What does Ezechiel Chapter 13 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

Unsent prophets receive exclusion. A daubed wall accompanies false peace. Cushions receive a separate edition explanation.

Chapter breakdown

Ezechiel 13 receives a word against prophets speaking from their own hearts, following their spirits while seeing nothing. They are like foxes in deserts, failing to face the enemy and build Israel's defensive wall. Unsent prophets claim the Lord speaks and persist in confirming lies. His hand opposes them: they have no place in his people's council, are not written in Israel's writing and do not enter the land. Erasing existing civic names, jackals and a specific final-siege court setting are not supplied.

False peace accompanies people building a wall and prophets daubing dirt without straw. Overflowing shower, great hailstones and stormy wind throw it down. A question asks where the daubing is, while wrath levels the wall and exposes foundations, ending both wall and daubers. The text's untempered mortar image need not become an invented technical account of cosmetic whitewash, engineering defects or all adherents crushed beneath rubble.

Daughters prophesying from their hearts sew cushions under elbows and pillows for heads of every age to catch souls. The edition interprets these as making people easy in sins and flattering with impunity, life, peace and security. For a handful of barley and piece of bread they dishonor the Lord and promise inappropriate death or life, as separately explained by the edition. He tears cushions and pillows, frees caught souls and rescues people from being prey. Lies grieve just hearts and strengthen wicked hands against turning and living. Divinations cease and deliverance brings recognition. Magical wrist amulets, head veils, a specific occult trade and a universal rule about authentic counseling are not stated.

The story inside

Opening: Unsent prophets receive exclusion. Development: A daubed wall accompanies false peace. Conclusion: Cushions receive a separate edition explanation.

Lessons worth keeping

1
Unsent prophets receive exclusion.
2
A daubed wall accompanies false peace.
3
Cushions receive a separate edition explanation.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 92386–92393
13:10. Because they have deceived my people, saying: Peace, and there is no peace: and the people built up a wall, and they daubed it with dirt without straw. 13:11. Say to them that daub without tempering, that it shall fall: for there shall be an overflowing shower, and I will cause great hailstones to fall violently from above, and a stormy wind to throw it down.
Lines 92419–92435
13:18. And say: Thus saith the Lord God: Woe to them that sew cushions under every elbow: and make pillows for the heads of persons of every age to catch souls: and when they caught the souls of my people, they gave life to their souls. Sew cushions, etc.... Viz., by making people easy in their sins, and promising them impunity.—Ibid. They gave life to their souls.... That is, they flattered them with promises of life, peace, and security. 13:19. And they violated me among my people, for a handful of barley, and a piece of bread, to kill souls which should not die, and to save souls alive which should not live, telling lies to my people that believe lies. Violated me.... That is, dishonoured and discredited me. Ibid. To kill souls, etc.... That is, to sentence souls to death, which are not to die; and to promise life to them who are not to live.
Lines 92446–92452
13:22. Because with lies you have made the heart of the just to mourn, whom I have not made sorrowful: and have strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his evil way, and live. 13:23. Therefore you shall not see vain things, nor divine divinations any more, and I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the Lord.