Ezekiel 13

Woe to Foolish Prophets

Ezekiel 13:¹ And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

Ezekiel 13:² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ (‘Inspiration’)”

Ezekiel 13:³ Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing (No vision)!

Ezekiel 13:⁴ O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts.

• SUBJECT: FOXES

Jesus called Herod Antipas a “fox”:

^{Luke 13:32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’}

Hebrew: šûʿāl h7776
A burrower, excavator (sometimes used for Jackal but comparisons break down since the two animals differ in significant ways.)

What characteristics are there about a fox that would compare a fox to a man? The first description would be most fitting for false prophets.

• They plunder ripe grapevines (the harvest of the souls of men that should belong to God) Song of Solomon 2:15
• Since they are solitary (unlike Jackals) they appear to be scheming since their agenda is for their own behalf.
• They are difficult to catch.
• The fox is shy and suspicious, and flees mankind.

• SUBJECT: DESERTS

A desert is devoid of fruitfulness, yielding little to nothing.

Ezekiel 13:⁵ You have not gone up into the gaps (breaches) to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord.

Ezekiel 13:⁶ They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed (Come true).

Ezekiel 13:⁷ Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.”

Ezekiel 13:⁸ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God.

Ezekiel 13:⁹ “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God.

Ezekiel 13:¹⁰ “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace—and one builds a wall, and they plaster (Or whitewash) it with untempered mortar—

Ezekiel 13:¹¹ say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down.

Ezekiel 13:¹² Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?’ ”

Ezekiel 13:¹³ Therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it.

Ezekiel 13:¹⁴ So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 13:¹⁵ “Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, ‘The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, ¹⁶ that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,’ ” says the Lord God.

^{1Ezekiel 13:7} “Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart (Inspiration); prophesy against them,

Ezekiel 13:¹⁸ and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the women who sew magic charms on their sleeves (Lit. over all the joints of My hands-or-under every elbow-or-on all elbows of the hands); and make veils for the heads of people of every height to hunt souls! Will you hunt the souls of My people, and keep yourselves alive?

Ezekiel 13:¹⁹ And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?”

Ezekiel 13:²⁰ ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against your magic charms by which you hunt souls there like birds (Lit. flying ones). I will tear them from your arms, and let the souls go, the souls you hunt like birds.

Ezekiel 13:²¹ I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people out of your hand, and they shall no longer be as prey in your hand. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 13:²² “Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.

Ezekiel 13:²³ Therefore you shall no longer envision futility nor practice divination; for I will deliver My people out of your hand, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”