Ezekiel 21-22

Chapter 21: Both Righteous & Wicked shall be slain

The Lord’s sword is put against Jerusalem. Ezekiel is commanded by the Lord to cry unto the people and sigh as an animal would sigh. He divines to ascertain which to attack first, and Jerusalem is picked. Destruction is also predicted for the Ammonites.

Chapter 22: The sins of Jerusalem

Ezekiel catalogs the sins of the Jews in Jerusalem “…committed abomination with his neighbor’s wife…lewdly defiled his daughter in law… taken gifts to shed blood… taken usury and increase… dishonest gain…” (Ezekiel 22:11-13) The sin of the Jews includes sexual, worshiping idols, social taboos, murder and dishonest gain. The Lord then asks a question “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 22:14) Essentially the Lord is saying; “You think you are tough now… but will you be SO TOUGH, BEFORE ME and MY WRATH?”  Because of their iniquities they will be destroyed and scattered.