Ezequiel 11

Juicio contra los líderes de Israel

1 Un viento me levantó y me llevó hasta la entrada oriental del templo del SEÑOR. A la entrada vi a veinticinco hombres, entre los cuales estaban Jazanías hijo de Azur y Pelatías hijo de Benaías, que eran jefes del pueblo.

2 Dios me dijo: «Hijo de hombre, estos son los que están tramando maldades y dando malos consejos en esta ciudad.

3 Dicen: “Todavía no es el momento de reconstruir las casas. La ciudad es la olla y nosotros somos la carne”.

4 Por eso, hijo de hombre, profetiza contra ellos; ¡sí, profetiza!»

5 El Espíritu del SEÑOR vino sobre mí y me ordenó proclamar: «Así dice el SEÑOR: “Ustedes, pueblo de Israel, han dicho esto, y yo conozco sus pensamientos.

6 Han matado a mucha gente en esta ciudad y han llenado las calles de cadáveres.

7 Por eso yo, el SEÑOR omnipotente, les aseguro que los cadáveres que ustedes han arrojado en medio de la ciudad son la carne, y la ciudad es la olla de la que yo los arrojaré.

8 ¿Temen la guerra? Pues bien, yo, el SEÑOR omnipotente, declaro que enviaré guerra contra ustedes.

9 Los echaré de la ciudad, los entregaré en manos de extranjeros y los castigaré con justicia.

10 Morirán a filo de espada; yo los juzgaré en las mismas fronteras de Israel, y así sabrán que yo soy el SEÑOR.

11 La ciudad no les servirá de olla, ni serán ustedes la carne dentro de ella. Yo los juzgaré en la frontera misma de Israel.

12 Entonces sabrán que yo soy el SEÑOR. No han seguido mis decretos ni han cumplido con mis leyes, sino que han adoptado las costumbres de las naciones que los rodean”».

13 Mientras yo profetizaba, Pelatías hijo de Benaías cayó muerto. Entonces caí rostro en tierra y clamé a gritos: «¡Ay, SEÑOR mi Dios! ¿Vas a exterminar al resto de Israel?»

14 El SEÑOR me dirigió la palabra:

15 «Hijo de hombre, esto es lo que dicen los habitantes de Jerusalén en cuanto a tus hermanos, tus parientes y todo el pueblo de Israel: “Ellos se han alejado del SEÑOR, y por eso se nos ha dado esta tierra en posesión”.

16 Por tanto, adviérteles que así dice el SEÑOR omnipotente: “Aunque los desterré a naciones lejanas y los dispersé por países extraños, por un tiempo les he servido de santuario en las tierras adonde han ido”.

17 »Adviérteles también que así dice el SEÑOR omnipotente: “Yo los reuniré de entre las naciones; los juntaré de los países donde han estado dispersos, y les daré la tierra de Israel.

18 Ellos volverán a su tierra y echarán de allí a los ídolos detestables y pondrán fin a las prácticas repugnantes.

19 Yo les daré un corazón íntegro, y pondré en ellos un espíritu renovado. Les arrancaré el corazón de piedra que ahora tienen, y pondré en ellos un corazón de carne,

20 para que cumplan mis decretos y pongan en práctica mis leyes. Entonces ellos serán mi pueblo, y yo seré su Dios.

21 Pero a los que van tras esos ídolos detestables y siguen prácticas repugnantes, yo les pediré cuentas de su conducta. Lo afirma el SEÑOR omnipotente”».

La gloria del Señor abandona Jerusalén

22 Los querubines desplegaron sus alas. Las ruedas estaban junto a ellos, y la gloria del Dios de Israel estaba por encima de ellos.

23 La gloria del SEÑOR se elevó de en medio de la ciudad y se detuvo sobre el cerro que está al oriente de Jerusalén.

24 En una visión, un viento me levantó y me trasladó hasta donde estaban los exiliados en Babilonia; y la visión desapareció.

25 Entonces les comuniqué a los exiliados lo que el SEÑOR me había revelado.

Ezequiel 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Divine judgments against the wicked at Jerusalem. (1-13) Divine favour towards those in captivity. (14-21) The Divine presence forsakes the city. (22-25)

Verses 1-13 Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should still plead with the Lord to have mercy on those who remain.

Verses 14-21 The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a new spirit. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The carnal heart, like a stone, cannot be made to feel. Men live among the dead and dying, and are neither concerned nor humbled. He will make their hearts tender and fit to receive impressions: this is God's work, it is his gift by promise; and a wonderful and happy change is wrought by it, from death to life. Their practices shall be agreeable to those principles. These two must and will go together. When the sinner feels his need of these blessings, let him present the promises as prayers in the name of Christ, they will be performed.

Verses 22-25 Here is the departure of God's presence from the city and temple. It was from the Mount of Olives that the vision went up, typifying the ascension of Christ to heaven from that very mountain. Though the Lord will not forsake his people, yet he may be driven away from any part of his visible church by their sins, and woe will be upon them when He withdraws his presence, glory, and protection.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 11

This chapter contains an account of the sins of the princes of Judah; a prophecy of their destruction; some comfortable, promises respecting those of the captivity; and the chapter is closed with the finishing of the vision of the Lord's removing from Jerusalem; and the whole being ended, the prophet related it to the men of the captivity. In Eze 11:1; the prophet, is shown five and twenty men, among whom were two he knew, and are mentioned by name, and were princes of the people; and he is told that these men devised mischief, and gave bad advice to the people, Eze 11:2,3; wherefore he is bid to prophesy against them, Eze 11:4; which he accordingly did, the Spirit of the Lord falling upon him, Eze 11:5; declaring that their secret evils were known, as well as their public ones; and that, seeing they had multiplied their slain, and had feared the sword, the sword should come upon them; some should fall by it, and others should be carried captive; the consequence of which would be, that God would be known, and his justice acknowledged, it being what their sins deserved, Eze 11:6-12; upon this prophecy being delivered out, one of the princes before named died immediately; which filled the prophet with great concern, and put him upon expostulating with God, Eze 11:13; wherefore, for his comfort, he is told, that though the inhabitants of Jerusalem had insulted their brethren that were carried captive, and looked upon the land of Israel as their own possession, that God would be a little sanctuary to them; that he would gather them out of all lands, and give them the land of Israel; that they should come thither, and remove all idolatry from it, and should have regenerating and renewing grace given them, to walk in the statutes and ordinances of the Lord, by which they should appear to be his people, and he to be their God, Eze 11:14-20; but as for such that continued in their abominable idolatries, these should receive a just recompence of reward, Eze 11:21; after which follows an account of the entire removal of the glory of the Lord from the city of Jerusalem, Eze 11:22,23; and the prophet being, in vision, brought again to Chaldea, reports the whole he had seen to them of the captivity, Eze 11:24,25.