Illustration of The Exile
Ezekiel 12The word of YHWH also came to me, saying, “Son of humanity, you live among a 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.
“Therefore, you son of humanity, pack your bags for exile, and move by day in their sight. You are to move from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Bring your bags out by day in their sight, like baggage for exile. You are to go out yourself at evening in their sight, like those going into exile. Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your baggage out that way. In their sight, you are to load it on your shoulders and carry it out in the dark. You are to cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”
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.
In the morning, the word of YHWH came to me, saying, “Son of humanity, hasn’t the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’
“Say to them, ‘Lord YHWH says: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.”’
“Say, ‘I am a sign for y’all. As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.
“‘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. 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. 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.
“‘They will know that I am YHWH when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries. 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 nations where they come. Then they will know that I am YHWH.’”
Illustration of Israel’s Fear
The word of YHWH came to me, saying, “Son of humanity, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness. Tell the people of the land, ‘Lord YHWH 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. The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then y’all will know that I am YHWH.”’”
The word of YHWH came to me, saying, “Son of humanity, what is this proverb that y’all have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?’ Tell them therefore, ‘Lord YHWH 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. For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am YHWH. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be accomplished. It will no longer be delayed. Indeed in y’all’s days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will accomplish it,” says Lord YHWH.’”
Again the word of YHWH came to me, saying, “Son of humanity, notice that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’
“Therefore tell them, ‘Lord YHWH says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says Lord YHWH.’”