The Skeptics Annotated Bible (650 page)

(32.26) “All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the land of the living.”

27 And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of
the uncircumcised
, which
are gone down to hell with their weapons of war
: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones,
though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.

(32.27) “The uncircumcised … are gone down to hell with their weapons of war … though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.”

28
Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.

(32.28) “Yea, thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised, and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword.”

29 There is Edom, her kings, and all her princes, which with their might are laid by
them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised
, and with them that go down to the pit.

(32.29)
“Them that were slain by the sword: they shall lie with the uncircumcised.”

30 There be the princes of the north, all of them, and all the Zidonians, which are gone down with the slain; with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and
they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword
, and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit.

(32.30)
“They lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword.”

31 Pharaoh shall see them, and shall be comforted over all his multitude, even
Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord
GOD.

(32.31)
“Pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword, saith the Lord.”

32
For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord
GOD.

(32.32)
“For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord.”

33
Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

(33.2-6) When God is getting ready to kill people with the sword, it’s the watchman’s duty to warn them about it by blowing a trumpet. If the people hear the trumpet but don’t take warning, then God will kill the people but not the watchman. But if the watchman doesn’t blow the trumpet when he sees God coming, then God will kill the people and the watchman.

2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them,
When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman
:

(33.2)
“When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman.”

3
If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

(33.3)
“If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people.”

4
Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

(33.4)
“Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.”

5
He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him.
But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

(33.5)
“He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him.”

6
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned
; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but
his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand
.

(33.6)
“But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned … his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”

(33.7-9) God tells Ezekiel that he is the watchman. So the usual watchman rules apply to him.

7
So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

(33.7)
“So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.”

8
When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand
.

(33.8)
“When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”

9
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

(33.9)
“Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”

10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

(33.12-13) If a “righteous” person does something wrong, God will forget every good thing that that person has ever done. Then God will kill him for the single mistake.

12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people,
The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.