Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Ezekiel 12:23

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Ezekiel 12:23. The days are at hand — Far from failing or being prolonged, time is posting on, and the destruction threatened is at the door.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Messages to be heeded (12:17-28)

Ezekiel’s starvation diet symbolized the shortage of food in Jerusalem during the last great siege (see 4:9-17). He was now told that, when he ate, he was to act as if he were stricken with terror, to emphasize the horror of the events about to overtake Jerusalem (17-20).
Many of the exiles doubted the truth of the messages that Ezekiel announced. They argued that days, months, and even years passed, but they did not see his prophecies fulfilled (21-22). God’s reply was that the prophecies were now about to be fulfilled, and false prophecies of an early return to Jerusalem would cease (23-25). Others did not doubt the truth of Ezekiel’s message, but claimed that the events he foresaw would all happen in the distant future. Again God said that the prophesied events were about to happen (26-28).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say to them, The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any false vision, nor any flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am Jehovah; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall be performed; it shall be no more deferred: for in your days, O rebellions house, I will speak the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord Jehovah."

EZEKIEL ANSWERS A FALSE PROVERB

These words and some of the following prophecies deal with the problem of true and false prophecy. The unbelievers, encouraged by the false prophets, were saying, "Look, we've heard all this before. Nothing happens; things are going on just the same as always." Very well, the Lord says here, "Your wicked generation is the very one that shall indeed see every vision fulfilled, every prophecy vindicated, and all the predictions against the apostate nation happening just like the true prophets said." This proverb appears in the Hebrew here literally, as, "The days lengthen; the vision fails."John T. Bunn in the Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1871), p. 118. In those days, even as today, a catchy proverb can be a very bad influence, if it is founded upon a falsehood.

In all generations, there have been echoes of this same attitude. The apostle Peter declared that, "In the last days, mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

As in Ezekiel 7:0, the nearness of the judgment is foretold.

Ezekiel 12:22

The land of Israel - is put generally for the land where the children of Israel dwelt, whether at home, or in exile. There was prevalent a disregard for the true prophets, which is ever followed by a recognition of the false. First, the true prophet is rejected because it is thought that his prophecies fail. Then men persuade themselves that if the prophecy be true it respects some distant time, and that the men of the present generation need not disturb themselves about it. Compare Jeremiah 1:11; Amos 6:3; Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:4. Against both these delusions Ezekiel is commissioned to protest, and so to lead the way to his condemnation of his countrymen for their blind reliance on false prophets.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 12

The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying, Son of man, you dwell in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and they do not see; they have ears to hear, and they do not hear: for they are a rebellious house ( Ezekiel 12:1-2 ).

Now, you remember, Isaiah said the same thing, "Having eyes to see, they see not; ears to hear, they hear not; least at any time they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and be saved" ( Isaiah 6:10 ). Jeremiah accused them of the same thing, "You don't see, you don't hear." David said, "They that are worshipping the idols have become like unto the idols, which cannot see, which cannot move, which cannot hear." So, Jesus said, "Well saith Isaiah the prophet concerning this generation having eyes to see they will not see, ears to hear, they will not hear."

Now, the Lord is saying, "You're in a rebellious house." The interesting thing is that as the Jews look back upon their fathers and upon their history, they always do it with extremely great pride. They really honor their fathers; they honor the dead; they honor their heritage.

And that's where Stephen got into trouble. For as Stephen was standing before the Sanhedrin and he was rehearsing their history to them, telling them all that God had done, relating to them the illustrious history of their fathers, he finally said, "Which of the prophets of God did not your fathers kill? You know, you'd say, 'Oh our fathers, our fathers, so honor.' Hey, they killed every prophet God sent to them. And now you are even worse than they are, because you've killed the One that they all prophesied concerning." That was when they got so angry that they began to gnash their teeth; they grabbed rocks and began to throw them at him and they stoned him to death. Paul the apostle was right there holding their coats, encouraging them on.

Now here is God saying to Ezekiel, "Look, you're dwelling in the midst of a rebellious people. They have eyes but they will not see, ears but they will not hear, for they are rebellious."

Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing [prepare your stuff for moving], and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: that they will consider, even though they are a rebellious house ( Ezekiel 12:3 ).

Now, they're rebelling; they're thinking that they are going to go back right away from this captivity. They've listened to the false prophets, but you just move your stuff from one place to another, you know, just pack up your duds, pack your suitcases and just move around with your suitcases, because maybe they will hear even though they are rebellious.

Then you shall bring forth your stuff by day in their sight, the stuff as though you're moving: and you shall go forth even in their sight, as they did go forth into captivity. Now dig a hole through the wall in their sight, and carry your stuff out [by this hole in the wall that you dig]. And in their sight, bear your stuff on your shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: and cover your face, so that you can't see the ground: for I have set you for a sign to the house of Israel ( Ezekiel 12:4-6 ).

Now, this is going to be a little illustrated message, Ezekiel, that you're going to carry to the house of Israel. Pack your suitcases, dig a hole in the wall, and crawl out with your suitcases. Carry them on your shoulders and just walk around from one place to another. Move out from your house.

And so I did as I was commanded: and I brought forth my stuff by day, the stuff for captivity, even I digged through the wall with my hands; and brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it on my shoulder in their sight. And in the morning the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto you, What are you doing? ( Ezekiel 12:7-9 )

And that was, of course, the purpose--to create a question. Doing this, he wasn't saying anything, covered his face, and carrying his stuff around after having dug the hole through the wall and said, "What in the world are you doing?"

[So, you go and] say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah GOD [or the Lord God, Adonai]; This burden concerning the prince in Jerusalem, and the house of Israel that are among them. Say, I am your sign: and like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove and go into captivity ( Ezekiel 12:10-11 ).

And now, what you've seen me do is what's happening to the princes back in Jerusalem. They are going to dig a hole in the wall and they are going to try to escape with their stuff.

And the prince [that would be Zedekiah] that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out their stuff: and he shall cover his face, that he not see the ground with his eyes. My net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare: and I will bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; yet shall he not see it, though he shall die there ( Ezekiel 12:12-13 ).

Now, an interesting prophecy concerning Zedekiah the king. He is going to, in the evening twilight hours, dig a hole through the wall and try to escape. But he's going to get caught in the snare, in the net, and he is going to be brought to Babylon, but he won't see it. We have the record of the scriptures that Zedekiah one night tried to escape from Jerusalem, from the siege of the Babylonian army, and he got as far as the plains, down near Jericho, where the Chaldeans caught up with him and captured him. And they took him to Nebuchadnezzar, that was at Riblah, and Nebuchadnezzar there took his sons who tried to escape with him and he killed him in the eyes of Zedekiah (Zedekiah was watching) and then he put out Zedekiah's eyes. And he was taken to Babylon. And so, as Ezekiel predicted, so it happened. He came to Babylon, but he never saw Babylon, because his eyes were put out. Again, God's amazing prophetic word, as God speaks of events and those servants of God speak of events, which it would be impossible to do with such accuracy, unless they spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The Lord said,

And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all of the bands [the armies]; and I will draw out a sword after them. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries. But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come; and they shall know that I am the LORD ( Ezekiel 12:14-16 ).

God again promises to leave a few of them, but they are going to be slain, most of them.

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with carefulness ( Ezekiel 12:17-18 );

In other words, just drink a little, measure your swallows. Drink it with carefulness and shake as you eat your bread, and drink your water like you're frightened.

And say unto the people of the land ( Ezekiel 12:19 ),

You know, these prophets must have been extremely colorful people. But, God is seeking to get the attention of the people. Now, they won't listen to God anymore, so God has these prophets do these colorful things to draw the attention of the people. "Now, what's Ezekiel doing now? Look at the way he's drinking his water and eating his bread, you know. What's he got up his sleeve this time?" And they become curious as they see these bazaar kind of actions. But, all planned of God in order to get the attention, so He can still speak. Now that, to me, is amazing. God still desires to give the message though they're not listening anymore. But He still wants them to receive the message. Long after a person has closed his heart to God, closed his ear to God, God continues to speak in different ways. If you won't listen directly then God will speak to you subtly through the things around your life, circumstances, events and all, but God will get His message across, one way or the other.

Now, say to the people as you're eating and drinking your water and eating your bread this way,

Say to the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness [there's going to be a tremendous famine], they'll drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all of them that dwell therein. And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? ( Ezekiel 12:19-22 )

This is what they were going around saying, "Aha, you know, not in our time. The days are prolonged, every vision fails. You know, you've heard that for a long time. What do you mean the Lord is coming? What do you mean we're getting close to the end? The days are prolonged; we're going to be here for another thousand years. Life is going to go on, man is going to continue. What do you mean we're getting close to the end?" That's what they were saying in Jerusalem at this time. Destruction was right on them. It was days away, and yet the proverb was, "Aw, the days are prolonged, every vision fails. It's not going to happen in our lifetime." As Peter said, "In the last days scoffers will come saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming? Since our fathers have fallen asleep, everything continues as they were from the beginning" ( 2 Peter 3:3-4 ). But Peter said, "The day of the Lord will come."

And God is saying to Ezekiel, this proverb that they are using,

Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they will no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD: and I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged; for in your days, O rebellious house ( Ezekiel 12:23-25 ),

Not in the days of your grandchildren or great grandchildren or whatever, but in your days.

will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD. Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he sees is [a long time off] for many days to come [not going to happen for a long time], and he prophesies of the times that are way off. Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD ( Ezekiel 12:25-28 ).

And within a year, it was. "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The validity of prophecies about Jerusalem’s destruction 12:21-25

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

2. The present judgment as evidence of divine faithfulness 12:21-28

This section contains two prophecies (Ezekiel 12:21-28). The first one deals with the objection of some of the exiles that the prophecies of Jerusalem’s overthrow would never come to pass. The second addresses the view of some that destruction would come but not for a very long time.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

The Lord promised that the people would no longer say such things because He would prove them wrong. Ezekiel was to contradict this proverb and give the people another one that the days of the coming captivity were not far off and that the prophets’ visions would come to pass. The Lord would frustrate the false prophecies and predictions of the future that only flattered the people.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Tell them therefore,.... Plainly and boldly, with the greatest assurance and confidence, as from God himself:

thus saith the Lord God, I will make this proverb to cease; by quickly accomplishing the things which they, by this proverb, represented as at a great distance, and what would never be brought about:

and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; when the things predicted shall take place:

but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every vision; the time is hastening on, and will quickly come, when every prophecy shall be fulfilled: it was in the sixth year of Jehoiachin's captivity that these prophecies were delivered out; and in the ninth year Nebuchadnezzar came with his army, and besieged Jerusalem; so that the days were at hand; in three years' time there began an accomplishment of the above predictions, which were scoffed at in the proverb used.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      21 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,   22 Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?   23 Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.   24 For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.   25 For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord GOD.   26 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,   27 Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.   28 Therefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD.

      Various methods had been used to awaken this secure and careless people to an expectation of the judgments coming, that they might be stirred up, by repentance and reformation, to prevent them. The prophecies of their ruin were confirmed by visions, and illustrated by signs, and all with such evidence and power that one would think they must needs be wrought upon; but here we are told how they evaded the conviction, and guarded against it, namely, by telling themselves, and one another, that though these judgments threatened should come at last yet they would not come of a long time. This suggestion, with which they bolstered themselves up in their security, is here answered, and shown to be vain and groundless, in two separate messages which God sent to them by the prophet at different times, both to the same purport; such care, such pains, must the prophet take to undeceive them, Ezekiel 12:21; Ezekiel 12:26. Observe,

      I. How they flattered themselves with hopes that the judgments should be delayed. One saying they had, which had become proverbial in the land of Israel,Ezekiel 12:22; Ezekiel 12:22. They said, "The days are prolonged; the judgments have not come when they were expected to come, but seem to be still put off de die in diem--from day to day, and therefore we may conclude that every vision fails, because it should seem that some do, that because the destruction has not come yet it will never come; we will never trust a prophet again, for we have been more frightened than hurt." And another saying they had which, if it would not conquer their convictions, yet would cool their affections and abate their concern, and that was, "The vision is for a great while to come; it refers to events at a vast distance, and he prophesies of things which, though they may be true, are yet very far off, so that we need not trouble our heads about them (Ezekiel 12:27; Ezekiel 12:27); we may die in honour and peace before these troubles come." And, if indeed the troubles had been thus adjourned, they might have made themselves easy, as Hezekiah did. Is it not well if peace and truth shall be in my days? But it was a great mistake, and they did but deceive themselves into their own ruin; and God is here much displeased at it; for, 1. It was a wretched abuse of the patience of God, who, because for a time he kept silence, was thought to be altogether such a one as themselves,Psalms 50:21. That forbearance of God which should have led them to repentance hardened them in sin. They were willing to think their works were not evil because sentence against them was not executed speedily; and therefore concluded the vision itself failed, because the days were prolonged. 2. It received countenance form the false prophets that were among them, as should seem from the notice God takes (Ezekiel 12:24; Ezekiel 12:24) of the vain visions, and flattering divinations, even within the house of Israel, to whom were committed the oracles of God. No marvel if those that deceived themselves by worshipping pretended deities deceived themselves also by crediting pretended prophecies, to which strong delusions God justly gave them up for their idolatries. 3. These sayings had become proverbial; they were industriously spread among the people, so that they had got into very one's mouth, and not only so, but were generally assented to, as proverbs usually are, not only the proverbs of the ancients, but those of the moderns too. Note, It is a token of universal degeneracy in a nation when corrupt and wicked sayings have grown proverbial; and it is an artifice of Satan by them to confirm men in their prejudices against the word and ways of God, and a great offence to the God of heaven. It will not serve for an excuse, in saying ill, to plead that it is a common saying.

      II. How they are assured that they do but deceive themselves, for the judgments shall be hastened, these profane proverbs shall be confronted: Tell them, therefore, The days are at hand (Ezekiel 12:23; Ezekiel 12:23), and again, There shall none of my words be prolonged any more,Ezekiel 12:28; Ezekiel 12:28. Their putting the evil day far from them does but provoke God to bring it the sooner upon them; and it will be so much the sorer, so much the heavier, so much the more a surprise and terror to them when it does come. He must tell them,

      1. That God will certainly silence the lying proverbs, and the lying prophecies, with which they buoyed up their vain hopes, and will make them ashamed of both: (1.) I will make this proverb to cease; for when they find the days of vengeance have come, and not one iota or tittle of the prediction falls to the ground, they will be ashamed to use it as a proverb in Israel, The days are prolonged, and the vision fails. Note, Those that will not have their eyes opened and their mistakes rectified, by the word of God, shall be undeceived by his judgments: for every mouth that speaks perverse things shall be stopped. (2.) There shall be no more any vain vision,Ezekiel 12:24; Ezekiel 12:24. The false prophets, who told the people they should have peace and should soon see an end of their troubles, shall be disproved by the event, and then shall be ashamed of their pretensions, and shall hide their heads and impose silence upon themselves. Note, As truth was older than error, so it will survive it; it got the start, and it will get the race. The true prophets' visions and predictions stand, and are in full force, power, and virtue; they give law, and receive credit, when the vain visions, and the flattering divinations, are lost and forgotten, and shall be no more in the house of Israel; for great is the truth, and will prevail.

      2. That God will certainly, and very shortly, accomplish every word that he has spoken. With what majesty does he say it (Ezekiel 12:25; Ezekiel 12:25): I am the LORD! I am Jehovah! That glorious name of his speaks him a God giving being to his word by the performance of it, and therefore to the patriarchs, who lived by faith in a promise not yet performed, he was not known by his name Jehovah,Exodus 6:3. But, as he is Jehovah in making good his promise, so he is in making good his threatenings. Let them know then that God, with whom they have to do, is the great Jehovah, and therefore, (1.) He will speak, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear: I am the Lord, I will speak. God will have his saying, whoever gainsays it. God's oracles are called lively ones, for they still speak when the pagan oracles are long ago struck dumb. There has been, and shall be, a succession of God's ministers to the end of the world, by whom he will speak; and, though contempt may be put upon them, that shall not put a period to their ministration: In your days, O rebellious house! will I say the word. Even in the worst ages of the church God left not himself without witness, but raised up men that spoke for him, that spoke from him. I will say the word, the word that shall stand. (2.) The word that he speaks shall come to pass; it shall infallibly be accomplished according to the true intent and meaning of it, and according to the full extent and compass of it: I will say the word and will perform it (Ezekiel 12:25; Ezekiel 12:25), for his mind is never changed, nor his arm shortened, nor is Infinite Wisdom ever nonplussed. With men saying and doing are two things, but they are not so with God; with him it is dictum, factum--said, and done. In the works of providence, as in those of creation, he speaks and it is done; for he said, Let there be light, and there was light--Let there be a firmament, and there was a firmament,Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29. Whereas they had said, Every vision fails (Ezekiel 12:22; Ezekiel 12:22), God says, "No, there shall be the effect of every vision (Ezekiel 12:23; Ezekiel 12:23); it shall not return void, but every sign shall be answered by the thing signified." Those that see the visions of the Almighty do not see vain visions; God confirms the word of his servants by performing it. (3.) It shall be accomplished very shortly: "The days are at hand when you shall see the effect of every vision,Ezekiel 12:23; Ezekiel 12:23. It is said, it is sworn, that delay shall be no longer (Revelation 10:6); the year of God's patience has now just expired, and he will no longer defer the execution of the sentence. It shall be no more prolonged (Ezekiel 12:25; Ezekiel 12:25); he has borne with you a great while, but he will not bear always. In your days, O rebellious house! shall the word that is said be performed, and you shall see the threatened judgments and share in them. Behold, the Judge stands at the door. The righteous are taken away from the evil to come, but this rebellious house shall not be so quietly taken away; no, they shall live to be hurried away, to be chased out of the world." This is repeated (Ezekiel 12:28; Ezekiel 12:28): "There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but judgment shall now hasten on apace; and the longer the bow has been in the drawing the deeper shall the arrow pierce." When we tell sinners of death and judgment, heaven and hell, and think by them to persuade them to a holy life, though we do not find them downright infidels (they will own that they do believe there is a state of rewards and punishments in the other world), yet they put by the force of those great truths, and void the impressions of them, by looking upon the things of the other world as very remote; they tell us, "The vision you see is for many days to come, and you prophesy of the times that are very far off; it will be time enough to think of them when they come nearer," whereas really there is but a step between us and death, between us and an awful eternity; yet a little while and the vision shall speak and not lie, and therefore it concerns us to redeem time, and get ready with all speed for a future state; for, though it is future, it is very near, and while impenitent sinners slumber their damnation slumbers not.