Ezekiel Chapter 12 — Signs of the Coming Exile
Ezekiel performs symbolic actions to demonstrate the reality of the coming exile and refutes the idea that God's prophecies will be delayed.
1The LORD’s word also came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.
3“Therefore, you son of man, prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.
4You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.
5Dig through the wall in their sight, and carry your baggage out that way.
6In their sight you shall bear it on your shoulder, and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face, so that you don’t see the land, for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel.”
7I did so as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for moving, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought it out in the dark, and bore it on my shoulder in their sight.
8In the morning, the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
9“Son of man, hasn’t the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’
10“Say to them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel among whom they are.” ’
11“Say, ‘I am your sign. As I have done, so will it be done to them. They will go into exile, into captivity.
12“ ‘The prince who is among them will bear his baggage on his shoulder in the dark, and will go out. They will dig through the wall to carry things out that way. He will cover his face, because he will not see the land with his eyes.
13I will also spread my net on him, and he will be taken in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he will not see it, though he will die there.
14I will scatter toward every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his bands. I will draw out the sword after them.
15“ ‘They will know that I am the LORD when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.
16But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence, that they may declare all their abominations among the nations where they come. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”
17Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
18“Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with fearfulness.
19Tell the people of the land, ‘The Lord GOD says concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the land of Israel: “They will eat their bread with fearfulness and drink their water in dismay, that her land may be desolate, and all that is therein, because of the violence of all those who dwell therein.
20The cities that are inhabited will be laid waste, and the land will be a desolation. Then you will know that I am the LORD.” ’ ”
21The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
22“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?
23Tell them therefore, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel;” ’ but tell them, ‘ “The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision.
24For there will be no more any false vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.
25For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it,” says the Lord GOD.’ ”
26Again the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
27“Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he prophesies of times that are far off.’
28“Therefore tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “None of my words will be deferred any more, but the word which I speak will be performed,” says the Lord GOD.’ ”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ezekiel 12:2
“Son of man, you dwell in the middle of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see, and don’t see, who have ears to hear, and don’t hear; for they are a rebellious house.”
This verse highlights the spiritual stubbornness and refusal of the people to acknowledge God's warnings.
Ezekiel 12:25
“For I am the LORD. I will speak, and the word that I speak will be performed. It will be no more deferred; for in your days, rebellious house, I will speak the word and will perform it.”
It emphasizes the certainty and immediacy of God's prophetic words against the people's doubts.
Chapter Summary
In Ezekiel 12, God instructs the prophet to perform two symbolic acts to warn the rebellious house of Israel. First, Ezekiel prepares his belongings for exile, digging through a wall in the dark to represent the upcoming captivity of Jerusalem and its leader. This sign points specifically to the prince in Jerusalem, who will attempt to flee but be captured and taken to Babylon. Second, Ezekiel is told to eat and drink with trembling and anxiety, symbolizing the fear and desolation that the inhabitants of Jerusalem will face because of their violence. Finally, the chapter addresses the people’s skepticism. The Israelites had developed proverbs suggesting that visions were failing or only concerned the distant future. God responds by declaring that His word will no longer be delayed and that everything He has spoken through the prophet will be fulfilled during their own lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
It was a symbolic act representing how the prince of Jerusalem and the people would try to escape the city during the siege, only to be taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
This action symbolized the extreme fear, anxiety, and desolation that the inhabitants of Jerusalem would experience as their land was laid waste due to their violence.
The people said, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails,' suggesting that the prophecies were either false or intended for a time so far in the future that they didn't need to worry.
Study Note
The description of the prince who will not see the land of Babylon in verse 13 foreshadows the fate of King Zedekiah, who was blinded before being taken there as a prisoner.
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