This is speaking of Jerusalem according to the simple meaning of the address. Jerusalem on a spiritual level represents the heart of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is the place that in a sense they will all return to and have representative portions within. The future temple in Temple will have twelve gates around it, one for each tribe as Ezekiel describes further on.

At a higher level the State of Israel, the USA, and the UK are one entity. The heathen feel this. They feel that by attacking Israel they can get at the USA. This is not just fancy for they themselves, through their wise men and commentators, say as much. They condemn us for defending ourselves against scumbag murderers and despise us when we do not do so.

All the world is interested in us, for good or bad. Open a newspaper, anyplace in the world, chances are that the front page contains an article about Israel or the USA.

You must honor your father and mother and must encourage others to do the same. IN THEE HAVE THEY VEXED THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOW: People who are weak and vulnerable should not be exploited or taken advantage of. This seems obvious but in different ways without being really aware of it we are all liable to slip up on this point, and on other points.

<<IN THEE ARE MEN THAT CARRY TALES TO SHED BLOOD>>: Capable of several interpretations but on the whole one should not gossip or spread bad reports about people, even when true unless there is great necessity such as need for protection, etc.
<<EAT UPON THE MOUNTAINS>>: refers to a type of idol worship practiced in ancient times. In modern terms the nearest thing would be to “go out on the town”.

<<THAT WAS SET APART FOR POLLUTION>>: One should avoid sexual intercourse even with one’s wife at the time of menstruation and shortly after (Leviticus 20:18). There are good health reasons for this injunction, apart from spiritual and psychological considerations.

The prophet is condemning Israel because of adultery, illegal relations that undermine family life, and physical incest. Most prostitutes were the victims of incest. Many cases of incest, according to the reports of sociologists in Israel, amongst lower-income socially-deprived groups, are triggered off by pornography on the TV. This is probably true all over the world. Pornography is bad no matter what anybody says. It has bad effects. A good deal of entertainment today has elements of what in the recent past would have been considered pornography. Entertainment can have therapeutic
and educational value. We all have to find our own road but no-one can deny responsibility. Illicit intercourse is against the wishes of God as expressed in the Bible. It is bad for society and bad for those who practice it. The Bible however does distinguish between various degrees of offence. Some things are worse than others.

Things like those described happen all over the Israelite countries. We tolerate abortions, euthanasia (officially or unofficially), and close our eyes to violence and crime. Our police forces are often corrupt or simply forced to look the other way concerning certain spheres of activity.It also depends how one looks at things. On the one hand most people are still basically decent and well-meaning most of the time. On the other hand a lot of failings are apparent.
Take present-day Jerusalem and the State of Israel. On the one hand compared to international standards violence and crime in general are relatively low but they do occur and in some areas are quite scandalous. Arab terrorists kill Jews but they were enabled to do so because some Jews gave them guns and gave them a framework to work from. Who knows whether on some level of consciousness these people knew what they were doing? Perhaps, in the eyes of God they too may be judged as murderers? How liable can we be for the mistakes we make? Maybe it depends upon us? If we repent maybe all our mistakes can be corrected and even converted into good points? And if we do not repent then maybe even our mistakes are counted as deliberate bad deeds? as expressions of the evil part of our selves?
<<AND HAST FORGOTTEN ME, SAITH THE LORD GOD>>: This is perhaps the bottom line. In the comfort of our homes we can pat ourselves on the back and say that we would not give into temptation but when placed in the front line we
may not be so brave. Nobody is perfect. If we try and remember God then chances are that HE will remember us and lead us onward.

<<AND THOU SHALT TAKE THINE INHERITANCE IN THYSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE HEATHEN>>: The words translated here as “TAKE THINE INHERITANCE IN THYSELF” in Hebrew are : “VeNichalta Bach” which can also mean “you will tremble”, or “be profaned”, or “become sickened” - “in yourself” .

<<A CONSPIRACY OF HER PROPHETS… THEY HAVE MADE HER MANY WIDOWS IN THE MIDST THEREOF>>: All the do-gooders and nice boys that left evil unpunished for “moral” reasons and castrated our manhood will have brought disaster upon all of us. We too will bear responsibility for having listened to these people who did not act according to the Biblical injunctions.

The Law must be kept by those who are obligated by it. Descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes should also return unto the Law but when, and how, and to what degree is for the course of time and wiser men than we, that have the Will of God before them, to decide upon

<<PRINCES>>: Eisemann (Artscroll) quotes from Rabbi S.R. Hirsch that “prince” in Hebrew is “Nasi”. This word can also mean “cloud”. A prince should be like a cloud that receives moisture from the ground and returns it in a manner that brings growth and blessing.In modern Hebrew the word for “President” is “Nasi” which literally means “Prince”. We could transpose the transl;ation and read the first verse “HER Presidents IN THE MIDST THEREOF ARE LIKE WOLVES RAVENING THE PREY”. On the other hand the present “President” of the USA appears to be a good, God-fearing Israelite leader.