The Prophet Ezekiel

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- Kapitel 20 -

It came about in the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, that elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh and sat before me.

Then the word of Yahweh came to me and said,

“Son of man, declare to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Lord Yahweh says this: Have you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will not be inquired of by you!-this is Lord Yahweh’s declaration.’

Will you judge them? Will you judge, son of man? Let them know about their fathers’ abominations.

Say to them, ’Lord Yahweh says this: On the day that I chose Israel and raised my hand to swear an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I raised my hand to swear an oath to them. I said, “I am Yahweh your God”-

on that day I raised my hand to swear an oath to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had carefully selected for them. It was flowing with milk and honey; it was the most beautiful ornament among all the lands.

I said to them, “Let each man throw away the detestable things from before his eyes and the idols of Egypt. Do not make yourselves unclean; I am Yahweh your God.”

But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. Each man did not throw away the detestable things from before his eyes nor forsake the idols of Egypt, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my wrath among them in the middle of the land of Egypt.

I acted for my name’s sake so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were staying. I made myself known to them, in their eyes, by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness

So I sent them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

Then I gave them my statutes and made my decrees known to them, by which a man will live if he obeys them.

I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between myself and them, for them to know that I am Yahweh who makes them holy.

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes; instead, they rejected my decrees, by which a man will live if he obeys them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths, so I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness in order to end them.

But I acted for my name’s sake so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out of Egypt.

So I myself also raised my hand to swear an oath to them in the wilderness not to bring them into the land that I had been going to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which was the most beautiful ornament among all the lands.

I swore this because they had rejected my decrees and did not walk in my statutes, and they profaned my Sabbaths, since their hearts walked after their idols.

But my eye had compassion for them because of their destruction, so I did not annihilate them in the wilderness.

I said to their sons and daughters in the wilderness, “Do not walk according to the statutes of your parents; do not keep their decrees or profane yourselves with idols.

I am Yahweh your God, walk in my statutes; keep my decrees and obey them.

Keep my Sabbaths holy so that they will be a sign between me and you, so that you will know that I am Yahweh your God.”

But their sons and daughters rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes or keep my decrees, by which a man might live if he obeys them. They profaned my Sabbaths, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my wrath against them in the wilderness.

But I turned my hand away and acted for my name’s sake, so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought out the Israelites.

I myself also raised my hand to them in the wilderness, in order to swear that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands.

I decided to do this since they had not obeyed my decrees, and since they had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths. Their eyes were longing after their fathers’ idols.

Then I also gave them statutes that were not good, and decrees by which they could not live.

I made them unclean by their gifts when they made a sacrifice of every firstborn of the womb and put them into the fire. I did this in order to terrify them so they might know that I am Yahweh!’

Israel’s Rebellion in the Land

Therefore, son of man, announce this to the house of Israel; say to them, ’Lord Yahweh says this: Your fathers blasphemed me by betraying me. They did it in this way:

When I brought them into the land that I lifted my hand to give to them, and when they saw all the high hills and leafy trees, then they offered their sacrifices there and provoked me by their offerings there. There they also burned fragrant incense and poured out drink offerings.

Then I said to them, “What is this high place where you bring offerings there?” So the name is called Bamah to this day.’

Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ’Lord Yahweh says this: Why do you make yourselves unclean with the ways of your fathers? So why do you act like prostitutes, searching for disgusting things?

For when you offer up your gifts and you put your sons into the fire, and to this day you make yourselves unclean with all your idols. So why should I let you question me, house of Israel? As I live-this is Lord Yahweh’s declaration-I will not let you question me.

The thought that is forming in your mind will come true. You say, “Let us be like the other nations, like the clans in the other lands who worship wood and stone.”

Judgment and Restoration

As I live-this is Lord Yahweh’s declaration-I will certainly reign over you with a mighty hand, a raised arm, and fury that will be poured out on you.

I will bring you out from the other peoples and will gather you out of the countries among whom you have been scattered. I will do this with a mighty hand and with fury poured out.

Then I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face.

As I judged your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so also I will judge you-this is Lord Yahweh’s declaration.

I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will make you obey the requirements of the covenant.

I will purge from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will send them out from the land where they are staying as foreigners, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

So to you, house of Israel, Lord Yahweh says this: Each of you should go to his own idols. Worship them if you will refuse to listen to me, but you must no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols.

For on my holy mountain, on the mountain peak of Israel-this is Lord Yahweh’s declaration-all of the house of Israel will worship me there in the land. I will be pleased to require your offerings there, and also the firstfruits of your tribute with all your holy things.

I will accept you like fragrant incense when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. I will show myself as holy among you for the nations to see.

Then, when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land that I have lifted my hand up to give to your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh.

Then you will call to mind there your evil ways, and all of your deeds by which you made yourselves unclean, and you will hate yourselves in your own eyes for all your evil actions that you have committed.

So you will know that I am Yahweh when I do this to you for my name’s sake, not for your evil ways or your corrupt deeds, house of Israel-this is Lord Yahweh’s declaration.’”

A Prophecy against the South

Then the word of Yahweh came to me and said,

“Son of man, set your face toward the southern lands, and speak against the south; prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

Say to the forest of the Negev, ’Hear the declaration of Yahweh! Lord Yahweh says this: See, I will set a fire among you. It will devour every fresh tree and every dried tree among you. The fiery flame will not be quenched; every face from the south to the north will be burned.

Then all flesh will see that I am Yahweh when I light the fire, and it will not be quenched.’”

Then I said, “Alas! Lord Yahweh, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not a mere teller of parables?’”

In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’

“Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.

Tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am the LORD your God;’

in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

“‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.

But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness

So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.

Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,

because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.

Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.

I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.

I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.

Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.

Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,

because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.

Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.

I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the LORD.”’

Israel’s Rebellion in the Land

“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.

Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah

(a)

to this day.”’

“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?

When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you!

“‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’

Judgment and Restoration

As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.

I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.

I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord GOD.

“I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

“‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord GOD says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.

For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord GOD, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.

I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

You will know that I am the LORD when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.

There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.

You will know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord GOD.’”

A Prophecy against the South

The LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.

Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.

All flesh will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”

Then I said, “Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”

Fußnoten

(a)20:29 “Bamah” means “High Place”.