14:14 even if. The prophet is apparently addressing the view held by some that the presence of a certain number of righteous people in Jerusalem would serve to protect the city (cf. Gen. 18:22–32).

Noah, Daniel, and Job. Though Noah was a righteous man and blameless among those of his generation (Gen. 6:9), the world was not spared because of his presence. Job too was blameless and upright (Job 1:1), but this did not spare his family. The identity of the “Daniel” mentioned is much debated. He is probably not Ezekiel’s contemporary known from the Book of Daniel; the Hebrew spelling used here (Dani’el) is different from that used for the name of the prophet (Daniyye’l). More probably this Daniel is a heroic figure mentioned in a text from ancient Ugarit. This story concerns a king named Dan’el known to some extent for his righteousness, wisdom (cf. 28:3), and pity. “Noah, Daniel, and Job” would then designate non-Israelite figures from remote times known for their uprightness. They could not save the world in their own day and even together could not save the city of Jerusalem (cf. v. 20).