In this chapter, we read of a warning against the false prophets and prophetesses.
It is easy for us, looking back, to differentiate between the true prophet and the lying one. But for those living in the Old Testament times, I don’t think it would have been quite so easy.
We can be wise after the event, but they could not. This chapter serves to help the people in exile see that Ezekiel is not misleading them, although some others may have tried.
One of the primary reasons that people have so little confidence in God’s word is that many false messages are being preached by those pretending to be men of God. Over the centuries, there will be no end to such men.
Therefore, God calls Ezekiel to speak out against the false prophets and prophetesses, who are deceiving Judah into believing their captivity will soon end with a swift victory over Babylonia.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel once again, Ezekiel 13:1, and Ezekiel is told to prophesy against the false prophets of Israel, Ezekiel 13:2. The origin of what they say is clearly outlined for us; it comes out of their own imagination, Ezekiel 13:2.
They follow their own spirit and have seen nothing; in other words, they have never had a vision, Ezekiel 13:3 / 1 Samuel 9:9. No wonder they are foolish, Ezekiel 13:3. They are described as jackals, Ezekiel 13:4; the KJV uses the words foxes, Lamentations 5:18.
Feinberg, in his commentary, says the following.
‘These prophets of falsehood were likened to foxes in waste places, preying on the desolation around them and undermining foundations and causing havoc everywhere. As foxes, they were crafty, mischievous, and destructive, Matthew 7:15 / Acts 20:29.’
Alexander, in his commentary, says the following concerning Ezekiel 13:5.
‘The prophets had shown no courage in battle. In times of war, a brave soldier would rush to any break in the defensive perimeter and defend it until the position could be secured. These prophets, however, had not ‘gone up into the breaches’ in the moral and spiritual walls of the nation.’
Notice how they delude themselves with their lies, Ezekiel 13:6-7. There is a clear impression given here that not only do they convince the people with their lies and false statements, but they also believe that what they are saying is true.
They are sincere men, of course, but they are sincerely wrong. God is clearly against these men, regardless of their sincerity, and sincerity isn’t enough if it is based on lies.
Hananiah, whom we have seen before, is a good example of who is talked about in this chapter, Jeremiah 28. As a result of their false words and lying visions, God is now against them, Ezekiel 13:8-9. Notice the threefold punishment they will receive, Ezekiel 13:9.
Constable, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The Lord told these false prophets that He opposed them for what they had done. He would act against them by removing them from positions of influence among His people, depriving them of the rights of citizenship in Israel, Ezra 2:62 / Luke 10:20 / Revelation 3:5 / Revelation 20:15, and preventing them from returning to the Promised Land. They had failed as ‘watchmen’ over the house of Israel, Ezekiel 3:16-21. The fulfilment of these judgments would prove to them that Yahweh was Lord, Exodus 7:5.’
The false prophets were leading God’s people astray by falsely prophesying a message of ‘peace’, Ezekiel 13:10. The problem with the message is that there is to be no peace, Ezekiel 13:10.
An example is given of the type of thing in which these false prophets were involved. A wall is built, seemingly by the leaders, by the political leaders. They build a flimsy wall, and the prophets paint it with whitewash, Ezekiel 13:10-13. But the wall falls, it disappears along with those who did the whitewashing, Ezekiel 13:14-16.
What’s happening here? The leaders promote a scheme, ‘What we need to do is rebel and get some help from Egypt’, Jeremiah 37:5-10. These false prophets then back it to the kilt and give God’s blessing on it.
With fine words and eloquent preaching, they support the political whims of the day. But God is going to destroy the wall and the whitewashers with it. They and their schemes are doomed.
Skinner, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The uselessness of the whole activity of these prophets could not be more vividly described. The whitewashing of the wall may hide its defects but will not prevent its destruction; and when the wall of Jerusalem’s shaky prosperity tumbles down, those who did so little to build and so much to deceive shall be overwhelmed with confusion.’
There is no specific message from these women, but the thrust of what they say and do is the same. They prophesy out of their own imagination and prophesy lies, Ezekiel 13:17 / Ezekiel 13:2. These women would be described today as sorceresses, 1 Samuel 28:7. They are all dressed up to act the part, Ezekiel 13:18, like the Gipsy fortune teller.
They make veils for everyone, no matter what size you are; they can give you one which will stop anything from ever happening to you, Ezekiel 13:18 / Jeremiah 7:18 / Jeremiah 44:17 / Jeremiah 44:19. This one will protect you from any Babylonian spear, they would say.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Most ancient interpreters and many modern interpreters have understood the ‘pillows’ (or charms) and ‘kerchiefs’ (or veils) as appliances to which the sorcerers had resort in order to attract notice. The veil was a conspicuous ornament in Eastern women, whatever their ‘stature’ (or height), putting them on, and it was worn by magicians in order to seem more mysterious and awful.’
They are described in the KJV as hunting for souls and keeping souls alive, Ezekiel 13:18. The point is clear: they seek out and foster people for their own gain, Ezekiel 13:19. They will do anything, say anything, and promise anything in order to line their own pockets, 1 Samuel 9:7-8 / 1 Kings 14:3.
The extreme of this is even to the point of getting rid of some righteous prophet who might just speak out too much against their lucrative business, Ezekiel 13:19 / Jeremiah 26:8 / Jeremiah 26:20-23.
God is against them and their magic charms, which they used to ensnare people like birds. He will tear them from their arms and set those ensnared by their magic charms free, Ezekiel 13:20.
God is going to tear off their veils and save His people, so that His people will no longer fall prey to them or their power, Ezekiel 13:21. Then they will know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 13:21.
The problem with these prophetesses and the prophets, of course, was that they were justifying the wicked and disheartening the righteous, Ezekiel 13:22. That was the wrong way round for a prophet of God to act. These women would receive their just reward from God, Ezekiel 13:23, and then they would know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 13:23.