Ezekiel 11:16

"“Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, the men of your relatives, and all the house of Israel, all of them, are the ones to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, ‘Go far away from the LORD. This land has been given to us for a possession.’"

Key Reflection

Ezekiel 11:16 speaks to the broader narrative of exile and restoration in Ezekiel's prophecy. In this verse, "your brothers" refers not only to fellow Israelites but also to distant relatives, emphasizing the united nature of the people of Israel despite geographical separation. The inhabitants of Jerusalem declared that God's land was now theirs for possession, distancing themselves from Him and rejecting His covenant. This declaration reflects a critical moment in Israel’s history where the people have forsaken their allegiance to God, setting the stage for Ezekiel to prophesy about both judgment and eventual restoration.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

As a little sanctuary -Rather, I will be to them for a little while a sanctuary. The blessing was provisional, they were to look forward to a blessing more complete. For a little while they were to be satisfied with God’s special presence in a foreign land, but they were to look forward to a renewal of His presence in the restored temple of Jerusalem. “sanctuary” means here strictly the holy place, the tabernacle of the Most High: Yahweh will Himself be to the exiles in the place of the local sanctuary, in which the Jews of Jerusalem so much prided themselves (compare the margin reference). Here is the germ from which is developed Ezek.

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