The Skeptics Annotated Bible (623 page)

(5.11-17) God will slaughter everyone by killing one third with plagues, one third with famines, and one third with wars. If any somehow survive, he’ll send “evil beasts” to devour them. Finally, after he’s done killing, he “will be comforted.”

11 Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee;
neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity
.

(5.11)
“Neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.”

12 A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

13
Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

(5.13)
“Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.”

14
Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.

(5.14)
“Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.”

15
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes
. I the LORD have spoken it.

(5.15)
“So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes.”

16
When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:

(5.16)
“When I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread.”

17
So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee
. I the LORD have spoken it.

(5.17)
“So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee: and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee.”

6
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

3 And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD;
Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you
, and I will destroy your high places.

(6.3)
“Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you.”

(6.4-6) God will decorate the land with the bones and dead bodies of those who worship incorrectly.

4 And
your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.

(6.4)
“Your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.”

5 And
I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.

(6.5)
“I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.”

6 In all your dwellingplaces
the cities shall be laid waste
, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your images may be cut down,
and your works may be abolished.

(6.6)
“The cities shall be laid waste … and your works may be abolished.”

(6.7-14) God makes his presence known by killing people with famine, disease, and war.

7 And
the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD
.

(6.7)
“The slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

8 Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.

9 And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.