The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms # 146
146. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 23
The church which is in truth, and the church which is in good. (2)
1-2 There are two churches, one which is in truth, which is Samaria, and the other which is in good, which is Jerusalem. (2)
3 Both are external natural, perverted in the beginning. (2)
5-8 Samaria falsified the truths of the Word by reasonings from knowledges [scientifica];, (2, 3)
9-10 thus she became corrupted. (2, 3)
11-13 Jerusalem likewise falsified truths, (2, 3)
14-17 and adulterated goods also by various means. (2, 3)
18 Thereby she separated herself from the Lord, (2)
19 and defiled truths and goods still further by knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man. (2)
22-25 They will wholly perish on the day of judgment. (15)
26-27 Thus the truths and goods of the church will no longer be perverted. (15)
28-31 They will be in hell where there is nothing but evils and falsities. (15)
32-34 They will also be in the falsification of all truth; (15)
35 and this, because they have denied the Lord. (4)
36-39 They have destroyed all the holy things of the church. (3)
40-42 They boasted before others because of their having the Word and the holy things of the church, (3)
43-45 although these were entirely falsified and adulterated. (3)
46-49 Falsities and evils will destroy all things of the church among them, and such must be separated that they may no longer mislead. (3, 11)
Ezekiel 24
1
Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth [day] of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
2
Son of man, write the name of the day, [even] of this same day: the king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.
3
Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh, Set on the caldron, set it on, and also pour water into it:
4
gather its pieces into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
5
Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile [of wood] for the bones under [the caldron]; make it boil well; yes, let its bones be boiled in its midst.
6
Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the bloody city, to the caldron whose rust is therein, and whose rust is not gone out of it! take out of it piece after piece; No lot is fallen on it.
7
For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it on the bare rock; she didn't pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust.
8
That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it should not be covered.
9
Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.
10
Heap on the wood, make the fire hot, boil well the flesh, and make thick the broth, and let the bones be burned.
11
Then set it empty on its coals, that it may be hot, and its brass may burn, and that its filthiness may be molten in it, that its rust may be consumed.
12
She has wearied [herself] with toil; yet her great rust doesn't go forth out of her; her rust doesn't [go forth] by fire.
13
In your filthiness is lewdness: because I have cleansed you and you weren't cleansed, you shall not be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.
14
I, Yahweh, have spoken it: it shall happen, and I will do it: I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to your ways, and according to your doings, shall they judge you, says the Lord Yahweh.
15
Also the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
16
Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke: yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.
17
Sigh, but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead; bind your headdress on you, and put your shoes on your feet, and don't cover your lips, and don't eat men's bread.
18
So I spoke to the people in the morning; and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
19
The people said to me, Won't you tell us what these things are to us, that you do so?
20
Then I said to them, The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
21
Speak to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind shall fall by the sword.
22
You shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
23
Your tires shall be on your heads, and your shoes on your feet: you shall not mourn nor weep; but you shall pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.
24
Thus Ezekiel shall be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.
25
You, son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart, their sons and their daughters,
26
that in that day he who escapes shall come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?
27
In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you shall speak, and be no more mute: so you will be a sign to them; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
