Study Desk

So you will be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror to the nations around you, when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath, and raging fury. I, the LORD, have spoken.

Wherever you live, the cities will be laid waste and the high places will be demolished, so that your altars will be laid waste and desecrated, your idols smashed and obliterated, your incense altars cut down, and your works blotted out.

Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive, your survivors will remember Me-how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their abominations.

He who is far off will die by the plague, he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains will die of famine. So I will vent My fury upon them.

So I will bring the most wicked of nations to take possession of their houses. I will end the pride of the mighty, and their holy places will be profaned.

"Son of man," He said to me, "now lift up your eyes to the north." So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

"Son of man," He told me, "dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway.

So I went in and looked, and engraved all around the wall was every kind of crawling creature and detestable beast, along with all the idols of the house of Israel.

So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.

Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children, but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were before the temple.

Then He told them, "Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!" So they went out and began killing throughout the city.

You fear the sword, so I will bring the sword against you, declares the Lord GOD.

so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.

And as they look on, lift your bags to your shoulder and take them out at dusk; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."

So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my bags for exile by day, and in the evening I dug through the wall by hand. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulder as they watched.

You are to say, 'I am a sign for you. Just as I have done, so will it be done to them; they will go into exile as captives.'

And at dusk the prince among them will lift his bags to his shoulder and go out. They will dig through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the land.

But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine, and plague, so that they can tell of all their abominations among the nations to which they go. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

You did not go up to the gaps or restore the wall around the house of Israel so that it would stand in the battle on the Day of the LORD.

I will tear down the wall you whitewashed and level it to the ground, so that its foundation is exposed. The city will fall, and you will be destroyed within it. Then you will know that I am the LORD.