Ezekiel 24:2
"Son of man, write down today's date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.
Son of man
This phrase is a frequent designation for Ezekiel, used over 90 times in the book. In Hebrew, it is "ben adam," which literally means "son of Adam" or "son of humanity." This title emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and his role as a representative of the people. It underscores the humility and frailty of the prophet, contrasting with the divine messages he is tasked to deliver. In a broader biblical context, "Son of Man" is also a messianic title used by Jesus in the New Testament, highlighting both His humanity and His divine mission.

record this date
The act of recording signifies the importance of the event. In ancient times, recording dates was crucial for historical and prophetic purposes. The Hebrew word for "record" is "kathab," which means to inscribe or engrave. This command to record underscores the certainty and significance of the prophecy. It serves as a divine timestamp, marking a pivotal moment in Israel's history that would be remembered for generations.

this very date
The repetition of "this very date" emphasizes the immediacy and urgency of the message. It highlights the precision of God's timing and the fulfillment of His word. The Hebrew phrase "etzem hayom hazeh" conveys a sense of exactness and specificity. This repetition serves to impress upon the hearers the gravity of the situation and the unfolding of God's plan in real-time.

because the king of Babylon
This refers to Nebuchadnezzar II, the powerful ruler of the Babylonian Empire. Historically, Nebuchadnezzar is known for his military conquests and the expansion of his empire. In the biblical narrative, he is often seen as an instrument of God's judgment against Judah for their disobedience. The mention of the king of Babylon situates the prophecy within a concrete historical context, reminding the audience of the geopolitical realities of the time.

has laid siege to Jerusalem
The siege of Jerusalem was a catastrophic event for the people of Judah. In 588 BC, Nebuchadnezzar's forces surrounded the city, leading to its eventual fall in 586 BC. The Hebrew word for "siege" is "matsor," which conveys the idea of confinement and distress. This event was a fulfillment of earlier prophecies and served as a divine judgment for the nation's idolatry and rebellion. The siege symbolizes the consequences of turning away from God and the seriousness of His covenantal promises.

this very day
The reiteration of "this very day" serves to reinforce the immediacy and certainty of the prophecy. It is a call to recognize the unfolding of God's plan in the present moment. The phrase underscores the idea that God's actions in history are precise and purposeful. It invites the audience to reflect on the significance of the day and to respond with repentance and faithfulness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon.

2. Son of Man
A title used by God to address Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a representative of the people.

3. King of Babylon
Refers to Nebuchadnezzar II, the ruler of Babylon, who led the siege against Jerusalem.

4. Jerusalem
The capital city of Judah, significant as the spiritual and political center for the Israelites, now under siege.

5. Siege of Jerusalem
A pivotal event in biblical history where Babylon besieged Jerusalem, leading to its eventual destruction and the exile of its people.
Teaching Points
The Importance of God's Timing
God's command to record the date emphasizes His sovereignty and precision in fulfilling His word. Believers are reminded to trust in God's perfect timing in their own lives.

The Consequences of Disobedience
The siege of Jerusalem serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of turning away from God. It calls believers to examine their own lives for areas of disobedience and to seek repentance.

God's Faithfulness in Judgment and Restoration
While the siege represents judgment, it also sets the stage for eventual restoration. This duality encourages believers to hold onto hope, knowing that God's plans include redemption.

The Role of Prophets
Ezekiel's role as a prophet highlights the importance of listening to God's messengers. Believers are encouraged to seek and heed godly counsel in their spiritual journey.

Recording and Remembering God's Works
The act of recording the date serves as a call to remember and reflect on God's works in our lives. Keeping a spiritual journal can help believers track God's faithfulness and grow in gratitude.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the specific date of the siege in Ezekiel 24:2 emphasize God's control over historical events, and how can this understanding impact your trust in God's timing?

2. In what ways does the siege of Jerusalem illustrate the consequences of disobedience to God, and how can you apply this lesson to your personal walk with God?

3. How do the accounts of the siege in 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 39 complement Ezekiel's prophecy, and what do they collectively teach about God's justice and mercy?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in a difficult situation. How can remembering this event strengthen your faith during current challenges?

5. How can you incorporate the practice of recording and remembering God's works in your life, and what benefits might this bring to your spiritual growth?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 25
Provides a historical account of the siege and fall of Jerusalem, offering a account backdrop to Ezekiel's prophecy.

Jeremiah 39
Describes the same event from the perspective of another prophet, Jeremiah, who also warned of Jerusalem's fall.

Lamentations 1
Expresses the sorrow and desolation felt by the people of Jerusalem after the city's destruction, highlighting the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy.

Daniel 1
Chronicles the beginning of the Babylonian exile, where Daniel and others are taken captive, showing the broader impact of the siege.
The Boiling CauldronUrijah R. Thomas.Ezekiel 24:1-14
The Boiling CauldronA London MinisterEzekiel 24:1-14
The Consuming CauldronJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 24:1-14
The Interior Mechanism of WarJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 24:1-14
The Parable of the Cauldron; Or, the Judgment Upon JerusalemW. Jones Ezekiel 24:1-14
People
Ezekiel
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem, Samaria
Topics
Attack, Babylon, Close, Date, Draws, Drew, Invested, Jerusalem, Laid, Leaned, Loose, Selfsame, Self-same, Siege, Weight, Writing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 24:1-13

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Library
Divine Sovereignty.
In this discussion I shall endeavor to show, I. What is not intended by the term "sovereignty" when applied to God. It is not intended, at least by me, that God, in any instance, wills or acts arbitrarily, or without good reasons; reasons so good and so weighty, that he could in no case act otherwise than he does, without violating the law of his own intelligence and conscience, and consequently without sin. Any view of divine sovereignty that implies arbitrariness on the part of the divine will,
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras, Falls to Plundering.
1. And thus were the disturbances of Galilee quieted, when, upon their ceasing to prosecute their civil dissensions, they betook themselves to make preparations for the war with the Romans. Now in Jerusalem the high priest Artanus, and do as many of the men of power as were not in the interest of the Romans, both repaired the walls, and made a great many warlike instruments, insomuch that in all parts of the city darts and all sorts of armor were upon the anvil. Although the multitude of the young
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

That the Ruler Should not Set his Heart on Pleasing Men, and yet Should Give Heed to what Ought to Please Them.
Meanwhile it is also necessary for the ruler to keep wary watch, lest the lust of pleasing men assail him; lest, when he studiously penetrates the things that are within, and providently supplies the things that are without, he seek to be beloved of those that are under him more than truth; lest, while, supported by his good deeds, he seems not to belong to the world, self-love estrange him from his Maker. For he is the Redeemer's enemy who through the good works which he does covets being loved
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The End
'1. And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about. 2. And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah. 3. And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land. 4. And the city was broken up, and all the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 14.) Differently to be admonished are those who fear scourges, and on that account live innocently, and those who have grown so hard in wickedness as not to be corrected even by scourges. For those who fear scourges are to be told by no means to desire temporal goods as being of great account, seeing that bad men also have them, and by no means to shun present evils as intolerable, seeing they are not ignorant how for the most part good men also are touched by them. They are to be admonished
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, first, Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Seventh Commandment
Thou shalt not commit adultery.' Exod 20: 14. God is a pure, holy spirit, and has an infinite antipathy against all uncleanness. In this commandment he has entered his caution against it; non moechaberis, Thou shalt not commit adultery.' The sum of this commandment is, The preservations of corporal purity. We must take heed of running on the rock of uncleanness, and so making shipwreck of our chastity. In this commandment there is something tacitly implied, and something expressly forbidden. 1. The
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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