Ezequiel 11
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 11:1-4
11:1 "the Spirit lifted me up" This was not the first or last time Ezekiel was impacted by "Spirit" (i.e. no DEFINITE ARTICLE, cf. Ezek. 2:2; 3:12,14; 8:3; 11:24; 43:5). See full note at Ezek. 3:12. SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT SPECIAL TOPIC: TRINITY, II. C. ▣ "the east gate of the Lord's house" We know from Jer. 26:10 that this was a place of public assembly (like the city gate in local settings). This gate is mentioned in Ezek. 10:19. This is where the portable Throne Chariot lifted up and left the temple area. ▣ "Jaazaniah son of Azzur" There are three others mentioned by this same first name (BDB 24) but who have different fathers (cf. Ezek. 8:11; 2 Kgs. 25:23; Jer. 35:3). Be careful of confusion. ▣ "Pelatiah" We know nothing of this man (BDB 812). It is obvious that these two men were leaders of the people. The nobility had been exiled with Ezekiel in 597 B.C. and, therefore, these were new leaders. NASB, NJB, JPSOA, LXX "leaders of the people" NKJV, Peshitta "princes of the people" "officials of the people" "leaders of the nation" "of high office" The NKJV has the literal (BDB 978 construct BDB 766). This would imply they are high government leaders. The problem comes in how to identify them because most of these leaders were exiled with Ezekiel and the royal court (597 B.C.). These may have been: some who escaped capture and deportation and were idolators ‒ Ezek. 8 some of lesser stature who assumed the role of leadership in the vacuum caused by the exile In context, option #1 is best because Ezekiel is taken by the Spirit to Jerusalem. 11:2 "Son of man" See note at Ezek. 2:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN ▣ "who devise iniquity and give evil advice in the city" Their attitude is depicted in Ezek. 11:3 and 15. They are false leaders (cf. Ezek. 11:4), so common in Israel's religious and civic life! 11:3 "Is it not time to build houses? This city is the pot and we are the flesh" What they were saying is "We are the chosen ones. Those who were exiled were judged by God, but He is not going to judge us who remain in the chosen city! We are His choicest vessels" (cf. Ezek. 28:26; Jer. 29:5, i.e. build houses in Jerusalem now! Also note Jer. 21:8-10, where the prophets were preaching "Peace, peace" and yet the destruction of Babylon is surely coming). The phrase "to build houses" may be an idiom for starting a family (or family line, cf. Deut. 25:9; Ruth 4:11). Not only is the first phrase in doubt, but also the second. It could be imagery for protection imagery for destruction All being noted, I think it is a parallel to the false prophets' message of peace is sure the city will never fall we who remain are the chosen ones YHWH has already rejected us, why should we serve Him? Let us prepare for war (i.e. build fortifications, not build houses)! The false, idolatrous leaders are the cause of Jerusalem's fall (cf. v. 6). The imagery here is from a sacrificial offering. The people of Jerusalem are the meat offering and the city is the sacrificial pot they are cooked in (i.e. siege, cf. v. 7)! Notice v. 11 negates this prediction of the false, idolatrous leaders. YHWH will judge them, not in the city but at the borders of Israel. as they try to escaape as they go into Neo-Babylonian exile they were executed at Riblah (cf. 2 Kgs. 25:18-21; Jer. 52:24-27) 11:4 "prophesy against them" Ezekiel had done this earlier in Ezek. 3:4,17. The verb "prophesy" (BDB 612, KB 659) is a Niphal imperative. It is used twice for emphasis! YHWH, by His Spirit, directed the prophet (Ezek. 11:5) what to say, when to say it, and who to say it to. SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: INSPIRATION
Ezequiel 11:5-12
11:5 "said. . .say. . .says" The Hebrew word "say" (BDB 55, KB 65) is found often in this chapter. It refers to YHWH speaking to and through Ezekiel the false leaders speaking Ezekiel praying to YHWH See note at Ezek. 11:4. Ezekiel is YHWH's mouthpiece! ▣ "I know your thoughts" This same truth is expressed in several ways (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chr. 28:9; Ps. 7:9; Prov. 16:2; 21:2; 24:12; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23). God knows the thoughts and motives of His human creatures! We reap what we sow (see full lists of texts at Gal. 6:7-10 online) and what we think! The literal phrase is "what comes up in your spirit"( NASB margin). The Hebrew term "spirit," "wind," "breath" (BDB 924) is understood here as "mind" (cf. Ezek. 20:32). SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT 11:6 The terrible judgment about to destroy Jerusalem and the temple (God's protected place, Jer. 7:26) is because of their evil, not a lack of YHWH's power to protect nor His compassion to care! 11:7 This statement reverses the false leaders' statement of confidence in Ezek. 11:3. 11:9 "I shall deliver you into the hands of" This is an idiom of military defeat. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "of strangers" This is a fulfillment of Deut. 28:36,49,50. As Assyrians exiled the northern tribes, so Neo-Babylon will exile the southern tribes! 11:10 "so you shall know that I am the Lord" See note at Ezek. 6:13. ▣ "to the borders of Israel" This could be "as far as the borders of Israel," or it could refer to "at the borders of Israel" as fulfilled in 2 Kings 25:18-21, where King Zedekiah, when trying to fleeing, is captured and taken to Nebuchadnezzar II at Riblah. 11:11 This is a clarification of Ezek. 11:7. 11:12 Israel sinned against two "laws." the statutes and ordinances of YHWH (see SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION; known as "special revelation," cf. Ps. 19:7-12) the society norms of the surrounding nations (cf. Ezek. 5:7; known as "natural revelation," cf. Ps. 19:1-6; Rom. 1:19; 2:14) Israel "walked" (i.e. lifestyle actions, BDB 229, KB 246, Qal PERFECT) in ways more evil than their pagan neighbors. This demanded judgment (cf. Gen. 15:16; Lev. 18:24-30).
Ezequiel 11:13
11:13 "it came about as I prophesied, that Pelatiah son of Benaiah died" This was a visible and immediate sign to the elders back in the exile of the validity of Ezekiel's message. The word of this man's death would not reach them for several weeks. ▣ "Alas, Lord God!" This is literally the divine title "Adon YHWH." SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (Adon and Kurios) SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. ▣ Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end" This same question was asked by Ezekiel as the six angelic destroyers went through the city (Ezek. 9:8). It is uncertain why the death of an evil leader (Ezek. 11:2) would illicit this response. For the theological concept of "remnant" see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT (three senses).
Ezequiel 11:14-21
11:15 "Son of man" See note at Ezek. 2:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN NASB, NRSV "your fellow exiles" NASB margin, Jewish Study Bible "the men of your redemption" NKJV, Peshitta "your kinsmen" NRSV footnote "people of your kindred" NJB, REB "to your kinfolk" "the men of thy captivity" "the men of your kindred" The MT has "the men of your kindred" (BDB 35 construct BDB 145), which seems to refer to other exiles, possibly of the same tribe clan or family. For "kindred" (i.e. Go'el) see notes at Ruth 3:9. SPECIAL TOPIC: KINSMAN REDEEMER ▣ "Go far from the Lord; this land has been given us as a possession" "Go far" (BDB 934, KB 1221) can be a Qal IMPERATIVE or a Qal PERFECT. This is related to verse 3. The current residents of Jerusalem were saying they were the new chosen seed and the exiles (the royal family, the civil and religious leaders, and the artisans) had been rejected. But in reality just the opposite was true. This can be seen in Ezek. 11:16, where God says, "I am going to dwell with the exiles" and Ezek. 11:17, where He says He will restore them to the land. Both Ezek. 11:16 and 17 start with an IMPERATIVE! Although it is true that Ezekiel focuses on Judah's destruction and exile through chapter 24 (chapters 25-32 are oracles against the nations, except for 28:25-26), there are hints here and there in these early chapters of Ezekiel's message of restoration to the faithful remnant exiled in Mesopotamia. Ezek. 5:3 Ezek. 6:8-9 Ezek. 11:14-21 Ezek. 12:16 Ezek. 16:60-63 Ezek. 17:22-24 Ezek. 20:39-44 Ezek. 28:25-26 11:16 "I was a sanctuary for them" YHWH is described as a place of sacredness and safety to the faithful exiles (cf. Isa. 8:14, in Isa. 25:4 He is a "refuge"). These are all powerful imagery for care and protection! The physical sanctuary in Jerusalem will be destroyed, but the "true" sanctuary (i.e. YHWH) was with them in exile as the visions of Ezekiel would clearly reveal. YHWH had left Jerusalem and moved east (cf. Ezek. 11:22-25), but He would return with the exiles. YHWH moving to Babylon showed His universality. He was not limited to Canaan. He was the God of all creation! This phrase may have been the OT background for Jesus' statement in John 2:19, quoted in Mark 14:58; 15:29; and Acts 6:14. Jesus saw Himself as the new temple! He is our sanctuary! The term "little" (BDB 589), depending on context, can mean "a little" or "a few." It can denote numbers, kinds, or time. In this context "time" (i.e. the exile) fits best (NET). YHWH Himself cannot be described as "a little sanctuary"! SPECIAL TOPIC: REFUGE 11:17 "the land of Israel" See note at Ezek. 7:2. SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name) 11:18-19 Notice that "they will remove" (BDB 693, KB 747, Hiphil, PERFECT with waw, PLURAL) follows Ezek. 18:31-32. However, this has been the problem of fallen humanity, they cannot keep God's covenant! Therefore, YHWH will act on their behalf (i.e. similar to the "new covenant" of Jer. 31:31-34; described in Ezek. 36:22-36). "I will give," Ezek. 11:19, BDB 678, KB 773, Qal PERFECT with waw, SINGULAR "I shall put, Ezek. 11:19, BDB 678, KB 773, Qal IMPERFECT SINGULAR "I shall take out," Ezek. 11:19, BDB 693, KB 747, Hiphil PERFECT with waw, SINGULAR "I will give," Ezek. 11:19, BDB 678, KB 773, Qal PERFECT with waw, SINGULAR Notice that human response is still required (cf. Ezek. 11:20). "they will walk," Ezek. 11:20, BDB 229, KB 246, Qal IMPERFECT PLURAL "they will keep," Ezek. 11:20, BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal IMPERFECT PLURAL "they will do," Ezek. 11:20, BDB 793, KB 889, Qal PERFECT with waw, PLURAL The covenant will be restored ("they will be My people, and I shall be their God"), but it still required obedience (cf. Ezek. 11:21; Deut. 30:2,10). The returning exiles were meant to remove all the idolatrous evil from the land. By reading Ezra and Nehemiah this hope was only partially fulfilled. Idolatry was forsaken, but other evils returned. The terms"detestable" (BDB 1055) and "abominations" (BDB 1072) are used together in Ezek. 5:11; 7:20; 11:18,21; and Jer. 16:18. SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) 11:19 "I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them" The MT has "one" heart, but note the following translations. LXX ‒ "another heart" Peshitta ‒ "a new heart" REB ‒ "singleness of heart" NIV ‒ "an undivided heart" If "one," then it denotes loyalty to YHWH unity of Jacob's children (cf. Ezek. 37:15-23) Because of (1) the parallelism within Ezek. 11:19 and (2) the textual parallel of Ezek. 36:26-27, I think the concept of "new" fits best. Not just restoration, but reorientation from an outward performance standard to an inner motivation based on divine performance (cf. Deut. 30:3-9). It is not just a new day for the children of Jacob, but for the children of Adam! This is the new covenant (cf. Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:3,6; Heb. 8:6-13; 9:15; 12:24) described in Jer. 31:31-34 and Ezek. 36:22-36. Israel had been characterized by Moses as being stiff-necked, hard-faced, and hard-hearted (see SPECIAL TOPIC: STUBBORNNESS); now they will have a soft heart (i.e. obedient heart, cf. Ezek. 36:27) that is turned toward God (cf. Ezek. 16:60-63). This is a good example of both God's sovereignty and individual responsibility in the sense that this same phrase is repeated in Ezek. 18:31, where the people are commanded to make themselves a new heart and a new spsirit. Yet, again in Ezek. 36:26, it says that YHWH will give them a new heart and a new spirit. Here is the paradox of God's sovereignty and human responsibility! At this point let me insert three theological Special Topics that deal with this issue. SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION (Calvinism) vs. HUMAN FREE WILL (Arminianism) SPECIAL TOPIC: EASTERN LITERATURE (biblical paradoxes) 11:20 "that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them" Obedience is crucial! It is not optional. These are conditional covenants! Notice the repetition used for emphasis. "walk," BDB 229, KB 246, Qal imperfect, cf. Deut. 5:33; 8:6; 10:12; 11:22; 13:4-5; 19:9; 26:17; 28:9; 30:16 (SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY) "keep," BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal imperfect, cf. Deut. 2:4; 4:2,6,9,15,23,40 (SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP) "do," BDB 793, KB 889, Qal perfect with waw, cf. Deut. 4:1,3,6,13,14,16,23,25 ▣ "Then they will be my people and I will be their God" These are covenant terms (cf. Gen. 17:8; Exod. 6:7; Ezek. 14:11; 34:30; 36:28; 37:27). This was so important for these exiled people to hear because they wondered if YHWH would keep His covenant with Israel's descendants. They wondered if they had been rejected. They wondered if their sin had totally altered their relationship with YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL 11:21 "their detestable things and abominations" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) ▣ "I shall bring their conduct down on their heads" Humans are responsible for their choices and actions! See note at Ezek. 9:10.
Ezequiel 11:22-25
11:22 This is referring to the portable throne chariot of YHWH, first seen by Ezekiel in chapter 1 and seen again in chapter 10. In Ezek. 11:23 it moves from the temple to the Mt. of Olives and then in Ezek. 11:24 it moves to the east to be with the exiles in Babylon. 11:23 This shows the depth of the idolatry of the city of Jerusalem and particularly the priests (cf. Ezek. 8) that YHWH would have to leave the place where He had chosen to dwell (i.e. the temple) and go to be with the exiles, who would become the nucleus of His new covenant community. See specific idolatry in Ezek. 8. 11:24 "I had seen" This VERB (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal PERFECT) is one of the terms used to describe a prophet (i.e. "seer." SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHET (the different Hebrew terms) 11:25 "I told the exiles all the things God had shown me" This refers to the elders who were mentioned in Ezek. 8:1. Therefore, chapters 8-11 form a literary unit.