Ezekiel-Chapter-6

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Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Ezekiel Chapter 6”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

In Chapter 6, the focus of the prophecy expands from the besieged city to the geography of Israel itself. Ezekiel is commanded by אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God) to “set his face” toward the mountains, the hills, the ravines, and the valleys. This is a direct legal confrontation with the physical sites of idolatry, the ‘high places’ where the people have compromised their covenant. The chapter marks a transition from the judgment of the people to the purging of the land, ensuring that even the soil and the stone are cleared of the abominations that have defiled them.

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Below are the verses of Ezekiel Chapter 6:1-14: Whilst the verses below has the Explanation’s. (Chapter is from JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

1. “And the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came unto me, saying:

Explanation: The “word of יְהוָה - the LORD” comes to Ezekiel again, signalling a new phase of the prophetic mission that moves beyond the local sign-acts of the previous chapters.

2. ‘Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

Explanation: The prophet is told to “set his face toward the mountains of Israel”. This physical orientation is a gesture of confrontation and judgment against the high places where forbidden altars were built.

3. and say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim: Thus saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim concerning the mountains and concerning the hills, concerning the ravines and concerning the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

Explanation: The mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys are addressed directly as if they were sentient. This personification of the landscape emphasizes that the land itself is a witness to the broken covenant and will now receive the “sword” of judgment.

4. And your altars shall become desolate, and your sun-images shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

Explanation: The infrastructure of idolatry, the altars and “sun-images” (hammanim) will be made desolate. The irony is established: the very idols the people sought protection from will now see their worshippers slain before them.

5. And I will lay the carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars

Explanation: A graphic image of defilement: the carcasses of the Children of Israel will be laid before their idols, and their bones scattered around their altars. This turns the once “holy” high places into sites of ultimate ritual impurity.

6. In all your dwelling-places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your sun-images may be hewn down, and your works may be blotted out.

Explanation: The destruction is total. In every place where people dwell, the cities will be laid waste and the high places made desolate. The goal is the complete “blotting out” of human works that were dedicated to false powers.

7. And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD.

Explanation: As the slain fall in the midst of the ruins, the purpose of the judgment is revealed in the recurring phrase: “And ye shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD”. Knowledge of the Divine comes through the collapse of the false.

8. Yet will I leave a remnant, in that ye shall have some that escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.

Explanation: Amidst the total destruction, a “remnant” is promised, for some will escape the sword and be scattered among the nations, carrying the memory of the land with them.

9. And they that escape of you shall remember Me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, how that I have been anguished with their straying heart, which hath departed from Me, and with their eyes, which are gone astray after their idols; and they shall loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

Explanation: Those who escape will “remember” the Divine among the nations. The text describes the Divine as being “broken” by their “whorish heart”. The survivors will eventually loathe themselves for the evils and abominations they committed.

10. And they shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD; I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

Explanation: The realization of the remnant is profound: they will acknowledge that the Divine warnings were not “in vain” and that the evil brought upon them was a legal necessity.

11. Thus saith אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim: Smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say: Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Explanation: Ezekiel is commanded to “smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot”. These are physical gestures of mourning and intense emotion over the “evil abominations” of Israel, signalling the arrival of sword, famine, and pestilence.

12. He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine; thus will I spend My fury upon them.

Explanation: Geography determines the mode of death: those far off die of pestilence, those near die by the sword, and those who remain besieged die of famine. No corner of the rebellion is left untouched.

13. And ye shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every leafy tree, and under every thick terebinth, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

Explanation: The imagery of Verse 5 is repeated for emphasis. When the slain lie under every “thick terebinths” and “leafy oak” places associated with fertility cults the people will finally recognize the futility of their chosen worship.

14. And I will stretch out My hand upon them, and make the land desolate and waste, more than the wilderness of Diblah, throughout all their habitations; and they shall know that I am יְהוָה - the LORD’”.

Explanation: The Divine hand is stretched out to make the land a “desolation and a waste”, more desolate than the “wilderness toward Diblah”. This covers all their habitations, concluding with the ultimate recognition of Divine Authority.

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My Concluding Message:

Chapter 6 underscores the concept of territorial sanctity. It posits that the land of Israel cannot remain neutral while its inhabitants act wickedly; the mountains and valleys themselves are held to a standard of purity. The “loathing of oneself” mentioned in Verse 9 is not a call to despair, but the beginning of authentic repentance, a realization that the false altars provided no shelter. The chapter teaches that when the “sun-images” are shattered, the only reality remaining is the truth of the Covenant!

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שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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