Ezequiel 14
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Ezequiel 14:1-5
14:1 "elders of Israel" This must refer to tribal leaders already in exile in Babylon (cf. Ezek. 8:1, where a group of faithful elders were called "elders of Judah"). These particular ones are idolaters (cf. Ezek. 20:1). This is Judah's problem, her leaders are not faithful YHWHists! kings, princes priests prophets elders SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS 14:3 "these men have set up idols in their hearts" Apparently the idolatry of Jerusalem described in chapter 8 had already spread to the leaders in exile in Babylon (cf. Ezek. 14:4,6,11; 7:19; 20:7-8). These elders looked like YHWHists, but in the secret place of their hearts (God knows the heart), they were corrupted by pagan worship and theology. The term "idols" comes from several possible roots. The Jewish Study Bible, p. 1066, translates it as "dung balls" (BDB 165, KB 192, NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 864-865) see note at Ezek. 6:4. The term is used almost exclusively in Ezekiel (39 times) and only once in Jeremiah (i.e. Jer. 50:2) and never in Isaiah. It originally occurred in the key covenant passages of Lev. 26:30 and Deut. 29:17. SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY ▣ "stumbling block" This term (BDB 506) is used often in Ezekiel (cf. Ezek. 3:20; 14:3,4,7; 18:30; 21:15; 44:12). Its basic meaning is "to stumble" or "the means by which one stumbles." The origin of its idiomatic usage comes from YHWH's word or covenant was characterized as a clearly marked path (i.e. Ps. 119:105; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY) faith originally meant to be stable, walking easily in the path (see SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT) therefore, to stumble is parallel to leaving the path, to stumbling in the path This term came to have a Messianic aspect in Isaiah (cf. Isa. 8:14; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:8). The Messiah (the Cornerstone, Gen. 49:24; Ps. 118:22; Isa. 28:16) will become a stumbling block to some. SPECIAL TOPIC: CORNERSTONE ▣ "Should I be consulted by them at all" This is a grammatically emphatic sentence (an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE and an IMPERFECT VERB of the same root [BDB 205, KB 233, Niphal, cf. Ezek. 20:3,31]). The covenant leaders were consulting idols and false prophets, not YHWH (cf. Ezek. 20:3,21). So why should YHWH now allow them to consult Him? This VERB has a negative connotation in most of its occurrences in Ezekiel (cf. Ezek. 14:10; 20:1-4,31). SPECIAL TOPIC: DIVINATION 14:4 "speak to them and tell them, ‘Thus says the Lord God'" This is an emphatic construction. a Piel IMPERATIVE, "speak," BDB 180, KB 201 two Qal PERFECTS, "says," BDB 55, KB 65 YHWH's prophet must address this situation of "apparent" faith! ▣ "I the Lord will be brought to give him an answer" See note at Ezek. 14:7. ▣ "in the matter" There are three options of how to translate this word (UBS Text Project, p. 38). he (idolator) comes (Qere reading BDB 97, KB 112), בא; Qal PERFECT; same form used earlier in the verse, NRSV "in it" understood as "according to it," בה (MT; UBS Text Project gives this option a "C" rating) "in me," the idolator comes to YHWH, בי (RSV, NEB, NJB, TEV), which results in mercy, forgiveness judgment (vv. 3,7, Peshitta) 14:5 "who are estranged from Me" The VERB "estranged" (BDB 266, KB 267, Niphal PERFECT) describes the alienation of YHWH's people from Him because of idolatry. YHWH's people are now strangers/foreigners (cf. Ezek. 7:21; 11:9; 16:22; 28:7,10; 30:12; 31:12) and thus enemies (cf. Isa. 1:4; Ps. 69:8). SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY
Ezequiel 14:6-8
14:6 The phrase "Thus says the Lord God" (Adon YHWH) is used in several senses in Ezekiel. positive a call to repentance, Ezek. 14:6 forgiveness of the covenant people, Ezek. 36:33 resurrection, Ezek. 37:12 gathering exiles, Ezek. 37:21 restoration of the fortunes of Jacob and having mercy on the whole house of Israel, Ezek. 39:25 negative YHWH gives Ezekiel a message that His people will not listen to, Ezek. 2:4; 3:11 prophecies against the false prophets, Ezek. 13:3,8 prophecies against (1) apostasy, Ezek. 20:30 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY) (2) social justice, Ezek. 45:9 prophecies against the surrounding nations (1) Ammon, Ezek. 25:3 (2) Tyre, Ezek. 28:2 (3) Cush, Put, Lud, Arabia, Libya, Ezek. 30:2-5 (4) Gog, Ezek. 39:1 prophecies against Judah, Ezek. 5:8; 6:3; 12:19 ▣ As Ezek. 14:4 was emphatic, so too, Ezek. 14:6. "say" ‒ BDB 55, KB 65, Qal IMPERATIVE "say" ‒ BDB 55, KB 65, Qal PERFECT YHWH commands them to do three things (all using one VERBAL root, BDB 996, KB 1427). repent" (cf. Ezek. 18:30,32; 33:11; Isa. 55:6-7) "turn away from your idols" "turn away from all your abominations" SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) 14:7 "the immigrants" Non-Jews were to be treated as equals in the legal realm (cf. Lev. 19:33-34,35). Israel was to deal with them graciously (cf. Lev. 23:22; Deut. 10:19; 24:17; 27:19). Israel had also been an alien in Egypt (cf. Exod. 22:21; 23:9) and knew how it felt (cf. Deut. 16:11)! But, they were required to function within Israel's faith (i.e. Exod. 12:19; Lev. 16:29; 17:8; Num. 9:14; Deut. 1:16; 16:11) However, in this context, these immigrants are viewed in a negative sense as someone who claimed to worship YHWH but retained their pagan origins in their hearts. These foreigners were from the Exodus of Egypt (i.e. "mixed multitudes," cf. Exod. 12:38; Num. 11:4) those who migrated to Canaan neighbors in the exilic community in Babylon who brought idolatry into the covenant community ▣ "who separates himself from Me" This VERB (BDB 634, KB 684, Niphal IMPERFECT) means to dedicate oneself by separating oneself from ceremonial evil. The NOUN form is used of those in Numbers 6 who separate themselves by vow and restrictions to YHWH (i.e. Nazirites, both male and female). There is a play on words here. "holy," means separated to God for His service those who separate themselves (men and women) to God by special vow (Numbers 6). these idolaters have separated themselves from God to idols SPECIAL TOPIC: HOLY SPECIAL TOPIC: NAZIRITE VOW ▣ "I the Lord will be brought to answer him in My own person" What an ominous phrase. YHWH comes personally, not for blessing, but for destruction (cf. Ezek. 14:4; also note Heb. 10:31). 14:8 "I shall set My face against that man" As the idolater sets his idol "right before his face" (cf. Ezek. 14:4), so now YHWH sets His face against him (cf. Ezek. 15:7). The face (BDB 815) is an idiom of personal presence (cf. Ezek. 14:4,7). Notice what YHWH threatens to do to the idolater. make him a sign (BDB 16) make him a proverb (BDB 605, possibly "byword," cf. Deut. 28:37; 1 Kgs. 9:7; 2 Chr. 7:20; Ps. 44:14; Jer. 24:9; Joel 2:17) cut him off from the covenant people (BDB 503, KB 500, Hiphil PERFECT)
Ezequiel 14:9-11
14:9 YHWH reveals Himself to true prophets, but hides His word from false prophets. He uses even them for His own purposes (i.e. 1 Kgs. 22:22-23). These false prophets were prophesying "peace" and "security" (cf. Jer. 14:15), but they were lying! The refusal of Judah to repent caused YHWH's judgment to come! YHWH uses even "evil" for His purposes and plans! One way the ancient Hebrew Scriptures demonstrated monotheism was by attributing all causality to God (i.e. Deut. 32:39; Job 5:18; 12:13-25; Isa. 30:26; 45:7; Hosea 6:1; Amos 3:6). SPECIAL TOPIC: ONE CAUSALITY ▣ "My hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND 14:11 The purpose of judgment is restoration (cf. Ezek. 14:22-23)! However, for this to occur, some other things must happen first. "Israel may no longer stray" (BDB 1073, KB 1766, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Ezek. 44:10,15; 48:11) Israel "no longer defile themselves" (BDB 379, KB 375, Hithpael IMPERFECT, cf. Ezek. 37:23) If these criteria are not met, then they will not be His covenant people (cf. Ezek. 11:20; 34:30; 36:28; 37:27; Exod. 6:7; Lev. 11:45; 22:33; 25:38; 26:12,44,45). The covenant promises are conditional on covenant obedience (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30:1,15,19). Passages such as this cause me to question if the modern state of Israel is truly the Israel of Promise. They are a secular, European-type, state government. Very few Jews keep or practice the Mosaic Law. The promises to Israel were conditional! For a good YouTube video on this subject, see Steve Gregg, The Modern State of Israel SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP ▣ "they will be My people, and I shall be their God" This is covenant language (cf. Lev. 26:12; Jer. 7:23; 11:4; 30:22; 31:33; 32:38; Ezek. 11:20; 14:11; 36:28; 37:23,27).
Ezequiel 14:12-20
14:13 The Jewish Study Bible marginal note (p. 1066) asserts that the "ifs" of Ezek. 14:13,15,17,19 are textual markers for a legal case (i.e. casuistic law). SPECIAL TOPIC: LAWS IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST ▣ "committing unfaithfulness" This VERB (BDB 591, KB 612, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT) comes from the priestly realm and denotes acts of idolatrous treachery (i.e. idolatry) marital infidelity in Num. 5:12,27 in Ezekiel for unfaithfulness towards YHWH (cf. Ezek. 15:8; 17:20; 18:24; 20:27; 39:23,26) This phrase is emphatic by the repetition of the Hebrew root (BDB 591) in the INFINITIVE and the NOUN. Notice YHWH's reactions. "I stretch out My hand against it" (i.e. His nation, His capital), which is an idiom of purposeful action "I destroy (lit. "break the staff," cf. Ezek. 4:16; 5:16) its supply of bread," which denotes famine "I send famine against it" "I cut off (i.e. destroy completely) from it both man and beast" (cf. Ezek. 14:7,19,21) "cause wild beasts to pass through the land" (Ezek. 14:15, cf. Lev. 26:22) "bring a sword on that country" "send a plague against that country" (Ezek. 14:19) All of them are summarized in four severe judgments (Ezek. 14:21; 5:12; Deut. 32:23-24) sword (BDB 352) famine (BDB 944) wild beasts (BDB 312, cf. Lev. 26:22) plague (BDB 184) Many of these reflect the covenant warnings of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28. 14:14 "even though these three men" It is clear from the OT who Noah (cf. Genesis 6-9) and Job (cf. Job) are. It is not so clear who Daniel (BDB 193) is. the father-in-law of Enoch, Jubilees 4:20, who surprisingly is not mentioned as an ancient righteous person a son of David, 1 Chr. 3:1 a priest of the line of Ithamar, Ezra 8:2; Neh. 10:7 a well known Canaanite sage, Ezek. 14:14,20; 28:3 a prophet, hero, administrator under Nebuchadnezzar II from the biblical book of Daniel an unknown famous righteous person The biblical Daniel is a contemporary with Ezekiel and may not have had time for his faith and life to be well known (i.e. become a proverb of wisdom and faithfulness). Daniel might really be Danel (or Dan-El, Ezekiel's spelling is different from Dan. 6:16 and is spelled like the hero of the Ugaritic text), a Canaanite sage (from Ras Shamra Ugaritic texts) known for his upright thoughtful life. If this identification is true, then all three examples were not directly related to Abraham. The problem is that he is involved with the Canaanite pantheon! Therefore, even with all the questions the biblical Daniel seems the best option (cf. Ezek. 28:3). For more historical information of the identity of "Danil," see IVP Biblical Background Commentary (OT), p. 700. ▣ "by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves" This phrase reflects OT theology of a performance-based righteousness (cf. Ezek. 3:21, or better an OT sense of "blamelessness, like Noah," Gen. 6:9 or Job, Job 1:1). This section is a theological precursor to chapter 18. The people thought that a few faithful worshipers of YHWH would cause YHWH to withhold His wrath (like Gen. 18:22-33, also note Jer. 15:1-4), but this proved not to be true! SPECIAL TOPIC: BLAMELESS, INNOCENT, GUILTLESS, WITHOUT REPROACH SPECIAL TOPIC: RIGHTEOUSNESS The term "deliver" (BDB 664, KB 717, Piel IMPERFECT) in the Piel, usually means "to strip off" in the sense of "plunder" (cf. Exod. 3:22; 12:36; 2 Chr. 20:25). Only here is it translated "deliver" or "save," although the Niphal (cf. Ezek. 14:16,18) and Hiphil (cf. Ezek. 3:19,21; 14:20; 33:19; 34:10) stems have this sense. A righteous person (in the OT Mosaic sense, cf. Ezek. 3:20-21; 14:12-20; 18:5-32; 33:12-20) can only deliver himself/herself. OT righteousness is not transferable to others. It is an individual performance-based covenant. 14:15 NASB, JPSOA "depopulate" "empty" "ravage" "kill" "rob it of its children" "destroy the population" "destroy it" "take vengeance" The NJB captures the essence of the VERB (BDB 1013, KB 1491, Piel PERFECT). This is part of the covenant curses (cf., Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). If the Israelites violate YHWH's covenant, their children will die (no posterity, no family joy). by sword, Deut. 32:35; 1 Sam. 15:33; Lam. 1:20 by wild beasts, Lev. 26:22; Ezek. 5:17; 14:15 14:17 "Let the sword pass through" This VERB (BDB 716, KB 778) is a Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense. The sword (i.e. invasion and exile) became the will and command of YHWH against His own covenant people!
Ezequiel 14:12-20
14:21 The four judgments mentioned were common in the ancient world (i.e. Lev. 26:22,25-26; they are also mentioned in the Babylonian flood texts). 14:22-23 The terrible judgments on Judah and Jerusalem were for the purpose of redemption! A new Israel will rise out of the ashes of the old rebellious one. There will be a believing remnant (cf. Ezek. 6:7-9; see SPECIAL TOPIC: REMNANT [three senses]). There will be days of repentance (cf. Ezek. 14:6; see SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE [OT])! There will be a new day of righteousness (cf. Isaiah 55-66). The tragedy is that even restored Judah/Israel (Ezra, Nehemiah) could not keep the Mosaic Law. The Law's function is clearly spelled out in Galatians 3. The performance-based covenant must become the grace-based "new covenant" of Jer. 31:31-34, described in Ezek. 36:22-36. Fallen humanity cannot approach a holy God with personal righteousness (cf. Eph. 2:8-9)! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND SPECIAL TOPIC: REMNANT (three senses) SPECIAL TOPIC: PAUL'S VIEWS OF THE MOSAIC LAW SPECIAL TOPIC: MOSAIC LAW AND THE CHRISTIAN 14:22 "you will see their conduct and actions" This phrase has been interpreted two contrasting ways. the wicked receive their just judgment ("actions," BDB 760 is always used in a negative sense) the wicked are changed by YHWH's judgment and repent (cf. Ezek. 18:21-23) The question is, does this refer to an illustration of God's justice or an example of a believing, faithful remnant? It is possible that the message to the exiles was "the current generation does not have to bear the sins of their fathers" (or fellow Israelites). Each person's personal faith and action (cf. Ezekiel 18) will determine one's relationship with YHWH. This is a rare example of an individual emphasis in a corporate society. This will form a crucial aspect of "new" covenant theology (cf. John 1:12; 3:16; Rom. 10:9-13). SPECIAL TOPIC: What Does It Mean to "Receive," "Believe," "Confess/Profess," and "Call Upon?"