Ezekiel 20:46
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“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
In this chapter, I. The prophet is consulted by some of the elders of Israel (Eze 20:1). II. He is instructed by his God what answer to give them. He must, 1. Signify God's displeasure against them (Eze 20:2, Eze 20:3). And, 2. He must show them what just cause he had for that displeasure, by giving them a history of God's grateful dealings with their fathers and their treacherous dealings with God. (1.) In Egypt (Eze 20:5-9). (2.) In the wilderness (v. 10-26). (3.) In Canaan (Eze 20:27-32). 3. He must denounce the judgments of God against them (Eze 20:33-36). 4. He must tell them likewise what mercy God had in store for them, when he would bring a remnant of them to repentance, re-establish them in their own land, and set up his sanctuary among them again (Eze 20:37-44). 5. Here is another word dropped towards Jerusalem, which is explained and enlarged upon in the next chapter (Eze 20:45-49).
Open source ↗20:46 turn and face the south (literally turn toward Teman): Teman was a town in Edom, southeast of Judah. • The Negev was southwest of the Dead Sea.
Open source ↗Cross-references
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“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel
Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’
The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.
Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants.
This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
“Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”
You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it.
“Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.
After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
I will appoint destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut down the choicest of your cedars and throw them into the fire.