Contents:
Summary
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary

Summary:
Chapter 21: The Coming Destruction (that occurred in the time of the Prophet) of Jerusalem is Described but there are hints that future capitals of the Israelite Nations in Exile may be intended.
Chapter 22: Israel and Judah will be punished for their sins. We are our own worst enemies. The heathen despise us because we are not true to ourselves. Evil-doers amongst us bring disaster upon all of us.
Chapter 23: SAMARIA IS AHOLAH, AND JERUSALEM AHOLIBAH. Judah and "Israel" were separate entities almost from the very beginning. Both sinned grievously and will be punished. Judah is responsible for the Return of the Ten Tribes amongst whom already exists a representative portion descended from Judah.
Chapter 24: The Destruction of the Temple is spoken of. This should have concerned northern "Israel" as much as Judah.
Chapter 25: The enemies of Judah including Ammon, Edom, and the Palesitinians etc will be punished.

Contents:
Chapters with Brit-Am Commentary:
Ezekiel 21 to 25
Ezekiel 21 [Ezekiel 21:1] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING, 
In some versions of the Bible, what is listed here as verse 21:1 is listed as 21:6.   

[Ezekiel 21:2] SON OF MAN, SET THY FACE TOWARD JERUSALEM, AND DROP THY WORD TOWARD THE HOLY PLACES, AND PROPHESY AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL, 
This prophecy is directed against Jerusalem and Judah. The time frame is just before the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonian forces under Nebuchadnessar.                   
 
[Ezekiel 21:3] AND SAY TO THE LAND OF ISRAEL, THUS SAITH THE LORD; BEHOLD, I AM AGAINST THEE, AND WILL DRAW FORTH MY SWORD OUT OF HIS SHEATH, AND WILL CUT OFF FROM THEE THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED. 
<<THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED: When disaster comes it hits everyone. Doing evil brings evil, doing good brings good. Whatever comes affects everybody.                   
 
[Ezekiel 21:4] SEEING THEN THAT I WILL CUT OFF FROM THEE THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE WICKED, THEREFORE SHALL MY SWORD GO FORTH OUT OF HIS SHEATH AGAINST ALL FLESH FROM THE SOUTH TO THE NORTH:   
Eisemann (Artscroll) brings commentaries that this was referring to all nations south of Babylon " not just to Judah. The other nations were to be punished because they rejoiced at the downfall of Judah. The Gentiles did not realize that the Temple was beneficial for them. On Succoth seventy bullocks would be sacrificed, one for each of the national groups of humanity descended from the seventy descendants of Noah enumerated in Genesis 10.  
 Eisemann says:
"The gentile nations also have an inner core of holiness. If they had only realized it, the Divine presence of God in the Temple could have been the focus of their own spiritual strivings. More than for Israel who, through their Torah, are themselves a sanctuary for the Divine, the Temple was an indispensable condition for the spiritual development of the gentile nations.."             
 
[Ezekiel 21:5] THAT ALL FLESH MAY KNOW THAT I THE LORD HAVE DRAWN FORTH MY SWORD OUT OF HIS SHEATH: IT SHALL NOT RETURN ANY MORE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:6] SIGH THEREFORE, THOU SON OF MAN, WITH THE BREAKING OF THY LOINS; AND WITH BITTERNESS SIGH BEFORE THEIR EYES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:7] AND IT SHALL BE, WHEN THEY SAY UNTO THEE, WHEREFORE SIGHEST THOU" THAT THOU SHALT ANSWER, FOR THE TIDINGS; BECAUSE IT COMETH: AND EVERY HEART SHALL MELT, AND ALL HANDS SHALL BE FEEBLE, AND EVERY SPIRIT SHALL FAINT, AND ALL KNEES SHALL BE WEAK AS WATER: BEHOLD, IT  COMETH, AND SHALL BE BROUGHT TO PASS, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:8] AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:9] SON OF MAN, PROPHESY, AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD; SAY, A SWORD, A SWORD IS SHARPENED, AND ALSO FURBISHED:
FURBISHED i.e. polished up.                    
 
[Ezekiel 21:10] IT IS SHARPENED TO MAKE A SORE SLAUGHTER; IT IS FURBISHED THAT IT MAY GLITTER: SHOULD WE THEN MAKE MIRTH" IT CONTEMNETH THE ROD OF MY SON, AS EVERY TREE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:11] AND HE HATH GIVEN IT TO BE FURBISHED, THAT IT MAY BE HANDLED: THIS SWORD IS SHARPENED, AND IT IS FURBISHED, TO GIVE IT INTO THE HAND OF THE SLAYER.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:12] CRY AND HOWL, SON OF MAN: FOR IT SHALL BE UPON MY PEOPLE, IT SHALL BE UPON ALL THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL: TERRORS BY REASON OF THE SWORD SHALL BE UPON MY PEOPLE: SMITE THEREFORE UPON THY THIGH. 
<<ALL THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL: According to the simple meaning this is referring to the Princes of Judah who is also termed "Israel".                   
 
[Ezekiel 21:13] BECAUSE IT IS A TRIAL, AND WHAT IF THE SWORD CONTEMN EVEN THE ROD? IT SHALL BE NO MORE, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:14] THOU THEREFORE, SON OF MAN, PROPHESY, AND SMITE THINE HANDS TOGETHER. AND LET THE SWORD BE DOUBLED THE THIRD TIME, THE SWORD OF THE SLAIN: IT IS THE SWORD OF THE GREAT MEN THAT ARE SLAIN, WHICH ENTERETH INTO THEIR PRIVY CHAMBERS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:15] I HAVE SET THE POINT OF THE SWORD AGAINST ALL THEIR GATES, THAT THEIR HEART MAY FAINT, AND THEIR RUINS BE MULTIPLIED: AH! IT IS MADE BRIGHT, IT IS WRAPPED UP FOR THE SLAUGHTER.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:16] GO THEE ONE WAY OR OTHER, EITHER ON THE RIGHT HAND, OR ON THE LEFT, WHITHERSOEVER THY FACE IS SET.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:17] I WILL ALSO SMITE MINE HANDS TOGETHER, AND I WILL CAUSE MY FURY TO REST: I THE LORD HAVE SAID IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:18] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME AGAIN, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:19] ALSO, THOU SON OF MAN, APPOINT THEE TWO WAYS, THAT THE SWORD OF THE KING OF BABYLON MAY COME: BOTH TWAIN SHALL COME FORTH OUT OF ONE LAND: AND CHOOSE THOU A PLACE, CHOOSE IT AT THE HEAD OF THE WAY TO THE CITY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:20] APPOINT A WAY, THAT THE SWORD MAY COME TO RABBATH OF THE AMMONITES, AND TO JUDAH IN JERUSALEM THE DEFENCED.                     
<<JERUSALEM THE DEFENCED: Jerusalem was built up with mighty fortifications. Its inhabitants considered it impregnable.  This was not the first nor the last time they  made this mistake.
 
[Ezekiel 21:21] FOR THE KING OF BABYLON STOOD AT THE PARTING OF THE WAY, AT THE HEAD OF THE TWO WAYS, TO USE DIVINATION: HE MADE HIS ARROWS BRIGHT, HE CONSULTED WITH IMAGES, HE LOOKED IN THE LIVER.
Archaeological findings have confirmed these means of sorcery. Baked clay models of livers have been found with directions for divination, i.e. a kind of do-it-yourself sorcery directory.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:22] AT HIS RIGHT HAND WAS THE DIVINATION FOR JERUSALEM, TO APPOINT CAPTAINS, TO OPEN THE MOUTH IN THE SLAUGHTER, TO LIFT UP THE VOICE WITH SHOUTING, TO APPOINT BATTERING RAMS AGAINST THE GATES, TO CAST A MOUNT, AND TO BUILD A FORT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:23] AND IT SHALL BE UNTO THEM AS A FALSE DIVINATION IN THEIR SIGHT, TO THEM THAT HAVE SWORN OATHS: BUT HE WILL CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE INIQUITY, THAT THEY MAY BE TAKEN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:24] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE YE HAVE MADE YOUR INIQUITY TO BE REMEMBERED, IN THAT YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS ARE DISCOVERED, SO THAT IN ALL YOUR DOINGS YOUR SINS DO APPEAR; BECAUSE, I SAY, THAT YE ARE COME TO REMEMBRANCE, YE SHALL BE TAKEN WITH THE HAND.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:25] AND THOU, PROFANE WICKED PRINCE OF ISRAEL, WHOSE DAY IS COME, WHEN INIQUITY SHALL HAVE AN END,                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:26] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; REMOVE THE DIADEM, AND TAKE OFF THE CROWN: THIS SHALL NOT BE THE SAME: EXALT HIM THAT IS LOW, AND ABASE HIM THAT IS HIGH.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:27] I WILL OVERTURN, OVERTURN, OVERTURN, IT: AND IT SHALL BE NO MORE, UNTIL HE COME WHOSE RIGHT IT IS; AND I WILL GIVE IT HIM.
British Israel writers interpreted this verse as referring to the throne of David that would be overturned twice or thrice: from Jerusalem to Ireland to Scotland to England.  The word translated as "overturn" in Hebrew is "iva" which more correctly means "make crooked". It could also be translated perhaps (as others say, see Ezekiel 21:32 in most versions) as "perturb" or "make desolate".  I guess you could also translate it to say "turn aside towards" and therefore by extension as meaning "overturn"?  Even so, to propose a strong doctrinal point one should expect clear, strong, and simple expression.               
 
[Ezekiel 21:28] AND THOU, SON OF MAN, PROPHESY AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD CONCERNING THE AMMONITES, AND CONCERNING THEIR REPROACH; EVEN SAY THOU, THE SWORD, THE SWORD IS DRAWN: FOR THE SLAUGHTER IT IS FURBISHED, TO CONSUME BECAUSE OF THE GLITTERING:
The people of Ammon participated in the downfall of Judah. The Babylonians would later destroy the Kingdom of Ammon and drive away  its people.                    
 
[Ezekiel 21:29] WHILES THEY SEE VANITY UNTO THEE, WHILES THEY DIVINE A LIE UNTO THEE, TO BRING THEE UPON THE NECKS OF THEM THAT ARE SLAIN, OF THE WICKED, WHOSE DAY IS COME, WHEN THEIR INIQUITY SHALL HAVE AN END.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:30] SHALL I CAUSE IT TO RETURN INTO HIS SHEATH? I WILL JUDGE THEE IN THE PLACE WHERE THOU WAST CREATED, IN THE LAND OF THY NATIVITY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:31] AND I WILL POUR OUT MINE INDIGNATION UPON THEE, I WILL BLOW AGAINST THEE IN THE FIRE OF MY WRATH, AND DELIVER THEE INTO THE HAND OF BRUTISH MEN, AND SKILFUL TO DESTROY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 21:32] THOU SHALT BE FOR FUEL TO THE FIRE; THY BLOOD SHALL BE IN THE MIDST OF THE LAND; THOU SHALT BE NO MORE REMEMBERED: FOR I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT.
 
The point should be made and questions should be asked: This prophecy and others like it were referring to historical disasters that overtook Judah and Jerusalem. There is a principle that all these prophecies have some application in the End Times. Are they referring to Jerusalem in the future? or to London? or Washington? Or something else?
  Rembember Y2K" We had a friend and supporter in the USA who really believed that just after midnight of New Year"s Day in the year 2000 disaster would overtake America. Everything would break down. He had a caravan and supplies staked out somewhere in the west and he was all prepared to depart to his place of refuge. I am speaking of a good, intelligent, well-informed person. He was not the only one to be taken in by the scare-mongers and conspiracy buffs.  
Even so, disasters do sometimes occur when no-one expects them.
  God wants us to do the best we can with what we have for our own sake, the sake of our dear ones, and those around us and part of us.                     

Ezekiel 22
[Ezekiel 22:1] MOREOVER THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:2] NOW, THOU SON OF MAN, WILT THOU JUDGE, WILT THOU JUDGE THE BLOODY CITY? YEA, THOU SHALT SHEW HER ALL HER ABOMINATIONS.  
This is speaking of Jerusalem according to the simple meaning of the address. Jerusalem on a spiritual level represents the heart of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. It is the place that in a sense they will all return to and have representative portions within.  The future temple in Temple will have twelve gates around it, one for each tribe as Ezekiel describes further on.                 
 
[Ezekiel 22:3] THEN SAY THOU, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, THE CITY SHEDDETH BLOOD IN THE MIDST OF IT, THAT HER TIME MAY COME, AND MAKETH IDOLS AGAINST HERSELF TO DEFILE HERSELF.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:4] THOU ART BECOME GUILTY IN THY BLOOD THAT THOU HAST SHED; AND HAST DEFILED THYSELF IN THINE IDOLS WHICH THOU HAST MADE; AND THOU HAST CAUSED THY DAYS TO DRAW NEAR, AND ART COME EVEN UNTO THY YEARS: THEREFORE HAVE I MADE THEE A REPROACH UNTO THE HEATHEN, AND A MOCKING TO ALL COUNTRIES.   
At a higher level the State of Israel, the USA, and the UK are one entity. The heathen feel this. They feel that by attacking Israel they can get at the USA. This is not just fancy for they themselves, through their wise men and commentators, say as much. They condemn us for defending ourselves against scumbag murderers and despise us when we do not do so.                 
 
[Ezekiel 22:5] THOSE THAT BE NEAR, AND THOSE THAT BE FAR FROM THEE, SHALL MOCK THEE, WHICH ART INFAMOUS AND MUCH VEXED.
All the world is interested in us, for good or bad.  Open a newspaper, anyplace in the world, chances are that the front page contains an article about Israel or the USA.                    
 
[Ezekiel 22:6] BEHOLD, THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL, EVERY ONE WERE IN THEE TO THEIR POWER TO SHED BLOOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:7] IN THEE HAVE THEY SET LIGHT BY FATHER AND MOTHER: IN THE MIDST OF THEE HAVE THEY DEALT BY OPPRESSION WITH THE STRANGER: IN THEE HAVE THEY VEXED THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOW. 
You must honor your father and mother and must encourage others to do the same. IN THEE HAVE THEY VEXED THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOW: People who are weak and vulnerable should not be exploited or taken advantage of.  This seems obvious but in different ways without being really aware of it we are all liable to slip up on this point, and on other points.                   
 
[Ezekiel 22:8] THOU HAST DESPISED MINE HOLY THINGS, AND HAST PROFANED MY SABBATHS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:9] IN THEE ARE MEN THAT CARRY TALES TO SHED BLOOD: AND IN THEE THEY EAT UPON THE  MOUNTAINS: IN THE MIDST OF THEE THEY COMMIT LEWDNESS. 
 <<IN THEE ARE MEN THAT CARRY TALES TO SHED BLOOD: Capable of several interpretations but on the whole one should not gossip or spread bad reports about people, even when true unless there is great necessity such as need for protection, etc.  
 <<EAT UPON THE  MOUNTAINS: refers to a type of idol worship practiced in ancient times. In modern terms the nearest thing would be to "go out on the town".              
 
[Ezekiel 22:10] IN THEE HAVE THEY DISCOVERED THEIR FATHERS' NAKEDNESS: IN THEE HAVE THEY HUMBLED HER THAT WAS SET APART FOR POLLUTION.
<<THAT WAS SET APART FOR POLLUTION: One should avoid sexual intercourse even with one's wife at the time of menstruation and for a time after (Leviticus 20:18). There are good health reasons for this injunction, apart from spiritual and psychological considerations.                    
 
[Ezekiel 22:11] AND ONE HATH COMMITTED ABOMINATION WITH HIS NEIGHBOUR'S WIFE; AND ANOTHER HATH LEWDLY DEFILED HIS DAUGHTER IN LAW; AND ANOTHER IN THEE HATH HUMBLED HIS SISTER, HIS FATHER'S DAUGHTER.  
The prophet is condemning Israel because of adultery, illegal relations that undermine family life, and physical incest.  Most prostitutes were the victims of incest. Many cases of incest, according to the reports of sociologists in Israel, amongst lower-income socially-deprived groups, are triggered off by pornography on the TV. This is probably true all over the world. Pornography is bad no matter what anybody says. It has bad effects. A good deal of entertainment today has elements of what in the recent past would have been considered pornography. Entertainment can have therapeutic and educational value. We all have to find our own road but no-one can deny responsibility.
 Illicit intercourse is against the wishes of God as expressed in the Bible. It is bad for society and bad for those who practice it. The Bible however does distinguish between various degrees of offence. Some things are worse than others.                
 
[Ezekiel 22:12] IN THEE HAVE THEY TAKEN GIFTS TO SHED BLOOD; THOU HAST TAKEN USURY AND INCREASE, AND THOU HAST GREEDILY GAINED OF THY NEIGHBOURS BY EXTORTION, AND HAST FORGOTTEN ME, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
Things like those described happen all over the Israelite countries. We tolerate abortions, euthanasia (officially or unofficially), and close our eyes to violence and crime. Our police forces are often corrupt or simply forced to look the other way concerning certain spheres of activity.
It also depends how one looks at things. On the one hand most people are still basically decent and well-meaning most of the time. On the other hand a lot of failings are apparent.
Take present-day Jerusalem and the State of Israel. On the one hand compared to international standards violence and crime in general are relatively low but they do occur and in some areas are quite scandalous. Arab terrorists kill Jews but they were enabled to do so because some Jews gave them guns and gave them a framework to work from. Who knows whether on some level of consciousness these people  knew what they were doing" Perhaps, in the eyes of God they too may be judged as murderers" How liable can we be for the mistakes we make"  Maybe it depends upon us" If we repent maybe all our mistakes can be corrected and even converted into good points" And if we do not repent then maybe even our mistakes are counted as deliberate bad deeds" "as expressions of the evil part of our selves"                      
<<AND HAST FORGOTTEN ME, SAITH THE LORD GOD:  This is perhaps the bottom line. In the comfort of our homes we can pat ourselves on the back and say that we would not give into temptation but when placed in the front line we may not be so brave. Nobody is perfect. If we try and remember God then chances are that HE will remember us and lead us onward.
 
[Ezekiel 22:13] BEHOLD, THEREFORE I HAVE SMITTEN MINE HAND AT THY DISHONEST GAIN WHICH THOU  HAST MADE, AND AT THY BLOOD WHICH HATH BEEN IN THE MIDST OF THEE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:14] CAN THINE HEART ENDURE, OR CAN THINE HANDS BE STRONG, IN THE DAYS THAT I SHALL DEAL WITH THEE? I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT, AND WILL DO IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:15] AND I WILL SCATTER THEE AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND DISPERSE THEE IN THE COUNTRIES, AND WILL CONSUME THY FILTHINESS OUT OF THEE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:16] AND THOU SHALT TAKE THINE INHERITANCE IN THYSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE HEATHEN, AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
<<AND THOU SHALT TAKE THINE INHERITANCE IN THYSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE HEATHEN: The words translated here as "TAKE THINE INHERITANCE IN THYSELF" in Hebrew are : "VeNichalta Bach" which can also mean "you will tremble",  or "be profaned", or "become sickened"  - "in yourself" .
 
[Ezekiel 22:17] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:18] SON OF MAN, THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL IS TO ME BECOME DROSS: ALL THEY ARE BRASS, AND TIN, AND IRON, AND LEAD, IN THE MIDST OF THE FURNACE; THEY ARE EVEN THE DROSS OF SILVER.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:19] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE YE ARE ALL BECOME DROSS, BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL GATHER YOU INTO THE MIDST OF JERUSALEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:20] AS THEY GATHER SILVER, AND BRASS, AND IRON, AND LEAD, AND TIN, INTO THE MIDST OF THE FURNACE, TO BLOW THE FIRE UPON IT, TO MELT IT; SO WILL I GATHER YOU IN MINE ANGER AND IN MY FURY, AND I WILL LEAVE YOU THERE, AND MELT YOU.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:21] YEA, I WILL GATHER YOU, AND BLOW UPON YOU IN THE FIRE OF MY WRATH, AND YE  SHALL BE MELTED IN THE MIDST THEROF.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:22] AS SILVER IS MELTED IN THE MIDST OF THE FURNACE, SO SHALL YE BE MELTED IN THE MIDST THEREOF; AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I THE LORD HAVE POURED OUT MY FURY UPON YOU.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:23] AND THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:24] SON OF MAN, SAY UNTO HER, THOU ART THE LAND THAT IS NOT CLEANSED, NOR RAINED UPON IN THE DAY OF INDIGNATION.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:25] THERE IS A CONSPIRACY OF HER PROPHETS IN THE MIDST THEREOF, LIKE A ROARING LION RAVENING THE PREY; THEY HAVE DEVOURED SOULS; THEY HAVE TAKEN THE TREASURE AND PRECIOUS THINGS; THEY HAVE MADE HER MANY WIDOWS IN THE MIDST THEREOF.
<<A CONSPIRACY OF HER PROPHETS...THEY HAVE MADE HER MANY WIDOWS IN THE MIDST THEREOF: All the do-gooders and nice boys that left evil unpunished for "moral" reasons and castrated our manhood will have brought disaster upon all of us. We too will bear responsibility for having listened to these people who did not act according to the Biblical injunctions.                      
 
[Ezekiel 22:26] HER PRIESTS HAVE VIOLATED MY LAW, AND HAVE PROFANED MINE HOLY THINGS: THEY HAVE PUT NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOLY AND PROFANE, NEITHER HAVE THEY SHEWED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE UNCLEAN AND THE CLEAN, AND HAVE HID THEIR EYES FROM MY SABBATHS, AND I AM PROFANED AMONG THEM.
The Law must be kept by those who are obligated by it. Descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes should also return unto the Law but when, and how, and to what degree is for the course of time and wiser men than we, that have the Will of God before them, to decide upon                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:27] HER PRINCES IN THE MIDST THEREOF ARE LIKE WOLVES RAVENING THE PREY, TO SHED BLOOD, AND TO DESTROY SOULS, TO GET DISHONEST GAIN.
<<PRINCES: Eisemann (Artscroll) quotes from Rabbi S.R. Hirsch that "prince" in Hebrew is "Nasi". This word can also mean "cloud". A prince should be like a cloud that receives moisture from the ground and returns it in a manner that brings growth and blessing.
In modern Hebrew the word for "President" is "Nasi" which literally means "Prince".  We could transpose the transl;ation and read the first verse  "HER Presidents IN THE MIDST THEREOF ARE LIKE WOLVES RAVENING THE PREY". On the other hand the present "President" of the USA appears to be a good, God-fearing Israelite leader.                   
 
[Ezekiel 22:28] AND HER PROPHETS HAVE DAUBED THEM WITH UNTEMPERED MORTER, SEEING VANITY, AND DIVINING LIES UNTO THEM, SAYING, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, WHEN THE LORD  HATH NOT SPOKEN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:29] THE PEOPLE OF THE LAND HAVE USED OPPRESSION, AND EXERCISED ROBBERY, AND HAVE VEXED THE POOR AND NEEDY: YEA, THEY HAVE OPPRESSED THE STRANGER WRONGFULLY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:30] AND I SOUGHT FOR A MAN AMONG THEM, THAT SHOULD MAKE UP THE HEDGE, AND STAND IN THE GAP BEFORE ME FOR THE LAND, THAT I SHOULD NOT DESTROY IT: BUT I FOUND NONE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 22:31] THEREFORE HAVE I POURED OUT MINE INDIGNATION UPON THEM; I HAVE CONSUMED THEM WITH THE FIRE OF MY WRATH: THEIR OWN WAY HAVE I RECOMPENSED UPON THEIR HEADS, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
 
Ezekiel 23
[Ezekiel 23:1] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME AGAIN UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:2] SON OF MAN, THERE WERE TWO WOMEN, THE DAUGHTERS OF ONE MOTHER:                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:3] AND THEY COMMITTED WHOREDOMS IN EGYPT; THEY COMMITTED WHOREDOMS IN THEIR YOUTH: THERE WERE THEIR BREASTS PRESSED, AND THERE THEY BRUISED THE TEATS OF THEIR  VIRGINITY.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:4] AND THE NAMES OF THEM WERE AHOLAH THE ELDER, AND AHOLIBAH HER SISTER: AND THEY WERE MINE, AND THEY BARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS. THUS WERE THEIR NAMES; SAMARIA IS AHOLAH, AND JERUSALEM AHOLIBAH.                     
<<SAMARIA IS AHOLAH, AND JERUSALEM AHOLIBAH: Ezekiel is talking about the Ten Tribes headed by Joseph or Ephraim and about Judah or the Jews.
Samaria  = <<AHOLAH: Her tent (Ohela) is there.
Jerusalem (Judah) = <<AHOLIBAH My tent (oheli) is in her (bah).
Rabbi Moshe Eisemann (Artscroll Commentary) points out that these verses suggest that the division which took place after the death of Solomon between the northern tribes and the southern ones had its roots from the very beginning.
Even when they were in Egypt, and before they had properly speaking even become a nation, the two halves of Israel were distinct from each other. This supports the view that even though the division was a calamity for both sides there was an aspect of almost inevitable destiny about it. There was something in each half of Israel that each side had to develop on its own even though this meant that each side would be lacking a certain quality he could have developed through association with the other.
In the future the two sides will re-unite and complement each other. This coming re-unification is being instinctively felt even now in an unconscious sense by elements on both sides.
Eisemann points out that even though Samaria ("Shomron" in Hebrew) meaning the northern ten tribes worshipped golden calves (1-Kings 12:28) the original intention had not been that of idol worship but rather as symbolic representations of the Presence of God intended to replace the Temple in Jerusalem. Even so, this was forbidden and eventually it did deteriorate into idolatry.
 
[Ezekiel 23:5] AND AHOLAH PLAYED THE HARLOT WHEN SHE WAS MINE; AND SHE DOTED ON HER LOVERS, ON THE ASSYRIANS HER NEIGHBOURS,                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:6] WHICH WERE CLOTHED WITH BLUE, CAPTAINS AND RULERS, ALL OF THEM DESIRABLE YOUNG MEN, HORSEMEN RIDING UPON HORSES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:7] THUS SHE COMMITTED HER WHOREDOMS WITH THEM, WITH ALL THEM THAT WERE THE CHOSEN MEN OF ASSYRIA, AND WITH ALL ON WHOM SHE DOTED: WITH ALL THEIR IDOLS SHE DEFILED HERSELF.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:8] NEITHER LEFT SHE HER WHOREDOMS BROUGHT FROM EGYPT: FOR IN HER YOUTH THEY LAY WITH HER, AND THEY BRUISED THE BREASTS OF HER VIRGINITY, AND POURED THEIR WHOREDOM UPON HER.                     
The Northern Kingdom worshipped Egyptian idols and was heavily permeated with Egyptian culture as evidenced by archaeological finds. The Israelites had come out of Egypt and apparently something of the Egyptian influence always remained and in times of moral decline it became stronger.
 
[Ezekiel 23:9] WHEREFORE I HAVE DELIVERED HER INTO THE HAND OF HER LOVERS, INTO THE HAND OF THE ASSYRIANS, UPON WHOM SHE DOTED.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:10] THESE DISCOVERED HER NAKEDNESS: THEY TOOK HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS, AND SLEW HER WITH THE SWORD: AND SHE BECAME FAMOUS AMONG WOMEN; FOR THEY HAD EXECUTED JUDGMENT UPON HER.                     
<<THEY TOOK HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS: The Assyrians exiled the northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) i.e. the ten Tribes in three stages:
1. Reuben, Gad, and half-Menasseh who dwelt east of the Jordan, 1-Chronicles 5:26.
2. Gilead, Galileee, Naphtali 2-Kings 15:29
3. The city and Pronvince of  Samaria in  the south 2-Kings 17:6.
The Assyrians later invaded Judah (2-Kings 18:13). They exiled many from Judah and Simeon who joined the Ten Tribes and were counted with them. Simeon was counted as one of the Ten (as we have explained several times elsewhere).
 
[Ezekiel 23:11] AND WHEN HER SISTER AHOLIBAH SAW THIS, SHE WAS MORE CORRUPT IN HER INORDINATE LOVE THAN SHE, AND IN HER WHOREDOMS MORE THAN HER SISTER IN HER WHOREDOMS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:12] SHE DOTED UPON THE ASSYRIANS HER NEIGHBOURS, CAPTAINS AND RULERS CLOTHED MOST GORGEOUSLY, HORSEMEN RIDING UPON HORSES, ALL OF THEM DESIRABLE YOUNG MEN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:13] THEN I SAW THAT SHE WAS DEFILED, THAT THEY TOOK BOTH ONE WAY,                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:14] AND THAT SHE INCREASED HER WHOREDOMS: FOR WHEN SHE SAW MEN POURTRAYED UPON THE WALL, THE IMAGES OF THE CHALDEANS POURTRAYED WITH VERMILION,                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:15] GIRDED WITH GIRDLES UPON THEIR LOINS, EXCEEDING IN DYED ATTIRE UPON THEIR HEADS, ALL OF THEM PRINCES TO LOOK TO, AFTER THE MANNER OF THE BABYLONIANS OF CHALDEA, THE LAND OF THEIR NATIVITY:  
<<CHALDEA: In  Hebrew the Chaldeans are called "Casdim".                  
 
[Ezekiel 23:16] AND AS SOON AS SHE SAW THEM WITH HER EYES, SHE DOTED UPON THEM, AND SENT MESSENGERS UNTO THEM INTO CHALDEA.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:17] AND THE BABYLONIANS CAME TO HER INTO THE BED OF LOVE, AND THEY DEFILED HER WITH THEIR WHOREDOM, AND SHE WAS POLLUTED WITH THEM, AND HER MIND WAS ALIENATED FROM  THEM.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:18] SO SHE DISCOVERED HER WHOREDOMS, AND DISCOVERED HER NAKEDNESS: THEN MY MIND WAS ALIENATED FROM HER, LIKE AS MY MIND WAS ALIENATED FROM HER SISTER.
Judah also lusted after foreign influences and this was as despicable as could be.                   
 
[Ezekiel 23:19] YET SHE MULTIPLIED HER WHOREDOMS, IN CALLING TO REMEMBRANCE THE DAYS OF HER YOUTH, WHEREIN SHE HAD PLAYED THE HARLOT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:20] FOR SHE DOTED UPON THEIR PARAMOURS, WHOSE FLESH IS AS THE FLESH OF ASSES, AND WHOSE ISSUE IS LIKE THE ISSUE OF HORSES.                     
The Prophets likens the foreign influences to the seed of animals and animalistic lusts.
 
[Ezekiel 23:21] THUS THOU CALLEDST TO REMEMBRANCE THE LEWDNESS OF THY YOUTH, IN BRUISING  THY TEATS BY THE EGYPTIANS FOR THE PAPS OF THY YOUTH.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:22] THEREFORE, O AHOLIBAH, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I WILL RAISE UP THY LOVERS AGAINST THEE, FROM WHOM THY MIND IS ALIENATED, AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAINST THEE ON EVERY SIDE;                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:23] THE BABYLONIANS, AND ALL THE CHALDEANS, PEKOD, AND SHOA, AND KOA, AND ALL THE ASSYRIANS WITH THEM: ALL OF THEM DESIRABLE YOUNG MEN, CAPTAINS AND RULERS, GREAT LORDS AND RENOWNED, ALL OF THEM RIDING UPON HORSES.
Judah would be punished by the Babylonians and all the Babylonian tribes who included remnants of the Assyrians after the Assyrian Empire had been destroyed.                      
 
[Ezekiel 23:24] AND THEY SHALL COME AGAINST THEE WITH CHARIOTS, WAGONS, AND WHEELS, AND WITH AN ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE, WHICH SHALL SET AGAINST THEE BUCKLER AND SHIELD AND HELMET ROUND ABOUT: AND I WILL SET JUDGMENT BEFORE THEM, AND THEY SHALL JUDGE THEE ACCORDING TO THEIR JUDGMENTS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:25] AND I WILL SET MY JEALOUSY AGAINST THEE, AND THEY SHALL DEAL FURIOUSLY WITH THEE: THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY THY NOSE AND THINE EARS; AND THY REMNANT SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD: THEY SHALL TAKE THY SONS AND THY DAUGHTERS; AND THY RESIDUE SHALL BE DEVOURED BY THE FIRE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:26] THEY SHALL ALSO STRIP THEE OUT OF THY CLOTHES, AND TAKE AWAY THY FAIR JEWELS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:27] THUS WILL I MAKE THY LEWDNESS TO CEASE FROM THEE, AND THY WHOREDOM BROUGHT FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT: SO THAT THOU SHALT NOT LIFT UP THINE EYES UNTO THEM, NOR REMEMBER EGYPT ANY MORE.   
<<NOR REMEMBER EGYPT ANY MORE: Egypt and its attractions will be forgotten. In modern terms we have suggested in the past that the Hebrew word "Mitsrayim" translated as "Egypt" could possibly in certain circumstances refer to Russia.                  
 
[Ezekiel 23:28] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I WILL DELIVER THEE INTO THE HAND OF THEM WHOM THOU HATEST, INTO THE HAND OF THEM FROM WHOM THY MIND IS ALIENATED:  
The Jews hated the Babylonians and rebelled against them but were delivered up to them.                  
 
[Ezekiel 23:29] AND THEY SHALL DEAL WITH THEE HATEFULLY, AND SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THY LABOUR, AND SHALL LEAVE THEE NAKED AND BARE: AND THE NAKEDNESS OF THY WHOREDOMS SHALL BE DISCOVERED, BOTH THY LEWDNESS AND THY WHOREDOMS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:30] I WILL DO THESE THINGS UNTO THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST GONE A WHORING AFTER THE HEATHEN, AND BECAUSE THOU ART POLLUTED WITH THEIR IDOLS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:31] THOU HAST WALKED IN THE WAY OF THY SISTER; THEREFORE WILL I GIVE HER CUP INTO THINE HAND.
Just as the northern kingdom had gone into exile, so would the southern kingdom.                    
 
[Ezekiel 23:32] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THOU SHALT DRINK OF THY SISTER'S CUP DEEP AND  LARGE: THOU SHALT BE LAUGHED TO SCORN AND HAD IN DERISION; IT CONTAINETH MUCH.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:33] THOU SHALT BE FILLED WITH DRUNKENNESS AND SORROW, WITH THE CUP OF ASTONISHMENT AND DESOLATION, WITH THE CUP OF THY SISTER SAMARIA.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:34] THOU SHALT EVEN DRINK IT AND SUCK IT OUT, AND THOU SHALT BREAK THE SHERDS  THEREOF, AND PLUCK OFF THINE OWN BREASTS: FOR I HAVE SPOKEN IT, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:35] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU HAST FORGOTTEN ME, AND CAST ME BEHIND THY BACK, THEREFORE BEAR THOU ALSO THY LEWDNESS AND THY WHOREDOMS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:36] THE LORD SAID MOREOVER UNTO ME; SON OF MAN, WILT THOU JUDGE AHOLAH AND AHOLIBAH" YEA, DECLARE UNTO THEM THEIR ABOMINATIONS;       
Eisemann quotes the commentary of Rabbi Isaac Breuer ("The New Kuzari") as saying that each part of Israel has a portion in the other part. "The two tribes of the southern kingdom [i.e. the present-day Jews] bear the sins of the lost ten tribes and are the guarantors of the latter"s eventual return".             
 
[Ezekiel 23:37] THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED ADULTERY, AND BLOOD IS IN THEIR HANDS, AND WITH THEIR IDOLS HAVE THEY COMMITTED ADULTERY, AND HAVE ALSO CAUSED THEIR SONS, WHOM THEY BARE UNTO ME, TO PASS FOR THEM THROUGH THE FIRE, TO DEVOUR THEM.
<<WHOM THEY BARE UNTO ME, TO PASS FOR THEM THROUGH THE FIRE: Both Judah and the northern kingdom committed human sacrifice. The Druids in the Celtic west, amongst descendents of Israelites, also practiced human sacrifice.                      
 
[Ezekiel 23:38] MOREOVER THIS THEY HAVE DONE UNTO ME: THEY HAVE DEFILED MY SANCTUARY IN THE SAME DAY, AND HAVE PROFANED MY SABBATHS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:39] FOR WHEN THEY HAD SLAIN THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR IDOLS, THEN THEY CAME THE SAME DAY INTO MY SANCTUARY TO PROFANE IT; AND, LO, THUS HAVE THEY DONE IN THE MIDST OF MINE HOUSE.                     
<<HAD SLAIN THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR IDOLS: Abortion is also a type of human sacrifice. Abortion is tolerated because people want it, it is difficult to control, and also because some public administrators believe it may be for the public good. They think it keeps the population down and reduces the numbers of less positive social elements. These considerations are mistaken. Human sacrifice was also mistaken but it was likewise justified by the mistaken belief that society and the individual would benefit.
 
[Ezekiel 23:40] AND FURTHERMORE, THAT YE HAVE SENT FOR MEN TO COME FROM FAR, UNTO WHOM A MESSENGER WAS SENT; AND, LO, THEY CAME: FOR WHOM THOU DIDST WASH THYSELF, PAINTEDST THY EYES, AND DECKEDST THYSELF WITH ORNAMENTS,                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:41] AND SATEST UPON A STATELY BED, AND A TABLE PREPARED BEFORE IT, WHEREUPON THOU HAST SET MINE INCENSE AND MINE OIL.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:42] AND A VOICE OF A MULTITUDE BEING AT EASE WAS WITH HER: AND WITH THE MEN OF THE COMMON SORT WERE BROUGHT SABEANS FROM THE WILDERNESS, WHICH PUT BRACELETS UPON THEIR HANDS, AND BEAUTIFUL CROWNS UPON THEIR HEADS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:43] THEN SAID I UNTO HER THAT WAS OLD IN ADULTERIES, WILL THEY NOW COMMIT  WHOREDOMS WITH HER, AND SHE WITH THEM"                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:44] YET THEY WENT IN UNTO HER, AS THEY GO IN UNTO A WOMAN THAT PLAYETH THE  HARLOT: SO WENT THEY IN UNTO AHOLAH AND UNTO AHOLIBAH, THE LEWD WOMEN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:45] AND THE RIGHTEOUS MEN, THEY SHALL JUDGE THEM AFTER THE MANNER OF ADULTERESSES, AND AFTER THE MANNER OF WOMEN THAT SHED BLOOD; BECAUSE THEY ARE ADULTERESSES, AND BLOOD IS IN THEIR HANDS.
  <<AND THE RIGHTEOUS MEN: Our enemies among the non-Israelite nations in some ways are considered righteous as compared to us and we are liable to suffer punishment sat their hands unless we better our ways.                  
 
[Ezekiel 23:46] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL BRING UP A COMPANY UPON THEM, AND WILL GIVE THEM TO BE REMOVED AND SPOILED.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:47] AND THE COMPANY SHALL STONE THEM WITH STONES, AND DISPATCH THEM WITH THEIR SWORDS; THEY SHALL SLAY THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS, AND BURN UP THEIR HOUSES WITH FIRE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:48] THUS WILL I CAUSE LEWDNESS TO CEASE OUT OF THE LAND, THAT ALL WOMEN MAY BE TAUGHT NOT TO DO AFTER YOUR LEWDNESS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 23:49] AND THEY SHALL RECOMPENSE YOUR LEWDNESS UPON YOU, AND YE SHALL BEAR THE SINS OF YOUR IDOLS: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD GOD.                     
 
Ezekiel 24
[Ezekiel 24:1] AGAIN IN THE NINTH YEAR, IN THE TENTH MONTH, IN THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:2] SON OF MAN, WRITE THEE THE NAME OF THE DAY, EVEN OF THIS SAME DAY: THE KING OF BABYLON SET HIMSELF AGAINST JERUSALEM THIS SAME DAY. 
Ezekiel continues his prophecies against Jerusalem. After this chapter the theme of his message alters and inclines towards other aspects of the future.                   
 
[Ezekiel 24:3] AND UTTER A PARABLE UNTO THE REBELLIOUS HOUSE, AND SAY UNTO THEM, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; SET ON A POT, SET IT ON, AND ALSO POUR WATER INTO IT:
<<SET ON:   in Hebrew "Sepot" or (also pronounceable as) "spout" and somehow connected to the English word "spout".                  
 
[Ezekiel 24:4] GATHER THE PIECES THEREOF INTO IT, EVEN EVERY GOOD PIECE, THE THIGH, AND THE SHOULDER; FILL IT WITH THE CHOICE BONES.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:5] TAKE THE CHOICE OF THE FLOCK, AND BURN ALSO THE BONES UNDER IT, AND MAKE IT BOIL WELL, AND LET THEM SEETHE THE BONES OF IT THEREIN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:6] WHEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY, TO THE POT WHOSE SCUM IS THEREIN, AND WHOSE SCUM IS NOT GONE OUT OF IT! BRING IT OUT PIECE BY PIECE; LET NO LOT FALL UPON IT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:7] FOR HER BLOOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER; SHE SET IT UPON THE TOP OF A ROCK; SHE POURED IT NOT UPON THE GROUND, TO COVER IT WITH DUST;                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:8] THAT IT MIGHT CAUSE FURY TO COME UP TO TAKE VENGEANCE; I HAVE SET HER BLOOD UPON THE TOP OF A ROCK, THAT IT SHOULD NOT BE COVERED.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:9] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; WOE TO THE BLOODY CITY! I WILL EVEN MAKE THE PILE FOR FIRE GREAT.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:10] HEAP ON WOOD, KINDLE THE FIRE, CONSUME THE FLESH, AND SPICE IT WELL, AND LET THE BONES BE BURNED.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:11] THEN SET IT EMPTY UPON THE COALS THEREOF, THAT THE BRASS OF IT MAY BE HOT, AND MAY BURN, AND THAT THE FILTHINESS OF IT MAY BE MOLTEN IN IT, THAT THE SCUM OF IT MAY BE CONSUMED.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:12] SHE HATH WEARIED HERSELF WITH LIES, AND HER GREAT SCUM WENT NOT FORTH OUT OF HER: HER SCUM SHALL BE IN THE FIRE.                     
<<SHE HATH WEARIED HERSELF WITH LIES: The KJ translation is usually very good. They must have been great scholars.
 
[Ezekiel 24:13] IN THY FILTHINESS IS LEWDNESS: BECAUSE I HAVE PURGED THEE, AND THOU WAST NOT PURGED, THOU SHALT NOT BE PURGED FROM THY FILTHINESS ANY MORE, TILL I HAVE CAUSED MY FURY TO REST UPON THEE.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:14] I THE LORD HAVE SPOKEN IT: IT SHALL COME TO PASS, AND I WILL DO IT; I WILL NOT GO BACK, NEITHER WILL I SPARE, NEITHER WILL I REPENT; ACCORDING TO THY WAYS, AND ACCORDING TO THY DOINGS, SHALL THEY JUDGE THEE, SAITH THE LORD GOD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:15] ALSO THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:16] SON OF MAN, BEHOLD, I TAKE AWAY FROM THEE THE DESIRE OF THINE EYES WITH A STROKE: YET NEITHER SHALT THOU MOURN NOR WEEP, NEITHER SHALL THY TEARS RUN DOWN.
<<THE DESIRE OF THINE EYES: His wife. Men usually love their wives very deeply and are strongly bound up with them even though they do not always realize it and  couples cannot always get along with each other.                 
 
[Ezekiel 24:17] FORBEAR TO CRY, MAKE NO MOURNING FOR THE DEAD, BIND THE TIRE OF THINE HEAD UPON THEE, AND PUT ON THY SHOES UPON THY FEET, AND COVER NOT THY LIPS, AND EAT NOT THE BREAD OF MEN.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:18] SO I SPAKE UNTO THE PEOPLE IN THE MORNING: AND AT EVEN MY WIFE DIED; AND I DID IN THE MORNING AS I WAS COMMANDED. 
The Temple was like the wife of the Hebrew nation. Or the Hebrew people are like the wife of the Almighty and their union was effected through the Temple service.  The fate of the prophet and his family was being used as symbolic to that of the nation.                 
 
[Ezekiel 24:19] AND THE PEOPLE SAID UNTO ME, WILT THOU NOT TELL US WHAT THESE THINGS ARE TO US, THAT THOU DOEST SO"                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:20] THEN I ANSWERED THEM, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:21] SPEAK UNTO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I WILL  PROFANE MY SANCTUARY, THE EXCELLENCY OF YOUR STRENGTH, THE DESIRE OF YOUR EYES, AND THAT  WHICH YOUR SOUL PITIETH; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS WHOM YE HAVE LEFT SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:22] AND YE SHALL DO AS I HAVE DONE: YE SHALL NOT COVER YOUR LIPS, NOR EAT THE BREAD OF MEN. 
Usually a mourner was expected to mourn his beloved according to accepted custom.                    
 
[Ezekiel 24:23] AND YOUR TIRES SHALL BE UPON YOUR HEADS, AND YOUR SHOES UPON YOUR FEET: YE SHALL NOT MOURN NOR WEEP; BUT YE SHALL PINE AWAY FOR YOUR INIQUITIES, AND MOURN ONE TOWARD ANOTHER. 
 <<TIRES: In English what does this mean" Dictionary definitions for "tire" give: head-dress, protecting band. The Hebrew has "Pe-archem", i.e. "glory" or head-wear.                  
 
[Ezekiel 24:24] THUS EZEKIEL IS UNTO YOU A SIGN: ACCORDING TO ALL THAT HE HATH DONE SHALL YE DO: AND WHEN THIS COMETH, YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD GOD.
 <<THUS EZEKIEL IS UNTO YOU A SIGN: As we said above. The Prophets often symbolized the people. It works both ways. Deep down inside every person of Israelite descent there is an element of prophetic discernment. Through prayer and study and doing our best this element develops though we are usually not aware of it.                    
 
[Ezekiel 24:25] ALSO, THOU SON OF MAN, SHALL IT NOT BE IN THE DAY WHEN I TAKE FROM THEM THEIR STRENGTH, THE JOY OF THEIR GLORY, THE DESIRE OF THEIR EYES, AND THAT WHEREUPON THEY SET THEIR MINDS, THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS.                    
 
[Ezekiel 24:26] THAT HE THAT ESCAPETH IN THAT DAY SHALL COME UNTO THEE, TO CAUSE THEE TO HEAR IT WITH THINE EARS"                     
 
[Ezekiel 24:27] IN THAT DAY SHALL THY MOUTH BE OPENED TO HIM WHICH IS ESCAPED, AND THOU SHALT SPEAK, AND BE NO MORE DUMB: AND THOU SHALT BE A SIGN UNTO THEM; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.
<<THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD: One day we will all realize this. At present we are aware of the existence of God and the truth of the Bible but in a weak wishy-washy manner. One day we will know it in the same way as we know ourselves.

Ezekiel 25
[Ezekiel 25:1] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME AGAIN UNTO ME, SAYING,                     
Rabbi Moshe Eisemann (Artscroll commentary) suggests that chapters 25 to 32 form a bridge between the chapters we have just studied that dealt with destruction and disaster and those that speak of the coming consolation. Chapters 25 to 32 deal with other nations. The creator of the universe, the one true God, is the God of Israel. There is no other. He reveals Himself to us in the Bible. All nations must find their salvation through serving Him and they will be judged according to how they related to His people.
Eisemann says that all men were promised reward if they keep the commandments of the Almighty and strive to do His will:
 
[Leviticus 18:5] YE SHALL THEREFORE KEEP MY STATUTES, AND MY JUDGMENTS: WHICH IF A MAN DO, HE SHALL LIVE IN THEM: I AM THE LORD.
                    
[Isaiah 26:2] OPEN YE THE GATES, THAT THE RIGHTEOUS NATION WHICH KEEPETH THE TRUTH MAY ENTER IN.
 
[Psalms 33:1] REJOICE IN THE LORD, O YE RIGHTEOUS: FOR PRAISE IS COMELY FOR THE UPRIGHT.                     
 
[Psalms 125:4] DO GOOD, O LORD, UNTO THOSE THAT BE GOOD, AND TO THEM THAT ARE UPRIGHT IN THEIR HEARTS.
 
Israel had extra responsibilities:
                    
[Exodus 19:6] AND YE SHALL BE UNTO ME A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, AND AN HOLY NATION. THESE  ARE THE WORDS WHICH THOU SHALT SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.                     
 
Even when disaster overcame Israel (or Judah) the nations would have to realize that this was proof of Divine Providence and take heed:
[Deuteronomy 29:24] EVEN ALL NATIONS SHALL SAY, WHEREFORE HATH THE LORD DONE THUS UNTO THIS LAND" WHAT MEANETH THE HEAT OF THIS GREAT ANGER"
 
Cf. also what we wrote in our commentary to Zechariah:
[Zechariah 1:15] AND I AM VERY SORE DISPLEASED WITH THE HEATHEN THAT ARE AT EASE: FOR I WAS BUT A LITTLE DISPLEASED, AND THEY HELPED FORWARD THE AFFLICTION.                     
 
Note: "THEY HELPED FORWARD THE AFFLICTION" in Hebrew "azru [helped] leRa [to make worse]".
It means that because the Jews (Judah) had sinned God was angry at them and delivered them into non-Jewish hands as a punishment BUT the non-Jews took advantage of the situation and oppressed the Jews. Therefore God is angry at them.
 
 
 
Ammon  will be punished for helping the enemies of Judah, exulting over the fate of Judah and attempting to profit by it.

[Ezekiel 25:2] SON OF MAN, SET THY FACE AGAINST THE AMMONITES, AND PROPHESY AGAINST THEM;                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:3] AND SAY UNTO THE AMMONITES, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD GOD; THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU SAIDST, AHA, AGAINST MY SANCTUARY, WHEN IT WAS PROFANED; AND AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL, WHEN IT WAS DESOLATE; AND AGAINST THE HOUSE OF JUDAH, WHEN THEY WENT INTO CAPTIVITY;  
 <<AHA, AGAINST MY SANCTUARY, WHEN IT WAS PROFANED: Even now the site of the Holy Temple is desolate. Moslem Arabs trample the site down and dig it up and destroy all remains of Israelite heritage they can find. Jews are not allowed to pray there. The Muslims are able to do this because the rest of the world backs them up in this matter.  
<<AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL, WHEN IT WAS DESOLATE: God wants the land of Israel to be rebuilt and settled with Jews and Israelites. God is a Zionist. Opponents of Zionism are enemies of the God of Israel.            
 
[Ezekiel 25:4] BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL DELIVER THEE TO THE MEN OF THE EAST FOR A POSSESSION, AND THEY SHALL SET THEIR PALACES IN THEE, AND MAKE THEIR DWELLINGS IN THEE: THEY SHALL EAT THY FRUIT, AND THEY SHALL DRINK THY MILK. 
 <<THE MEN OF THE EAST: The land of Ammon would be overrun by people from the east.                   
 
[Ezekiel 25:5] AND I WILL MAKE RABBAH A STABLE FOR CAMELS, AND THE AMMONITES A COUCHING PLACE FOR FLOCKS: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:6] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU HAST CLAPPED THINE HANDS, AND  STAMPED WITH THE FEET, AND REJOICED IN HEART WITH ALL THY DESPITE AGAINST THE LAND OF ISRAEL;                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:7] BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON THEE, AND WILL DELIVER THEE FOR A SPOIL TO THE HEATHEN; AND I WILL CUT THEE OFF FROM THE PEOPLE, AND I WILL CAUSE THEE TO PERISH OUT OF THE COUNTRIES: I WILL DESTROY THEE; AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:8] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THAT MOAB AND SEIR DO SAY, BEHOLD, THE HOUSE OF JUDAH IS LIKE UNTO ALL THE HEATHEN;
<<MOAB AND SEIR: "Seir" was another term for Edom but not necessarily the land of Edom that lay to the southeast of Judah. There were also Edomites entities in the north and these too were also associated with Seir.  "Seir" apparently refers to the Horites (Hurrians) who were widely spread over the Middle East.  The Poles and other Europeans also contain an infusion of Hurrian ancestry.
<< THE HOUSE OF JUDAH IS LIKE UNTO ALL THE HEATHEN: Moab was to be punished for speaking against the Jews even though objectively speaking they were not saying anything that was necessarily incorrect. Even though the Jews may sometimes have incurred the wrath of the Almighty they are still part of the People of God. He will take vengeance for his people.                
 
[Ezekiel 25:9] THEREFORE, BEHOLD, I WILL OPEN THE SIDE OF MOAB FROM THE CITIES, FROM HIS CITIES WHICH ARE ON HIS FRONTIERS, THE GLORY OF THE COUNTRY, BETHJESHIMOTH, BAALMEON, AND KIRIATHAIM,                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:10] UNTO THE MEN OF THE EAST WITH THE AMMONITES, AND WILL GIVE THEM IN POSSESSION, THAT THE AMMONITES MAY NOT BE REMEMBERED AMONG THE NATIONS.                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:11] AND I WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENTS UPON MOAB; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:12] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THAT EDOM HATH DEALT AGAINST THE HOUSE OF JUDAH BY TAKING VENGEANCE, AND HATH GREATLY OFFENDED, AND REVENGED HIMSELF UPON THEM;                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:13] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL ALSO STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON EDOM, AND WILL CUT OFF MAN AND BEAST FROM IT; AND I WILL MAKE IT DESOLATE FROM TEMAN; AND THEY OF DEDAN SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD.  
<<DEDAN: This was an Edomite center.                  
 
[Ezekiel 25:14] AND I WILL LAY MY VENGEANCE UPON EDOM BY THE HAND OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL:  AND THEY SHALL DO IN EDOM ACCORDING TO MINE ANGER AND ACCORDING TO MY FURY; AND THEY SHALL KNOW MY VENGEANCE, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
 <<AND THEY SHALL DO IN EDOM ACCORDING TO MINE ANGER: Tradition says that the seed of Joseph will destroy Edom. The book of Obadiah is dedicated to this theme.                    
 
[Ezekiel 25:15] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THE PHILISTINES HAVE DEALT BY REVENGE, AND HAVE TAKEN VENGEANCE WITH A DESPITEFUL HEART, TO DESTROY IT FOR THE OLD HATRED;                     
 
[Ezekiel 25:16] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD, I WILL STRETCH OUT MINE HAND UPON THE PHILISTINES, AND I WILL CUT OFF THE CHERETHIMS, AND DESTROY THE REMNANT OF THE SEA COAST. 
<<CHERETHIMS: in Modern Hebrew "Kretim". This means Crete. It was the name of an area of Philistia and also refers to the fact that part of the Philistines came from Crete and related areas. They were part of Minoan civilization. Linguistic evidence links the Philistines with the Pelasgians of Greece and with areas on the eastern coast of the Adriatic. Don Isaac Abarbanel quoted sources that linked the Philistines with the Venetians and Genoese of Italy.                  
 
[Ezekiel 25:17] AND I WILL EXECUTE GREAT VENGEANCE UPON THEM WITH FURIOUS REBUKES; AND THEY SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD, WHEN I SHALL LAY MY VENGEANCE UPON THEM.                     
 

Exekiel chs. 16 to 20

Exekiel chs. 26 to 30