Ezekiel 24

The Boiling Pot

1 In the ninth year, tenth month, tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

2 “Son of man, write down this date, this exact day, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem on this very day.

3 Tell this rebellious house a parable and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Put the pot on the fire. Put it on and pour water into it.

4 Put the pieces of meat into it, every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with the choicest bones.

5 Take the best from the flock, stack the wood underneath it, make it boil hard, and let the bones cook inside it.’

6 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the city of bloodshed, the pot whose rust will not come off. Empty it piece by piece, no lot is cast for it.

7 For her blood is still in her midst. She put it on bare rock; she did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust,

8 so My wrath would rise up and take vengeance. I put her blood on bare rock so it would not be covered.”

9 Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “Woe to the city of bloodshed. I will also make the pile of wood big.

10 Heap on the wood, kindle the fire, boil the meat thoroughly, mix in the spices, and let the bones burn.

11 Then set the empty pot on the coals so it can get hot, its bronze can glow, its filth can melt inside it, and its rust be burned away.

12 It has worn itself out with effort; its thick rust has not gone out of it, its rust will be burned by fire.

13 Because of your filthy lewdness, since I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed, you will not be cleansed from your filth again until I satisfy My wrath against you.

14 I, the LORD, have spoken. It is coming, and I will do it. I will not hold back, I will not spare, and I will not relent. According to your ways and your deeds they will judge you,” declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

16 “Son of man, I am about to take away from you the desire of your eyes with one blow. Yet you must not mourn or weep or let tears run down.

17 Groan quietly. Do not observe mourning rites for the dead. Tie on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of others.”

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did just as I was commanded.

A Sign to Israel

19 Then the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

21 ‘Speak to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind will fall by the sword.

22 Then you will do just as I have done. You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of others.

23 Your turbans will be on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away in your sins and groan to one another.

24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you. Just as he has done, so you will do when this happens. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”

25 “As for you, son of man, on the day I take away from them their stronghold, the joy of their pride, the desire of their eyes, and the longing of their soul, and their sons and daughters as well,

26 on that day a fugitive will come to you to report the news.

27 On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive. You will speak and no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”