Ezekiel Chapter 21
Ezek 20:45-49
Babylon, God’s Sword of Judgment
1 A message from Yahveh came to me:
2 “Son of man, face Jerusalem. Speak against its sanctuaries and prophesy against Israel, 3 ‘Yahveh says, “I’ll draw my sword and slay the good and the bad in you, 4 everybody from south to north. 5 Everyone will know I’ve drawn it, and it won’t go back into its sheath.”’
6 “Son of man, moan with breaking heart and bitter grief. 7 When they ask why you’re moaning, say, ‘Over the news that’s coming. Hearts will melt, hands will go limp, spirits will faint, knees will be as weak as water.’”
Ezek 21:1-7
8 Again, a message from Yahveh came to me:
9“Son of man, prophesy,
‘A sword, a sword,
sharpened and polished!
10 sharpened for slaughter,
polished to flash like lightning!
Or should we be happy? Son, you’ve despised the rod and everything wood. 11 A sword is sharpened and polished for the executioner. 12 Cry out and wail, son of man. It’s against my people and their officials. They’ve been delivered to the sword, so strike your thigh. 13 It won’t be for disciplining. What good would that do if you despise the rod?
Ezek 21:8-13
14 ‘So prophesy, son of man. Clap your hands; bring the sword down twice, three times on the slain, for the great slaughter on everyone around. 15 Their hearts will melt and many will fall at their gates. I’ve provided the glittering sword, made for striking like lightning, wrapped and ready for slaughter, 16 to cut sharp wherever it’s aimed. 17 I’ll clap my hands and vent my fury. I’ve said so.’”
Ezek 21:14-17
18A message from Yahveh came to me:
19 “Son of man, mark two roads for the king of Babylon to take that fork off from the same land. Put up a sign at the beginning of the road to each city. 20 Mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah in Ammon and Jerusalem in Judah. 21 The king of Babylon is standing at the fork in the road ready to use fortunetelling, to shake arrows, to consult household idols, to inspect the liver. 22 The lot for Jerusalem comes into his right hand, to set up battering rams against its gates, to lift up the battle cry for slaughter, to build mounds and a siege wall. 23 It will seem to them like false fortunetelling; they’ve sworn solemn oaths. But he’s remembering their sin; so he’ll seize them.
24 “So the Lord Yahveh says, ‘Because you’ve made your sin memorable and your transgressions evident in everything you do, they’ll take you. 25 You slain sinful, prince of Israel, whose time has come for final punishment, 26 take off your turban, remove your crown. Things are going to be different. Raise up what’s low, abase what’s high. 27 I’ll make it a ruin. There won’t be any trace of it till the one comes that I’ve given the right to have it.’
Ezek 21:18-27
28 “So prophesy, son of man, ‘The Lord Yahveh says about the Ammonites and their disgrace: ‘a sword drawn, polished to slaughter like lightning— 29 while they see false visions for you, while they tell you lying fortunes—to place that sword on the necks of the sinful slain at their time of final punishment. 30 Put it back in its sheath. I’ll condemn you where you originated. 31 I’ll pour out my indignation on you, blow fire on you out of my anger, and turn you over to brutal men that know how to destroy. 32 You’ll be fuel for the fire; your blood will be spilled in your own land. You’ll be forgotten. I’ve said so.’”
Ezek 21:28-32