Ezekiel 12-13
Dear RTB’ers,
It might be helpful to set the context in which Ezekiel is operating. Jerusalem was overwhelmed by the Babylonians (Chaldeans) in 597 BC and a number of the people (including Ezekiel) were taken as exiles to Babylon. [NOTE: We saw in Jeremiah 52:28 that 3,023 were taken in that first exile. More came later, when Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC.] So in today’s readings Ezekiel is in Babylon speaking to his fellow exiles (sometime between 597 and 586 BC) about what will be happening to their friends and relatives back in Jerusalem.
In today’s first chapter Ezekiel acts out his own exile to show his fellow Babylonian exiles that more people from Jerusalem will be brought to Babylon, including their king Zedekiah, who will come as a blind man after the Babylonians destroy his sight. (Recall Jeremiah 39:4-7.)
Then in today’s second chapter the Lord speaks out against the false prophets and magicians (or voodoo artists?) who are still back in Jerusalem. We have already seen the Lord challenging false prophets (in Isaiah and Jeremiah, among others), but beginning in verse 17 we see something new – the Lord rebuking women (in Jerusalem) who are acting as soothsayers or diviners or fortune-tellers. These women have spoken out against (or cast “evil spells”) against faithful Jews, even to the point of causing death for them: You have profaned Me among My people … putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to My people, who listen to lies. (v. 13:19) Truly strange…!
Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord God: None of My words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord God. (v. 12:28)
Blessings.
Fred