Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 24

Verse 1

24:1 Again in the {a} ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the {b} month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

(a) Of Jeconiah’s captivity and of the reign of Zedekiah, 2 Kings 25:1 .

(b) Called Tebeth, which contains part of December and part of January: in which month and day Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem.

Verse 3

24:3 And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a {c} pot, set [it] on, and also pour water into it:

(c) By which was meant Jerusalem.

Verse 4

24:4 Gather its {d} pieces into it, [even] every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill [it] with the choice bones.

(d) That is the citizens and the chief men of it.

Verse 5

24:5 Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the {e} bones under it, [and] make it boil well, and let them boil its bones in it.

(e) Meaning, of the innocents whom they had slain, who were the cause of the kindling of God’s wrath against them.

Verse 6

24:6 Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot {f} whose scum [is] in it, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out {g} piece by piece; let no {h} lot fall upon it.

(f) Whose iniquities and wicked citizens there yet remain.

(g) Signifying that they should not be destroyed all at once, but little by little.

(h) Spare no estate or condition.

Verse 7

24:7 For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a {i} rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;

(i) The city showed her cruelty to all the world, and was not ashamed of it, neither yet hid it.

Verse 10

24:10 Heap on wood, {k} kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.

(k) Meaning that the city would be utterly destroyed and that he would give the enemies an appetite for it.

Verse 12

24:12 {l} She hath wearied [herself] with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum [shall be] in the fire.

(l) The city has flattered herself in vain.

Verse 13

24:13 In thy filthiness [is] lewdness: because I {m} have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

(m) I laboured by sending my prophets to call you to repentance but you would not.

Verse 14

24:14 I the LORD have spoken [it]: it shall come to pass, and I will do [it]; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall {n} they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

(n) That is, the Babylonians.

Verse 16

24:16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the {o} desire of thy eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

(o) Meaning his wife in whom he delighted, as in Ezekiel 24:18 .

Verse 17

24:17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind thy turban upon thee, {p} and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not [thy] lips, and eat {q} not the bread of men.

(p) For in mourning they went bare headed and barefooted and also covered their lips.

(q) That is, which the neighbours sent to them that mourned.

Verse 18

24:18 So I spoke to the people in the morning: and at evening my wife died; and I did {r} in the morning as I was commanded.

(r) Meaning the morning following.

Verse 21

24:21 Speak to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will {s} profane my sanctuary, the {t} excellence of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.

(s) By sending the Chaldeans to destroy it, as in Geneva "Ezekiel 7:22".

(t) In which you boast and delight.