Reading for January 1st

Read Ezekiel 9.1-11. In 9.1-11: The slaughter of Jerusalem. Sacrifical slaughter at the altar of the Temple portrays the killing of the people of Jerusalem. In verses 1-2: The six men come from the upper gate to the north with weapons in their hands to begin the slaughter. The Babylonian army would have entered Judah from the north (see Jer 1.13-16). The man clothed in linen wears the apparel of a priest who serves at the altar (Ex 28.39; Lev 6.10) and carries a writing case to record the sacrifices. The bronze altar had been moved to the north by Ahaz to accommodate an Assyrian altar (2 Kings 16.14). In verses 3-11: The living beings are now named cherubim. God commands that a mark (the ancient Hebrew letter "taw," translated "mark," looks like an X) be placed onthe foreheads of those who sigh and groan over all the abominations, to protect them from death. A mark on the door post protects the Israelites from God's plague against the Egyptians (Ex 12.23). All who lack the mark are to die, defilling the sanctuary. Ezekiel attempts to intercede as Moses did (Ex 32.1-14; Num 14), but God states that the people believe God lacks power. Comments or Questions..