Ezekiel 11:1

THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE GIVE WICKED COUNSEL, AND ARE INVOLVED IN THE CITY’S RUIN, Ezekiel 11:1-21.

1. The spirit lifted me See notes Ezekiel 3:12; Ezekiel 3:14; Ezekiel 8:3.

Brought me unto the east gate Jehovah and the chariot of his glory had previously removed to this place (Ezekiel 10:18-19). This was probably the outer gate of the temple and faced the rising sun. The gate in oriental cities was the place of judgment.

Five and twenty men Are these the twenty-five sun worshipers mentioned in Ezekiel 8:16? No; these are not priests. These are the princes, or, literally, “captains,” of the people. The army and laity, as well as the priesthood, are now seen to be involved in rebellion against God. The number twenty-five may represent two from each tribe, or two from each division of the army, or two from each of the twelve regions of the city, led by the king or the general; or, being the usual symbolical number of solidarity, it may merely represent pictorially “the whole house of Israel” (Ezekiel 11:5).

Jaazaniah… and Pelatiah Jaazaniah is a different man from the one mentioned in Ezekiel 8:11. These were no doubt men well known in Jerusalem and also to the exiles. Their names make the allusion peculiarly striking: Jaazaniah “Jehovah listens” son of Azur, “the helper”; Pelatiah “God delivers” son of Benaiah, “Jehovah builds”! No wonder Ezekiel became unpopular when he pointed out by name the chief leaders of Israel and exposed their wickedness. These men were probably regarded by many as the leaders of the patriotic party in Jerusalem. They believed the holy city could never be captured, and advised rebellion against Babylon and alliance with Egypt. (See chap. 17.) Ezekiel and Jeremiah and all others who prophesied the conquest of Jerusalem by Babylon were called false prophets (Jeremiah 18:18; Micah 3:11), and were no doubt declared to be in the pay of the Babylonian court.