Ezekiel 24

This chapter is dated on the very day on which Nebuchadrezzar began his last siege of Jerusalem (cp. ver. 1 with 2 Kings xxv. 1; Jer. xxxix. 1; lii. 4), and announces that important event (2).

1 the tenth month, etc. This day was afterwards annually observed as a solemn fast (Zech. viii. 19).

3 a pot. “The caldron” (R.V.), a reference to xi. 3.

5 burn also the bones under it. All classes of the people must be involved in the calamity.

6 scum. Or, “rust” (R.V.); or “verdigris”; i.e., wickedness. Verdigris is poison. The complaint is, that former judgements have not in any degree purified the city.

let no lot fall upon it. i.e., Let all the inhabitants, without distinction of age or station, be the prey of the enemy. The lot was frequently used on the capture of a city, to determine which of the inhabitants should be slain, and which should be spared: see 2 Sam. viii. 2.

7 she set it upon the top of a rock. Instead of attempting to conceal her iniquities, she had sinned without shame, pouring the blood upon a “bare rock” (R.V.), where it could not be absorbed or hidden; therefore her punishment shall be public (8).

10 spice it well. “Pour out the broth” (Moffatt).

12. She hath wearied [herself] with lies. Rather, “It (i.e., the caldron) hath wearied [me] with labours”; i.e., with endeavours to cleanse it. The poisonous rust can be removed only by the destruction of the caldron (the city) itself.

16. I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes. The servant of God is called upon, in the very day of the preceding message, to suffer a sorrowful bereavement without showing any outward token of grief. This was to be a sign to the people of the calamities which were coming upon them, so great that they would have no time or desire to lament for the dead. See on ver. 17.

17 the tire of thine head. i.e., the turban, or head-dress. The usual tokens of grief were loud outcries, the removal of the usual head-dress and sandals, whilst the mouth and beard, and sometimes the head, were wrapped in the mantle. To these, on occasion of death, was added the funeral feast: see Jer. xvi. 7; Hos. ix. 4.

27 and be no more dumb. During the siege of Jerusalem the prophet was to await in silence the fulfilment of his last terrible predictions. When they were fulfilled, he would have new messages to deliver to the smitten and humbled remnant. The next prophecy of Ezekiel to the Jews was three years later (xxxiii. 21).