Ezekiel 14:12 Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, |
Remember that the messages from Ezekiel 12 through Ezekiel 19 are occurring over about a one year period, all being given about 5 years before the fall of Jerusalem. Although the message of defeat and destruction of Jerusalem should have been obvious by now, the people were still not ready to believe Ezekiel's prophecy. In fact, based on the subject discussed in this section, it seems that they still harbored the thought that God would preserve Jerusalem because of a "righteous remnant". They might have thought of Abraham's request (Gen 18) that God deliver Sodom if a sufficient number of righteous people were found there. Perhaps the Lord would do the same now for Jerusalem. They were self deceived. Yes God would honor the presence of any righteous persons, but their presence would not save Jerusalem. Keil and Delitzsch make an interesting comment that
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Ezekiel 14:13 "Son of man, if a country sins against Me by committing unfaithfulness, and I stretch out My hand against it, destroy its supply of bread, send famine against it and cut off from it both man and beast, Ezekiel 14:14 even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves," declares the Lord GOD. |
ICB: Human being, sometimes the people of a country will sin against me by not being loyal. When that happens, I will use my power against them. I will cut off their supply of food. I will send them a time of hunger. I will destroy both their people and animals. Three great men like Noah, Daniel and Job might be in that country. But their goodness could save only themselves, says the Lord God. |
If a country sins (Ezek 9:9; Ezra 9:6; Isaiah 24:20; La 1:8,20) - Beloved, while God is directly addressing this warning to Judah, the phraseology widens the scope of the warning - "if a country", not just Judah, sins against God, she will eventually incur the Righteous Wrath of the Holy God (eg, cp Ge 15:16). For some reason, many in "Christian" America think we are immune to God's immutable laws of justice. And yet surely circa 2009 we can see the fraying of the fabric of our society, with portrayals (even celebrations) of sin in the movies, television and media that are not just "off color" but are grossly repulsive and constitute an abomination and an abhorrence to God's eyes. Let all who are God's people entreat our Father earnestly and urgently to send a Spirit empowered, Word centered, Christ exalting revival before there is no remedy (2Chr 36:15, 16)!
The argument is presented four times in parallel, slightly different terms, like four heavy hammer blows that crash down on a precious object and smash it to oblivion. God is very definite, and He means what He says. Judgment is unavoidable. "Committing unfaithfulness" (by treacherously committing treachery) The Hebrew word for "unfaithfulness" (ma'al) is a violation of trust, an act of treachery or a breaking of faith, which presumes a prior relationship. As alluded to earlier, Israel is described as the "wife" of God (even as Jesus is the husband of the church, His bride) and had acted as an "unfaithful" spouse. God referring to Israel accuses "her" of breaking
In 1 Chronicles the writer records that
In 2 Chronicles
Daniel in his powerful prayer in Daniel 9 confessed
The fourfold judgment of Jerusalem in this section is a reiteration of the judgment foretold in Ezekiel 5 where God declared
Destroy (break, crush, smash) its supply of bread (Ezek 4:16; 5:16; Lev 26:26; Is 3:1; Jer 15:2,3; La 4:9,10) The first of four punishments that parallel those seen with the breaking of the fourth seal of the scroll and the unleashing of the "ashen" horse
God had warned Israel in Leviticus
Through His prophet God had warned…
One might ask "How severe was the famine?". In Lamentations Jeremiah records
Cut off… man and beast" (Ezek 14:17,19,21; 25:13; Ge 6:7; Jer32:43; 36:29) Jeremiah echoes this prophecy recording
Now God emphasizes the certainty of the national and individual judgment on Judah and Jerusalem by noting three striking instances of men of high integrity who were delivered from the ruin which fell upon others. Noah (Ge 6:8; 7:1; 8:20,21) was a righteous man and blameless among those of his generation. Peter records that although "Noah, a preacher of righteousness" (2Peter 2:5-note), no one heeded his warning and the world was not spared because of Noah's presence. Neither would Jerusalem be spared by his presence, his preaching or his petitioning! Moses records that although God was sorry that He had made mankind because of their continual evil,
God later tells Noah to
Why was Noah righteous? Was it by his works? God acceptable righteousness only come by faith and so we see
McGee quips that
Daniel (Ezek 28:3; Da 9:21; 10:11) This is a crucial contemporaneous witness to the historicity of Daniel. It is notable that Daniel, a fellow captive with Ezekiel (preceding him by about 8 years) and probably in the range of only 30-35 at this time, and yet appears to be as well known for his righteousness as were Noah and Job. He was given wisdom by God (Da 2:20, 21, 22, 23) and had a respected place of leadership among the exiles (Da 2:45, 46, 47, 48, 49). Some scholars have identified “Daniel” with “Dani’el” of the Ugaritic legend discovered in the Ras Shamra Tablets but the Bible Knowledge Commentary has an interesting discussion on the "identity" of Daniel noting that
Others have pointed out that the "mythical" character had a record (a participant in drunkenness, cursing, and murder) that was far from righteous which would also refute this liberal interpretation. Job (Job 1:5; 42:8,9) Scripture records that
Could deliver only themselves (Pr 11:4; 2Pe 2:9) The Hebrew word for deliver (natsal) occurs 5 times (Ezek 14:14, 16, 18, 20) and all except verse 20 is translated with the Greek verb sozo which means to be saved, preserved from harm, rescued and is the NT word for salvation of men from sin's penalty and power. As Warren Wiersbe says
MacArthur explaining why these specific men were noted, writes that these heroes
God repeatedly instructed Jeremiah to not pray for the people declaring
Lord God" Adonai Yahweh, is distinct from the more common Yahweh Elohim, and occurs over 200 times in Ezekiel but only about 100 times in all the rest of the Old Testament. |
Ezekiel 14:15 "If I were to cause wild beasts to pass through the land and they depopulated it, and it became desolate so that no one would pass through it because of the beasts, Ezekiel 14:16 though these three men were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters. They alone would be delivered, but the country would be desolate. |
The visitation of "Wild beasts" (Ezek 5:17;1Ki20:36; 2Ki17:25; Jer15:3) constituted the second judgment so that the land "became desolate (shemamah)", referring to land that is in a state of utter ruin, abandoned, deserted and forsaken. In Leviticus God had clearly warned Israel that if they disobeyed, He would
As I live" represents a solemn oath by God in which He pledges His very existence for the fulfillment of the prophecy. God's personal oath emphasizes the certainty of their peril and notably accompanies each of the last three devastations (v16, 18, 20). Cooper adds that
"Sons or their daughters" Children would be victims of the judgment that would befall the land. This is a perennial consequence of war and conquest. Children often suffer the most. "They alone would be delivered" (Ge18:23-33; 19:29; Job22:20; Ac27:24; Heb11:7) |
Ezekiel 14:17 "Or if I should bring a sword on that country and say, 'Let the sword pass through the country and cut off man and beast from it,' Ezekiel 14:18 even though these three men were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their sons or their daughters, but they alone would be delivered. |
"A sword" (Ezek 5:12,17; 21:3,4,9-15; 29:8; 38:21,22; Jer25:9; 47:6) God had warned Israel in Leviticus of the consequences of disobedience:
Cut off man and beast" (Ezek 14:13; 25:13; Jer33:12; Ho4:3; Zeph1:3) |
Ezekiel 14:19 "Or if I should send a plague against that country and pour out My wrath in blood on it to cut off man and beast from it, Ezekiel 14:20 even though Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, as I live," declares the Lord GOD, "they could not deliver either their son or their daughter. They would deliver only themselves by their righteousness." |
"Plague" (Ezek 5:12; 38:22; Nu14:12; 16:46-50; Deut28:21,22,59-61; 2 Sa24:13,15; 1 Ki8:37; 2 Chr6:28; 7:13; 20:9; Psalms 91:3,6; Is37:36; Jer4:12; Jer21:6,9; 24:10; Am4:10; Mt24:7)
The historicity of "Noah, Daniel and Job" has been denied by Bible critics. Ezekiel, however, confirms both their historical existence and their exemplary lives. Pour out My wrath (Ezek 7:8; 36:18; Rev16:3-6) is a key phrase in Ezekiel occurring 6 times (Ezek 7:8; 14:19; 20:8, 13, 21; 30:15). The Hebrew word for wrath (chemah from the verb yaham = be hot) refers to God's hot displeasure, which ultimately poured out on Jerusalem culminating in defeat and exile of Judah to Babylon. This outpouring of God's wrath on His chose people because of their sin is in a sense a foretaste of God's future wrath which will be poured out in Revelation 16 upon the city of Babylon (see notes on Rev 16) this outpouring being summarized in Rev16:19 "the great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath." (Revelation 17-18-notes beginning at Rev 17:1) gives more details upon this pouring out of God's wrath upon "Babylon the great". The metaphor of pouring is of a cup filled to the brim with God's wrath with no room for another drop, the handle being held by the sure hand of God Who would pour it forth when He desired. Jeremiah records that
By their righteousness (Ezek 18:20,22; Job 5:19-24; Ps33:18,19; Is3:10; Ho10:12; Zep2:3; Ac10:35; 1Jn2:29; 3:7,10) This allusion of the "potential deterrent power" of the righteous was clearly a reference to (Ge18:22–33) where Abraham sought to intercede on behalf of Sodom and God agreed to spare the cities if ten righteous were found. Yet God would not spare Jerusalem even if there were three of the most outstanding Biblical examples of righteousness and integrity within this land. In Jeremiah God tells his prophet in Jerusalem to
Jerusalem was too sinful to have even one man who, by truth and justice, could qualify to be an advocate to secure pardon for Judah! The point of this section is that Jerusalem had become so evil that Jehovah's judgment was certain and imminent and unavoidable. The presence of godly people in society will not alone deter deserved judgment. People must respond personally to God by confession, repentance, and faith. |
Ezekiel 14:21 For thus says the Lord GOD, "How much more when I send My four severe judgments against Jerusalem: sword, famine, wild beasts and plague to cut off man and beast from it! |
CSB: Now this is what the Sovereign LORD says: How terrible it will be when all four of these fearsome punishments fall upon Jerusalem – war, famine, beasts, and plague – destroying all her people and animals. |
"How much more when I send My four severe judgments" (Ezek 5:12,17; 6:11,12; 33:27; Jer15:2,3; Am4:6-12; Rev6:4-8) how much worse it will be for Israel. What an unthinkable tragedy when God’s own people, who should know better, incur His righteous judgment, a judgment the righteousness of the godly can not avert.
Richards makes an excellent point that just as the Jews thought God would save their country because of a "righteous remnant", there is a similar mindset in America which
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Ezekiel 14:22 "Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it who will be brought out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they are going to come forth to you and you will see their conduct and actions; then you will be comforted for the calamity which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought upon it. Ezekiel 14:23 Then they will comfort you when you see their conduct and actions, for you will know that I have not done in vain whatever I did to it," declares the Lord GOD. |
AMP: And yet, behold, in it shall be left a remnant (an escaped portion), both sons and daughters. They shall be carried forth to you [in Babylon], and when you see their [ungodly] walk and their [wicked] doings, you will be consoled for the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall console you when you see their evil ways and their rebellious actions. Then you shall know (understand and realize) that I have not done without cause all that I have done in Jerusalem, says the Lord God. GNB: If anyone does survive and save his children, look at them when they come to you. See how evil they are, and be convinced that the punishment I am bringing on Jerusalem is justified GWT: But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it. You will be comforted when you see how they live. Then you will know that everything I have done was done for a reason," declares the Almighty LORD. NCV: But some people will escape; some sons and daughters will be led out. They will come out to you, and you will see what happens to people who live as they did. Then you will be comforted after the disasters I have brought against Jerusalem, after all the things I have brought against it. You will be comforted when you see what happens to them for living as they did, because you will know there was a good reason for what I did to Jerusalem, says the Lord GOD." NLT: Yet there will be survivors, and they will come here to join you as exiles in Babylon. You will see with your own eyes how wicked they are, and then you will feel better about what I have done to Jerusalem. When you meet them and see their behavior, you will agree that these things are not being done to Israel without cause, says the Sovereign LORD." Young's Literal: yet, lo, there hath been left in it an escape, who are brought forth, sons and daughters, lo, they are coming forth unto you, and ye have seen their way, and their doings, and have been comforted concerning the evil that I have brought in against Jerusalem, all that which I have brought in against it. And they have comforted you, for ye see their way and their doings, and ye have known that not for nought have I done all that which I have done in her -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.' |
"Survivors will be left" (remnant) For an in depth discussion of the Biblical concept of "the remnant" click here.
"You will see" referring to exiles with the implication that they are murmuring at the severity of God's judgment about to be inflicted on Jerusalem. God Who does not ever have to justify His actions, nevertheless condescends here to show the reasonableness and inevitability of His severe judgment of Judah and Jerusalem. Why would the Jewish exiles in Babylon be comforted when they saw the survivors who were brought from Jerusalem after it fell in 586BC? Several commentaries interpret this passage as a reference to a righteous remnant but the context more clearly points to a "wicked remnant", whose evil deeds justified the actions of God's judgment on Jerusalem. The captives would see their "conduct and actions" and understand. Both of these words are used elsewhere in Ezekiel to refer to evil conduct and actions, which further supports this interpretation. "Conduct" (derek) figuratively refers to the road, path or journey one chooses to walk down. The psalmist records
The NLT paraphrases it (note that is an interpretative translation - in this case I think it is excellent but it is always best to check a more literal translation like NASB or ESV, both more literal than the more popular NIV) this way
The Good News Bible says
In contrast to this wicked "remnant", Ezekiel describes the "righteous remnant", writing that
Although this verse would refer to any of the exiles who sought God with all their heart, the complete fulfillment awaits the end of the age and the "time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer30:7) or what Jesus referred to as the "great tribulation" (Mt24:15), at the triumphant return of the Deliverer (Ro11:26) when this remnant will recognize that Jesus is their Messiah and their Redeemer. "I have not done in vain" (Ezek 8:6-18; 9:8,9; Ge18:22-33; Dt8:2; Pr26:2; Jer7:17-28; Jer22:8,9; Da9:7,14; Ro2:5; Rev15:4; 16:6) Nehemiah assessed God's judgment of Jerusalem as righteous declaring that
In Leviticus God says that
Barnes writes that
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