Reading for February 9th

Read Ezekiel 24.1-14. In 24.1-4: 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 desended 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 verse 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 priest. 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..