Ezekiel 18:23

23. Have I any pleasure… that the wicked should die The prophecies of coming calamity were regarded by many as not being from Jehovah at all. The dangers which were before the nation were merely due to political complications and could be escaped by making a favorable alliance with Egypt (Ezekiel 17:7). Many of those who believed the prophecies accepted them as final and irrevocable decrees of Jehovah (Lamentations 2:8-9; Lamentations 2:17; Lamentations 3:42-44). Many of these also believed that the predestination of evil was in consequence of the unfaithfulness of former generations (Ezekiel 18:2, etc.). The prophet brings to these different classes of people three propositions which he forcibly states and illustrates: (1) These afflictions are divine punishments for sin; (2) They are punishments for the sins of the people who are bearing or shall bear them; (3) They can be escaped by repentance and reformation.