Text: Ezekiel 4:1-5:17<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I. The siege of Jerusalem<\/p>\n
A. Ezekiel was to get a brick (or clay tile) and etch a city on it.<\/p>\n 1. One ancient source mentioned bricks being two feet long, one foot wide\nand four inches thick.\n B. Around it he was to create a model of a siege complete with a siege wall, raised\nramp, pitch camps, and battering rams.\n C. He was to take an iron griddle and place it between himself and the city to show\nthe siege.\n
1. Impregnable, hard, not giving<\/p>\n
2. The Chaldeans would effectively seal off Jerusalem<\/p>\n
D. What is being portrayed is the final siege of Jerusalem<\/p>\n
1. Jeremiah 39:1-8; 52:4-11<\/p>\n
E. Ezekiel was to lie down<\/p>\n
1. Ezekiel was required to lay on his left side for 390 days<\/p>\n
a. This represented the 390 years that Israel sinned against God<\/p>\n b. Jamieson-Faucett-Brown Commentary: The three hundred ninety, in\nreference to the sin of Israel, was also literally true, being the years from\nthe setting up of the calves by Jeroboam (1Ki 12:20-33), that is, from\n975 to 583 B.C.: about the year of the Babylonians captivity\n
2. Then he was to lie on his right side for 40 days<\/p>\n
a. This represented the 40 years that Judah sinned against God<\/p>\n b. Jamieson-Faucett-Brown Commentary: perhaps the forty of Judah\nrefers to that part of Manasseh’s fifty-five year’s reign in which he had\nnot repented, and which, we are expressly told, was the cause of God’s\nremoval of Judah, notwithstanding Josiah’s reformation (1Ki 21:10-16;\n2Ki 23:26,27)\n c. Adam Clarke: Reckon, says Archbishop Newcome, near fifteen years\nand six months in the reign of Manasseh, two years in that of Amon,\nthree months in that of Jehoahaz, eleven years in that of Jehoiakim,\nthree months and ten days in that of Jehoiachin, and eleven years in\nthat of Zedekiah; and there arises a period of forty years, during which\ngross idolatry was practiced in the kingdom of Judah.\n
3. All the while he would be tied down so he could not move.<\/p>\n a. Represents the fact that Jerusalem would not be able to escape\nGod’s judgment\n 4. Adam Clarke notes: Now Jerusalem was besieged the ninth year of the reign of\nZedekiah, 2Ki 25:1,2, and was not taken till the eleventh year of the same\nprince, 2Ki 25:2. But properly speaking, the siege did not continue the whole of\nthat time; it was interrupted; for Nebuchadnezzar was obliged to raise it, and go\nand meet the Egyptians, who were coming to its succour. This consumed a\nconsiderable portion of time. After he had defeated the Egyptians, he returned\nand recommenced the siege, and did not leave it till the city was taken. We may,\ntherefore, conclude that the four hundred and thirty days only comprise the time\nin which the city was actually besieged, when the city was encompassed with\nwalls of circumvallation, so that the besieged were reduced to a state of the\nutmost distress. The siege commenced the tenth day of the tenth month of the\nninth year of Zedekiah; and it was taken on the ninth day of the fourth month of\nthe eleventh year of the same king. Thus the siege had lasted, in the whole,\neighteen months, or five hundred and ten days. Subtract for the time that\nNebuchadnezzar was obliged to interrupt the siege, in order to go against the\nEgyptians, four months and twenty days, or one hundred and forty days, and\nthere will remain four hundred and thirty days, composed of 390+40=430.\n 5. It also happens to be the years Israel spent in captivity in Egypt – Exodus\n12:40-41\n
F. Finally, Ezekiel was to bare his arm and prophesy against Jerusalem<\/p>\n 1. A bared arm was uncovered and ready to strike. (See Isaiah 52:10 as\nanother example)\n
II. Defiled bread<\/p>\n A. Ezekiel is to make bread for his first 390 days of siege, mixing fine grains with\ncoarse grains.\n
1. During times of shortages this was done to make the food last longer.<\/p>\n
2. He only was to eat about 10 ounces per day<\/p>\n
B. For water he was only to drink a pint and a half per day (3 cups)<\/p>\n
C. These are the barest minimums to sustain life<\/p>\n
1. See description of the famine – Lamentations 4:3-10<\/p>\n D. To signify the scarcity of fuel, Ezekiel was to bake his bread over dried human\ndung\n 1. Later he is granted a reprieve and was allowed to substitute cow dung for\nhuman dung.\n 2. Because the fuel was unclean, the bread would also be unclean –\nDeuteronomy 14:3\n
3. Human waste was normally to be buried – Deuteronomy 23:12-14<\/p>\n
E. The unclean food is also representative of Israel’s captivity in Assyria – Hosea 9:3<\/p>\n
F. Ezekiel objects to the fuel. Being a priest, he has kept himself pure<\/p>\n
1. What Ezekiel refers to is Leviticus 17:15 and Deuteronomy 14:3<\/p>\n
2. God allows a modification as it won’t change the overall message<\/p>\n
G. Food will be rationed<\/p>\n
1. Leviticus 26:25-34 – As prophesied<\/p>\n
2. Isaiah 3:1 – A more recent prophecy<\/p>\n
3. II Kings 25:3 – Fulfillment<\/p>\n
III. Destruction of Jerusalem<\/p>\n
A. Ezekiel is instructed to shave his head and beard with a sword (Ezekiel 5:1)<\/p>\n
1. The cutting of hair is a sign of mourning – Jeremiah 48:37<\/p>\n
2. Or a sign of disgrace – II Samuel 10:4-5<\/p>\n
a. Especially for priests – Leviticus 21:5<\/p>\n
b. Recall that Ezekiel is a priest<\/p>\n
3. The hair represents the people of Israel<\/p>\n
4. The sword represents the Chaldeans<\/p>\n
a. Assyrians once represented thus – Isaiah 7:20<\/p>\n
5. Using a scale, he is to divide the hair<\/p>\n
a. The balance is a symbol of God’s justice<\/p>\n 6. One third would be burnt in a fire in the center of his model city after the\nsiege is completed (Ezekiel 5:2)\n
a. Those killed in the city during the siege<\/p>\n
b. See Ezekiel 5:12 for the explaination<\/p>\n
7. One third is to be struck with the sword around the city<\/p>\n a. Those killed while attempting to escape or in sorties attempting to\ndefend Jerusalem\n 8. One third is to scattered to the wind with the sword unsheathed behind the\nhair.\n
a. Those who escape to other countries – Isaiah 6:12; II Kings 25:21<\/p>\n
9. A few are to be tied to the edge of Ezekiel’s garment.<\/p>\n
a. A small number who remain – Jeremiah 40:6; 52:16<\/p>\n
10. Of these few, some will be burnt in a fire that will spread to all of Israel<\/p>\n
a. The destruction of the remnant in Egypt – Jeremiah 41:1-2; 44:14<\/p>\n
b. See also Isaiah 6:13<\/p>\n
B. The message – Ezekiel 5:5-17<\/p>\n
1. God purposely placed Israel at the crossroads of many nations<\/p>\n
a. The purpose was to be a light to the nations – Psalm 67:1-7<\/p>\n
b. Deuteronomy 4:6<\/p>\n 2. Yet Israel’s sins exceeded the sins of the godless nations around her –\nJeremiah 2:11; Lamentations 4:6\n
a. As a result, Israel would be publically punished<\/p>\n b. A punishment more severe than others had or will suffer – Daniel\n9:12\n c. They will be forced into cannibalism – Leviticus 26:29;\nDeuteronomy 28:53; Jeremiah 19:9; Lamentations 2:20; 4:10\n 3. Because of the defilement of the temple, God will remove himself and not\ntake pity on Israel. – II Chronicles 36:14; Jeremiah 15:2\n
a. God’s eye – Job 36:7<\/p>\n
b. A third of the nation would die by plague and famine<\/p>\n
c. A third would fall in battles<\/p>\n d. And a third would be scattered among the nations with the threat of\ndeath following them – Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64;\nEzekiel 12:4\n 4. The people would become a horror to the nations around and serve as a\nwarning\n
a. Even nature would turn against them – Lamentations 2:15<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrior Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEzekiel\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNext Lesson\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Judgment on Jerusalem Text: Ezekiel 4:1-5:17 I. The siege of Jerusalem A. Ezekiel was to get a brick (or clay tile) and etch a city on it. 1. One ancient source mentioned bricks being two feet long, one foot wide and four inches thick. B. Around it he was to create a model of a siege complete with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":14352,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-64684","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":35899,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/the-siege-of-jerusalem-begins\/","url_meta":{"origin":64684,"position":0},"title":"The Siege of Jerusalem Begins","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 18, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The Seige of Jerusalem Begins Text: Ezekiel 24 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We now begin the fourth set of prophecies (Ezekiel 1:2; 8:1; 20:1) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is now the ninth year, tenth month, and tenth day of the month \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02 years and 5 months since the beginning of the last set. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a04 years and\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":38349,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/judgment-on-tyre\/","url_meta":{"origin":64684,"position":1},"title":"Judgment on Tyre","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 28, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Judgment on Tyre Text: Ezekiel 26-28 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We jump ahead in time once again \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0It is now the first of an unspecified month in the eleventh year \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some speculate that it is the first of the month after Jerusalem fell, but there is no supporting proof. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a02.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0However, it does mention\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":64910,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/judgment-on-egypt\/","url_meta":{"origin":64684,"position":2},"title":"Judgment on Egypt","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"December 23, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Judgment on Egypt Text: Ezekiel 29-32 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This section is composed of six prophecies given at various times. It is not in chronological order as far as when the prophecies were given. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel 29:1 the twelfth day of the tenth month of the tenth year \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0July 14, 588 BC \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14352,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-ezekiel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64684,"position":3},"title":"A Study of Ezekiel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 27, 2005","format":false,"excerpt":"A Study of Ezekiel by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The following are my class notes for teaching Ezekiel here in La Vista. They are presented here in hopes of helping you with your own study of Ezekiel. Contents Background to Ezekiel The Vision of Jehovah (Ezekiel 1) Ezekiel's Call to Preach\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/EzekielPreaching-239x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":22561,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/survey-of-the-bible\/survey-of-the-bible-ezekiel\/","url_meta":{"origin":64684,"position":4},"title":"Survey of the Bible: Ezekiel","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Survey of the Bible: Ezekiel Text: Ezekiel 18:20-32 \u00a0 I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel were all prophets during the same period of time. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jeremiah stayed Judah and witnessed the collapse. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ezekiel was taken into captivity and lived among the captive Israelites \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daniel was taken as a boy to Babylon and became\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69600,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-isaiah\/woe-to-jerusalem\/","url_meta":{"origin":64684,"position":5},"title":"Woe to Jerusalem","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Woe to Jerusalem Text: Isaiah 29 Jerusalem Will Be Brought Low - Isaiah 29:1-4 Jerusalem is called Ariel, \"The Lion of God.\" It took comfort in being the city of David and the place where God's worship was centered. But despite that, it will undergo distress as a foreign army\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64684","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=64684"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/64684\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64684"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}