Rashi on TanakhEzekiel 12

implements for exile A vessel from which to drink and a small earthen bowl in which to knead a cake, as a sign for the house of Israel in Jerusalem to do likewise, so that they would not have to knead dough in a hole on the ground with the gravel going into it. But they did not heed him, and they had to do just that. This is what is written in the Book of Lamentations (3:16): “Indeed, He made my teeth grind on gravel.” In Midrash Lamentations.

and go into exile day by day Heb. יוֹמָם, from day to day, two or three days, behave like a man preparing his steps for exile, so that the people of the exile will see and ask what you are doing, and you shall tell them that it symbolizes Zedekiah and his people [in Jerusalem], and these people will send their messengers and inform their brothers and relatives who are there, according to everything they hear from your mouth. Likewise, every [occurrence of] יוֹמָם in Scripture is an expression denoting “day by day,” something that goes on [continually] for many days. This I heard in the name of Rabbi Menachem, and his words are true.

perhaps they will see Perhaps they will understand, apercevront in French, they will realize.

for a rebellious house are they Therefore, it is still a “perhaps.”

like the departures of Heb. כְּמוֹצָאֵי, come issues, essues in Old French, [comme les issues in modern French] like the departures.

dig for yourself in the wall Symbolic of Zedekiah, who [later] went out through a tunnel [leading into] a cave, for he was afraid to go out in the open because of the Chaldeans.

in the dark you shall bring [them] out When it becomes dark, you shall bring out your implements.

I brought out my implements as implements for exile, from day to day Every day, I would show them that I was preparing for myself implements for exile.

[Concerning] the prince is this burden Concerning King Zedekiah, I am showing this מַשָּׂא, burden, an expression denoting prophecy.

He will cover his face because of shame, that he is fleeing from the city at night.

And I shall spread my net over him There was a cave [extending] from his house to the plains of Jericho, and he went out through the cave. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He brought before the army of the Chaldeans a deer which was walking before them on the roof of the cave, and they [began] chasing it. And when Zedekiah emerged from the cave in the plains of Jericho, they saw him emerging and caught him.

but he will not see it because in Riblah in the land of Hamath, he [Nebuchadnezzar] called him to account and blinded his eyes. Afterwards, they brought him to Babylon, as is stated in the Book of (II) Kings (25:7 and in Jer. 39:7).

and all his officers Heb. אֲגַפָּיו, his officers, and Menachem (p. 15) interpreted it as an expression of wings (גף).

I will scatter to every direction Heb. אֱזָרֶה, epandre in Old French, to disperse, and they are Johanan the son of Kareah and the officers of the armies, who were exiled to Egypt, where the sword of Nebuchadnezzar overtook them when he destroyed Egypt.

so that they will tell of all their abominations and they will say, “Because of our sins, we have suffered, since such-and-such things we did,” and I shall make known that I had not annihilated you for nothing.

of its fullness Of its wealth.

because of the violence of all who dwell therein Because of the iniquity of the violence of its dwellers.

the inhabited Heb. הַנוֹשָבוֹת, les assiyes, inhabited.

what is this proverb Why do you constantly use this proverb with your mouth, to make a proverb of this matter?

The days will draw on and the retribution will not come, and meanwhile, the evil prophecy that the prophets are prophesying about us will be lost, and it will be forgotten and disappear.

use it as a proverb Heb. יִמְשְּׁלוּ, from the word מָשָּׁל, a proverb.

For there will never again be any false prophecy The false prophets will no longer be able to promise you peace with falsehood, for speedily I will bring near the [realization of the] words of the true prophets.

glib divination Heb. מִקְסַם חָלָק, devinaylle in Old French, soothsaying, divination. Divination of smoothness.

will be drawn out Heb. תִּמָשֵּׁך, sera allongee in French, will be deferred, delayed.

for many days The prophecy will not be fulfilled except after a long time.