Idolatrous Elders Condemned

I’m sending you to the Israelites, a rebellious nation that has rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have transgressed against me up to this very day. 4 I’m sending you to stubborn children with hard hearts.

You shall tell them, ‘The Lord G says this.’ 5 Whether they listen or not—for they are a rebellious people—they’ll know that a prophet has been among them. 6 “As for you, son of man, do not fear them or their words— though briars and thorns are around you, though you live among scorpions. Don’t fear their words or be intimidated by them,a for they are a rebellious people. 7 You shall speak my words to them, whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 8 “As for you, son of man, listen to what I’m telling you: Don’t be rebellious like that rebellious people. Open your mouth and eat what I’m about to give you.” 9 I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. And to my surprise, a scroll was in it. 10 He spread it out before me, and it had writing on the front and back. Lamentations, mourning, and woe were written on it.

Ezekiel 3 1 He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find. Eat this scroll. Then go and speak to the Israelites.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he fed me this scroll. 3 Then he told me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll that I’m giving you.” I ate it, and it was sweet like honey in my mouth. 4 Then he said to me, “Son of man, go to the Israelites and speak my words to them. 5 For you aren’t being sent to a people with obscure speech or a difficult language,b but to the Israelites. 6 You aren’t being sent to many peoples with obscure speech or a difficult language, whose words you won’t understand. If I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the Israelites won’t be willing to listen to you, because they aren’t willing to listen to me. All the Israelites are stubborn and obstinate.c 8 “Look, I will strengthen your unyielding face just asd much as theirs, and I’ll harden your forehead just as much as they have hardened theirs. 9 Like diamond is harder than flint, that’s how I’ll make your forehead. Do not fear them, and don’t be intimidated by them, for they are a rebellious people.”

a Literally, “be dismayed by their faces.” Also in Ezekiel 3:9. b Literally, “a heavy tongue.” c Literally, “of strengthened foreheads and hardened hearts.” d Literally, “alongside of.”