Eze 5-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ezek 5:1-4: 5:1-4 The prophet was required to perform two further sign acts. First, he used a sharp sword ... as a razor to shave his head and beard , tangibly demonstrating the destruction described in ch 4 (cp. Isa 7:20 ). Shaving off a man’s hair implied the loss of his manhood and was a gesture of dishonor (see 2 Sam 10:4-5 ). Second, Ezekiel weighed the hair he had shaved off into three equal parts to show that God’s measured judgment would take three different forms.

Summary for Ezek 5:1-4: 5:1-4 ^a The prophet was required to perform two further sign acts. First, he used a sharp sword ... as a razor to shave his head and beard, tangibly demonstrating the destruction described in ch 4 ^b (cp. Isa 7:20 ^c). Shaving off a man’s hair implied the loss of his manhood and was a gesture of dishonor (see 2 Sam 10:4-5 ^d). Second, Ezekiel weighed the hair he had shaved off into three equal parts to show that God’s measured judgment would take three different forms.
5:2 ^e Ezekiel was to burn one third of the hair to represent those who would die of famine during the siege. He was to chop another third of the hair with a sword to represent those who would die violent deaths. He was to scatter the final third to the wind to represent those who would be sent into exile.
Summary for Ezek 5:3-4: 5:3-4 ^f Ezekiel was to tie just a bit of the hair in his robe to show that a remnant would be safe, but even some of them would die in the fire of exile. Few would survive the multiple catastrophes about to befall God’s people.
Summary for Ezek 5:5-6: 5:5-6 ^g The reason for God’s judgment on his people is made abundantly clear: Israel had broken its covenant relationship with God.
Summary for Ezek 5:7-13: 5:7-13 ^h The covenant between God and his people underlies Ezekiel’s messages. In stating the charges against his fellow Israelites, Ezekiel explicitly draws from the language of the covenant that was made on Mount Sinai and renewed in Deuteronomy. Israel’s refusal to obey God’s decrees and regulations, especially in their worship of detestable idols that defiled the Lord’s Temple, contravened God’s requirements (cp. Lev 26:1-2 ⁱ, 14-15 ^j). Consequently, the curses for disobeying the Lord (Lev 26:16-43 ^k; Deut 28:15-68 ^l) would now come into effect.
5:10 ^m Parents will eat their own children: This horrific prospect was an anticipated consequence of famine (see 2 Kgs 6:26-30 ⁿ), and one of the curses of disobedience (see Lev 26:29 ^o).

‏ Ezekiel 6

Summary for Ezek 6:1-14: 6:1-14 ^p The two oracles of judgment in this chapter (6:2-10 ^q and 6:11-14 ^r) present two alternatives—a positive future through repentance, or continued rebellion and a dark future of total annihilation. Either way, the Lord’s power and holiness would be manifested.
Summary for Ezek 6:1-3: 6:1-3 ^s The circle of judgment broadened out from Jerusalem to include the mountains of Israel, which were Israel’s political heartland. This territory had belonged to Israel continuously since the time of Joshua, and it had been infected by idolatry. The hill country had become home to many pagan shrines (literally high places)—raised stone platforms that often housed idols or became the location for sacrifices and pagan festivities. Most predated Israel’s entry into the land, and God had commanded Israel to destroy them (Deut 12:2-3 ^t). However, in many cases, the Israelites had permitted them to remain in place, and the political and religious leaders had ignored or even encouraged those who worshiped there.
Summary for Ezek 6:4-7: 6:4-7 ^u The corpses and bones of the dead worshipers scattered around an altar would defile the altar and make it unfit for use.

• idols: The Hebrew term for idols (literally round things) probably alludes to dung; when used in this way, it is a term of strong derision.
Summary for Ezek 6:8-10: 6:8-10 ^v A remnant would be scattered among the nations of the world to bear witness to God’s faithfulness to his covenant. They would recognize the reality of their own unfaithful hearts and hate themselves for all their detestable sins, and they will know that God’s threat of calamity on covenant breakers was absolutely serious. Some of those who know that I alone am the Lord might even experience the other side of God’s faithfulness: his swiftness to forgive those who repent. In the book of Exodus, Israel came to know that God is the Lord through his mighty acts of rescue (see Exod 6:7 ^w). Unfortunately, Israel’s behavior throughout their history showed that they had forgotten. They would come again to that knowledge through God’s acts of judgment.
6:11 ^x Ezekiel’s message did not end on the encouraging thought of possible repentance. He returned to the theme of judgment with its three-fold calamity of war and famine and disease.
6:12 ^y anyone who survives: See 5:3-4 ^z.
Summary for Ezek 6:13-14: 6:13-14 ^aa Riblah was located on the northern border of Israel and is well known from other biblical books. At Riblah, Nebuchadnezzar set up his tribunal and executed the sons of Zedekiah and many other leading citizens of Judah (2 Kgs 25:6 ^ab, 21 ^ac).