Azaky'AL (Ezekiel) — 20

The Rebellion of Yashar'AL 

1 During the seventh year of King Yahuiachin’s captivity, some of the leaders of Yashar'AL came to request a message from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. They sat down in front of me to wait for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH's reply. 

2 Then this message came to me from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: 

3 “Son of man, tell the leaders of Yashar'AL, ‘This is what  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, I will tell you nothing!’

4 “Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them, make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were. 

5 Give them this message from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: When I chose Yashar'AL, when I revealed myself to the descendants of Ya'aqub in Mitzraym I took a solemn oath that I 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH would be their 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH

6 I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Mitzraym to a land I had discovered and explored for them, a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere. 

7 Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, get rid of the vile images you are so obsessed with. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Mitzraym, for I Am  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.’

8 “But they rebelled against ME and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Mitzraym, Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Mitzraym. 

9 But I did not do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my Name, I would not allow shame to be brought on my Name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Yasharalym out of Mitzraym. 

10 So I brought them out of Mitzraym and led them into the wilderness. 

11 There I gave them my decrees and regulations so they could find life by keeping them. 

12 And I gave them my Shabbat days of rest as a sign between Me and them. It was to remind them that I Am  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, who had set them apart to be Qadash.

13 “But the people of Yashar'AL rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They would not obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life. They also violated my Shabbat days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the wilderness. 

14 But again I held back in order to protect the honor of my Name before the nations who had seen my power in bringing Yashar'AL out of Mitzraym. 

15 But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on the Arath. 

16 For they had rejected my regulations, refused to follow my decrees, and violated my Shabbat days. Their hearts were given to their idols. 

17 Nevertheless, I took pity on them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.

18 “Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents’ footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols. 

19 ‘I Am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your  𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, ‘Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations, 

20 And keep my Shabbat days Qadash, for they are a sign to remind you that I Am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH your 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.

21 “But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Shabbat days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness. 

22 Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my Name before the nations that had seen my power in bringing them out of Mitzraym. 

23 But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would scatter them among all the nations 

24 because they did not obey my regulations. They scorned my decrees by violating my Shabbat days and longing for the idols of their ancestors. 

25 I gave them over to worthless decrees and regulations that would not lead to life. 

26 I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts I had given them, and I allowed them to give their firstborn children as offerings to their idols so I might devastate them and remind them that I alone, AM 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

Judgment and Restoration

27 “Therefore, son of man, give the people of Yashar'AL this message from  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me, 

28 for when I brought them into the land I had promised them, they offered sacrifices on every high hill and under every green tree they saw! They roused my fury as they offered up sacrifices to their idols. They brought their perfumes and incense and poured out their liquid offerings to them. 

29 I said to them, ‘What is this high place where you are going?’ (This kind of pagan shrine has been called Bamah—‘high place’—ever since.)

30 “Therefore, give the people of Yashar'AL this message from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: Do you plan to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting yourselves by worshiping vile images? 

31 For when you offer gifts to them and give your little children to be burned as sacrifices, you continue to pollute yourselves with idols to this day. Should I allow you to ask for a message from me, O people of Yashar'AL? As surely as I live says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, I will tell you nothing.

32 “You say, ‘We want to be like the nations all around us, who serve idols of wood and stone.’ But what you have in mind will never happen. 

33 As surely as I live says 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, I will rule over you with an iron fist in great anger and with awesome power. 

34 And in anger I will reach out with my strong hand and powerful arm, and I will bring you back from the lands where you are scattered. 

35 I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, and there I will judge you face to face. 

36 I will judge you there just as I did your ancestors in the wilderness after bringing them out of Mitzraym, says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

37 I will examine you carefully and hold you to the terms of the covenant. 

38 I will purge you of all those who rebel and revolt against me. I will bring them out of the countries where they are in exile, but they will never enter the land of Yashar'AL. Then you will know that I Am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.

39 “As for you, O people of Yashar'AL, this is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: Go right ahead and worship your idols, but sooner or later you will obey me and will stop bringing shame on my Qadash Name by worshiping idols. 

40 For on my Qadash mountain, the great mountain of Yashar'AL, says  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the people of Yashar'AL will someday worship me, and I will accept them. There I will require that you bring Me all your offerings and choice gifts and sacrifices. 

41 When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my Qadashym through you as all the nations watch. 

42 Then when I have brought you home to the land I promised with a solemn oath to give to your ancestors, you will know that I Am 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

43 You will look back on all the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done. 

44 You will know that I Am  𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, O people of Yashar'AL, when I have honored my Name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness, I 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH have spoken!”

Judgment against the Nagab 

45 Then this message came to me from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH: 

46 “Son of man, turn and face the south and speak out against it; prophesy against the brushlands of the Nagab. 

47 Tell the southern wilderness, ‘This is what 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH Dabar: I will set you on fire, and every tree, both green and dry, will be burned. The terrible flames will not be quenched and will scorch everything from south to north. 

48 And everyone in the world will see that I 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, have set this fire, It will not be put out.’”

49 Then I said, “O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, they are saying of me, ‘he only talks in riddles!’