Ezekiel Chapter 24

That way you’ll know I’m the Lord GOD.’”                     Ezek 23:43-49

The Cooking Pot

         24^:1The tenth day, tenth month, ninth year, a message from the LORD came to me:

² “Son of man, write down the date. Today the king of Babylon laid siege to Jerusalem. ³ Tell the rebellious people a parable, ‘The Lord GOD says,

                  “Put a pot on and pour water in it;

                  ⁴ put good pieces of meat in it,

                  thigh and shoulder;

                  fill it with choice bones.

            ⁵ Take the best of the flock

                  and put wood under the pot.

                  Boil it hard;

                  seethe the bones with the meat.”             

Ezek 24:1-5

            ⁶ ‘The Lord GOD says,

                  “Misfortune awaits the bloody city;

                  it awaits the rusty pot!

                  Take out piece after piece

                        without choosing which ones.

            ⁷ The blood she shed is in her; 

                  she put it on a bare rock;

                  she didn’t pour it on the ground

                        and cover it with dirt.

            ⁸ To cause anger to rise up

                        and take revenge,

                  I’ve put her blood on a bare rock

                        so it won’t be covered.”                    

Ezek 24:6-8

            ⁹ ‘So the Lord GOD says,

                           “Misfortune awaits the bloody city!

                  I’ll make it a big pile.

            ¹⁰ Pile on the wood, kindle the fire,

                  boil the meat well,

                  mix in the spices,

                  burn the bones.

            ¹¹ Then set it empty on the coals

                  to get it hot

                  so its bronze will glow,

                  its dross will dissolve,

                  and its rust will burn off.

            ¹² I’ve worked hard for nothing,

                  because its extreme rust isn’t gone;

                  let it rust in the fire!

Ezek 24:9-12

            ¹³ In your filthiness is lewdness;

                  I wanted to clean you up,

                        but you didn’t want to be clean.

                  You won’t be clean from your filthiness

                        till I’ve spent my anger on you.

¹⁴ I, the LORD, have said it; it’s coming, I’ll do it. I won’t hold back. I won’t pity or be sorry. I’ll judge you according to your ways and deeds.”’”

Ezek 24:13-14

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

¹⁵ A message from the LORD came to me:

¹⁶ “Son of man, I’m about to take away the delight of your eyes in one stroke, but don’t mourn or cry or shed tears. ¹⁷ Groan silently; don’t perform ritual mourning for the dead. Wrap your turban on, put your shoes on, don’t cover your mouth in sorrow, or eat the bread of mourning.”                                                                  

Ezek 24:15-17

¹⁸ I told the people about it in the morning; that evening my wife died. The next morning, I did what God told me.

¹⁹ The people said, “Won’t you tell us what you’re doing means for us?”

²⁰ I told them,

“A message from the LORD came to me, ²¹ ‘Tell Israel, “I’m about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes and soul. The children you’ve left behind will fall by the sword. ²² Do what I’ve done. Don’t cover your mouth in sorrow or eat the bread of mourning. ²³ Put your turbans on your heads and your shoes on your feet. Don’t mourn or weep, but pine away in your sins and groan to one another. ²⁴ Follow Ezekiel’s example. When it comes, you’ll know I’m the Lord GOD.”’

Ezek 24:18-24

²⁵ “Son of man, won’t that be when I take their fortresses away from them, their pride and joy, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, their children— ²⁶ when somebody escapes and comes to you with the news? ²⁷ Then you can speak to the one that escaped. You’ll be a sign to them. They’ll know I’m the LORD.”