Read Ezekiel 16.1-63 The allegory of Jerusalem as God's adulterous wife.
Compare Hosea's marriage to Gomer, whom he charged with harlotry to symbolize Israel's unfaithfulness to God (Hos 1-3; compare Jer 2-3).
In verses 1-5 Ezekiel portrays Jerusalem as an unwanted baby who, like many female babies in
pre-industrial cultures, is cast off to die as an economic liability.
Your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite: Ezekiel believes that a mixture of Amorite
or Syrian peoples and Hittites or Anatolian peoples populated Canaan before Israel emerged.
Jerusalem was in Canaanite (Jebusite) hands prior to David's conquest.
The Jebusite population was never destroyed.
Comments or Questions...
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Monday, February 19, 2018
Reading for February 27th
Read 15.1-8 The allegory of the useless vine.
Ezekiel uses rhetorical questions to compare the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the wood of a vine, which is entirely useless except for burning (see Judg 9.7-21).
In verse 2 the wood of the vine does not surpass any other wood.
In verse 3 it cannot be used to make anything, since vine branches are twisted and weak.
In verses 4-5 even when burned, the charred ends are useless.
In verses 6-8 like useless vine branches, Jerusalem will be burned.
Comments or Questions...
Ezekiel uses rhetorical questions to compare the inhabitants of Jerusalem to the wood of a vine, which is entirely useless except for burning (see Judg 9.7-21).
In verse 2 the wood of the vine does not surpass any other wood.
In verse 3 it cannot be used to make anything, since vine branches are twisted and weak.
In verses 4-5 even when burned, the charred ends are useless.
In verses 6-8 like useless vine branches, Jerusalem will be burned.
Comments or Questions...
Sunday, February 18, 2018
Reading for February 26th
Read Ezekiel 14.12-23 Concerning individual righteousness.
After stating that God deceives false prophets and leads them to destruction, Ezekiel claims that people are responsible for their own moral action and safety from punishment.
In verses 12-20 Noah, Daniel, and Job were exemplary righteous persons who had the capacity to save others.
Noah saved his family during the flood (Gen 6-9), and Job saved his three friends who spoke wrongly about God (Job 42.7-9).
Daniel and his friends saved only themselves by their righteousness (Dan 1; 3; 6), but in the Canaanite legend of Aqhat, the righteous Dan-El saves his son Aqhat from death.
Dan-El in Ezekiel is spelled according to the Canaanite pattern (see note a).
In verses 21-23 the same punishments are applied to Jerusalem.
Comments or Questions...
After stating that God deceives false prophets and leads them to destruction, Ezekiel claims that people are responsible for their own moral action and safety from punishment.
In verses 12-20 Noah, Daniel, and Job were exemplary righteous persons who had the capacity to save others.
Noah saved his family during the flood (Gen 6-9), and Job saved his three friends who spoke wrongly about God (Job 42.7-9).
Daniel and his friends saved only themselves by their righteousness (Dan 1; 3; 6), but in the Canaanite legend of Aqhat, the righteous Dan-El saves his son Aqhat from death.
Dan-El in Ezekiel is spelled according to the Canaanite pattern (see note a).
In verses 21-23 the same punishments are applied to Jerusalem.
Comments or Questions...
Friday, February 16, 2018
Reading for February 25th
Read Ezekiel 14.1-11
Ezekiel must contend with competition from other prophets.
God states that the elders have taken their idols into their hearts, apparently a reference to their consulting pagan diviners or a charge that other Judean prophets are false.
The coarse term for idols, literally "dung balls," demonstrates Ezekiel's disdain for such persons.
In response to those who consult idols or false prophets, God states, "I, the LORD, will answer him myself," and claims to deliberately deceive the false prophets so that they will be destroyed
(1 Kings 22).
The covenant formula (see comment of 11.14-21) they shall be my people, and I will be their God conveys God's intention to convince the people to remain loyal.
Comments or Questions...
Ezekiel must contend with competition from other prophets.
God states that the elders have taken their idols into their hearts, apparently a reference to their consulting pagan diviners or a charge that other Judean prophets are false.
The coarse term for idols, literally "dung balls," demonstrates Ezekiel's disdain for such persons.
In response to those who consult idols or false prophets, God states, "I, the LORD, will answer him myself," and claims to deliberately deceive the false prophets so that they will be destroyed
(1 Kings 22).
The covenant formula (see comment of 11.14-21) they shall be my people, and I will be their God conveys God's intention to convince the people to remain loyal.
Comments or Questions...
Reading for February 24th
Read Ezekiel 13.1-23
Ezekiel must condemn prophets who announce peace (compare Jer 27-28).
In verses 1-7 Ezekiel charges the prophets with false prophecy, claiming that the prophesy
out of their own imagination rather than speak the word of God.
He compares them to jackals who live in the ruins of others rather than do something useful.
In verses 8-16 God is against those prophets who announce "Peace" when there is no peace.
Much like Hananiah in Jer 27-28, prophets of peace would have relied upon the Davidic
tradition of God's promise of security for the monarchy and Jerusalem.
Ezekiel compares these prophecies to a wall that is white-washed and then destroyed by
rain, hail, and wind.
Walls made of sun-dried brick are frequently destroyed by heavy rain and wind.
In verses 17-23 Ezekiel then condemns the women who prophesy falsely and practice divination.
Mirian (Ex 15.20-21), Deborah (Judg 4-5), and Huldah (2 Kings 22) demonstrate that female prophets appeared in both Israel and Judah.
He points to the divinatory side of their activities in which they employ wristbands and veils (see Moses' veil in Ex 34.29-35), and he indicates that they are paid for their services in barley and bread.
Prophecy was a profession in the ancient world (1 Sam 9.7, but contrast Am &.10-17).
The false prophetesses and diviners apparently play a role in deciding capital cases in which a person's life is at stake.
God will tear the bands from their hands and let the lives of such people go free like birds.
Birds were frequently employed in divination in the ancient world (see Isa 8.19).
Comments or Questions...
Ezekiel must condemn prophets who announce peace (compare Jer 27-28).
In verses 1-7 Ezekiel charges the prophets with false prophecy, claiming that the prophesy
out of their own imagination rather than speak the word of God.
He compares them to jackals who live in the ruins of others rather than do something useful.
In verses 8-16 God is against those prophets who announce "Peace" when there is no peace.
Much like Hananiah in Jer 27-28, prophets of peace would have relied upon the Davidic
tradition of God's promise of security for the monarchy and Jerusalem.
Ezekiel compares these prophecies to a wall that is white-washed and then destroyed by
rain, hail, and wind.
Walls made of sun-dried brick are frequently destroyed by heavy rain and wind.
In verses 17-23 Ezekiel then condemns the women who prophesy falsely and practice divination.
Mirian (Ex 15.20-21), Deborah (Judg 4-5), and Huldah (2 Kings 22) demonstrate that female prophets appeared in both Israel and Judah.
He points to the divinatory side of their activities in which they employ wristbands and veils (see Moses' veil in Ex 34.29-35), and he indicates that they are paid for their services in barley and bread.
Prophecy was a profession in the ancient world (1 Sam 9.7, but contrast Am &.10-17).
The false prophetesses and diviners apparently play a role in deciding capital cases in which a person's life is at stake.
God will tear the bands from their hands and let the lives of such people go free like birds.
Birds were frequently employed in divination in the ancient world (see Isa 8.19).
Comments or Questions...
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Reading for February 23rd
Oracles concerning prophets and prophecy
12.21-14.11 Ezekiel's oracles affirm the imminent fulfillment of God's visions and challenge those prophets and prophetesses who proclaim false messages of peace.
Read Ezekiel 12.21-28
In verses 21-25 Ezekiel responds to those who claim that his visions will not be fulfilled.
Proverb here refers to a common saying among the people.
Vision refers to both visual and auditory experience (see Isa 2.1).
In verses 26-27 Ezekiel responds to the charge that his visions will be fulfilled only in the
distant future by stating that they are about to be realized.
Comments or Questions...
12.21-14.11 Ezekiel's oracles affirm the imminent fulfillment of God's visions and challenge those prophets and prophetesses who proclaim false messages of peace.
Read Ezekiel 12.21-28
In verses 21-25 Ezekiel responds to those who claim that his visions will not be fulfilled.
Proverb here refers to a common saying among the people.
Vision refers to both visual and auditory experience (see Isa 2.1).
In verses 26-27 Ezekiel responds to the charge that his visions will be fulfilled only in the
distant future by stating that they are about to be realized.
Comments or Questions...
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Reading for February 22nd
Read Ezekiel 12.1-20 Symbolic actions concerning the Exile.
In verses 1-7 the first represents the exile of the house of Israel.
God calls Israel a rebellious house, but adds who have eyes to see, but do not see, who have ears to hear, but do not hear, apparently in reference to Isa 6.9-10.
Ezekiel is to prepare his baggage, dig through the wall, and depart with his face covered so that all may see that the exile of Israel is taking place.
I have made you a sign for the house of Israel (compare Isa 7.14; 8.18).
In verses 8-16 Ezekiel's action provokes questions.
He relates the symbolic action to the exile of the Davidic king, which strikes at the foundation of Judean identity and the promise of God's protection of Jerusalem and the house of David
(2 Sam 7; Ps 89; 132).
Some understand prince as a reference to Zedekiah, who served as the Babylonian-appointed regent while Jehoiachin was in exile.
Ezekiel's scenario of the prince's escape and capture reflects Zedekiah's capture near Jericho and blinding at Riblah prior to imprisonment in Babylon (2 Kings 25.1-7; Jer 52.4-11).
In verses 17-20 eating meals in fear dramatizes the realities of exile.
Comments or Questions...
In verses 1-7 the first represents the exile of the house of Israel.
God calls Israel a rebellious house, but adds who have eyes to see, but do not see, who have ears to hear, but do not hear, apparently in reference to Isa 6.9-10.
Ezekiel is to prepare his baggage, dig through the wall, and depart with his face covered so that all may see that the exile of Israel is taking place.
I have made you a sign for the house of Israel (compare Isa 7.14; 8.18).
In verses 8-16 Ezekiel's action provokes questions.
He relates the symbolic action to the exile of the Davidic king, which strikes at the foundation of Judean identity and the promise of God's protection of Jerusalem and the house of David
(2 Sam 7; Ps 89; 132).
Some understand prince as a reference to Zedekiah, who served as the Babylonian-appointed regent while Jehoiachin was in exile.
Ezekiel's scenario of the prince's escape and capture reflects Zedekiah's capture near Jericho and blinding at Riblah prior to imprisonment in Babylon (2 Kings 25.1-7; Jer 52.4-11).
In verses 17-20 eating meals in fear dramatizes the realities of exile.
Comments or Questions...
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