Examining The Scripture CXIV: Ezekiel the Thespian

Not only did Ezekiel speak prophecies he also acted them out. In Ezekiel 4:1 through 5:4 we see the siege of Jerusalem dramatized. Of course it wasn't exactly Shakespearean and he wasn't going to win an Oscar for best performance, the point is carried across to those who observed well enough. Ezekiel stretches out his thespian legs [actually he probably was curled them up in a fetal position after laying on his side for so long]. The Lord commands Ezekiel to take a brick, set it in front of himself and draw Jerusalem on it. HE was then to enact a siege on it by constructing a siege wall, ramp, pitched military encampments and battering rams against all sides of it. I imagine it probably looked like Iron Age version of green plastic army soldiers although a bit cruder. He was then to take and iron plate as an iron wall between himself and the city. He was turn turn his face towards it (symbolic) in an act of besieging the city. That was to be a sign to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel was then to lay down either on his right or on his left and bear the iniquity of Israel. He was to lay on his left for 390 days and his right for 40. These days represented years of iniquity or sin. He then was to turn his face toward the siege of Jerusalem with arms bared and prophesy against it. God would personally put cords on him until he had finished the days of his siege. What do the days correspond to exactly? Israel’s sin. When? I do not knows for sure but it was coming. What is certain is that Israel will be punished for her sin by Babylon in a brutal siege and it would be in proportion to their sin and transgressions. If Israel’s sins were to be the measuring stick for the severity of the siege it would indeed be brutal.

During this enactment Ezekiel was also to ration his food and water intake to represent scarcity of food and the severe nature of the siege. The food was to be prepared by cooking if over dried cow dung (instead of human feces v. 9-12). Lovely, I’m sure dinner smelled great (hardly). This was done to show the Israelites that they would be forced to eat their bread ceremonially unclean in other nations. It was also to show that bread/grain would be in short supply. So short that people will waste away because of their sin.

Ezekiel then dramatizes Jerusalem's fall. Ezekiel shaves his head (which is a sign of mourning)


Then take a pair of scales and divide the hair into thirds...

(a) He was to burn up one third in the city when the days of the siege have ended (1/3 would die of plague and famine).

(b) Take the second third and slash [it] with the sword all around the city. Scatter one third to the wind (God would “draw a sword” to chase after Israel).

(c) Take a few strands from the hair and secure them in the folds of his [Ezekiel’s] robe (those spared the first two judgments would be God preserving a remant).

(d) Take the remaining strands, throw them into the fire, and burn them in it, fire will spread from it to the whole house of Israel. These last few hairs mentioned seem as if they would spark a blaze that would have purifying effect on the whole remainder of Israel. Why do I say this? It says “ the whole house of Israel” in this scenario even the remnant. If the remnant wasn’t to be destroyed then why burnt or put through fire? Fire is a symbol of judgment or purification in the Bible.

Dyer, Charles., John Walvoord. "Ezekiel" Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Bible Knowledge). Acambaro: Victor, 1985. 1235-1236. Print.