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Parable of a Rusted Pot

24 The word of Adonai came to me in the tenth day of the tenth month of the ninth year saying: “Son of man, record this date, this exact day—this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem. Utter a parable concerning the rebellious house. Say to them, thus says Adonai Elohim:

‘Put on the pot, put it on
and then pour water into it.
Gather the pieces into it,
every good piece—thigh and shoulder.
Fill it with the choice bones.
Take the choicest of the flock
and pile the bones under it;
bring it to a rolling boil,
so that its bones also seethe in it.’”
Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim:
Oy to the city of bloodshed,
to the pot whose corrosion is in it,
whose rust will not come off it!
Draw it out piece by piece
—no lot would fall for it.
For her bloodshed is in her midst.
She put it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it upon the ground
to cover it with dust.
So it stirs up wrath for taking vengeance.
I have put her blood on the bare rock,
that it may not be covered.”
Therefore thus says Adonai Elohim:
Oy to the city of bloodshed!
I will also make the pile great,
10 heaping on the wood,
kindling the fire,
boiling the meat well,
and mixing in spices.
But let the bones be burned!
11 I will set it empty upon the coals
until it gets hot and its copper scorches,
so its impurity will be melted,
its corrosion consumed.
12 It has wearied toil,
yet its thick rust will not come out of it.
Into the fire with its corrosion!
13 Because of your filthy obscenity,
though I tried to purify you
yet you were not made pure,
you will never be cleansed from your filth
until I have satisfied My fury on you.
14 I, Adonai, have spoken—it is coming.
I will do it, I will not let go,
not pity, not relent
—according to your ways
and according to your deeds
they will judge you.’”
It is a declaration of Adonai.

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of Adonai came to me saying: 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a single blow. But do not lament, do not weep or allow any tears to flow. 17 Sigh silently, do not observe mourning for the dead, keep your turban fastened, and keep your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I did just as I was commanded. 19 The people said to me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”

20 Then I said to them, “The word of Adonai came to me saying, 21 speak to the house of Israel, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘Behold, I will profane My Sanctuary, the pride of your might, the desire of your eyes and the longing of your soul. Your sons and your daughters that you have left behind will fall by the sword. 22 You will do just as I have done: you will not cover your upper lips or eat the bread of mourners. 23 Your turbans will remain on your heads and your shoes on your feet—you will not lament or weep. But you will pine away in your iniquities and groan to each other. 24 Ezekiel will be a sign for you; just as he has done, you will do. When this comes, you will know that I am Adonai.’

25 “You, son of man, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, the longing of their soul, as well as their sons and their daughters— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you to tell you the news. 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to him who escaped. You will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am Adonai.”

Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot

24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me:(A) “Son of man, record(B) this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.(C) Tell this rebellious people(D) a parable(E) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Put on the cooking pot;(F) put it on
    and pour water into it.
Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;(G)
    take the pick of the flock.(H)
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.(I)

“‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe(J) to the city of bloodshed,(K)
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order(L) it comes.(M)

“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.(N)
To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.(O)
12 It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed(P) from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.(Q)

14 “‘I the Lord have spoken.(R) The time has come for me to act.(S) I will not hold back; I will not have pity,(T) nor will I relent.(U) You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions,(V) declares the Sovereign Lord.(W)’”

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(X) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(Y) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(Z) 17 Groan quietly;(AA) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(AB) fastened and your sandals(AC) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(AD) or eat the customary food of mourners.(AE)

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.(AF)

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(AG) Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(AH)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(AI) the delight of your eyes,(AJ) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(AK) you left behind will fall by the sword.(AL) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(AM) or eat the customary food of mourners.(AN) 23 You will keep your turbans(AO) on your heads and your sandals(AP) on your feet. You will not mourn(AQ) or weep but will waste away(AR) because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.(AS) 24 Ezekiel(AT) will be a sign(AU) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,(AV) their heart’s desire,(AW) and their sons and daughters(AX) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(AY) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(AZ) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(BA)

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in