Ezekiel 21

1-32 The Drawn Sword of God

• God tells Ezekiel to set his face toward Jerusalem and preach against them.
• God will draw his sword out of its sheath and will cut off both righteous and wicked; the sword shall not be sheathed again.
• Moan, therefore, with breaking heart.
• When they ask why you moan, tell them it is because of the news:
• every heart will melt
• all hands will be feeble
• every spirit will faint
• all knees will turn to water.
• Prophesy [in poetry format]:
• A sword is sharpened for slaughter
• How can we made merry?
• The sword is polished for the slayer’s hand
• Cry and wail, for it is against my people and their princes.
• If you despise the rod, it will still happen.
• It is a sword for killing, for great slaughter, therefore hearts will melt
• It is made for flashing, polished for slaughter
• I will satisfy my fury
• The LORD has spoken.
• Mortal, mark two roads for the king of Babylon, and make a signpost at the fork in the road.
• One goes to Rabbah of Ammon, and the other to Jerusalem.
• When the king uses divination to decide which fork to take, the lot will fall on Jerusalem.
• He will set battering rams and cry out against Jerusalem.
• To the vile prince of Israel [in poetry format]:
• Your day has come, a day for final punishment
• Take off the crown: exalt what is low, abase what is high.
• I will make it a ruin like has never occurred before and will give it to the one whose right it is. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, this could refer either to Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36) or to the Messiah.
• Mortal, prophesy against the Ammonites In case the Ammonites think they are now safe from destruction [in poetry format]:
• A sword, drawn for slaughter, polished to consume, divines lies for you.
• Return the sword to its sheath; I will judge you in your land.
• I will pour out my indignation upon you; you shall be fuel for the fire.
• You shall be remembered no more.
• I the LORD have spoken.