Ezekiel 7:10-13

The Lord announced that the day of Israel’s doom was coming. Judgment was about to break forth as buds on a branch (cf. Numbers 17:8; Jeremiah 1:11-12). The people’s violence had grown from a small shoot into a stout branch of wickedness. Nebuchadnezzar would prove to be the rod of God’s judgment. No eminent individuals and nothing of much value would remain. The time of judgment was so near that both buyers and sellers should refrain from their usual pursuits.

"The buyer who normally rejoiced over a good business deal should not be happy because he would not be able to possess the land he had purchased. And one forced to sell his land should not grieve because he would have lost it anyway." [Note: Dyer, "Ezekiel," p. 1241.]

It would be impossible for sellers to regain (by redemption or in a sabbatical or jubilee year) what they sold because everything would be swept away before a change could be made (cf. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31). Even iniquity would not change the prospect of coming judgment.

"Hardening oneself in sin would not accomplish immunity from punishment." [Note: Feinberg, p. 46.]

This pericope may be one or two oracles (Ezekiel 7:10-13). The first two verses stress the imminence, comprehensiveness, and readiness of the judgment, and the last two its permanence and suddenness.

"It is amazing how easily messages of judgment are forgotten. These messages constantly must be reinforced." [Note: Cooper, p. 112.]

The last half of this chapter emphasizes the Judeans’ reactions to the coming judgment.