Ezekiel 11:1-13--Judgment on Wicked Counselors

Ezekiel 11:1-13
English Standard Version

Judgment on Wicked Counselors
11 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the LORD, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty-five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 And he said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’ 4 Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man.”

5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and he said to me, “Say, Thus says the LORD: So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. 8 You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord GOD. 9 And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. 10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am the LORD. 11 This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 and you shall know that I am the LORD. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you.”

13 And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?”

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The main gate to the Temple faced east (the sunrise) and the Altar of the LORD (the Bronze Altar) was there as this is where the people came to make atonement for their sin and to receive reconciliation with each other through the blood of the sacrifices that were offered there.  They also offered their other tithes and offerings there on that altar in worship to the LORD.

It is there that the LORD directed Ezekiel to proclaim judgment against the leaders of the people.  They gave bad council to the people and told them to do the opposite of what the LORD wanted them to do.  For this reason, the LORD is going to judge them.

So many people were dying that they could not bury all of them, but the LORD is upset with the way that the people littered the streets with dead bodies and lived among them.  They did not even try to bury people with dignity or to try to keep the streets clean.  Though the false prophets claimed that everyone was going to die and they didn't need to prepare for the future, the LORD tells Ezekiel to tell the people that some of them will be taken out of the city alive and that a future generation will return to the city.  They would do good to build with that future generation in mind.  Though they will not experience the blessings of their planting and building, others one day will.  If they are only thinking of themselves, they will not plant or build because they know they will die or be taken captive, but if they are selfless, they will think beyond themselves to the future generations and will continue to do the hard work of building and planting to make it better for future generations.

The people of Israel and Judah will not be completely destroyed.  However, the people will be judged severely for their rebellion and their idolatry.  Only a small remnant of the people will survive, but none of people will be cut off from the covenant (including a covenant of descendants and land) that was made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  The LORD is faithful to keep His covenant with His people