Ezekiel 12

3. Punishment is certain

Signs of the Coming Exile

112 Again a message came to me from the LORD: 2“Son of man, you live among rebels who have eyes but refuse to see. They have ears but refuse to hear. For they are a rebellious people. 3“So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. 4Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as; 24 I 25:4 they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant JerS9:4. 52:7 lands. 5Dig a hole through the wall while they are watching and go out through it. 6As they 12:6 watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you ©22k 4:3: 24:24 cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel.” 7So I did as I was told. In broad daylight I brought my pack outside, filled with the things I Be oat 8 might carry into exile. Then in the evening while the people looked on, I dug through the: wall with my hands and went out into the night with my pack on my shoulder. The next morning this message came to me from the LORD: 9“Son of man, these rebels, 128 sa 17:10: the people of Israel, have asked you what all this means. 10Say to them, ‘This is what the Sov- 5490 © 11I ereign LORD says: These actions contain a message for King Zedekiah in Jerusalem* and for 12:10 all the people of Israel.’ 1"Explain that your actions area sign to show what willsoon happen 2,K98.9:25 to them, for they will be driven into exile as captives. Mal 1:1 12"Even Zedekiah will leave Jerusalem at night through a hole in the wall, taking only Rib: sorts what he can carry with him. He will cover his face, and his eyes will not see the land he is 230°” leaving. 1? Then 1 will throw my net over him and capture him in my snare. Iwill bringhimto 12:12 Babylon, the land of the Babylonians,* though he will never see it, and he will die there. 41 4.498254, will scatter his servants and warriors to the four winds and send the sword after them. And 49:13 when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the LORD. ‘But I will spare 's4 24:17 Jer 39:7; 52:11 a few of them from death by war, famine, or disease, so they can confess all their detestable Hos 7:13 sins to their captors. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” 12:16 '’Then this message came to me from the LORD: 18“Son of man, tremble as you eat your °°" 228° food. Shake with fear as you drink your water. 19Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign 12:19 LORD says concerning those living in Israel and Jerusalem: They will eat their food with!s2511,, trembling and sip their water in despair, for their land will be stripped bare because of their 12:20 violence. 20The cities will be destroyed and the farmland made desolate. Then you will \sa bean! know that I am the LORD.’”: Dan 9:17 A New Proverb for israel ?\Again a message came to me from the LORD: 22“Son of man, you've heard that proverbthey 12:22 quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’ 23Tell the people, ‘This is Anes 83 what the Sovereign LORD says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you willsoon stop quot- 2 Pet 3:3-4 ing it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every 12:23, prophecy to be fulfilled!’ Zeph 1:14 24“There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel. 25For I am the 12:24 a6 LORD! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. will fulfill Zech 13:2.4 my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!” 12:25 26Then this message came to me from the LORD: 27“Son of man, the people of Israel are Num 4:28-34 saying, ‘He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won't come true for a long, long 12:27 time.’ 28Therefore, tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: No more delay! I will Dan 10:14 now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!’”