God’s Sword of Judgment
The word of the LORD tells Ezekiel to set his face toward Jerusalem and preach against Israel's sanctuaries and land because the LORD's sword is drawn from its sheath. The sword will go out against the whole land so all flesh knows that God Himself has unsheathed it. Ezekiel must groan and sigh bitterly before the people so that when they ask why, he can answer that the news of coming disaster will melt every heart and weaken every hand.
A1nd the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel 3and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. 4Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. 5Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have taken My sword from its sheath, not to return it again.’ 6But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief. 7And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will go limp. Every spirit will faint, and every knee will turn to water.’ Yes, it is coming and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.”
The LORD continues with a sword-song: the sword is sharpened for slaughter and polished to flash like lightning. It tests and rejects all lesser rods, falls upon the people and Israel's princes, and demands cries, clapping, and repeated prophetic striking of the hands. The terror of the weapon is intensified as it is made ready on every side, and even the LORD Himself joins the gesture of clapping as His wrath comes to rest.
8Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9“Son of man, prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord says: 10it is sharpened for the slaughter, 11The sword is appointed to be polished, 12Cry out and wail, 13Surely testing will come! 14‘So then, son of man, 15So that their hearts may melt 16Slash to the right; 17I too will strike My hands together,
Ezekiel is told to mark out two roads for the sword of Babylon, one leading to Rabbah and the other to fortified Jerusalem. At the fork the king of Babylon uses arrows, teraphim, and liver-divination, and the omen in his right hand points to Jerusalem, calling for siegeworks and slaughter. Though the decision may seem false to those bound by oaths, the LORD says Jerusalem's guilt has been remembered and her transgressions exposed, so she will be taken in hand.
18Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 19“Now you, son of man, mark out two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to take, both starting from the same land. And make a signpost where the road branches off to each city. 20Mark out one road for the sword to come against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and another against Judah into fortified Jerusalem. 21For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. 22In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall. 23It will seem like a false omen to the eyes of those who have sworn allegiance to him, but it will draw attention to their guilt and take them captive. 24Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds — because you have come to remembrance — you shall be taken in hand.
The oracle turns directly to the profane and wicked prince of Israel whose day has come at the time of final punishment. The Lord GOD commands that turban and crown be removed, that what is low be exalted and what is high be brought low. The kingdom will become a ruin until the one comes whose right it is, and to Him it will be given.
25And you, O profane and wicked prince of Israel, 26This is what the Lord GOD says: 27A ruin, a ruin,
A final oracle addresses the Ammonites and their reproach, announcing that the sword is also drawn for them despite their deceptive visions and lying divinations. They will be handed over to brutal destroyers, consumed by the fire of God's wrath, and their blood will remain in their own land. Unlike the promise implicit in Jerusalem's royal line, Ammon will be remembered no more.
28Now prophesy, son of man, and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says concerning the Ammonites and their contempt: 29while they offer false visions for you 30Return the sword to its sheath! 31I will pour out My anger upon you; 32You will be fuel for the fire.