The Siege of Jerusalem – Part 2 Lesson 6

1. The Siege of Jerusalem – Part 2Lesson 6 Ezekiel 12:1-28; 24; 26:1-14; 29-32; II Kings 25:1; II Chronicles 36:17; Jeremiah 21:1-14; 32:1-44; 34:1-7; 37; 38:1-13; 39:1, 15-18; 52:4(Waldron, p.40-47) Wednesday June 23, 2010

2. Today’s Outline and Timeline – Aieee! • Ezekiel 12:1-28 – Zedekiah’s captivity is signified. • 588 B.C. – Siege against Jerusalem begins on 9th year, 10th month, 10th day of Zedekiah’s reign and Ezekiel’s captivity. • Jeremiah 21:1-14 – Zedekiah sends a question to Jeremiah. • Jeremiah 37:1-21 – Babylonians leave; Jeremiah imprisoned. • Ezekiel 24 – Prophecies against Jerusalem. • Ezekiel 24:1-14 – Jerusalem would be a cauldron. • Ezekiel 24:15-24 – Ezekiel’s wife dies but forbidden to mourn outwardly. • Ezekiel 24:1-14 – Ezekiel soon to be able to talk freely . • Jeremiah 34:1-7 – Babylon returns; Lachish and Azekah under siege. • Jeremiah 32:1-44 – Jeremiah is commanded to buy a field. • 587 B.C. – Siege continues; Ezekiel’s prophesies against Egypt 10th year, 10th month, 12th day of Zedekiah’s reign and Ezekiel’s captivity. • Ezekiel 29:1-14 – “I am against you, Pharaoh.” • Ezekiel 29:17-21 – Egypt to be Nebuchadnezzar’s wages for Tyre. • Jeremiah 38:1-13 – Jeremiah is cast into dungeon of Malchijah. • 586 B.C. – Siege continues; Ezekiel’s prophesies against Egypt and Tyre in 11th year, 1st month, 1st day of Zedekiah’s reign and Ezekiel’s captivity. (Roughly 3 months before wall is breached.) • Ezekiel 30:1-19 – Egypt and allies to fall to Babylonians. (date unknown, maybe earlier.) • Ezekiel 26:1-14 – Doom of Tyre. • Ezekiel 30:20-26 – God will strengthen Nebuchadnezzar against Egypt (1st month, 7th day). • Ezekiel 31:1-18 – Pharaoh should have been warned by Assyria’s fate (3rd month, 1st day).

3. Key Dates and Events • 605 B.C. – 1st Wave of Captives • Daniel taken to Babylon with other children of nobles, kings • 597 B.C. – 2nd Wave of Captives • Jeconiah, his mother, and other captives surrender and taken to Babylon • Ezekiel is also taken into captivity. • 588 B.C. – Siege begins against Jerusalem. • 586 B.C. – 3rd Wave of Captives; Jerusalem is destroyed

4. Questions Zedekiah’s captivity is signified (Ezekiel 12:1-28) • What did Ezekiel’s actions signify? • What was the allure of the false prophecies that Ezekiel confronts (see especially vs. 24)?

5. “Flattering Divination” ‘Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’? Tell them therefore, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘I will lay this proverb to rest, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel.’ But say to them, ‘The days are at hand, and the fulfillment of every vision. For no more shall there be any false vision or flattering divination within the house of Israel. For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass; it will no more be postponed; for in your days, O rebellious house, I will say the word and perform it," says the Lord GOD.' " Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Son of man, look, the house of Israel is saying, 'The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.' "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "None of My words will be postponed any more, but the word which I speak will be done," says the Lord GOD.' “ (Ezekiel 12:22-28)

6. Questions Zedekiah’s captivity is signified (Ezekiel 12:1-28) • What did Ezekiel’s actions signify? • What was the allure of the false prophecies that Ezekiel confronts (see especially vs. 24)? Siege Begins (Jeremiah 21:1-14; 37:1-21; Ezekiel 24) • What mercy did God offer to those who would accept Jeremiah’s message?

7. God’s Offer and Warning “Now you shall say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him. For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good," says the LORD. "It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire." ' And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, 'O house of David! Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment in the morning; And deliver him who is plundered Out of the hand of the oppressor, Lest My fury go forth like fire And burn so that no one can quench it, Because of the evil of your doings. Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, And rock of the plain," says the LORD, "Who say, 'Who shall come down against us? Or who shall enter our dwellings?'But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings," says the LORD; "I will kindle a fire in its forest, And it shall devour all things around it.” ‘ “ (Jeremiah 21:8-14)

8. Questions Zedekiah’s captivity is signified (Ezekiel 12:1-28) • What did Ezekiel’s actions signify? • What was the allure of the false prophecies that Ezekiel confronts (see especially vs. 24)? Siege Begins (Jeremiah 21:1-14; 37:1-21; Ezekiel 24) • What mercy did God offer to those who would accept Jeremiah’s message? • How could we explain Zedekiah’s respect for Jeremiah shown in Jeremiah 37:3, 16-21 versus his disregard shown in Jeremiah 37:1-2 (see also, Jeremiah 38:1-13)?

9. Questions Siege Begins (Jeremiah 21:1-14; 37:1-21; Ezekiel 24) • Did God’s efforts to “cleanse” Jerusalem fail (Ezekiel 24:13)? Did God fail? Explain.

10. God’s Sovereignty Vindicated Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the bloody city! I too will make the pyre great. Heap on the wood, Kindle the fire; Cook the meat well, Mix in the spices, And let the cuts be burned up. Then set the pot empty on the coals, That it may become hot and its bronze may burn, That its filthiness may be melted in it, That its scum may be consumed. She has grown weary with lies, And her great scum has not gone from her. Let her scum be in the fire! In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed, You will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore, Till I have caused My fury to rest upon you. I, the LORD, have spoken it; It shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not hold back, Nor will I spare, Nor will I relent; According to your ways And according to your deeds They will judge you," Says the Lord GOD.' “ (Ezekiel 24:9-14)

11. Questions Siege Begins (Jeremiah 21:1-14; 37:1-21; Ezekiel 24) • Did God’s efforts to “cleanse” Jerusalem fail (Ezekiel 24:13)? Did God fail? Explain. • What reoccurring theme is found in Ezekiel 24:24, 27? Why do think it was oft repeated by Ezekiel?

12. “They shall know that I am the LORD!” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded. And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things signify to us, that you behave so?" Then I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, your arrogant boast, the desire of your eyes, the delight of your soul; and your sons and daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips nor eat man's bread of sorrow. Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall neither mourn nor weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and mourn with one another. Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you; according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.' And you, son of man -- will it not be in the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and their glory, … one who escapes will come to you to let you hear it with your ears; on that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.' “ (Ezekiel 24:18-27)

13. Questions Siege Begins (Jeremiah 21:1-14; 37:1-21; Ezekiel 24) • Did God’s efforts to “cleanse” Jerusalem fail (Ezekiel 24:13)? Did God fail? Explain. • What reoccurring theme is found in Ezekiel 24:24, 27? Why do think it was oft repeated by Ezekiel? Prophecies Against Egypt (Ezekiel 29-32; 29:1-14) • How was Egypt like a reed? What was the lesson for Israel at this time? What are our “reeds” today?

14. Egypt – A False Hope "Then all the inhabitants of Egypt Shall know that I am the LORD, Because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel. When they took hold of you with the hand, You broke and tore all their shoulders; When they leaned on you, You broke and made all their backs quiver.“ (Ezekiel 29:6-7) "Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him.” (Isaiah 29:6)

15. Questions Siege Begins (Jeremiah 21:1-14; 37:1-21; Ezekiel 24) • Did God’s efforts to “cleanse” Jerusalem fail (Ezekiel 24:13)? Did God fail? Explain. • What reoccurring theme is found in Ezekiel 24:24, 27? Why do think it was oft repeated by Ezekiel? Prophecies Against Egypt (Ezekiel 29-32; 29:1-14) • How was Egypt like a reed? What was the lesson for Israel at this time? What are our “reeds” today? Jeremiah’s imprisonment (Jeremiah 34:1-7; 32:1-44) • Why was Jeremiah imprisoned? • What was the significance and lesson of Jeremiah buying a plot of land at this time?

16. Questions Jeremiah’s imprisonment (Jeremiah 34:1-7; 32:1-44) • Did God fail to foresee the actions of the Israelites described in Jeremiah 32:35? Please explain.