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3) Chapters 15 to 24
The word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel in a number of parables :
A number of parables are given to further impress upon them the urgency and need to repent and turn to Yahweh as the desolation of Jerusalem was near. Israel was often described as a flourishing vine but was now likened to fuel only suitable for a fire. They would go from one fire, and another fire would devour them. They would then know “that I am the LORD”. (Ezekiel 15:7)
The Patriarchs of Israel were taken from the idolatry of Canaan .Abraham’s seed were adopted to become a great nation, a people ‘for his name’.
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite... For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. (Ezekiel 16:3-4,59-62)
Yahweh had made a Covenant with the Patriarchs of Israel and despite the nation’s rebelliousness and , Jerusalem would be destroyed but a remnant would again return to the land. In fact there were two returns of remnants to the land. The first was under Ezra and Nehemiah and the second in the twentieth Century AD as we witness today. In 1967 Jerusalem returned to the Jews and we have seen President Donald Trump declaring that Jerusalem is the rightful capital of Israel. Ezekiel depicts the nation of Israel as being like a branch of the cedar which would be planted in the land and flourish again.
Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent: In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. [24] And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it. (Ezekiel 17:22-24 )
The pleas of earlier chapters to repent and to return to Yahweh their Elohim are repeated.
Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 18:30-31)
There was promised a future restoration of a faithful remnant on the the mountains of Israel, which we will see.
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: ...For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. (Ezekiel 20:38-40) This would follow the purging of the nation.
I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him. And thou, son of man, prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning the Ammonites, and concerning their reproach; even say thou, The sword, the sword is drawn: for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering: (Ezekiel 21:27-28)
Chapter 22 reiterates the sins and abominations of Israel. Samaria and Jerusalem are likened to harlots
And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours, they will bear the sins of their idols ye shall know that I am Yahweh (Ezekiel 23:4-5)
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