Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 11

Verses 1-25

The prophet was now lifted by the Spirit, and brought to the east gate, that is, to the place whither the glory of God had departed. There he saw a conclave of five and twenty men presided over by princes of the people, who were devising iniquity, that is, plotting against the king of Babylon. They declared that they were safe in their city.

Instructed of the Spirit, Ezekiel uttered a denunciation of them, and declared God's vengeance against them. Taking up their figure of the cauldron and the flesh, he declared that they should be brought forth from the midst thereof, and that on account of their sin.

As he prophesied, one of the princes died, and Ezekiel, filled with amazement, fell on his face before Jehovah, and appealed to Him for intercession. This appeal was answered by the declaration that Jehovah would protect those scattered among the nations, Himself being to them-a sanctuary in the countries where they had come. He promised, moreover, that eventually He would restore them to the land of Israel, and that in their coming they would be morally and spiritually cleansed and restored, but that vengeance would inevitably fall on such as were persistent in their sin. Again, a vision of the glory of God departing from the city was granted to him. Returning from these visions, he uttered in the hearing of the captives all the things that the Lord had showed him.