Study Desk

In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of Israel's elders came to consult the Lord ,^(a) and they sat down in front of me.

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to consult Me? As I live, I will not be consulted by you."^(b) This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.^(c)

Say to them: This is what the Lord God says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath^[a](d) to the descendants of Jacob's house and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. I swore to them, saying: I am Yahweh your God.^(e)

On that day I swore^[b] to them that I would bring them out^(f) of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(g) the most beautiful of all lands.^(h)

I also said to them: Each of you must throw away the detestable things that are before your eyes and not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt.⁽ⁱ⁾ I am Yahweh your God.^(j)

"But they rebelled against Me and were unwilling to listen to Me. None of them threw away the detestable things that were before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them,^(k) exhausting My anger against them within the land of Egypt.

But I acted because of My name,^(l) so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations they were living among, in whose sight I had made Myself known to Israel by bringing them out of Egypt.

"So I brought them out of the land of Egypt and led them into the wilderness.^(m)

Then I gave them My statutes and explained My ordinances to them—the person who does them will live by them.⁽ⁿ⁾

I also gave them My Sabbaths to serve as a sign between Me and them,^(o) so they will know that I am Yahweh who sets them apart as holy.

"But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness.^(p) They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them.^(q) They also completely profaned My Sabbaths.^(r) So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.^(s)

But I acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

However, I swore^[c] to them^(t) in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey—

because they rejected My ordinances, profaned My Sabbaths, and did not follow My statutes. For their hearts went after their idols.^(u)

But I spared them from destruction and did not bring them to an end in the wilderness.^(v)

"Then I said to their children in the wilderness: Don't follow the statutes of your fathers, defile yourselves with their idols, or keep their ordinances.^(w)

I am Yahweh your God. Follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.^(x)

Keep My Sabbaths holy,^(y) and they will be a sign between Me and you, so you may know that I am Yahweh your God.

"But the children rebelled against Me.^(z) They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness.

But I withheld My hand and acted because of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I brought them out.

However, I swore^[d] to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.^(aa)

For they did not practice My ordinances but rejected My statutes and profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed^(ab) on their fathers' idols.

I also gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances^(ac) they could not live by.

When they made every firstborn pass through the fire,^(ad) I defiled them through their gifts in order to devastate them so they would know that I am Yahweh.^(ae)

"Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them: This is what the Lord God says: In this way also your fathers blasphemed Me by^(af) committing treachery against Me:

When I brought them into the land that I swore^[e] to give them and they saw any high hill or leafy tree,^(ag) they offered their sacrifices and presented their offensive offerings there. They also sent up their pleasing aromas and poured out their drink offerings there.

So I asked them: What is this high place you are going to? And it is called High Place to this day.

"Therefore say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: Are you defiling yourselves the way your fathers did,^(ah) and prostituting yourselves with their detestable things?

When you offer your gifts, making your children pass through the fire,^(ai) you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, house of Israel? As I live"—this is the declaration of the Lord God —"I will not be consulted by you!

"When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the peoples of other countries, worshiping wood and stone,'^(aj) what you have in mind will never happen.^(ak)

As I live"—the declaration of the Lord God —"I will rule over you with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,^(al) and outpoured wrath.

I will bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you were scattered,^(am) with a strong hand, an outstretched arm,^(an) and outpoured wrath.

I will lead you into the wilderness of the peoples^(ao) and enter into judgment with you there face to face.

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt,^(ap) so I will enter into judgment with you." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

"I will make you pass under the rod^(aq) and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me.^(ar) I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

"As for you, house of Israel, this is what the Lord God says: Go and serve your idols, each of you. But afterward you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.^(as)

For on My holy mountain, Israel's high mountain"—the declaration of the Lord God —"there the entire house of Israel, all of them,^(at) will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your contributions and choicest gifts,^(au) all your holy offerings.

When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will demonstrate My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.^(av)

When I lead you into the land of Israel, the land I swore^[f] to give your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.^(aw)

There you will remember your ways and all your deeds that you have defiled yourselves with,^(ax) and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil things you have done.^(ay)

You will know that I am Yahweh,^(az) house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name^(ba) rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

^[g]The word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, face the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest land in the Negev,^(bb)

and say to the forest there: Hear the word of the Lord ! This is what the Lord God says: I am about to ignite a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The blazing flame will not be extinguished, and every face from the south to the north will be scorched by it.

Then all people will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it.^(bc) It will not be extinguished."

Then I said, "Oh, Lord God , they are saying of me, ‘Isn't he just posing riddles?'"^(bd)

^[a]The word of the Lord came to me again:

"Son of man, turn your face toward^(a) Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel,

and say to it: This is what the Lord says: I am against you.^(b) I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you.

Since I will cut off^[b] both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will therefore come out of its sheath against everyone from the south to the north.^(c)

So all the people will know that I, Yahweh, have taken My sword from its sheath—it will not be sheathed again.^(d)

"But you, son of man, groan! Groan bitterly with a broken heart^[c] right before their eyes.

And when they ask you, ‘Why are you groaning?' then say: Because of the news that is coming.^(e) Every heart will melt, and every hand will become weak. Every spirit will be discouraged, and every knee will turn to water. Yes, it is coming and it will happen." This is the declaration of the Lord God .

The word of the Lord came to me:

"Son of man, prophesy: This is what the Lord says! You are to proclaim: A sword!^(f) A sword is sharpened and also polished.^(g)

It is sharpened for slaughter, polished to flash like lightning! Should we rejoice? The scepter of My son, the sword despises every tree.^[d]

The sword is given to be polished, to be grasped in the hand. It is sharpened, and it is polished, to be put in the hand of the slayer.^(h)

Cry out and wail, son of man, for it is against My people. It is against all the princes of Israel! They are given over to the sword with My people. Therefore strike your thigh in grief.⁽ⁱ⁾

Surely it will be a trial! And what if the sword despises even the scepter? The scepter will not continue.^[e] This is the declaration of the Lord God .

Therefore, son of man, prophesy and clap your hands together.^(j) Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword for massacre, a sword for great massacre— it surrounds^[f] them!

I have appointed a sword^(k) for slaughter^[g] at all their gates, so that their hearts may melt and many may stumble. Yes! It is ready to flash like lightning;^(l) it is drawn^[h] for slaughter.

Slash to the right; turn to the left— wherever your blade is directed.

I also will clap My hands together, and I will satisfy My wrath.^(m) I, Yahweh, have spoken."

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"Now you, son of man, mark out two roads that the sword of Babylon's king can take. Both of them should originate from the same land. And make a signpost at the fork in the road to each city.

Mark out a road that the sword can take to Rabbah of the Ammonites⁽ⁿ⁾ and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem.

For the king of Babylon stands at the split in the road, at the fork of the two roads, to practice divination: he shakes the arrows, consults the idols, and observes the liver.

The answer marked^[i] Jerusalem appears in his right hand, indicating that he should set up battering rams,^(o) give the order to^[j] slaughter, raise a battle cry, set battering rams against the gates, build a ramp, and construct a siege wall.

It will seem like false divination in the eyes of those who have sworn an oath to the Babylonians,^[k](p) but it will draw attention to their guilt so that they will be captured.

"Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your actions, since you have done this, you will be captured by them.

And you, profane and wicked prince of Israel,^[l](q) the day has come^(r) for your punishment."^[m]

This is what the Lord God says: Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are;^[n] exalt the lowly and bring down the exalted.^(s)

A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! Yet this will not happen until He comes;^(t) I have given the judgment to Him.^[o]

"Now prophesy, son of man, and say: This is what the Lord God says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt. You are to proclaim: A sword! A sword is drawn for slaughter, polished to consume,^(u) to flash like lightning.

While they offer false visions^(v) and lying divinations about you, the time has come to put you to the necks of the profane wicked ones; the day has come for your punishment.^[p]

Return it to its sheath!^(w) I will judge you^[q] in the place where you were created, in the land of your origin.

I will pour out My indignation on you; I will blow the fire of My fury on you.^(x) I will hand you over to brutal men, skilled at destruction.

You will be fuel for the fire. Your blood will be spilled in the land. You will not be remembered,^(y) for I, Yahweh, have spoken."