Chapter iii:15-vii:27.
The next section of the Book of Ezekiel extends from chapter iii:15 to
the close of the seventh chapter. Here we find that the Lord laid upon
the Prophet the great responsibilities as the watchman over the house of
Israel and gave him the message. Then the Prophet had to enact four
signs. The signs of the tile upon which he pictured Jerusalem (iv:1-3);
the sign of the Prophet's posture, laying 390 days upon his left side
and forty days on his right and prophesying during this time against the
doomed city (verses 4-8); the sign of the food he was to eat, and its
preparation; this covers the same period of 390 days (verses 9-17); the
last sign was that of shaving the hair from head and face, and dividing
it into three parts. This fourth sign (chapter v) is minutely explained
and symbolizes like the other signs the judgments against Jerusalem. Two
solemn messages of denunciations close this section, the first message
predicts the sword to fall upon the land and the people and their
subsequent dispersion (chapter vi). The second message predicts the end
which was to come upon the four corners of the land. The great
desolation is described in a marvellous way. The seventh chapter, which
contains this second message is one of the sublimest in the book. Both
messages end in the same way: "And they shall know that I am Jehovah."
Chapter iii:15-27.