The Skeptics Annotated Bible (628 page)

21
Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.

(10.21)
“Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings.”

22 And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearances and themselves: they went every one straight forward.

(11.1-3) A spirit lifts up Ezekiel and transports him to the Lord’s house, where he sees 25 men. God tells Ezekiel that he doesn’t like these guys because they said things like, “It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron and we be the flesh.”

11
Moreover
the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto
the east gate of
the LORD’S house
, which looketh eastward:
and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah
the son of Azur,
and Pelatiah
the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

(11.1)
“The spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto … the LORD’s house … and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah … and Pelatiah.”

2
Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:

(11.2)
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city.”

3
Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.

(11.3)
“Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.”

(11.4-5) So the spirit of the Lord falls on Ezekiel and tells him to prophesy against them.

4
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.

(11.4)
“Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.”

5
And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak
; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

(11.5)
“And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak
.”

6 Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.

7 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.

(11.8-12) Ezekiel tells the 25 men that God is going to kill them. That way they’ll know that God is the Lord.

8
Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord
GOD.

(11.8)
“Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord.”

9 And
I will
bring you out of the midst thereof, and
deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you
.

(11.9)
“I will … deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.”

10
Ye shall fall by the sword;
I will judge you in the border of Israel;
and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

(11.10)
“Ye shall fall by the sword … and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

11
This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof
; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:

(11.11)
“This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof.”

12
And ye shall know that I am the LORD
: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.

(11.12)
“And ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

13
And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah
the son of Benaiah
died. Then fell I down upon my face
, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

(11.13a)
“And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah … died.”

(11.13b)
“Then fell I down upon my face.”

14 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

16 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

17 Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

18 And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.

19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

20 That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

21 But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

(11.22-24) After promising to kill the 24 remaining men, the cherubim, wheels, and glory of the Lord left Jerusalem and hovered over a mountain. Then the spirit transported Ezekiel to Chaldea (Babylon).

22
Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

(11.22)
“Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.”