by Wells, Steve
12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
(8.14-15) “There sat women weeping for Tammuz. Then said he unto me … thou shalt see greater abominations than these.” God shows Ezekiel a group of women weeping for Tammuz. Tammuz was the Sumero-Accadian god of plant life. Each year after the summer solstice there was a period of ritual mourning for the loss of sunlight and the decline of vegetation. God calls it an abomination.
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
(8.18) “Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.” God promises again to slaughter everyone. He says that he will ignore them when they plead with him for mercy.
322 Will those who call on the Lord be delivered?
EZEKIEL 9
(9.1-2) God screams in Ezekiel’s ears, telling him to round up the six men that are going to do God’s dirty work.
9 He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
(9.1) “He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
2 And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
(9.2) “And, behold, six men came … and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand.”
3 And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
(9.4-11) God sends a “man clothed with linen” to mark the foreheads of the men who will be saved. Apparently only men are considered good enough to keep, the others (unmarked men, “maids”, and little children) are to be slaughtered. God says he’ll “fill the courts with the slain” and will have pity on no one.
120 Is God merciful?
4 And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
(9.4) “The LORD said unto him, Go through … Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations.”
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:
(9.5) “To the others he said … Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity.”
6 Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
(9.6) “Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women.”
7 And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
(9.8) “While they were slaying them … I fell on my face.”
9 Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
10 And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
(9.10) “Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity.”
11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
(9.11) “The man clothed with linen … reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.”
EZEKIEL 10
(10.1-2) A sapphire stone that looked like a throne appears in the firmament, and a man clothed with linen is told by God to scatter coals over the city.
10 Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
(10.1) “In the firmament that was above … the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.”
2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
(10.2) “He … said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city.”
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
(10.4-5) The glory of the Lord filled a house with a clouldlike brightness and the beating of angel wings sounded just like God’s voice.
4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’S glory.
(10.4) “Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.”
5 And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.
(10.5) “And the sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.”
(10.6-7) The “man clothed in linen” (God’s evil angel) takes fire from between the wheels and cherubim.
6 And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
(10.6) “He … commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.”
7 And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.
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nbsp; (10.7) “And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out.”
(10.8-10) A human hand appears under the wings of the cherubim, each of which has its own wheel, or a wheel within a wheel, or whatever.
8 And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.
(10.8) “There appeared in the cherubims the form of a man’s hand under their wings.”
9 And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone.
10 And as for their appearances, they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.
(10.9-10) “Behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub … they four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel.”
11 When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.
(10.12-14) Ezekiel’s wheels and angels are covered with eyes; God screams at the wheels, saying, “O wheel”; every angel has four faces, those of an angel, man, lion, and eagle.
12 And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.
(10.12) “Their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels that they four had.”
13 As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
(10.13) “As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.”
14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
(10.14) “Every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.”
15 And the cherubims were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar.
16 And when the cherubims went, the wheels went by them: and when the cherubims lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them.
17 When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also: for the spirit of the living creature was in them.
(10.18-21) When the show was over, the glory of the Lord, the cherubim (with detached human hands under their wings), and the wheels took off, after hanging out over the house for a while.
18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
(10.18) “Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.”
19 And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
(10.19) “The cherubims … went out, the wheels also were beside them … and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.”
20 This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubims.
21 Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.
(10.21) “Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.”
22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.
EZEKIEL 11
(11.1-3) A spirit lifts up Ezekiel and transports him to the Lord’s house, where he sees 25 men. God tells Ezekiel that he doesn’t like these guys because they said things like, “It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron and we be the flesh.”
11 Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
(11.1) “The spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto … the LORD’s house … and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah … and Pelatiah.”
2 Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
(11.2) “Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city.”
3 Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
(11.3) “Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.”
(11.4-5) So the spirit of the Lord falls on Ezekiel and tells him to prophesy against them.
4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
(11.4) “Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.”
5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
(11.5) “And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak.”
6 Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.
7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
(11.8-12) Ezekiel tells the 25 men that God is going to kill them. That way they’ll know that God is the Lord.
8 Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
(11.8) “Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord.”
9 And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
(11.9) “I will … deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.”
10 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
(11.10) “Ye shall fall by the sword … and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
11 This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
(11.11) “This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof.”
12 And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
(11.12) “And ye shall know that I am the LORD.”
13 And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
(11.13a) “And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah … died.”
(11.13b) “Then fell I down upon my face.”
14 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although
I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
(11.22-24) After promising to kill the 24 remaining men, the cherubim, wheels, and glory of the Lord left Jerusalem and hovered over a mountain. Then the spirit transported Ezekiel to Chaldea (Babylon).
22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
(11.22) “Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.”
23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
(11.23) “And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain.”
24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
(11.24) “Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity.”