Ezekiel 24:25-27

C. The Termination of Ezekiel's Dumbness 24:25-27

TRANSLATION

(25) And as for you, son of man, shall it not be in the day I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, the longing of their soul, their sons and their daughters, (26) that the one who escapes in that day shall come unto you to cause you to hear it with your ears? (27) In that day your mouth shall be open, together with the one who escaped, and you shall speak, and shall no more be dumb; and you shall be a sign to them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

COMMENTS

It is hard to understand the love that a Jew had for the Temple. It was their stronghold upon which they based their confidence of national permanence. It was the joy of their glory, the magnificent edifice of which they were so proud. It was the desire of their eyes,[365] that which they loved dearly. It was the yearning of their soul, that which above all they longed to see again. When that structure fell, and along with it their sons and daughters (Ezekiel 24:25), a fugitive of the slaughter would hasten to Babylon to bear the sad tidings (Ezekiel 24:26). In the day the news of Jerusalem's fall was announced, Ezekiel would no longer be dumb.[366] The message he had been preaching for so many years would thus be authenticated. His mission as a messenger of God would then be accepted by his fellow exiles (Ezekiel 24:27).

[365] Some commentators take the phrase desire of their eyes to refer to the sons and daughters rather than the Temple.

[366] The previous discussion of the dumbness of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:25-27 should be reviewed at this point.