Matthew Henry’s Modern English CommentaryEzekiel 12

A Sign of Coming Captivity This section introduces a new message from God to the prophet Ezekiel. The people of Israel are stubborn and refuse to listen to God’s warnings. God commands Ezekiel to act out a sign for the people, showing them what will soon happen to Jerusalem and its leaders. The sign is meant to make them think about their actions and realize that God’s words are true, even if they do not want to believe it.v. 1: The word of the Lord

v. 2: God tells Ezekiel to prepare an exile’s baggage, as if he is going into captivity. He is to pack his belongings in the sight of the people and act as if he is leaving for exile. This is a sign to the people of Israel that they too will soon be forced to leave their homes and go into captivity. Ezekiel is to do this during the day, so everyone can see him, and then again in the evening, as if he is sneaking out through a hole in the wall, carrying his things on his shoulder. This dramatic action is meant to show the people what will happen to their leaders and to Jerusalem—they will try to escape, but will be captured and taken away by their enemies (Ezekiel 12:3-7 ).

v. 3–7: Ezekiel obeys God’s command and acts out the sign. He packs his things and digs through the wall in the sight of the people, carrying his belongings on his shoulder as the sun sets. The people watch him, but do not understand what he is doing. God tells Ezekiel that this sign is for the prince in Jerusalem and all the people there. Just as Ezekiel is acting out, so will the prince and the people try to escape, but they will be caught and taken into exile. The prince will be blinded and led away to Babylon, and the people will be scattered among the nations (Ezekiel 12:8-16 ).

v. 8–16: God explains the meaning of the sign. The prince in Jerusalem (King Zedekiah) will try to escape at night, but he will be captured. His eyes will be put out, and he will be taken to Babylon, where he will die. The people will be scattered, but through their suffering, they will come to know that the Lord

Prediction of the Famine. In this section, God uses Ezekiel as a living example to warn the people about the coming famine and suffering in Jerusalem. Ezekiel’s actions are meant to show the fear, worry, and sadness that will soon fill the city. The prophet must not only speak about judgment but also act in a way that helps others feel the seriousness of what is coming. This shows that true servants of God do not just warn others, but are themselves deeply affected by the message they deliver.v. 17-18: God tells Ezekiel to eat his food with trembling and drink his water with fear, even though he is safe in Babylon. He is to do this in front of others, to show how terrible things will become in Jerusalem during the siege. Ezekiel is not pretending—he truly feels sorrow and fear because of what is coming. This teaches us that when we warn others about God’s judgment, we should do it with real feeling, understanding how serious it is. As the Bible says, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Psalm 127:2 ).v. 17–20: God gives Ezekiel another sign. He is to eat his food with trembling and drink his water with anxiety and fear. This is to show the people that those who remain in Jerusalem will live in fear and distress because of the violence and destruction coming upon the land. The land will be emptied, and the cities will be ruined because of the people’s violence and disobedience. Again, the people will know that God’s warnings are true when these things happen.

v. 19-20: Ezekiel must explain that the people in Jerusalem and all those who come to the city for safety will eat and drink with fear and worry. They will always wonder if they will have enough food and water, or if the enemy will break in. Their lives will be full of anxiety, and they will not enjoy anything they have (Deuteronomy 28:66 ). This is a punishment for the violence and injustice in the land. God shows that when people hurt each other and ignore His ways, the whole nation suffers. But even in this judgment, there is a lesson: You shall know that I am the Lord

v. 21–28: God addresses the doubts of the people who say that the prophecies are for a distant future and will not happen soon. God tells Ezekiel to declare that His words will not be delayed any longer. What God has spoken will come to pass, and the people will see it with their own eyes. God’s warnings are not empty threats; He will do what He has said (Ezekiel 12:21-28 ).Message from God to the People; Impious and Deceitful Hopes. In this section, God addresses the false hopes of the people of Israel. Even though many warnings and signs had been given, the people convinced themselves that judgment would not come soon. Some believed that God’s words would not be fulfilled in their lifetime. God, through Ezekiel, corrects these lies and shows that His judgment is certain and will not be delayed much longer.v. 21-22: God points out that the people have a saying: The days are prolonged, and every vision fails. They claim that because destruction has not come yet, it never will come. They treat God’s warnings as empty threats. This attitude is dangerous because it abuses God’s patience and encourages more sin (Psalm 50:21 ).

v. 23-24: God tells Ezekiel to answer this false hope. He says, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.God will prove that His words are true, and the time for judgment is very near. The false sayings and prophecies will be stopped, and people will be ashamed for doubting God’s word. When God’s judgment comes, everyone will see that He always keeps His promises.

v. 25: God declares with authority, I am the Lord

v. 26-27: Some people say that the vision is for a far-off time, so they do not need to change their lives now. They think they have plenty of time to repent later. But this is a lie that keeps people in sin and stops them from taking God’s warnings seriously.

v. 28: God ends by saying, There shall none of my words be prolonged any more.The time for delay is over. Judgment will come soon, and those who ignored God’s warnings will face the consequences. God’s word always comes true, and it is foolish to put off repentance. We should take God’s message seriously and turn to Him now, because the future can come sooner than we think (Revelation 10:6 ).