And the word of the Lord came unto me saying, Son of man, set thy
face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and
prophesy against the forest of the south field; And say to the
forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord
God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every
green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not
be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be
burned therein. And all flesh shall see that I the Lord have kindled
it: it shall not be quenched. Then said I, Ah Lord God! they say of
me, Doth he not speak parables (verses 45-49).
It is a parable. The forest of the south field is Judea; its complete
and terrible conquest is here again predicted. The fire of judgment is
to sweep through it, like a mighty forest fire which cannot be quenched.
And when Ezekiel had faithfully delivered his message, his hearers
said, "Doth he not speak in parables?" They refused to understand.