The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Ezekiel 12
1 Yahweh’s wordalso came tome, saying,
2 “Son of man, you dwell in the middle of
the rebellious house, who have eyes to see,
and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and
don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.
3 “Therefore, you son of man, prepare
your baggage for moving, and move by day
in their sight. You shall move from your
place to another place in their sight. It may
be they will consider, though they are a
rebellious house.
4 You shall bring out your baggage by day
in their sight, as baggage for moving. You
shall go out yourself at evening in their
sight, as when men go out into exile.
5 Dig through the wall in their sight, and
carry your baggage out that way.
6 In their sight you shall bear it on your
shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You
shall cover your face, so that you don’t see
the land, for I have set you for a sign to the
house of Israel.”
7 I did so as I was commanded. I brought
out my baggage by day, as baggage for
moving, and in the evening I dug through
the wall with my hand. I brought it out
in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in
their sight.
8 Inthemorning, Yahweh’s word came to
me, saying,
9 “Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel,
the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are
you doing?’
10 “Say to them, ‘The Lord Yahweh
says: “This burden concerns the prince
in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel
among whom they are.
11 “Say, ‘I am your sign. As I have done,
so will it be done to them. They will go into
exile, into captivity.
12 “ ‘The prince who is among them will
bear his baggage on his shoulder in the
dark, and will go out. They will dig through
the wall to carry things out that way. He
will cover his face, because he will not see
the land with his eyes.
13 I will also spread my net on him,
and he will be taken in my snare. I will
bring him to Babylon to the land of the
Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he
will die there.
14 I will scatter toward every wind all
who are around him to help him, and all
his bands. I will draw out the sword after
them.
15 “ ‘They will know that I am Yahweh
when I disperse them among the nations
and scatter them through the countries.
16 ButI willleave a fewmenofthemfrom
the sword, from the famine, and from the
pestilence, that they may declare all their
abominations among the nations where they come.
Then they will know that I am Yahweh.
17 Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me,
saying,
18 “Son of man, eat your bread with
quaking, and drink your water with
trembling and with fearfulness.
19 Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord
Yahweh says concerning the inhabitants
of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: “They
will eat their bread with fearfulness and
drink their water in dismay, that her land
may be desolate, and all that is therein,
because of the violence of all those who
dwell therein.
20 The cities that are inhabited will be
laid waste, and the land will be a desolation.
Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
21 Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
22 “Son of man, what is this proverb
that you have in the land of Israel, saying,
‘The days are prolonged, and every vision
fails’?
23 Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord Yahweh
says: “I will make this proverb to cease,
and they will no more use it as a proverb
in Israel;” ’ but tell them, ‘ “The days are at
hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.
24 For there will be no more any false
vision nor flattering divination within the
house of Israel.
25 For I am Yahweh. I will speak, and
the word that I speak will be performed. It
will be no more deferred; for in your days,
rebellious house, I will speak the word and
will perform it,” says the Lord Yahweh.
26 Again Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
27 “Son of man, behold, they of the house
of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for
many days to come, and he prophesies of
times that are far off.’
28 “Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says:
“None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I
speak will be performed,” says the Lord Yahweh.