changed = rejected, or rebelled against. Compare Ezekiel 20:8 , Ezekiel 20:13 , Ezekiel 20:21 , Numbers 20:24 ; Numbers 27:14 . Hebrew. march. Occurs forty-two times in O.T., and rendered "changed" only here. See notes on Ezekiel 2:3 , Ezekiel 2:6 . wickedness . Hebrew. rdshii'. App-44 . they : i.e. the nations and the countries. read more
6. changed . . . into—rather, "hath resisted My judgments wickedly"; "hath rebelled against My ordinances for wickedness" [BUXTORF]. But see on Ezekiel 5:7, end. read more
The Lord explained that the center of the drama was Jerusalem that He had set at the center of many nations and lands. Some in Ezekiel’s audience undoubtedly hoped that the city under symbolic destruction was Babylon, but it was indeed Jerusalem. It was at the center of civilization geographically and theologically. Some rabbinic writers, early church fathers, and medieval cartographers concluded from this passage that Jerusalem was the "navel of the earth" (cf. Ezekiel 38:12). [Note: See... read more
The interpretation of these Acts 5:5-17Evidently Ezekiel’s verbal explanation of this drama came at the very end of the drama, at the time of the real destruction of Jerusalem. Ezekiel was no longer silent then. read more
Symbolic Actions Representing Jerusalem's Siege and CaptivityEzekiel is commanded to perform four remarkable actions setting forth the coming siege withits hardships, and the approaching captivity with its evils. It is uncertain whether these actions were literally performed or not. Symbolic methods of this-kind were certainly used by various prophets, but some of those in Ezekiel 4:0 are so extraordinary that many suppose that they were not actually carried out, but only imagined and... read more
(6) Changed my judgments into wickedness.—Better, hath wickedly resisted my judgments, the sense adopted by most modern expositors.More than the nations.—Not, of course, absolutely, but in proportion to the knowledge and the privileges given them. It would be an exaggeration to say that the Israelites were actually more evil in their life than the surrounding heathen; for they were, no doubt, far better. Even of those cities which our Lord, at a later day, so strongly upbraided, it would be... read more
THE END FORETOLDEzekiel 4:1-17 - Ezekiel 7:1-27WITH the fourth chapter we enter on the exposition of the first great division of Ezekiel’s prophecies. The chaps, 4-24, cover a period of about four and a half years, extending from the time of the prophet’s call to the commencement of the siege of Jerusalem. During this time Ezekiel’s thoughts revolved round one great theme-the approaching judgment on the city and the nation. Through contemplation of this fact there was disclosed to him the... read more
Ezekiel 5:1-4 . The sharp knife is the symbol of the king of Babylon. (See Isaiah 7:20 .) He was God’s instrument in the execution of His wrath; the people are represented by the hair. The third part of the hair burned with fire pictures the fate of a part of the people during the siege. The pestilence and the famine were also to consume them. Only a few in number, a small remnant, were to be preserved, as indicated when Ezekiel took a few hairs and bound them in his skirt. Ezekiel 5:5-17 .... read more
5:6 And she hath changed my {e} judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that [are] around her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.(e) My word and law into idolatry and superstitions. read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-17
Jerusalem destroyed (5:1-17)The last of this group of four acted parables was again concerned with the siege of Jerusalem. It dealt more specifically with the dreadful fate that awaited the citizens.Ezekiel shaved his hair, weighed it, then divided it into three equal parts. One part he burnt on his model city (the brick), symbolizing the death of one third of the city’s people through famine and disease. The second part he scattered around the model city, then chopped up the hair with a sword,... read more