Глава 13

About false prophets and prophetesses 1–7. Refuting False Prophets. 8–16. Their punishment. 17–19. Reproof of the prophetesses. 20–23. Their punishment. Ezek.13:1. And the word of the Lord came to me: Ezek.13:2. son of man! prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to the prophets from your own heart: Hear the word of the Lord! “Prophecy against the prophets” sounds strong. - "Israeli". There are so few like-minded people of Ezekiel among the prophets that he can oppose himself alone to this entire corporation; Wed Ezek.7:26, 22:30; Jer 18.18, 23.11. - “Prophesying”. Is this a pleonasm, or is the sentence here: “to those who prophesy from their own hearts” - deliberately broken by the introductory: “tell the prophets.” – “From my own heart” (Jer 23.16). The exact opposite of what prophets should be is the idea of ​​a prophet: they should only be the mouth of God. - “Hear the word of the Lord.” This word of the Lord is the exact opposite of what the false prophets proclaim. Ezek.13:3. Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets who are led by their own spirit and have not seen anything! "Mad" because they deceive themselves about themselves and the limits of their abilities; so that they themselves did not believe in their predictions, this Ezekiel does not dare to assert. - “They are led by their own spirit,” and not by God’s. Here the consciousness of the true prophet is clearly revealed that he does not draw his inspiration from a natural source and does not attribute it to himself. Ezek.13:4. Your prophets, O Israel, are like foxes in ruins. "Thy Prophets". “False” was not added, since besides Ezekiel there were almost no true ones. Ezekiel speaks to Israel about its prophets as if they (their matter) did not concern him at all; he doesn’t want to have anything to do with them, just like Amos once did, who didn’t even want to be called a prophet or son of the prophets ( Amos 7.14 ); great natures have always felt lonely and isolated on earth. “Israel” is more tenderly used than before, especially in Chapter II. ("rebellious house"); Perhaps the prophet’s activities have already begun to bear fruit. - “Like foxes in ruins.” Like foxes who love ruins and produce them (burrow under buildings), false prophets undermine the existence of Israel, which is now like ruins; they are working towards the final destruction of the remnant of existence from Israel. Ezek.13:5. You shall not enter into the breaches, nor make a wall around the house of Israel, so that you may stand firm in battle on the day of the Lord. A true prophet should not destroy, but create. To the previous image, the prophet directly adds a completely different one, which could have been inspired by the upcoming siege of Jerusalem. When breaches are made in the walls of a besieged city by an enemy army, the bravest defenders concentrate their entire defense on them (“enter the breaches”) and try to seal them as quickly as possible (“fence them with a wall”). “Breaches” are moral corruption, the weaknesses of the people, threatening them with their fall and requiring timely reproof and correction from the prophet. “The wall” is this very admonition, as well as the prayerful intercession of the prophet for the people, which constitutes the wonderful right and duty of a true prophet and can, at least sometimes, stand in the way of God’s wrath (Ezek. 22.30; Jer. 15.1; Is. 63.10). Instead of “you do not fence with a wall” LXX: “gathering the flocks to the house of Israel”), i.e., it should be “caused the invasion of enemies against Israel,” and the comparison is taken from fencing a vineyard against wild animals. "Day of the Lord" see Isaiah 2.12. During Ezekiel's time he was especially close; this was the closest day of the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar; Wed Soph 1.7; Joel 1:15, 2:1; Am 5.18. Ezekiel here, in fact, depicts nothing more than the tasks of his calling according to Ezekiel 3.16–21: to be able to protect his compatriots around him from death in the upcoming catastrophe. Ezek.13:6. They see empty things and foretell lies, saying: “The Lord has spoken”; but the Lord did not send them; and hope that the word will come true. Instead of the actual means indicated in the previous verse to prevent the impending disaster for Judea, false prophets resort to soothing, but clearly false predictions and visions, passing them off as divinely inspired. - “The Lord said.” A literal imitation of the true prophets who often use this formula. - “And they hope that the word will come true.” The Hebrew expression can be translated: “and they believe that the word will come true.” Based on the then belief in the magical power of all predictions, the false prophets were convinced of the fulfillment of their prophecies besides God, who spoke differently through the true prophets. The dark expression LXX may have the same meaning: “and the word began to be restored,” which is blessed. Jerome understands: “although they want to rebel and rise high, they cannot do it.” Ezek.13:7. Didn't you see an empty vision? and are you not uttering a false foreshadowing when you say, “The Lord has spoken,” but I have not spoken? Art. составляет, в вопросительной форме повторение 6 ст., может быть представляя собою «обращение к совести ложных пророков» (Генгстенберг). В Ватиканском кодексе нет. Ezek.13:8. Посему так говорит Го­с­по­дь Бог: так как вы говорите пустое и видите в виде­ниях ложь, за то вот Я – на вас, говорит Го­с­по­дь Бог. Art. forms the introduction to stanza 2 (vv. 8–9), describing the punishment of false prophets; отсюда и повторение вины лжепророков, повторение по обычаю буквальное, но сокращенное и с перестановкою дополнений. Ezek.13:9. И будет рука Моя про­тив этих про­роков, видящих пустое и пред­веща­ю­щих ложь; в совете народа Моего они не будут, и в список дома Израилева не впишут­ся, и в землю Израилеву не войдут; and you will know that I am the Lord God. The punishment of false prophets is remarkable in that its fulfillment refers to clearly messianic, therefore, eschatological (cf. “My people”) times in Ezekiel. It is threefold, increasingly increasing in degree: 1) they will not exercise leadership influence on the people of the future (glory: “they will not punish My people”); but the expression “the council of my people” can mean the entire society of the messianic people living in close communion with their God; 2) will not be included in the lists of this people, which determine the origin and right to ownership of plots of land (1 Ezra 2.62); 3) will not be allowed to even return to the promised land of the future; Wed Иез.20.38 . The punishment is not announced in a threatening, but rather in a mournful tone and not as severe as others announced by Ezekiel: the false prophets were excused by self-deception. Иез.13:10 . Because they mislead My people, saying, “peace,” when there is no peace; and when he builds a wall they cover it with mud, The speech returns to the guilt of the false prophets after the announcement of their punishment, in order to more fully reveal both: v. 10–16. – “My people” see v. 4 explanation "Israel". - “Saying: peace”, cf. Jer 6:14, 8:11. - “When he builds a wall.” According to Ezekiel 12.27, he is Ezekiel (not the people, as is usually explained). The Prophet contrasts his activity - the creation (cf. Jer. 1.10) of the house of Israel lying in ruins (v. 4), which the Divine Architect himself breaks (Am 7.7 etc.), the activity of false prophets, turning a blind eye to the moral corruption of the people and what it threatens. Ezek.13:11. tell those covering the wall with mud that it will fall. A torrential rain will fall, and you, hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind will tear it apart. “There will be torrential rain” - Babylonian invasion: cf. Isa 8:8, 18:2; Nahum. 1.8, where the attack of enemies is compared to heavy rain. But, of course, all subsequent trials of the people of God can occur until their final restoration and salvation; Wed Ezek.20:35, 38, 38:9. - “And you, hailstones, will fall.” An unprecedented invasion of the place of the 3rd person of the 2nd. The treatment of an inanimate object as if it were alive, which is not uncommon in the Old Testament, is all the more unexpected and strange here because of the three inanimate instruments of God’s punishment, only one and the middle one were chosen for such treatment. The apostrophe wants to indicate the power of the Lord, who commands the elements. LXX have the same thing in Hebrew instead of “you”. according to the inscription “and I will give”, cf. Matthew 7.27. Ezek.13:12. And behold, the wall will fall; Then will they not say to you: “Where is the plaster with which you coated yourself?” After the death of the people, it will become clear what all the good words and all the promises of peace that came from the false prophets meant. Ezek.13:13. Therefore thus says the Lord God: I will send forth a stormy wind in My wrath, and there will be torrential rain in My wrath, and hailstones in My indignation, for destruction. What is in Art. 11 and 12 were presented as possible, here they are announced positively and precisely as the vengeance of the angry Lord. Wind and rain destroy the wall, and hail beats the builders, as can be seen from the addition “for destruction”, glory. “to the end”, parallel to “perish”, glory. “you will die”, v. 14. Ezek.13:14. And I will destroy the wall that you have covered with mud, and I will throw it to the ground, and its foundation will be revealed and fall, and you will perish along with it; and you will know that I am the Lord. Together with the work of the false prophets, they themselves perish. The images and comparisons are inspired by the impending destruction of Jerusalem and its walls. - “Its foundation will be revealed.” According to Mic 1.7 - final destruction. - “You will perish,” thank you. “you will die”, but in Greek. 2 l. pl. Part - “Together with her”, glory. “with reproof”, i.e. obviously, shamefully. Ezek.13:15. And I will pour out My wrath on the wall and on those who smear it with mud, and I will say to you, There is no wall, and there are none who smeared it, False prophets will not escape the destruction of the people, caused by them and which is inevitable, as the satisfaction of the wrath and justice of God. “I’ll tell you: there is no wall...”. God pronounces his judgment as a fact. Иез.13:16 . the prophets of Israel, who prophesied to Jerusalem and told her visions of peace, when there is no peace, says the Lord God. A final explanation of all previously used images and comparisons, translating them into simple and direct language. It is the fault of the false prophets that, contrary to Ezekiel and God speaking through him, they calmed Jerusalem about the fate that was preparing for it and thereby prevented its repentance and correction, which could, if not avert its death at the hands of the Chaldeans, then at least significantly improve the subsequent fate of the people and the kingdom in external, political and internal, moral terms. Иез.13:17 . But you, son of man, turn your face towards the daughters of your people, who prophesy from your own heart, and prophesy against them, Speech against prophetesses. Among the Jews, women were often granted the prophetic gift: Mariam, Devorra, Anna, Huldama. There is no mention of false prophetesses before the Babylonian captivity, unless you count the sorceresses of the clan of Endor. After the captivity, Noadiah acted against Nehemiah (Nehemiah 6.14). Ezekiel’s special speech against them with the solemn “turn up your face” (“take care” (cf. Ezekiel 4.7, 6.2, etc.) shows that this institution in captivity received widespread development, perhaps under the influence of a depressing mood and Babylonian mantle. Speaking on behalf of Jehovah, Ezekiel’s prophetesses still a) prophesy from their own mind, b) not disinterestedly, c) resort to pagan magic. Thus, what the prophets do on a large scale - with the whole people, the prophetesses do on a small scale with individuals: they catch souls with magic. Ezek.13:18. and say: Thus says the Lord God: Woe to those who sew magic bags under their arms and make coverings for heads of all sizes to catch souls! Is it possible that by catching the souls of My people you will save your souls? “Magical bags”, glory. "leaders". According to EUR only here the word kesatot found is akin to Assyrian. kasu, “to bind”, “to conjure”, according to most interpreters, refers to some kind of bandages that the false prophetesses-sorceresses themselves wore (cf. v. 20: “I will tear them out from under your muscles”) on the bends of the arm (elbows or under the armpits - the Hebrew word does not define) as signs of their dignity, and because they allegedly gave them power over demons. As for the “veils,” the sorcerers probably threw them over the heads of visitors, perhaps so that they would not see their magical gestures and so that they could not verify the absence of imaginary apparitions of the dead. The addition “for heads of all heights” shows that these veils went down from the head to the ground, which is why different heights required veils of different lengths, and the prophetesses had a large selection of them in view of this. The bags and veils mentioned here are compared with the ephod, which probably served as both a veil, a cover for the idol (teraphim), and priestly vestments, and it was assumed that the power of the idol was transferred to this veil and transferred to the priest. The objects mentioned here are also compared with the tefillin and talifs, “storehouses” and “repositories” of later Judaism (Matthew 23.5). According to others (Blessed Theodoret), this is simply a metaphor taken from women’s works and meaning the flattering and soothing predictions of false prophetesses, closing the eyes of the people to the approaching punishment of God. It is hardly worth mentioning that Gafernik’s opinion, not justified by the context, is that “kesatot” are carpets or sofas with two backs for each elbow, on which prophetesses, gracefully wrapped in blankets, indulged in lust. “To catch”, glory. «развращати» , «души» , т. е. вести к погибели ложными предсказаниями. Но в этом выражении может заключаться и намек на вызывание душ умерших. – «Неужели, уловляя души народа Моего, вы спасете ваши души?» From euros letters “By catching the souls of My people, do you not quicken your souls,” that is, do you not thereby earn yourself a means of subsistence, as in the glory: “providing souls for the virgin,” ψυχας περιεποιουντο; Wed in Art. 19: «за горсть ячменя и за куски хлеба». Ezek.13:19. And dishonor Me before My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing souls that should not die, and leaving life to souls that should not live, deceiving the people who listen to lies. “Dishonify Me,” passing off your own inventions as the word of God, pandering to the sins of Israel; speaking in the name of God and proclaiming completely the opposite of the will of God, and also using the name of God in his unclean profession. - “For handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread.” They insult the majesty of God because of their daily bread. In itself, the reward for prophecy, as for any work, was not reprehensible and was not rejected by true even such great prophets as Samuel (1 Kings 9.7–8) and Elisha (2 Kings 4.22; cf. 1 Kings 14.3). Ezekiel does not condemn false prophetesses for special extortion, as Micah 3.5; however, in Art. 21. The reproach for the same is stronger. - “Killing the souls that should not die,” that is, the righteous, whom the prophetesses spoiled with false predictions, “and leaving life to the souls that should not live,” that is, the wicked, through the promise of their well-being. This gives the right to understand these expressions in Art. 22, where they are supplemented and explained. But we can understand it more specifically: the prophetesses predicted death for those who would submit to the king of Babylon, while the latter would save them, and life for those who would resist him, while death awaited them for this. - “Deceiving the people who listen to lies.” Consequently, the people willingly went to these prophetesses and the danger from them was serious. Ezek.13:20. Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: Behold, I am on your magic bags with which you catch souls there so that they fly, and I will tear them out from under your muscles, and I will set free the souls that you catch so that they fly to you. “Here I am at...”. Strong feeling, as in Art. 8 and Ezek.5.8. - “So that they come.” This is one of the possible meanings of dark Hebrew. words leporoch. Comparison of souls perishing thanks to the prophetesses with birds caught in a snare. Perhaps there is a hint of evoking the dead. In glory this word is not translated here, but at the end of the verse: “to scattering”: I will scatter from you the souls that have succumbed to your influence. - “And I will let my souls go free.” When the falsity of the predictions and the powerlessness of spells are revealed, mainly during the fall of Jerusalem, those deceived by the prophetesses will be freed from their influence. Ezek.13:21. And I will tear off your veils, and I will deliver My people out of your hands, and they will no longer be prey in your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord. “I will tear your veils.” Not: “I’ll rip you off”; Consequently, the prophetesses did not cover themselves with them, but covered those who came to them, cf. Art. 18. – “By your hands” – from your influence. - “They will not be... prey.” The subject is “souls”, which is contained in the collective name “people”. Иез.13:22 . За то, что вы ложью опечаливаете сердце праведника, которое Я не хотел опечали­вать, и поддерживаете руки беззакон­ника, чтобы он не обратил­ся от по­рочного пути своего и не сохранил жизни своей, – 22 и 23 ст. once again they compare the guilt and punishment of the prophetesses. Зло, которое они производят, так велико, что Иегова не может более терпеть их деятельности. Too generally and figuratively indicated in Art. 19 вина лжепророчиц определяется точнее: праведников они «опечаливают» или возвещая им наказание, вовсе не им предназначенное Богом, или колебля их веру в обетования Божии; нечестивых они укрепляют в нечестии, не обличая их в нем и лелея надежды на хорошее будущее. Иез.13:23 . for this you will no longer have empty visions and will no longer predict; and I will deliver My people out of your hands, and you will know that I am the Lord. The verse explains 20, as 22 - 19: the punishment of the prophetesses and the deliverance of the people of God from their harmful influence will consist in the fact that they will no longer have false visions and perform their sorceries ("you will not foretell" gloriously more precisely: "you shall not practice sorcery"), either because the fall of Jerusalem, the salvation of which from the Chaldeans was the focus of these prophecies, will show their lies, or because that the prophetesses will perish in a common death along with their questioners. You might be interested in: