Ezekiel 33:21-29

Ezekiel 33:21-29

[21] And it came to pass in the twelfth  year  of our captivity,  in the tenth  month, in the fifth  day of the month,  that one that had escaped  out of Jerusalem  came  unto me, saying,  The city  is smitten.  [22] Now the hand  of the LORD  was upon me in the evening,  afore  he that was escaped  came;  and had opened  my mouth,  until he came  to me in the morning;  and my mouth  was opened,  and I was no more dumb.  [23] Then the word  of the LORD  came unto me, saying,  [24] Son  of man,  they that inhabit  those wastes  of the land  of Israel  speak,  Abraham  was one,  and he inherited  the land:  but we are many;  the land  is given  us for inheritance.  [25] Wherefore say  the Lord  Ye eat  with the blood,  and lift up  your eyes  toward your idols,  and shed  blood:  and shall ye possess  the land?  [26] Ye stand  upon your sword,  ye work  abomination,  and ye defile  every one  his neighbour's  wife:  and shall ye possess  the land?  [27] Say  the Lord  GOD;  As I live,  surely they that are in the wastes  shall fall  by the sword,  and him that is in the open  field  will I give  to the beasts  to be devoured,  and in the caves  shall die  of the pestilence.  [28] For I will lay  the land  most  desolate,  and the pomp  of her strength  shall cease;  and the mountains  of Israel  shall be desolate,  that none shall pass through.  [29] Then shall they know  that I am the LORD,  when I have laid  the land  most  desolate  because of all their abominations  which they have committed. 

What does Ezekiel 33:21-29 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The concept of the land is particularly significant to the six messages [1] delivered in that one night before the news of Jerusalem"s fall reached the exiles in Babylonia [2]. Since Jerusalem had fallen, would the land be lost to Israel ( Ezekiel 33:21-33)? It was the false "shepherds" of Israel who had lost the land for Israel by leading the people astray from the truth. But the true "shepherd," the Messiah, would ultimately restore the land to Israel (ch34). Those foreigners who had possessed the land of Israel and had oppressed her people would be judged and removed so that Israel might again possess her own land ( Ezekiel 35:1 to Ezekiel 36:15). Then God would restore Israel to her promised land ( Ezekiel 36:16 to Ezekiel 37:14) and reunite the nation in fulfillment of God"s covenants with her ( Ezekiel 37:15-28). Never again would a foreign power have dominion over Israel in her land (chs38-39)." [3]