“You said.
‘These two nations,
These two countries,
Shall be mine.
We will take possession
Of them.’
They had forgotten
That Yahweh was there.”
Mount Seir or Edom said that the two captured countries of Israel in the north and Judah in the south would now be part of Edom. They were going to take possession of these two countries after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. What they had forgotten was that Yahweh was in charge.
“The word of Yahweh
Came to me.
‘Son of man!
Your kinsfolk,
Your own relatives,
Your fellow exiles,
The whole house of Israel,
All of them,
Are those of whom
The inhabitants of Jerusalem
Have said.
‘They have gone far
From Yahweh.
To us
This land is
Given for a possession.’”
As usual, the word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel. He reminded him that all his relatives, his household, his fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel had strayed from Yahweh. However, there is an unusual twist as the people left in Jerusalem said that since these others had sinned, they would take possession of the land and the property of those who had died or were taken captive.
“I will avert
My face
From them.
Thus they may profane
My treasured place.
The violent ones
Shall enter it.
They shall profane it.
Make a chain!
The land is
Full of bloody crimes.
The city is
Full of violence.
I will bring
The worst
Of the nations
To take possession
Of their houses.
I will put an end
To the arrogance
Of the strong.
Their holy places
Shall be profaned.”
Outsiders will occupy Jerusalem. Yahweh was going to turn his face away from the inhabitants of the holy city. Thus these outsiders would profane the treasured places of Jerusalem. Violent wicked people would enter the holy city and desecrate it. The people of Jerusalem would be captured. They would be forced to make a chain, and to be put in chains. The land would be full of bloody crimes. The city would be full of violence. Yahweh was going to bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. Yahweh was going to put an end to the arrogant and strong ones of the city, while their holy places would be profaned.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 