Ezekiel chapter 21

vs 1

I guess no response then.

vs 2

Well, this isn't sounding good. Preach against Jerusalem, the sanctuary, and all of Israel. But really, if you didn't get this feeling by now, I think you were reading another book.

vs 3

But this prophecy is against the land itself. God is against the land, and is going to cut it off from its people. Poor land. I mean, the land didn't do anything wrong, did it? It's just land.

vs 4

Since God is punishing everyone, there's no escape. Especially not on north/south line divides. Some people might think Jerusalem is safe, because it's not the northern tribes. Yes, well, that's not going to happen.

vs 5

What, never? God's just going to hold his sword out and smite with it from now on? Or is this a little hyperbolic just to show how serious God is. I'm going for B, considering that God actually does let people move back there.

vs 6

This I am sure Ezekiel can do.

vs 7

You know, I'm wondering if they just added the urine bit in the TNIV just to make Ezekiel that little bit more unreadable in churches.

Anyway, the whole limpness of hand and melting of heart takes us back to the pentateuch, but back then it was the nations going limp before Israel. Now it's Israel going limp before God's wrath.

vs 8

And again.

vs 9

Very sword-y, this passage.

vs 10

Interesting observation - the sword does not stop at scepters. War is no respecter of personage. God's sword certainly won't stop at them.