Ezekiel chapter 24

vs 1

So now we're onto a new analogy, and it's one we're far more comfortable with - cooking. This one came at another time which, I'm sure if I knew the dates and stuff, would be of some importance.

vs 2

Ahh, well, now I know why it's an important date. The ninth year, the tenth month, the tenth day, there you go.

vs 3

Now, obviously Ezekiel isn't going to go to Jerusalem in the middle of a seige and tell them this parable. But he is going to write it down, and they'll have it for all of history to ponder. It starts with a cooking pot.

vs 4

You might recall that earlier in Ezekiel Jerusalemites were referring to themselves as the best cuts of meat in the pot. Well... looks like they were right.

vs 5

Sounds like quite a stew.

vs 6

So first of all, the deposit won't go away - the idea being that you cook the carbon deposit off on a hot fire, much like self-cleaning ovens work, I'm told. Second of all, there is this reference to just plucking out the meat in whatever order it comes. I am sure this has a previous reference, perhaps to the priests and their eating of meat sacrificed? But I can't find it. This is how heresies start, so I'm not going to say any more on it till I can think of it.

vs 7

Jerusalem shed the blood of innocents, and did not even try to hide it. She did it in broad view of everyone - the people, the nations, and of God.

vs 8

So God repays in kind - she does not get punished in secret, but every nation will see Jerusalem smashed, blood spilt publicly.

vs 9

God is the one doing the cooking, he is the one piling the wood high, to make the fire hot, and big, to burn off the scum from a big, dirty pot.