Ezekiel used simple, literal language in much of this passage. It’s interesting to note, though, that he used four different words to discuss God’s upcoming judgment of captivity. To shed light on this concept in our language, “captive” means to take prisoner. Another word Ezekiel used means “capture,” which means to take possession or control of by force. This passage describes a scene that is an object lesson, with a deeper meaning.
The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people” (Ezekiel 12:1-2).
- God communicated with Ezekiel throughout his role as a prophet.
- God described Israel’s rebellion.
- God used the phrase “rebellious people” to describe Israel’s stubbornness, obstinacy, and “determined refusal to obey the Lord.”1
- They refused to see and hear God’s Word as truth for their lives.
*How might the phrase “rebellious people” apply to us today? 
*When and why do we refuse to see and hear God’s Word as truth for our lives?
“Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile. While they watch, dig through the wall and take your belongings out through it. Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites” (Ezekiel 12:3-6).
- Earlier in Ezekiel, God called the prophet to re-enact the siege on Jerusalem.
- Due to Israel’s ongoing rebellion and refusal to acknowledge God’s Word, God again instructed Ezekiel to act out the coming judgment.
- Perhaps we should describe Ezekiel as the dramatic prophet.
- God told Ezekiel to prepare the objects he used in daily life for exile and show Israel his packing job during the daytime while they watched.
- Ezekiel was to complete the task of packing for a distinct purpose.
- He packed his “stuff”—useful objects to demonstrate the events portrayed would really happen.
- During the day, Ezekiel moved from one place to another place to portray the movement of people into exile and captivity.
- In the same verse, Ezekiel used a different word to state God told him to “go into exile” while Israel watched.
- Ezekiel would leave in the evening as if going into captivity, leaving his homeland to go into exile,2 while Israel watched.
- Ezekiel was to dig through the wall and take his belongings away with him as if departing the land.
- God told him to cover his face so he could not see the land.
- Nothing in this passage explains why Ezekiel covered his face (or why Israel’s prince also covered his face in verse 12).
- Ezekiel’s actions symbolized Israel’s coming exile.
- They demonstrated how God’s powerful3 hand would work to carry out judgment against Israel.
*What is the significance of Ezekiel’s object lesson for us today?
*What is the significance of Ezekiel’s use of multiple words to describe Israel’s exile and captivity?
So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched (Ezekiel 12:7).
- Ezekiel obeyed God’s commands exactly.
- He noted that Israel watched, as expected.
*Why did Ezekiel obey God’s commands exactly?
*What was God’s purpose in stating that Israel would watch Ezekiel’s object lesson?
In the morning the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, did not the Israelites, that rebellious people, ask you, ‘What are you doing?’
“Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: This prophecy concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the Israelites who are there.’ Say to them, ‘I am a sign to you.’
“As I have done, so it will be done to them. They will go into exile as captives” (Ezekiel 12:8-11).
- God spoke again to Ezekiel, confirming Israel asked what on earth the previous evening’s demonstration was all about.
- Apparently Ezekiel didn’t answer the Israelites’ question at the time, since God gave him His explanation the next morning.
- God’s message and sign was for Jerusalem’s leader(s) and all the Israelites who lived there.
- God gave Ezekiel a straightforward message for Israel: it would be done to them.
- They will go into exile as captives.
- The word used in verse 11 is the third unique word for captivity (to take captive)—in case Israel didn’t grasp the message in previous verses?
*Why do you think Ezekiel covered his face, and later Israel’s leader covered his face as well?
*How do we find ourselves exiled from God and the promises He has given?
*How and to what do we find ourselves captive?
“The prince among them will put his things on his shoulder at dusk and leave, and a hole will be dug in the wall for him to go through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. I will spread my net for him, and he will be caught in my snare; I will bring him to Babylonia, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it, and there he will die. I will scatter to the winds all those around him—his staff and all his troops—and I will pursue them with drawn sword” (Ezekiel 12:12-14).
- Their leader(s) would carry their belongings on their shoulders and leave.
- Others would dig the hole in the wall.
- The prince would cover his face and not see the land.
- God would ensnare him and take him to Babylon.
- The word picture described refers to a small rope or cord net used to hunt and trap animals or birds.4
- Israel’s leader would be seized and captured,5 forced to Babylon.
- An interesting note is that the name “Babylon” means “confession.”6 I wonder if any Israelites confessed their idolatry on the way to Babylon and how this affected their fate.
- Everyone with the leader-prince would be scattered to “the winds.”
- In Ezekiel chapter 11, the word used for “winds” means “spirit.” In that case those God brought back from exile would receive a “new spirit to follow God’s laws.”7 (Ezekiel 11:19) It almost sounds as if God first threw the rebellious children to the winds in frustration.
- God would pursue them with the sword—that tool which cuts into a person, even the heart.
*In this case, why did God do the hunting and trapping? (compare to 2 Timothy 2:26)
*How do “small things” ensnare and trap us?
*What is your response to learning the name Babylon means confession?
“They will know that I am the Lord, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries” (Ezekiel 12:15).
- God’s hand would be evident in these circumstances.
- Israel will know that I am the Lord, even though they are scattered away from the Promised Land. Ezekiel’s theme includes these ideas:
- Israel will know I AM is the Lord not only by what He has done, but by what He will do.
- Even if He deserted the land of Israel, I AM will not cease to exist.
*How does “scattering” lead us to acknowledge the Lord is the great I AM?
“But I will spare a few of them from the sword, famine and plague, so that in the nations where they go they may acknowledge all their detestable practices. Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 12:16).
- But God always has a remnant.
- It’s implied there are few enough remaining they could be counted.8
- He will spare a few from the terrible three: sword, famine, and plague.
- The remnant will recognize and declare the nations’ detestable practices against the Lord.
- They will not be spared from the scattering, but will carry the knowledge of God into all the lands.
- Then they will know that I am the Lord.
*What is the significance and purpose of God’s remnant?
*What does Ezekiel’s theme mean for us today?
- Warren Baker, D.R.E., Eugene Carpenter, Ph.D. The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2003). 669
- Ibid., 462
- Ibid., 584
- Ibid., 1081
- Ibid., 1242
- Ibid., 117
- Ibid., 1040
- Ibid., 636