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Ezequiel 7

Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible

Ezequiel 7:1-4

7:1 "the word of the Lord came to me saying" As "Lord" (adon) was so common in chapters 5-6, here, YHWH, cf. vv. 1,2,4,5,9,19,27. This seems to be literary variety without theological significance (cf. v. 2). 7:2 "son of man" See note at Ezek. 2:1 SPECIAL TOPIC: SON OF MAN ▣ "the land (adamah, BDB 9) of Israel" This is parallel to "the four corners of the land" (erets, BDB 75, Ezek. 7:2; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LAND, COUNTRY, EARTH) "the mountain of Israel," in Ezek. 6:2 "the wilderness of Diblah/Riblah" of Ezek. 6:14. This phrase is found only in Ezekiel (17 times, cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 271). It seems to have the theological emphasis of the Promised Land given by YHWH to His covenant people (cf. Deut. 7:13; 11:9,21; 28:11; 30:20). This special gift, they are about to lose! As God took the Canaanites out of the land because of their evil (cf. Gen. 15:16), so too, if Israel takes on their ways (i.e. idolatry), He will remove them from the land. ▣ "an end" The time of judgment has come! This word (BDB 893) is used in Ezek. 7:2 (twice), Ezek. 7:3, Ezek. 7:6 (twice). It is also used in the sense of "climax" in Ezek. 21:25,29; 29:13; 35:5. God is in control of time and history. His patience and longsuffering are often misunderstood and abused, but there is a limit! ▣ "the four corners of the land" The word "four" is often associated with the whole earth (i.e. four directions of the compass, four winds, four corners, cf. Isa. 11:12). Here it is a play on "end." The end of time is coming to the very ends (corners) of the Promised Land. SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, #2 7:3-4 Verses 3-4 are repeated exactly in Ezek. 7:8-9. They form a refrain. In many ways this chapter is a lament (cf. The Prophecy of Ezekiel, by Feinberg, p. 44). 7:3 "I shall judge you according to your ways" This truth is repeated in Ezek. 7:8,9; 18:30; 24:19; 33:20; 36:19; 39:24. Another way to put this recurrent truth is "we reap what we sow" (cf. Job 34:11; Ps. 28:4; 62:12; Prov. 24:12; Eccl. 12:14; Jer. 17:10; 32:19; Matt. 16:27; 25:31-46; Rom. 2:6; 14:12; 1 Cor. 3:8; 2 Cor. 5:10; Gal. 6:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:17; Rev. 2:23; 20:12; 22:12). ▣ "abominations" This term (BDB 1072) is used in Ezek. 7:3, 4, 9, 20. It is used forty-three times in Ezekiel, mostly in chapters 7,8,16. SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT) 7:4 "For My eye will have no pity on you" See note at Ezek. 5:11. This is repeated in Ezek. 7:9; 8:18; 9:5,10; 24:14. It is a shocking reversal of YHWH's normal character (cf. Exod. 34:6) and acts! ▣ "then you will know that I am the Lord" See note at Ezek. 6:7. A slightly different form is in Ezek. 7:9. This chapter is like a tapestry of themes woven together to form recurrent patterns of truth.

Ezequiel 7:5-9

7:5 NASB, NJB "a unique disaster" NKJV, JPSOA "a singular disaster" NRSV, Targums "disaster after disaster" "one disaster after another" "disasters are coming, one after another" "a one-of-a-kind disaster" The word "unique" is literally the Hebrew word "one" (BDB 29). Translating it "unique" shows that there is theological significance to the phrase "one God" (i.e. a unique, one-of-a-kind God). Monotheism is the stark uniqueness of the OT in its Ancient Near Eastern setting! The footnote of the Rotherham's Emphasized Bible, p. 790, mentions that the word "one" is similar to the word "after." one ‒ BDB 25, אחד after ‒ BDB 29, אחר The Aramaic Targums translate it "Disaster after disaster." SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM 7:6 "It has awakened" The end is personified. It awakens to the activity of judgment (cf. "the sword" of Zech. 13:7). The VERB (BDB 884, KB 1098, Hiphil PERFECT) is also used in Hab. 2:19 in sarcasm of lifeless idols. However, YHWH is not a lifeless idol; He acts! Notice the repetition of immediate and appointed time (BDB 773) markers in Ezek. 7:6-12. the end is coming, Ezek. 7:6 the end has come, Ezek. 7:6 it has come, Ezek. 7:6 your doom has come to you, Ezek. 7:7 the time has come, Ezek. 7:7 the day is near, Ezek. 7:7 I will shortly pour out My wrath on you, Ezek. 7:8 Behold the day! Behold, it is coming, Ezek. 7:10 the time has come, Ezek. 7:12 the day has arrived, Ezek. 7:12 The VERB "come" (BDB 97, KB 112, Qal PERFECT) is used eight times in these verses! This theme of immediacy is repeated in Ezek. 12:23-25,28. Number 6 is a key eschatological phrase in Amos 5:18-20; Joel; and Zephaniah. 7:7 NASB, NKJV, NRS, NJB, REB "doom has come" "the end is coming" "the morning is come" "the cycle has come" "the time is come" "the dawn. . .is come" The term (BDB 862, KB 1048, #2) is also used in Ezek. 7:10. It usually means "crown" or "diadem" (cf. Isa. 28:5). Its meaning in Ezekiel 7:7,10 is uncertain. The KJV takes it from an Aramaic root "morning." Most English translations take it from an Arabic root, "doom" or "fate." ▣ "tumult" This (BDB 223, KB 552) refers to the panic (originally a divinely given military technique used against Israel's enemies, cf. Exod. 15:16; 23:27; Deut. 7:23, but also a warning to Israel that if she was disobedient to the covenant, it would happen to her military, cf. Deut. 28:20) caused by YHWH's coming in judgment (cf. Zech. 14:13). The judgment referred to is the Neo-Babylonian invasion. This is not what YHWH desired. He wanted "joyful shouting on the mountains," but His covenant people forced Him to act in judgment because of their idolatry! SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC "joyful shouting" NKJV, REB "rejoicing" "reveling" "celebrations" NJB, JPSOA "joy" This term (BDB 212, KB 238) is found only here in the OT. Many assume it is from the root, "loud noise" (BDB 212), possibly "thunder," which in this context would refer to the sounds of the idolatrous harvest festivals (cf. Isa. 16:9c; Jer. 48:33). 7:8 "I will pour out My wrath on you" This VERB (BDB 1049, KB 1629, Qal IMPERFECT) is used several times in Ezekiel (cf. Ezek. 9:8; 14:19; 20:8,13,21; 22:31; 30:15; 36:18). It could have several origins. In Ezek. 5:2 it is imagery for "pour out" (BDB 937, KB 1237, Hiphil IMPERFECT), translated "unsheathe a sword." It may refer to the military conquest of the Neo-Babylonian military. The concept also has a sacrificial connotation of "pour out" a libation (i.e. Gen. 35:14) "pour out" the life blood at the base of the altar of sacrifice (cf. Exod. 29:12; Lev. 8:15; 9:9) "pour out" (same root), used of idolatry in Ezek. 16:15; 23:8 the opposite of the "pouring out" of the Spirit in Joel 2:28-29 (eschatological) That which was meant to be imagery for worship and blessing has become imagery for judgment and destruction! ▣ "according to your ways" See note at Ezek. 7:3. 7:9 "I, the Lord, do the smiting" Normally in the Ancient Near East the defeat of one nation by another was viewed as the superiority of one national deity above another. YHWH wants it clearly understood that He uses Neo-Babylon (as He did Assyria, cf. Isa. 10:5) for His purposes. Israel's defeat is due to their covenant infidelity and idolatries, not His impotence! John Taylor has a great statement about this phrase in Ezekiel, Tyndale OT Commentary: "To hearers and readers who were used to names of God like 'Jehovah-jereh' and 'Jehovah-nissi' (Gen. 22:14; Ex. 17:15), it must have come home with tremendous force to have Him described as 'Jehovah-makkeh'! The Lord who had provided and protected was about to strike" (p. 93). SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. #5

Ezequiel 7:10-13

7:10-11 Notice the imagery of spring (i.e. budding, Israel's evil has burst into flower). "The rod has budded" (note this is where "doom" of Ezek. 7:7 can be understood as "diadem") "Arrogance has blossomed" Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness Judah thought her unique position as YHWH's covenant people and the presence of the temple would protect her, even without obedience and faith! But this false sense of assurance (i.e. #2, arrogance) was about to be clearly rejected! I fear evangelicalism has this same false sense of security. Conservative theology must issue in Christlikeness, not self-righteousness and judgmentalism. Justification must issue in sanctification. An initial profession must issue in daily obedience and perseverance (cf. Luke 6:46; Eph. 2:8-10; James 2:14-26). The covenantal method of being accepted by God has changed from a human-performance basis (OT) to a God-performance basis (NT), but the goal of a righteous people for the purpose of fellowship with God has not. It is affected by Genesis 3. Now God wants a righteous people to help those who do not yet know Him to come to Him. The goal has always been Christlikeness! Be careful not to confuse the changing method and the unchanging goal! Also be careful of a proof-texted assurance connected solely to an initial prayer or rite! SPECIAL TOPIC: ASSURANCE SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV, LXX "the rod has budded" RSV, REB "injustice buds" "the sceptre has blossomed" "violance is flourishing" Peshitta, NET "the staff blossomed" The MT has "your diadem has blossomed." The NOUN "the rod" is very similar to "injustice." the rod ‒ המטה (BDB 862) injustice ‒ המטה Only vowels are different. The UBS Text Project, p. 16, gives "the rod" an "A" rating. Another word for "rod" (BDB 641) appears in v. 11. 7:11 Because of her sin, Jerusalem and Judah will fall. her people her wealth her eminence Total destruction and shame! ▣ "nor anything eminent" "nor shall there be wailing for them" "no pre-eminence among them" "or their glory" —omit— "nothing but turmoil in them" JPOSA "nothing comes of them" "none of them shall remain" The meaning of "eminent" (BDB 627, KB 675) is uncertain. The form is found only here. BDB lists "eminence" and "distinction" Feinberg suggests "lamentation" or "wailing" (p. 45, i.e. no one left alive to bury or mourn the dead, cf. Ezek. 6:4-5). KB suggests an Arabic root meaning "to be raised" or "to be high." The UBS Text Project, p. 17, suggests two possible ways to understand this term. no beauty in them no rest for them 7:12 "Let not the buyer rejoice nor the seller mourn" These VERBS are translated as JUSSIVES. "rejoice" BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVEsense "mourn" BDB 5, KB 6, Hithpael IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense Verses 12-13 are a literary way of prophesying that all segments of society (i.e. rich and poor) will be judged by YHWH. ▣ "multitude" This root (BDB 242) basically means "a great noise" (cf. Ezek. 7:11,12,13,14) and can refer to tumult and confusion (cf. 1 Sam. 14:19; 2 Sam. 18:29; Ps. 65:7; Isa. 17:12) a large crowd (cf. Ezek. 7:11-14; 29:19; 30:11,15; 31:2,18; 32:12 [twice],16,18,20,24,25,26,31,32; Isa. 13:4) abundance of wealth (cf. 1 Chr. 29:16; Ps. 37:16; Eccl. 5:10; Isa. 60:5) In this context it refers to all of Judah (there is no distinction between righteous and wicked). They all are wicked"! 7:13 This is a difficult verse to translate as the variety in the ancient versions shows. Some think that Ezek. 7:12-13 refer to the selling of property in relation to "the Year of Jubilee" (cf. Lev. 25:13-16). SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL, II. C.

Ezequiel 7:14-22

7:14 "They have blown the trumpet" Military preparations will fail because of the fear of the soldiers (cf. Ezek. 7:17). SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL 7:15 Here are the three main enemies that YHWH arrayed against His people: the sword ‒ the Neo-Babylonian army the plague ‒ sickness within the walled cities under siege famine ‒ no food within the walled cities under siege These three are the recurrent threat of divine judgment (cf. Lev. 26:25-26; 2 Chr. 20:9; Jer. 14:12; 21:7,9; 24:10; 27:8,13; 29:17,18; 32:24,36; 34:17; 38:2; 42:17,22; 44:13; Ezek. 5:12; 6:11,12; 7:15; 12:16). 7:16 Even those few who escape to the mountains will be helpless and sorrowful (i.e. like doves, cf. Isa. 38:14; 59:11). Most who try to escape by fleeing the walled cities into the supposed safety of the countryside will also die (cf. Ezek. 7:15; 33:27). There is no safety! 7:17 All resistance will be ineffective because of the paralyzing fear striking the cities' defenders (cf. Ezek. 21:7; 22:14; Isa. 13:7). ▣ "all hands" See SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND ▣ "knees will become like water" This is literally, "knees shall run with water" (NASB margin). It possibly refers to fear causing urination (NET). 7:18 This is a series of mourning rites. gird with sackcloth (cf. Ezek. 27:31; Isa. 22:12; Amos 8:10) pull out or shave (cf. Ezek. 5:1) their hair (cf. Ezek. 27:31; 29:18; Amos 8:10) SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES ▣ "shame will be on all faces" This was a common idiom for guilt associated with sin (cf. Jer. 51:51; Obad. 1:10; Micah 7:10). It can be expressed in several ways (see Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, pp. 305-306). 7:19-22 These verses describe Israel's gods. money and commerce gold and silver idols (cf. Zeph. 1:18) YHWH's temple and its wealth have become a boast of pride (cf. Jer. 7), not sanctity and faith Neo-Babylon will take Israel's collected wealth, individually and corporately. 7:19 "abhorrent thing" This term (BDB 622, KB 673 II, cf. Ezek. 7:20) is used of unclean or impure things or acts. menstrual period, cf. Ezek. 18:6; 22:10; 36:17; Lev. 12:2; 15:19-30; 18:19; 20:18 having sex with a brother's wife, Lev. 20:21 contact with a corpse (note 6:4-5), Num. 19:9,13,20,21; 31:23 idolatry, cf. Ezek. 7:19,20; Ezra 9:11; Lam. 1:17 ▣ "their silver and gold shall not be able to deliver them" This has two possible meanings. Neo-Babylon will not take ransom to spare them (cf. Zeph. 1:18) their personal idols of gold and silver cannot deliver them; they are thrown out into the streets Neither can their wealth or their gods get them food because of the siege! ▣ "an occasion of stumbling" The original meaning of the VERB for "faith" was a stable stance. The opposite was slipping in the miry clay or stumbling in the way. Therefore, "stumbling" (BDB 506) is the contrasting concept from faith. This phrase is literally "for the stumbling block of their iniquity" and is used only in Ezekiel, but often (cf. Ezek. 14:3,4,7; 18:30; 44:12). The prophet must have coined the phrase. Wealth is not always a blessing! SPECIAL TOPIC: WEALTH SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY 7:20 "His ornaments" "his ornaments" NRSV, Peshitta "their beautiful ornaments" "once they were proud of their beautiful jewels" "they used to pride themselves on the beauty of their jewelry" "their beautiful jewelry" "their beautiful ornaments" "choice ornaments" The context (i.e. Ezek. 7:20-22) seems to imply the temple's treasures, but it must be noted "His" is not in the text and the ornaments may refer to personal jewelry (BDB 725, cf. Exod. 33:4-6) of Ezek. 7:19 their idols (i.e. BDB 1055, "detestable things") If so, then "the secret place" of Ezek. 7:22 refers to Jerusalem (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 1074, while in vol. 3, p. 686, a different word study author asserts it is the temple). 7:21 "foreigners" This VERB, "be a stranger," BDB 266, KB 267, Qal PARTICIPLE, is used of invading enemies (cf. Ezek. 7:21; 11:9; 16:32; 28:7,10; 30:12; 31:12). They are characterized as "the wicked of the earth." Neo-Babylon followed the military practices of the Assyrians. Both were merciless, vicious people. In Ezek. 7:24 they are called "the worst of the nations." 7:22 "I will also turn my face from them" The "face" of God was an idiom for His personal presence and care for His covenant people (cf. Ezek. 39:23-24,29; Isa. 59:2). Judah's protection, peace, and prosperity depended on Him. When He left, hope left! SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE USED TO DESCRIBE GOD

Ezequiel 7:23-27

7:23 "Make a chain" The VERB (BDB 793, KB 889) is a Qal IMPERATIVE. The term "chain" (BDB 958) can be understood in two ways. sarcasm related to decorating idols with gold or silver chains (cf. Isa. 40:19) related to fetters to drag the people into exile (cf. Jer. 27:2) ▣ The violent foreigners came because of the idolatry of Israel. The land is full of bloody crimes The city is full of violence. We reap what we sow (see note at Ezek. 7:3). SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY 7:24 "the worst of the nations" This refers to the mercenary armies of Neo-Babylon (cf. Ezek. 21:31; 28:7; Jer. 6:22-23). ▣ "and they will possess their houses" This is one of the warnings for covenant violation in Lev. 26:32. What YHWH did to the Canaanites for their sin, He will now do to His covenant people (cf. Gen. 5:12-21)! God is no respecter of persons. 7:25 "anguish" This term (BDB 891) appears only here as a NOUN. The VERB appears only in Isa. 38:12, where it is translated "rolled up," but may refer to a cloth being "cut off" from the loom (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 953). ▣ Many of the prophets (i.e. false) of Israel relied on YHWH's earlier promises to Israel, forgetting they were conditional promises/covenants. The benefits of the covenant are only available to the faithful, obedient follower. The consequences of disobedience are severe (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). These false proclaimers, in YHWH's name, preached a covenant protection and peace, but there was "no peace" (cf. Ezek. 13:10,16; Isa. 48:22; 57:21). SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP 7:26-27 The leaders of the people (cf. Jer.18:18; Micah 3:11) will be totally helpless. religious leaders prophets priests civil leaders elders king princes the people of the land (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND) military (i.e. "the hands of the people of the land will tremble," cf. Ezek. 7:14,17) They are the very ones who have caused and allowed the covenant disobedience to start and continue! ▣ "people of the land" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND