From Ezekiel 12-19, we read of the nation’s sinfulness and inevitable doom.
1. Two signs.
a. The exile’s baggage.
b. Eating and drinking with fear.
2. The people and their king will go into exile.
The two symbolic acts are portraying the departure of the king and the people, and bread of tears.
This is a straightforward sign by the prophet to show the people that there would be a further group of people going into exile, including the king, Zedekiah.
We are shown the sign, then the prophet gives an explanation of his actions. We are back in the realms of reality as we were in Ezekiel 4. There is no indication that this is a vision, so we see the prophet carrying out these strange actions.
The word of the Lord reminds Ezekiel of the kind of people he is dealing with; they are rebellious, blind, and deaf, Ezekiel 12:1-2. We see him prepare baggage for exile, Ezekiel 12:3-4. Common sense tells us what that might have been. The lightest and least possessions which could have been carried would be taken with them.
Wright, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Rival prophets were foretelling a speedy return to a flourishing Jerusalem, Ezekiel 12:24 / Ezekiel 13:16 / Jeremiah 28:1-4 / Jeremiah 29:8-9 / Jeremiah 29:15 / Jeremiah 29:21.’
He has two points marked out between which he walks, his house is one point, and the other is unspecified, Ezekiel 12:3. So, Ezekiel acted this out in the sight of the people, in an effort that the people would understand, Ezekiel 12:3-4.
He also has to dig through the wall of his own house, Ezekiel 12:5 / Ezekiel 12:12 / 2 Kings 25:4, probably the Hebrew would indicate that rather than the city wall. Having gone through the hole in the wall, he then walks his path with his face covered, Ezekiel 12:6. All this unusual action was done in one day.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The covering of the face was a symbol of the people’s sorrow in leaving their homeland. It also appears that this might have been a prophecy of the blinding of Zedekiah, or a reference to his flight at night, when he could not see the land.’
Ezekiel did what he was told; he brought out the things packed for exile, he dug through the wall, took his belongings and carried them in front of everyone, Ezekiel 12:7. Again, we might picture that audience wondering if this prophet really had been affected by the heat in this flat, scorching hot land.
Alexander, in his commentary, says the following.
‘Since all the exiles had participated in a deportation themselves (either in 605 B.C. or 597 B.C.), they should have understood clearly Ezekiel’s picture of deportation.’
The following day, God asks Ezekiel, ‘Well, did they ask you?’ Ezekiel 12:8-9. God proceeds to explain what these actions meant. The sign concerns the prince and the people, Ezekiel 12:10. Ezekiel himself would be the sign that they will go into exile as captives, Ezekiel 12:11.
It becomes clear that Ezekiel is giving a specific future prophecy concerning the events surrounding Zedekiah at the fall of Jerusalem, Jeremiah 52:4-11 / 2 Kings 25:1-7 / Jeremiah 39:4.
This was acted out in about 591 B.C. Zedekiah did not rebel against Babylon until about 588 B.C. and was finally defeated in 586 B.C. The people would be able to put Deuteronomy 18:14-22 into action on Ezekiel, but he would come out on top.
Note, Zedekiah is called a prince rather than king. This is the Hebrew word, ‘nasi’, rather than ‘melek’, Ezekiel 12:12. Ezekiel never calls Zedekiah king as he does Jehoiachin, Ezekiel 17:12.
This word is also used of Solomon, 1 Kings 11:34, in relation to his continuing as ruler. Because of his sin, God allowed a division of the kingdom. The point being with Zedekiah was that he was not really the rightful king and that neither the exiles nor the people of Jerusalem could put any hope in him.
Alexander, in his commentary, says the following.
‘He was called ‘the prince’, Ezekiel 12:12, because he was not the legitimate king. That right belonged to Jehoiachin, who was in Babylonia.’
Notice Zedekiah will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave; he will go through a hole in the wall, 2 Kings 25:4. We can see his shame in the fact that he covered his face, Ezekiel 12:12.
Zedekiah will try to escape, but there’s no escaping God’s trap, Ezekiel 12:13-14. He will be caught and made captive in Babylon, Jeremiah 39:2-4 / 2 Kings 25:4. He will also die there, Ezekiel 12:13 / Jeremiah 39:6-7.
Cook, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The genuineness of Ezekiel and the position of this passage within it are beyond dispute. Jeremiah 39:4 and 2 Kings 25:4, provide a Scriptural record of the historical fulfilment; and the only legitimate inference is that Ezekiel received his information from above.’
When Israel is scattered throughout the nations, then they will know that He is the LORD, Ezekiel 12:15.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘This also happened exactly as prophesied. But those friends and captains of Zedekiah who had fled with him out of the city, when they saw their enemies near them, they left him and dispersed themselves, some one way, and some another, so they took Zedekiah alive, when he was deserted by all but a few; and with his children and his wives, they brought him to Nebuchadnezzar.’
The good news is, God would spare a remnant so that they can declare people’s sins among the nations, and those nations would also come to know who the Lord is, Ezekiel 12:16.
Again, we see the prophet acting out this strange act. Try eating and drinking whilst shaking and trembling like this and see the food and drink spilling all over the place, what a vivid sign, Ezekiel 12:17.
Here is how the people in Jerusalem will be. They will be in terror of what is coming upon them. They will be quaking and trembling when they realise this is really happening to them, then they will know who the LORD is, Ezekiel 12:18-20.
Wiersbe, in his commentary, says the following.
‘He was illustrating the tragic condition of the people in Jerusalem during the Babylonian siege. They would have very little food and would eat it with fear and trembling because it might well be their last meal.’
Alexander, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The land would be emptied of its fruitfulness because of the violence that had been done in it, Ezekiel 12:19. The violence they had done to others would return on their own heads, reflecting the principle of lex talionis (law of retaliation).’
The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel once more concerning a proverb they use in Israel, Ezekiel 12:21-22. The first proverb says this, ‘The days go by, and every vision comes to nothing?’ Ezekiel 12:22.
These are just four words in Hebrew, and so, God’s answer to that is a play on those four words. He says, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled,’ Ezekiel 12:23.
God is going to put an end to this proverb, as he will others, Ezekiel 12:23. Their proverb is saying, it will never happen. God’s answer, ‘the days are near’, Ezekiel 12:23. ‘At hand’ KJV, means near and by definition, at hand must refer to something near, Revelation 1:3 / Revelation 22:10 / Mark 1:15.
God says, the time has come to stop all this falseness concerning visions and divinations, Ezekiel 12:24. In your days, Ezekiel 12:25, in their generation, they will be fulfilled, Ezekiel 12:25.
The second proverb is like the first, Ezekiel 12:26-27. Even if it is true, it’s a long way off; it is for tomorrow, for the next generation, not for us. God says no. All this that Ezekiel and Jeremiah and maybe others are saying will never happen, and even if it does, it will be a long way off, it will never affect us, Ezekiel 12:27.
Meyer, in his commentary, says the following.
‘They did not deny that he spoke the word of God, but comforted themselves with the reflection that it was not likely to be fulfilled for some time yet.’
God promises that this prophecy will not be delayed; it will be fulfilled, Ezekiel 12:28 / Mark 9:1 / Mark 13:30 / 2 Peter 3:3-4.