANS, AND LENTILES, AND  MILLET, AND FITCHES, AND PUT THEM IN ONE VESSEL, AND MAKE THEE BREAD THEREOF, ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF THE DAYS THAT THOU SHALT LIE UPON THY SIDE, THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY DAYS  SHALT THOU EAT THEREOF.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:10] AND THY MEAT WHICH THOU SHALT EAT SHALL BE BY WEIGHT, TWENTY SHEKELS A DAY: FROM TIME TO TIME SHALT THOU EAT IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:11] THOU SHALT DRINK ALSO WATER BY MEASURE, THE SIXTH PART OF AN HIN: FROM TIME TO  TIME SHALT THOU DRINK.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:12] AND THOU SHALT EAT IT AS BARLEY CAKES, AND THOU SHALT BAKE IT WITH DUNG THAT COMETH OUT OF MAN, IN THEIR SIGHT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:13] AND THE LORD SAID, EVEN THUS SHALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL EAT THEIR DEFILED BREAD AMONG THE GENTILES, WHITHER I WILL DRIVE THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:14] THEN SAID I, AH LORD GOD! BEHOLD, MY SOUL HATH NOT BEEN POLLUTED: FOR FROM  MY YOUTH UP EVEN TILL NOW HAVE I NOT EATEN OF THAT WHICH DIETH OF ITSELF, OR IS TORN IN PIECES;  NEITHER CAME THERE ABOMINABLE FLESH INTO MY MOUTH.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:15] THEN HE SAID UNTO ME, LO, I HAVE GIVEN THEE COW'S DUNG FOR MAN'S DUNG, AND THOU SHALT PREPARE THY BREAD THEREWITH.                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:16] MOREOVER HE SAID UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, BEHOLD, I WILL BREAK THE STAFF OF BREAD IN JERUSALEM: AND THEY SHALL EAT BREAD BY WEIGHT, AND WITH CARE; AND THEY SHALL DRINK  WATER BY MEASURE, AND WITH ASTONISHMENT:                     
 
[Ezekiel 4:17] THAT THEY MAY WANT BREAD AND WATER, AND BE ASTONISHED ONE WITH ANOTHER, AND CONSUME AWAY FOR THEIR INIQUITY.

Chapter 5
[Ezekiel 5:1] AND THOU, SON OF MAN, TAKE THEE A SHARP KNIFE, TAKE THEE A BARBER'S RAZOR, AND CAUSE IT TO PASS UPON THINE HEAD AND UPON THY BEARD: THEN TAKE THEE BALANCES TO WEIGH, AND DIVIDE THE HAIR.  
"THEE BALANCES TO WEIGH, AND DIVIDE THE HAIR: One opinion says this is figurative and that they did not have such sensitive scales in those days. I however would hesitate to underestimate the technological capability of the Ancient Israelites and neighboring peoples at some stages. This aspect of weighing was seen (Breuer) to emphasize the Divine Providence in the events predicted as against mere caprice.
                  
 [Ezekiel 5:2] THOU SHALT BURN WITH FIRE A THIRD PART IN THE MIDST OF THE CITY, WHEN THE DAYS OF THE SIEGE ARE FULFILLED: AND THOU SHALT TAKE A THIRD PART, AND SMITE ABOUT IT WITH A KNIFE: AND A THIRD PART THOU SHALT SCATTER IN THE WIND; AND I WILL DRAW OUT A SWORD AFTER THEM.  
Ezekiel is referring to the fate of Jerusalem on the simple level.   One third destroyed within the city, another third in the area around about, and the last third scattered and exiled. A similar use of dividing into threes concerning a coming calamity was found in Zechariah. Compare the verses and our commentary there:
 
<< AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN ALL THE LAND, SAITH THE LORD, TWO PARTS THEREIN SHALL BE CUT OFF AND DIE; BUT THE THIRD SHALL BE LEFT THEREIN.                     
<< AND I WILL BRING THE THIRD PART THROUGH THE FIRE, AND WILL REFINE THEM AS SILVER IS REFINED, AND WILL TRY THEM AS GOLD IS TRIED: THEY SHALL CALL ON MY NAME, AND I WILL HEAR THEM: I WILL SAY, IT IS MY PEOPLE: AND THEY SHALL SAY, THE LORD IS MY GOD  [Zechariah 13:8-9].
            The general explanation suggested is that some calamity will occur. Two-thirds of the
world"s people (including, by implication, two-thirds of the Israelites") will perish. Part of the remaining third of non-Israelites and Israelites by descent will then accept the faith of Israel and identify as Israelites BUT then will come the troubles of Gog and Magog. There will be persecutions and the threat of extinction. Most of the non-Israelites who accepted the Israelite faith will back out and it will be mainly those of Israelite descent who remain attached to Israelite religion.
              
 [Ezekiel 5:3] THOU SHALT ALSO TAKE THEREOF A FEW IN NUMBER, AND BIND THEM IN THY SKIRTS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:4] THEN TAKE OF THEM AGAIN, AND CAST THEM INTO THE MIDST OF THE FIRE, AND BURN  THEM IN THE FIRE; FOR THEREOF SHALL A FIRE COME FORTH INTO ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.
Here the indication is that the prophecy concerns all the House of Israel (i.e. including the Ten Tribes) but the specifics seem to indicate primarily Jerusalem of Judah.                   
 
[Ezekiel 5:5] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THIS IS JERUSALEM: I HAVE SET IT IN THE MIDST OF THE NATIONS AND COUNTRIES THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT HER.  
 
"I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land"
William Blake (1757-1827)

 
 Is "JERUSALEM" always the literal Jerusalem in Scripture" It can also represent Judah in general. But can "JERUSALEM" in some contexts be also applicable to the Lost Ten Tribes" Just when I was considering this question I received in the mail a booklet from British Israel in the UK. It contains a review by Michael A. Clark of a book titled "New Jerusalem" by Adrian Gilbert. "New Jerusalem" means London. In 1666 there was the Great Fire of London after which part of the city had to be rebuilt. According to Mr. Clark (reviewing "New Jerusalem" by Adrian Gilbert):
            "Sir Christopher Wren, who was a leading figure in the newly formed Royal Society, led the group charged with this task [of designing the rebuilding of London] by Charles II. The direction that the rebuilding of this new city took was entirely shaped by the mystical and scientific beliefs of this group. They believed that Britain had a predestined role as the new Israel, and London was waiting to take up its position as the prophesied New Jerusalem."

 
[Ezekiel 5:6] AND SHE HATH CHANGED MY JUDGMENTS INTO WICKEDNESS MORE THAN THE NATIONS, AND MY STATUTES MORE THAN THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT HER: FOR THEY HAVE REFUSED MY  JUDGMENTS AND MY STATUTES, THEY HAVE NOT WALKED IN THEM.
We have not kept the Law nor the will of the Almighty as we should have done.                    
 
[Ezekiel 5:7] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE YE MULTIPLIED MORE THAN THE NATIONS THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT YOU, AND HAVE NOT WALKED IN MY STATUTES, NEITHER HAVE KEPT  MY JUDGMENTS, NEITHER HAVE DONE ACCORDING TO THE JUDGMENTS OF THE NATIONS THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT YOU;
We have not kept the judgments of God, nor even have we done as well on a moral level as the non-Israelite nations around us.                    
 
[Ezekiel 5:8] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I, EVEN I, AM AGAINST THEE, AND WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS IN THE MIDST OF THEE IN THE SIGHT OF THE NATIONS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:9] AND I WILL DO IN THEE THAT WHICH I HAVE NOT DONE, AND WHEREUNTO I WILL NOT DO ANY MORE THE LIKE, BECAUSE OF ALL THINE ABOMINATIONS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:10] THEREFORE THE FATHERS SHALL EAT THE SONS IN THE MIDST OF THEE, AND THE SONS SHALL  EAT THEIR FATHERS; AND I WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS IN THEE, AND THE WHOLE REMNANT OF THEE WILL I  SCATTER INTO ALL THE WINDS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:11] WHEREFORE, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD; SURELY, BECAUSE THOU HAST DEFILED  MY SANCTUARY WITH ALL THY DETESTABLE THINGS, AND WITH ALL THINE ABOMINATIONS, THEREFORE WILL I  ALSO DIMINISH THEE; NEITHER SHALL MINE EYE SPARE, NEITHER WILL I HAVE ANY PITY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:12] A THIRD PART OF THEE SHALL DIE WITH THE PESTILENCE, AND WITH FAMINE SHALL THEY BE CONSUMED IN THE MIDST OF THEE: AND A THIRD PART SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD ROUND ABOUT THEE;  AND I WILL SCATTER A THIRD PART INTO ALL THE WINDS, AND I WILL DRAW OUT A SWORD AFTER THEM.    
 Again retribution  is predicted against us and we divided into three part only one of which is to survive"              
 
[Ezekiel 5:13] THUS SHALL MINE ANGER BE ACCOMPLISHED, AND I WILL CAUSE MY FURY TO REST UPON THEM, AND I WILL BE COMFORTED: AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT IN MY  ZEAL, WHEN I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED MY FURY IN THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:14] MOREOVER I WILL MAKE THEE WASTE, AND A REPROACH AMONG THE NATIONS THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT THEE, IN THE SIGHT OF ALL THAT PASS BY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:15] SO IT SHALL BE A REPROACH AND A TAUNT, AN INSTRUCTION AND AN ASTONISHMENT UNTO THE NATIONS THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT THEE, WHEN I SHALL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS IN THEE IN ANGER AND IN FURY AND IN FURIOUS REBUKES. I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT.  
These predictions were fulfilled in the disasters that overcame the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The question is what does the future hold" OK everyone here (on this list) is a believer and probably lives a fairly righteous existence. How can we better ourselves" How much obligation do we have towards others" How can we help them" How can we help ourselves" Where does the solution lie"                 
 
[Ezekiel 5:16] WHEN I SHALL SEND UPON THEM THE EVIL ARROWS OF FAMINE, WHICH SHALL BE FOR THEIR DESTRUCTION, AND WHICH I WILL SEND TO DESTROY YOU: AND I WILL INCREASE THE FAMINE UPON YOU, AND WILL BREAK YOUR STAFF OF BREAD:                     
 
[Ezekiel 5:17] SO WILL I SEND UPON YOU FAMINE AND EVIL BEASTS, AND THEY SHALL BEREAVE THEE: AND PESTILENCE AND BLOOD SHALL PASS THROUGH THEE; AND I WILL BRING THE SWORD UPON THEE. I HE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT.                     
 

 



 The Order of Return in Ezekiel

Exekiel chs. 6 to 10 



See also:
Biblical Proofs
http://www.britam.org/Proof/ProofsIntro.html
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