Study Desk

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because the enemy has said of you, 'Aha!' and, 'The ancient heights have become our property,'

therefore prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "For good reason they have made you a desolation, and they crushed you from every side so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations and you have become the talk and the whispering of the people."'"

'Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the deserted cities which have become prey and a mockery to the rest of the nations which surround you,

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Most certainly in the fire of My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) I have spoken against the rest of the nations and against all Edom, who appropriated My land for themselves as a possession with wholehearted joy and with uttermost contempt, so that they might empty it out [and possess it] as prey."

'Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the hills, to the ravines and to the valleys, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy (love for that which is Mine) and in My wrath because you have endured the [shameful] insults of the nations.'

"Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, 'I have lifted up My hand and sworn [an oath] that the nations that are around you will themselves endure their [shameful] insults.

"Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Because they say to you, "You [O land] are a devourer of people and have bereaved your nation of children,"

therefore you will no longer devour people, and no longer bereave your nation of children,' says the Lord GOD.

"I will not let you hear insults from the nations anymore, nor will you bear disgrace from the peoples any longer, nor will you cause your nation to stumble [through idolatry] any longer," says the Lord GOD.'"

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

"I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

"You will live in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your God.

"I am not doing this for your sake," says the Lord GOD. "Let that be known to you. Be ashamed and humiliated for your [wicked] ways, O house of Israel!"

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "On the day that I cleanse you from all your sins I will also cause the cities [of Israel] to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt.

'Thus says the Lord GOD, "This too I will let the house of Israel ask Me to do for them: I will increase their people like a flock.

And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."

"Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will make breath enter you so that you may come to life.

Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."'"

"Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will open your graves and make you come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you [back home] to the land of Israel.

say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am going to take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join the stick of Judah with it and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand."'