Reading for March 28th

 Read Ezekiel 24.1-14 The allegory of the pot.
As a Temple priest, Ezekiel's duties include tending to pots used to cook sacrificial meat
(1 Sam 2.12-17).
Like Jeremiah (a priest descended from Eli), he employs activities from his own life as symbolic means to express God's word (see Jer 1.13).
In verses 1-2 the ninth year ... the tenth month ... the tenth day: January 15, 588 BCE, apparently the day on which Nebuchadnezzar begins the siege of Jerusalem.
In verses 3-5 the thigh and the shoulder, the choice offerings (Num 18.12), including the breast and thigh (Ex 29.26-28; Lev 7.28-36; 10.12-15; Num 18.18; Gen 32.32), are given to the priests.
In verses 6-8 the imagery of the corroded bottom of the pot symbolizes the bloody crimes of Jerusalem.
Blood is sacred and must be covered when shed (Lev 17.13-16; Gen 9.1-7).
In verses 9-14 as a cauldron is cleansed by fire, Ezekiel calls for the "cleansing" of Jerusalem by fire.
Comments or Questions...