Explanation: In Ezekiel 13 the LORD spoke against the prophets, male and female, who prophesied lies and seduced Israel into error, particularly false security. They proclaimed "peace" (v. 10), but there was no peace, nor would there be because of the sins of the prophets and the people. (See also Ezekiel 13:16; Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:11; Jeremiah 14:13; Jeremiah 23:17). The LORD compared the prophets to foxes (sometimes translated 'jackals' in the Hebrew), which seems to refer particularly to the cleverness and deceitfulness of the fox since the deceitfulness of the prophets is in constant view throughout the chapter. Another comparison may also be to the destructiveness of the fox, as in the painting above, and as in verse 18 where the prophetesses "hunt souls."
     The LORD told Ezekiel to prophesy against the prophets who speak out of their own hearts, not according to the word of the LORD. He compares them to foxes which sneak in and destroy (1-7). The LORD will cast them out of the assembly of his people because they have seduced his people. That which they build will collapse as if blown down by a storm because they prophesy peace when there is no peace (8-16). Likewise, the LORD is against the false female prophets who seduce the people with false prophecy and with magic symbols, such as "pillows" and "kerchiefs," or "magic bands" and "veils" (17-19). He will tear away their seductive powers and deliver the righteous from them and from the sadness which they have caused the righteous to feel (20-23).
     Today's painting depicts a fox destroying chickens, symbolic of the destructive powers of false prophets and prophetesses.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Ezekiel 13. Ezekiel 14. Ezekiel 15. Ezekiel 16. Ezekiel 17. Ezekiel 18. Ezekiel 19. Ezekiel 20. Ezekiel 21. Ezekiel 22. Ezekiel 23. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]

F. The Judgments Motif (13:1 - 23:49)

1). Against False Prophets (13:1-23)

     ¹ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ² Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; ³ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow [walk behind] their own spirit, and have seen nothing! ⁴ O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts. ⁵ Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD. ⁶ They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word. ⁷ Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

     ⁸ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD. ⁹ And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD. ¹⁰ Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter: ¹¹ Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it. ¹² Lo, when the wall is fallen, shall it not be said unto you, Where is the daubing wherewith ye have daubed it? ¹³ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury; and there shall be an overflowing shower in mine anger, and great hailstones in my fury to consume it. ¹⁴ So will I break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered morter, and bring it down to the ground, so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered, and it shall fall, and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof: and ye shall know that I am the LORD. ¹⁵ Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it; ¹⁶ To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.

     ¹⁷ Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them, ¹⁸ And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes [joints of the hand], and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? ¹⁹ And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

     ²⁰ Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly. ²¹ Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. ²² Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: ²³ Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

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