COMMENTARIES ON THE

PROPHETS &
MINOR PROPHETS:
IN CHRONOGICAL ORDER
~ Part 2
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Haggai,
Zechariah, Joel, Malachi, Ezra, Nehemiah
By
Rev. Dr Jeffry David Camm
CONTENTS
DEDICATION 8
COPYRIGHT: 8
The Original Source Document: 8
Explanatory Notes: 8
Prophets listed as per their historical dates serving the LORD 9
THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK 9
Introduction to the Book of HABAKKUK 9
Chapter One: The Burden of Habakkuk 10
Chapter Two: Vengeance by the Chaldeans & Their Judgement 11
Chapter Three: The Prophet Trembles at God’s Majesty 13
THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH 15
Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah 15
Chapter One: God’s Severe Judgement Against Judah 15
Chapter Two: Judgement of Judah: Exhortation to Repentance 18
Chapter Three: Ethiopia, Jerusalem Sharply Reproved 20
Conclusion: 22
THE BOOK OF DANIEL 22
chapter one: Introduction: 22
chapter two: King Nebuchadnezzar Forgets His Dream 25
chapter three: Nebuchadnezzar Makes and Image of Gold 31
chapter four: Nebuchadnezzar tells his dream to Daniel 34
chapter five: The Writing is on the Wall for Belshazzar 38
chapter six: Daniel is Thrown into the Lions Den 42
chapter seven: His Vision of the 4 beasts & God’s Kingdom 47
Introduction to Chapter 7 47
The Time of the Gentiles 48
The Four Beasts 48
The Holy Spirit Begins to Reveal the End-Time Events 50
The Little Horn 50
The Beast Speaks 50
The Son of Man & the Ancient of Days 51
chapter eight: Daniel’s Vision of the Ram & He Goat. 53
Enter the Madman! 54
Antichrist ~ Temporarily in Control 55
Daniel’s Concern For Israel 55

2
Gabriel ~ The Messenger from God 56
Daniel’s Broken Heart 57
chapter nine: Daniel’s Prayer and Confession 57
Introduction to Chapter 9: 58
The Third Heaven 60
The Significance of the Seventy Weeks 61
Jesus Christ shall reign as King 62
The Rebuilding of The Temple 62
The Calm Before the Storm 63
Where are we in 2022? 63
Chapter Ten: David Sees a Glorious Vision 64
Daniel See Jesus! 64
Daniel’s State of Mind 65
Daniel Understands the Vision 65
Daniel Sees The “Angel of the LORD” ~ the Pre-incarnate Jesus Christ 65
Daniel Understands the Reason for His Appearing 66
Message of the Latter Days 67
chapter eleven: History Ends & Prophecy Begins! 67
timeline of the Empires 67
Details that confound the sceptics 67
The War between the South & the North 70
The King at the Time of the End 73
Chapter Twelve: THE “END TIMES” IS UPON US. 73
LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE 74
THOSE WHO SLEEP WILL AWAKE; 75
GET THE MARK OR DIE! 76
shut up the words & seal up the book! 77
THE TWO FORGOTTEN CHAPTERS OF DANIEL 78
Chapter Thirteen: Susanna ~ anD the Judgement of Daniel 78
Chapter Fourteen: Bel and the Dragon 81
Appendices FOR THE BOOK OF DANIEL: 83
Appendix 1: Authenticity of the Book of Daniel 83
Appendix 2: WHEN DID DARIUS THE MEDE ~ RULE BABYLON? 84
Appendix 3: Who was the ruler who succeeded NABONIDUS? 84
APPENDIX: 4 ~ WHO WAS DARIUS ~ THE MEDE IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL? 84
THe Book Of Ezekiel 87
Foreword: 87
Chapter 1: Ezekiel’s Prophecy at Chebar 88

3
Chapter 2: God Almighty speaks to Ezekiel 90
Chapter 3: Ezekiel’s Instructions: the roll of his calling ~ a Prophetic Ministry 91
Chapter 4: The Type of a Siege 94
Chapter 5: Type of the Prophet’s hair. 96
Chapter 6: The Judgement of Jerusalem & Israel 97
Chapter 7: Final Desolation of Israel 99
Chapter 8: A Type of Chain 101
Chapter 9: God’s Wrath for Idolatry 104
Chapter 10: Vision of the Coals of Fire 105
Chapter 11: The Presumption of the Princes 107
Chapter 12: Ezekiel’s Removing & Trembling 109
Chapter 13: Judgement of Lying Prophets 112
Chapter 14: God’s Judgement on Idolaters 115
Chapter 15: The Rejection of Jerusalem 117
Chapter 16: God’s Love towards her. 118
Chapter 17: Parable of the Two Eagles & a Vine 124
Chapter 18: The Proverb of Sour Grapes 128
Chapter 19: A Lamentation for Israel 131
Chapter 20: God refuses to Meet with the Elders of Israel 132
Chapter 21: The Sharp Bright Sword Against Israel 138
Chapter 22: Catalogue of Jerusalem’s Sins 141
Chapter 23: The Whoredoms of Aholah and Aholibah 144
Chapter 24: Parable of a Boiling Pot 148
Chapter 25: God’s Vengeance upon the Nations 151
Chapter 26: Tyrus is threatened 153
Chapter 27: The Lamentation of Tyrus 155
Chapter 28: God’s Judgement upon the Prince of Tyrus. 158
Chapter 29: The Judgement of Pharoah 161
Chapter 30: The desolation of Egypt and her Helpers 163
Chapter 31: The Pride and Fall of the Assyrians 166
Chapter 32: Lamentation for the Fall of Egypt 168
Chapter 33: The Duty of a Watchman 171
Chapter 34: A Reproof of the Shepherds 174
Chapter 35: The Judgement of Mount Seir 178
Chapter 36: Israel is Comforted by God’s Blessings 179
Chapter 37: The Valley of the Dry Bones 183
Chapter 38: Gog’s Army of Malice 186
Chapter 39: Gog’s Burial in Hamon-gog 189

4
Chapter 40: The Vision of a City. 192
Chapter 41: More Details of the Temple 198
Chapter 42: Temple Ornaments & Priest’s Chambers 201
Chapter 43: God’s Glory in the Temple 203
Chapter 44: The Priests are Reproved, Zadok’s sons accepted. 206
Chapter 45: The Divisions of the Land 210
Chapter 46: The Ordinance of the Prince & the People in their Worship 214
Chapter 47: The Vision of the Holy Waters 216
Chapter 48: The Portions of the Tribes 219
THE BOOK OF HAGGAI 222
Introduction to the Book of Haggai 222
Chapter One: Haggai Reproves the People 222
Chapter Two: Haggai Encourages the People to Build the Temple 225
Conclusion: 227
THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH 227
Introduction to the Book of Zechariah 227
Chapter One: Zechariah Exhorts to Repentance 227
Chapter Two: Zion’s Redemption 229
Chapter Three: Zion’s Redemption ~ Of Christ, the Branch 231
Chapter Four: Zerubbabel’s Foundation 232
Chapter Five: Vision of the Flying Roll 234
Chapter Six: The Four Chariots 235
Chapter Seven: On Fasting 236
Chapter Eight: The Restoration of Jerusalem 238
Chapter Nine: Christ’s First Coming Foretold 240
Chapter Ten: Seek After God 243
Chapter Eleven: God Saves His People ~ Flocks of Slaughter 244
Chapter Twelve: Judah’s Restoration 246
Chapter Thirteen: The Fountain of Purgation 248
Chapter Fourteen: Christ’s Return ~ The Plague of Jerusalem’s Enemies 249
Conclusion. 252
THE BOOK OF JOEL 252
Introduction to the Book of Joel 252
Chapter One: Joel Exhorted to Observe God’s Judgements 252
Chapter Two: Israel called to Repentance 255
Chapter Three: God’s Judgements against the Enemies of His People 259
THE BOOK OF MALACHI 261
Introduction to the Book of Malachi 261

5
Chapter One: Jesus Reminds Israel of His Love For Them 261
Chapter Two: Priest and the People Reproved 263
Chapter THree: The Coming of the Messiah Prophesied. 265
Chapter Four: Elijah Coming and His Office 267
Conclusion: 267
THE BOOKS OF EZRA & NEHEMIAH 268
chapter one: Cyrus issues A Royal Proclamation 268
chapter two: The Returning Exiles 269
chapter three: The Altar Setup & the Foundations Laid 271
chapter four: Israel’s Enemies try to stop the work 273
chapter five: A New Letter to King Darius. 276
chapter six: Decrees of Cyrus & Darius in the Jews’ Favour. 277
chapter seven: The Commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra 280
chapter eight: The Companions of Ezra, who returned From Babylon 283
chapter nine: Ezra prays unto GOD for confession of sins 286
chapter ten: Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages. 288
THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH 292
Who is the author of the Book of Nehemiah? 292
chapter one: Nehemiah Mourns, Fasts & Prays 292
chapter two: Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem 293
chapter three: Names of them that Build the Wall 295
chapter four: Nehemiah Prays & Continues the Work 298
chapter five: The Practise of Usury is Reformed. 301
chapter six: Sanballat’s Craftiness 303
chapter seven: Register of the Genealogy 304
chapter eight: The Reading of the Law: The Feast of Tabernacles 307
chapter nine: The Levite’s Confession of God’s Goodness 310
chapter ten: Sealing of the Covenant 314
chapter eleven: Names of the Chief Inhabitants of Jerusalem 317
chapter twelve: The High Priests & the Chief Levites 319
chapter thirteen: Israel Separated From Strangers 323
Conclusion: 326
APPENDIX: 327
The Levitical Priesthood 327
THE ZADOK PRIESTHOOD 329
Discerning the Difference between “Holy” and “Phony” Ministries! 329
The Sons of Zadok 336
Who Are the Sons of Zadok? 337

6
List of published Books by the Same Author 341
Bible College Course Notes With Links: 343
Bible College Notes & teaching videos 344

7
DEDICATION
This BOOK OF COMMENTARIES is dedicated to my wife, Rani, who has been my soulmate
and my encouragement for these last 40+ years, as we have travelled and preached in
43 nations. There have been many good experiences, (and some not so good), but
throughout all-of these travelling adventures for the LORD, He has always been faithful;
He is the ONE person whom we have come to love and trust, in ALL situations ~ in the
good, the bad, and the ugly.

COPYRIGHT:
The contents of this book remain the copyright property of the author, Rev. Dr Jeffry
David Camm, and his estate, in succession. Permission is given for the use of parts of
this document for Bible Study Groups, Evangelism, or Private Study. Permission is given
for the whole of this document to be reproduced by Christian organisations for
evangelistic and/or Bible College reference purposes, provided it is not sold for
profit!

THE ORIGINAL SOURCE DOCUMENT:

The Original Source Document is my KJV Bible, which is over 100 years old, and still has
AN OCCASIONAL REFERENCE to some of the “hidden books of the Bible,” which were
in the Torah and Tanach at the time of Jesus Christ in the Temple in Jerusalem, and in
the KJV First Edition of the Bible, which was still in publication in 1834.
EXPLANATORY NOTES:
Like the other prophetic books, some of the prophecies are for events which happen in
the New Testament. The codes below will indicate which time periods these
verses/chapters refer to.

Code Code Meaning Comments

[F] First Coming of Jesus Christ His first coming, ministry, death &
resurrection
[S] His Second coming back physically NOT, His “appearing” in the clouds.
to earth
[T] The Tribulation Period of 7 years This is the tribulation period of Daniel’s
Prophecies & Revelation
[M] The Millennium Period The reign of Jesus on the “existing” earth for
1,000 years.
[h]~ The Hebrew Word The deeper Hebrew meaning is given for the
word identified
[P] Prophetic Promise A promise made by God to be fulfilled.
[CP] Conditional Promise A promise of God, conditional on the
Disciples/Nation’s obedience
[FP] Fulfilled Promise A prophetic Promise fulfilled here in Scripture
[Ch]~ Chaldean Aramaic Some of (some say all-of) this book (Daniel)
was originally written in the Aramaic
Language.
*** “Therefore” When you see “therefore” in scripture, it
means “conclusion;” so go back and read
what has been concluded.

8
PROPHETS LISTED AS PER THEIR HISTORICAL DATES SERVING THE LORD

Name of From To In the Reign of King(s) Comment

the BC BC
Prophet
Obadiah 871 852 Served King Ahab (871- 852)
Amos 809 759 Jeroboam II (787-742)
Jonah 792 753 Jeroboam II (787-742)
Hosea 787 722 Jeroboam II (787-742), Hoseah He was a prophet
(731-722) for >> 60 years.
Micah 742 687 Jotham & Ahaz, and Hezekiah
Isaiah 740 686 Azariah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz,
Hezekiah
Nahum 660 642
Jeremiah 650 570 He served under 5 kings of Judah, Author of
namely: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jeremiah, Kings
Jehoiakim, and Zechariah. & Lamentations
Habakkuk 640 609 King Josiah
Zephaniah 640 609 Josiah
Daniel 620 538 Carried off into captivity under Was still alive
Nebuchadnezzar. Served 6 kings. when Babylon
was captured by
the Medes & the
Persians
Ezekiel 593 571 Lived in Exile in Babylon
Haggai 520 520 King Cyrus
Zechariah 520 518 King Cyrus
Joel 500 400 Some scholars say, 5th or 4th
century, as no kings are mentioned
to accurately date when He served
the LORD.
Malachi 500 444
Ezra 480 440 Artaxerxes I, king of Persia Portions written
in both Hebrew
and/or Aramaic
Nehemiah 445 443 Artaxerxes I, king of Persia He was his cup
bearer. Later was
Governor of
Judah.

THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK
If you look up your concordance, you will see that Habakkuk is only mentioned by name
twice in the whole Bible.
It is believed that Habakkuk lived in the reign of Josiah, who came to power at 8 years
of age. He reigned for 31 years from 640-609 BC in Jerusalem.
In the centre of the shrine's courtyard, is the grave where Habakkuk is said to be buried.
A stone upon the grave is inscribed in both Hebrew and Persian stating that the prophet's
father was Shioua Lovit, and his mother was Lesho Namit. Both Muslims and Jews visit
it to pay their respects.

9
Habakkuk prophesied about the time of the fall of the city of Nineveh in 612 B.C. and
the collapse of the Assyrian Empire. This was a critical period in world history, which
some historians refer to as an Axial Period, denoting a time of transition and change for
many nations. So, we have Nahum, (whom we have just studied), and Habakkuk, both
living and seeing the same historic events taking place ~ but God has different burdens
and messages for each prophet to tell the nations.

CHAPTER ONE: THE BURDEN OF HABAKKUK

1. a
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
2. O LORD, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear! Even cry out unto thee of
b
violence, and you will not save!
3. Why do you show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoilings
and violence are before me: and there are those that raise up strife and contention.
4. *** Therefore, the law is slackened, and judgement does never go forth; for the
wicked do compass about the righteous; therefore, wrong judgements proceeds.
This is the messages that came to the prophet Habakkuk in a vision from God:
O LORD, how long must I call out to you for help before you will listen? I shout to you
in vain; but there is no answer. “HELP! MURDER! I cry out, but no one comes to save.
Must I forever see this sin and sadness all around me?
Wherever I look, there is oppression and bribery, and men who love to argue and fight.
The law is not enforced, and there is no justice given in the courts, for the wicked far
out-number the righteous; the innocents are persecuted to protect the guilty, and bribes
and trickery prevail everywhere.
[Nothing has changed in 2600 years; Habakkuk could be speaking about many countries
in the world today! So, please take note, the judgement and punishments, can also
apply today!]
5. [P] cBehold you among the heathen unbelievers, and regard, and wonder
marvellously; for I will work a work in your days, which you will not believe, even
though it be told to you.
6. [P] For lo, I will raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall
march through the dbreadth of the land, to possess the dwelling places that are not
theirs.
7. [P] They are terrible and dreadful: etheir judgement and their dignity shall proceed
of themselves.
8. [P] Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more ffierce than the
evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen
shall come for afar: they shall fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.
9. [P] They shall come all for violence; gtheir faces shall sup up as the east wind, and
they shall gather the captivity, as the sand.
10. [P] And they shall scoff at the kings, and the princes shall be a scorn unto them:
they shall deride every stronghold: for they shall heap dust, and take it.
11. [P] Then shall his mind change, and he shall pass over, and offend, imputing this
his power unto his god.
The LORD replied: I heard you; “Look, and be amazed! You will be astounded at what I
am about to do! For I am going to do something in your lifetime, that you will have to

a
Nahum 1:1 e
[h]~ Or, from them shall g
[h]~ the supping up of their
b
Micah 6:12 proceed the judgement of faces
c
Acts 13:41 these, and the captivity of these
d
[h]~ breadths f
[h]~ sharp

10
see it to believe it. I am raising up a new powerful force of the world scene; the
Chaldeans. [The Chaldeans, a tribe of Semites, living between Babylon and the Persian
Gulf, who began to assert themselves against the Assyrians around 630 BC; and 25
years later (605 BC), they had mastered most of the North Eastern countries.] They are
a cruel and violent nation who will march across the known world and conquer it. They
are notorious for their cruelty. They do as they like, and no one can interfere.
Their horses are swifter than leopards. They are a fierce people, fiercer than a pack of
wolves at dusk. Their cavalry moves proudly forward from a distant land; like silent
eagles they come swooping down to pounce upon their prey. All opposition melts away
before the terror of their presence. They collect captives like sand.
They scoff at kings and princes, and scorn their forts. They simply heap up dirt against
their walls and capture them! They sweep past like the wind and are gone; but their
guilt is deep, for they claim their power is from their gods.”
12. aArt you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? bWe shall not die. O
LORD, cyou have ordained them for judgement; and O dmighty God, you have
e
established them for correction.
13. Thou art of purer eyes to behold evil, and cannot look on finiquity: wherefore looks
thou upon them that deal treacherously, and hold thy tongue when the wicked
devours the man that is more righteous than he?
14. And makes man as the fish of the sea, as the gcreeping things, that have no ruler
over them
15. *** hThey take up all-of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and
gather them in their idrag: therefore, they rejoice and are glad.
16. *** Therefore, they sacrifice unto their net, and burn incense unto their drag,
because by them their portion is fat, and their meat jplenteous.
17. *** Shall they therefore empty their net, and not spare continually to slay the
nations?
O LORD my God, my Holy One, you, who are eternal ~ is your plan in all-of this to wipe
us out? Surely not! O God our Rock, you have decreed the rise of the Chaldeans to
chasten and correct us for our awful sins. We are wicked, but they are more wicked than
us! Will you, who cannot allow sins in any form, stand idly by while they swallow us up?
Should you be silent when the wicked destroy those who are righteous, or who are better
than they are? Do you consider us the be just like fish, to be caught up in nets and
killed? Are we but creeping things which have no leader, to defend them from their foes?
Must we be strung up on their hooks and dragged out in their nets, while they rejoice?
Then they will worship their nets and burn incense before them! “These are the gods
that make us rich,” they’ll say. Will you let them get away with this forever? Will they
succeed forever in their heartless wars?

CHAPTER TWO: VENGEANCE BY THE CHALDEANS & THEIR JUDGEMENT

18. I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what
he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
19. And the LORD answered me and said; kWrite the vision, and lmake it plain upon
tables, that he may run that reads it.

a
Deuteronomy 33:27 e
[h]~ founded i
[h]~ fine net
b
Psalm 118:17 f
[h]~ grievance j
[h]~ dainty
c
Isaiah 10:5-7 g
[h]~ moving k
Isaiah 8:1
d
[h]~ rock h
Jeremiah 16:16 l
Deuteronomy 1:5

11
20. [FP] For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak and it
shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
21. [P] Behold, his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him; but the just shall live
by his faith.
I will climb my watch tower now, and wait to see what answer God will give to my
complaint.
And the LORD said to me: “Write my answers on a billboard (Tablets), large and clear,
so that anyone can read it at a glance, and run and tell others. But these things that I
have planned, will not happen straight away. Slowly, steadily, surely, things will come
into alignment, and the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems
slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass ~ just be patient! They
will not be late, by even one single day!
“Note this: Wicked men trust themselves alone [as these Chaldeans do], and fail; BUT
the righteous man trusts in the LORD, and lives!”
22. aYes, also because he transgresses bby wine, he is a proud man neither keeps at
home, who enlarges his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but
gathers unto him all nations, and heaps unto him all people:
23. Shall not all-of these people, take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb
against him, and say; cWoe to him that increases that which is not his! How long?
And to him that lades himself with thick clay!
24. Shall they not rise-up suddenly that shall bite thee; and awake that which shall vex
thee; and thou shall be for booties unto them?
25. Because you have spoiled many nations, and of the remnant of the people shall
spoil thee, because of men’s dblood and for the violence of the land, of the city and
all that dwell therein.
What’s more, these arrogant Chaldeans are betrayed by all-of their wine; for it is
treacherous. In their greed, they have collected many nations, but just like death and
hell, they are never satisfied. The time is coming, when all-of their captives will taunt
them, saying; ‘You robbers! At last God’s judgement has caught up with you! Now, you
will get your just deserts for your oppression and your extortion!’
Suddenly, your debtors will rise up in anger and turn on you, and take away from you
all that you have, while you stand trembling and helpless.
You have ruined many nations; now, they will ruin you! You murderers! You have filled
the countryside with lawlessness, and all-of the cities too.
26. Woe to him who ecovets and evil covetousness, to his house, that he may set his
nest on high, that he may be delivered from the fpower of evil!
27. You have consulted shame to your house, by cutting off many people, and (you)
have sinned against (your own) soul.
28. For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer
it.
Woe to you who gets rich by evil means, attempting to live beyond the reach of danger.
By the murders that you have committed, you have shamed your family name and
forfeited your lives. The very stones in the walls of your homes cry out against you, and
the timber beams in the ceiling echo what they say.
29. Woe to anyone that builds that builds a town with gblood and established a city by
iniquity!

a
[h]~ How much more d
[h]~ bloods g
bloods
b
Daniel 5:1-4 e
[h]~ gains and evil gains
c
[h]~ He f
[h]~ palm of the hand

12
30. Behold, it is not of the LORD of Hosts, that the people shall labour in the very fire,
and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?
31. For the aearth shall be filled bwith the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the
waters cover the sea.
Woe unto you who build cities with money gained from murdering and robbery!
Has not the LORD decreed that godless nations’ gains will turn to ashes in their hands?
They work so hard ~ but it is all in vain. [“The time will come when all-of the earth is
filled, as the waters fill the seas, with an awareness of the glory of the LORD.]
32. Woe to him who gives his neighbour drink, that puts thy bottle to him, and make
him drunk also, that you may look on their nakedness!
33. Thou are filled cwith shame for glory: drink thy also and let thy foreskin be
uncovered: the cup of the LORD’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and
shameful spewing shall be on thy glory.
34. For the violence of dLebanon shall cover thee; and the spoils of beasts, which made
them afraid, because of men’s blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city,
and of all that dwell therein.
“Woe to you for making your neighbouring lands reel and stagger like drunkards beneath
your blows, and then gloating over their nakedness and shame. Soon, your own glory
will be replaced by shame. Drink down God’s judgement upon yourselves. Stagger and
fall! You cut down the forests of Lebanon ~ NOW, you will be cut down!
You terrified the wild animals that you caught in your traps. NOW, terror will strike you
because of all your murdering and violence in cities everywhere.”
35. eWhat profits the graven image that the makers thereof have graven it: the molten
image, and the teacher of lies, that fthe maker of his work trusts therein, to make
dumb idols?
36. Woe unto him that says to the wood; Awake; to the dumb stone; Arise, it shall
teach! Behold, it is overlayed with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in-
the-midst-of-it.
37. But the LORD is in His Holy Temple: let all-of the earth keep silence before Him.
“What profit was there in worshipping all-of your man-made idols? What a foolish lie to
even believe that they could help you! What fools you were to trust what you had made
by yourselves.
Woe to those who command their lifeless wooden idols to arise and save them: who call
out to the speechless stones, to tell them what to do! Can images speak for God?
They are overlayed with gold and silver, but there is not breath, or life, on the inside of
them!
But the LORD is in His Holy Temple; Let all-of the earth be silent before Him!

CHAPTER THREE: THE PROPHET TREMBLES AT GOD’S MAJESTY

1. A Prayer of Habakkuk the prophet gupon Shigionoth. [Variable tunes called in
Hebrew ~ Shigionoth].
2. O LORD, I have heard thy hspeech and was afraid: O LORD irevive thy works in-
the-midst-of the years, in-the-midst-of the years make known: in wrath, remember
mercy.

a
Isaiah 11:9 e
Isaiah 44:10 h
[h]~ report, or hearing
b
[h]~ by knowing the glory f
[h]~ the fashioner of his fashion i
[h]~ preserve alive
c
[h]~ more with shame than g
[h]~ according to variable
with glory songs, or tunes; called in
d
Isaiah 14:8; Jeremiah 22:23 Hebrew “Shigionoth”

13
3. God came from aTeman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. [Stop! Pause!
And think about this!] His glory covers the heavens, and the earth was full of His
praise.
4. And His brightness was as the light; He had bhorns coming out of His hand: and
c
that was the hiding of His power.
5. Before Him went the pestilence; and burning dcoals (diseases) went forth at His
feet.
6. He stood and measured the earth: He beheld and drove the nations asunder; and
the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: His ways
are everlasting.
7. I saw the tents of eCushan fin affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did
tremble.
8. Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? Was your anger against the rivers?
Was your wrath against the sea, that you did ride upon your horses and your
chariots of salvation?
9. Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even your
word. Selah. [Stop! Pause! And think about this!]. You did cleave gthe earth with
rivers.
10. hThe mountains saw you, and they trembled: the overflowing of the waters passed
by: The deep uttered his voice and lifted-up his hands on high.
11. iThe sun and the moon stood still in their habitation: jat the light of your arrows
they went, and at the shining of your glittering spear.
12. You did march through the land in indignation, you did thresh the heathen in your
anger.
13. You went forth for the salvation of your people, even for salvation of your anointed;
k
you wounded the head of the house of the wicked, lby mdiscovering the foundation
unto the neck. Selah. [Stop! Pause! And think about this!].
14. You did strike through with his staves the head of his villages; they ncame out as
a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
15. You did walk through the sea with your horses, through the oheap of great waters.
16. [FP] When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness
entered-into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of
trouble: when he comes up unto the people; he will pinvade them with his troops.
This the prayer of triumph [some scholars say a mournful dirge] that Habakkuk sang
before the LORD:
O LORD, now I have heard your report, and I worship you in awe for the fearful things
that you are going to do. In this time of our deep need, please begin again to help us,
as you did in the years gone by. In your wrath, please remember mercy. I see God
Almighty moving across the deserts to Mount Sinai. His brilliant splendour fills the earth
and the sky; His glory fills the heavens, and the earth is full of his praise! What a
wonderful God he is!
From his hands flash rays of brilliant light. He rejoices in his awesome power. Pestilence
marches before him; plagues follow close behind. He stops, He stands still for a moment,
gazing at the earth. Then He shakes the nations, scattering the everlasting mountains,

a
[h]~ the south g
[h]~ the rivers of the earth l
[h]~ making naked
b
[h]~ bright beams out of His side h
Exodus 19:16,18 m
Psalm 137:7
c
Zephaniah 1:14 i
Joshua 10:12-13 n
[h]~ were tempestuous
d
[h]~ diseases j
[h]~ thine arrows walked in the o
[h]~ mud
e
[h]~ Ethiopia light p
[h]~ cut them in pieces
f
[h]~ under affliction, Or vanity k
Psalm 68:21

14
and flattening the hills. His power is just the same as always! It never changes! I see
the people of Cushan and of Midian trembling in mortal fear.
Was it in anger LORD, that you smote the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased
with them? No! You were sending your chariots of salvation! All saw your power! Then
springs burst forth upon the earth at your command! The mountains watched and
trembled. Onward swept the raging waters. The mighty cried out, announcing their
surrender to the LORD ~ by lifting their hands in surrender!
The lofty sun and moon began to fade, obscured by the brilliance from your arrows and
the flashing of your glittering spear.
You marched across the land in awesome anger and trampled down the nations in your
wrath. You went out to save your chosen people. You crushed the head of the wicked
and laid bare his bones from head to toe. You destroyed them with their own weapons,
those that came out like a whirlwind, thinking that Israel would be an easy prey.
Your horsemen marched across the sea; the mighty waters piled high. I trembled when
I heard all-of this: my lips quiver with fear. My legs give way beneath me, and I shake
in terror. I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon the people who invade
us.
17. Although the fruit trees shall not blossom; neither shall fruit be in the vine; the
labour of the olive shall afail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be
cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18. Yet, I will rejoice in the LORD, bI will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
19. The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will
make me to walk upon my high places. To the chief singer, on my stringed
instruments.
Even though the fig trees are all destroyed, and there is neither blossom left nor fruit,
and though the olive crops all fail, and all-of the fields lie barren, even if the flocks all
die in the fields, and the cattle barns are all empty; yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will
be happy in the God of my salvation. The Lord is my Strength, and he will give me the
speed of a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.
[A note to the choir director: When singing this ode, the choir is to be accompanied by
stringed instruments]

THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH

The Pre-exilic prophet Zephaniah, lived during the reign of the righteous King Josiah of
Judah from 640 to 609 BC. What is unique is that he traced his lineage to the fourth
generation of his ancestors, possibly indicating he was a descendant of the good King
Hezekiah (715-687 BC). This also means that Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah,
were all receiving message for God about the same time-period, for the nation of Israel
and the surrounding nations.
CHAPTER ONE: GOD’S SEVERE JUDGEMENT AGAINST JUDAH

1. The Word of the LORD which came unto Zephaniah, the son of Cushi, the son of
Gedaliah, the son of Amariah, the son of Hizkiah, in the days of Josiah, the son of
Amon, king of Judah.
2. [FP] cI will utterly consume all things from off dthe land, says the LORD.

a
[h]~ lie c
[h]~ By taking away, I will d
[h]~ the face of the land
b
Psalm 9:14; 13:5; Luke 1:47 make an end

15
3. [FP] I will consume aman and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and
the fish of the sea, and bthe cstumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off
man from off the land, says the LORD.
4. [FP] I will also stretch put my hand upon Judah, and upon all the inhabitants of
Jerusalem; and dI will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of
e
the Chemarims with the priests.
5. [FP] And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that
worship and fthat swear gby the LORD, and that swear by hMalcham.
6. [FP] And them that are turned back from the LORD: and those that have not sought
the LORD, nor inquired of Him.
7. [FP] Hold thy peace at the presence of the LORD GOD: for ithe day of the LORD is
at hand: for jthe LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has bid His guests.
8. [FP] And it shall come to pass in that day, of the LORD’S sacrifice, that I will kpunish
the princes and the king’s children, and all such as a clothed with strange apparel.
9. [FP] In that same day also will I punish all-of those lthat leap on the threshold, which
fill their master’s houses with violence and deceit.
10. [FP] And it shall come to pass in that day, says the LORD, that there shall be a noise
of a cry from mthe Fish Gate, and a howling from nthe second, and a great crashing
from the hills.
11. [FP] Howl, you inhabitants of Maktesh, for all-of the merchant people are cut down:
all they that bear silver are cut off.
12. [FP] And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles,
and punish them that are osettled pon their lees; qthat say in their heart: The LORD
will not do good; neither will He do evil!
13. *** [FP] Therefore their goods shall become a booty: and their houses a desolation;
r
they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards,
but not drink the wine thereof.
Subject: A message from the LORD.
To: Zephaniah, (the son of Cushi, grandson of Gedaliah, great-grandson of Amariah,
and great-great-grandson of king Hezekiah).
When: During the reign of Josiah, (son of Amon) King of Judah.
[The great revival under the reign of King Josiah took place about 10 years after this
message was delivered by Zephaniah.]
The prophet Jeremiah was also actively prophesying and warning the people of the
impending destruction of Jerusalem, and captivity at this same time in history. About
20 years later, was the captivity and exile of the Jews into Babylon. All-of these
prophecies came to pass.
“I will sweep everything in all-of your land,” says the LORD. “I will destroy it to the
ground. I will sweep away both men and animals alike. Mankind, and all-of the idols that
he worships! All-of them will vanish!
“Even the birds of the air and the fish of the sea will all perish! I will crush Judah and
Jerusalem with my fist, and I will destroy every remnant of those that worship Baal; I
will put an end to their idolatrous priests, so that even the memory of them will
disappear.

a
Hosea 4:3 g
[h]~ to the LORD m
3:8
b
Ezekiel 7:19 h
1 Kings 11:5,33 n
2 Kings 22:14
c
[h]~ idols i
Isaiah 13:6; Ezekiel 30:3 o
[h]~ curded or thickened
d
2 Chronicles 34:3,4 j
Isaiah 34:6; Jeremiah 46:10 p
Jeremiah 48:11
e
Hosea 10:5 k
[h]~ visit upon them q
Psalm 94:7
f
Isaiah 48:1; Hosea 4:15 l
1 Samuel 5:5 r
Deuteronomy 28:30; Amos 5:11

16
“They go up onto their rooves and bow to the sun, moon, and the stars. They say they
‘follow the LORD’, but worship Molech, too! I will destroy them! And I will destroy them
who formerly worshipped the LORD, but now, no longer do, and those who never loved
him, and never wanted to.”
[Here is a clear warning to the people of today!
• Those who put another god (or activity) higher than the LORD in their lives ~
He will destroy.
• Those who have backslidden and have not repented and turned back to the
LORD ~ He will destroy.
• Those who have never loved Him ~ who did not have a ‘personal relationship
with Him’ ~ He will destroy.
• And finally all-of those people, who never wanted to follow God Almighty~
rejected Him to follow other gods ~ He will destroy.
Stand in silence in the presence of the LORD. For the awesome Day of his Judgement
has come: He has prepared a great slaughter of His people and has chosen their
executioners.
“On that Day of Judgement, I will punish the leaders and princes of Judah, and all others
wearing heathen clothes. Yes, I will punish those who follow heathen customs and who
rob and kill to fill their master’s homes with evil gains of violence and fraud.
“A cry of alarm shall start at the farthest gate of Jerusalem, coming closer and closer,
until the noise of the advancing army reaches the top of the hill, where the city was
built.
“Wail in sorrow, you people of Jerusalem! You were warned but did not repent! All-of
your greedy businessmen, all-of your loan sharks ~ all will die!
“I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those, who
sit contented in their sins, indifferent to God, wrongly thinking that He will leave them
alone. BUT ~ they are the very ones whose property will be plundered by the enemy,
whose homes will be ransacked; they will never have a chance to live in their new
homes, that they have recently built. They will never drink wine from the new vineyards
that they have planted.
14. [LD] aThe great day of the LORD bis near, it is near, and hastens greatly, even the
voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry cthere bitterly.
15. [LD] That day is the day of wrath, a day of trouble, and distress, a day of wasteness,
and desolation, a day of darkness, and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick
darkness.
16. [LD] A Day of dthe Trumpet, and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the
high towers.
17. [LD] And I will bring distress upon men; that ethey shall walk like blind men; because
they have sinned against the LORD: and ftheir blood shall be poured out as dust,
and their flesh as the dung.
18. [LD] Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them, in the day of
the LORD’S wrath; but a whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy:
for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all-of them that dwell in the land.
THIS TERRIBLE DAY IS NEAR, it is closer than many think! Swiftly it comes, a
day when even strong men will weep bitterly. It is the day of the wrath of GOD poured
out! It is a day of terrible distress and anguish! A day of ruin and desolation, of darkness,

a
Joel 2:11 d
Jeremiah 4:19 f
Psalm 79:3
b
See verse 7 e
Deuteronomy 28:29; Isaiah
c
Habakkuk 3:4 59:10

17
gloom, clouds, and blackness. Trumpet calls, and battle cries: down go the walled cities
and battlements!
*** “I will make you as helpless as a bling man, searching for a path, because you have
sinned against the LORD; therefore, your blood shall be poured out into the dust and
your bodies will lie there rotting on the ground.”
Your silver and gold will be of no use to you in that day of the LORD’S wrath. [YOU
CANNOT BUY SALVATION!] You cannot ransom yourself with it! For the whole land will
be devoured by the fire of His jealousy. He will make a speedy riddance of all-of the
people of Judah, as they go into exile and captivity.

CHAPTER TWO: JUDGEMENT OF JUDAH: EXHORTATION TO REPENTANCE

1. Gather yourselves together; Yes, gather together, O nation, anot desired.

2. b
Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff; before the fierce
anger of the LORD comes upon you; before the day of the LORD’S anger comes upon
you.
3. cSeek ye the LORD, dall you meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgement;
seek righteousness, seek meekness; it emay be that you shall be hid in the day of
the LORD’S anger.
GATHER TOGETHER & PRAY: you shameless nation, while there is still time ~ BEFORE
judgement begins, and your opportunity is blown away like chaff in the wind; before the
fierce anger of the LORD falls and the terrible day of His wrath begins. Beg Him to save
you, all who are humble ~ all who have tried to obey.
Walk humbly before your God and do what is right: perhaps even yet, the LORD will
protect you from His wrath, in that day of Doom.
4. For fGaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod
at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
5. Woe unto the inhabitants of gthe seacoast, the nation of the hCherethites! The Word
of the LORD is against you: O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy
thee, that there shall be no inhabitants (left).
6. And the seacoast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
7. And ithe coast shall be for the remnant of the House of Judah; they shall feed
thereupon; in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: jfor the
LORD their GOD shall kvisit them; and turn away their captivity.
Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron ~ these Philistine cities, too, will be rooted out and left
in desolation. And woe to you Philistines living on the coast and in the land of Canaan,
for the judgement is against you too! [The Cherethites (Cretans) with the Philistines,
were part of the great migration to the southern coasts of Palestine around 1200 BC].
The LORD will destroy you until not one of you is left! The coastland will become a
pasture, a place of shepherd camps, and folds for sheep.
It is there that the little remnant of the tribe of Judah will be pastured. They will lie down
to rest in the abandoned houses of the Ashkelon. For the LORD GOD will visit His people
and in kindness and restore their prosperity again.
8. lI have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon,
whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves magainst their
border.

a
[h]~ not desirous f
Jeremiah 47:5; Amos 1:6-8; j
[h]~ when
b
See 3:8 Zechariah 9:5-6
c
Psalm 105:4; Amos 5:6 g
Jeremiah 47:7; Ezekiel 25:16 k
Zechariah 10:3
d
Psalm 76:9; Isaiah 11:4 h
1 Samuel 30:14 l
Jeremiah 48:1, 27
e
Amos 5:15 i
Joshua 19:29; see verse 5 m
Jeremiah 49:1

18
9. ***[P] Therefore as I live, says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel; surely Moab
shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of
nettles, and salt pits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall
spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
10. [P] This shall they have afor their pride; because they have reproached and
magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of Hosts.
11. [P] The LORD will be terrible unto them: for bHe will cfamish all-of the gods of the
earth; and dmen shall worship Him, eeveryone from his place, even in all-of the isles
of the heathen.
“I have heard the taunts of the people of Moab and Ammon; mocking my people, and
invading their land. Therefore, as I live,” says the LORD of Hosts; “Moab and Ammon
shall be destroyed just like Sodom & Gomorrah; and become a place of stinging nettles
and salt pits, and eternal desolation; those of my people who are left will plunder and
possess them. They will receive the wages of their pride, for they have scoffed at the
people of the LORD of Hosts. The LORD will do terrible things to them. He will starve
out all-of the gods of foreign powers, and everyone shall worship him, each in his own
land throughout the world.
12. [FP] f You Ethiopians, too, will be slain by His sword.
13. [FP] And so will the lands of the north: He will gdestroy Assyria; and make its great
capital hNineveh a desolate wasteland, like a wilderness.
14. [P] And flocks shall ilie down in the midst of her all the beasts of the nations: both
the jcormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the kupper lintels of it; their voices shall
sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; lfor he shall uncover mthe
cedar work.
15. This is the rejoicing city nthat dwelt carelessly; that said in her heart, I AM, and
there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie
down in! oEveryone that passes by shall see and wag his hand!
You Ethiopians too, will be slain by his sword, and so will the land of the north; he will
destroy Assyria and make its great capital Nineveh a desolate wasteland~ like a barren
wilderness. That once proud city will become a pastureland for sheep.
All sorts of wild animals will have their homes in her. Hedgehogs will burrow there; the
vultures and the owls will live among the ruins of her palaces, hooting from the gaping
windows; the ravens will croak from her doors.
All-of her cedar panelling will lie open to the wind and weather. This is the fate of the
vast, prosperous city that lived in such security, that said to herself: “In all-of the world
there is no city as great as I am.” BUT NOW, see how she has become a place of utter
ruins, a place for animals to live! Everyone passing that way will mock or shake their
heads in disbelief!
[Nothing then seemed more improbable than that the capital, of so vast an empire, a
city sixty miles (100 Kms) around, with walls 100 feet high, (33 metres) and so thick
that 3 chariots could go abreast on them ~ with 1500 watchtowers, should be so totally
destroyed that its site is difficult to discover today.]

a
Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29 f
Isaiah 18:1 k
[h]~ knops, or chapiters
b
Psalm 50:12 g
Isaiah 10:12 l
[h]~ when he has uncovered
c
[h]~ make lean h
Jonah 1:2 m
Jeremiah 22:14-15
d
Psalm 22:27 i
Isaiah 13:21-22 n
Isaiah 47:8
e
Malachi 1:11 j
[h]~ pelican o
Jeremiah 19:8

19
CHAPTER THREE: ETHIOPIA, JERUSALEM SHARPLY REPROVED

1. Woe to aher that is filthy and polluted, to bthe oppressing city!

2. She obeyed not the voice: she received not the ccorrection: she trusted not in the
LORD: She drew not near to her GOD.
3. Her princes within her are droaring lions; her judges are eevening wolves; they gnaw
not the bones till the morrow.
4. Her prophets are flight and treacherous persons: her priests ghave polluted the
sanctuary; they have done violence to the law.
5. The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: hevery morning He
does bring His judgement to light, He fails not: but the unjust know no shame.
6. I have cut off the nations: their itowers are desolate; I made their streets waste,
that none passes by; their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there
are no inhabitants.
7. I said: Surely you will fear me, says the LORD, you will receive instruction; jso their
dwellings should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but kthey rose early,
and corrupted all-of their doings.
[These first seven verses are directed at sinful Jerusalem ~ but it can also refer to
nations and “lukewarm churches” today].
Woe to filthy, sinful Jerusalem, a city of violence and crime. In her pride, she won’t even
listen to the voice of God. No one can tell her anything; she refuses all forms of
correction! She does not trust the LORD, nor does she seek the LORD!
Her leaders are like roaring lions, each one hunting for their next victims ~ defrauding
them of everything that they can get. Her judges are like ravenous wolves at evening
time, who by the break of dawn, have left no trace of their prey.
Her “false prophets” are liars, seeking their own gain; her priests defile the temple, by
their disobedience to God’s laws. ~ [By allowing gay & lesbian priests, and allowing
same-sex unions, to be performed in their churches].
BUT the LORD is there in the city, and He does no wrong! Day by day His justice is more
evident, but no one takes any notice, for the wicked know no shame.
“I have cut off many nations, laying them waste to their farthest borders; I have left
their streets in silent ruin, and their cities deserted without a single survivor, to
remember what happened. I thought; ‘Surely they will heed my warnings, so that I will
not need to strike them again:’ But no! It does not matter how much I punish them;
they continue all-of their evil ways from dawn to dusk, and from dusk to dawn.”
8. *** [LD] Therefore, lWait you upon me, says the LORD, until the day that I rise up
to the prey: for my determination is mto gather the nations, that I may assemble
the kingdoms, to pour out my indignation upon them, even all-of my fierce anger:
for nall-of the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
9. [M] For then will I turn to the people a pure olanguage [a heavenly language], that
they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve HIM with one consent. [With
one accord].
10. [M] From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, my suppliants, even the daughter of pmy
dispersed, qshall bring rmy offering.

a
[h]~ gluttonous g
Ezekiel 22:26 m
Joel 3:2
b
Jeremiah 25:38 h
[h]~ morning by morning n
See 1:18
c
[h]~ instruction i
[h]~ Or, corners o
[h]~ lip
d
Ezekiel 22:25 j
Jeremiah 7:3,7; 25:5 p
Deuteronomy 4:27; 28:64
e
Habakkuk 1:8 k
2 Chronicles 36:15 q
Psalm 68:29
f
Jeremiah 23:32 l
Habakkuk 2:3 r
Malachi 1:11

20
11. [M] In that day shalt ayou not be ashamed for all-of your doings, wherein you have
transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee, them
that rejoice in their pride, and byou shall no longer by haughty, cbecause of my Holy
Mountain.
12. [M] I will also leave in-the-midst-of thee dan afflicted and poor people, and they
shall trust in the name of the LORD.
13. [M] The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a
deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none
shall make them afraid.
But the LORD God says; “Be patient; the time is coming soon when I will stand up and
accuse these evil nations. For it is my decision, to gather together the kingdoms of the
earth and pour out my fiercest anger and wrath upon them. All-of the earth shall be
devoured with the fire of my jealousy!”
“At that time, I will change the speech of my returning people to pure Hebrew, so that
all can worship the LORD together. [This is now happening as the people complete Aliyah
and return to Israel; they are all learning to read and write Hebrew. This prophecy is
being fulfilled right before our very eyes]. In 2022 over 70,000 Jews from 95 countries
returned to Israel.
“Those who live far beyond the rivers of Ethiopia will come with their offerings, asking
me to be their God again. And then you will no longer need to be ashamed of yourselves.
I will remove all-of your proud and arrogant men from among you; there will be no pride
or haughtiness on my Holy Mountain. Those who are left, will be the poor and the
humble, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
“They will not be sinners, full of lies and deceit. They will live quietly, in peace, and lie
down in safety, and no one will make them afraid.”
[Christians in praise among the nations, now proclaim the Victory of the LORD.]
14. [S] Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all-of your
heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
15. [S] The LORD has taken away your judgements, He has cast out your enemy: the
KING of Israel, even the LORD, is in-the-midst-of thee; you shall not see evil
anymore.
16. [S] In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem; Fear you not: and to Zion; eLet not
your hands be fslack.
17. [M] The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty: He will save, He will rejoice
over thee with joy; He will grest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.
18. [M] I will call them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to
whom hthe reproach of it was a burden.
19. [M] Behold, iat that time, I will undo all that afflict thee; and I will jsave her that
halts and gather her that was driven out; and I will kget them praise and fame in
every land lwhere they have been put to shame.
20. [M] At that time, mwill I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I
will make you a name and a praise among all-of the people of the earth, when nI
turn back your captivity before your eyes, says the LORD.
Sing, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all-of your heart, O
daughter of Jerusalem. For the LORD will remove His hand of judgement and disperse

a
Isaiah 54:4 f
[h]~ faint j
Micah 4:6,7
b
Jeremiah 7:4; Micah 3:11 g
[h]~ be silent k
[h]~ set them for a praise
c
[h]~ in my holy h
[h]~ the burden upon it was l
[h]~ of their shame
d
Zechariah 11:7,11 reproach m
Isaiah 11:12
e
Isaiah 35:3; Hebrews 12:12 i
See verse 11 n
2:7

21
the armies of your enemy. And the LORD Himself, the King of Israel, will live among
you! At last, your troubles will be over. You need not be afraid anymore.
On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be, “Cheer up, don’t be afraid. For the
LORD your GOD has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Saviour. He will give you
victory. He will rejoice over you in great gladness; He will love you and not accuse you.”
Is that a joyous choir I hear? NO! It is the LORD Himself exulting over you in happy
song.
“I have gathered your wounded and taken away your reproach. And I will deal severely
with all that have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones and bring
together those who were chased away. I will give glory to my former exiles, mocked
and shamed.
“At that time, I will gather you together and bring you home again, and give you a good
name, a name of distinction among all-of the peoples of the earth, and they will praise
you when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.

CONCLUSION:

It is clear that God’s plans are coming to pass. We must know where we are on God’s
time-plan, and be sure that our church (the 8th church), has the necessary makeovers
~ correcting the mistakes ~ identified in the other 5 churches in Revelation chapters 2
& 3; so that “our Church” can be included in the 9th church, the one that Jesus invites
to “come up hither”, to become His Bride ~ The Bride of Christ.
Maybe a thorough study of the 7 churches in the Book of Revelation, is needed now,
because it can have eternal consequences, if you get it wrong!
If you get it wrong, then you will also need to know what the 7 Seal Judgements, the 7
Trumpet Judgements, and the 7 Vial Bowl Judgements are all about, because you will
have to suffer all 21 of them!

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION:

The book of Daniel begins in 604 B.C., which is eighteen years prior to the destruction
of King Solomon’s Temple (the first Temple in 586 B.C.)
Daniel and several other young men (1:4) were deported from Judah to Babylon under
King Nebuchadnezzar. The book ends two years after the seventy years of exile in 532
B.C. The book is written in both Hebrew and the Chaldean languages.
In the KJV Bible and most “modern bibles”, the Book of Daniel contains only 12 chapters,
but the Septuagint, and the Jerusalem Bible (both translated from the most ancient
Texts) contains 14 chapters. This means that at the time of Jesus, in the synagogue,
there were 14 chapters in the Book of Daniel. The other important point to note is that
the Book of Daniel IS NOT written as a historical BOOK ~ even though some
churches teaches that it is. Refer to the Appendix for more details.
In 605 B.C., three years after King Jehoiakim began to rule in Judah, Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem, just as prophesied by Jeremiah,
several years before. He came with his armies, and the Lord gave him victory over
Jehoiakim.
1. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, acame Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

a
2 Kings 24:1-2; 2 Chronicles:
36:6

22
2. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, with apart of the vessels
of the House of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar, to the house of his
god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure of his god.
There was a prophecy given by the Holy Spirit to Jeremiah that the Jews would be held
captives in Babylon for 70 years. [ Jeremiah 25:11]

The duration of the Babylonian captivity was precisely 70 years; – The reason for that
captivity is that the Israelites had failed to observe 70 Sabbath years. In other words,
the Israelites were kept in captivity in Babylon for 70 years, in order to “atone” for the
70 Sabbath years that they had failed to observe.
When he returned to Babylon, he took along with him some of the sacred cups from the
Temple in Jerusalem, and placed them in the treasury of his god, in the land of Shinar.
3. And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring
certain of the children of Israel, and of the King’s seed, and of the princes;
4. Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and
cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had an ability in
them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and
the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5. And the king appointed them ba daily provision of the king’s meat, and of cthe wine
which he drank: so, nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof, they
might dstand before the king.
6. Now among there were of the children of Judah, Daniel, eHananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah:

a
2 Kings 24:13; 25:15 c
[h]~ the wine of his drink e
See verses 11,19; 2:17
b
2 Chronicles 31:16 d
1 Kings 10:8

23
 7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs agave names: for he
gave unto Daniel the name of bBelteshazzar; cand to
Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to
Azariah, of Abednego.
8. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs dgave names: for he
gave unto Daniel the name of eBelteshazzar; fand to
Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to
Azariah, of Abednego.
Then he ordered Ashpenaz, who was in charge of his palace
personnel, [literally his chief eunuch ~ 2 Kings 20:17-18] to
select some of the Jewish youths brought back as captives ~
young men of the royal family and the nobility of Judah ~ and
to teach them (Aramaic) the Chaldean language and literature,
which would include; mathematics, astronomy, history, plus a
strong emphasis on alchemy and magic. Ashpenaz was
instructed to pick strong and healthy, good-looking lads ~ those
who have read widely in many fields, are well informed, alert,
and sensible, and have enough poise to look good around the
palace.
The king assigned them the best of the food and wine, from his
own kitchen during their three-year training period, planning to
make them his counsellors, when they graduated.
Daniel, Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah, were four of the young men chosen, all from the
tribe of Judah. However, their superintendent gave them Babylonian names, as follows:
Daniel was called Belteshazzar, Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called
Meshach, and Azariah was called Abednego.
9. But Daniel purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the portion
of the king’s gmeat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of
the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
10. Now, God had brought Daniel into favour and love with the prince of the eunuchs.
11. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel; I fear my lord the king, who has
appointed your meat and you drink; for why should he see your faces hworse liking
than the children, which are of your isort? Then shall you make me endanger my
head to the king.
12. Then said Daniel to jMelzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
13. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us kpulse lto eat,
and water to drink.
14. Then let our countenance be looked upon before thee, and (compare) to the
countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as you
see, deal with thy servants.
But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and the wine given
to them by the king. He asked permission of Melzar, the superintendent, to eat other
things instead.
Now, as it happened, God had given the superintendent a special appreciation for Daniel,
and sympathy for his predicament. But he was alarmed by Daniel’s suggestion.

a
2 Kings 23:34 f
2:49: 3:12 j
[h]~ the steward
b
4:8 g
Deuteronomy 32:38; Ezekiel k
[h]~ of pulse (chick peas)
c
2:49: 3:12 4:13 l
[h]~ that we may eat
d
2 Kings 23:34 h
[h]~ sadder looking
e
4:8 i
[h]~ term, or, continuance

24
“I’m afraid that you will become pale and thin, compared to the other youths of your
age” he remarked, “and then the king will have my head cut off, for neglecting my duties
& responsibilities.”
So, Daniel talked it over with the steward who was appointed by Melzar to look after
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and suggested that they try a 10-day diet, of
only vegetables and water; then, at the end of the 10 days to compare them with the
other youths that have been eating the food from the king’s table, and then decide
whether they could continue on their diet.
The steward finally agreed to this test, and at the end of the 10-day period, Daniel and
his three friends looked much healthier than the others, that had been eating the rich
food supplied by the king.
As a result of this test, from that point onwards, the steward only fed them vegetables
and water and not the rich food from the King’s table.
15. As for these four children, aGod gave them knowledge and skills in all learning and
wisdom; and bDaniel chad understanding in all visions and ddreams.
16. Now, at the end of the days that the king has said that he should bring them in,
Melzar, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
17. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore, they stood before the king.
18. And in all matters of ewisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them,
he found them at least ten times better than all-of fthe magicians and astrologers,
that were in all-of his realm.
19. And Daniel continued even until the first year of king Cyrus.
God Almighty gave these four youths great giftings and abilities to learn, and they soon
learnt all-of the literature and science of that time, and God gave Daniel special abilities
to get the meaning & revelation of dreams and visions. When the three-year training
period was ended, Melzar, the prince of the eunuchs, brought all-of the young men to
the king for an oral examination, as he had been ordered to do.
King Nebuchadnezzar had a long talk with each of them, and none impressed him more
than Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. As a result of this examination, they were
put on the King’s regular staff as advisors.
In all matters requiring information and balanced judgement, the king found that the
advice given by these four men was at least ten-times better than all-of his skilled
magicians (who worshipped “other” gods), or wise astrologers, who lived in his realm.

CHAPTER TWO: KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR FORGETS HIS DREAM

From the beginning of chapter two, until the end of chapter 7, it is confirmed by many
scholars, that this section of the Book of Daniel, was originally written in the Chaldean
language. [Ch]~
1. And gin the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed
(several) dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2. hThen the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the
sorcerers, and the iChaldeans, (all who worshipped other gods), for to shew the king
his dreams. So, they (all) came and stood before the king.
3. And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to
know the dream.

a
2:20-22,28 e
[h]~ wisdom of understanding h
4:6; 5:7
b
[h]~ he made Daniel understand f
2:2 i
1:4
c
9:23; 10:1 g
Compare 1:1 with 2 Kings
d
5:12; 7:1 23:36; 24:12, Jeremiah 52:28

25
4. And the (sneaky) Chaldeans spoke to the king in aSyriac, and said; bO king, live
forever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
5. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, the thing is gone from me: if you will
not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, you shall cbe
d
cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6. But, eif you show the dream, and the interpretation thereof, you shall receive of me
gifts and rewards, and great honour: therefore, show me the dream, and the
interpretation thereof.
7. They answered again, and said; Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will
shew the interpretation of it.
8. And the king answered and said; I know of certainty that you would fgain the time,
because you see the thing is gone from me.
9. *** But if you will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for
you: for you have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time
be changed: therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that you show me the
interpretation thereof.
One night, in the second year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, he had a terrifying
nightmare, and he awoke sweating and trembling with fear. And to make matters even
worse, he could not remember what the dream was about, but somehow deep in his
spirit. he knew that it was important.
He immediately called in all-of his magicians, incantationists, sorcerers, and astrologers,
and demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed and the interpretation thereof.
[Remember, all-of these people worship “other gods,” and God Almighty is setting a trap
for them, but is going to reveal Himself through Daniel, to the King.]
As they all stood before him the king declared; “I’ve had a terrible nightmare, and I
can’t remember what it was about, but I feel in my spirit that something terrible, and/or
catastrophic is going to happen to me”.
Then the astrologers (speaking in Aramaic ~ so the others would not know what they
are saying) said to the king; “Sir, tell us the dream, and then we can tell you what it
means.”
But the king replied: “I tell you; the dream is gone ~ I can’t remember it. But if you
don’t tell me the dream, and what it means, I will have you drawn and quartered ~ (torn
limb from limb), and your houses destroyed and made into heaps of rubble.
But I will give high honours and many gifts to the person who can tell me what the
dream was, and what the interpretation of this dream means. So, don’t just stand there
~ begin!”
The astrologers again said to him: “How can we tell you what the dream means, unless
you tell us what it was?”
The king replied; “I can see your trick! You are trying to stall for time until the tragedy
happens to me, that the dream prophesies. But if you cannot tell me the dream, how do
you expect me to believe your interpretation thereof?”
10. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said; There is not a man upon the
earth that can show the king’s matter: therefore, there is no king, lord, nor ruler,
that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11. And it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is none that can show it before
the king, except gthe gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all-
of hthe wise men of Babylon.

a
The Samarian language, (so the b
Chaldean language until the end e
5:7,16
others would not understand of chapter 7. f
[Ch]~ buy
what they were saying to the c
3:29 g
5:11,14
king) d
[Ch]~ made pieces h
4:6,18; 5:7-8

26
13. And the decree went forth that all-of the wise men should be slain; and they sought
Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
The Chaldeans challenged the king by saying: “There is no man alive who can tell other
people what they have dreamed. And there isn’t a king in all-of the world that would ask
such a thing of his subjects. This is an impossible thing that the king requires us to
reveal to him. No one, except the gods, can tell you your dream, and they are not here
to help us.” Even though they have a whole treasury to their “god”, they are admitting
before the king that this god cannot help them, or him.
Upon hearing this, the king was furious, and sent out orders to execute all of the wise
men of Babylon. Daniel and his three friends were rounded up with the other “NOT SO
WISE MEN” to be killed!
14. Then Daniel aanswered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the bcaptain of the king’s
guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon.
15. He answered and said to Arioch, the king’s captain; Why is the decree so hasty from
the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
16. Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that give him time, and he would show
him the (dream) and the interpretation
17. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to cHananiah, Mishael,
and Azariah, his companions:
18. That they would desire mercies dof the God of Heaven, concerning this secret; ethat
Daniel and his fellows should not perish, with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
But when Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard and the king’s guard, (and the chief
executioner), came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with great wisdom and
diplomacy by asking; “Why is the king so angry? What is the matter?
Then Arioch told him all that had happened. Then Daniel asked to see the King. “Give
me a little time and I will tell you the dream that you had and also I will give you, its
meaning.” Then he went home and told his 3 companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and
Azariah. They asked the God of Heaven, to show His mercy on them, by telling them
the secret dream, so that they would not die with the others.
19. Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision.
Then Daniel blessed the God of Heaven.
20. Daniel answered and said; fBlessed be the name of God for
ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his:
21. And He changes gthe times and the seasons;
22. He hremoves kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom
unto the wise, and iknowledge to them that know
understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He
knows what is in the darkness, and jthe light dwells with
him.
23. He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is
in the darkness, and kthe light dwells with him.
24. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou the lGod of my
fathers, who has given me wisdom and might, and has made known unto me now,
what we desired of thee: for thou hast not made known unto us the king’s matter.
And that very same night that they prayed, God Almighty, the God of Heaven, in a night
vision told Daniel what the king had dreamt.
Then Daniel praised the God of Heaven, saying; “Blessed be the name of the Lord our
God for ever and ever, for He alone has all wisdom and all power. World events are
a
[Ch]~ returned e
Or that they should not destroy i
1:17
b
[Ch]~] Chief of the executioners Daniel ad his friends j
James 1:7
c
1:6 f
Psalm 113:115:18 k
James 1:7
d
[Ch]~ from before God g
Acts 1:7 l
Deuteronomy 26:7
h
5:20

27
under his control. He removes kings and sets others upon their thrones. He gives wise
men their wisdom, and scholars their intelligence. He reveals those profound mysteries,
that are way beyond man’s understanding. He knows ALL hidden things, for He is light,
and darkness is no obstacle for him. I thank & praise you, O God of my fathers, for you
have given me wisdom and glowing health, and now, even this vision of the King’s
dream, and also the understanding of what it means.
God always hears our prayers, and we have to be open, to hear His answers, in whatever
way He want to reveal them to us.]
Therefore, Daniel went unto Arioch, (the chief executioner) whom the king had ordained
to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; “Destroy not the
wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the king the
interpretation.
Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in haste; and said thus unto him; aI have
found a man of the bcaptives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the
interpretation.
25. Daniel answered in the presence of the king aand said; The secret which the king
demanded, cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers,
show unto the king;
26. But there is a God in heaven, that reveals secrets, and makes known to king
Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream and the vision of thy
head upon thy bed are these:
27. As for thee, O king, thy thoughts ccame into thy mind upon thy bed, what shall
come to pass hereafter; and He that reveals secrets makes known to thee what
shall come to pass.
28. But das for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more
than any living, ebut for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the
king, and that thou might know the thought of thy heart.
The king questioned Daniel; “Is this true?” Can you tell me what my dream was and
what it really means? Daniel replied; “No wise man, astrologer, magician, or wizard, can
tell the king such things; But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has
told you in your dream what will happen in the future. This was your dream:
“You dreamed of coming events. He who reveals secrets was speaking to you. (But
remember, it’s not because I am wiser than any other living person that I know this
secret of this dream, for God showed it to me for your benefit).
29. Thou, O king, fsaw and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness
was excellent stood before thee: and the form thereof was terrible.
30. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast, and his arms of silver, his belly and
his gthighs of brass,
31. His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
32. Thou also saw that a stone was cut out hwithout hands, which smote the image
upon its feet, that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces.
33. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces
together; and became like the chaff on the summer threshing floors; and the wind
carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote
the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
“O king, you saw a huge and powerful statue of a man, shining brilliantly, but frightening
and terrible. The head of the stature was made of purest gold, its chest and arms were

a
[Ch]~ that I have found d
Genesis 41:16 f
[Ch]~ was seeing
b
[Ch]~ Children of the captivity of e
Or, but for the intent, that the g
[Ch]~ sides
Judah interpretation be made known h
[Ch]~ which was not in hands;
c
[Ch]~ came up unto the king. Zechariah 4:6

28
of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, its legs of iron, its feet is a mixture of iron and
clay.
But as you watched, a Rock was cut from the mountainside, with no hands, by
supernatural means. It came hurtling towards the statue and crushed the feet of iron
and clay, smashing them into minute pieces. Then the whole statue collapsed in to giant
heap of iron, clay, brass, silver, and gold: its pieces were crushed as small as chaff, and
the wind blew them all away. But the Rock, that knocked the statue down, became a
great mountain, that covered the whole earth.
34. This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
35. Thou, O king, art aa king of kings: for bthe God of Heaven, has given you a kingdom,
power, and strength, and glory.
36. And wheresoever the children dwell, the beasts of the fields and the fowls of the
heavens has he given into thine hand, and has made thee ruler over them all.c You
are this head of Gold.
37. And after thee, shall rise up danother kingdom, inferior to thee, (silver), and
e
another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all-of the earth.
38. And the ffourth kingdom, shall be as strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaks in
pieces and subdues all things: and as iron that breaks all these, shall it break in
pieces and bruise.
39. And whereas you saw the feet and toes, part of potter’s clay, and part of iron, the
kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron,
forasmuch as thou saw the iron mixed with miry clay.
40. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron and part of clay, so the kingdom shall
be partly strong and partly gbroken.
41. And whereas you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with
the seed of men: but they shall not cleave to hone to another, even as iron in not
mixed with clay.
42. And in ithe days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up ja kingdom, which
shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it
shall break in pieces and consume all-of these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
43. Forasmuch as thou saw that kthe stone was cut out of the mountain lwithout hands,
and it break in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the
great God has made known to the king what will come to pass hereafter: and the
dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
“That was the dream that you saw, and now for the interpretation and meaning of that
dream, which God has made known to you:
“Your gracious majesty, you are a king who reigns over many kings, for the God of
Heaven has given you your kingdom, power, strength, and glory. You rule the farthest
provinces, and even animals and birds are under your control, as God has decreed.
Therefore, you are that head of gold.
“But after your kingdom has come to an end, another world power (the Medo-Persian
empire) will rise up to take your place. This empire will inferior to yours. And after that
kingdom has fallen, yet a third great empire (the Greek empire, founded by Alexander
the Great), represented by the bronze belly of the statue, will rise to rule the whole
known world. Following after it, the fourth kingdom (the Roman Empire) which shall be
as strong as iron, smashing, bruising, and conquering. The feet and toes that you saw,
part made of iron and another part of clay, shows that later on, this fourth kingdom shall
be divided. Some parts of it will be as strong as iron and other parts shall be as weak
a
Ezra 7:12 f
7:7,23 j
4:3,34; 7:14,27; Micah 4:7;
b
Ezra 1:2 g
[h]~ brittle Luke 1:33; Compare Isaiah
c
See verse 32 h
[Ch]~ This with this 60:1, with 1 Corinthians 15:24
d
5:28,31; 7:5 i
[Ch]~ their days k
Isaiah 28:16
e
7:6 l
[h]~ Or, which was not in hands

29
as clay. This mixture of iron and clay also shows that these kingdoms will try to
strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other through intermarriage of
their rulers, (and like happened with king Solomon, who did this) it will not succeed, for
iron and clay do not mix.
“During the reign of those kings, the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom, that will
never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it! It shall shatter all of these kingdoms
into nothingness, but it alone shall stand forever indestructible. That is the meaning of
the rock cut out of the mountain, without human hands; that Rock that crushed to
powder all-of the iron, and brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold.
“This the great God of Heaven has shown what will happen in the future, and this
interpretation of your dream is as sure and certain as my description of it.

[NOTE: if you did not believe in prophecy before reading this book, then consider these
historical facts.
• This prophecy was given in 604 BC, and accurately foretold the history of the
world for the next 2,000 years.
• This prophecy was given in the second year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar
(who reigned from 606 BC until 538 BC.) ~ Gold.
• As predicted a new kingdom would rise up, the Persian Kingdom from 538 BC
until 331 BC. ~ Silver.
• This was followed by the Greek Kingdom from 331 BC until 63 BC. ~ Brass.
• But the next kingdom (The Roman Kingdom) did not rise up until 27 BC and
continued until 473 A.D., when it was divided into two kingdoms. ~ Iron & Clay.
• It was during this time that Jesus Christ was born, ministered, was crucified, and
rose up again, to ascend into Heaven, and establish his Kingdom on this earth, in
the hearts and minds of all His believers. ~ the kingdom which shall never be
destroyed!
• The second part of this kingdom, reigned from 67 A.D. until 1453 A.D. ~ the
divided kingdom.
• Since that time, we have not had any empire that has ruled the whole world, even
though we had had many wars, and attempts by different ideologies to make it
so.
• The book of Revelation confirms what is still to happen in the future, that is still
before us, and therefore, everyone should be aware of what is to happen in our
not-so-distant future.
44. Then the king Nebuchadnezzar afell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and
b
commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
45. The king answered unto Daniel, and said; Of a truth it is, that your cGOD is a GOD
of gods, and a LORD of Kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing that thou could
reveal this secret.
46. Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made
him ruler over the whole dprovince of Babylon, and echief of the governors over all-
of the wisemen of Babylon. [These are the wise men (referred to elsewhere in the
New Testament ~ as the Magi, who brought gifts to the house where baby Jesus
was staying about 18 months after his birth]. They did NOT take the gifts to the
Manger, as depicted incorrectly in many church nativity scenes!
47. Then Daniel requested the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel fsat at the gate of the king.

a
2 Samuel 14:22 c
Deuteronomy 10:17 e
4:9; 5:11
b
Acts 14;13 d
3:1,12,30 f
Esther 2:19

30
After hearing this prophetic interpretation of future events from Daniel, King
Nebuchadnezzar fell to the ground before Daniel and worshipped him, and he
commanded that his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him.
Then the king said before all of the people; “Truly, O Daniel, your God is the God of
gods, the Ruler of Kings, the Revealer of mysteries, because He told you this secret
dream that I had ~ and its interpretation.”
Then the king made Daniel very great: He have him many costly gifts, and appointed
him to be the ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all-of the
wise men in his kingdom.
Then, at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, as
Daniel’s assistants, to be in charge of all-of the affairs of the province of Babylon. Daniel
served as the Chief Magistrate, in the King’s court.

CHAPTER THREE: NEBUCHADNEZZAR MAKES AND IMAGE OF GOLD

1. Nebuchadnezzar made aan image of gold, whose

height was sixty cubits, and the breadth was six
cubits: he set it up in bthe plain of Dura, in the
province of Babylon.
2. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather the
princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges,
the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all
rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of
the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3. Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the
judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs,
and all-of the rulers of the provinces, were gathered
together unto the dedication of the image that
Nebuchadnezzar had set up: and they stood before
the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4. Then a herald cried caloud; To you, dit is commanded,
e
O people, nations, and languages,
5. That at what time you hear the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, fsackbut, psaltery, gdulcimer, and all kinds
of music, you fall down and worship the golden image
of that Nebuchadnezzar has set up.
6. And whosoever falls not down and worshipped, shall
that same hour hbe cast into the midst of a fiery
furnace.

7. Therefore, at that time, when all-of the people heard the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all-of the people, the nations,
and the languages, fell down worshipped the golden image, that Nebuchadnezzar
the king had set up.
King Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue 90 feet high, and 9 feet wide and set it up
in the Plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon; then he sent messengers to all-of the
princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counsellors, sheriffs, and the rulers of
all the provinces of his empire, to come to the dedication of his statue.

a
2:32,38 d
[Ch]~ they command g
[h]~ an early form of guitar
b
Genesis 11:2 e
See verses 7 & 29 h
Revelation 1314-15
c
[Ch]~ with might f
[h]~ an early form of trombone

31
When they had all arrived and were standing before the monument, a herald shouted
out in a very loud voice:
“O people of all nations and languages, this is the king’s command: When the band
starts playing, you are to fall flat on the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s
golden statue: anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a flaming
furnace.”
So, when the band began to play, everyone, whatever his nation, language, or religion,
fell to the ground and worshipped the statue.
20. Wherefore, at that time, certain aChaldeans came near, and baccused the Jews.
8. They spoke and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, O King, live forever.
9. Thou, O king, has made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, Psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall
fall down and worship the golden image.
10.And whosoever falls not down and worships, that he should be cast into the midst
of a burning fiery furnace.
11.There are certain Jews whom cthou have set over the affairs of the province of
Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, dhave not
regarded thee; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou
has set up.
But some jealous officials, looking for any opportunity, to remove the Jews from their
high positions in the empire, went to the king and accused some of the Jews of refusing
to worship the statue.
And they said to the king; “Your majesty, you made a law that everyone must fall down
and worship the golden statue when the band begins to play, and that anyone who
refuses will be thrown into a flaming furnace. But there are some Jews out there ~
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, whom you have put in charge of Babylonian affairs
~ who have defied you, refusing to serve your gods, or to worship the golden statue
that you set up.
[These Chaldeans were so jealous of these Jews, for being appointed to higher positions
in the King’s employment than themselves, that they were continually looking for ways
to rid themselves of these Jews ~ permanently.]
12.Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
13.Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them; Is it etrue, O Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, do not you serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have
set up?
14.Now, if you be ready that at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute,
harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you fall down and
worship the image which I have made; well; but if you worship not, you shall be
cast this same hour into the midst of the fiery furnace; and fwho is that God that
shall deliver you out of my hands?
15.Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king; O
Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
16.If it be so, our GOD whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
17.But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor
worship the golden image, which thou has set up.
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in a violent rage, ordered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to
be brought before him.

a
1:4 d
[Ch]~ have set no regard upon f
Exodus 5:2; 2 Kings 18:35;
b
6:24 thee chapter 6:20
c
2:49 e
Or, of purpose

32
“Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,” he asked, “that you are refusing the
serve my gods, or to worship the golden statue that I have set up? I will give you one
last chance, When the music plays, if you fall down and worship the statue, all will be
well. BUT if you refuse, you will be thrown into a flaming furnace within the hour. And
what god can deliver you out of my hands then?’
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied; “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not worried
about what will happen to us. If we are thrown into the flaming furnace, our God is able
to deliver us: and he will deliver us out of your hand, Your Majesty. But even if He
doesn’t, please understand, sir, that even then, we will never, under any circumstances,
serve your gods, or worship the golden statue you have erected.”
18.Then Nebuchadnezzar afull of fury, and the form of his visage changed against
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Therefore, he spoke, and commanded that
they should heat the furnace bone seven times more than it was wont to be
heated.
19.And he commanded the cmost mighty men, that were in his army, to bind
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery
furnace.
20.Then these men were bound in their dcoats, their hosen, and their hats, and their
other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
21.Therefore, because the king’s ecommandment was urgent, and the furnace
exceedingly hot, the fflame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. [these men were judged by God Almighty immediately
they did this].
22.And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound into
the midst of the fiery furnace.
23.Then Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and rose up gin haste and spoke, and said
unto his hcounsellors; Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?
They answered and said unto the king; True of king.
24.He answered and said; Lo, see four men loose, walking in-the-midst-of the fire,
and ithey have no hurt: and the form of the fourth (person) is like jthe Son of
God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury and his face became dark with anger at
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. [The demon inside of him, physically manifested
itself] He commanded that the furnace be hearted up seven times hotter than usual,
and called for some of the strongest men of his army to bind up Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, and then throw them into the fire.
So, the soldiers bound them tight with strong ropes and threw them into the furnace,
fully clothed. Because the king, in his anger, had commanded that the furnace be heated
up seven time hotter than normal, the flames leaped out when the furnace door was
opened and killed the soldiers, as they threw them in! God judged these soldiers
immediately for their unrighteous actions. So, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell
down bound into the roaring flames.
But suddenly, as he was watching, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement, and
exclaimed to his advisors; “Didn’t we throw three men into the furnace?” And they
replied; “Yes, we did indeed, your majesty.”
“Well look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the
fire, and they aren’t even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like the Son of God!k

a
[Ch]~ filled d
[Ch]~ mantles i
[Ch]~ and there is no hurt in
b
KJV says ONE SEVEN TIMES e
[Ch]~ word them
HOTTER. Whilst other f
[h]~ spark j
Job 1:6
translations say seven times g
2:25 k
Literally: and the fourth look
hotter. h
Or governors like the son of the gods.
c
[Ch]~ Might of strength

33
 25.Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the amouth of the fiery furnace, and spoke,
and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the most-high God,
come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came
forth of the midst of the fire.
26.And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being
gathered together, saw these men upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor
was a hair of their heads singed, neither their coats changed, not the smell of fire
that passed on them.
27.Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said; Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, bwho has sent chis angel and delivered his servants that trusted
in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies that they
might not serve, nor worship any god, except their own God.
28.Therefore, dI make a decree; That every epeople, nation, and language, which
speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
f
shall be gcut in pieces, and their house shall be made a dunghill: because there
is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
29.Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of
Babylon.
Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the open door of the flaming furnace
and yelled out: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most-High God!
Come out! Come out!” So, the three of them stepped out of the fire.
So, all-of the princes, governors, captains of the guard, and the king’s counsellors,
crowded around them, and saw with their own eyes, that the fire had not touched them
~ not even a hair was singed off their heads; their coats were unscorched, and there
was not smoke smell upon them.
The Nebuchadnezzar said; “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
for he sent an angel to deliver his trusting servants, when they defied the king’s
commandment and were willing to die, rather than serve of worship any god except the
Most-High God.
Therefore, I make a decree, that any person, of any nation, language, or religion, who
speaks a word against the Most-High God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall
be torn limb from limb, and his house destroyed into a heap of rubble. For no other God
can do what this one does.”
Then the king gave promotions to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so that they
prospered greatly in the province on Babylon.
Now, let us draw some similarities in today’s society.
In 2019 when the COVID outbreak occurred and mandatory vaccines were introduced,
many people refused to have the vaccines, and as a result suffered dismissal from their
jobs, and were persecuted as being “spreaders of the disease”.
Then various governments passed laws, that large groups of people were forbidden to
assemble, and churches were not permitted to conduct services, or even sing on live
Zoom church sessions.
Pastors who refused to obey were persecuted, and some were even put in prison. I did
not see one Shadrach, Meshach, or Abednego, among the church leaders who were
prepared to put their lives on the line, refusing to comply with an unjust law, and having
enough faith to believe that Jesus would protect them. Maybe they have all “lost
their first love?”

CHAPTER FOUR: NEBUCHADNEZZAR TELLS HIS DREAM TO DANIEL

a
[Ch]~ door d
[Ch]~ A decree is made by me g
[Ch]~ made pieces
b
6:22 e
See verse 4
c
Psalm 34:7 f
2:5

34
 1. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, aunto all nations, peoples, and languages, that dwell
in all-of the earth: bPeace be multiplied unto you.
2. cI thought it good to show the signs and wonders that dthe High God has wrought
towards me.
3. How great are His signs! And how mighty are His wonders! eHis kingdom is an
everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.
This is the proclamation of King Nebuchadnezzar, which he sent to people of all
languages, in every nation of the world: Greetings:
I want you all to know and understand about the strange and wonderful things that the
“Most High God” did to me.
It was incredible ~ a mighty miracle! And now I know for sure, that His kingdom is
everlasting; He reigns forever and ever.
4. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:
5. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and fthe thoughts upon my bed and the
visions of my head troubled me.
6. gTherefore, I made a decree to bring in all-of the wise men of Babylon before me,
that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7. Then came the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers:
And I told the dream before them: but they did not make known unto me the
interpretation thereof.
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in peace and prosperity, when one night I had a dream
that greatly frightened me. I called all-of the wise men of Babylon to tell me the meaning
of the dream, but when they came ~ the magicians, the astrologers, the fortune tellers,
and the wizards, and I told them the dream, none of them could interpret it.
8. But at the last, Daniel came in before me, hwhose name was Belteshazzar,
according to the name of my god, and iin whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and
before him I told the dream, saying:
9. O Belteshazzar, jmaster of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the
holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubles thee, tell me the visions of my dream
that I have seen and the interpretation thereof.
10.Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed: kI saw and behold la tree in-the-
midst-of the earth, and the height was great.
11.The tree grew, and was strong, and the height reached unto heaven, and the
sight thereof to the end of the earth:
12. The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much; and it was meat for all:
m
the beast of the field, had shadow under it, and the fowls of the air dwelt in the
boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13. I saw in the vision of my head on my bed, and, behold na watcher and oa holy
one came down from heaven;
14.He cried paloud, and said; qHew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake
off his leaves, and scatter his fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the
fowls from his branches:
15.Nevertheless, leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron
and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of
heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth;

a
3:4; 6:25 g
3:29 m
Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6
b
1 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:2 h
1:7 n
Psalm 103:20; see verses 17,23
c
[Ch]~ I was seemingly before me i
2:11 o
See verse 23; Deuteronomy
d
3:6 j
2:48 33:2-3
e
2:44 k
[Ch]~ I was seeing p
[Ch]~ with might
f
2:28 l
Ezekiel 31:3; see verses 23-26 q
See verse 23; Matthew 3:10

35
 16.Let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him;
and alet seven times pass over him.
17.This matter is by decree of bthe watchers and the demand by the word of the holy
ones: to the intent that cthe living may know (and understand) dthat the “Most
High” erules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets
over it the basest of men.
18.This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare
the interpretation thereof, fforasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not
able to make known unto me the interpretation, but thou art able; for the spirit
of the holy gods is in thee.
At last, Daniel came in ~ the man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and I told him
the dream. [Notice that Nebuchadnezzar still does not have the revelation, that Daniel
has the Spirit of the ONE TRUE GOD ~ not of gods.]
“O Belteshazzar, master magician,” I said, “I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in
you and no mystery is too great for you to solve. So, please tell what my dream means:
“I saw a very tall tree out in a field, growing higher and higher into the sky, until it could
be seen by everyone in all-of the world. Its leaves were fresh and green, and its branches
were laid down with an abundance of fruit, enough for everyone to eat.
“Wild animals rested beneath its shade and birds sheltered in its branches, and all-of
the world was fed from this tree.
“Then, as I lay there dreaming, I saw one of God’s angels, (that looked like the son of
the gods) coming down from heaven.
“He shouted; ‘Cut down the tree, and scatter its fruit. Get the animals out from under
it, and the birds from its branches ~ but leave its stump and roots in the ground, banded
with a chain of iron and brass, surrounded by the tender grass. Let the dews of heaven
drench him, and let him eat grass with the wild animals.
For seven years, let him have the mind of an animal, instead of the mind of a man. For
this has been decreed by the watchers, demanded by the Holy Ones. The purpose of
this decree is that all-of the world may understand that the “Most High” dominates the
kingdoms of the world, and gives them to anyone he wants to, even the lowliest of
men!”
“O Belteshazzar, that was my dream now tell me what it means. For no-one else can
help me; all-of the wisest men of the kingdom have failed me. But you can tell me; for
the spirit of the holy gods are in you.
19.Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his
thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said; Belteshazzar, let not the dream,
or the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said; My
Lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine
enemies.
20.gThe tree which thou saw which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto
the heaven, and the sight thereof to all-of the earth;
21.Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all;
under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of
the heaven had their habitation;
22.It is you, O King, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown,
and reaches unto heaven, and hthy dominion to the end of the earth.
23.And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven,
and saying; Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump and the roots
thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of

a
See verses 23, 25, 31: 7:25, c
Psalm 9:16 f
2:40
11:13 d
5:21 g
See verses 10-11
b
Verse 13 e
2:21 h
Jeremiah 27:6-8

36
 the field; and let it be wet, with the due of heaven, and let his portion be with the
beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24.THIS IS THE INTERPRETATION; O king, and this is a decree of the MOST-HIGH,
which is come upon my lord, the king:
25.That athey shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling place shall be with the
beasts of the field, and they shall make thee bto eat grass like the oxen, and they
shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, ctill
thou know that the Most-High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to
whomsoever he will.
26.And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom
shall be sure unto thee, after that, you shall have known that the heavens do
rule.
27.Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and break off they sins
by righteousness, and thine iniquities, by showing mercy to the poor, if it may be
d
a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, sat there stunned and silent for about one
hour, aghast at the meaning of the dream. Finally, the king said to him: “Belteshazzar,
don’t be afraid to tell me what it means.”
Daniel replied: “Oh, that the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your
enemies, my lord, and not to you! For the tree that you saw growing so tall, reaching
high into the heavens for all-of the world to see, with its fresh green leaves, loaded with
fruit for all to eat, and wild beasts living in its shade, and with its branches full of birds
~ that tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness
reaches up to heaven, and you rule to the ends of the earth.
Then you saw the watcher, God’s holy angel, coming down from heaven, and saying;
‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump and the roots in the earth,
surrounded by tender grass, banded with a chain of iron and brass. Let him be wet with
the dew of heaven. For seven years let him eat grass with the animals in the field.’
“Your Majesty, the Most-High God has decreed it, therefore, it shall surely happen ~
that your own people will chase you from your palace, and you will live in the fields like
and animal, eating grass like a cow, your back wet with dew from heaven.
For seven years this will be your lifestyle, until you learn (the hard way) that the Most-
High God dominates the kingdoms of men, and gives power to anyone He chooses. But
the stump and the roots were left in the ground! This means that you will get your
kingdom back again, but only after you have learnt that heaven rules over men.
“O King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to me ~ STOP SINNING: and instead, do what you know
in your heart is right; be merciful to the poor. Perhaps even yet, God will spare you.”
28.All-of this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29.At the end of twelve months, he walked ein the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30.fThe king spoke, and said; Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for gthe
house of the kingdom, by the might on my power, and for the honour of my
majesty?
31.While the word is in the king’s mouth there fell a voice from heaven, saying; O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you is spoken, the
kingdom is departed from thee.

32. And hthey shall drive thee from men; and they dwelling shall be among the beasts
of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times (years)
shall pass over thee, until you know that the Most-High rules in the kingdom of
men, and gives it to whomsoever he wills.

a
See verse 32; 5:21 d
[h]~ a healing of thine error g
Amos 7:13
b
Psalm 106:20 e
[h]~ upon h
See verse 25
c
See verse 32; 5:21 f
5:20

37
 33.aThe same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven
from men; and did eat grass as oxen, and bhis body was wet with the dew of
heaven, till his hair were grown like eagle’s feathers, ad his nails like bird’s claws.
34.And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven,
and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most-High, and I
praised and honoured him, that lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting
dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35.And all-of the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He does
according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the
earth: and cnone can stay his hand, dor say unto Him. What doest thou?
36.At the same time, my reason returned unto me; for the glory of my kingdom,
mine honour and my brightness returned unto me: and my counsellors and my
lords sought unto me: and I was established in my kingdom, (once again) and
excellent majesty was added unto me.
37.Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, epraise and extol and honour the King of heaven, fall
whose work are truth, and ghis ways judgement: and those that walks in pride,
he is able to abase.
All of the things that Daniel had prophesied, actually happened to Nebuchadnezzar, just
as the angel had spoken. Twelve months after this dream, he was walking on the roof
of the royal palace in Babylon, and saying: “I, by my own mighty power, have built this
beautiful city as my royal residence, and as the capital of my empire.”
While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven; “O, King
Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you: You are no longer ruler of the kingdom. You
will be forced out of the palace, to live with the animals in the fields, and to eat grass
like the cows, for seven years, until you finally realise that God parcels out the kingdoms
of men, and He gives them to anyone that He chooses.”
That very same hour this prophecy was fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar was chased from
his palace and ate grass like the cows, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven:
his hair grew as long as eagle feathers, and his nails became like bird’s claws.
At the end of seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity
returned, and I praised and worshipped the Most-High God, and honoured him who lives
forever, whose rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is forevermore.
All-of the people of the earth are nothing when compared to him; He does whatever He
thinks best, among the hosts of heaven, as well as here among the inhabitants of the
earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying; “What do you means by doing
these things?”
When my mind returned to me, so did my honour, and my glory, and my kingdom. My
counsellors and officers came back to me, and I was re-established as the head of my
kingdom, with even greater honour than before.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honour the King of Heaven, the Judge of
all, whose every act is right and good: for he is able to take those who walk proudly and
push them into the dust!”
Question: Who looked after the kingdom for seven years while he was absent in the
fields?
Question: After this revelation about the Most-High God, did he take action to remove
all-of the idols from his kingdom?

CHAPTER FIVE: THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL FOR BELSHAZZAR

a
See verse 19 d
Job 9:12; Romans 9:20 f
Psalm 33:4
b
5:21 g
Deuteronomy 32:4
c
Isaiah 14:27 e
See verse 34; 5:4;

38
According to history, we are now at 638 BC, the beginning of the 69th year that the Jews
have been in captivity.
1. aBelshazzar, the King’s regent, (as Nabonidus was the last king of the Neo-
Babylonian empire ruling from 556 BC until 539 BC), he made a great feast to a
thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2. Belshazzar, whilst he tased the wine commanded to bring bthe golden and silver
vessels his cfather (actually grandfather) Nebuchadnezzar had dtaken out of the
Temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his
concubines, might drink therein. [BIG MISTAKE!]
3. Then they brought forth the golden vessels that were taken out of the Temple of
the House of God, which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and the princes, his
wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4. They drank wine, and epraised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of
wood and of stone.
Belshazzar, the king’s regent, invited one thousand of his officers, to a great feast, where
the wine flowed freely. While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he was reminded of the
gold and silver cups taken from the Temple in Jerusalem, during the reign of
Nebuchadnezzar, and brought to Babylon. Belshazzar ordered that these sacred cups be
brought in to the feast, and when they arrived, he and his princes, his wives, and his
concubines, drank toasts from them to their idols, made of gold and silver, brass and
iron, wood, and stone. [THEY WERE PRAISING “CREATION” ~ NOT “THE CREATOR~”]
5. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against
candlestick, upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw
the part of the hand that wrote.
6. Then the king’s fcountenance gwas changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so
that hthe ijoints of jhis loins were loosed, and his knees smote one another.
7. kThe king cried laloud to bring the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the
soothsayers. And the king spoke and said to the mwisemen of Babylon saying:
n
Whosoever shall read this writing, and then show me the interpretation thereof
shall be clothed with oscarlet, and have a gold chain about his neck, and pshall be
the third ruler in the kingdom.
8. Then came in all-of the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor
make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his qcountenance changed in him,
and his lords were astonied.
Suddenly, (without any warning), as they were drinking out of the “sacred vessels”,
they saw the fingers of a man’s hand, writing on the plaster of the wall opposite the
lampstand. The king himself saw the fingers, (not connected to any arm) as they wrote.
His face blanched white with fear, and such a terror gripped him that his knees were
knocking together, and his legs gave way beneath him. [In today’s language ~ he was
freaking out!]
“Bring the magicians and the astrologers!” he screamed. “Bring the Chaldeans! Whoever
reads that writing on the wall, and tells me what it means, will be dressed in purple
robes, and with a gold chain around his neck, and he will become the third rulerr in the

a
7:1; 8:1 g
[Ch]~ changed it o
[Ch]~ purple
b
Ezra 5:14-15; chapters 6:5; h
Isaiah 5:27 p
Compare with 6:2
7:19 i
[h]~ Girdles q
[Ch]~ brightness
c
[Ch]~ Or grandfather, as per j
2:25 r
Belshazzar, was the 2nd ruler
Jeremiah 27:7 k
2:2; 4:6 under Nabonidus, his father,
d
[Ch]~ brought forth l
[Ch]~ with might who was out of town with his
e
4:34,37; see verse 23 m
2:12 army.
f
[Ch]~ brightness n
2:6

39
kingdom!” But when they came, none of them could understanda the writing, or tell the
king what it meant. The king grew more and more hysterical; his face reflected the
terror he felt, and his officers too were shaken.
10.Now the queen (queen mother), by reason of the words of the king and his lords,
came into the banquet house; and the queen spoke and said; O King, live forever:
let not thy thoughts trouble thee; nor let the countenance be changed:
11.There is a man in thy kingdom, bin whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the
days of thy cfather (grandfather) light and understanding and wisdom, like the
wisdom of the gods, was found in him: whom king Nebuchadnezzar, thy
grandfather, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and
soothsayers;
12.Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting
of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found
in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called,
and he will shew the interpretation.
13.Then dDaniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto
Daniel. Are you that Daniel, which are eof the children of the captivity of Judah,
whom the king, my father (my grandfather) brought out of the Jewry?
14.I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and
understanding, and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15.And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that
they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation
thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing;
16.And I have heard of thee, that you can fmake interpretations, and dissolve doubts:
now gif you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation
thereof, you shall be clothed in scarlet, and have a golden chain about thy neck,
and you shall the third ruler in the kingdom.
But when the queen-mother heard what was happening, she rushed to the banquet hall
and said to Belshazzar; “Calm yourself, Your Majesty, don’t be so pale and frightened
over this. For there is a man in your kingdom, who has within the spirit of the holy gods.
In the day of your grandfather, this man was found to be as full of wisdom and
understanding, as though he himself was a god.
And in the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, (your father ~ but in Chaldean it means
forefathers, & in this specific case 5 generations), he was made chief of all the magicians,
astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers of Babylon. Call this man, Daniel, or
Belteshazzar, as the king called him, for his mind is filled with divine knowledge and
understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve knotty problems. Will
tell you what the dream means.
So, Daniel was rushed in to see the king. The king asked him; “Are you the Daniel that
King Nebuchadnezzar brought from Israel as a Jewish captive? I have heard that you
have the spirit of the gods within you, and that you are filled with enlightenment and
wisdom. My wisemen and astrologers have tried to read the writing on the wall, and tell
me the interpretation, but they can’t. I am told that you can solve all types of mysteries.
If you can tell me the meaning of these words, I will clothe you in purple robes, with a
golden chain around your neck, and make you the third ruler in the kingdom.”
17.Then Daniel answered and said before the king; hLet thy gifts be to thyself; and
give thy irewards to another. Yet will I read the writing unto the king, and make
known unto him the interpretation.
a
As the writing was in the b
4:8 f
[Ch]~ interpret
familiar Aramaic language, they c
[Ch]~ Grandfather g
2:26
could read the words, but they d
At this stage Daniel is h
2 Kings 5:16; Acts 8:20
were unable to give a prophetic approximately 82 years old i
[Ch]~ Or, fee
interpretation. e
2:25

40
 18.O thou king, the most-high God agave Nebuchadnezzar, thy grandfather, a
kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
19.And for the majesty that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages,
b
trembled and feared before him: whom he would slew, he slewed; and whom he
would, he kept alive; and whom he would, he set up; and whom he would, he put
down.
20. But cwhen his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened din pride, he was
deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him;
21.And he was edriven from the sons of men; and fhis heart was made like the beasts,
and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and
g
his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most-High God,
ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointed over it whomsoever he will.
22.And you, his great grandson, O Belshazzar, has not humbled thine heart, even
though you knew all-of this.
23.But has lifted up thyself against hthe Lord of Heaven; and ithey have brought the
vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy
concubines, have drunk wine in them: and jthou have praised the gods of silver,
and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know:
and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, have you
NOT glorified:
24.Then was kthe part of the hand sent from Him: and this writing was written:
Daniel answered: “You can keep your gifts, or give them to someone else, but even so,
I will tell you the dream and what it means!
Your Majesty, the Most-High God gave Nebuchadnezzar, who long ago proceeded you,
(5 generations before you.) a kingdom of majesty and glory and honour. He gave him
such majesty that all-of the nations of the earth trembled in fear before him. He killed
any who offended him, and spared the life of any that he liked. At his whim, they rose
or they fell. BUT, when his heart became hardened with pride, God Almighty removed
him from his throne, and took away his glory, and he was chased out of his palace into
the fields. His thoughts and his feelings became those of an animal, and he lived among
the wild donkeys; he ate grass like the cows and his body was wet with the due of
heaven; This was until AT LAST, he had the revelation (he knew) that the Most-High
God overrules the kingdoms of men, and that He can appoint anyone He chooses, to
reign over them.
And you, his successor, O Belshazzar ~ You knew all of this history, but yet you have
not been humble. For you have defied the Lord of Heaven, and brought here these
sacred cups from his Temple; and you have defiled them, because you allowed yourself,
your officers and your wives and concubines, to be drinking wine from them, whilst you
were praising creation, by worshipping gods of silver, gold, brass, iron, wood, and stone,
who are gods that neither see, nor hear, nor know anything at all.
But you have not praised the God Almighty, who gives you the breath of life, and who
controls your destiny! And so, God Almighty sent those fingers to write this message.
25.And this is the writing that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, lUPHARSIN
26.This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE: God has numbered thy kingdom,
and finished it!
27.TEKEL; mYou are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting!
28.PERES: Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the nMedes and the oPersians.

a
2:37; 4:17,22 g
4:33 l
IN some translations the word
b
6:26 h
4:37 here is PERES (or Parsin)
c
4:30 i
See verse 3 m
Psalm 62:9
d
[Ch]~ to deal proudly j
See verse 4 n
2 Kings 17:6
e
4:25 k
See verse 5 o
6:28
f
[Ch]~ he made his heart equal

41
 29.Then commanded Belshazzar, and athey clothed Daniel in scarlet (purple) robes,
and put a gold chain around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him,
that he should be the third ruler of the whole kingdom.
This is what the writing on the wall means:
MENE means: “numbered” ~ God Almighty has numbered the days of your reign, and
they have ended!
TEKEL means: ‘weighed’” ~ you have been weighed in God’s balance and you have
failed the test!
PARSIN ~ [PERES] means: ‘Divided’; ~ your kingdom will be divided and given to the
Medes and the Persians.
Then, at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was robed in purple, and a gold chain was hung
around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third ruler in the kingdom.
30.bIn that (same) night was Belshazzar, the king (Regent) of the Chaldeans slain.
31.And cDarius the Median took the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
That very night, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king (Regent), was killed, and Darius, the
d
Mede, entered the city, and began reigning at sixty-two years of age.
[NOTE; THIS IS NOT King Darius, the Persian who reigned from 522 BC to 486 BC.],
mentioned in Ezra, Haggai, and Zechariah, nor with the one mentioned in Nehemiah
12:22]. Please refer to the Appendix, to see that “historically”, a King Darius never
captured Babylon, but at this date King Cyrus actually did.

CHAPTER SIX: DANIEL IS THROWN INTO THE LIONS DEN

[This chapter of Daniel is a veiled picture of what happens to Jesus; He commits no sin,
is sentenced to death; His God protects Him, and he is resurrected.]

1. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom eone hundred and twenty princes,
which should be over the whole kingdom;
2. And over these fthree presidents; of whom Daniel was first, that the princes may
give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3. Then this Daniel was preferred above the (other two) presidents, and princes,
g
because of an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over
the whole realm.
At this time in his life, Daniel has already served 5 kings, and was now 85 years old
when his was appointed third ruler over the whole kingdom.
When Darius took Babylon, one of the first things he did was to kill three thousand
political prisoners, including many Babylonian princes and governors. Previously,
Belteshazzar had appointed Daniel to be the 3rd ruler in Babylon. Belteshazzar gets
murdered during the battle and Darius becomes the next king, who appointed 120
princes to be over the 120 provinces of the Babylonian kingdom, and then 3 presidents
to deal with the daily problems of the kingdom, so that the king does not have to worry
about trivial matters.
Daniel was promoted to be the #1 President over the whole kingdom. This means that
he was still the 3rd ruler of the kingdom.
Needless to say, the 120 princes and the other 2 presidents were not amused that they
were subordinate to a Jewish prisoner of war, and they sought all manner of ways to
disgrace him with the king.

a
See verse 7 Persian, mentioned in Ezra, f
Compare chapter 5:7
b
Jeremiah 51:31,39,57 Haggai, and Zechariah, nor with g
5:12
c
9:1; 11:1 the one mentioned in Nehemiah
d
This Darius, the Mede, is not to 12:22.
be confused with Darius, the e
Esther 1:1

42
 4. Then the (two) presidents and the (120) princes sought to find occasions against
Daniel concerning the kingdom: but they could not find none occasion, nor fault:
forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
5. Then said these men; We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, EXCEPT
we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
6. Then these (two) presidents and (120) princes aassembled together to the king,
and said unto him; King Darius, live forever.
7. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors,
and the captains, have consulted together, to establish a royal statute, and to
make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God, or man, for
thirty days, save to thee, O King, he shall cast into the den of lions.
NOW THIS STATEMENT WAS NOT TRUE, BECAUSE NOT ALL 3 PRESIDENTS AGREED ~
IN FACT, DANIEL HAD NOT EVEN BEEN CONSULTED ABOUT THIS PROCLAMATION. SEE
HOW Satan WORKS? WHAT THEY SAID SEEMED OK, BUT IT WAS A LIE!!
8. Now O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed,
according to bthe Law of the Medes and the Persians, which alters not.
Here is another clue that the Darius (the Mede) reigning at this time is not the Median
King referred to in History from 522 BC, until 486 BC. Because if that was the case, they
would not have referred to “the Law of the Medes and the Persians”, they would have
only been referring to the Law of the Medes.
9. cWherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
This made the other Presidents and governors very jealous, and they began searching
for some fault in the way that Daniel was handling his affairs, so that they could complain
to the king about him. But when they examined his records, they could not find any fault
against him, that they could use to criticize him. He was faithful and honest, and he
made no mistakes. So, they concluded that there only chance ~ “was to trip him up with
his religion and his God.”
They decided to go to the king and say; “King Darius, live forever! We presidents,
governors, counsellors, and deputies have unanimously decided that you should make
a law, irrevocable under any circumstances, for the next thirty days, that anyone who
asks a favour of God or man ~ except from you, Your Majesty, shall be thrown to the
lions.
Your Majesty, we request your signature on this law: sign it so that it cannot be cancelled
or changed: it will a ‘law of the Medes and the Persians’: that cannot be revoked.” So,
King Darius signed the law; which was to be a trap for Daniel.
10.Now, when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and
his windows being opened in the chamber (facing) toward Jerusalem, he kneeled
upon his knees, three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God,
as he did afore time.
[Notice that even though Daniel knew this law had been signed, He did not change his
allegiance to his God. He still continued to pray 3 times to God, the same as before the
law came into being ~ even knowing it could be his death.
Sadly Christians, did not do the same, when COVID came and mandatory laws required
the churches stop worshipping, and singing praise & worship to their Almighty God].
11.Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication
before His God.
12.Then they came near, and spoke before the king, concerning the King’s decree:
Have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God
or man within thirty days, save of thee, O King, shall be cast into the den of lions?

a
[Ch]~ came tumultuously b
Esther 1:19; 8:8 c
2:12

43
 The king answered and said; This is true, aaccording to the laws of the Medes and
the Persians, which alters not.
13.Then answered they and said before the king; That Daniel, which is of the children
of the captivity of Judah, regards not thee, O King, nor the decree that you have
signed, but makes his petitions, but makes his petitions three times a day.
14.Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and
set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the
sun to deliver him. [He has realised the he has been tricked into signing this
decree, so that they can get rid of Daniel].
15.Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king; Know O king,
that the law of the Medes and the Persians is: That no decree or statute which
the king establishes may be changed. [These leaders are now threatening the
king; if you don’t follow your own law, YOU will be thrown into the den of lions].
16.Then the king commanded and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of
lions Now the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Thy God, whom you serve
continually, He will deliver thee!
17.And ba stone was brought and laid upon the mouth of the den: and cthe king
sealed it with his own signet ring, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose
might not be changed concerning Daniel.
In the document “Final Mysteries Unsealed” by Jack Van Impe, he makes the following
statement about this section of scripture:
These verses are a mini-treatise of what true friendship is all about, even though it
might be expressed in a context we might not expect. Here is a powerful king, who has
signed a decree under considerable duress, now only to be made aware that his friend,
counsellor, and confidante, Daniel, has been “caught in the act” of praying to the God
of the Hebrews. I have seen Christians, “scratch their eyebrows” as they bowed their
heads and intoned a quick prayer in a restaurant, hoping that no one would see them
praying before eating their food. BUT NOT DANIEL! No secretive scratching of Jewish
eyebrows for this saint of God.
Daniel knew the decree had been signed, and that his life was on the line. Yet he
continued to pray three times as day, as was the Jewish custom, and not just pray, but
pray before an open window! He wanted everyone to know what he was doing, and to
whom he gave his allegiance, as he bowed his head humbly towards Jerusalem, not
towards the headquarters of the Medes and the Persians. [In the Old Testament, the
Jews were commanded to go up to Jerusalem to pray, but if they could not do this
because of distance, they were to turn and face Jerusalem when they prayed, and God
would see them and answer their prayers, as if they were in Jerusalem.]
Matthew 10:32-33 reminds us that; “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men,
him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny
me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
It was true in Daniel’s day, and it is true in ours (today). God does not put much stock
in “would-be” believers, who quietly “scratch their eyebrows”, for fear of “being caught
in the act of praying.”
Later, Jesus said: “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words, in
this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed,
when He comes in the glory of the Father with His holy angels”. (Mark 8:38)
While the first six chapters of Daniel are more historical and devotional, do not forget
that the essential content of Daniel ~ seen more graphically in the last six chapters, ~
is about the return of the Messiah, the coming again of Christ, a moment in time when

a
See verse 8 b
Lamentations 3:53 c
Matthew 27:66

44
Jesus will remind us that if we have been ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of us. It
cuts both ways.
Then crown hangs heavy on the head of any ruler, and this night the head of Darius was
heavy indeed. He realized he’d been tricked by his own staff, just so that could get their
man (their enemy). The problem was that “their mans” was also “Darius’ man”, but for
completely different reasons. Darius loved Daniel, It, didn’t matter that Daniel was a
Jew in exile, that he was well up in years, or that he had continued to worship the God
of Father Abraham. Daniel was his friend, and Darius loved him. But now, his friend was
about to be thrown into a den of lions ~ and it was all his fault. Love, real love, seeks
to overrule even the strictest, most binding decree, BUT, in this case, not even Darius’s
friendship with Daniel would be enough to save the day, or the man. He has signed the
proclamation. He had bowed to the pressure of putting himself in a position to be
worshipped. Now, he would pay the consequences by losing his dear friend.
That evening, the kingly head tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Darius wished he
could undo his terrible decree, but it was a law that could not be altered. An eighty-
fiver-year-old-saint and friend was about by to be killed by hungry lions, and that’s all
Darius could think about throughout the long, painful night.
Daniel found himself between a rock and a hard place. He had to do the deed, and Daniel
was brought to what all assumed would be his ultimate death. BUT note what the king
says in verse 16; “Thy God whom thou serve continually, He will deliver thee”. What a
vote of confidence for Daniel. Darius was rooting for his friend, and praying that His God
would see him through this disastrous ordeal. But would it be enough to spare Daniel
the pain and physical destruction to his body?
Many people have questioned “Why did Darius use a lion’s den when the fiery furnace
was still in existence?” This is because the Babylonians ~ the former rulers, made it
their practice to use a furnace of fire, as the primary vehicle to execute dissidents and
enemies, as they’d attempted to do with the three Hebrew children. But now, under the
new administration ~ of the Medes and the Persians, this was not the appropriate means
of execution. Here’s the reason; The Medes and the Persians gave their allegiance to a
religion called Zoroastrianism, and they worshipped the fire god. For them to us fire to
execute their enemies, would be to desecrate their teachings, putting them on the verge
of religious sacrilege. Their alternative was a den of hungry lions. …
Daniel was lowered into the lions’ den. With the stone now firmly in place, sealed by the
king and then again by his officials, the drama was ready to unfold. Apparently, Darius
did not choose to see what he feared would be the inevitable. Instead, he returned to
his palace, to spend yet another sleepless night. Darius fasted ~ praying, in his own
way, for the God of the Hebrews to put his cloak of protection around his friend.
18.Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting, neither were there
any ainstruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19.Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of
lions.
20.And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and
the king spoke and said to Daniel; “O Daniel, servant of bthe Living God, cis thy
God, whom thou serve continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”
21.The Daniel said unto the king; dO king live forever!
22.eMy God has sent his angels and fhas shut the lion’s mouths, that they have not
hurt me, forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also, before
thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

a
[Ch]~ Table c
3:15 e
3:28
b
See verse 26 d
See verse 6 f
Hebrews 11:33

45
 23.Then was the king exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should
take Daniel up out of the Lon’s den. So, Daniel was taken up out of the den, and
no manner of hurt was found upon him, because He believed in his God.
[Whichever way you look at the miracle, it cannot be denied. When you put your
“complete trust in God”; He will protect you!]
Then the king went back to his palace and went to bed without his dinner. He refused
his usual entertainment, and did not sleep all night, because he was fasting and praying
that the God of the Hebrews would protect Daniel from the lions.
Very early next morning, he hurried out to the lion’s den, and called out in anguish; “O
Daniel, servant of the Living God, was your God, whom you worship continually, able to
deliver you from the lions?”
Then he heard a voice! “Your Majesty, live forever!” It was Daniel! “My God has sent
his angel,” he said, “to shut the lion’s mouths, so that they can’t tough me; for I am
innocent before God; nor sire, have I wronged you.”
Then the king was beside himself with joy, and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the
den. And not a scratch was found on him, because he believed in his God. Can you
imagine what was going through the minds of the people who developed this conspiracy
to get rid of Daniel, when they heard that he was alive and not a scratch was found upon
him, and the king had ordered his release from the lion’s den? It was not going to be
good news week for them!
24.And the king commanded that they brought those men which had accused Daniel,
and they cast them into the den of lions, them, atheir children and their wives:
and the lions had the mastery of them, and break all their bones in pieces, or
even they came at the bottom of the den.
Then the king issued a command to bring the men who had accused Daniel, and throw
them into the den, along with their children and their wives (so that their inheritance
line was completely removed from the records) and the lions leaped upon them and tore
them apart, even before their bodies even hit the floor of the den.
25.Then king Darius wrote bunto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all-
of the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
26.I make a decree; That in every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear
before the God of Daniel: for che is dthe Living God, and steadfast forever, and
his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even
unto the end.
27.He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth,
who has delivered Daniel from the epower of the lions.
28.So, this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of fCyrus the
Persian.
After this miracle, King Darius writes this message, addressed to everyone in his empire.
“Greetings! I decree that everyone shall tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, in
every part of my kingdom. For his God is the living, unchanging God, whose kingdom
shall never be destroyed, and whose power shall never end. He delivers his people,
preserving them from harm; he does great miracles in heaven and earth: it is he who
delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
So, Daniel prospered, in the reign of Darius, (he is now elevated to 2nd in command of
the whole kingdom), under Darius, and later in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

a
Esther 9:10 c
Ruth 1:16; Ezra 1:3; see 4:34 e
[Ch]~ hand
b
4:1 d
Psalm 42:2; see verse 20 f
Ezra 1:1-2; 4:5; 6:14; see 10;1

46
CHAPTER SEVEN: HIS VISION OF THE 4 BEASTS & GOD’S KINGDOM

[Note: In the logic of things, one would think that this chapter should be before chapter
6, because “historically” it happened before chapter 6, but this whole chapter is
prophetic. Verses 1-12 relate to the Last Days [LD], verses 13-22 relate to the
Millennium reign [M], and verses 23-25 relate to the Tribulation period [T] & verses 26-
27 relate to the Millennium reign [M].
1. [LD] In the first year of aBelshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel bhad a dream and
visions of his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of
the cmatter;
2. Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, dthe four winds
of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
3. And four great beasts ecame up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4. The first was like a lion, and had feagles wings, I beheld till the wings thereof were
plucked, gand it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet like
a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
5. And behold hanother beast, a second ilike to a bear, and jit raised up itself on one
side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it, between the teeth of it: and they
said thus unto it; Arise, devour much flesh.
6. After this, I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it
four wings of a fowl; the beast also kfour heads; and dominion was given to it.
7. After this, in the night visions, and behold la fourth beast, dreadful and terrible,
and strong exceedingly: and it had great miron teeth: It devoured and brake in
pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse from all
the beasts that were before it: and nit had ten horns.
8. I considered the horns, and behold, othere came up among them, another little
horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots:
and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes pof man, and qa mouth speaking
great things.

INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 7
We are now going to move away the “historical” material in chapters one through six,
and start looking at the “Prophetic material”, which starts in chapter 7. Daniel’s end-
time dreams, describe real-time events, which are to come. Now 2,500 years later, we
can start to see these events unravel, right before our very eyes.
Chapter 2, described Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the giant statue, with the head of gold,
right down to the feet and toes of iron mixed with clay. This was a clear prophetic dream
of how the Babylonian empire would be destroyed by the Medo-Persian forces, and this
is accurately predicted, that they would be supplanted by the conquering empires of
Greece, and then Rome.
Chapter 7 refers to these same identical empires, but in the form of “beasts”,
indicating that in the “final revived Roman Empire”, there will be many problems as it is
being restored. We can see some of these in the framework of the European Union,
which has now taken shape. In chapter 2 there is “unity”, but in chapter 7, there is
“diversity”, and this all goes to prove the fulfilment of Daniel 12:4, which says: “but

a
5:1 g
[h]~ wherewith n
Revelation 13:1; 17:2
b
[Ch]~ saw h
2:39 o
See verse 20, 21, 24; 8:9
c
[h]~ words i
Revelation 13:2 p
Revelation 9:7
d
37:9 j
[h]~ it raised up one dominion q
Revelation 13:5-6
e
Revelation 13:1 k
8:8,22: 11:3-4
f
Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah l
2:40
4:13 m
2:41

47
thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to “the time of the end”:
many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”
The Book of Daniel is deliberately designed by God to be a mysterious, closed, sealed
book, until the time of the end, BUT at the time of the end, the Holy Spirit will enlighten
people to expound this great portion of God’s word. This is now the assignment of the
Church in these last days, and you are going to be part of this process as we go together
to unravel these mysteries together.
THE TIME OF THE GENTILES
The Jewish people, controlled Jerusalem until 586 BC, and then according to Daniel 1:1
Nebuchadnezzar and his troops marched into the Holy City and took many of its
inhabitants back to Babylon as captives.
It is important to remember this single historical event marks “The beginning of the
Age of the Gentiles”. This is confirmed by Jesus in Luke 21:24 when He said:” And
they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations:
and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles by
fulfilled.” Jesus was clearly saying that Jerusalem would remain under Gentile control,
until the time of the end.
[Note: Isn’t it fascinating that as a result of the Six-Day War from 5th-10th June, the
Jews took back their Holy City of Jerusalem, and have been in control of the Holy City
ever since.]
Even though we are still in the era of “the times of the Gentiles”, this remarkable
historical event reminds us how close we are to the time of the end. Why do I say this?
In Zechariah 14:2-4, God Almighty states the following:
“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and
the houses rifled, and the women ravished: and half of the city shall go forth into
captivity, and the remainder of the people shall not be cut off from the city. THEN shall
the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, and when he fought in the day of
battle. And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before
Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives, shall cleave in the midst thereof,
towards the east and towards the west. And there shall be a very great valley; and half
of the mountain shall remove to the North, and half of it toward the south.
This entire scenario began in 586 BC with Nebuchadnezzar ~ and it ends when Jesus
Christ returns to take Jerusalem back from the Gentiles.
We are extremely close to that time right now and here is the reason why. The Gentiles
could not take the City of Jerusalem from the Jews, until the Jews re-took the city and
controlled it ~ which took place in June 1967 after the six-day war. They had re-taken
the city after 2,553 years of Gentile dominion. According to Jesus, (the one who knows
the end from the beginning) the generation who lived to see this event will be alive for
the battle to recapture Jerusalem, by the Gentiles, and see Christ’s return to this existing
earth.
So now we have heard this exciting news, let us examine the four Beasts.
THE FOUR BEASTS
The Dream of Daniel about the four winds and the four beasts, represents the SAME
FOUR POWERS, we read about in in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2. These are:
Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome, along with the 10 toes mixed with iron and
clay; a description of the “revived Roman Empire” ~ a re-grouping of nations, like the
European Union. The 4th beast has 10 horns, (similar to the 10 toes on Nebuchadnezzar’s
image: again, it is symbolic of the restored Roman Empire.
The 4 winds blowing upon the sea denotes trouble, and all-of the nations near the Sea
of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea have all experienced troublesome
times during their history. But it is only when the European Union produces the
Antichrist, will the whole realise what “real trouble” really is.

48
Isaiah 57:20 states: “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest,
whose waters cast up mire and dirt.”
Beast #1:
A Lion with the wings of eagles ~ is the power that Nebuchadnezzar saw as “the head
of gold” ~ the Babylonian Empire. The wings of the eagle denotes a swift beast, who is
able to swiftly conquer nations with its armies. But its wings are plucked, showing that
the empire begins to deteriorate. The first beast is given a man’s heart. Nebuchadnezzar
spent 7 years living like a beast, eating grass, until his conversion, becoming a king who
was FINALLY compassionate to his subjects.
Beast #2:
This is a bear that raises itself up on one side, holding 3 ribs, in its teeth ~ representing
Lydia, Babylon and Egypt. This is a hungry beast, and capable of gorging itself. This
beast is a symbol of the Medes and the Persians. History shows that the Persians, had
their superior military might; and as a result, the Bear “lifted up one side”, taking control
of the whole empire, under King Cyrus. This is all borne out by historical facts.
Beast #3:
This is Greece, a leopard with 4 wings and 4 heads. This represents Alexander the Great,
with his speedy armies. Alexander conquered 1.5 million square miles of the globe. This
empire stretched from Greece to India.
Beast # 4:
This final beast is ROME! A terrible beast who has great power to maim, kill and destroy.
This power is so horrible that no animal on earth can represent it! Its image of 10 teeth,
is similar to the 10 toes of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Its 10 horns is a
graphic description of the Revived Roman Empire. This was fulfilled when Greece became
the 10th nation to join the European Union.
People want confirmation of this interpretation of the dream. All-of the nations are
mentioned by name in Daniel 1:1, 8:20-21, and Romans 1:7. These empires, cover a
historical period of 676 years.
9. [LD] I beheld until athe thrones were cast down, and b“the Ancient of Days” did
sit, cwhose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure
wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and dhis wheels as burning fire.
10.A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him; a ethousand-thousands
(106), ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand (108) stood
before him: fthe judgement was set and the books were opened.
11.I beheld them, because of voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld
even guntil the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning
flame.
12.As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet
h
their lives were prolonged for a season and time.
13. [M] I saw in the night visions and, behold, one like ithe Son of Man came with
the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him
near before him.
14.And jthere was given him dominion and glory, and a kingdom, that all people,
nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting
dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom, that which shall not be
destroyed.

a
Revelations 4:2 f
Revelation 11:18 j
Psalm 2:6,8; 8:6; 110:1-2;
b
Psalm 90:2; see verses 13 & 22 g
Revelation 19:20; 20:20 Matthew 28:18
c
Revelation 1:14 h
[Ch]~ a prolonging in life was
d
Ezekiel 1:15-16 given them
e
Revelation 5:11 i
John 5:25-27; Revelation 1:13

49
THE HOLY SPIRIT BEGINS TO REVEAL THE END-TIME EVENTS
It is only in this last century that the Holy Spirit has started to unseal and reveal of this
book and of Daniel’s dream. The historical significance of these first three beasts is easy
to establish, and interpret, the “ten toes” (Daniel 2:41-42,44) and the ten horns
described in (Daniel 7:7,20,24) and confirmed in (Revelation 12:3, 13:1, 17:3,7,12.16)
have to be examined in great detail, to fully understand its timely, and spiritual
significance.
In 1947, Benelux came to power and Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg ~ the
first three horns of the fourth beast emerged of what now is the European Union.
Then, just to put in its time place, the prophecy was fulfilled, and Israel was “born in a
day” on 14th May 1948. [Remember, we have to have a nation of Israel for all-of this to
take place].
In 1957, just 10 years after the first three horns appeared, France, Italy, and Germany,
joined the confederation, now making it 6 horns, with the Treaty of Rome.
In 1973, Britain, Ireland, and Denmark, joined to make the total now 9 horns. Then on
the 1st January 1981, Greece joined the group, to make it 10 horns.
At this point, many evangelists were excited that the 10 horns were now in place, for
God to move. [But the scholar knew there was more yet to come].
In Daniel 7:8, 20, 24, we read that the confederation will grow to 13 horns. This has
already taken place with Spain and Portugal joining the EU in 1986 (horns #11 & 12).
Then 10 years later, Austria joined the EU to make it thirteen horns.
But this is not the end, because this terrible fourth Beast, becomes the NEW WORLD
ORDER!
Daniel 7:23 states that He will engulf the whole world! Revelation 13:7 confirms this:
“Power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.”
No longer is this the fulfilment of prophecy in the Book of Daniel and confirmed in the
Book of Revelation, but it is now appearing in our newspapers and TV news broadcasts;
These prophecies are being fulfilled each day, before our eyes, if we have spiritual eyes
to see, and to hear.
THE LITTLE HORN
The Little Horn is referred to in Daniel 7:8. Who is it, and what is its influence? Martin
Luther said that the little horn is the Antichrist of the future, clearly referred to in the
New Testament. It appears for then end-time period referred to in Daniel 12:4. The
Antichrist arises at the last day out of this group of 10 nations, as the European Union
is now in place.
THE BEAST SPEAKS
In Daniel 7:11, the “little horn” The Beast speaks, and his words are great. This event
takes place during the Tribulation Hour. This is when the little horn, The Beast, the
Antichrist, comes to power. This is confirmed in Revelation 13;5-6, “And there was given
unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemies; and power was given unto
him to continue for 42 months. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to
blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.”
The antichrist blasphemes God, and proclaims himself God, BUT Jesus destroys him with
the brightness of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8). More devastation occurs when the
Beast and the false prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire, burning with fire &
brimstone. (Revelation 19:20). At this time, Satan is locked up for 1,000 years, while
Jesus (and His bride) rule over the existing earth (the Kingdom of this world). Then
Satan is cast into hell, where after 1,000 years the beast and the false prophet are
waiting for him, proving that Hell, does not destroy you ~ it is eternal punishment!
What about the other beasts in Daniel’s dream?
Their dominions were taken away as follows.

50
 •
The Medes & the Persians destroyed Babylon;
•
The Greeks destroyed the Medes and the Persians;
•
And the Romans destroyed Greece.
•
Their kingdoms were taken away but they still remain, because their cultures and
customs were passed on to the conquering nations.
Remember the Old Persian Empire, is today’s Iran and Iraq. Do you not agree that these
two nations still exist, and are still causing havoc in this area and all around the world
today with their international terrorist attacks.

THE SON OF MAN & THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

In Daniel 7:13, Daniel in his dream sees one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds
of heaven. This person is definitely the Messiah, referred to in several placed, even by
Jesus Himself.
In Matthew 8:20; “And Jesus said unto him; the foxes have holes, and the birds of the
air have nests; but the Son of Man has not where to lay his head.” Matthew 24:30 says;
“And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven; and then shall all-of the
tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of
heaven, with power and great glory.”
Now the “Ancient of Days” ~ Yahweh, presents the kingdom to His Son, Jesus Christ.
This shows that the Father is still in charge, and has given the kingdom to His Son. [The
scripture in Matthew chapter 28, indicated that the Authority given to Him is “delegated
Authority”.]
The moment when the Ancient of Days takes this action is where we see “the Stone cut
without hands” smashes the feet of the 10 toes of the image in Daniel 2:45. This also
announces the return of Jesus Christ, (He IS the Rock ~ 1 Corinthians 10:4) to do battle
for His kingdom, as recorded in Revelation 19:11 where Jesus returns on a white horse,
with the heavenly armies following him, and the Battle of Armageddon takes place, and
Jesus comes to set up his Kingdom that shall have no end. (Revelation 19:19-21). David
saw this and it is described in Psalm 2:1-6:
Why do the heathens rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth
set themselves up, and take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his
anointed, saying; Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. THEN shall
he speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet, have I set
my King upon my Holy Hill of Zion.
This is the climax of the scriptures, when the Gentile kingdoms enda, and when Jesus is
seated upon the throne of David. Luke 1:32-33 says; “He shall be great, and He shall
be called the Son of the Highest: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever;
and his kingdom there shall have no end. After 1,000 years, the earth is purged, a new
Heaven and a new Earth and Christ rules eternally upon the new Earth (1 Corinthians
15:24-28).

15.[M] I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit in-the-midst-of my bbody, and the visions
of my head troubled me.
16.I came unto cone of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all-of this.
So, he told me, and made me know the interpretation the things.
17.These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the
earth.
18.But the saints of the dMost-High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the kingdom
for ever, even for ever and ever.

a
No more other religions, or b
[Ch]~ sheath d
[Ch]~ High ones, or high places
dominions on earth. c
See verse 10

51
 19.Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse afrom all-of
the others, exceedingly dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass,
which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with His feet;
20. And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and
before whom three fell:
21.I beheld, and the same horn bmade war with the saints, and prevailed against
them!
22.Until the Ancient of Days came, and judgement was given to the saints of the
Most-High; and the time came that the saints possessed the Kingdom.
23.[T] Thus he said; The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth,
which shall be diverse, from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and
shall tread it down, and break it into pieces. (Reconstituted Roman Empire).
24.And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another
shall rise after them (the antichrist); and he shall be diverse from the first, and
he shall subdue three kings.
25.And che shall speak great words, against the Most-High, and think to change times
and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until the time and times and the
dividing of time.
26.[M] But the judgement (of the saints) shall sit, and they shall take away his
dominion, to consume and to destroy it, unto the end.
27.And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the
whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the Most-High, dwhose kingdom is
an everlasting kingdom, and all edominions shall serve and obey HIM.
28.Hitherto is the end of the matter. fAs for me, Daniel, my cogitations much troubled
me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

And Daniel wrote in his report that He was confused by what he had seen, so I
approached one of those standing beside the throne what did these mean and He
explained them to me: “These four huge animals” he said, “represent four kings who
will someday rule the earth. But in the end, the people of the Most-High God shall rule
the governments of the world forever and forever.” [For those who say that Christians
should not get involved in politics, then you need to re-consider this verse, straight from
the throne room of heaven]!
Then I asked about the fourth animal, the one so brutal and shocking, with its iron teeth
and brass claws, that tore men apart, and that stamped others to death, with its feet.
[Notice it has iron teeth (Rome) and brass claws (Greece), so this is a mixture of two
empires, which now both belong to the European Union!]
I also asked about the 10 horns, and the little horn that came up later and destroyed
three of the others ~ the horn with the eye, and loud bragging mouth, the one which is
stronger than the others. For I had seen this horn warring against God’s people and
winning, until the Ancient of Days came and opened His court, and vindicated His
people, giving them worldwide powers of government.
“The fourth animal,” he told me, “Is the fourth world power (believed to be the Revived
Roman Empire) that will rule all-of the earth. It will be more brutal than any of the
others; it will devour the whole world, destroying everything before it. His 10 horns are
10 kings that will rise up out of his empire; then another king, will arise, more brutal
than the other 10, and will destroy 3 of these kings.
He will defy the Most-High God, and wear down the saints with global persecution, and
try to change all laws, moral values, and customs. God’s people will be helpless in his
hands for three and a half years.

a
[Ch]~ from of all-of those c
8:24-25; 11:36 e
[Ch]~ rulers
b
8:12,24 d
See verse14 f
See 15, 8:27; 10:8,16

52
BUT THEN, the Ancient of Days will come and open His court of justice, and take all
power from this vicious king, to consume and destroy it until the end. Then every nation
under heaven, and all-of their power shall be given to the people of God; they shall rule
all things forever; and all rulers shall serve and obey them.”
That was the end of the dream. When I awoke, I was greatly disturbed, and my face
was pale with fright, but I told no-one what I had seen.

CHAPTER EIGHT: DANIEL’S VISION OF THE RAM & HE GOAT.

Introduction
In the previous chapters, Daniel has had dreams, visions, and revelations about the
Gentiles, but now The Holy Spirit is starting to answer his questions about what is going
to happen to the Jews, his own people. He has seen what one empire is going to do to
them, what are the remaining three empires going to do to his people?
The vision described in chapter eight, actually took place BEFORE the events described
in chapter 7.
The year is 551 BC, and Daniel’s vision sees himself in the Shushan Palace, about 230
miles from Babylon. This vision, like some of those in Chapter 7, are of future events.
The first 14 verses of this chapter are prophetic, relating to the Last Days [LD]; verses
23-24 deal with the Tribulation [T]; verse 25 is Millennium reign [M]; and verse 26 is
Last Days [LD].
1. [LD] In the third year of the reign of aBelshazzar, a vision appeared unto me,
even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared to me bat the first (vision).
2. And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at cShushan,
in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was
by the river of Ulai.
3. Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, there stood before the river a ram which had
two horns; and the two horns were high; but one was higher than dthe other, and
the higher one came up last.
4. I saw the ram epushing westwards, and northward, and southward; so that no
beasts may stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his
hand: but he fdid according to his will, and he became great.
5. And as I was considering (this vision), behold, a male goat came from the west
on the face of the whole earth, and gtouched not the ground: and the goat has ha
notable horn between his eyes.
6. And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before
the river, and ran into him with the fury of his power.
7. And I saw him close unto the ram, and ihe was moved with choler against him,
and smote the ram, and broke his two horns: and there was no power in the ram
to stand before him, but he cast him down the ground, and stamped upon him:
and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8. Therefore, that he (male) goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the
great horn was broken; and for it came up jfour notable ones towards the four
winds of heaven.
9. And out of one of them came forth ka little horn, which waxed exceedingly great,
toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.

a
5:1 e
11:40 h
[h]~ a horn of sight
b
7:1 Or, against the host. f
11:3,16,28,36, i
11:11
c
Nehemiah 1:1 g
[h]~ none touched him in the j
7:6; 11.4
d
[h]~ the second earth k
7:8

53
 10.And it waxed great, even ato the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the
host, and of the stars to the ground, and stamped on them.
11.Yes, he magnified himself, even bto the prince of the host, and cby him, the daily
sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was taken down.
12.And a host was given him, against the daily sacrifice, by reason of transgression,
and it cast down the truth to the ground: and it practised and prospered.
The first part of his vision also refers back to the events in chapter 7, but the symbolism
of the four empires’ change: For example;
In this Chapter, once again, we have The Medo-Persian Empire identified, but the
symbols depicting the empire have changed. In chapter two, it was described as the
silver breastplate of the giant statue.
In chapter seven, we had the symbol for the Medo-Persian empire being a bear with 3
ribs in its mouth raised up on one side, signifying that one part of the empire is stronger
than the other.
And now here in this vision, we have the SAME Medo-Persian empire, but symbolised by
a ram, with two horns ~the two parts of the empire, with this again signifying that one
part of the empire is stronger than the other.
This is historically correct, as the because the Persian rulers, when engaging in foreign
military battles wore the ram’s head on his head, as a symbol of his power.
In this vision the ram (Medo-Persian empire) goes into action, butting and destroying
his enemies: [Babylonia Asia Minor and Syria] in the west, [Armenia and around the
Caspian Sea], in the north, and then Ethiopia and Egypt] in the south.
Up until now this dream is just a re-run of the dreams in chapters 2 & 7, but now they
are expanded, as more detail information is revealed to Daniel.
Greece, here represented by the goat, the brass on the statue image in chapter 2, and
the leopard with wings in chapter 7, denotes the awesome power and swiftness of the
Greco-Macedonian army.
Now we see a little horn arise between the eyes of the goat, symbolising the rise of their
first great king ~ Alexander the Great. His crowning victory comes with the destruction
of the once thought, invincible Medo-Persian after a 3-year battle in [334-331 BC].
Sadly, a spiritual problem existed: Alexander the Great had conquered the outside world,
but had failed to conquer the demons within and died at thirty-two years of age, because
of his immoral behaviour.
Again, the Holy Spirit accurately predicts the events which take place after Alexander’s
death. The “four horns” which replaces the one broken horn, signifies the 4 generals
that divide up Alexander’s great empire:
➢ Ptolemy, becomes master of Egypt, Cyrene, Cyprus, and Palestine;
➢ Seleucus, grabbed Syria, Babylonia, and the southern area of Asia Minor;
➢ Cassander, took possession of Macedonia and Greece;
➢ Lysimachus, became the uncontested ruler of Thrace & western Asia Minor.
But now the plot thickens as Daniel sees a new vision unfold before his eyes. It is a fifth
horn. It starts small and rises quickly to quickly become a great influence and power
towards the south and the east, and the “beautiful land.”
One must remember that Daniel is looking at visions of the future, and this vision has
now jumped 200 years into the future, and describes the rise of Antiochus IV, (also
known as Epiphanes), who had no legitimate right to the throne ~ but took it and
became ruler number 8, of the greatly expanded Seleucid division of the Greek empire.
ENTER THE MADMAN!
He had a fierce hatred for the Jews, and was a very cruel ruler. The other reason he
appears in this vision is to show that God knows the end from the beginning and that

a
[h]~ against the host b
[h]~ or, against c
[h]~ or, from him

54
his mention here is a shaded image of the antichrist. Remember, chapter 7 is the chapter
about the rise of antichrist. The descriptions of the cruelty and desecration in chapter
eight explains the desecration that the antichrist will bring upon the house of Israel.
The antichrist will glorify himself as their prince ~ just as one day, Jesus Christ will rule
as their King. The antichrist will do his very best to even “appear as Christ” ~ arriving
on a white horse, in an attempt of complete deception. 2 Thessalonians 2:4 states that
the antichrist “opposes and exalts himself above all that is called GOD, or that is
worshipped; so that he, as God, sits in the Temple of God, proclaiming that he is God.”
He slaughtered more than one hundred thousand Jews, demanding that the “survivors”
substitute idols for God in the Temple. He tore up the Holy Law, defiled their women,
desecrated their Sabbath, hanged circumcised babies, and forced the Jews to sacrifice
a pig, on the Holy Altar in the Temple. To add insult to injury he ordered that the coins
be stamped Epiphanes ~ God! Such blasphemy does not go unpunished!
This madman’s behaviour is a mild warning of the activities of the antichrist ~ yet to
appear, who will arrive on the world scene ~ sooner than most expect!

The Sign of Things to Come

Antiochus Epiphanes performed one of the greatest massacres of all time, boasting
about it, every chance he had. If you want to know more about him and his terrible
deeds, and his reign of terror, read the Book of Maccabees 1:29-64.
Isn’t it interesting that one of the Books of the Scriptures, available in the Temple when
Jesus was there, which speaks about the end-time persecution by the antichrist, was
deliberately removed from the KJV Bible, to prevent many people knowing the truth of
God’s word. I wonder if Satan had a hand in that?
This madmen’s behaviour is but a warning of what is to come in the future, when the
antichrist appears. Like Epiphanes, there was mild acceptance of his reign in the early
stages, but in the “time of the end”, the “Beast” will make a peace contract with Israel,
and in the middle of the peace process, he will break this contract, and rescind his word.
If you have been watching worlds events over the last 12 months, you will have
noticed that many Islamic nations have been signing “peace agreements with Israel”.
Watch what happens “after 2,300 days.”
Daniel 9:24 says: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in
the middle of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease.”

ANTICHRIST ~ TEMPORARILY IN CONTROL

This event, now clearly identifies that the antichrist has become the devil incarnate. Just
as Jesus was God in human form, the antichrist during the second half of the Tribulation
Period of 31/2 years, will have Satan living inside of him, proclaiming that “I am God”,
just like Epiphanes the madman, had the coins stamped Epiphanes ~ God.
13.[LD] Then I heard aone saint speaking, and another saint said unto bthat certain
saint which spoke; ‘How long shall the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and
the transgression cof desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be
trodden underfoot?’
14.And he said unto me; “Unto two thousand-three hundred (2,300) ddays; then
shall the shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”

DANIEL’S CONCERN FOR ISRAEL

a
4:13 b
[h]~ the numberer of secrets, c
[h]~ making desolation
or, the wonderful numberer. d
[h]~ evening & mornings

55
After watching these terrifying events in his vision, Daniel’s main concern is how long
will these terrible persecutions upon his people, and upon Israel. At this point in his
vision, he hears a conversation between two angels. He heard one angel ask another
“how long will this little horn be allowed to carry out this transgression of desolation; for
both the sanctuary, and the host will be trodden underfoot.
And he heard the “Numbering angel” give the answer: it would continue for twenty-
three hundred (2,300) days. Again, this prophecy is historically correct! Antiochus
Epiphanes desecrated the Temple, persecuted the Jews, and wreaked havoc on all who
believed in God Almighty, from 6th September 171 BC, until 25th December 165 BC,
EXACTLY 2,300 DAYS!
As we proceed, we will see that these 2,300 days have more significance as we continue
to unseal the mysteries of the time of the end.
15.And it came to pass, when I, even I, Daniel had seen the vision, and sought for
the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me, as the appearance of a man.
16.And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the aUlai (River) which called and
said; bGabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
17.So, he (Gabriel) came near to where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid and
fell on my face: but he said unto me; Understand, O son of man, for “at the time
of the end” shall be the vision.
18.Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep, on my face towards the
ground; but he touched me, and cset me upright.
19.And he said: Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the last end of the
indignation: for at the time appointed, the end shall be.
20.dThe ram which you saw having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia.
21.And ethe rough goat, is the king of Grecia: and the great horn, that is between
the eyes, fis the first king.
22.Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms, shall stand
up, out of the nation, but not in his power.
23.[T] And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors ghave come
to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall
stand up.
24.And his power shall be mighty, hbut not by his own power: and he shall destroy
wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the
i
holy people.
25.[M] And jthrough his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper, in his hand: and
he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by kpeace shall destroy many: he shall
also stand up against the Prince of Princes; but he shall be broken lwithout hand.
26.[LD] And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true:
wherefore, shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

GABRIEL ~ THE MESSENGER FROM GOD

As Gabriel commences to explain Daniel’s vision, he falls to the ground. Daniel now
understands the terror and persecution that shall befall his own people. But the problem
for Daniel is the references to “end time” events. This is a totally new concept that he
has never encountered before.
In verse 17, Gabriel refers to the “time of the end,” and then in verse 19, he refers to
“the appointed time of the end.” Daniel now understands that what is being revealed to

a
See verse 2 e
See verse 5 j
11:23
b
9:21; Luke 1:19,26 f
11:3 k
Prosperity
c
[h]~ made me stand upon my g
[h]~ are accomplished l
2:34
standing h
Revelation 17:17
d
See verse 3 i
[h]~ people of the holy ones

56
him involves the Tribulation Period, and it will be in full force. This is elsewhere described
as “a time of indignation”, and this is because of their hard-hearted rebellion against
God.
What Daniel is saying is the “indignation that began around 730 BC, will continue until
the Second coming of Jesus Christ. Gabriel is telling Daniel that this vision is not for
now, but will happen “at the time of the end”.
Verse 23, is the strongest proof that Antiochus Epiphanes represents the antichrist, and
that the last part of Daniel’s vision, is not for Daniel’s lifetime. These events, actually
start to happen 100 years after the death of Antiochus Epiphanes.
The antichrist, symbolized by Antiochus’ reign of terror, will be empowered by the
dragon of Revelation 13:2 ~ Satan himself. He will be a proud and charismatic man, the
final ruler of the revived Roman confederacy, destroying all in his path, making himself
the ruler of the whole world. He will destroy both the mighty, and the holy by using his
two aides, the beast, and the false prophet. He will deceive the whole world with His
“Universal Peace Plan”, (Daniel 11:21,24) and reveal himself as the prince of peace, and
towards the end of his reign, he will destroy millions who get the revelation that he is a
fake. The title Prince of Peace is only available to Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6). He also
continues the charade by riding on a white horse (Revelation 6:2), where Jesus Christ
rides on the white horse in (Revelation 19:11). So, we have the fake, who is faithless
and vile; and we have true Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is faithful and true.
Finally, the fake, the antichrist, shall be “broken without hand.”. The parallel continues;
Antiochus did not die in battle. He went insane. The antichrist did not die by his enemies
after Satan entered his body. Instead, his is destroyed by Jesus Christ the real King of
Kings, at His Second Coming back to earth. (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Finally, after 1,000
years, Satan is cast into the “Lake of Fire & Brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

DANIEL’S BROKEN HEART

The final words of Gabriel to Daniel are an attempt to re-assure a frightened servant of
God. Gabriel reminds Daniel that the antichrist is not going to rule in his lifetime.
For this reason, Daniel is ordered to write down the visions in a book, and then seal
them, so that they can be revealed later as the days of these events rapidly approach.
That is why this book is so crucial to get the revelation of what is yet to come. This a
sequence of events that begin with the formation of the European Union, the creation of
Israel as a nation on the 14th May, 1948, and the recapture of Jerusalem by the Israeli
Army, (June 5-10, 1967 ~ the 6-day war).
Daniel could not grasp the “latter-day” prophecies, because they have been commanded
to remain sealed mysteries, “until the time of the end.”
27.And I Daniel fainted, and was sick for several days: afterward, I rose up and adid
the king’s business: and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Even after Gabriel’s interpretation of the visions, Daniel did not fully understand the
visions. Finally, Daniel comes before God, as Adonai, trusting the Lord to do what is
right, and at some later stage, (maybe) to reveal to him what he needs to know about
his unanswered questions.

CHAPTER NINE: DANIEL’S PRAYER AND CONFESSION

1. b
In the first year of the reign of cDarius, the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of
the Medes, dwhich was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.

a
6:2-3 c
Jeremiah 25:12; see Appendix 4
b
11:1 d
[h]~ in which he

57
 2. In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books and numbers, whereof
the word of the LORD came to aJeremiah, the prophet, that he would accomplish
seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

INTRODUCTION TO CHAPTER 9:
In this chapter, Daniel comes to realise from God’s word in 2 Chronicles 36, that the
Jews would be punished for not obeying God’s word, by not protecting their land, and
obeying the Sabbatical years (letting the land be fallow every 7th year).
God’s word stated that they would be punished 1 year for every Sabbatical year that
they had failed to observe (seventy Sabbatical years). Jeremiah 25:11-12 confirmed
that this also would occur.
Now Daniel starts doing his maths, and he works out that the 70 years are almost over,
because the captivity of the Jews started in 605 BC, hence God’s word says that the
Jews could soon be allowed to go home to Jerusalem & Judah.
But like in the previous chapters, Daniel has only partial understanding and revelation
of God’s word, and therefore “has jumped the gun”, about what is still to come. This
chapter reveals “what is still to come.”
It was now the first year of the reign of King Darius, the son of Ahasuerus. (Darius was
a Mede, but became King of the Chaldeans). In that first year of his reign, I, Daniel,
learned from the Book of Jeremiah the prophet, that must lie desolated for a period of
seventy years.
3. And I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek bby prayer and supplication, with
fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes;
4. And I cprayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said’ O,
LORD, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that
love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
5. We have sinned and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have
rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts, and from thy judgements. [In our
present society, this confession would apply to all nations on the earth].
6. dNeither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, which spoke in thy
name, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all-of the people of the
land.
7. O LORD, righteousness ebelongs to unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces as
at this day: to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto
all–of Israel, fthat are near, and that are afar off, through all-of the countries
whither thou have driven them, because of their trespass, that they trespassed
against thee.
8. O LORD, to us belongs confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our
fathers, because we have sinned against thee.
9. gTo the Lord our God belongs mercy and hforgiveness, (even) though we have
rebelled against him.
10.Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which
he set, before us by his servants his prophets.
11.Yes, iall Israel have transgressed your law, even by departing, that they might
not obey thy voice, therefore the curse is poured (out) upon us, and the oath jthat
is written in the law of Moses, kthe servant of God, because we have sinned
against him.

a
Jeremiah 25:12 f
Esther 9:20 j
Leviticus 26:14; Deuteronomy
b
Nehemiah 1:4 g
Nehemiah 9:17 27:15; 28:15; 29:20,27
c
Ezra 10:1 h
Psalm 130:4 k
1 Chronicles 6:49; 2 Chronicles
d
2 Chronicles 36:15-16 i
Isaiah 1:4-6; Jeremiah 8:5,10 24:9
e
[h]~ thou have

58
 12.And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us, and against aour
judges that judged us, bby bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole
heaven has not been done as have been done upon Jerusalem.
13.As it is written in the Law of Moses, all-of this evil is come upon us: yet cmade we
not our prayers before the LORD our God, that we may turn from our iniquities,
and understand thy truth.
14.Therefore, dhas the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the
LORD our God is righteous in all-of His works which He does; for we obeyed not
His voice.
15.And now, O LORD our God, thou has brought thy people forth out of the land of
Egypt, with a mighty hand, and has gotten thee renown, as at this day; we have
sinned, we have done wickedly.
So, I earnestly pleaded with the LORD God [to end our captivity, and to send up back
to our own land]. As I prayed, I fasted, and wore rough sackcloth, and sprinkled myself
with ashes, and confessed my sins, and those of my people.
“O Lord.” I prayed, “You are a great and awesome God: you always fulfill your promises
of mercy to those who love you, and who keep your laws. But we have sinned so much;
we have rebelled against you and scorned your commands. We have refused to listen
to your servants the prophets, who you sent again and again, down through the years,
with your messages to our kings, and to our princes, and to all-of the people.
O LORD, you are righteous: but as for us, we are always shamefaced with sin, just as
you see us now; yes, all-of us, the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all-of
Israel; those scattered near and far ~ wherever you have driven us, because of our
disloyalty to you. O LORD, we, and our kings, and our princes, and our fathers, are all
weighed down with shame because of our sins.
But the LORD God is merciful, and pardons even those who have rebelled against Him.
O LORD, we have disobeyed you, we have flouted all-of your laws, that you gave us
through your servants, the prophets.
All-of Israel have disobeyed you; we have turned away from you, and we haven’t
listened to your voice. And as a result of these things, the awesome curse of God has
crushed us ~ the curse written in the Law of Moses, your servant.
And you have done exactly what the Law of Moses said; and it is exactly what you have
done; for never in all-of history has there been a disaster like what happened at
Jerusalem, to us, and to our rulers.
Every curse written against us in the Law of Moses, has come true; all-of the evil he
predicted ~ all has been poured out upon us. But even so, we will still refuse to satisfy
the LORD our God by turning from our sins, and doing what is right.
“And so, the LORD deliberately crushed us with the calamity He prepared (and told us
about through the prophets ~ which we ignored); He is fair in everything he does, but
we would not listen, nor obey.
Our LORD our God, you brought lasting honour to your name, by removing your people
from Egypt, in a great display of your power. Lord, I pray~ Do it again!
16.O LORD, eaccording to all-of your righteousness, I beseech thee, to let thine anger
and thy fury be turned away from thy city of Jerusalem, fthy holy mountain:
because for our sins and for the iniquities of our fathers, gJerusalem and thy
people are become a reproach to all that are about us.
17.Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications,
and hcause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s
sake.

a
2 Kings 23:22 d
Jeremiah 31:28; 44:27 f
See verse 20; Zechariah 8:3
b
Jeremiah 39:16 e
1 Samuel 12:7; Psalm 31:1; g
Lamentations 2: 15-16
c
[h]~ entreated not the face 71:2 h
Numbers 6:25

59
 18.O my God, incline thine ear and hear, open thine eyes and behold our desolations,
and the city, awhich is called by thy name: for we do not bpresent our supplications
before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies.
19.Oh Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive: O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for cthine own
sake; O my God; for thy city, and thy people, are called by thy name.
Even though we have sinned so much, and are full of wickedness, yet because of all-of
your faithful mercies, LORD, please turn away your furious anger from Jerusalem, your
own city, your holy mountain. For the heathen mock at you, because your city lies in
ruins for our sins.
“O our God, hear your servant’s prayers! Listen as I plead! Let your face shine again
with peace and joy upon your desolate sanctuary ~ for your own glory, Lord. O my God,
bend down your ear and listen to my plea. Open your eyes and see our wretchedness,
how your city lies in ruins, ~ for everyone knows that it is yours. We don’t ask because
we merit help, but because you are so merciful, despite our grievous sins.
“O Lord, hear: O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen to me and act! Don’t delay ~ for your own
sake, O my God, because your people and your city bear your name.”
20.And while I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my
people Israel, and presenting my supplications, before the LORD my God, for the
holy mountain of my God;
21.[T] Yes, whilst I was speaking in prayer, even the man dGabriel, whom I had seen
in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly eswiftly, ftouched me gabout the
time of the evening oblation.
22.And he informed me, and talked with me, and said; O Daniel, I am now come
forth hto give thee skill and understanding.
23.At the beginning of thy supplications the icommandment came forth, and I am
come to show thee, jfor thou art kgreatly beloved: therefore, understand the
matter, and consider the vision.
24.Seventy lweeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, mto finish
the transgression, and nto make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for
iniquity, and to obring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and
p
prophecy, and to anoint qthe most Holy.
25.Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
to restore and to build Jerusalem unto rthe Messiah the Prince, shall be seven
weeks, and three score and two weeks: the streets shall sbe built again, and the
t
wall even in utroublous times.
26.[F] And after three score and two weeks vshall Messiah be cut off, wbut not for
himself: and the people of the prince that shall come, shall destroy the city and
the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the
war xdesolations are determined.
27.[T] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in-the-midst-
of the week (31/2days) he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblations to cease, and
for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the
consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

THE THIRD HEAVEN

a
[h]~ whereupon thy name is i
[h]~ word r
See verse 26; John 1:41; 4:25
called j
Luke 1:28 s
[h]~ return and rebuilt
b
[h]~ cause to fall k
[h]~ of desires t
[h]~ breach, or ditch
c
Psalm 79:9-10; 102:15-16 l
[h]~ made thee a name u
[h]~ straight of
d
8:16 m
[h]~ to restrain v
Mark 9:12; Luke 24:26,46
e
[h]~ with weariness, or flight n
[h]~ to seal up w
[h]~ and shall have nothing;1
f
8:18 o
Isaiah 53:11 Peter 2:21; 3:18
g
1 Kings 18:36 p
[h]~ prophet x
[h]~ it shall be cut off by
h
[h]~ to make thee skillful of q
Mark 1:24 desolations

60
Even as Daniel was still praying, Gabriel whose dwelling place is in the Third Heaven (2
Corinthians 12:2-3) appears beside him, offering comfort & understanding and telling
him; “that he is greatly loved.” To understand the distance that Gabriel had to travel
consider this. Scientists have found a quasar that is eighty-two trillion billion miles out
in space. (82*1021 miles). Light travels at 186,000 miles per second (3.8*10 8 metres
per second), so when a scientist talks of “one light year”, he is talking about the distance
that light would travel in one year, which is 6 trillion miles (6* 1012). So, in the time you
took to breathe in one breath, Gabriel had travelled that distance from the Third Heaven
to earth, to give Daniel the understanding of what is to happen in the immediate and in
the distant future. Isn’t it interesting that God hears our prayers and can act on them
immediately ~ or leave us wait a while, to make us trust him more.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEVENTY WEEKS

Gabriel delivers a new revelation to Daniel, that God will still continue to punish Israel
for at least seventy time seven more years (490 Hebrew calendar years). This is AFTER
the end of the Babylonian captivity.
This is the only Old Testament which specifically identifies the exact time of the Messiah’s
First coming! Gabriel later confirmed this when He delivered God’s message to the young
virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
The following prophecy deals exclusively with Israel. This means that the Messiah has
to arrive within the time frame above commencing from 445 BC (Gregorian calendar).
Why was there an additional 70 years of chastisement? The Jews had a Sabbath day
which they were to honour by law. They were commanded to work for six days and rest
on the seventh day, just as is defined in the creation story (Genesis 2:2). But the Jews
were greedy, so they refused to obey this commandment, and they continued to work
on the seventh day.
Because of their disobedience and rebellion, the Jews paid dearly with 490 Hebrew
calendar years of punishment and captivity. Jeremiah predicted this judgement of 70
years in Jeremiah 25:9-11.
This punishment was to be administered to deal with the following issues:
1. To finish the transgression: The Jews did not allow the land to rest for 70
sabbaticals (490 years). When Jesus comes, He restores them to their land
permanently, see (Zechariah 13:1 which says: “In that day there shall be a
fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for
sin and uncleanness.”
2. To make and end of sins: The corporate sin of Israel will come to an end, at
the Second coming of Jesus Christ. Because Jesus died for the sins of the whole
world ~ this includes the Jews ~ (Hebrews 10:17).
3. To make reconciliation for iniquity: During this seventy-week period, God
Almighty has made redemption available to all, through the sacrificial death &
resurrection of Jesus Christ (Zechariah 12:10).
4. And to bring an everlasting righteousness: This speaks of the return of Jesus
Christ, and he established his kingdom, returning to his kingdom as the King of
Kings & Lord of Lords. (Revelation 21:27). The revelation here is that we cannot
ever have a “peaceful world” until Jesus comes and binds up Satan for 1,000
years. THEN, there is peace for 1,000 years.
5. To seal up the vision and prophecy: Daniel was instructed to seal up the
prophecy until the end. We are rapidly approaching that time, so we have to
clearly understand what is ahead of us, because there is no longer anything left
to predict. Now, we are rapidly approaching the implementations phase of the
“end time prophecies”. Very soon the Son of Man will be in our midst and these
prophecies will be forever.

61
 6. To anoint the most Holy: This refers to Ezekiel chapters 41-46, where the Holy
of Holies is anointed after its construction (Ezekiel chapter 40). When the Lord
Jesus returns, His Father (Yahweh) says: “I set my king upon the holy hill of Zion”
(Psalm 2:6). Just as God’s priests in the Old Testament, and his servants, in the
New Testament were anointed for holy service, so Jesus Christ, the Prince of
Peace, the King of Kings, will be anointed for the centuries to come.
7. The rebuilding of the wall: It was to be rebuilt in troublesome times. It started
to be rebuilt on March 14th 445 BC, and it took seven week (49 years) to complete
~ and it happened right on schedule.

JESUS CHRIST SHALL REIGN AS KING

Don’t get confused because there is a second part of this prophecy, that refers to the
presentation of Jesus as King. There are TWO princes referred to in this text. The first
is Jesus, who will reign as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The second prince is the
Roman general who invades Jerusalem.
Here we are talking about the first Prince ~ Jesus Christ, who will be cut off after 69
weeks, or 483 years. Now we take these 483 years and multiply them by the Old Hebrew
calendar (360 days per year), which equates to 173,880 days.
From the day that Nehemiah said; “You may go ahead and rebuild your wall and
Jerusalem” [14th March, 445 BC] to the day that Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on the
foal of a donkey (6th April 32 AD) ~ was exactly 173,880 days! The prophecy was
absolutely correct! They were looking for a king! If the Jewish leaders had been studying
these Old Testament scriptures, they would have known He was the Messiah.
Day # 173,880 was the crowning day of Jesus, and the Jewish people’s minds did not
grasp or understand it. And because of this, they failed to recognise their Messiah! So,
this prophecy was fulfilled to the very day. One can assume therefore that all-of the
other prophecies in the book of Daniel will also be fulfilled, exactly on time.

THE REBUILDING OF THE TEMPLE

From the explanations above, we can see that God knows the end from the beginning
and that everything stated in prophecies, given by God’s prophets, shall come to pass
exactly as per His time plan.
When the Third Temple is built, all will be peaceful ~ for a while, but then midway
through the Tribulation hour (31/2 years), the antichrist will sit proudly upon the throne
and claim to be the world’s god (2 Thessalonians 2:4). The false prophet will create an
image of the Antichrist, as described in Revelations 13:15; and just like in times past,
the people will be commanded to bow down to the image of the “Revived Roman Empire”
(Daniel 7:8); just like Nebuchadnezzar commanded that they bow down and worship
him.
Those who refuse to bow down will be killed. (Revelation 13:15; 20:4-5). When the
pagan tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes set up his pagan deities in the place of the Most-High
God, and put a sow on the Most-High Altar, it was called “the abomination of desolation”
according to the statements made by Jesus in Matthew 24:15, and Mark 13:14. Why did
He do this? To defile the Temple of the Most-High God.
The Jews revere their holy temple ~ the Antichrist mocks it (just like the robber mocked
Jesus on the cross), and then the antichrist breaks one of the Jews’ commandments,
which prevents idols being placed inside the temple. (Exodus 20:4-5). At this point in
time, their long sought-for temple becomes desolate, because of the abomination idol
established inside the Temple.

62
THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
In Matthew 24:15-21, Jesus says: “When you therefore see the abomination of
desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whosoever reads
this, let him understand:) then let them that be in Judah flee into the mountains: Let
him that is upon the housetops, not come down to take anything out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field, return back to take his clothes. And woe to them
that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray that your flight
be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day: For then shall be great Tribulation,
such as never happened before, since the beginning of time until that day, nor shall it
ever be again.
Why should we flee? Because Satan’s 42 months of hell on earth is about to be unleashed
upon an unsuspecting world, and he’s filled with wrath (Revelation 12:12). Then, Russia
marches to attack Israel, the satanic image is set up in the Temple during the final 3 ½
years of the Tribulation, known as the Great Tribulation (7:14); It is now, “the time of
the end”, (Daniel 11:40; 12:4).
This revelation and its interpretation of the vision delivered to Daniel by angel Gabriel,
contained two important elements, like a two-edge sword it contained gloom, and hope.
• Gloom, because the Antichrist is about to appear; and
• Hope, because Jesus comes back to earth and destroys him, with the brightness
of His coming (2 Thessalonians 2:8).
Today we are experiencing the “calm before the storm”, but the handwriting is on
the wall, for all those who have eyes to see, and earth to hear.

WHERE ARE WE IN 2022?

• In 2015, the Jews re-constituted the Sanhedrin and elected a new High Priest.
This is the first High Priest since 70 A.D., when the Temple was destroyed by
the Roman General (the second prince).
• In 2017 the Sanhedrin constructed, dedicated & consecrated, the Altar for the
Third Temple, outside of the city Wall of Jerusalem (because in the Davidic
Temple, the animals are killed outside the city) and the blood is brought into the
Temple to be sprinkled on the Holy Altar.
• In 2022, (just before the end of the Hebrew year 5782,) 5 red heifers, without
blemish were brought into Israel, to be used to pour out their blood when they
cleanse and the purify the foundations for the New Third Temple, as described
in Ezekiel chapter 40.
• All the stage is set, ready for God to move the last few pieces into place, so that
the “End of the Age of the Gentiles” will start ending.

63
 The animal sacrifice Altar for the Third Five heifers arrived in Israel in
Temple, outside the City Wall in Jerusalem September 2022, ready to be sacrificed
for the cleansing of the Temple soil,
before the construction commences, and
at each stage of construction, until its
completion, which will only take 12
weeks to compete.
Everything is ready for the Third Temple to start construction ~ all that is required, is
for God Almighty to give the go ahead.

CHAPTER TEN: DAVID SEES A GLORIOUS VISION

DANIEL SEE JESUS!

1. In the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia, a thing was revealed unto Daniel, awhose
name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed
was long: and he understood the thing, and he had-understanding-of the vision.
2. In those days, I, Daniel, was mourning three full bweeks.
3. I ate no cpleasant bread, neither came flesh or wine in my mouth, neither did I
anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
4. And in the four & twentieth day of the first month (Nisan), as I was by the side of
the great river, which is dHiddekel (Tigris River);
5. Then I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and behold, ea certain man, fclothed in
linen, gwhose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz; (a.k.a, Ophir)
6. His body was also hlike the beryl, and his face, ias the appearance of lightning,
and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet, like the colour of polished
brass, and jthe voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
7. And I, Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the
vision: but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

a
See 1:7 e
[h]~ one man i
Ezekiel 1:14
b
[h]~ week of days f
Ezekiel 9:2 j
Revelation 19:6
c
[h]~ of desires g
Revelation 1:13,15
d
Genesis 2:14 h
Ezekiel 1:16

64
 8. Therefore, I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no
strength in me; for my acomeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I
retained no strength.
9. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, bthen
was I in a deep sleep, on my face, and my face towards the ground.

DANIEL’S STATE OF MIND

This vision came just two years after King Cyrus had issued the decree, that the Jews
could go back to Israel, to rebuild the Temple and to re-establish the nation of Israel.
But for some unexplained reason, Daniel, who by now would have close to 85 years old,
did not go with them. Maybe he thought he could stay as the king’s senior advisor, and
protect the interests of the Jews in the Province of Israel ~ but also the Jews who
remained behind in other parts of the Babylonian empire. He already knew, from
previous visions, that the “time of the end” would bring great hardship and persecution
for the Jews.

DANIEL UNDERSTANDS THE VISION

The vision that Daniel receives is hard for him to hear, and/or to accept even deep in
his heart he knew it was true. The vision revealed the greatest war to ever be upon the
earth, a future conflict, which would have an additional element never recorded in
history before. This was the angelic invasion which would be involved in shaping the
international events and this war was directed at the annihilation of Israel, by all-of the
nation on earth. Israel would have to stand alone against an immense military force.
This was so terrible, considering Daniel knew that they had suffered so much. He
understood that this event was way into the future, and definitely not in his lifetime.
Daniel understood that during these “seventy weeks” promised to come, the Jews would
suffer great persecution (Daniel 12:1), as the forces of Egypt, leading an “Arab
Federation” (Daniel 11:40) and a king from the North, (Russia), plus kings from the east
(China and other oriental nations ~ Daniel 11:44), would move into position with their
positions against Israel for the most terrible confrontation in military history. Daniel also
knew that this battle would take place during the “seventieth week”, a time that is
referred to as the “latter days” (Daniel 11:40;12:4). Even though he knew these events
would happen in the future, he mourned for the horrific punishment which would be
inflicted upon the Jews right up until the time the Messiah returns to earth and destroys
his enemies, and sets up his kingdom. (Zechariah 14:2).

DANIEL SEES THE “ANGEL OF THE LORD” ~ THE PRE-INCARNATE JESUS CHRIST
While strolling along besides the Tigris River, Daniel sees a man that he has never
encountered before. However, we can clearly identify him, because the same description
is given of him, by Apostle John in Revelation 1:13-15. It is Jesus Christ.
10.And behold, a hand touched me, which cset me upon my knees, and upon my
hands. [Every knee shall bow!]
11.And he said unto me; O Daniel, a man dgreatly beloved, understand the words
that I speak unto thee, and stand eupright: for unto thee, am I now sent. And
when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12.Then he said unto me; fFear not, Daniel: for gfrom the first day that you set your
heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard,
and I am come for thy words.

a
[h]~ vigor d
[h]~ of desires g
9:3-4,22-23
b
8:18 e
[h]~ upon thy standing
c
[h]~ moved f
See verse 19; Revelation 1:17;

65
 13.But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days; but,
lo, aMichael, one of the chief princes, came to help me: and I remained there with
the kings of Persia.
14.[LD] Now I am come to make you understand what is going to befall your people,
b
in the “latter days”: for yet the vision is for many days.
15. And when He has spoken such words unto me, I set my face towards the ground,
and I became dumb.
16.And behold, cone like the similitude of the sons of men dtouched my lips: then I
opened my mouth, and spoke, and said unto him that stood before me, O my
Lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no
strength.
17.For how can ethe servant of this my Lord, talk with this my Lord? For as for me,
straightaway, there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in
me.
18.Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and
he strengthened me.
19.And said; fO man, greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, gbe strong, yes,
be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said; Let
my Lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
20.Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? And now will I return to fight with hthe
prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.
21.But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of itruth: and there is
none that jholds with me in these things, but kMichael your prince.

DANIEL UNDERSTANDS THE REASON FOR HIS APPEARING

In this series of scriptures, the scene suddenly changes. Christ is no longer standing
before Daniel ~ but Archangel Michael is there. If we do not understand this reality, then
we would have to conclude that Jesus Christ (who created the whole universe) has little
power, because the prince of Persia, had delayed the messenger sent to explain these
details to Daniel for 21 days. This was because a demonic spirit, operating inside the
prince of Persia, delays the Messenger angel coming to Daniel to give him God’s
message. That Messenger Angel was probably Archangel Michael, and when He was not
able to overcome the power of Satan (who controls the 1st & 2nd levels of heaven ~ as
the prince of this world), then Jesus came to help him get the message to Daniel. Then
Jesus went off to deal with Satan in the Persian kingdom.
In this series of scriptures, those referring the Jesus Christ has Lord with a “Capital L”,
whereas the “other holy being”, is referred to as a lord, with a “lower case l.”
We see that during this encounter, all-of the strength & breath goes out of Daniel and
the angel has to revive and strengthen him, before any further explanation and
revelations can be given. Here we see a valuable lesson; we must take strength from
the Lord daily, through prayer and one-on-one time with Jesus.
An encouraging message is given: Don’t be afraid! Don’t let your heart be upset or
troubled! Your God is strong! He is omnipotent! (All powerful). He is in total control of
the affairs of nations and of men.
So now. After making sure that Daniel is OK, both Gabriel and Michael go back to Persia
to fight against the satanic forces at work in the Persian empire. They accurately predict
the same will occur after the Grecian empire conquers the Persian empire, 200 years
into the

a
See verse 21; 12:1; Jude 9; d
Isaiah 6:7 h
See verse 13
Revelation 12:7 e
[h]~ Or, this servant of my Lord i
11:2
b
2:28 f
See verse 11 j
[h]~ strengthened himself
c
8:15 g
Deuteronomy 31:7,23 k
See verse 13

66
future.

MESSAGE OF THE LATTER DAYS

The message was very difficult for Daniel to hear and comprehend ~ but this time he
understands it clearly. Daniel’s end-time predictions started stated to Nebuchadnezzar:
“There is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, that has sent me to tell you,
Nebuchadnezzar, what shall be in the “latter days.”
Today, with an existing European Union, a nation called Israel, and Jews once again in
control of Jerusalem, we find ourselves with an increasing number of signposts pointing
to “the time of the end”, which also referred to in scripture as “the latter days”.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: HISTORY ENDS & PROPHECY BEGINS!

TIMELINE OF THE EMPIRES

22.Also, I, ain the first years of Darius, the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and
strengthen him.
23.And now will I show you the truth. Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings I
Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all; and by his strength,
through his riches, he shall stir up all against the realm of bGrecia.
24.And ca mighty king shall stand up [Alexander the Great], that shall rule with great
dominion, and do according to his will.
25.And he shall stand up, dhis kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided towards
the 4 winds of Heaven: and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion
which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides
those.

DETAILS THAT CONFOUND THE SCEPTICS

The first four verses of chapter 11, trace the accurate history of four Persian rulers, then
the rise of Alexander the Great of Greece, and give details about the Ptolemies of Egypt,

a
9:1 c
7:6
b
8:21 d
8:8,22

67
and the Seleucids of Syria, who represented the two most powerful sections of
Alexander’s worldwide kingdom.
It is this type of accurate knowledge that confound the sceptics. They just don’t get it!
They forget, that God Almighty, told the Jews that they would be slaves in Egypt, for
400 years, and then he would send a deliverer. This deliverer was Moses; And he arrived
right on schedule!
They want to know how anyone (including God) could accurately know about individual
events, which would happen 400 years into the future. They forget that God Almighty
knows the end from the beginning, and even knew them, before they were even born!
We are not concerned here with the sceptic’s criticisms, because we rejoice in the
knowledge that we have a God, who knows the future, and despite what any government
leader says, our God will make sure that HIS will shall come to pass ~ in every nation
under heaven!
Let us look at the large amount of prophetic information, that has been revealed to
Daniel in his vision ~ all-of which has now been fulfilled!
• When Daniel received his fourth vision, Cyrus was king of Medo-Persia.
• Christ, in a vision, told Daniel that there would be 3 more Medo-Persian rulers,
prior to the rise of ruler number 4.
• These Medo-Persian kings were as follows: Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, and
Darius 1, (Hystaspes) ~ who is NOT the Darius the Mede, referred to in Daniel
5:31. (refer to the Appendices.)
• The fourth would be Xerxes. He amasses a large powerful army, which he
dispatched against Greece in 480 BC.
• 150 years later, it was Alexander the Great who attacked the Medo-Persian
empire. Sadly, Alexander the Great died of sexually transmitted diseases, at the
young age of 32 ~ as predicted ~ at the prime of his life!
• Greece was predicted as a leopard in Daniel 7:6, and as a goat in Daniel 8:5-6.
26.And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be
strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion.
27.And in the “end of years”, they shall ajoin themselves together; for the king’s
daughter of the south, shall come to the king of the north to make ban agreement;
but she shall not retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand; but she shall
be given up, and they that brought her, and che that begat her, and he that
strengthened her in these times.
28.But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up din his estate, which shall come
with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and deal
against them, and shall prevail:
29.And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with
e
their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years
than the king of the north.
30.So, the king of the south shall come into his kingdom and shall return into his
own land.
31.But his sons shall fbe stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces:
and one shall certainly come, and overflow and pass through: then shall he greturn
and be stirred up.
32.And the king of the south shall be move by with choler, and shall come forth and
fight with him, even with the king of the north: and he shall set forth a great
multitude; but the multitude shall be given into his hand.

a
[h]~ associate themselves, Or, c
[h]~ Or, who she brought forth f
[h]~ war
form an alliance d
[h]~ in his place, Or, in his office g
[h]~ be stirred up again
b
[h]~ rights e
[h]~ vessels of their desire

68
 33.And when he has taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up: and he
shall cast down many ten-thousands ~ but he shall not be strengthened by it.
34.For the king of the north shall return, and set forth a multitude greater than the
former, and shall certainly come aafter certain years with a great army, and with
much riches.
35.And at that time there shall be many that stand up against the king of the south:
also, the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves., to establish the vision:
but they shall fall.
36.So, the king shall come, and cast up a mount, and take bthe most fenced cities:
and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither chis chosen people, neither
shall there be any strength to withstand.
37.But he that comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall
stand before him: and he shall stand in the dglorious land, which by his hand shall
be consumed.
38.He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and
e
upright ones with him: thus, shall he do, and he shall give the daughter of
women, fcorrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
39.After this, he shall turn his face to the isles, and shall take many: but a prince
g
for his own behalf, shall cause hthe reproach offered by him to cease: without his
own reproach, he shall cause it to turn upon him.
40.Then he shall his face towards the fort of his own land; but he shall stumble and
fall and not be found.
41.Then shall stand up in his iestate ja raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom:
but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in kanger, nor in battle.
42.And in his estate (place) shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give
the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the
kingdom by flatteries.
43.And with the arms of a flood shall they be overthrown from before him, and shall
be broken; also, lthe prince of the covenant.
44.And after the league made with him, mhe shall work deceitfully: for he shall come
up, and be strong, with a small people.
45.He shall enter npeaceably even upon the fattest places of the province: and he
shall do that which his father has not done, nor his father’s fathers; he shall
scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yes, and he shall oforecast
his devices against the strongholds, even for a time.
46.pAnd he shall stir up his power against the king of the south with a great army;
and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty
army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.
47.Yes, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall
overflow: and many shall fall down slain.
48.And both of these king’s qhearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies
at one table; but it shall not prosper (them); for yet the end shall be at the time
appointed.
49.Then he shall return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against
r
the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.

a
At “the end of time”, even years g
[h]~ for him m
2 Maccabees 4:23-31
b
[h]~ the cities of munitions h
[h]~ his reproach n
[h]~ into the peaceable & fat
c
[h]~ the people of his choices i
[h]~ place o
[h]~ think his thoughts
d
[h]~ godly j
[h]~ one that causes an exacter p
2 Maccabees 5:1
e
[h]~ much uprightness, or to pass over q
[h]~ their hearts
equal conditions k
[h]~ angers r
2 Maccabees 5:21
f
[h]~ to corrupt her l
2 Maccabees 4:7,10

69
 50.At the time appointed, he shall return, and come towards the south: but it shall
not be as the former, or as the latter.

THE WAR BETWEEN THE SOUTH & THE NORTH

From verse 5 onwards we have a series of major battles & power struggles, between
the armies of the South, which is Egypt, and the armies of the North, which is Assyria,
(which we call Syria today).
These two nations were continually at each other’s throats, and there were alternating
victories over a long period of time. Finally, a scheme was developed to stop the terrible
bloodshed on both sides.
This was the plan: Ptolemy II had a daughter, Berenice, and it was planned that she
should marry Antiochus II of Syria, a union that was designed to create a long and
lasting peace. Since it was a “forced” marriage, Antiochus hated the arrangement, and
later when Ptolemy, II the king of Egypt died, Antiochus divorced his “forced marriage”
wife (Berenice,) and took back his original wife Laodice.
Laodice was very jealous, and at her first opportunity, she has Berenice, and most of
her family poisoned. As a result, the wars between these two power blocks escalated
once again, with much shedding of blood between the Northern & the Southern
kingdoms.
During the next 400 years, the following names to surface and lead the warring factions
are: Ptolemy Euergetes, Seleucus Callinicus, Antiochus III, and Ptolemy Philapator,
along with the madman Antiochus Epiphanes who, upon returning from Egypt, after
having amassed great riches, began to show his unnatural hatred for the Jews, an
attitude described by Daniel as “Having a heart that is against the Holy Covenant.”
(v28).
He is a veiled picture of the end-time global dictator, who uses all-of his worldly power
against Israel in the Tribulation Hour. And now three thousand years later, there is still
this hatred in the region, which is especially targeted against Israel, and their allies.
We have seen earlier that Antiochus Epiphanes was the designated archetype of the
“future man of iniquity” ~ the Antichrist that is yet to come. If we look at God’s time
plan, this event maybe a lot closer than many people may think, and therefore are still
unprepared for the terror and judgements that are to befall upon the earth ~ possibly
within our lifetime.
Many prophecies have been identified in these thirty-five scriptures. In summary, they
are as follows:
➢ These scriptures contain 135 prophecies, which have already come to pass, right on
time, according to God’s timetable.
➢ They provide a very convincing introduction to “end-time events” ~ a period of time
that is rapidly approaching!
➢ Based upon the accuracy of the previous visions, and prophecies of the Book of
Daniel, and other Old Testament Prophets, one can accurately assume, that the
remaining predictions/prophecies still to take place, will also occur right on schedule,
according to God’s Time-plan, for total victory over Satan and his evil cronies.
With this background in mind, we can now look at the remaining prophecies/predictions
which commence in verse 36.
51.For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: [These are the Roman warships]
therefore, he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the Holy
Covenant: so, shall he do: he shall even return, and have intelligence with them
that forsake the Holy Covenant.

70
 52.[LD] And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of
strength, and ashall take away the daily sacrifice, and bthey shall place the
abomination that cmakes is desolate.
53.And such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall be dcorrupt by flatteries: but
the people that do know their God eshall be strong, and do exploits.
54.And they that understand among the people will instruct many: yet they shall fall
by the sword, and by flames, by captivity, and by spoil, for many days.
55.Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen fwith a little help: but many shall
cleave to them with many flatteries.
56.And some of them with understanding will fall, gto try hthem, and to purge, and
to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time
appointed.
57.[T] And the king shall do according to his will; and ihe shall exalt himself, and
magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against jthe
God of gods, and shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished: for
that, that is determined shall be done.
58.Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard
any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.
59.But kin his lestate shall he honour the God of mforces: and a god whom his father
knew, not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and
n
pleasant things.
60.Thus, shall he do in the omost strongholds with a strange god, whom he shall
acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many,
and shall divide the land for pgain.
61.And at “qthe time of the end” shall the king of the south push at him: and the king
of the north shall come against him rlike a whirlwind, with chariots, and with
horsemen, and with many ships, and he shall enter into the country, and shall
overflow and Passover.
62.He shall enter also into the sglorious land, and many countries shall be
overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even tEdom, and Moab, and
the chief of the children of Ammon.
63.And he shall ustretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of
Egypt shall not escape.
64.But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all-of
the precious things of Egypt; and he Libyans, and the Ethiopians shall be at his
steps.
65.But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: Therefore, he
shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many.
66.And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between vthe seas in the wglorious
mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
As you have been reading the commentary in this chapter, you will see many references
in the footnotes to the Book of Maccabees, which was written during the silent period,
which is the 400 years preceding the birth of Jesus Christ, and it was readily available

a
12:11 2 Maccabees 6:12 p
[h]~ a price
b
1 Maccabees 1:59; 2 h
[h]~ by them q
See verse 35
Maccabees 6:2; Matthew i
2 Thessalonians 2:4 r
Zechariah 9:14
24:15 j
Deuteronomy 10:17 s
[h]~ land of delight
c
[h]~ astonished
k
[h]~ for the Almighty God in his t
Isaiah 11:14
d
[h]~ cause to dissemble sheath shall honour, yes, he u
[h]~ Send forth
e
1 Maccabees 1:62-63 shall honour a god whom >> v
Ezekiel 47:18-19
f
1 Maccabees 3:17; 4:8;
l
[h]~ stead w
[h]~ mountains of delight of
2 Maccabees 2:21
m
[h]~ O, munitions holiness
g
12:10; Zechariah 13:9;
n
[h]~ things desired
o
[h]~ fortresses of munitions

71
in the synagogue at the time of Jesus Christ. It is not, as some pastors teach, a Catholic
Book. I suggest that you get hold of a copy, and read the footnotes, and see how this
tie in with the Daniel narrative.

72
THE KING AT THE TIME OF THE END
In the preceding verses we have seen the 135 prophecies come to pass, with both
spiritual and historical accuracy, with clear verification of the events of the Persian and
Grecian empires, bringing up to the “end of days” of the wicked madman Antiochus
Epiphanes in 164 BC.
Verses 30 to 35 bring light on the historical events which actually occurred. Jerusalem
was attacked, and they defiled the Temple, but worse still, they set up a stature of
Jupiter inside the Holy of Holies, inside the Temple, and commanded that swine be
sacrificed inside the temple, and also broke down the Temple walls.
From verse 36 onwards, we are confronted with now prophecies, which have yet to come
to pass, especially the ones relating to the Antichrist, who will wield awesome power,
and worldwide influence for a period of seven years, referred to elsewhere in scripture
as the Tribulation hour, or the Great Tribulation.
This eventually leads to the second coming of Jesus Christ onto the earth, to destroy
the armies at Armageddon, and to lock up Satan for 1,000 years. (Revelation 14:10).
But before that occurs, the Antichrist will blaspheme God Almighty, and do monstrous
things against the God of gods. This is also explained in Daniel 7:25 about his
predecessor (the little horn).
In simplistic terms, the Antichrist will be a madman, who claims he is deity, the one who
will run the “end-time show”, and he will attempt to obliterate Israel, just like many
Islamic nations have trying to do for centuries. [And just like they have found out, it is
not a good idea; they ultimately get punished for their actions].
The Antichrist hates God, He hates Jesus Christ, and he hates women, because one of
them gave birth to Christ. He hates Jesus so much, and becomes so violently opposed
to anything that directs attentions towards Jesus, that he refuses to bow down to Him,
to worship the Saviour, but he also kills those that do bow down and worship the
Messiah. (Revelation 13: 15; 20:4).

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE “END TIMES” IS UPON US.

As we begin this chapter, we have first seen all-of the past history and the history leading
up the rise of the Antichrist, the Tribulation Hour, the terrible persecution of the Jews,
the erection of the Third Temple (Ezekiel chapter 40-48) and the defiling of the Temple,
by the abomination which is installed within, and the killing of anyone who refuses to
bow down to the “Image of the Beast.” This now all gets reinforced, as we see Arch-
angel Michael rise up, the protector of Israel, who now fights for his people.

1. [T] And at that time shall aMichael stand up, the great Prince that stands for thy
people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a
nation, even to that same time: and at that time, thy people shall be delivered,
everyone that shall be found bwritten in the book.
2. [S] And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, csome to
everlasting life, and some to shame, and everlasting contempt.
3. [LD] And they that be dwise eshall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and
they shall turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever.
4. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and fseal the book, even to gthe time of
the end: Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

a
10:13 d
[h]~ Teachers g
See verse 13
b
Exodus 32:32; Luke 10:20 e
Matthew 13:43
c
2 Maccabees 7:9 f
Revelation 5:1 & 10:4

73
At that time, (which is still in the future), Michael the mighty angelic Prince, who stands
guard over your nation (Israel), will stand up and fight (and fight for you in heaven
against satanic forces), and there will be a time of anguish for the Jews GREATER THAN
ANY PREVIOUS SUFFERING IN JEWISH HISTORY. And yet, everyone of your
people, whose names have been written in the Book will endure it. [“Those who
endure till the end shall be saved”.]
5. Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold there stood another two (angels) the one on
this side of the abank of the river, and the other on that side of the river.
6. And one said to bthe man clothed in linen, which was cupon the waters of the
river, [Remember Jesus walks on water]; dHow long shall it be to the end of these
wonders?
7. And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,
when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and eswear by Him
that lives forever, that it shall be for fa time, times, and ga half: and when he has
accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all-of these things shall be
finished.
8. And I heard, but understood not: Then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end
of these things?
9. And He said: Go thy way, Daniel: for hthe words are closed up and sealed, o till
the time of the end.
10.Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried: BUT ithe wicked shall do
wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand (because their eyes have been
blinded); but the wide shall understand.
11.And from the time that jthe daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and kthe
abomination that lmakes desolate set up: shall be one thousand two hundred and
ninety days (1290).
12.Blessed is he that waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-
five (1335) days.
13.But go thou, thy way; till the end be: mfor thou shall rest, and stand in thy lot at
the end of the days.

LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE

We have seen the referred to “fourth vision” start in chapter 10, but now it has reached
its climax in chapter 12. It refers to the Great Tribulation, the resurrection of the Old
Testament saints; (also referred to in Ezekiel chapter 37, as the valley of dry bones);
and the abomination placed inside the Temple Holy of Holies.
However, for this to happen, there must be a new temple constructed on the Temple
Mount! In Ezekiel chapters 40 onwards, are clear instructions given from heaven on the
exact layout & measurements of the Third Temple, to be constructed, so that Jews can
recommence to conduct sacrifices, whilst still waiting for their “Messiah”.
As mentioned earlier, the Altar for the Third Temple has already been constructed,
dedicated, and consecrated. This means that they can start making sacrifices anytime
now. The five (5) red heifers, needed to cleanse and consecrate the Temple Mount, so
that they can lay the foundation of the Next Temple have already been delivered from
the USA to Israel, before the beginning of Hebrew Calendar year 5783, which
commenced on 26th September 2022.

a
[h]~ lip f
8:19 k
[h]~ to set up the abomination
b
10:5 g
[h]~ part l
[h]~ astonishes
c
[h]~ Or, hovering above h
See verse 4 m
[h]~ and thou
d
8:13 i
Revelation 22:11
e
Revelation 10:6 j
11:31

74
Now as we begin chapter 12, Daniel directs his attention towards his own people, the
Jews; because there are some pretty heavy predictions of persecution in chapter 11.
We see this chapter open with Archangel Michael rise up, God’s appointed protector of
the nation of Israel. Michael has been their overall protector behind the scenes since the
Jews came out of Egypt, his work will become full time, as the Antichrist, starts his
persecution against the Jews and tries to eliminate Israel off the face of the earth.
The end-time prophecies for the nation of Israel and for the Jews worldwide, according
to prophecy will we far worse than the holocaust, or any of the other attempt to
assassinate the whole Jewish nation.
Jeremiah alluded to this in Jeremiah 30:7, which says: “Alas! For that day is great, so
that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of
it.” We know that this prophecy is true, because Jesus confirmed it in Matthew 24:21
when He said; “For then shall great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of
the world, to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (again). Jesus also confirmed that Michael
will be doing battle in heaven against Satan (Revelation 12:7-8).
In Daniel; 12:1, we see Michael standing “for the people of Israel”. This will be the time
when Michael will be needed the most to protect Israel, when Russia marches down to
attack Israel. This is the time of Jacob’s Trouble, when the Antichrist breaks his “Peace
Treaty,” and then for 42 months there is all out world war. (Daniel 9:27). This is also
referred to in Ezekiel 38:11, when Russia attacks people in unwalled cities, having no
bars or gates.

THOSE WHO SLEEP WILL AWAKE;

[some to eternal life & others to eternal death]

Jewish theology believes that if you are a Jew, there is a promise of resurrection in the
Old Testament. But sadly, many of them do not know Daniel 12:2, which states; “And
many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, SOME TO ETERNAL LIFE,
and some to SHAME AND TO EVERLASTING CONTEMPT.” [NOTICE IT DOES NOT
SAY “ALL OF THEM’!]
It is important that you share these verses with your Jewish friends, so that they
understand that they (The Jews) have a special role to play during the Tribulation Period.
In John 5:28-29, we have this promise: “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in
the which all that are in the grave shall hear His voice; And come forth they that have
done good, unto the resurrection of life, [that is what we call the “catching away” the
Rapture. “Then they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of the damnation,” that
is, when the lost are raised at the end of the 1,000 years, to stands before Jesus Christ,
at the Great White Throne Judgement (Revelation 20:11-15).
In Revelation 4:1 it says: “After this, I looked, and behold, a door was opened in
heaven; and the first voice which I heard was as it were a trumpet talking with
me; which said; “Come up hither, and I will show you things which must
happen hereafter.
[“Must happen hereafter”, means “after this event takes place”. Remember, Jesus
will appear in the clouds ~ at the sound of the Trumpets]. This event is also confirmed
in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 which says: “For the LORD Himself will descend from
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of
God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Then we, who are alive and remain ~
those who’ve lived up to this hour ~ shall be caught up together in the clouds with them
(the dead) to meet the Lord in the air.”
These are not MY Thoughts ~ These are God’s word, taken from His Holy
Scripture. Each and every prediction and prophecy up unto now, have all been

75
fulfilled EXACTLY as stated, so statistically, all-of the remainder of these
prophecies shall come to pass exactly as promised, at God’s “Appointed Time”.

GET THE MARK OR DIE!

We have seen during COVID what happens when people refuse to OBEY a Mandatory
Order ~ to get the jab ~ to be vaccinated.
People lost their jobs, were not allowed to socialise with others, churches and other large
venues were closed (but the football crowds were allowed to continue), people were
required to stay at home, and not have more than a definite number of people in your
home >>> and the list goes on.
This will be child’s play, compared to what is to happen, when it becomes mandatory for
people to have “the mark of the Beast” (666) on their foreheads, or on their hands;
As stated in (Revelation 13:15). Revelation 20:4 adds; “And I saw thrones, and they sat
upon them, and judgement was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which has not
worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their
foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
In the last 5 fears, we have seen TV reports in Iran and Iraq, of Terrorist groups
beheading Christians, for refusing to denounce Jesus Christ. This is already happening,
and it is only going to get worse! Get your “Tribulation Plans” ready, because if you are
not part of the “catching away”, THEN these scriptures apply to you. It is during this
Tribulation period, that Jews realise WHO their Messiah is, and “they mourn the one
whom they have pierced.” This causes God to assign 12,000 Jews from each of the tribes
(except the tribe of Dan) to receive “the mark of God on their foreheads” and to go out
and spread the good news of the Messiah Jesus Christ, amid this killing and persecution,
and literally millions accept the
Message about Jesus Christ as their Saviour, with their robes washed as white as snow.
God Almighty sends out the 144,000 Jewish Evangelists, with God’s mark on their
foreheads to protect them for all the evil on the earth.
Satan cannot create anything of himself. He can only copy or deceive people on the
earth, as the “Prince of the Earth and of the Air.” Satan, who proclaims himself to be
God, proclaims that everyone must have HIS mark upon their foreheads, or their hands.
So, because of this, millions survive the seven years of the Tribulation, and will also be
saved spiritually.
In Matthew 25:31-46, Christ returns to judge the nations ~ and to begin his 1,000-year
reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Those people who are saved during the
Tribulation Period of 2,520 days are allowed to enter the Millennium period in their
natural bodies (both Jews & Gentiles) ~ but now one new man in Christ.
When Christ return as the King of Kings, He brings His Bride with Him (the 9th church ~
HIS PERFECT CHURCH), as described in Revelation 19:16. The heavenly armies follow
and dwell in the New Jerusalem, God’s Holy City, which hovers above the “earthy”
Jerusalem.
This city contains 12 gates, which honours the 12 Jewish patriarchs of the Old
Testament, by engraving their names on these gates. How do the Jews arrive in the
scenario? They are the Millions of Jews who are resurrected, as recorded in Daniel 12:2.
In addition, Millions who died during the Tribulation, comprising both Jews and Gentiles,
plus all-of the “believing” Old Testament Jews, covering a period of over 4,000 years.
This all occurs when Jesus, Our Saviour returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
(Revelations 19:16; 20:4).
These Old Testament Jews strongly believed and looked forward to the First and Second
Coming of The Messiah, as their Redeemer ~ based upon Isaiah 53, and Psalm 22.

76
These resurrected Jews, who lived a holy life, (like Daniel) receive rewards just as the
church did at the Judgement Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; 2
Timothy 4:7-8; Revelation 4:10-11).

So irrespective of your ethnicity, there will be rewards for the faithful and true.
Remember, that all-of the saints assemble at this time for one reason only: to live and
reign with Jesus Christ in His earthly Kingdom for 1,000 years.

SHUT UP THE WORDS & SEAL UP THE BOOK!

Daniel is told quite clearly that his present vision is not for today, and that his revelation
would not be understood ~ until the time of the end. Just like the Disciples did not
understand many of the things that Jesus taught them, until after the crucifixion, his
death, and then his resurrection, and ascension, back into Heaven. Their eyes were
completely opened after the first Pentecost, when they all received the Holy Spirit.
For this reason, many of the Prophecies about the “Revived Roman Empire”, mentioned
in Daniel chapter 2 in the form of the image and as the 4 beasts in Daniel chapter 7,
would not be understood even at the time of Christ, because the Temple would remain
standing for another 40 years, after His ascension back into heaven.
The revelation between the “Revived Roman Empire” and the “time of the end” did not
even get revealed unto 1890. Once this was revealed, Bible Scholars were then able to
understand that a great nation would march against Israel (Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39),
and that the enemy, would come from the north. We have already examined Daniel
11:40 that the King of the South (Egypt) would engage in a horrific war with the King
of the North (Russia). This war would be a war like has never been experienced on the
earth before.
Today, many understand how it will happen. But WHEN does it occur? “When many are
running “to and fro”, and knowledge is increased. Firstly, the speed of travel is reaching
unparalleled proportions, and knowledge is said to be doubling, every 22 months.
This is where we are at present, everyone is searching for new revelations about the
end times. Soon, (a lot sooner than many think,) Jesus, the Saviour, will call the 9 th

77
church (His Church, the perfect Church) home to the Marriage Ceremony in Heaven, to
become the Bride of Christ. He will then return seven years later, as the King of Kings,
with His Bride for a 1,000-year honeymoon, as they rule and reign their Kingdom here
on the earth.
It is all beginning the take shape. God the Father is lining up all-of the dominoes ready
for the end-time events, which will occur SUDDENLY, as he appears, “like a thief in the
night”.

THE TWO FORGOTTEN CHAPTERS OF DANIEL

In the Septuagint, which was the original Torah & Tanach, said to have been translated
from Hebrew into Greek by 70 (more correctly 72) Jewish scholars in the time between
300 BC and 200 BC. In that document, and in the Jerusalem Bible, published later, these
two chapters are included. However, there is much controversy, as to whether Daniel
actually wrote them, as one chapter is written in Hebrew, and the other chapter is
written in Aramaic. Even so, they are worth mentioning, for completeness.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SUSANNA ~ AND THE JUDGEMENT OF DANIEL

When Daniel was finished his training, He was appointed as head of the magicians and
astrologers and all-of the wise men of Babylon, as is recorded in chapter 2, but he
persuaded the King to let him sit in the gate of the King, and be the Judge of the Affairs
of Babylon.

1. In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim.

2. He has married Susanna, the daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and
she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people, and had instructed
their daughter in the Law of Moses.
3. Joakim was a very rich man and he had a garden attached to his house;
4. The Jews would often visit him because he was held in great respect than any
other man.
5. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges.
Of such the Lord said, ‘Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and
judges, posing as guides to the people.’
6. These men were often at Joakim’s house, and all who were engaged in litigations
used to come to them.
7. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her
husband’s garden.
8. These two elders, who used to watch her everyday as she came in to take her
walk, gradually began to desire her.
9. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and
forgetting its demand of virtue.
10.Both became inflamed by the same passion, but they hid their desire from each
other;
11.For they were ashamed to admit their longing to sleep with her;
12.But they still contrived to see her every day.
13.One day, having parted with the words; ‘Let us go home, it is time for the midday
meal’, they went off I different directions;
14.Only to retrace their steps, and find themselves face-to-face once again. Obliged
then to explain, they admitted their desire, and agreed to look for an opportunity
of surprising her alone.

78
 15.So, they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual,
accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted
to bath in the garden.
16.There was no-one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding
place.
17.She (Susanna) said to the servants; ‘Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the
garden door while I bathe.’
18.They did as they were told, shutting the garden door, and going back to the house
by the side entrance, to fetch what she had asked for; they knew nothing about
the elders, who were hiding.
19.Hardly had the servants gone than the two elders were there after her. ‘Look,’
they said, ‘the garden door is shut, no-one can see us.
20.We want to have you, so give in, and let us!
21.Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you, and that
is why you sent the maids away.’
22.Susanna sighed. ‘I am trapped,’ she said. ‘Whatever I do. If I agree, that means
my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you.’
23.‘But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’
24.Then she cried out, as loud as she could.
25.The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them
ran to open the garden door.
26. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side
entrance to see what was happening.
27.One the elders had told their story, the servants were totally taken aback, since
nothing of this sort had ever ben said of Susanna.
28.Next day a meeting was held at the house of husband Joakim. The two elders
arrived, in their vindictiveness, determined to have her put to death.
29.They addressed the company; Summon Susanna, daughter of Hilkiah, and wife
of Joakim.
30.She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children, and all-of
her relations.
31.Susanna was very graceful and beautiful to look at.
32.She was veiled, so the wretches made her unveil in order to feast their eyes on
her beauty.
33.All-of her own people were weeping, and so were all-of the others who saw her.
34.The two elders stood up, with all-of the people round them, and laid their hands
on the women’s heada.
35.Tearfully, she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God.
36.The elders then spoke. ‘While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this
woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and dismissed the
servants.
37.A young man, who had been hiding, went over to her and they lay down together.
38.From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place, and
hurried towards them.
39. Though we saw them together, we were unable to catch the man; he was too
strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels.
40.We did however, catch this woman and ask her who the man was;
41.She refused to tell us. That is our evidence. Since they were elders of the people,
and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death.

a
[h]~ this is the formal
preliminary to death by stoning.

79
42.She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets, and
everything before it happens;
43.You know that they have given false evidence against me. And have I to die,
innocent as I am, of everything their malice has invented against me?’
44.The LORD God heard her cry!
45.And as she was being led away to die, he roused the Holy Spirit residing in a
young boy named Daniel, who began to shout;
46.‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’
47.At which all-of the people turned to him and asked; ‘What do you mean by these
words?’
48.Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied: ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel,
as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the
truth?
49.Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against
her.’
50.All-of the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel; ‘Come and sit with
us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gift that elders have.’
51.Daniel said; ‘Keep the men well apart from each other, for I want to question
them.’
52.When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You
have grown old in your wickedness,’ he said, ‘And now the sins of your earlier
days have overtaken you;’
53.‘You, with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your
acquittal of guilty men, when the LORD has said; “You must not put the innocent
and the just to death.”
54.‘Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what sort of tree did you see
them lying under?’
55.He replied: ‘Under the mastic tree.’
56.Daniel said; ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God
has already received your sentence from Him and will slash you in half.’ He
dismissed the man, and ordered that the other be brought, and said to him;
‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart
astray!
57.This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel, and they were
too frightened to resist: but here is a daughter of Judah, who could not stomach
your wickedness!
58.Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied; ‘Under a holm
oak!
59.Daniel said; ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is
waiting, with a sword to drive home ands split you, and destroy the pair of you.’
60.Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the Saviour, of those who trust
in him.
61.And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel have convicted of false evidence,
out of their own mouths.
62.As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment,
as they intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of
an innocent woman was spared that day.
63.Hilkiah and his wife gave thanks to God for their daughter Susanna, and so did
her husband Joakim, and all-of his relations, because she had been acquitted of
anything dishonourable.
64.From that day onwards, Daniel’s reputation stood high with the people.

80
While the writing style is not the same as the Book of Daniel, purported to be written by
Daniel in Babylon, between 540 to 530 BC, it must be remembered that earlier in his
life, Daniel had not been schooled in the palace of the Babylonians. This did not occur
until after Nebuchadnezzar had invaded and captured Jerusalem in 605 BC.
The incidents recorded in this narrative possibly happened and is either an eye-witness
account written by Daniel, as a teenager, or by someone who heard of this story, and
recorded it later, prior to the Septuagint being created around 300 BC. Whichever is the
true case of the authorship of this chapter is not the prime focus.
The real purpose of the inclusion of this chapter in the Commentary, is to show that God
hates wickedness and corruption, especially in position of authority, and that God hears
the prayers of all of those who put their lives and trust in him.
Susanna was righteous, who believed that the LORD, would not only hear her prayers,
but would also act upon them.
When Satan comes in like a flood, God Almighty raises up a standard of righteousness
against him. The Holy Spirit abiding in Daniel was the instrument that God would use to
bring the lies to the table, before the whole assembly, and to punish the wicked for their
crimes.
That same God, using His unchanging rules, still exists today, and like we know with
Ananias and Saphira, in the Book of Acts, if you lie to the Holy Spirit, it is a death
sentence. So, Christians be warned!

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: BEL AND THE DRAGON

This chapter is a mythical story, mixed with facts, about Daniel’s early days in the
Babylonian kingdom.
Daniel and the Priest of Bel.

1. When King Astyages the last King of the Median Empire joined his ancestors, Cyrus
the Persian succeeded him,
2. Daniel was very close to the king, who thought more of him than of any other of his
friends.
3. Now in Babylon, there was an idol name Bela, to which twelve bushels of the finest
flour, forty sheep, and six measures of wine were offered every day.
4. The King took part in the cult, and used to go and worship the idol every day. Daniel
however, worshipped his own God.
5. ‘Why do you not worship Bel?’ the king asked Daniel. ‘I do not worship idols made
by the hands of men,’ Daniel replied. ‘I worship the living God, who made heaven
and earth, and who has power over all living creatures.’
6. ‘You believe, then’ said the king, ‘that Bel is not a living god? Can you see not how
much he eats and drinks every day?’
7. Daniel laughed. ‘My king,’ he said; ‘Do not be taken in; he is clay inside, and bronze
on the outside, and has never eaten or drunk anything.’
8. This made the king angry; he summoned his Priests; ‘Tell me who eats all-of this
food,’ he said; ‘or die.’ ‘Prove to me that Bel really eats it, and I will have Daniel put
to death for blaspheming him.
9. Daniel said to the king; ‘Let it be as you say.’ There were seventy priests, to say
nothing of their wives and their children.
10.The king went to the temple of Bel, taking Daniel with him.
11.The Priests of Bel said to him; ‘We are now withdrawing, as you can see; but we will
leave you, O king, to set out the food and prepare the wine and leave it there. Then
you can shut the door and seal it with your own seal. If when you return in the

a
[Ch]~ Also known as Marduk,
the god of Babylon.

81
 morning, you do not find that everything had been eaten by Bel, then let us be put
to death; if not, then Daniel, that slanderer!’
12.They were thinking ~ hence their confidence ~ of a secret entrance, which they had
made under the table, by which they came in daily and took the offerings away.
13.When the Priests had gone and the king had set out the food for Bel;
14.Daniel made his servants bring ashes and spread them all over the temple floor, with
no other witness than the king. Then they left the building, shut the door, sealing it
with the king’s seal, and went away.
15.That night, as usual, the Priests came with their wives and children and ate
everything.
16.The king was up very early next morning; so was Daniel.
17.‘Daniel,’ said to the king; ‘Are the seals intact?’ ‘They are, O king’ he replied.
18.The king then opened the door and taking one look at the table he exclaimed; ‘You
are great, O Bel! There is no deception in you!’.
19.But Daniel laughed! And restraining the king from going any further in, he said;
‘Look at the floor and examine these footprints.’
20.‘I can see footprints of men, of women, and of children,’ said the king.
21.And ordered the Priests to be arrested, with their wives and children.
22.They showed him then the secret door through which they used to comer and remove
what was on the table.
23.The king had them put to death and handed Bel over to Daniel, who destroyed both
the idol and the temple.
Daniel kills the Dragon: [This is how the Demonic tries to “deceive nations”.]
24.There was a big dragon on Babylon, and this was worshipped too.
25.The king said to Daniel; ‘You are not going to tell me that this is no more than bronze?
Look, it is alive; it eats and drinks; you cannot deny that this is “a living god”; worship
it then!’
26.Daniel replied; ‘I worship the Lord my God; He IS the living God. With your
permission, O king, without using either sword or club, I will kill this serpent.
27.‘You have my permission,’ said the king.
28.Whereupon Daniel took some pitch, some fat, and some hair and boiled them up
together, rolled the mixture into balls and fed it to dragon. The dragon swallowed
them and burst. Daniel said; ‘Now look at the sort of thing you worship!
29.The Babylonians were furious when they heard about this and began intriguing
against the king. ‘The king has turned Jew,’ they screamed; ‘he has allowed Bel to
be overthrown, and the dragon to be killed, and he has put the priests to death.'
30.So, they went to the king and said; 'Hand Daniel over to us, or else we will kill you,
and your family.'
31.They pressed him so hard that the king found himself forced to hand Daniel over to
them.
Daniel in the Lion pit
32.Then they threw Daniel into the lion pit, and he stayed there for asix days.
33.In the pit were seven lions, which were fed two human bodies and two sheep every
day; but for this period, they were not given anything, to make sure that they would
eat Daniel.
34.Now the prophet bHabakkuk was in Judea; he had been making a stew, and breaking
up bread to put in a basket. He was on his way to the fields, taking the food to the
harvesters, when an angel of the Lord spoke to him.
35.‘Take this meal you are carrying to Babylon, and give it to Daniel in the lion pit.’

a
Previously in Daniel it says that b
Habakkuk means ~ “mint”, and
he was in the pit only overnight is very close to the same name
in Hebrew as Daniel.

82
36.‘Lord’ replied Habakkuk; ‘I have not seen Babylon, and know nothing about this pit.’
37.The Angel of the Lord seized his head and carried him off by the hair to Babylon
where, with a great thrust of his spirit, he set Habakkuk down on the edge of the pit.
38.‘Daniel, Daniel,’ Habakkuk shouted, ‘take the meal that God has sent you.’
39.And Daniel said; ‘You have kept me in mind, O God: You have not deserted those
who love you.’
40.Rising to his feet he ate the meal, while the Angel of God wasted no time in returning
Habakkuk to his own country
41.On the seventh day, the king came to lament over Daniel. On reaching the pit, he
looked inside, and there was Daniel, quite unperturbed.
42.“You are great, O Lord, God of Daniel,” he exclaimed, ‘There is no God, but you!’
43.Then he released Daniel from the pit and had the plotters of Daniel’s ruin thrown in
instead; where they were instantly eaten before his eyes.

So, who was King. According to Herodias the renowned Greek historian, he reigned as
the last Median king from 585 BC till his death in 550 BC, so it is possible that Daniel
did have some contact with him.
According to history (and the Bible) Habakkuk never met Daniel at any time, even
though they were both prophets of God around the same time, and the different times
that Daniel was in the Lion’s den is also another inaccuracy to be considered. Therefore,
this chapter must not be treated as Biblically correct, even though some of the story is
based on events which did occur.
The interesting thing to note is that nowadays, Fast food stores are experimenting with
delivering food to their customers using drones. According to this chapter God Almighty
was already using this method. Daniel prays to the Lord for food, because he has been
in the Lion’s den for 6 days. God hears his prayers and uses a prophet, carried by an
angel, to deliver his food, and return him back to His homeland after the delivery. [Very
close description of a drone delivery ~ Something to think about, since this happened
3,000 years ago.]

APPENDICES FOR THE BOOK OF DANIEL:

APPENDIX 1: AUTHENTICITY OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL

By The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica •

The Book of Daniel, also called The Prophecy Of Daniel, a book of the Old
Testament found in the Ketuvim (Writings), the third section of the Jewish canon, but
placed among the Prophets in the Christian canon. The first half of the book (chapters
1–6) contains stories in the third person about the experiences of Daniel and his friends
under Kings Nebuchadnezzar II, Belshazzar, Darius I, and Cyrus II; the second half,
written mostly in the first person, contains reports of Daniel’s three visions (and one
dream). The second half of the book names as author a certain Daniel who, according
to chapter 1, was exiled to Babylon.

The language of the book—part of which is Aramaic (2:4–7:28)—probably indicates a

date of composition later than the Babylonian Exile (6th century BC). Numerous
inaccuracies connected with the exilic period (no deportation occurred in 605 BC; Darius
was a successor of Cyrus, not a predecessor; etc.) tend to confirm this judgment.
Because its religious ideas do not belong to the 6th century BC, numerous scholars date
Daniel in the first half of the 2nd century BC and relate the visions to the persecution of
the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164/163 BC)

83
APPENDIX 2: WHEN DID DARIUS THE MEDE ~ RULE BABYLON?

He didn’t! The book of Daniel sticks him into the story between Belshazzar and Cyrus,
but there is no historical evidence of him.
The book of Daniel is not a book of history or prophecy, as most Christians would have
you believe. The followers of Judaism do not treat it as such, most scholars know it’s
not, but the churches preach that it is!
The book was written sometime in the 2nd-3rd century BCE and was a piece of Literature
to help the Jewish people during their time of struggle against the ruling Greeks of the
Seleucid empire and it’s king Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

APPENDIX 3: WHO WAS THE RULER WHO SUCCEEDED NABONIDUS?

Source: Wikipedia

Babylon's last native king was Nabonidus, who reigned from 556 to 539 BC.
Nabonidus's rule was ended through Babylon being conquered by Cyrus the
Great of the Achaemenid Empire. Though early Achaemenid kings continued to place
importance on Babylon and continued using the title 'king of Babylon', later Achaemenid
rulers being ascribed the title is probably only something done by the Babylonians
themselves, with the kings themselves having abandoned it. Babylonian scribes
continued to recognise rulers of the empires that controlled Babylonia as their kings until
the time of the Parthian Empire, when Babylon was gradually abandoned. Though
Babylon never regained independence after the Achaemenid conquest, there were
several attempts by the Babylonians to drive out their foreign rulers and re-establish
their kingdom, possibly as late as 336/335 BC under the rebel Nidin Bel.

APPENDIX: 4 ~ WHO WAS DARIUS ~ THE MEDE IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL?

Research by Peter Goeman, November 2, 2019
In Daniel 5:31 we are introduced to Darius the Mede, who is said to rule after Belshazzar
when Babylon falls to the Persian kingdom under Cyrus (cf. 2 Chron 36:22). Darius also
shows up in Daniel 6 as the king who puts Daniel in the lion’s den. Finally, the vision of
Daniel 9 is also said to take place in “the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, by
descent a Mede.” The identity of Darius has boggled many Bible interpreters because
we have no record of a Darius ruling during this time. Who was Darius the Mede?

Briton Rivière, 1890, Daniel in the Lions’ Den

84
The following charts display the typical understanding of the Median and
Achaemenid/Persian dynasties. Note that there is no Darius at the appropriate time
period.
The Median Dynasty

Deioces 700–647 BC

Phraortes 647–625 BC

Scythian Rule 624–597 BC

Cyaxares 624–585 BC

Astyages 585–549 BC

The Achaemenid/Persian Dynasty

Cyrus the Great 550–529 BC

Cambyses I 529–522 BC

Bardiya (Pseudo-Smerdis) 522 BC

Darius I (the Great) 522–486 BC

Xerxes I/Ahasuerus 486–465 BC

Artaxerxes I 465–425 BC

Xerxes II 425–424 BC

Darius II 424–405 BC

Artaxerxes II 405–359 BC

Artaxerxes III 359–338 BC

85
 Arses 338–336 BC

Darius III 336–330 BC

The only Darius listed in the Achaemenid dynasty is far too late, to fit with the book of
Daniel. In order to deal with the absence of a clearly identifiable king named Darius,
scholars have put forward the following proposals for the identity of Darius.
Darius the Mede is a Title for Cyrus, King of Persia
Almost everyone would agree that Darius is likely a “throne name” and not the king’s
actual name. This is backed up by the fact Darius is listed as the son of Ahasuerus
(Dan 9:1), which seems to be some sort of throne name (cf. Esther 1:1). It would not
be uncommon for kings to have multiple names.
Further support for this view comes from the fact that the Jewish author of Bel and the
Dragon (a pseudepigraphal work) says it was Cyrus who cast Daniel in the lion’s
den. Similarly, the Old Greek translation of Daniel 11:1 reads Cyrus instead of
Darius (our English versions read Darius, following the MT).
Although there is certainly a case to be made for equating Cyrus and Darius, Daniel
6:28 seems to mention a coregency of Cyrus and Darius. Although Daniel 6:28 could be
understood as a restatement of the same individual, it does not seem normal in biblical
history to keep changing the name of a main character. Historical considerations also
argue for seeing a distinction between these two individuals as we will examine later.
Darius the Mede is Cambyses I, Son of Cyrus
Although this is a viewpoint held by some, it doesn’t have much to commend it. On the
one hand, Cambyses I is called the king of Babylon in some ancient texts, but he would
have been much younger than 62 years old in 539 BC when Babylon was taken (cf. Dan
5:31). Cambyses would also not have any relationship to the Median empire, although
Darius is labelled as a Mede.
Darius the Mede is Gobryas, Governor of Babylon
This viewpoint is held by many evangelical scholars. Ancient records (such as the
Nabonidus Chronicle) state that Gobryas was appointed as city governor by Cyrus ~
after the fall of Babylon. This is taken as support for the statements in Daniel 5:31,
“Darius received the kingdom” and 9:1, where Darius “was made ruler.” It is possible,
according to this viewpoint, that this passive reception of the kingdom corresponds to
Gobryas being appointed by Cyrus.
Furthermore, the ancient records indicate that Gobryas installed sub-governors (cf. Dan
6:1-2). Gobryas was also described as being a “man well advanced in years” (Cyropaedia
4.6.1), which could correspond to the 62 years old of Daniel 5:31.
Although there are some good arguments to be made for Gobryas being Darius the
Mede, there are two major problems with this view. First, the Nabonidus Chronicle seems
to indicate that Gobryas died 3 weeks after the fall of Babylon. Although it might be
possible to read it as a year and three weeks later, it most likely refers to 3 weeks after
Babylon’s fall. Second, Xenophon, a 4th century (BCE) Greek historian, noted that
Gobryas was Assyrian, not Mede.
All three of these possible identifications of Darius the Mede seem to have shortcomings.
In 2014, Steven Anderson published a dissertation advocating a different identity for
Darius the Mede. The next post deals with the proposal that Darius the Mede is Cyaxares
II, the last king of Media.
Related Information

86
Darius the Mede as Cyaxares II, Last King of Media
November 9, 2019 ~ In "Old Testament"

THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

FOREWORD:
The introduction to the Book of Ezekiel, as stated in the Amplified Bible, goes like this.
Quote:
Introduction: This book is named after the Prophet Ezekiel, whose name means ~ “God
is strong”. His messages are dated between the years 593–571 B.C. and were given to
his fellow exiles in the Babylonian captivity. Ezekiel grew up in the environs of the
Temple in Jerusalem, since he was born into a priestly family. Born in 623 B.C., he
witnessed the changing fortunes of his people and was included in the exiles to Babylon
in 597 B.C.
Called to the prophetic ministry in 593 B.C. through a spectacular divine revelation
[chapter 1-3], he was made conscious of God’s presence and message in-the-midst-of
the idolatrous surroundings of Babylon.
During the first part of his ministry, Ezekiel proclaimed essentially the same message
given previously by Jeremiah ~ Jerusalem is doomed to destruction. The sinfulness and
idolatry prevailing in Jerusalem will result in God’s abandoning of the Temple, as well as
Jerusalem ~ with judgement to follow. Babylonian captivity is certain. This is the main
theme of chapters 1-24.
After the news reached Babylon that Jerusalem had actually been destroyed in 586 B.C.,
Ezekiel proclaimed a new message of hope and restoration. God, as the Great Shepherd
will regather the Israelites from the ends of the earth, and re-establish them in their
own land. The nations who challenge Israel’s return will be defeated and judged.
Outline:

87
 I. Ezekiel’s call and commission [1-3]
II. Jerusalem’s sinful condition and doom [4-7]
III. God abandons Jerusalem [8-11]
IV. Leaders and people are guilty [12-19]
V. The last full measure [20-24]
VI. Foreign nations in prophecy [25-32]
VII. Hopes for restoration [33-39]
VIII. Israel is restored to Palestine [Israel] [40- 48]
Unquote.
In discussing this book, references will be added, to give further information and
understanding to the content, time, or place, of the event(s) being described, as well as
my comments.
In this context, we must understand that references “Israel” refers to the 10 “rebellious
tribes”, who left the nation of Israel, and established their city in Samaria, and the title
“Judah”, represents the two tribes (the Levites and the Tribe of Judah), who remained
in Jerusalem, faithful to the word of God ~ (well most of the time). Some areas in this
book will be shaded, and these are prophetic utterances, for specific times on the Hebrew
Spiritual Calendar.

CHAPTER 1: EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY AT CHEBAR

1. Now it came to pass in the thirteenth year, in
the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month,
as I was among the acaptives by the Chebar
River, that bthe heavens opened, and I saw
c
visions of God.
2. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth
year of dKing Jehoiachin’s captivity.
3. The word of the Lord came expressly unto
e
Ezekiel fthe priest, the son of Buzi, in the land
of the Chaldeans, by the Chebar River; and gthe
hand of the Lord was there upon him.
Ezekiel was a priest (the son of Buzi) who lived with
the Jewish exiles, beside the Chebar canal in
Babylon. One day, late in June, when I was thirty years old, the heavens were suddenly
opened to me and I saw visions from God.
4. And I looked, and behold, ha whirlwind came iout of the north, a great cloud, and a
fire junfolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof, as
the colour of amber, out of the midst of the fire.
5. Also, out of the midst thereof came the likeness of kfour living creatures. And this
was their appearance.; they had the likeness of a man.
6. And everyone had four faces, and everyone had four wings.

a
[h] Captivity e
[h] Jekezkel i
Jeremiah 1:13
b
Matthew 3:16, John 1:51 f
Jeremiah 1:1 j
[h] catching itself
c
See 8:3, 40:2 g
See chapts. 3:22, 33:22, 37:1 k
Revelation 4:6, Matthew 3:16,
d
2 Kings 24:12,15 h
Job 38:1 John 1:51

88
7. And their feet were astraight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a
calf’s foot: and they sparkled blike the colour of burnished brass.
8. c
And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they
four, had their faces and their wings.
9. Their wings were joined one to another; dthey turned not when they went; they went
everyone straight forward.
10. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had a face like a man, and the face of a
lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox, on the left side, and
they four also had the face of an eagle.
11. Thus were their faces; and their wings were estretched upwards; two wings of
everyone were joined to one another, and two wings covered their bodies.
12. And they went everyone straight forward; fwhither the Spirit was to go, they went;
and they turned not when they went.
13. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning gcoals
of fire, and like the appearance of hlamps; it went up and down among the living
creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
14. And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of ia flash of lightning.
Each had two pairs of wings spreading out from the middle of his back. One pair
stretched out to connect to the wings of the living creature on either side, and one pair
covered his body. Wherever their spirit went they went, going straight forward without
turning. Going up and down among them were other forms that glowed like bright coals
of fire, or brilliant torches, and it was from these that lightning flashed. The living beings
darted to and fro, swift as lightning.
15. jNow, as I beheld the living creatures behold one wheel upon the earth by the living
creatures with his four faces.
16. The appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of beryl, and
they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work were, kas it were a
wheel in the middle of a wheel.
[Beryl is a mineral composed of beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical
formula Be3Al2Si6O18. Well-known varieties of beryl include emerald and aquamarine.
Naturally occurring, hexagonal crystals of beryl can be up to several meters in size, but
terminated crystals are relatively rare. Pure beryl is colourless, but it is frequently tinted
by impurities; possible colours are green, blue, yellow, and red (the rarest). Beryl can
also be black in colour. It is an ore source of beryllium.]
17. When they went, they went upon their four sides; and they turned not when they
went.
18. As for their rings, they were so high that they were dreadful; and their lrings were
full of eyes round about them four.
19. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them; and when the living
creatures were lifted-up from the earth, the wheels were also lifted-up.

a
[h] a straight foot e
[h] divided above j
See chapter 10:2
b
Daniel 10:6 f
See verse 20 k
See chapter 10:10
c
See 10:8,21 g
Psalm 18:12-13 l
[h] strakes
d
See verses 12,17, Chapter h
Revelation 4:5
10:11 i
Daniel 10:6

89
20. aWhithersoever the Spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and
the wheels were lifted-up over against them; for the Spirit bof the living creature
was in the wheels.
21. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and those were
lifted-up from the earth, the wheels were lifted-up over against them; for the Spirit
c
of the living Creature (Spirit of Life) was in the wheels.
22. And the likeness of dthe firmament upon their heads of the living creature was as
the colour of terrible crystal, stretched over their heads above.
23. And under the firmament were their wings straight, the one towards the other;
everyone had two, which covered on this side, and everyone had two which covered
on that side, their bodies.
24. And when they went, eI heard the noise of their wings, flike the noise of great waters,
as gthe voice of hthe Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of a host; when they
stood, they let down their wings.
25. And there was a voice from the firmament, that was over their heads, when they
stood and let down their wings. They could go in any four directions without having
to turn around].
26. The four wheels had rims and spokes, and the rims were filled with eyes around
their edges. When the four living beings flew forward, the wheels move forward with
them. When they flew upwards, the wheels went up too. When the living beings
stopped, the wheels stopped also. For the Spirit of the living beings was in the
wheels; so, wherever their spirit went, the wheels and the living beings went also.
The sky spreading out above them looked as though it was made of crystal; it was
inexpressibly beautiful. Each being’s wings stretched straight out to touch the other’s
wings; and each had two wings covering their bodies. And as they flew, their wings
roared like waves upon the shore, or like the voice of God, or like the shouting of a
might army. When they stopped, they let down their wings. And every time they
stopped, there came a voice there came a voice from the crystal sky above them.
27. And above the firmament that was over their heads was ithe likeness of a throne, as
the appearance of ja sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was the
likeness of the appearance of a man above upon it.
28. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it,
k
from the appearance of his loins upwards, and for the appearance of his loins, even
downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round
about.
29. lAs the appearance of the bow mthat is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the
appearance round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of nthe glory of
the Lord. oAnd when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.
CHAPTER 2: GOD ALMIGHTY SPEAKS TO EZEKIEL
1. And He said unto me; pSon of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee.

a
See verse 12, chapter 10:17 g
Job 37:4-5 m
Genesis 9:13
b
[h] of life h
Genesis 17:1 n
See 3:23 & 8:4
c
[h] Spirit of Life i
See 10:1 o
Joshua 5:14, see 3:23, Daniel
d
See 25-26, 10:1 j
Exodus 24:10 8:17, Acts 9:4, Revelation 1:17
e
See 10:5 k
See 8:2 p
Daniel 8:17
f
Revelation 1:15 l
Revelation 4:1 & 10:1

90
2. a
And the Spirit entered into me when He spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet,
that I heard Him that spake unto me.
3. And He said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious
b
nation that has rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed
against me, even unto this very day.
4. For cthey are dimpudent children and stiff hearted. I do send thee unto them: You
shall say unto them; Thus says the Lord God.
5. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a
rebellious house), yet eshall know there has been a prophet among them.
And the Lord said to me: “Stand up, son of dust, (or son of man) and I will talk with
you.” And the Spirit entered into me, as He spoke, and set me on my feet. [Notice this
difference; In previous times in the Old Testament, the Spirit “covered a person” and
gave Him revelation power, but here in this case, the “Spirit entered into Him”, (just like
at Pentecost) and raised him to his feet.]
“Son of dust,” He said, “I AM sending you to the nation of Israel, to a nation rebellious
against me. They and their fathers have kept on sinning against me until this very hour.
For they are a hard-hearted, stiff-necked people. But I AM sending you to give them MY
messages ~ the messages of the Lord God of Hosts. And whether they listen or not (for
remember they are a rebellious people), they will at least know that they have had a
prophet sent by ME among them.
6. And you, son of man, fdo not be afraid of them; neither be afraid of their words,
though gbriers and thorns will be with you, and you will dwell among scorpions; be
not afraid of their words, nor dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious
house.
7. And you shall speak MY words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they
h

will forbear; for they are imost rebellious.

8. But you, son of man, hear what I say unto you; Be not rebellious like that rebellious
house; open your mouth, and jeat that I give you.
“Son of dust, don’t be afraid of them; don’t be frightened even though their threats are
sharp and barbed and sting like scorpions. Don’t be dismayed by their dark scowls. For
remember, they are rebels! You must give them my message, whether they listen or
not, (but they won’t, for they are utter rebels). Listen, son of dust to what I say to you.
Don’t you be a rebel too! Open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
9. And when I looked, behold, ka hand was sent unto me; and lo, la roll of a book was
therein.
10. [LD] And he spread it before me; and it was written mwithin and without; and nthere
was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
Then I looked and saw a hand holding out to me a scroll, with writing on both sides. He
unrolled it and I saw that it was full of warnings and sorrows and pronouncements of
doom.
CHAPTER 3: EZEKIEL’S INSTRUCTIONS: THE ROLL OF HIS CALLING ~ A
PROPHETIC MINISTRY

a
See 3:24 f
Jeremiah 1:8, see Chapter 3:9 k
Jeremiah 1:9, see chapter 8:3
b
[h] nations g
[h] rebels l
See chapter 3:1-3
c
See 3:7 h
Jeremiah 1:7 m
Revelation 5:1
d
[h] hard of face i
[h] rebellion n
Revelation 10:10
e
See chapter 33:33 j
See 3:3, Revelation 10:9

91
1. Moreover, He said unto me; Son of man eat that thou findest, aeat this roll, and then
go and speak unto the House of Israel.
2. So, I opened my mouth and He caused me to eat that roll.
3. And He said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill your bowels with
this roll that I give thee. bThen did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for
sweetness. And He said to me; “Son of dust, eat what I am giving you ~ eat this
scroll! Then go and give this message to the people of Israel.” So, I took the scroll.
“Eat all-of it,” he said. And when I ate it, it tasted as sweet as honey.
4. And He said unto me, Son of man, go, get yourself unto the House of Israel, and
speak with my words unto them.
5. For thou are not sent to a people cof a strange speech, of a hard language, but to
the house of Israel.
6. Not too many people of a strange speech, and of a hard language, whose word you
cannot understand. dSurely, ehad I sent you to them, they would have hearkened
unto thee.
7. But the house of Israel shall not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto
Me; for all-of the houses of Israel are fimpudent and hard hearted.
8. Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong
against their foreheads.
9. As an adamant, gharder than flint, have I made your forehead; fear them not, neither
be dismayed at their looks, even though they be a rebellious house.
10. Moreover, He said unto me, Son of Man, all my words that I shall speak unto you
receive them into your heart and into thine ears.
11. And go, get thee unto them of the captivity, unto hthe children of thy people, and
speak unto them and tell them, thus says the Lord God: Whether they will, hear,
or whether they will forebear.
12. Then ithe spirit took me up; and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying,
“Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place.”
13. I heard also the noise of the wings of jthe living creatures that ktouched one another,
and the noise of the wheels over against them, and the noise of a great rushing.
14. So, the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went lin bitterness, in the mheat
of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.
Then He said: “Son of dust, I am sending you to the people of Israel with my messages.
I am not sending you to some far-off foreign land, where you cannot understand the
language, ~ no, not to tribes with strange difficult tongues. (If I did, they would listen!)
I am sending you to the people of Israel, and they won’t listen to you, any more than
they would not listen to me! For the whole lot of them are hard, impudent, and stubborn.
But see, I have made you hard and stubborn too. ~ just as tough as they are. I have
made your forehead as hard as rock. So, don’t be afraid of them, or fear their sullen
angry looks, even though that are such rebels. Then He added: “Son of dust, let all-of
my words sink deep into your own heart first; listen to them carefully for yourself. Then,

a
See chapter 2:8-9 e
Matthew 11:21,23 i
See 8:3, 11:1,24, 43:5, 1 Kings
b
Revelation 10:9-10 f
[h] stiff of forehead & hard of 18:12, Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1
c
[h] deep of lip & heavy of heart. j
See 1:5,15
tongue g
Isaiah 50:7 k
[h] kissed
d
Had I sent thee, would they not h
See 33:2 l
[h] better
have listened to you? m
[h] hot anger

92
afterwards, go to your people in exile, and whether they will listen or not, tell them;
This is what the Lord God of Israel says!” Then the Spirit of the Lord lifted me up, and
the glory of the Lord began to move away, accompanied by the sound of a great
earthquake. It was the noise of the wings of the living beings, as they touched against
each other, and the sound of their wheels beside them. The Spirit lifted me up and took
me away to Tel Abib, another colony of Jewish exiles beside the Chebar River. I went in
bitterness and anger, but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.
15. Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel-Abib, that dwelt aby the river Chebar and
b
I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them for seven days.
16. And it came to pass, at the end of the seven days, that the word of the Lord came
unto me saying;
17. Son of man, I have made thee ca watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore,
hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.
18. When I say unto the wicked, that you shall surely die: and you give him no warning,
nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked ways, to save his life; the same wicked
man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood shall I require at your hand.
19. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he turns not from his wickedness, dhe shall die in
his iniquity, ebut you have delivered your own soul.
20. Again, fwhen a righteous man does turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity,
and gI lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given
him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his hrighteousness which he had done shall
not be remembered: but his blood I shall require at your hand.
21. Nevertheless, if you warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he does
not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned, and you he delivered your soul.
And I sat there among them, overwhelmed, for seven days. At the end of the seven
days the Lord said to me: Son of Dust, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel;
whenever I send my people a warning, pass it onto them immediately. If you refuse to
warn the wicked when I want you to tell them, you are under the penalty of death.
Therefore, repent and save your life; they will die in their sins, but I will punish you.
I will demand their blood for yours. [This is a warning for ALL watchmen intercessors].
BUT, if you warn them and they keep on sinning, and refuse to repent ~ they will die in
their sins, but you will be blameless, because you have done all you could. And if a
good man becomes bad, and you refuse to warn him of the consequences, and the Lord
destroys him, his previous “good deeds” won’t help him ~ he shall die in his sins; but I
will hold YOU responsible for his death, and punish you. But if you warn him and
he repents, He shall live and, you have saved your own life too.
22. iAnd, the hand of the Lord was there upon me: and he said unto me: Arise and go
forth into the plain, and I will talk with you there.
23. Then I arose, and went forth jinto the plain; and behold kthe glory of the Lord stood
there, as the glory of the Lord that I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face.
24. lThen the Spirit entered-into me, and set me upon my feet, and spake with me, and
said unto me, Go shut thyself within thine house.

a
See 1:1 e
See 33:9 i
See 1:3
b
Job 2:13 f
See 18:24 j
See 37:1
c
Isaiah, 52:8, 56:10, Jeremiah g
Jeremiah 6:21, see 24:3, 1 John k
See 1:28
6:17, 33:2,6 2:10 l
See 2:2
d
See 18:18, John 8:21,24 h
[h] righteousnesses

93
25. But you, O son of man, behold, athey shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee
with them, and thou shall not go out among them.
26. And I will make thy tongue cleave to the top of thy mouth, that thou shall be dumb,
and shall not be to them ba reprover; for they are a rebellious house.
27. But when I speak with thee, cI will open thy mouth, and thou shall say unto them,
Thus, says the Lord; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forebeareth, let him
forebear; for they are a rebellious house.
I was helpless in the hand of God, and when He said to me, “Go out into the valley, and
I will talk with you there”. I arose and went, and Oh I saw the glory of the Lord there,
just as it was in my first vision! And I fell to the ground on my face.
Then the Spirit of the Lord entered-into me and set me on my feet. He talked with me
and said; “Go, imprison yourself in your house, and I will paralyse you, so that you
cannot leave; and I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so that you
cannot reprove them; for they are rebels.
But, whenever I give you a message, then I will loosen your tongue and let you speak;
and then you shall say to them: The Lord God says; Let anyone listen who wants to,
and let anyone refuse who wants to, for they are all rebels.
CHAPTER 4: THE TYPE OF A SIEGE
1. Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it
the city, even the city of Jerusalem.
2. And lay siege against it, and dbuild a fort against it, and ecast a mount against it;
set it and came also against it, and set fbattering rams against it round about.
3. Moreover, take unto thee gan iron pan, and set it for a wall-of iron between thee and
the city; and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shall lay siege
against it.
4. Lie also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of Israel upon it; according to the
number of the days that thou shall lay upon it thou shall hbear their iniquity.
5. For I have laid on thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of days,
three hundred & ninety (390); iso shall thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
6. And when thou have accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shall
bear the iniquity of the house of Judah for forty days; jI have appointed thee each
day for a year.
7. Therefore, thou shall set they face towards the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm
shall be uncovered, and thou shall prophecy against it.
8. And behold, kI will lay bands upon thee, and thou shall not turn lfrom one side to the
other, until thou hast ended the days of the siege.
“And now, Son of Dust, take a large brick, and lay it before you, and draw a map of the
city of Jerusalem upon it. Draw a picture of siege mounds being built against the city,
the enemy camps around it, and put an iron plate between you and the city, like a wall-
of iron. Demonstrate how an enemy army will capture Jerusalem!”
“There is a special meaning in each of the details that I have told you to do. For it is to
be a warning to the people of Israel.” “Now, lie on your left side for 390 days (some

a
See 4:8 f
[h] chief leaders k
See 3:5
b
[h] a man reproving g
[h] a flat plate or slice l
[h] from one side to the other
c
See 24:27 h
See 44:10,12 side
d
2 Kings 25;1 i
Number 14:34
e
Jeremiah 6:6 j
Number 14:34

94
version say 190 days), to show that Israel shall be punished for 390 years, by captivity
and doom. Each day that you lie there, represents a year of punishment ahead for the
nation of Israel. Afterwards, turn over and lie on your right side for 40 days, to signify
the years of Judah’s punishment. Each day will represent one year.” Meanwhile, continue
your demonstration of the siege of Jerusalem; lie there with your arm bared, [to signify
great power and strength in the attack against her]. This will prophecy her doom. And I
will paralyze you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, until you have
completed all the days of your siege.
9. Take thou also unto thee, wheat, and barley, and beans and lentils, and millet, and
a
fitches, and put them into one vessel, and make the bread thereof, according to the
number of days that thou shall lay upon they side, three hundred and ninety days,
thou shall eat thereof.
10. And thy meat which thou shall eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from
time to time, thou shall eat it.
11. Thou shall also drink water by measure, the sixth part of ba hin, from time to time
thou shall drink it.
12. And thou shall eat it as barley cakes, and thou shall bake it with dung, that comes
out of man in their sight.
13. And the Lord said; even thus cshall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread
among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
14. Then said I; Ah Lord God! Behold, my soul has not been polluted; dfor from my youth
up until even now have I not eaten of ethat which dieth of itself, or fis torn into
pieces; neither came there, gabominable flesh into my mouth.
15. Then He said unto me; Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou
shall prepare thy bread therewith.
16. Moreover, He said unto me; Son of man, behold, hI will the staff of bread in
Jerusalem; and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink
water by measure, and with astonishment.
17. That they may want bread and water, and be astonied one with another, and
consume away for their iniquity.
“During the first 390 days, eat bread made of flour mixed from wheat, barley, beans,
lentils, and spelt. Mix the various kinds of flour together in a jar. You are to ration this
out for yourself, at the rate of 8 ounces at a time, one meal a day. And use one quart
of water a day; don’t use more than that. Each day, take flour from the barrel and
prepare it as you would barley cakes. While all the people are watching, bake it over a
fire, using dried human dung as fuel, and eat it. For the Lord declares, that Israel shall
eat defiled bread, in the Gentile lands, to which I will exile them.”
Then I said, “O Lord God, must I be defiled by using dung? For I have never been defiled
before in all-of my life. From the time I was a child until now, I have never eaten any
animal that died of sickness, or that I found injured or dead; and I have never eaten
any kind of animal that our law forbids.”i Then the Lord said; “All right, you may use
cow dung instead of human dung.” [NOTE: Here is a situation where Ezekiel pleads with
God and proclaims that He has never defiled himself since he was a child & God changes
His mind, so that Ezekiel will not defile himself by breaking one of the Dietary laws, laid

a
Nigella sativa~ black cumin e
Leviticus 7:24 i
See the dietary laws in Leviticus
b
See 45:24 f
Exodus 22:31 chapter 11.
c
Daniel 1:8, Hosea 9:3 g
Leviticus 7:18
d
Acts 10:14 h
Leviticus 26:26

95
out in Leviticus chapter 11]. Then He told me, “Son of dust, bread will be tightly rationed
in Jerusalem. It will be weighed out with great care and eaten fearfully. And the water
shall be portioned out in driblets, and the people will drink it with dismay. I will cause
the people to lack both bread and water, and to look at one another in frantic terror,
and to waste away beneath their punishment.”
CHAPTER 5: TYPE OF THE PROPHET’S HAIR.
1. And thou, Son of man, shall take thee a sharp knife and take thee a barber’s razor,
and acause it to pass upon thy head and they beard; then take thee balances to
weigh and divide the hair.
2. Thou shall burn with fire a third part of the hair in-the-midst-of-the-city, when bthe
days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shall take a third part, and smite about it
with the knife; and a third part cthou shall scatter in the wind; and dI will draw out
a sword after them.
3. Thou shall also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy eskirts.
4. Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in
the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
SON OF DUST, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head
and beard; use balances to weigh the hair into three equal parts. Place a third of the
hair on the map in the centre of Jerusalem.
After your siege, burn it there. Scatter another third across your map and slash at it
with a knife. Scatter the last third to the wind, for I will chase my people with the sword.
Keep just a small amount of hair and tie it up and hide it in your robe, then take a few
of these hairs, and throw them into the fire; for a fire shall come for this remnant and
destroy all-of Israel.
5. Thus says the Lord God of Israel: This is Jerusalem, I have set it in-the-midst-of the
nations and countries that are round about her.
6. And she has changed my judgements into wickedness, more than the other nations
that are round about her; for they have refused my judgements and my statutes,
for they have not walked in them.
7. Therefore, thus says the Lord God; Because ye multiplied more than then nations
that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, fneither have kept
my judgements, neither have done according to the judgements of the nations that
are round about you;
8. Therefore, thus says the Lord God; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will
execute judgements in-the-midst-of thee, in the sight of the nations.
9. And I will do in thee gthat which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do
anymore the like, because of all thine abominations.
10. Therefore, hthe fathers shall eat the sons, in-the-midst-of thee, and the sons shall
eat their fathers; and I will execute judgements in thee, and the whole remnant of
thee will I iscatter into all the winds.

a
Compare Leviticus 21:5, with d
See verse 12, Jeremiah 9:126 g
Lamentations 1:12, Daniel 9:12,
Ezekiel 44:20, & 1:3 e
[h] wings Amos 3:2
b
See 4:8-9 f
Jeremiah 2:10-11, See 16:47 h
Deuteronomy 28:53
c
See verse 10 i
See 2:12

96
11. Wherefore, as I live, says the Lord; Surely, because athou hast defiled my sanctuary
with all they detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also
diminish thee; neither shall mine eyes spare, neither will I have any pity.
The Lord God says; “This illustrates what will happen to Jerusalem, for she has turned
away from my laws, and has been even more wicked than the nations surrounding her.”
Therefore, the Lord God says; I, even I, am against you and I will punish you publicly
while all the nations watch. Because of the terrible sins that you have committed, I will
punish you more severely than I have ever done before, or will ever do again. Fathers
will eat their own sons, and sons will eat their fathers; and those who survive shall be
scattered into all-of the world. “For I promise you; Because you have defiled my Temple,
with idols and evil sacrifices, therefore I will not spare you nor pity you at all.
12. A bthird part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine they shall be
consumed in-the-midst-of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword, round about
thee; and cI will scatter (the remaining) third part into all the winds.
13. Thus, shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them,
and dI will be comforted; and they shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it, in
e
my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
14. Moreover, I will make thee waste, and fa reproach among the nations, that are
roundabout thee, gin the sight of all that pass by.
15. So, it will be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction, and an astonishment, unto the
nations that are roundabout thee, when I shall execute judgements in thee in anger
and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken it.
16. When I shall send upon them hthe evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their
destruction, and which I will send to destroy you.
17. So, shall I send upon you, famine, and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and
pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee.
I, the Lord, have spoken it.
One third of you shall die from famine and disease; one third will be slaughtered by the
enemy; and one third I will scatter to the winds, sending the sword of the enemy chasing
after you. Then, at last, my anger will be appeased. And all Israel shall know that what
I threaten, I will do. [God says what He means, and means what He says!]
So, I will make a public example of you, before all-of the surrounding nations, and before
everyone travelling past the ruins of your land. You will become a laughing stock to the
world and an awesome example to everyone, for all to see what happens when the Lord
turns against an entire nation in furious rebuke. I, the Lord, have spoken it. “I will
shower you with deadly arrows of famine to destroy you. The famine will become more
and more serious, until every bit of bread is gone. And not only famine will come, but
wild animals will come and attack you, and kill you and your families; disease will and
war will stalk your land, and the sword of the enemy will slay you; I, the Lord, have
spoken it.”
CHAPTER 6: THE JUDGEMENT OF JERUSALEM & ISRAEL
1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
2. Son of man, iset thy face towards jthe mountains of Israel, and prophecy against
them.

a
2 Kings 16:10-15, & 21:7, 2 d
Isaiah 1:24 h
Deuteronomy 32:23-24
Chronicles 36:14, & See 8:3,5 e
See 38:18-19 i
See 20:46, 21:2
b
See verse 2 f
Nehemiah 2:7, Jeremiah 24:9 j
See 19:9, 36:1,4,8
c
See verse 10 g
Lamentations 2:15

97
3. And say, Ye mountains of Israel, Hear the word of the Lord God; Thus says the Lord
God to the mountains, and ato the hills, to bthe rivers, and cto the valleys; Behold,
I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and dI will destroy your high places.
4. And your altars shall be desolate, and your eimages shall be broken; and fI will cast
down your slain men before your idols.
5. And I will glay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols; and I
will scatter your bones roundabout your altars.
6. In all-of your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall
be desolate; that your altars shall be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols
may be broken and cease, and your (sun) images may be cut down, and your works
may be abolished.
7. And the slain shall fall in-the-midst-of you, hand you shall know that I AM, the Lord.
AGAIN, A MESSAGE came from the Lord saying; “Son of dust, look over towards the
mountains of Israel and prophecy against them. Say to them, O mountains of Israel,
hear the message of the Lord God against you, and the rivers and valleys.
I, even I the Lord, will war upon you to destroy your idols. All your cities will be smashed
and burned, and the idol altars abandoned. Your gods shall be scattered; the bones of
their worshippers will lie scattered among the altars. Then, at last, you will know that I
AM the Lord.
8. iYet, will I leave a remnant, that you may have some that escape the sword among
the nations, when you shall be scattered through the countries.
9. And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they
shall be carried away captives, because I am broken with their whorish hearts, which
have departed from me, and jwith their eyes, which kgo a whoring after their idols;
and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all-of
their abominations.
10. And they shall know that I AM, the Lord., and that I have not said in vain that I
would do this evil unto them.
But I will let a few of my people escape, to be scattered among the nations of the world.
Then, when they are exiled among the nations they will remember me, for I will take
away their adulterous hearts; their love of idols, and I will blind their lecherous eyes
that long for other gods. Then at last, they will loathe themselves for all their
wickedness. They will realise that I alone am God, and that I wasn’t fooling when I told
them that all this would happen to them.
11. Thus says the Lord God; Smite lwith thine hand, and mstamp with thy foot, and say;
Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the
sword, by the famine, and by pestilence.
12. He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the
sword; and he that remains and is besieged, shall die by the famine; thus, will I
accomplish my fury upon them.
13. Then shall you know that I AM, the Lord, nwhen their slain men shall be among their
idols, roundabout their altars, oupon every high hill, pin all the tops of the mountains,

a
See 36:4-6 g
[h] give m
See 26:5
b
See 35:8 h
See verse 13, 7:4,9 n
See verse 4-5
c
Jeremiah 2:23 i
See 12:16, 14:22 o
Jeremiah 2:20
d
Leviticus 26:30 j
See 20:7, 24 p
Hosea 4:13
e
[h] sun images k
See 23:30
f
2 Kings 23:14,16 l
See 21:14

98
 and under every green tree, and under every thick aoak, the places that they did
offer sweet savour to all their idols.
14. So, I will stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yes, bmore
desolate that the wilderness towards Dib-lath, in all their habitations; and they shall
know that I AM, the Lord.
The Lord God says; Raise your hands in horror and shake your head, with deep remorse
and say; “Alas for all the evil we have done! For you are going to perish from war,
famine, and disease. Disease will strike down those in exile, war will destroy those in
the land of Israel; and any who remain will die of famine and siege. So, at last, I will
expend my fury on you. When your slain lie scattered among your idols and altars, on
every high hill and mountain, and under every green tree and great oak, where they
offered incense to their gods, you will realise that I alone, am God! I will crush you and
make your cities desolate from the wilderness in the south to Riblah in the north. Then,
you will know that I AM the Lord.
CHAPTER 7: FINAL DESOLATION OF ISRAEL
1. Moreover, the Word of the Lord came unto to me saying;
2. Also, thou son of man, thus says the Lord God unto the Land of cIsrael; dAn end, the
end is come upon the four corners of the land.
3. Now, is the end come upon thee; and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will
judge thee according to thy ways, and will erecompense upon thee, all-of thine
abominations.
4. And fmine eye shall not spare thee; neither will I have pity; but I will recompense
thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in-the-midst-of thee; and then
g
you shall know that I AM the Lord.
5. Thus says the Lord God; An evil, an only evil, behold is come.
6. An end is come, the end is come; it hwatches for thee; behold, it is come.
7. The morning is come unto thee; O thou that dwells in the land; the time is come,
i

the day of trouble is near, and not the jsounding again of the mountains.
8. Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee; and accomplish mine anger upon
thee; and I will judge the according to thy ways; and will recompense thee for all
thine abominations.
9. And mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; I will, recompense kthee
according to thy ways, and thine abominations that are in-the-midst-of thee; and
you shall know that I AM the Lord lthat smites thee.
10. Behold the day, behold it is come; the morning has gone forth; m
the rod has
blossomed, and pride has budded.
11. Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness; none of them shall remain; nor of
their multitude, nor of any of ntheirs; neither shall there be wailing for them.
12. The time is come, the day draws near; let not othe buyer rejoice, nor the seller
mourn; for the wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. [no-one will escape this
terrible wrath of God]!

a
Isaiah 1:30 f
See 5:11 l
Isaiah 9:13
b
[h] desolate from the wilderness g
See verse 9, 27 & chapter 6:7 m
Isaiah 10:5
c
Malachi 1:1 h
[h] awakes against n
[h] Their tumultuous persons
d
Lamentations 4:18, see chapter i
See verse 10 o
Isaiah 24:2
3:16 j
[h] echo
e
[h] give k
[h] upon thee

99
13. For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, aalthough they were yet alive;
for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither
shall any strengthen themselves bin cthe iniquity of his life.
14. They have blown the trumpet, even to make all ready; but none goes to the battle:
for my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof.
15. dThe sword is without, and the pestilence and the famine within; he that is in the
field shall die with the sword; and he that is in the city, famine and pestilence shall
devour him.
This further message came to me from God: “tell Israel, wherever you look, east, west,
north, or south, ~ your land is finished! No hope remains, for I shall release my anger
upon you for your worshipping of idols. I will turn my eyes away and show you no pity;
I will repay you in full for your actions, and then you shall know that I am the Lord”.
The Lord God says; “With one blow after another, I will finish you. The end has come;
your final doom is waiting. O Israel, that day of your damnation dawns; the time has
come; the day of trouble nears. It is a day of shouts of anguish, not shouts of joy!
Soon I will pour out my fury and let it finish its work of punishing you for all your evil
deeds. I will not spare nor pity you, and you will know, that I, the Lord, am doing it.
The day of your judgement has come; the morning dawns, for your wickedness and
pride have run their course and reached their climax ~ none of these rich and wicked
men shall live! All-of your boasting will die away, and no-one will be left to bewail your
fate.”
“Yes, the time has come; the day draws near; there will be nothing to buy or sell, for
the wrath of God is on the land.
And even if the businessman lives, his business will be gone, for God has spoken against
all the people of Israel; all will be destroyed. Not one of those, whose lives are full with
sin, will recover.
The trumpets shout to the Israel army; ‘Mobilize!’ but no-one listens, for my wrath is on
them all. If you go outside the walls, there stands an army to kill you. If you stay inside
the walls, famine and disease will devour you.”
[Notice through this series of warnings, God Almighty gives the nation plenty of time to
repent, change their wicked ways, and turn back to God, but evil pride blocked their
ears, to these warnings ~ and death followed.] IN THESE LAST DAYS the same will
HAPPEN TO ALL NATIONS!
16. But ethey shall escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains, like
doves of the valley, all-of them mourning, every one for his (own) iniquity.
17. fAll their hands shall be feeble, and all their knees shall gbe weak as water.
18. They shall also hgird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them: and
shame shall be upon all their faces, and ibaldness upon all their heads.
19. They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold jshall be removed: their
silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Lord:
they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because kit is lthe stumbling
block of their iniquity.

a
[h] though their life was yet e
See 6:8 j
[h] for a separation, or for
among the living f
See 21:7 uncleanness
b
[h] whose life is in his iniquity g
[h] go into water k
[h] their iniquity is their
c
[h] his iniquity h
Lamentations 2:10 stumbling block
d
Deuteronomy 32:25 i
Isaiah 3:24 l
See 14:3-4,7; 44:12

100
Any who do escape, will be as mourning doves, hiding on the mountains, each weeping
his tears, for his own sins. All hands shall be feeble, and all their knees as weak as
water. You shall clothe yourself with sackcloth, and horror and shame shall cover you;
you shall shave your head in sorrow and remorse.
Throw away your money! Toss it into the streets ~ it is worthless rubbish, for it will have
no value in the day of wrath! It will neither satisfy, nor feed you, for your love of money
is the reason for your sin!
20. As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but athey made their images
of their abomination and of their detestable things therein; therefore, have I set it
far from them.
21. And I will give it unto the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the
earth for a spoil; and bthey shall pollute it.
22. My face will I also turn away from them, and they shall pollute my secret place; for
the crobbers shall enter into it and defile it.
I gave you gold to use to decorate my Temple, and you used it instead to make idols!
Therefore, I will take it all away from you. I will give it to foreigners and to wicked people
as booty. They shall defile my Temple. I will not look when they defile it, nor will I stop
them. Like robbers, they will loot the treasures and leave the Temple in ruins.
Why did God Almighty turn His eyes away, when the foreigners came in and defiled and
looted His Temple, and entered into the Holy of Holies, to destroy it? Remember, if any
Jew, except the High Priest, entered into the Holy of Holies, they would be killed. God
Almighty had to avert His eyes, otherwise according to His own laws, He would have
had to kill all-of the foreign invaders who came into the Holy Temple areas, which were
after the “outer courts”.
23. Make a chain: for dthe land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
24. Wherefore, I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they shall possess their houses;
I will also make the pomp of the strong cease; and etheir holy places shall be defiled.
25. fDestruction cometh: and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
26. gMischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; and they
shall seek a vision of the prophet; but hthe law shall perish from the priests, and
counsel from the ancients.
27. The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands
of the people of the land shall be troubled; I will do unto them after their way, and
i
according to their desert will I judge them: and they shall know that I AM the Lord.
“Prepare chains for my people, for the land is full of bloody crimes; Jerusalem is full of
violence, so I will enslave her people. I will crush your pride, by bring to Jerusalem, the
worst of the nations to occupy your homes, break down your fortifications, that you are
so proud of, and defile your Temple. For the time has come for the cutting off of Israel.
You will sue for peace, but you won’t get it! Calamity upon calamity will befall you: woe
upon woe, disaster upon disaster! You will long for a prophet to guide you, but the
priests and elders, and the kings and princes will stand helpless, weeping in despair.
The people will tremble with fear, for I will do to them the evil they have done, and give
them all their just deserts. Then they shall know that I AM the Lord.”
CHAPTER 8: A TYPE OF CHAIN

a
2 Kings 21:4, See 8:5-16 e
[h] they shall inherit their holy h
Malachi 2:7
b
See 28:7 places i
[h] with their judgements
c
[h] burglars f
[h] cutting off
d
2 Kings 21:16, see 11:6 g
Jeremiah 4:20

101
1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the
month, as I sat in my house and athe elders of Judah sat before me, that bthe hand
of the Lord fell there upon me.
2. Then I beheld, and lo, a likeness as the appearance of fire: and from his loins even
upwards, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
3. And che put forth the form of a hand, and took me by the lock of my head; and dthe
Spirit lifted me up ebetween the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions
of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looks towards the north:
f
where was the seat of gthe image of jealousy, hwhich provoked to jealousy.
4. And, behold, ithe glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I
saw jin the plain.
Then, late in August, in the sixth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, as I was talking
with the elders of Judah in my home, the power of the Lord God fell upon me. I saw
what appeared to be a Man; from his waist down, he was made of fire; and from his
waist up, he was all amber-coloured brightness. He put out what seemed to be a hand
and took me by the hair, and the Spirit lifted me up into the sky and seemed to transport
me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate, where the large idol has made the
Lord so angry. Suddenly, the glory of the Lord God of Israel was there, just as I had
seen it before in the valley.
5. Then said He unto me; Son of man, lift-up thine eyes now towards the north. So, I
lifted-up my eyes in the direction towards the north, and behold, northward at the
gate of the altar this kimage of jealousy in the entry.
6. He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, do you see what they do? Even the great
abominations that the house of Israel commits here, that I should go far off from
my sanctuary? But turn thee yet again, and thou shall see greater abominations.
He said unto me; “Son of dust, look to the north.” So, I looked and, sure enough, north
of the altar gate, in the entrance, stood the idol. And He said; “Son of dust, do you see
what they are doing? Do you see what great sin the people of Israel are doing here, to
push me from my Temple? But come, I will show much greater sins than these!”
7. And he brought me out to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole
in the wall.
8. Then he said to me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the
wall, behold a door.
9. And he said unto me; Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do there.
10. So, I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping thing, and abominable
beasts, and all the idols of the House of Israel, portrayed upon the walls round about.
11. And there stood before them lseventy men of mthe ancients of the house of Israel,
and in-the-midst-of them, stood Jaazaniah, the son of nShaphan, with every man
his censor in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
12. Then said he unto me; Son of man, have you seen what the ancients of Israel do in
the dark; every man in the chamber of ohis imagery? For they say; The Lord sees
us not; pThe Lord has forsaken the earth.

a
See 14:1 g
Deuteronomy 4:16 m
See 8:1
b
See 1:3 h
Deuteronomy 32:16, 21 n
2 Chronicles 34:8
c
Daniel 5:5 i
See 1:28 o
Proverbs 25:11
d
See 3:12 j
See 3:22 p
See 9:9
e
2 Corinthians 12:1-4 k
Deuteronomy 4:16
f
See 5:11 l
Exodus 240:1, Numbers 11:16

102
Then He brought me to the door of the Temple Court, where I saw an opening in the
wall. “Now dig into the wall,” he said. I did, and I uncovered a door to a secret hidden
room. “Go on in,” he said, “and see the wickedness going on in there.” So, I went in.
The walls were covered with pictures of all kinds of snakes, lizards, and hideous
creatures, besides all the various idols worshipped by the people of Israel. Seventy
elders of Israel were standing there, along with Jaazaniah (the son of Shaphan)
worshipping the pictures. Each of them held a censor of burning incense, so that there
was a thick cloud of incense smoke above their heads. Then the Lord said to me: “Son
of dust, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in their minds? For they
say, ‘The Lord doesn’t see us; He has gone away!’ [This series of scriptures clearly
reminds us that God Almighty even knows what we are thinking ~ even if we do not
speak it out of our mouths. And that our minds can bring us to a place of sin, which
needs to be dealt with by repentance. We must remember that without Repentance we
shall not see God.]
13. He said also unto me; “Turn thee yet again, and you shall see greater abominations
that they do.”
14. Then he brought me to the door of athe gate of the LORD’S house which was toward
the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
Then he added, “Come, and I will show you greater sins than these!” He brought me to
the north gate of the Temple, and there sat women weeping for Tammuz, their god.
[The women wept for Tammuz, the god of fertility, because, according to Mesopotamian
myths, he had been killed, and fertility had vanished with him.] Here were Jewish
women worshipping a Mesopotamian god at the Gates of the LORD’S HOUSE. This was
a great sin!
15. Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O Son of man? Turn thee yet again, and
thou shall see greater abominations than these.
16. And he brought me into the inner courts of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the
door of the Temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-
five men, with their backs towards the Temple of the LORD, and their faces towards
the east: and they worshipped the sun, towards the east.
17. Then he said unto me; Have you seen this, O Son of man? bIs it as light thing to the
house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? For
they have filled the land with violence and have returned to provoke me to anger:
and, lo, they put cthe branch to their nose.
18. Therefore, will I also deal in fury: mine eyes shall not spare, neither will I have pity:
and dthough they cry in my ears with a loud voice, Yet I will not hear them!
Have you seen this?” he asked. “But I will show you even greater sins than these!” He
brought me to the north gate of the Temple, and there at the door, between the porch
and the bronze altar, were twenty-five men standing with their backs to the Temple of
the LORD, facing east, worshipping the sun. [they were worshipping creation ~ not the
Creator].
“Have you seen this?” he asked. “Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit
these terrible sins, leading the whole nation into idolatry, thumbing their noses at me,
and arousing my fury against them? Therefore, I will deal with them in fury. I will neither
pity nor spare them. And even though they scream for mercy in a loud voice, I will not
listen to them.”

a
See 8:3 b
[h] Is there anything lighter to c
See 15:2
commit d
Proverbs 1:28

103
CHAPTER 9: GOD’S WRATH FOR IDOLATRY
1. He cried also in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Cause them athat have charge
over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.”
2. And behold, six men came from the way of bthe higher gate, cwhich lies towards the
north, and every man da slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them
was clothed was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn eby his side; and they
went in and stood beside fthe brasen altar.
3. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was,
to gthe threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, with had
the writer’s inkhorn by his side;
4. And the Lord said unto him; Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of
Jerusalem, and hset a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for all
the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
THEN HE THUNDERED, “Call those to whom I have given the city! Tell them to bring
their weapons with them!” Six men appeared at his call, coming from the upper gate,
each one with his sword. One of whom wore linen clothing and carried a writer’s case
strapped to his side. They all went into the Temple and stood beside the bronze altar.
And the glory of the God of Israel rose from the cherubim where it had rested and stood
above the threshold of the Temple. And the Lord called to the man with the writer’s
case, and said to him, “Walk through the streets of Jerusalem and put a mark on the
foreheads of the men who weep and sigh because of all the sins they see around them.”
[Who is the man clothed in white linen? It is believed to be a specific angel, tasked with
putting God’s mark on the righteous ones.]
5. And to the others he said in imy hearing; Go ye after him through the city and smite:
let not your eye spare, neither have you pity.
6. Slay jutterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come
not near any man upon whom is the mark; and kbegin at my sanctuary. Then they
began at lthe ancient men which were before the house.
7. And he said unto them, “mDefile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye
forth.” And they went forth, and slew in the city.
Then I heard the Lord tell the other men: “Follow him through the city, and kill everyone
who does not have the mark on his forehead. Spare not, nor pity them ~ kill them all ~
old and young, girls, women, and even little children: but don’t touch anyone with the
mark. Now begin right here at the Temple.” And they began by killing the seventy elders.
[The ones who should have known better, the ones who led others astray, by their
example.] And he said, “Defile the Temple! Fill its courts with the bodies of those you
kill! Go!” And they went out through the city, and did as they were told by the God of
Israel.
8. And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left alone, that I fell
upon my face, and cried out and said; “Ah, Lord God! Will thou destroy all the residue
of Israel in the pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?”

a
See 44:11 e
[h] upon his loins j
[h] to destruction
b
2 Kings 15:35 f
Exodus 27:2 k
Jeremiah 25:29
c
[h] which is turned g
See 10:4,18 l
See 8:11-12
d
[h] a weapon of his breaking in h
[h] mark a mark m
See 7:22
pieces i
[h] mine ears

104
9. Then he said unto me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly
great, and the land is afull of blood, and the city full of bperverseness: for they say,
‘The Lord has forsaken the earth, and the Lord sees not’.
10.And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but cI will
recompense their ways upon their heads.”
11.And behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported
the matter, saying: I have done as thou hast commanded me.
While they were fulfilling their orders, I was left alone. I fell to the ground on my face
and cried out: “O Lord God! Will your fury against Jerusalem wipe out everyone left in
Israel?” But he said to me, “The sins of the people of Israel and Judah are very great,
and all the land is full of murder and injustice, for they say, ‘The Lord doesn’t see it! He
has gone away!’ And so, I will not spare them, and I will fully repay them, for all that
they have done.” Just then, the man in linen clothing, carrying the writer’s case reported
back and said, “I have finished the work you gave me to do.”
[Imagine if the Lord appeared in your nation today, and gave this instruction in your
nation. Would you be judged worthy, to have the mark place upon your forehead, to
show that you were righteous, and are not earmarked for slaughter, or would you be
one of the bodies left, thrown into the outer courts of your local church? It is high time
to cleanse the Nations ~ starting first within the church, with the leaders and the elders!]
CHAPTER 10: VISION OF THE COALS OF FIRE
1. Then I looked, and behold, in dthe firmament that was above the head of the
cherubims there appeared over them eas it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance
of the likeness of a throne.
2. And he spoke to fthe man clothed in linen, and said; “Go in between the wheels, even
under the cherubs, and fill gthine hands with hcoals of fire from between the
cherubims, and iscatter them over the city.” And he went in, in my sight.
3. Now the cherubims stood jon the of the house, when the man went in; and the court
filled the inner court.
4. Then kthe glory of the LORD lwent up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold
of the house; and mthe house was filled the cloud, and the court was full of the
brightness of the LORD’S glory.
5. And nthe sound of the cherubim’s wings was heard even to the outer court, as the
voice of the Almighty God when he speaks.
6. And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed in linen, saying;
“take fire from between the wheels, from the cherubims:” then he went in, and stood
beside the wheels.
7. And one cherub ostretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire
that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him
that was clothed with linen; who took it and went out.
And there appeared in the cherubims pthe form of a man’s hand under their wings.
SUDDENLY A THRONE of beautiful blue sapphire [lapis lazuli] appeared in the sky above
the heads of the cherubims. Then the LORD spoke to the man in linen clothing and said;

a
[h] filled with g
[h] the hollow of thine hand m
1 Kings 8:10
b
[h] wresting of judgement h
See 1:13 n
See 1:24
c
See 7:4 i
Revelation 8:5 o
[h] sent forth
d
See 1:22 j
See 16:46 p
See 8:3
e
See 1:26 k
See 1:28, 10:18-19
f
See 9:2 l
[h] was lifted-up

105
“Go in between the whirling wheels beneath the cherubim and take a handful of glowing
coals and scatter them over the city.” He did so while I watched. The cherubim was
standing at the south end of the Temple when the man went in. And the cloud of glory
filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord rose above the cherubim and went over
to the door of the Temple. The Temple was filled with the cloud of glory, and the court
of the Temple was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord. And the sound of
the wings of the cherubim was as the voice of Almighty God when he speaks and could
be heard clearly out in the outer court. When the Lord told the man in linen clothing to
go in between the cherubim and take some burning coals from between the wheels, the
man went in and stood beside one of the wheels. And one of the cherubim reached out
his hand (for each cherubim had, beneath their wings, what looked like human hands)
and took live coals from the flames between the cherubim and put them into the hands
of the man in linen clothes, who took them and went out.
8. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one
cherub, and another wheel by another cherub; and athe appearance of the wheels
was as the colour of a beryl stone.
9. And as for their appearances, these four had one likeness, as if a wheel had been
in-the-midst-of a wheel.
10. bWhen they went, they went cupon their four sides; they turned not as they went,
but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they
went.
11. And their whole dbody, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the
wheels, were efull of eyes round about, even the wheels that these four had.
12. As for the wheels, fit was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
13. gAnd everyone had four faces: the first was the face of a cherub, and hthe second
was the face of a man, and the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the
face of an eagle.
14. And the cherubims were lifted-up. This is the living creature that I saw iby the River
Chebar.
15. And when the cherubims went, the wheels went with them; and when the cherubims
lifted-up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels turned not from
beside them.
16. jWhen they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted-up, these lifted-up
themselves also; for the spirit kof the living creature was in them.
17. Then lthe glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood
over the cherubims.
18. mAnd the cherubims lifted-up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my
sight; when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and everyone stood
at the door of the east gate of the LORD’S house; and the glory of the God of Israel
was over them above.
19. This is the living creature that I saw nunder the God of Israel by the River Chebar;
and I knew that they were the cherubims.

a
See 1:16 f
[h] they were called in my j
See 1:21
b
See 1:17 hearing, wheel, or galgal. k
[h] or life
c
See 1:8 g
See 1:6 l
See 10:4
d
[h] flesh h
See 1:10 m
See 11:22
e
See 1:18 i
See 1:1 n
See 1:22

106
20. aEveryone had four faces apiece; and everyone had four wings; and the likeness of
the hands of a man was under their wings.
21. bAnd the likeness of their faces was the same faces that I saw by the River Chebar,
their appearances and themselves; cthey went everyone straight forward.
Each of the four cherubim had a wheel beside him ~ “The Whirl-Wheels,” as I heard
them called, for each one had a second wheel crosswise within (a wheel within a wheel),
and they sparkled like chrysolite, giving off a greenish-yellow glow. Because of the
construction of these wheels, the cherubim could go straight forward in each of four
directions; they did not turn when they changed direction, but they could go in any of
the four ways their faces looked.
Each of the cherubim had four faces ~ the first was that of an ox; the second, a man’s
face, the third, a lion’s face, and the fourth, the face of an eagle.
These were the same beings that I had seen beside the Chebar Canal, and when they
rose into the air the wheels rose with them, and stayed with them as they flew. When
the cherubim stood still, so did the wheels, for the spirit of the cherubim was within the
wheels. [That is, the wheel was a living part of the bodies of the cherubim. Hence it
could not be separated from the cherubim].
Then the glory of the Lord moved from the door of the Temple and stood above the
cherubim. And as I watched, the cherubim flew with their wheels beside them to the
east gate of the Temple. And the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
These were the living beings I has seen beneath the God of Israel beside the Chebar
Canal. I knew they were the same, for each had four faces and four wings, with what
looked like human hands under their wings. Their faces to were identical to the faces of
those I had seen at the Canal, and they travelled straight ahead, just as the others did.
CHAPTER 11: THE PRESUMPTION OF THE PRINCES
1. MOREOVER the dSpirit lifted me up, and brought me unto ethe eastern gate of the
LORD’S house, which looked eastward: and behold at the door of the gate, were
f
twenty-five men: among whom I saw Jaazaniah, the son of Azur, and Pelitiah, the
son of Benaiah, who were princes of the people.
2. Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give
wicked counsel in this city:
3. Which say, gIt is not near; let us build houses, this city is the cauldron, and we be
the flesh.
4. Therefore, prophecy against them, Prophecy, O Son of man.
THEN THE SPIRIT lifted me and brought me over to the East Gate of the Temple, where
I saw twenty-five of the most prominent men of the city, including two officers, namely
Jaazaniah (son of Azur) and Pelitiah (son of Benaiah). Then the Spirit said to me, “Son
of Dust, these are the men who are responsible for all-of the wicked counsel being given
out in this city. For they say to the people, “It is time to rebuild Jerusalem, for our city
is an iron shield, and will protect us from all harm. Therefore, son of dust, prophecy
against them loudly and clearly.”
5. And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, speak; Thus says the Lord:
Thus, have you said, O House of Israel; for I know the things that come into your
mind, every one of them. [even if you don’t speak them out!].

a
See 1:6 d
See 3:12 g
[h] It is not for us to build
b
See 1:10 e
See 10:9 houses near
c
See 1:9,12, 10:11 f
See 8:16

107
6. a
You have multiplied you slain in this city, and you have filled the streets thereof with
the slain.
7. Therefore, that says the Lord God; byour slain that you have laid in-the-midst-of it,
c
they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron; but I will bring you forth out the midst
of it.
8. You have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, says the Lord God.
9. And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of
strangers, and I will execute judgements among you.
10.dYou shall fall by the sword; I will judge you, ein the border of Israel; fand you shall
know that I AM the Lord.
11.This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall you be the flesh in the midst thereof;
but I will judge you in the border of Israel.
12.And you shall know that I AM the Lord; gfor you have not walked in my statutes,
neither executed my judgements, but hhave done after the manners of the heathen
that are round about you.
13.And it came to pass, when I prophesied, then Pelitiah (the son of Benaiah) suddenly
died. Then I fell on my face, and cried out with a loud voice and said; Ah Lord God:
Wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and told me to say: “The Lord says to the
people of Israel; Is that what you are saying? Yes, I know it is, for I know everything
that you think; Yes, every thought that comes into your minds. You have murdered
endlessly, and filled your streets with the dead. Therefore, the Lord God says; You think
this city is an iron shield? No! it isn’t! It will not protect you. Your slain will lie within it,
but you will be dragged out and slaughtered.
I will expose you to the war you have so greatly feared; says the Lord God, and I will
take you from Jerusalem and hand you over to foreigners who will carry out my
judgements against you. You will be slaughtered all the way to the borders of Israel,
and then you will know that I am the Lord. No! This city shall not be an iron shield for
you, and you will not be safe within its walls.
I will chase you even to the borders of Israel, and you will know that I am the Lord ~
you have not obeyed me, but rather have copied the nations all around you.
While I was speaking and telling them this, Pelitiah (son of Benaiah) suddenly died.
Then I fell to the ground on my face and cried out: “O Lord God, are you going to kill
everyone in all Israel?”
14.Again, the Word of the Lord came to me saying;
15.Son of man, they brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the
house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem had said;
Get you far from the Lord; unto us is this land given in possession.
16.[D] Therefore say; Thus says the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among
the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet iwill I be
to them, as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. [ISRAEL
SCATTERED]

a
See 7:23 d
2 Kings 25:19-21 g
[h] which have not walked
b
See 24:6 e
2 Kings 14:25 h
Leviticus 18:3
c
Micah 3:3 f
See 6:7, 11:12 i
Isaiah 8:14, see 37:26

108
17.[LD] Therefore say; Thus says the Lord God; aI will even gather you from the people,
and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will
give you the land of Israel.
18.[LD] And they shall come hither, and they shall take away all the detestable things
thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. [ISRAEL RE-GATHERED]
19.[S][M] And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I
will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh. [NEW
ISRAEL]
20.[S][M] That they may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances, and do them:
and they shall be my people, and I shall be their God.
21. [S][M] But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable
things and their abominations, I will recompense their ways upon their own heads, says
the Lord God.
Again, a message came from the Lord; “Son of Dust, the remnant left in Jerusalem are
saying about your brother exiles; ‘It is because they were so wicked that the Lord has
deported them. Now the Lord had given us their land!’
“But tell the exiles that the Lord God says; Although I have scattered you in the countries
of the world, yet will I be a sanctuary to you for the time that you are there, and I will
gather you back from the nations where you are scattered and give you the land of
Israel again. And when you return you will remove every trace of all this idol worship. I
will give you one heart, and a new spirit; I will take from you your hearts of stone, and
give you tender hearts of love for God, so that you can obey my laws and be my people,
and I will be your God. But for those now in Jerusalem, who long for idols, I will repay
them fully for their sins,” says the Lord.
22.Then bdid the cherubims lift-up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and cthe
glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23.And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon dthe
mountain which is on the east side of the city.
24.Afterwards, the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God,
into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So, the vision that I had went up from me.
25.Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the Lord had shewed me.
Then the cherubims lifted their wings and rose into the air, with their wheels beside
them, and the glory of the God of Israel stood above them. Then the glory of the Lord
rose from over the city and stood above the mountains on the east side.
Afterwards the Spirit of God carried me back again to Babylon, to the Jews in exile there.
And so ended the vision of my visit to Jerusalem. And I told the exiles everything that
the Lord has shown me.
CHAPTER 12: EZEKIEL’S REMOVING & TREMBLING
1. The word of the Lord also came unto me saying,
2. Son of man, thou dwellest in-the-midst-of a rebellious house, ewhich have eyes to
see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and they hear not; for they are a rebellious
house!

a
See 20:41, 28:25, 34:13, 36:24 c
See 1:28 e
Isaiah 42:20, Matthew 13:14
b
See 10:19 d
Zechariah 14:4

109
3. Therefore, thou Son of man, prepare thee astuff for removing, and remove by day in
their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight; it
maybe they will consider, even though they be a rebellious house.
4. Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing; and
thou shall go forth at even in their sight, bas they go forth into captivity.
5. c
Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.
6. [I] In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the
twilight; thou shall cover thy face, that thou see not the ground; for dI have set thee
for a sign unto the House of Israel.
7. And I did so as I was commanded; I brought my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity,
and in the even I edigged through the wall with my hands; I brought it forth in the
twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.
Again, a message came to me from the LORD: “Son of Dust,” he said, “You live among
rebels who could know the truth ~ if they wanted to, but they don’t want to; they could
hear me, if they would listen, but they refuse to listen, for they are rebels.
So now, put on a demonstration, to show them what being exiled in Babylon will be like.
Pack whatever you can carry on your back, and leave your home ~ go somewhere else.
Go in the daylight so that they can see, for perhaps even yet they will consider
what this means, even though they are rebels. Bring your baggage outside your house
during the daylight, so that they can watch. Then leave your house at night, just as
captives do, when they begin their long march to distant lands.
Dig a tunnel through the city wall, while they are observing, and carry your possessions
out through the hole. As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into
the night; muffle your face and don’t gaze around. All this is a sign to the people of
Israel of the evil that will come upon Jerusalem.
So, I did as I was told. I brought my pack outside in the daylight; all I could carry and
take into exile; and in the evening, I dug through the city walls with my hands. I went
out into the darkness with my pack on my shoulder while the people looked on. [Despite
God Almighty confirming that this was a “rebellious people”, His love for them is so
great, that He is still willing to give them one last chance to repent, before they are sent
into exile. Isn’t it wonderful, that this same God, has the same Love for us, as He does
for the People of Israel? He does not want to send us into the eternal captivity of the
abyss, for our unrepented sins.]
8. And next morning, the Word of the Lord came to me saying;
9. Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, fWhat
does thou?
10. ‘Thou say unto them’; “Thus, says the Lord God: This gburden concerns the Prince of
Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.”
11. Say, “I am your sign: hlike as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; ithey shall
remove and go into captivity.
12. And the Prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and
shall go forth; they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby; he shall cover his
face, that he sees not the ground with his eyes.

a
[h] Instruments. d
Isaiah 20:3,11; See 24:24,27 h
See 24:24
b
[h] as the goings forth of e
[h] digged for me i
[h] by removing go into
captivity f
See 17:12, 24:19, 37:18 captivity.
c
[h] dig for thee g
Isaiah 13:1

110
13. aMy net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I bwill
bring him to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; cyet shall he not see it, dthough
he shall die there.
14. [D] And eI will scatter towards every wind all that are about him to help him; and all
his bands; fand I will draw out the sword after them.
15. [D] gAnd they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall scatter them among the
nations, and disperse them in the countries.
16. [I] But I will leave a few men of them from the sword, from the famine, and from
the pestilence; that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen
whither they come; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
The Next morning, this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, these rebels,
the people of Israel, have asked what all-of this means. Tell them the Lord God says it
is a message to King Zedekiah (the Prince in Jerusalem) and to all the people of Israel.
Explain that what you did, was a demonstration of what is going to happen to them, for
they shall be driven out of their homes and sent away into exile.
Even King Zedekiah shall go out at night through a hole in the wall, taking only what he
can carry with him, with muffled face for he won’t be able to see the land.
I will capture him in my net and bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans; but
he shall not see it, and he shall die there. [This refers to the fact that he sees his whole
family murdered in front of his eyes. He is then blinded by the Babylonians in Jerusalem,
before being taken out in chains into exile to Babylon, as stated in Jeremiah 52:11].
I will scatter his servants and his guards to the four winds and then send the sword after
them. And when I scatter them among the nations, then they shall know that I am the
LORD.
But I will spare a few of them from death by war, and famine, and disease. I will save
them to confess to the nations how wicked they have been, and they shall know that I
am the LORD.
17. Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying;
18. Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and
carefulness;
19. And say unto the people of the land, Thus, says the Lord God of the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and
drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from hall that is
therein, ibecause of the violence of all them that dwell therein.
20. And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste; and the whole land shall be
desolate; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, tremble as you eat your
meals; ration out your water as if it is your last, and say to the people, the Lord God
says that the people of Israel and Jerusalem shall ration their food with utmost care,
and sip their tiny portions of water, in utter despair, because of all-of their sins. Your
cities shall be destroyed, and your farmlands deserted, and you shall know that I am
the LORD.
21. And the Word of the Lord came to me again saying;

a
See 17:20, Hosea 7:12 d
Jeremiah 52:11 h
[h] the fullness thereof
b
2 Kings 25:7 e
2 Kings 25:5 i
Psalm, 107:34
c
Compare Jeremiah 32:5, & See f
See 5:2
34:3-4, & Jeremiah 39:7 g
See 6:7

111
22. Son of man, what is that proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying; aThe
days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
23. Tell them therefore, Thus, says the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease, and
they shall no longer use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them; The days are
at hand, and the effect of every vision.
24. For bthere shall be no more any cvain vision, nor flattering divination within the house
of Israel.
25. For I AM the Lord; I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass;
it shall be no more prolonged; for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the
word, and will perform it, says the Lord God.
Again, a message came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, what is that proverb they
quote in Israel ~ The days as they pass make liars out of every prophet.” The Lord God
says; I will put an end to this proverb, and they will soon stop saying it. Give them this
one instead; ‘The time has come for all-of the prophecies to be fulfilled.’ “Then you will
see what becomes of all the false predictions of safety and security for Jerusalem. For I
AM the Lord! What I threaten ALWAYS HAPPENS! There will be no more delays, O rebels
of Israel! I will do it in your own lifetime!” says the Lord.
26. Again, the Word of the Lord came to me saying; Son of man, behold, they of the
house of Israel say, dThe vision that he sees is for many days to come, and he
prophesieth of the times that are far off.
27. Therefore, say unto them; Thus, saith the Lord God; There shall none of my words
be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the
Lord God.
Then this message came: “Son of Dust, the people of Israel say; ‘His visions won’t come
true for a long time.’ Therefore, say to them; ‘The Lord God says; All delays have ended!
I will do it now!’” [So that you get a clear understanding of who I really am, I will do all-
of these prophecies now! ~ in your lifetime, and THEN you will know that I AM the Lord
God of Israel.]
CHAPTER 13: JUDGEMENT OF LYING PROPHETS
1. And the Word of the Lord came unto me saying;
2. Son of man, prophesy against the Prophets of Israel, that prophesy, and say thou
unto them ethat prophesy out of their own hearts; Hear ye the Word of the Lord:
3. Thus, saith the Lord God; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that ffollow their own spirits,
and have seen (or heard) nothing!
4. O Israel, thy prophets are like foxes in the deserts.
5. You have not gone up ginto the gaps, neither made up the hedge, for the house of
Israel to stand in the battle, in the day of the Lord.
6. h
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord
has not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the
word.
7. Have you not seen a vain vision, and have you not spoken a lying divination, iwhereas
you say, The Lord saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

a
See 11:3, 12:27 e
[h]~ that are prophets out of h
See 12:24, 22:28
b
See 13:23 their own hearts i
Jeremiah 23:21
c
Lamentation 2:14 f
[h] walk after
d
Amos 6:3 g
[h] breaches

112
8. Therefore, thus saith the Lord God; Because you have spoken vanity, and seen lies,
(and taken no action) therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.
9. And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies; they
shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in
the writing on the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into-the-land of
Israel; and you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
THEN THIS MESSAGE came to me; “Son of dust, prophesy against the false prophets,
of Israel who are inventing their own visions, and claiming to have messages from me,
when I have never told them anything at all. Woe upon them!”
O Israel, these ‘prophets’ of yours are as useless as foxes for rebuilding your walls. O
evil prophets, what have you ever done to strengthen the walls of Israel against her
enemies ~ By strengthening Israel in the Lord?
Instead, you have lied when you said; ‘My message is from God!’ God did not send you!
And yet you expect Him to fulfil YOUR prophesies? Can you deny that you have claimed
to see ‘visions’ you never saw, and that you have said, ‘This message is from God,’ when
I never spoke to you at all.
Therefore, the Lord God says; I will destroy you for these ‘visions’ and lies; My hand
shall be against you, and you shall be cut off from the leaders of Israel; I will blot out
your names and you will never see your own country again. And you shall know that I
am the Lord.
10. Because, even because they have seduced my people, asaying, Peace: and there
was no peace; and one built up ba wall, and lo, others cdaubed it with untempered
mortar:
11. Say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall; there shall
be no overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind
shall rend it.
12. Lo, when the wall is fallen; shall it not be said unto you; Where is the daubing
wherewith you daubed it?
13. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD; I will even rend it with a stormy wind in my fury;
and there shall be an overflowing shower of mine anger, and great hailstones in my
fury to consume it.
14. So, I will break down the wall that you have daubed with untempered mortar, and
bring it down to the ground, so that the foundations thereof shall be discovered, and
it shall fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst thereof; and you shall know that
I am the Lord.
15. Thus, will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that daubed it with
untempered mortar, and will say unto you; The wall is no more, neither they that
daubed it;
16. To wit, the (false) prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and
which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.
For these evil men, deceive my people by saying, ‘God will send peace’, when that is
not my plan at all! My people build a flimsy wall and these prophets praise them for it
~ and cover it with whitewash (which is - untempered mortar). “Tell, these evil builders,
that their wall will fall.

a
Jeremiah 6:14, Micah 3:5 b
[h] a slight wall c
See 22:28

113
A heavy rainstorm will undermine the foundations, and then great hailstones and mighty
winds will knock it down. And when the wall falls, the people will cry out, ‘Why didn’t
you tell us that it wasn’t good enough? Why did you whitewash it and cover up its
faults?’ Yes, it will surely fall.
The Lord GOD says; I will sweep it away with a storm of indignation and with a great
flood of anger and with hailstones of wrath. I will break down your whitewashed wall,
and it will fall on you and crush you, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Then my
last anger against the wall will be completed; and concerning those who praised it, I will
say; The wall and its builders both are gone. For they were lying prophets, claiming
Jerusalem will have peace, when there is no peace, says the Lord GOD.
SORCERERS, WITCHCRAFT, ASTROLOGERS, & IDOLATERS
17. Likewise, thou Son of man, set they face against the daughters of thy people, which
prophesy out of their own heart: and prophesy thou against them.
18. And say; Thus, says the Lord God; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all
a
armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every statue to hunt souls! Will you
hunt the souls of my people, and will you save the souls alive that come unto you?
19. And will you pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and bfor pieces of
bread, to slay the soul’s that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should
not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?
20. Wherefore, thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your pillows, wherewith
ye there hunt for the souls cto make them fly, and I will tear them from your arms,
and will let the souls go, even the souls that you hunt to make them fly.
21. Your kerchiefs also will I tear, and deliver my people out of your hand, and they shall
be no more in your hand to be hunted: and you shall know that I am the LORD,
22. Because with lies you have made the hearts of the righteous sad, whom I have not
made sad: and strengthened the hand of the wicked, that he should not return from
his wicked ways, by promising him life;
23. Therefore, you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations; for I will deliver my
people out of your hand; and you shall know that I am the LORD.
“Son of dust, speak out against the (false) women prophets too, who pretend that the
Lord has given them His messages. Tell them the LORD GOD says; Woe to these women
who are damning the souls of my people, of both young and old alike, by tying magic
charms on their wrists and furnishing them with magic veils and selling them
indulgences.
They refuse to even offer help unless they get a profit from it. For the sake of a few
paltry handfuls of barley, or a piece of bread, will you turn away my people from me?
You have led those to death who should not die! And you have promised life to those
who should not live, by lying to my people ~ and how they love it!
And the Lord says; I will crush you, because you hunt my people’s souls with all your
magic charms. I will tear off the charms and set my people free, like birds from cages.
I will tear off the magic veils and save my people from you; they will no longer be your
victims, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Your lies have discouraged the righteous, when I did not want it so. And you have
encouraged the wicked, by promising them life, though they continue in their sins. But
you will lie no more; no longer will you talk of seeing ‘visions’ that you never really saw,

a
[h] elbows b
Proverbs 28:21 c
[h] into gardens

114
nor practice your magic, for I will deliver my people out of your hands by destroying
you, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
[This is a warning for all the people who dabble in witchcraft. astrology, idolatry, and
sorcery TODAY! God Almighty does not tolerate it for very long, especially when it is
taking people out of His kingdom, back into the kingdom of darkness. He will deal with
them PERMANENTLY!]
CHAPTER 14: GOD’S JUDGEMENT ON IDOLATERS
1. Then acame certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2. And the Word of the Lord came unto me saying;
3. Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put bthe stumbling
blocks of their iniquity before their face; should I be enquired of at all by them?
4. [I] Therefore, speak unto them, and say unto them; Thus, saith the Lord GOD; Every
man of the House of Israel that sets up his idols in his heart, and puts a stumbling
block of his iniquity before his face, and then comes to the prophet: I, The LORD will
answer him according to the multitude of his idols.
5. [I] cThat I may take the house of Israel in their own heart; because they are
estranged from me through their idols.
Then some of the elders of Israel visited me, to ask me a message from the Lord, and
this is the message that came to me, to give them:
“Son of Dust, these men worship idols in their hearts, ~ should I let them ask me
anything? Tell them, the LORD GOD says; I, the LORD will personally deal with anyone
in Israel who worships idols and then comes to ask for my help. For I will punish the
minds and the hearts of those who turn from me to idols.
6. Therefore, say unto the House of Israel; Thus, says the Lord GOD; Repent and turn
d
yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all-of your abominations.
7. For every one of the House of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel,
which separated himself from me, and sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the
stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet to inquire
of him concerning me; I, the LORD will answer him by myself:
8. And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and
I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and you shall know that I am the
LORD.
9. And if the prophet be deceived when he has spoken a thing; I, the LORD, have
deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him
from the midst of my people Israel.
10.And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity; the punishment of the prophet
shall be even as the punishment of him that seeks unto him;
11.That the House of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any
more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be
their God, says the Lord GOD.
Therefore, warn them that the Lord GOD says; REPENT & DESTROY YOUR IDOLS, AND
STOP WORSHIPPING THEM IN YOUR HEARTS. I, the Lord will personally punish
everyone, whether they be people of Israel, or the foreigners living among you, who
reject me for idols, and then come to a prophet to ask from my help and advice.

a
See 8:1, 20:1, 33:31 c
2 Thessalonians 2:11-12
b
See 7:19, 14:4,7 d
[h] others

115
I will turn upon him and make a terrible example of him, destroying him, and you shall
know that I AM the Lord.
And if one of the false prophets gives him a message anyway, it is a lie! His prophecy
will not come true, and I will stand against that ‘prophet’ and destroy him from among
my people Israel. False prophets and hypocrites ~ evil people who say that they want
my words ~ all will be punished for their sins, so that the people of Israel will learn not
to desert me and not be polluted any longer with sin, but to be my people, and I will be
their God. So, says the Lord.”
[THIS IS A CLEAR WARNING FOR ALL ‘FALSE’ PROPHETS, who speak of visions they
never see, or speak messages, that they say comes from God, but who made them up,
out of their own minds, or hearts. Destruction shall befall you, at God’s appointed time,
so that you do not lead people away from the one True God, and THEN you shall know
that the HOLY SPIRIT is destroying you, because of your disobedience.
12.The word of the Lord came to me again saying;
13.Son of man, when the land sins against me by trespassing grievously, then I will
stretch out me hand upon it, and awill break the staff of the bread thereof, and will
send famine upon it; and will cut off man and beast from it;
14.Though these three men, bNoah, cDaniel, and Job, were in it, they should but deliver
their own souls by their righteousness, says the Lord GOD.
This message of the Lord came to me; “Son of dust, when the people of this land sins
against me, then I will crush them with my fist and break off their food supply and send
famine to the land to destroy both man and beast.
If Noah, Daniel, and Job, were here today, they alone would be saved by their
righteousness, and I would destroy the remainder of Israel, says the Lord.
15.If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and dthey spoil it, so that it be
desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts;
16.Though these three men were ein it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they shall deliver
neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be
desolate.
[God make is perfectly clear in this scripture ~ Each person is responsible for their own
sins].
“When I send an invasion of dangerous animals into the land to devastate the land, even
if these three men were here, the Lord GOD swears that it would do no good ~ it would
not save the people from their doom. Those three only would be saved, but the land
would be devastated.”
17.“Or if fI bring a sword upon that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land; so that
I cut off man and beast from it;
18.Though these three men were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they shall deliver
neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
“Or if I bring war against the land and tell the armies of the enemy to come and destroy
everything, even if these three men were in the land, the Lord God declares that they
alone would be saved.” (because of their righteousness).
19.Or if I send a pestilence into the land, and pour out my fury in it in blood, to cut off
from it man and beast.

a
Leviticus 26:26, See verse 21 c
See 28:3, Daniel 9:23 e
[h] in-the-midst-of it
b
Genesis 6:9 d
[h] bereave f
Leviticus 26:25

116
20. Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the Lord GOD, they shall
deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls, by their
righteousness.
[NOTE: When God wants to make a point very clear, He repeats it at least three times.
This has occurred here in relation to Noah, Daniel, and Job, clearly stating that they
would not be saving anyone except their own souls, because of their “OWN”
righteousness.]
21. [I] For thus says the Lord GOD; aHow much more when I send my four sore
judgements upon Jerusalem, bthe sword, and the famine, and the pestilence, to cut
off from it both man and beast.
22. Yet, behold, ctherein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons
and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and you shall see their ways
and their doings; and you shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought
upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
23.And they shall comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall
know that I have not done without cause and that I have done in it, says the Lord
GOD.
“And when I pour out my fury by sending an epidemic of disease into the land; and the
plague kills men and beast alike, though Noah, Daniel, and Job were living there, the
Lord God says that only they would be saved, because of their righteousness.
And the Lord says: Four great punishments await Jerusalem, to destroy all life; war,
famine, ferocious beasts, and plague. If there are survivors, and they come here to join
you in Babylon, you will see with your own eyes how wicked they are, and you will know
that it was right for me to destroy Jerusalem. You will agree, when you meet them, that
it is not without cause that all-of these things are being done to Israel.
CHAPTER 15: THE REJECTION OF JERUSALEM
1. And the word of the Lord came to me saying;
2. Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, of than a branch which is
among the trees of the forest?
3. Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? Or will men take a pin of it to hand any
vessel thereof?
4. Behold it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devours both ends of it and the midst
of it is burned. dIs it meet for any work?
5. Behold, when it was whole, it was emeet for no work; how much less shall it be meet
yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
THEN THIS MESSAGE came to me from the Lord; “Son of dust, what good are vines
from the forest? Are they useful as trees? Are they even as valuable as a single branch?
No! for vines can’t be used even for making pegs, to hang up pots and pans! All they
are good for is fuel ~ and even so, they burn but poorly! So, they are useless both
before and after being put into the fire.
6. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD; fAs the vine tree among the trees of the forest,
which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

a
[h] also when c
See 6:8, 12:16 e
[h] made fit
b
See 5:17, 33:27, Revelation 6:8 d
[h] will it prosper? f
Psalm 80:8, See 17:6, 19:10-14

117
7. And aI will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another
fire shall devour them: band you shall know that I AM the Lord, when I set my face
against them.
8. And I will make the land desolate, because they have ccommitted a trespass, says
the LORD GOD.
CHAPTER 16: GOD’S LOVE TOWARDS HER.
Jerusalem’s Loathsome Sins
1. Again, the word of the Lord came to me saying;
2. Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,
3. And say, Thus, says the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem: Thy dbirth and thy nativity is of
the land of Canaan: the father was ean Amorite, and they mother fa Hittite.
4. And as for thy nativity, gin the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither was
thou washed in water hto supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at
all.
5. None eye pitied thee; to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion unto thee:
but thou wast cast out into the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day
that thou wast born.
THEN AGAIN, a message came to me from the LORD. “Son of Dust”, he said. “Speak to
Jerusalem about her loathsome sins. Tell her (Jerusalem) that the Lord GOD says: ‘You
are no better than the people of Canaan ~ your father must have been an Amorite and
your mother a Hittite! [The Amorites & the Hittites were nations who turned their backs
to all knowledge of God.] When you were born, no one cared for you. When I first saw
you, your umbilical cord was uncut, and you had neither been washed, nor rubbed with
salt, nor clothed. No one had the slightest interest in your wellbeing; no one pitied you,
nor cared for you. On that day that you were born, you were dumped out in the field
and left to die, you were unwanted.”
6. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee ipolluted in your own blood, I said unto
thee, when you were still in your blood, LIVE! Yes, I said when you were in your own
blood, LIVE!
7. And I jcaused you to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and
waxen great, and thou hast come to kexcellent ornaments: thy breasts are
fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou were naked and bare.
8. Now when I pass by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of
love: and lI spread my skirt over thee; and covered they nakedness; Yes, I swear
unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, says the Lord GOD, and mthou
became mine.
9. Then washed I thee with water; Yes, I thoroughly washed away thy nblood from thee,
and I anointed thee with oil.
10.I clothed thee also with obroidered work, and shod thee with badger’s skin, and I
girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

a
See 14:8 f
Judges 1:26 k
[h] ornament of ornaments
b
See 6:7 g
Hosea 2:3 l
Ruth 3:9
c
[h] trespassed a trespass h
[h] or when I looked upon thee m
Exodus 19:5
d
[h] cutting out, or habitation i
[h] Trodden under foot n
[h] bloods
e
Genesis 16:15 j
[h] made thee a million o
Exodus 26:36

118
11.I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put abracelets upon thy hands, and ba chain
on thy neck.
12.And I put a jewel on thy cforehead, and earrings in thine ears, and da beautiful crown
upon thy head.
13.Thus was thy decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk,
and broidered work; thou did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and ethou was
exceedingly beautiful, and thou did prosper into a kingdom.
14.And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect
through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, says the Lord GOD.
“But I came by and saw that you were there, covered with your own blood, and I said,
‘Live! Thrive like a plant in the field.’ And you did! You grew up and became tall, slender,
and supple, a jewel among jewels. And when you reached the age of maidenhood your
breasts were fully formed and your pubic hair had grown: yet you were naked.
“Later when I passed by and saw you again, you were old enough for marriage, and I
wrapped my cloak around you to legally declare my marriage vow. I signed a covenant
with you, and you became mine. Then, when the marriage had taken place, I gave you
beautiful clothes of linens and silk, embroidered, and sandals made of dolphin hide. I
gave you lovely ornaments, bracelets and beautiful necklaces, a ring for your nose, and
two more for your ears, and a lovely tiara for your head. And so you were made beautiful
with gold and silver, and your clothes were silk and linen and beautifully embroidered.
You ate the finest foods and became more beautiful than ever. You looked like a queen,
and so you were! Your reputation was great among the nations for your beauty; it was
perfect because of all the wonderful gifts that I gave you, says the Lord.
The Monstrous Whoredoms of Jerusalem
15.But thou did trust in thine own beauty, and fplayed the harlot because of thy renown,
and poured out thy fornications on every on that passed by; his it was.
16.And of thy garments thou did take, and decked thy high places with various colours,
and played the harlot thereupon; the like things shall not come, neither shall it be
so.
17.Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and silver, which I have given thee,
and made thyself images gof men, and did commit whoredom with them.
18.And thou took the broidered garments, and covered them; and you have set mine
oil and mine incense before them.
19.hMy meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee,
thou hast even set before them for ia sweet savour; and thus, it was, says the Lord
GOD.
20.Moreover, thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou has born unto
me, and jthese has thou sacrificed unto them kto be devoured. Is this of thy
whoredoms a small matter?
21.That thou have slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through
the fire (of Molech) for them?

a
Genesis 24:22,30,47 f
Isaiah 1:21, 57:8; Jeremiah i
[h] a savor of rest
b
Genesis 41:42 2:20, 3:2,6,20; See 23:3,8,11- j
Jeremiah 7:31, See 20:26,31 &
c
[h] nose 12; Hosea 1:2 23:37
d
See 23:32 g
[h] of a male k
[h] to devour
e
Psalm 48:2 h
Hosea 2:8

119
22.And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms you have not remembered the
days of thy youth, when thou were naked and bare; and was apolluted in thy own
blood.
23.And it came to pass after all thy wickedness, (woe, woe, unto thee! Says the Lord
GOD;)
24.That thou have also built unto thee and beminent place, and chas made thee a high
place in every street.
25.Thou have built thy high place dat every head of the way; and has made thy beauty
to be abhorred, and has opened thy feet to everyone that passed by; and multiplied
thy whoredoms.
26.Thou have also committed fornication with ethe Egyptians, thy neighbours, great of
flesh; and has increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.
27.Behold, therefore, I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished thine
ordinary food, and delivered thee into the will of them that hate thee, the fdaughters
of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd ways.
[Your sins must be pretty bad, when even the unbelievers are ashamed of your
lewdness]
28.Thou have played the whore also gwith the Assyrians, because thou were unsatiable;
yes, thou has played the harlot with them, and you could not be satisfied.
29.Thou has moreover, multiplied thy fornications in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea;
and yet thou were not satisfied herewith.
30.How weak in thine heart; says the Lord GOD: seeing that thou do all these things,
the work of an imperious whorish woman;
31.hIn that thy built thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makes thy high
place in every street; and has not been seen as a harlot; in that thou scorn hire;
32.But, as a wife that commits adultery, which takes strangers instead of her husband!
33.They give gifts to all whores; but ithou give thy gifts to all lovers, and jhires them,
that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.
34.And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms; whereas none
follows thee to commit whoredoms; and in that thou give a reward; and no reward
is given unto thee, therefore thou are contrary.
But you thought that you could get along without me ~ you trusted in your beauty
instead of my wisdom and you gave yourself as a prostitute to every man who came
along. Your beauty was his for the asking.
You used the lovely things that I gave you for making idol shrines and to decorate your
bed of prostitution. Unbelievable! There has never been anything life it before! You took
the very jewels and gold and silver ornaments I gave to you and made statues of men
and worshipped them, which is adultery against the Lord.
You used the beautifully embroidered clothes I gave you ~ to cover your idols! You even
set before them my oil and incense to worship them! You set before them ~ imagine it

a
See 16:6 e
See 20:7-8; 23:19-21 h
[h] is thy daughter is thine
b
[h] Brothel house f
[h] cities i
Hosea 8:9
c
Isaiah 57:7, Jeremiah 2:20, See g
2 Kings 16:7-18, 2 Chronicles j
[h] bribes
3:3 28:16-21, Jeremiah 2:18,36;
d
See 21:19; 42:12 See 23:12

120
~ the fine flour and oil and honey I gave you; you used it as a lovely sacrifice to THEM!
Did you think that I could not see your terrible sins?
And you took my sons and daughters that you had borne to me, and sacrificed them to
YOUR gods; and now they are gone! Wasn’t it enough that you should be a prostitute?
Must you also slay MY children in the fires of strange altars?”
“And in all these years of adultery and sin you have not thought of those days long ago
when you were naked and covered with your own blood. And then, in addition to your
own sins and wickedness, Woe, Woe upon you, says the Lord GOD. You built a spacious
brothel house for your lovers, and idol altars on every street, and there you have offered
your beauty to every man who came by, in an endless stream of prostitution. And you
added lustful Egypt to your prostitutions by your alliance with her. Because of your
wickedness, my anger is great!
Therefore, I have crushed you with my fist! I have reduced your boundaries, and
delivered you into the hands of those who hate you ~ the Philistines ~ and even they
are ashamed of you because of your actions.
You have committed adultery with the Assyrians too, [by making them your allies, and
worshipping their gods]; It seems that you can never find enough new gods. After your
adultery there, you, still were not satisfied, so you worshipped the gods of the great
merchant-land of Babylon ~ and you still weren’t satisfied! What a filthy heart you have,
says the Lord GOD, to do such things as these; you are a brazen prostitute, building
your idol altars, your brothels, on every street.
You have been worse that a prostitute, so eager for sin that you have not even charged
for your love! Yes, you are an adulterous wife who lives with other men, instead of her
own husband. Prostitutes charge for their services ~ men pay with many gifts. But not
you, you gave them gifts, bribing them to come to you! So, you are very different from
other prostitutes. But you had to pay them to come to you ~ for no one wanted to come
to you!
God’s Judgement Upon Jerusalem for her Exceeding Sin
35.Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD:
36.Thus says the Lord GOD: Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness
discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy
abominations, and aby the blood of thy children, which thou did give unto them:
37.Behold, therefore, I will gather all-of thy lovers, with whom thy has taken pleasure,
and all-of them that thou hast loved, and with all them that thou has hated; I will
even gather them roundabout against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto
them, that they may see all-of thy nakedness.
38.And I will judge thee, bas cwomen that break wedlock and shed blood are judged;
and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.
39.And I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down thine deminent
places, and break down thy high places: ethey shall strip thee also of thy clothes,
and shall take fthy fair jewels, and leave you naked and bare.
[Even the unbelievers knew that what she was doing was wrong, so they tore down her
brothel houses, and the idols in high places that she erected to worship.]

a
See verse 20 c
Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy e
See 23:26
b
[h] with judgements of 22:22 f
[h] instruments of thine
d
See verses 24-25 ornament

121
40.They shall also bring up a company against thee; and athey shall stone thee with
stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.
41.And bthey shall burn thy houses with fire, and shall execute judgement upon thee in
the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot:
and thou also shall give no hire any more.
42.So, I will make my fury towards thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee,
and I will be quiet, and angry no more.
43.Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but has fretted me in all
these things: behold, therefore I will calso recompense thy ways upon thy head, says
the Lord GOD; and thou shall not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.
O Prostitute, hear the word of the LORD: The Lord GOD says: Because I see your filthy
sins, your adultery with your lovers~ your worshipping of idols ~ and the slaying of your
children as sacrifices to your gods, this is what I am going to do to you: I will gather all-
of your allies ~ these lovers of yours, that you have sinned with, both those you loved,
and those you hated, and I will make you naked before them, that they may see you
(as you really are).
I will punish you as a murderess is punished, and as a woman breaking wedlock, by
living with other men. I will give you to your lovers ~ these many nations ~ to destroy,
and they will knock down your brothels and idol altars, and strip you and take your
beautiful clothes and jewels, and leave you naked and ashamed.
They will burn your homes, punishing you before the eyes of many women. And I will
see to it that you stop your adulteries with other gods, and end your payments to your
allies for their love. Then at last will my fury against you die away; and my jealousy
against you will end, and I will be quiet and my anger will not be directed at you
anymore.
But first, because you have not remembered your youth, but have angered me by all
these evil things that you do, I will fully repay you for all-of your sins, says the Lord.
For you are thankless in addition to all-of your faults. [Please remember, in the Old
Testament, the High Priest offered a sacrifice for the sins of the nation, once a year ~
and if that sacrifice was accepted, then God forgave those sins for the next 12 months
~ BUT THEY WERE NEVER FORGOTTEN! He could send a prophet to remind them of their
past sins at any time]. In the NEW Covenant, the sins are FORGIVE and FORGOTTEN!
44.Behold, everyone that uses proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying; As
is the mother, so is here daughter.
45.Thou are thy mother’s daughter, that loathes her husband and her children; and thou
are the sister of thy sisters; which loathes their husbands and their children; dyour
mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.
46.And thine elder sister is eSamaria, she, and thy daughters that dwell at thy left hand;
and fthy younger sister that dwells at thy right hand, is gSodom and her daughters.
47.Yet thou hast not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but has
if that were a very little thing, thou was corrupted more than they in all-of your ways.
48.As I live, says the Lord GOD, iSodom thy sister has not done, nor her daughters, as
you have done, you and your daughters.

a
John 8:5,7 d
See verse 3 h
[h] that was loathed as a small
b
2 Kings 25:9, Jeremiah 39:8, e
See verses 51,53,55 thing
52:13 f
[h] less than thou i
Matthew 10:15, 11:24
c
See 7:4 g
Isaiah 1:10

122
49.Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; pride, afulness of bread, and
abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters; neither did she
strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy.
50.And they were haughty, and bcommitted abominations before me: Therefore cI took
them away, as I saw good.
51.Neither has Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou have multiplied thine
abominations more than they, and dhas justified they sisters in all thine abominations
that thou hast done.
52.eThou also, which has judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou
has committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than you; Yes,
be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou has justified thy sisters.
53.When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters,
and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity
of their captives in-the-midst-of them again.
54.That thou may bear thy own shame, and maybe confounded in all that thou has
done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.
55.When thy sisters Sodom and their daughters, shall return to their former estate, and
Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then you and your
daughters shall return to your former estate
56.For thy sister Sodom was not fmentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy gpride.
57.Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the
daughters of hSyria, and all that are roundabout her, the daughters of the Philistines,
which idespise thee roundabout.
58.Thou hast jborne thy lewdness and thine abominations, says the Lord.
‘Like mother ~ like daughter’ ~ that is what everyone is saying about you. For your
mother loathed her husband, and her children, and you do too! And you are exactly like
your sisters, for they despised their husbands and their children too. Your mother must
have been a Hittite and your father an Amorite.
Your older sister is Samaria, living with her daughters north of you, and your younger
sister is Sodom, with her daughters living in the south. You have not merely sinned as
they do ~ no, that was nothing to you; in a very short time you far surpassed them.
As I live, the Lord GOD says; Sodom and her daughters have never been as wicked as
you and your daughters. You sister Sodom’s sins were pride, and laziness, and too much
food, while the poor and the needy suffered outside her door. She insolently worshipped
many idols and I watch. Therefore, I crushed her.
Even Samaria has not committed half of your sins. You have worshipped idols far more
than your sisters have; they seem almost righteous in comparison to you! Don’t be
surprised then by the lighter punishment they get. For your sins are so awful, that in
comparison with you, your sisters seem almost innocent! (But someday I will restore
the fortunes of Sodom and Samaria again, and those of Judah too.) Your terrible
punishment will be a consolation to them, for it will be greater than theirs.
Yes, your sisters Sodom and Samaria, and all their people will be restored again, and
Judah too will prosper in that day. In your proud days you held Sodom in unspeakable

a
Genesis 13:10 e
Romans 2:3 i
[h] spoil
b
Genesis 13:13, 18:20, 19:5 f
[h] for a report j
[h] borne them
c
Genesis 19:24 g
[h] pride or excellences
d
Jeremiah 3:11 h
[h] Aram

123
contempt. But now your greater wickedness has been exposed to all the world, and you
are the one who is scorned ~ by Edom, and all her neighbours and by all the Philistines.
This is part of your punishment for all-of your sins, says the Lord.
59.For thus says the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee and thou hast done, which
has despised athe oath in breaking the covenant.
60.Nevertheless, bI will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and
I will establish unto thee can everlasting covenant.
61.Then shall thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shall receive dthy
sisters, thine elder and they younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters,
but not by thy covenant.
62.And I will establish my covenant with thee; and you shall know that I AM the LORD:
63.That thou may remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth anymore
because of thy shame, when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou hast done,
says the Lord GOD.
For the Lord GOD says: I will repay you for your broken promises. You lightly broke your
solemn vows to me, yet I will keep the pledge that I made to you when I was young. I
will establish an everlasting covenant with you forever, and you will remember with
shame all-of the evil that you have done; and you will be overcome by my favour when
I take your sisters, Sodom and Samaria and make them your daughters, for you to rule
over. You will know that you do not deserve this gracious act, for you did not keep my
covenant. I will, reaffirm my covenant with you, and you will know that I AM the Lord.
Despite what you have done, I will be kind to you again; you will cover your mouth in
silence and in shame when I forgive you all that you have done, says the Lord GOD.
CHAPTER 17: PARABLE OF THE TWO EAGLES & A VINE
1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
2. Son of Man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the House of Israel:
3. And say; Thus says the Lord God; eA great eagle with great wings, long-winged, full
of feathers, which handfdivers (many) colours, came unto Lebanon, and took the
highest branch of the cedar.
4. He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and he carried it into as land of traffick;
he set it into a city of merchants.
5. He took also the seed of the land, and gplanted it hin a fruitful field; he placed it by
great waters, and set it as a willow tree.
6. And it grew, and became a spreading vine, iof low stature, whose branches turned
towards him, and the roots thereof were under him; and so, it became a vine, and
brought forth branches, and shot forth sprigs.
7. There was also another great eagle, with great wings and many feathers; and behold,
j
this vine did bend her roots towards him, and shot forth here branches towards him,
that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation.
8. And it was planted in a good ksoil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches,
and that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.

a
Deuteronomy 29:12,14 e
Jeremiah 48:40 i
See verse 14
b
Leviticus 26:42 f
[h] embroidering j
Leviticus 26:42
c
Jeremiah 32:40, 50:5 g
[h] put it in a field of seed k
[h] Field
d
See verses 45-46 h
Deuteronomy 8:7-9

124
9. Say thou, Thus, says the Lord GOD: Shall it prosper? Shall he not pull up the roots
thereof, and cut off the fruit thereof, that it withers? It shall wither in all the leaves
of her spring, even without great power of many people to pluck it up by the roots
thereof.
10.Yes, behold, being planted, shall it prosper? aShall it not utterly wither, when the
b
east wind touches it? It shall wither in the furrows where it grew.
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, give this riddle to the people
of Israel: A Great Eagle with broad wings, full of many coloured feathers, came to
Lebanon, and plucked off the green shoots at the top of the tallest cedar tree and carried
them into a city filled with merchants. There he planted it is fertile ground beside a broad
river, where it would grow quickly as a willow tree. It took root and grew and became a
low but spreading vine, that turned towards the eagle and produced strong branches
and luxuriant leaves. But when another great, broad winged, full feathered eagle came
along, this tree sent its roots and branches out towards him instead, even though it was
already in good soil, with plenty of water, to become a splendid vine, producing much
leaves and fruit.
Therefore, the Lord GOD asks: Shall I let this tree grow and prosper? NO! I will pull it
out, roots and all! I will cut off its branches and let its leaves wither and die. It will pull
out easily enough ~ it won’t take a big crew, or a lot of equipment to do that. Though
the vine began so well, will it thrive? NO! It will wither away completely when the east
wind touches it, dying in the same choice soil where it hand-grown so well. [God
Almighty provided good soil and plenty of water for this plant to grow, but it was not
satisfied with that, and went looking after other sources. We have to be careful that we
do not fall into the same trap].
11.Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me saying;
12.Say now to the rebellious house, know you not what these things mean? Tell them;
Behold cthe king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and has taken the King thereof,
and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;
13. And has taken the King’s seed and made a covenant with him, dand has etaken an
oath of him: he has also taken fthe mighty of the land:
14.That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, gbut that by keeping
its covenant it might stand.
15.But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors hinto Egypt, that they may
give him horses and much people. Shall he prosper? Shall he escape which does
such things? Or shall he break the covenant and be delivered?
16.As I live, says the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the King dwells that made
him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant, he brakes, even him iin the
midst of Babylon he shall die.
17.Neither shall jPharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the
war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons.
18.Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when lo, he has kgiven his
hand and done all these things, shall he escape?

a
See 19:12, Jeremiah 4:11, e
Brought him to an oath i
2 Kings 25:7
Hosea 13:15 f
2 Kings 24:15 j
Jeremiah 44:30
b
Jeremiah 18:17 g
[h] To keep his covenant is to k
1 Chronicles 29:24
c
2 Kings 24:11-12 stand to it.
d
See verse 3 h
Jeremiah 37: 5-7

125
19.Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely mine oath that he has despised,
and my covenant that he has broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.
20.And aI will; spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will
bring him to Babylon, and bwill plead with him there for his trespass that he has
trespassed against me.
21.[D] And all his fugitive with all chis bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain
shall be scattered towards all the winds: and you shall know that I, the Lord have
spoken it.
Then this message came to me from the Lord: Ask these rebels of Israel: Don’t you
understand what this riddle of the eagles means? Therefore, I will tell you:
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, [the first of the two eagles], came to Jerusalem and
took away her king and princes [her topmost buds & shoots] and brought them to
Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar made a covenant with a member of the royal family [King
Zedekiah] and made him take an oath of loyalty. He took a seedling and planted it in
fertile ground beside a broad river and he exiled the top men of Israel’s government, so
that Israel would not be strong again and revolt. But by keeping her promises, Israel
could be respected, and maintain her identity.
Nevertheless, King Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon, sending ambassadors to Egypt
to seek for a great army and many horses to fight against Nebuchadnezzar. But will
Israel prosper by breaking all-of her promises like that?? NO! For as I live, says the
Lord, the King of Israel shall die. [Nebuchadnezzar will pull out the tree, roots and all!]
Zedekiah shall die in Babylon, where the king lives who gave him his power, and whose
covenant he despised and broke.
Pharaoh and all-of his mighty army shall fail to help Israel, when the king of Babylon
lays siege to Jerusalem (the second time) and slaughters many lives. For the king of
Israel broke his promise after swearing to obey; therefore, he shall not escape.
The Lord GOD says; As I live, surely, I will punish him for despising the solemn oath
that he made in my name ~ which he broke. I will throw my net over him and he shall
be captured in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon and deal with him there for this
treason against me. [It is treason against God, because He swore a solemn oath in God’s
name, which he despised and broke] And all-of the best soldiers of Israel will be killed
by the sword, and those remaining in the city will be scattered to the four winds. Then
you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken these words.
22. [S, M] Thus says the Lord GOD: I will also dtake of the highest branch of the high
cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs ea tender one,
and will plant it fupon a high mountain and eminent.
23.[S, M] gIn the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it; and it shall bring forth
boughs, and bear fruit, and be as goodly cedar; and hunder it shall dwell all fowl of
every wing; in the shadows of the branches shall they dwell.
24.[S, M] And all the trees of the field shall know that I the Lord have brought down the
high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made
the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.
The Lord God says: I, Myself, will take the finest and most tender twig from the top of
the highest cedar, and I, myself, will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. It
shall become a noble cedar, bringing forth branches and bearing fruit. Animals of every

a
See 12:13 d
See verse 3 g
See 20:40
b
See 20:35-36 e
Isaiah 53:2, Matthew 1:12-13 h
See 31:6
c
See 12:14 f
Psalm 2:6

126
kind will gather under it; and its branches will shelter every kind of bird. And everyone
shall know that it is I, the LORD, who cuts down the high trees and exalts the low, that
I make the green tree to wither, and the dry tree to grow. I, the LORD, have said that I
would do it, and I Will! [God always says what He means and does what He says].

127
CHAPTER 18: THE PROVERB OF SOUR GRAPES
1. The word of the Lord came unto me again saying:
2. What mean ye that ayou use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying; bThe
fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
3. As I live, says the Lord GOD, you shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb
in Israel.
4. Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is
mine; cthe soul that sins ~ it shall die.
THEN, the Lord’s message came to me again. “Why do people use this proverb about
the land of Israel; The children are punished for their father’s sins? As I live, says the
Lord GOD, you will not use this proverb any more in Israel, for all souls are mine to
judge ~ fathers and sons alike ~ and my rule is this: It is for a man’s own sins that he
will die.
5. But if a man is just, and do dthat which is lawful and right,
6. And has not eeaten upon the mountains, (eaten food offered to idols), neither fhas
he lifted-up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither has he defiled his
neighbour’s wife, neither ghas he come near to a menstruous woman,
7. And has not oppressed any, but hhas restored to the debtor his pledge, has spoiled
none by violence, has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with
a garment;
8. iHe that has not given forth upon jusury, neither has taken any kincrease, that has
withdrawn his hand from iniquity; lhas executed true judgement between man and
man.
9. Has walked in my statutes, and kept my judgements, He is just and mhe shall surely
live, says the Lord GOD.
In these 5 verses, God Almighty lays out, what He defines as a righteous man, and we
all should try to fulfil these attributes.
a. But if a man be just, and
b. does that which is lawful and right, and
c. has not gone out to the mountains, to feast before idols of Israel to worship them,
and
d. does not commit adultery,
e. nor lie with a woman in the time of her menstruation, and
f. Is a merciful creditor, not
g. holding onto items given to him in pledge by poor debtors, and is
h. no robber,
i. but gives food to the hungry,
j. and clothes to those in need, and
k. grants loans to those in need without interest, and

a
See 16:44 f
Deuteronomy 4:19, Psalm 123:1 l
Deuteronomy 1:16, Zechariah
b
Jeremiah 31:29 g
Leviticus 18:19 8:16
c
Jeremiah 31:30, Galatians 3:10 h
Exodus 22:26 m
See 20:11, Amos 5:4
d
[h] Judgement and Justice i
See 22:12
e
See verses 11,15, 22:9, j
Exodus 22:25, Jeremiah 15:10
Deuteronomy 12:2 k
Leviticus 25:36

128
l. stays away from sin, and
m. is honest and fair when judging others, and
n. obeys the law,
that man is just, says the Lord, and he shall surely live.
10. If he begets a son who is a arobber, a shedder of blood, and bthat does the like to
any one of these things.
11.And that does not any of those duties, but even has eaten upon the mountains, and
defiled his neighbour’s wife,
12.cHas oppressed the poor and needy, has spoiled by violence, has not restored the
pledge, and has lifted-up his eyes to the idols, has committed abominations,
13.Has given forth upon usury (loan interest), and has taken increase; shall he not live?
He shall not live: he has done all these abominations; he shall surely die; dhis
e
blood shall be upon him.
But if a man has a son who is a robber or a murderer, and who fulfils none of his
responsibilities, who refuses to obey the laws of God, but worships idols on the
mountains, and commits adultery, and oppresses the poor and the needy, and robs his
debtors by refusing to let them redeem what they have given him in pledge, and loves
idols and worships them, and loans out his money with interest ~ shall that man live?
NO! He shall surely die ~ and it shall be his own fault.
Up until this time the Jews were told that “the sins of the father” shall pass down to his
children’s, children’s children, but now a new revelation from Almighty God.
But then God says; Just so that you don’t misunderstand me, I will tell you again, in a
different way.
14.Now, lo, if he begets a son, that sees all his father’s sins which he has done, and
considers, and does not such like,
15.That has not eaten upon the mountains, neither has lifted-up his eyes to idols of the
house of Israel, has not defiled his neighbour’s wife,
16.Neither has oppressed anybody, fhas not withholden the pledge, neither has spoiled
by violence, but has given his bread to the hungry, and has covered the naked with
a garment,
17.That has taken off his hand from the poor, that has not received usury nor increase,
has executed my judgements, has walked in my statutes; he shall not die for the
iniquity of his father; he shall surely live.
18.As for his father, because he cruelly oppressed, spoiled his brother by violence and
did that which was not good among his people, lo, even ghe shall die in his iniquity.
But if this sinful man has, in turn, a son, who sees all-of his father’s wickedness, so that
he fears God and decides against that kind of life; and doesn’t go up onto the mountains
to feast before the idols and worship them, and does not commit adultery, and is fair to
those who borrow from him, and doesn’t rob them, but feeds the hungry and feeds the
needy, and helps the poor, and does not loan money at interest, and obeys my laws ~
he shall not die because of his father’s sins; he shall surely live. But his father
shall die for his own sins, because he is cruel and robs and does wrong.

a
[h] breaker up of a house c
See 22:29 f
[h]Has not pledged the pledge
b
[h] that does to his brother d
Leviticus 20:9,11, See 32:4 g
See 3:128
besides any of these e
[h] his bloods

129
19.Yet, says you; WHY? aDoes not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son
has done that which is lawful and right, and has kept all-of my statutes, and has
done them, he shall surely live.
20.bThe soul that sins, is the soul that shall die. cThe son shall not bear the iniquity of
the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; dthe righteousness of
the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
21.BUT if the wicked will turn from all-of his sins that he has committed, and keep all-
of my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, He shall
not die.
22.eAnd all his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned unto
him: in his righteousness that he has done, he shall live. [HERE IS A GREAT
PROMISE FROM GOD ABOUT REPENTANCE!]
23.fHave I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? Says the Lord GOD: and not that he should return
from his (wicked) ways and live?
24.But gwhen the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquities,
and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live?
h
All-of the righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned: In his trespass
that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.
“‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the son pay for his father’s sins?’ NO! For is the son does
what is right, and keeps my laws, he shall surely live. The one who sins, is the one who
dies. The son shall not be punished for his father’s sins, nor the father for his sons. The
righteous person will be rewarded for his own goodness and the wicked person for his
wickedness.”
“But if a wicked person turns away from all-of his sins and begins to obey my laws and
do what is just and right, he shall surely live and not die. All-of his past sins shall be
forgotten, and he shall live because of his goodness. Do you think that I like to see the
wicked die? Asks the Lord. Of course not! I only want him to turn from his wicked ways
and live. However, if a righteous person turns to sinning and acts like any other sinner,
should he be allowed to live? NO! Of course not! All-of his previous goodness will be
forgotten and he shall die for his sins.
25.iYet you say; The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now O house of Israel; Is not
my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal?
26.When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and
dies in them: for his iniquity that he has done he shall die.
27.Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has committed,
and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.
28.Because he considers and turns away from all-of his transgressions that he has
committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29.Yet, says the House of Israel; The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel,
are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal? JUDGEMENT UP ON ALL
NATIONS!

a
Exodus 20:5 e
See 33:16 h
2 Peter 2:20-21
b
See verse 4 f
See 33:11, 1 Timothy 2:4,6; i
See verse 29, 33:17,20
c
Deuteronomy 24:16 2 Peter 3:9
d
Isaiah 3:10-11 g
See 3:30, 33:12-13,18

130
30.Therefore, I awill judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says
the Lord God. bRepent and turn cyourselves from all-of your transgressions: so that
iniquity will not be your ruin.
31.Cast away from you all-of your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and
make da new heart, and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
32.For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies; says the Lord GOD: Wherefore
turn eyourselves and live; Yes!
Yet you say; ‘The Lord isn’t being fair!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one
who is unfair, or is it you? When a good man turns away from being good and begins
to sinning and dies in his sins, he dies for the evil that he has done. And if a wicked
person turns away from his wickedness and obeys the law, and does what is right, he
shall save his soul, for he has thought it over and decided to turn away from his sins
and live a good life. He shall surely live ~ he shall not die.’
“And yet the people of Israel keep saying: ‘The Lord God is unfair!’ O people of Israel,
it is you who are unfair, not I. I will judge each of you, O Israel, and punish or reward,
each according to your own actions (or inactions). Oh, turn from your sins while there
is still time. Put them behind you, and receive a new heart, and a new Spirit. For why
will you die, O Israel? I do not enjoy seeing you die,” the Lord GOD says. “Turn, turn
and live!”
CHAPTER 19: A LAMENTATION FOR ISRAEL
1. Moreover, ftake thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
2. And say; What is thy mother? A lioness; she lay down among lions, she nourished
her whelps among young lions.
3. And she brought up one of her whelps; git became a young lion, and it learned to
catch the prey; it devoured men.
4. The nations also heard of him; and he was taken in their pit, and hthey brought him
with chains into the land of Egypt.
5. Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took ianother
of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
6. And he went up and down among the lions, he jbecame a young lion, and learned to
catch the prey, and devoured men.
7. And he knew their kdesolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was
desolate, and the fullness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.
8. lThen the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their
net over him; he was taken in their pit.
9. And mthey put in ward nin chains, and brought him to the King of Babylon; they
brought him into holds, that his voice should no more by heard upon the mountains
of Israel.
Sing This Death Dirge for The Leaders of Israel; What a woman your mother was ~ like
a lioness. Her children were like lion’s cubs. One of her cubs [King Jehoahaz] grew into
a strong young lion, and learned to catch prey and became a man-eater. Then the

a
See 7:3,8; 33:20 f
Jeremiah 7:29, see 26:17, 27:2 j
Jeremiah 22:13-18
b
Matthew 3:2, Revelation 2:5 g
2 Kings 23:31-32; see verse 6 k
[h] their widows
c
[h] others h
2 Kings 23:33, 2 Chronicles l
2 Kings 24:2
d
See 11:19, 36:36, Ephesians 36:4, Jeremiah 22:11-12 m
2 Chronicles 36:6, Jeremiah
4:23 i
2 Kings 23:34.36; 2 Chronicles 22:18
e
[h] others 36:5 n
[h] in hooks

131
nations called out their hunters and trapped him in a pit and brought him in chains to
Egypt.
When Israel, the mother lion, saw that all her hopes for him were gone, she took another
of her cubs and [King Jehoiachin] and taught him to be ‘king of the beasts’. He became
a leader among the lions and learned to catch prey, and he too became a man-eater.
He demolished the palaces of the surrounding nations and ruined their cities; their farms
were desolate; their crops were destroyed; everyone in the land shook with terror when
they heard him roar. Then the armies of the nations surrounded him, coming from every
side, and trapped him in a pit and captured him. They prodded him into a cage and
brought him before the King of Babylon. He was held in captivity, so that his voice could
never again be heard upon the mountains of Israel.
10.Their mother is alike a vine bin thy blood, planted by the waters; she was fruitful and
full of branches by reason of many waters.
11.And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule, and cher stature was
exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude
of her branches.
12.But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and dthe east wind
dried up her fruit; her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed
them.
13.And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.
14.And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which has devoured her fruit, so that
she has no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. eThis is the lamentation, and shall be
for a lamentation.
Your mother was like a vine beside an irrigation ditch, with lush, green foliage, because
of all the water. Its strongest branch became a ruler’s sceptre and it was very great,
towering above the others and noticed from far away. But the vine was uprooted in
fury, and thrown down to the ground. Its branches were broken and withered by a strong
wind from the east; the fruit was destroyed by fire. Now the vine is planted in the
wilderness where the ground in hard and dry. It is decaying from within; [It is being
destroyed by sin from within], no strong branch remains.
The fulfilment of this prophecy has already begun, and there is more ahead, and it is
not good!
CHAPTER 20: GOD REFUSES TO MEET WITH THE ELDERS OF ISRAEL
1. And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the
month, that certain of fthe elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before
me.
2. Then came the word of the Lord to me saying;
3. Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them; Thus says the Lord
GOD; Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, says the Lord God, gI will not be
inquired of by you.
4. Wilt thou hjudge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? iCause them to know the
abominations of their fathers;
Late in July, some six years after King Jeconiah was captured, some of the elders of
Israel came to ask instructions from the Lord, and sat before me awaiting His reply.

a
See 15:6 d
See 17:10 g
See 14:3
b
[h] in the quietness e
See verse 1 h
[h] plead for them
c
See 31:3 f
See 8:1 i
See 16:2

132
Then the Lord gave me this message; “Son of dust, say to the elders of Israel; The Lord
GOD says; How dare you come to me and ask for my help?
I swear that I will tell you nothing. Judge them, son of dust; condemn them; tell them
of all-of the sins of this nation, from the time of their fathers until now.”
5. And say unto them; Thus says the Lord GOD: In the day awhen I chose Israel and
b
lifted-up mine hand unto the seed of the hand of Jacob, and cmade myself known
unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted-up mine hand unto them, saying: dI AM
the Lord your GOD;
6. In the day that I lifted-up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth out of the land
of Egypt, into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which
is ethe glory of all the lands:
7. Then said I unto them; fCast you away every man the abomination of thine eyes,
and defile not yourselves with gthe idols of Egypt; I AM the Lord your GOD.
8. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every
man cast away the abomination of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of
Egypt: hThen I said: I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger
against them, in-the-midst-of the land of Egypt.
9. iBut I wrought jfor my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen,
among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing
them forth out of the land of Egypt.
Tell them; The Lord GOD says; When I chose Israel and revealed myself to her in Egypt,
I swore to her and her descendants, that I would bring them out of Egypt, to a land that
I had discovered and explored for them ~ a good land, flowing as it were with milk and
honey, the best of all the lands anywhere.
Then I said to them: Get rid of every idol; do not defile yourselves with the Egyptian
gods, for I AM the Lord your God. But they rebelled against me and would not listen.
They did not get rid of their idols, nor forsake the gods of Egypt. Then I thought, I will
pour out my fury upon them and fulfil my anger against them while they are still in
Egypt. But I did not do it, for I acted to protect the honour of my name, lest the Egyptians
laugh at Israel’s God, who couldn’t keep them back from harm.
10.Wherefore kI caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into
the wilderness.
11.And lI gave them my statutes, and m
shewed them my judgements, which if a man
does, he shall live in them.
12.Moreover, also I gave them nmy Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that
they might know that oI AM the Lord that sanctify them.
13.But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: They walked not in my
statutes, and they despised my judgements, which if a man does, he shall even live
in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly polluted; pthen I said: I would pour out my
fury on them qin the wilderness, to consume them.

a
Exodus 6:7, Deuteronomy 7:6 h
See 7:8 n
Exodus 20:8-9, Nehemiah 9:14
b
[h] swore i
Isaiah 48:11, See 36:11 o
Leviticus 21:23
c
Exodus 3:8, 4:31 j
Nehemiah 9:10, Psalm 106:8, p
Compare with Exodus 16:27-28
d
Exodus 20:2 Isaiah 63:14 q
Numbers 14:29, 26:25, Psalm
e
Psalm 48:2, Zechariah 7:14 k
Exodus 13:18,20 106:23
f
See 18:31 l
Deuteronomy 4:8
g
Leviticus 18:3, Joshua 24:14 m
[h] made them to know

133
14.aBut I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen,
in whose sight I brought them out.
15.Yet I blifted-up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them
into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory
of all the lands.
16.Because they despised my judgements, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted
my Sabbaths; for their chearts went after their idols.
17.Nevertheless, dmine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an
end to them in the wilderness.
18.But I said unto their children in the wilderness; Walk ye not in ethe statutes of your
fathers, neither observe their judgements, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
19.I AM the Lord your GOD; fwalk in my statutes, and keep my judgements and do
them;
20.And ghallow my Sabbaths; and hthey shall be a sign between me and you, that you
may know that I AM your God.
21.Notwithstanding ithe children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes,
neither kept my judgements to do them, which if a man does, he shall even live in
them; they polluted my Sabbaths: then I said I would pour out my fury upon them,
to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
22.Nevertheless, I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should
not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
23.I lifted-up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would jscatter them
among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
24.Because they had not executed my judgements, but had despised my statutes, and
had polluted my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their father’s idols.
25.kWherefore, I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgements, whereby
they should not live;
26.And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that lthey caused to pass through the fire
all that opened the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that mthey
might know that I AM the Lord.
So, I brought my people out of Egypt, right before the Egyptians’ eyes and led them into
the wilderness. There I gave them my laws, so that they could live by keeping them.
And I gave them the Sabbaths ~ a day of rest every seventh day ~ as a symbol between
them and me, to remind them that it is I, the Lord, who sanctifies them, that they are
truly my people.
But Israel rebelled against me. There in the wilderness they refused my laws. They
would not obey my rules, even though obeying them means life. And they misused my
Sabbaths. Then I thought, I will pour out my fury upon them and utterly consume them
in the desert.

a
See verse 9 g
Jeremiah 17:22 k
Psalm 81:12, Acts 7:42,
b
Numbers 14:28-29, Psalm 95:11 h
Genesis 9:12, 17:11 Romans 1:24, 2 Thessalonians
c
Numbers 15:39, Psalm 78:37 i
Numbers 15:1-2 2:11
d
See 5:11 j
Deuteronomy 28:64 l
2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 28:3,
e
Joshua 24:14 33:6, Jeremiah 32:35
f
Deuteronomy chapters 6-12 m
See 6:7, and 20:38,42, 44

134
But again, I refrained in order to protect the honour of my name, lest the nations who
saw me bring them out of Egypt would say that it was because I couldn’t care for them
that I destroyed them.
But I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I
had given them, a land full of milk and honey, the choicest spot on earth, because they
laughed at my laws, ignored my wishes, and violated my Sabbaths ~ their hearts were
with their idols. Nevertheless, I spared them. I did not finish them off in the wilderness.
[This generation was allowed to die in the wilderness.]
Then I spoke to their children and said: Don’t follow in your father’s footsteps. Don’t
defile yourselves with your father’s idols, for I AM the Lord your GOD. Follow my laws,
keep my ordinances; hallow my Sabbaths; for they are a symbol of the contract
(Covenant) between us to help you remember that I AM the Lord your GOD.
But their children also rebelled against me. The refused my laws ~ the laws that, if a
person keeps them, he shall live. And they defiled my Sabbaths. So, then I said: Now
at last I will pour out my fury upon you in the wilderness.
Nevertheless, again, I withdrew my judgement against them to protect my name among
the nations who has seen my power, in bringing them out of Egypt. But I took a solemn
oath against them while they were still in the wilderness, that I would scatter them,
dispersing them to the ends of the earth, because they did not obey my laws, but
scorned them and violated my Sabbaths, and longed for their father’s idols. I let them
adopt customs and laws which were worthless. Through the keeping of them they could
not attain life. In the hope that they would draw back in horror, and know that I alone
am God, I let them pollute themselves with the very gifts that I gave them. They burnt
their firstborn children as offerings to their gods!
27.Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them; Thus,
says the Lord GOD; Yet in this your father has blasphemed me, in that they have
a
committed a trespass against me.
28.For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted-up mine hand to
give it to them, then they saw bevery high hill, and all the thick trees, and they
offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their
offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out their drink
offerings.
29.Then cI said unto them; What is the high place whereunto you go? And the name is
called Bamah unto this day.
30.Wherefore say into the house of Israel; Thus says the Lord GOD: Are you polluted
after the manner of your fathers? And commit whoredoms after their abominations?
31.For when you offer dyour gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, you
pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day; and shall I be inquired of
by you, O house of Israel? eAs I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by
you.
32.And that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, that you say, ‘we will be as
the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone’.
“Son of dust, tell them that the Lord GOD says; Your fathers continued to blaspheme
and betray me when I brought them out of Egypt and into the land that I promised
them, for they offered sacrifices and incense on every high hill and under every tree!

a
[h] trespassed a trespass c
[h] I told them what the high d
See 26 & 39
b
Isaiah 57;5, 65:7, See 6:13 place was ~ Bamah e
See Verse 3

135
They roused my fury as they offered up their sacrifices to their ‘gods’. They brought
their perfumes and incense and poured out their drink offerings to them!
I said to them; ‘What is this place of sacrifice where you go?” And so, it is still called
‘The Place of Sacrifice’ that is how it got its name.
The Lord wants to know whether you are going to pollute yourselves, just as your fathers
did, and keep on worshipping idols? For when you offer gifts to them and give your little
sons to them to be burnt to ashes, as you do even today, (by having abortions) shall I
listen to you, or help you, O Israel?
As I live, the Lord GOD says; I will not give you any message, even though you have
come to me to ask. “What you have in your minds will not be done ~ to be like the
nations all around you, serving gods of wood and stone.”
33.[LD] As I live, says the Lord GOD; surely with a mighty hand, and with an
outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you;
34.[LD] And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries
wherein you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and
with fury poured out.
35.[LD] And I will bring you into athe wilderness of the people, and there will bI plead
with you cface to face.
36.[LD] dLike I pleaded with your fathers, in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will
I plead with you, says the Lord GOD.
37.[LD] And eI will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond
of the covenant:
38.[LD] And fI will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress
against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and gthey
shall not enter into the Land of Israel: and you shall know that I AM the Lord.
39.[LD] As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord GOD: hGo you, serve every
one of his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not hearken unto me; but pollute you
my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.
40.[LD] For iin mine holy mountain, in the mountain in the height of Israel, says the
Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all-of them in the land, shall serve me:
there jwill I accept them, and there will I require your offerings and your kfirstfruits
of your oblations, with all your holy things.
Prior to this time, the Jews were worshipping ‘other gods’ on the tops of mountains, in
Egypt and other countries where they had been scattered. So, God Almighty says: From
now on, you will worship me on the high mountain in Israel, there you will come to
worship me, bring your offerings and your first fruits.
Of course, you realise that the Temple Mount is what God is referring to, which is Mount
Moriah, the exact place where Abraham took his son (Isaac) to offer him as a sacrifice
to God. And as the Angel of the Lord, Jesus, (in His spiritual form), was there to stop
Abraham plunging the knife into the son of Promise.

a
See verse 10 e
Leviticus 27:32, Jeremiah 33:13 i
Isaiah 56:7, see 17:23
b
See 17:10 f
See 34:17,20,22 j
See 44:30
c
Deuteronomy 5:4 g
See 13:9 k
[h] chief
d
Numbers 14:21-23, 28-29 h
Judges 10:14, Amos 4:4

136
41.[LD] And I will accept you with your asweet savour, when I bring you out from the
people, and gather you out of the countries wherein you have been scattered; and
b
I will be sanctified, in you before the heathen.
42.[LD] And you shall know that I AM the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of
Israel, into the country for which I lifted-up mine hand to give it to your fathers.
43.[LD] And there shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein you have
been defiled; and cyou shall loathe yourselves in your own sight, for all-of the evils
that you have committed.
44.[LD] And you shall know that I AM the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my
name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt
doings, O you house of Israel, says the Lord GOD.”
I will rule you with an iron fist and in great anger and with power. With might and fury,
I will bring you out from the lands where you are scattered. And I will bring you into my
desert judgement hall.
[Do you realise that God Almighty has a Desert Judgement Hall? A place where you have
to face God without any of your assistants, or aides, or resources.]
I will judge you there, and get rid of the rebels among you, just like I did in the
wilderness, after I brought you out of Egypt. [All the rebels, a whole generation of people
over 20 years of age, when they left Egypt, died in the wilderness, except Joshua and
Kaleb].
I will count you carefully, and let only a small quota return. And the others (the rebels)
and all those who sin against me ~ I will purge from among you. They shall not enter
Israel, but I will bring them out of the countries, where they are in exile.
[They will come out from among the nations where they have been exiled, but will die,
because they will not enter Israel.] And when that happens, you will know that I
AM the Lord.
O Israel, the Lord GOD says; “If you insist on worshipping your idols, go right ahead,
but then don’t bring your gifts to me as well! Such desecration of my Holy Name must
stop! For at Jerusalem in my holy mountain, all Israel shall worship me,” says the Lord.
“There shall I accept you, and require you to bring your offerings and the finest of your
gifts. You will be to me, as an offering of perfumed incense, when I bring you back from
exile, and the nations will see the great change in your hearts.
Then, when I have brought you home, to the land that I promised your fathers, you will
know that I AM the Lord. Then, you will look back at all-of your sins and loathe
yourselves because of the evil that you have done. And when I have honoured my name,
by blessing you, despite your wickedness, then, O Israel, you will know that I AM the
Lord.
45.Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
46.Son of man, dset your face towards the south, and drop thy word towards the south,
and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
47.And say to the forest of the south; Hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord
GOD: Behold I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every egreen tree in thee,
and every fdry tree; the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces gfrom the
south to the north shall be burned therein.

a
[h] savour of rest d
See 6:2, 21:2 f
See 39:7, 43:7
b
Numbers 20:12, see 26:22,25 e
See 39:7, 43:7
g
See 21:4
c
See 6:9

137
48.And all flesh shall see that I, the Lord, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
49.Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, does he not aspeak parables?
CHAPTER 21: THE SHARP BRIGHT SWORD AGAINST ISRAEL
1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Son of man, bset they face towards Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy
places; and prophesy against the land of Israel.
3. And say to the land of Israel; Behold I AM against thee, and will draw forth my sword
out of his sheath, and cwill cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked;
4. Seeing that I will cut off the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go
forth out of his sheath against all flesh, from the south to the north:
[Many people may be surprised by this verse, because they always thought that God
punishes the wicked and protects the righteous, but here is a clear case to prove that
concept is wrong. The righteous will also be punished “because they did not stop the
people doing evil”. This is a warning to all nations today. If there is evil in your nation
and the righteous do not try to stop it, then you will also be included in the punishment
of the wicked.]
5. That all flesh may know that I, the Lord, have drawn forth my sword out of his
sheath: it shall not return any more.
6. Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness,
sight before their eyes.
7. And it shall be, when they say unto thee; Wherefore sighest thee? That thou shall
answer; For the tidings; because it comes; and every heart shall melt, and all hands
shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees dshall be weak as water;
Behold, it comes, and shall be brought to pass, says the Lord GOD.
Then this message came to me from the Lord; “Son of dust, face towards Jerusalem and
prophesy against Israel, and against my Templee. For the Lord says: I AM against you,
Israel. I will unsheathe my sword and destroy your people, good and bad alike.
I will not spare even the righteous. I will make a clean sweep throughout the land, from
the Negev desert right up to your northern borders. All the world shall know that it is I,
the Lord. His sword is in his hand, and it will not return to its sheath until all of its work
is finished.”
“Sigh and groan, before the people, son of dust, in your bitter anguish; sigh with grief
and a broken heart. When they ask you why, tell them: Because of the fearsome news
that God has given me. When it comes true, the boldest heart will melt with fear; all
strength will disappear. Every spirit will faint; strong knees will tremble and become as
weak as water. And the Lord GOD says; Your doom is on the way; my judgements will
be fulfilled.
8. Again, the word of the Lord came to me saying;
9. Son of man, prophesy, and say; fA sword, a sword, is sharpened and also furbished:
10.It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it might glitter; should
we then make mirth? gIt, contempt’s the rod of my son, as every tree.
11.And he has given it to be furbished, that it may be handled, and it is furbished, to
give it into the hand of the slayer.

a
See 16:44 d
[h] shall go into water g
[h] The rod of my son despises
b
See 20:46 e
[h] against the sanctuaries every tree
c
Job 9:22 f
Deuteronomy 32:41

138
12.Cry and howl, son of man; for it shall be upon my people; it shall be upon all-of the
princes of Israel: aterrors by reasons of the sword shall be upon all-of my people;
b
smite therefore upon thy thigh.
13. Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemns even the rod? It shall be no more, says the Lord. [alternate
Hebrew translation; When the trial has been, what then? Shall they also not belong to the despising rod?]

14.Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite thine chands together, and let the
sword be doubled a third time, the sword of the slain; it is the sword of the great
men that are slain, dwhich enters into their privy chambers.
15.I have set the epoint of the sword against all-of their gates, that their hearts may
faint, and their ruins be multiplied: AH! It is made bright; it is fwrapped up for the
slaughter.
16.gGo thee one way or other, either on the right hand, hor on the left hand, withersoever
thy face is set;
17.I will smite mine hands together, and iI will cause my fury to rest; I, the Lord, have
said it.
Then again, this message came to me from GOD: “Son of dust, tell them this: A sword
is being sharpened and polished for terrible slaughter. Now will you laugh? For those
much stronger than you have perished under its power. It is ready now to be handed to
the executioner. Son of dust, with sobbing, beat upon thy thigh, for that sword shall slay
my people and all-of their leaders. All alike shall die. It will put them all to the test; and
what chance do they have?” The Lord GOD asks.
“Prophesy to them in this way: Clap your hands vigorously, then take a sword and
brandish it twice, to symbolise that great massacre that they face! Let their hearts melt
with terror, for a sword glitters at every gate; it flashes like lightning; it is razor-edged
for slaughter. O sword, slash to the right and slash to the left, wherever you will,
wherever you want. And you have prophesied with clapping hands that I, The Lord, will
smite Jerusalem and satisfy my fury.”
18.Then the word of the Lord came to me again, saying;
19.Also, thou son of man, appoint thee two ways, that the sword of the King of Babylon
may come; both twains shall come forth out of one land; and choose thou a place,
choose it at the head of the way of the city.
20.Appoint a way, that the sword may come to jRabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah
in Jerusalem the defenced.
21.For the King of Babylon stood at the kparting of the way, at the head of the two ways,
to use divination; he made his larrows bright, he consulted with mimages, he looked
in the liver.
22.At his right hand was the divination of Jerusalem, to appoint ncaptains, to open the
mouth of the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, oto appoint battering rams
against the gates, to cast a mount, and to build a fort.
23.And it shall be unto them a false divination in their sight, pto them that have sworn
oaths; but he will call to remembrance the iniquity; that they may be taken.

a
[h] they are thrust down to the f
[h] sharpened k
[h] mother of
sword with my people g
See 14:17 l
[h] knives
b
Jeremiah 31:19 h
[h] set thyself, take the left hand m
[h] teraphim
c
[h] hand to hand i
[h] see 5:13 n
[h] battering rams
d
1 Kings 20:30 j
See 25:4-5; Jeremiah 49:2, o
See 4:2
e
[h] glittering (or fear) Amos 1:14 p
[h] for the oaths made unto them

139
24.Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD; Because you have made your iniquity to be
remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings
your sins do appear; because I say, that you are come to remembrance, you shall
be taken with the hand.
Then this message came to me. The Lord God says; “Son of dust, make a map and on
it trace two routes for the King of Babylon to follow ~ one to Jerusalem, and the other
to Rabbah in Trans-Jordana. And put a signpost at the fork in the road from Babylon.
For the King of Babylon stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or to
attack Rabbah. He will call his magicians to use divination, they will cast lots by shaking
arrows from the quiver; they will sacrifice to idols and inspect the liver of their sacrifice.
[Which was a very common form of divination, by which they thought that they could
obtain information from their gods.]
They will decide to turn towards Jerusalem! With battering rams, they will go against
the gates, shouting for the kill: they will build siege towers and make a hill against the
walls to reach the top.
Jerusalem will not understand this treachery; how could the diviners make this terrible
mistake? For Babylon is Judah’s ally and has sworn to defend Jerusalem! But (the King
of Babylon) will think only of the times the people rebelled. He will attack and defeat
them.
“The Lords GOD says: Again and again, your guilt cries out against you, for your sins
are open and unashamed. Wherever you go, whatever you do, all is filled with sin. And
now the time of punishment has come.
25.And thou, O bprofane and cwicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity
shall have an end,
26.Thus says the Lord GOD: Remove dthe diadem and take off the crown: this shall not
be the same; eexalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
27.[F] fI will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more; guntil He comes,
who’s right it is and I will give it to him.
O, King Zedekiah, evil prince of Israel, your final day of reckoning is here. Take off your
jewelled crown, the Lord GOD says; The old order changes. Now the poor are exalted,
and the rich brought very low. I will overturn, overturn, overturn the kingdom, so that
even the new order that emerges will not succeed until the Man appears who has the
right to do it. And I will give it all to him.
28.And thou son of man, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord GOD, hconcerning the
Ammonites, and concerning their reproach: even say thou; the sword, the sword is
drawn; for the slaughter it is furbished, to consume because of the glittering.
29.While they see vanity unto thee, while they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon
the necks of them that are slain; of the wicked, whose day is come, when their
iniquity shall have an end.
30.iShall I call it to return unto its sheath? I will judge them in the place where thou
wast created, in the land of thy nativity.

a
[h] Literally; Rabbah of the d
Exodus 28:4 g
Genesis 49:10, Zechariah 6:12-
Amorites e
Luke 1:52 13, John 1:49
b
Leviticus 21:7,14 f
[h] perverted, perverted, h
Jeremiah 25:21, 49:1; see
c
2 Chronicles 36:13, Jeremiah perverted, will I make it. 25:2-3,6,10; Zephaniah 2:8-10
52:2 i
[h] cause it to return

140
31.And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; aI will blow against thee in the fire of
my wrath; and deliver thee into the hands of bbrutish men, and skilful to destroy.
32.Thou shall be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in-the-midst-of the land; cthou
shall no more be remembered; for I the Lord have spoken it.
“Son of dust, prophesy to the Ammonites too, for they mocked my people in their woe.
Tell them this: Against you also my glittering sword is drawn from its sheath; it is
sharpened and polished and flashes like lightning.
Your magicians and false prophets have told you lies of safety and success ~ that your
gods will save you from the King of Babylon.
Thus, they have caused your death along with all the other wicked, for when the final
day of reckoning has come you will be wounded unto death. Shall I return my sword to
its sheath before I deal with you? NO! I will destroy you in your own country where you
were born.
I will pour out my fury upon you and blow upon the fire of my wrath until it becomes a
roaring conflagration, and I will deliver you into the hands of cruel men, skilled in
destruction.
You are the fuel for the fire; your blood will be spilled in your own country, and you will
be utterly wiped out, your memory lost in history. For I, the Lord have spoken it.”
CHAPTER 22: CATALOGUE OF JERUSALEM’S SINS
1. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Now thou son of man, dwilt thou ejudge, with thou judge the fbloody city? Yea, thou
shalt gshew her all-of her abominations.
3. Then say thou; Thus says the Lord GOD: hThe city sheddeth blood in-the-midst-of it,
that iher time may come, and makes idols against herself, to defile herself.
4. Thou art become guilty in the blood that thou hast shed: and hast defiled thyself in
thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and
art come even unto thy years; therefore, have I made thee a jreproach unto the
heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
5. Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which are
k
infamous and much vexed.
6. Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone was in thee to their lpower to shed blood.
7. In thee mhave they set let by father and mother; in-the-midst-of thee have they
n
dealt by ooppression with the stranger; in thee phave they vexed the fatherless and
the widow.
8. Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my Sabbaths.
9. In thee are men that qcarry tales to shed blood: and in thee rthey eat upon the
mountains; in-the-midst-of thee they commit lewdness.
10.In thee shave they discovered their father’s nakedness: in thee have they humbled
t
her that was set apart for pollution.

a
See 22:20-21 i
See 21:25 o
[h] by deceit
b
[h] burnings j
See 5:14
p
Exodus 22:22
c
See 25:10 k
[h] polluted of name, much in
q
[h] of slanders
d
See 20:4 vexation
r
See 18:6
e
[h] plead for l
[h] arm
s
Leviticus 18:7-8
f
[h] city of bloods m
Deuteronomy 27:16
t
Leviticus 18:19
g
[h] Make her know n
Exodus 22:21
h
2 Kings 21:16

141
11.And aone has committed abominations with his neighbour’s wife; and another has
b
lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in thee has humbled his sister, his
father’s daughter.
12.In thee have the taken gifts to shed blood: cthou hast taken usury and increase, and
thou have greedily gained off thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me,
says the Lord GOD.
Now, another message came from the Lord. He said: “Son of dust, indict Jerusalem as
the City of Murder. Publicly announce her terrible deeds. City of Murder, doomed and
damned ~ City of Idols, filthy and foul ~ you are guilty of both murder and idolatry.
Now comes your day of doom. You have reached the limit of you years. I will make you
a laughing stock and a reproach to all the nations of the world. Near and far they will
mock you, a city of infamous rebels.”
“Every leader in Israel who lives within your walls is bent on murder. Fathers and mother
are contemptuously ignored, immigrants and visitors are forced to pay you for your
‘protection’; orphans and widows are wronged and oppressed. The things of God are all
despised: my Sabbaths are ignored; Prisoners are falsely accused and sent to their
deaths.
Every mountain top is filled with idols; lewdness is everywhere. There are men who
commit adultery with their father’s wives, and lie with menstruous women. Adultery with
a neighbour’s wife, a daughter-in-law, a half-sister, this is common. Hired murderers,
loan racketeers and extortionists are everywhere. You never even think of me and my
commands, the Lord GOD says.
13.Behold, therefore dI have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast
made, and at thy blood which has been made in-the-midst-of thee.
14.eCan thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal
with thee? I the Lord, have spoken it and I will do it.
15.And fI will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and
g
will consume the filthiness out of thee.
16.And thou hshall take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, iand thou
shall know that I am the Lord.
17.And the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
18.Son of man, the House of Israel is to me become jdross; all they are brass, and tin,
and iron, and lead, in-the-midst-of the furnace: they are even kthe ldross of silver.
19.Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Because you all have become dross, behold,
therefore I will gather you all in-the-midst-of Jerusalem.
20.mAs they gather silver; and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the
furnace, to blow a fire upon it, to melt it; so, will I gather you in mine anger and in
my fury; and I will leave you there and I will melt you.
21.Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and you shall be
melted in the midst thereof.
22.As silver is melted in-the-midst-of the furnace, so shall you be melted in the midst
thereof; and you shall know that I the Lord have poured out my fury upon you.

a
[h] every one f
Deuteronomy 4:27 k
Jeremiah 6:30, Malachi 3:3
b
[h] by lewdness g
See 24:11 l
[h] drosses
c
See 18:8 h
[h] thou shall be profaned m
[h] according to the gatherings
d
See 21:14 i
See 6:7
e
See 21:7 j
Psalm 119:119, Isaiah 1:22,25

142
But now I snap my fingers and call a halt to your dishonest gains and bloodshed. How
strong and courageous will you be then, in my day of reckoning? For I, the Lord have
spoken, and I will do all that I have said. I will scatter you throughout the whole world
and burn out the wickedness that is within you. You will be dishonoured among the
nations, and you shall know that I am the Lord.
Then the Lord said this; Son of dust, the people of Israel are the worthless slag that is
left when silver is melted. They are the dross, compounded from the brass, the tin, the
iron and the lead. Therefore, the Lord GOD says: Because you are worthless dross, I will
bring you to my crucible in Jerusalem, to smelt you with the heat of my wrath. I will
blow the fire of my wrath upon you; and you will melt like silver in fierce heat; and you
will know that I, the Lord have poured out my wrath upon you.”
23.Then the word of the Lord came to me saying:
24.Son of man, say unto her, thou are the land that is not cleansed, nor arained upon in
the day of indignation.
25.There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof; like a roaring lion ravening
the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasures and bprecious
things; they made many widows in the midst thereof.
26.cHer priests have dviolated my law, and have profaned my holy things, they have put
no difference between the holy and the profane; neither have they showed difference
between the unclean and the clean, and ehave hidden their eyes from my Sabbaths,
and I am profaned among them.
27.fHer princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood,
and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
28.And gher prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, hseeing vanity, and
divining lies unto them, saying; Thus says the Lord God, when the Lord had not
spoken.
29.The people of the land have used ioppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed
the poor and the needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger jwrongfully.
30. And kI sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in
the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none!
[Sadly, God looked right across Israel, looking for a righteous man to stand in the gap,
so he would not destroy the city, but alas he found none worthy of the task.]
31.Therefore, have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them
with the fire of my wrath; ltheir own way have I recompensed upon their heads, says
the Lord GOD.
Again, the word of the Lord came to me saying; “Son of dust, say to the people of Israel;
In the day of my indignation, you shall be like an uncleaned wilderness, or a desert
without rain. Your prophets have plotted against you, like lions stalking prey. They
devour many lives; they seize treasures, and extort wealth; they multiply the widows in
the land.
Your priests have violated my laws and defiled my Temple, and my holiness. To them,
the things of God are no more important than any other daily task. They have not taught

a
Psalm 68:9, see 34:26, e
Jeremiah 17:22,24,27; See i
[h] deceit
b
Jeremiah 20:5 44:24, j
[h] without right
c
Malachi 2:8 f
Micah 3:1-3, 9-11 k
Jeremiah 5:1
d
[h] offered violence to g
See 13:10 l
See 7:4
h
See 13:6

143
my people the difference between right and wrong, and they disregard my Sabbaths, so
my holy name is greatly defiled among them.
Your leaders are like wolves, who tear apart their victims, and they destroy lives for
profit. Your ‘prophets’ describe ‘false visions’ and speak ‘false messages’ they claim are
from God, when He hasn’t spoken one word to them at all. Thus, they repair the walls
with whitewash (untempered mortar)! Even the common people oppress and rob the
poor and needy and cruelly extort from aliens.
I looked in vain for anyone who would rebuild the wall of righteousness, that guards the
land, who could stand in the gap and defend you from my just attacks, but I found not
one. And so, the Lord GOD says; I will pour out my anger upon you; I will consume you
with the fire of my wrath. I have heaped upon you the full penalty for all-of your sins.
CHAPTER 23: THE WHOREDOMS OF AHOLAH AND AHOLIBAH
1. The word of the Lord came unto me again saying;
2. Son of man, there were atwo women, the daughters of one mother:
3. And bthey committed whoredoms cin Egypt: they committed whoredoms in their
youth: There were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their
virginities.
4. And the names of them were Aholah, the elder, and Aholibah, her sister; and dthey
were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names “Samaria”
being eAholah, and “Jerusalem” is fAholibah.
5. And Aholibah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers; on
g
the Assyrians, her neighbours.
6. Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all-of them desirable young men,
horsemen riding on horses.
7. Thus, she hcommitted her whoredoms with them, with all them that were ithe chosen
men of Assyria: and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled
herself.
8. Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth, they lay with
her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredoms upon
her.
9. Wherefore, I have delivered her into the hands of her lovers; into the hands of the
Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
10.These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew
her with the sword; and she became jfamous among women; for they had executed
judgement upon her.
11.And when her sister Aholibah saw this, kshe was more corrupt in her inordinate love
than she, and in her whoredoms, lmore than her sister in her whoredoms.
12.She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers, clothed most
gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses, all-of them desirable young men.
13.Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took her both one way,

a
See 16:15, Jeremiah 3:5,7-8,10 g
2 Kings 15:19; 17:3; Hosea 8:9 k
[h] she corrupted her inordinate
b
See 16:15 h
[h] bestowed her whoredoms love more than her sister
c
See 20:7 upon them l
[h] more than the whoredoms of
d
See 16:8 i
The choice of the children of her sister
e
[h] His tent or tabernacle Asshur
f
[h] my Tabernacle in her j
[h] a name

144
14.And that she increased her whoredoms; for when she saw men portrayed on the
wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion.
15.Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all-of
them princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of
their nativity.
16.And aas soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and bsent
messengers unto them into Chaldea.
17.And the cBabylonians came to her into the bed of love; and they defiled her with their
whoredoms, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was dalienated from
them.
18.So, she discovered her whoredoms, and she discovered her nakedness: then my
mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her sister.
19.Yet eshe multiplied her whoredoms; in calling to remembrance the days of her youth,
wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20.For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose
issue is like the issue of horses.
21.Thus, thou called to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising the teats
by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.
They stripped her and killed her and took away her children as slaves. Her name was
known to every woman in the land, as a sinner who has received what she deserved.
But when Aholibah (Jerusalem) saw what had happened to her sister, she went right
ahead in the same way, and sinned even more than her sister. She fawned over her
Assyrian neighbours, (that is when King Ahaz paid “protection money” to Tiglath-Pileser
[2 Kings 16:7-8]), those handsome young men on fine steeds, those army officers in
handsome uniforms ~ all-of them desirable. I saw the way she was going, following
right along behind her older sister.
She was in fact more debased than Aholah (Samaria), for she fell in love with pictures
she saw painted on a wall! They were pictures of Babylonian military officers, outfitted
in striking red uniforms, with handsome belts, and flowing turbans on their heads.
When she saw these paintings, she longed to give herself to the men pictured, so she
sent messengers to Chaldea, to invite them to come to her. [This occurred when King
Hezekiah entertained the embassy from Babylon (Isaiah 38-39), and also during the
reign of Manasseh].
And they came and committed adultery with her, defiling her in the bed of love, but
afterwards she hated them, and broke off all relations with them. [The anti-Babylonian
party in Judah looked to Egypt for help during the reigns of the last two Judean kings
(Jehoiakim and Zedekiah)].
And I despised her, just as I have despised her sister, because she flaunted herself
before them and gave herself to their lust. But that didn’t bother her. She turned to
even greater prostitution, sinning with the lustful men, she remembered from her youth,
when she was a prostitute in Egypt, (during the reign of King Josiah).
22.Therefore, O Aholibah, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will raise up thy lovers
against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated, and fI will bring them against thee
on every side;

a
[h] at the sight of her eyes c
[h] children of babel e
See 16:25
b
Isaiah 57:9 d
[h] loosed & disjointed f
See 16:37

145
23.The Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, aPekod and Shoah, and Koa, and all the
Assyrians with them; all-of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great
lords and renowned, all-of them riding on horses.
24.And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons and wheels, and with an
assembly of people; which shall set against thee, buckler, and shield, and
roundabout: and I will set judgement before them; and bthey shall judge thee
according to their judgements.
25.And I will set me jealousy against thee; and they shall deal furiously with thee; they
shall take away thy nose and thine ears: and thy remnant shall fall by the sword;
they shall take away thy sons and thy daughters; and thy residue shall be devoured
by the fire.
26. They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy cfair jewels.
27.Thus, will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee; and thy whoredoms brought from
the land of Egypt; so that thou shall not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember
Egypt anymore.
28. For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will deliver thee into the hands of those dwhom
you hate, into the hands of them thy mind is alienated:
29.And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all-of thy labour, and
shall leave thee naked and bare; and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be
discovered, both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
30.I will do these things unto thee, because ethou hast gone a whoring after the heathen;
and because thou art polluted by their idols.
31.Thou hast walked in the ways of your sister; therefore, will I give fher cup into thine
hand.
32.Thus, says the Lord GOD: Thou shall drink of thy sister’s cup, deep and large: thou
shall be laughed to scorn and held in derision: it contains much.
33.Thou shall be filled gwith drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and
desolation, with the cup of hthy sister Samaria.
34.Thou shall even drink it and then suck it out. And thou shall break ithe sherds thereof;
and pluck off thine own breasts: for I have spoken it, says the Lord.
35.Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me
behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms.
And now the Lord GOD says that he will raise against you, O Aholibah (Jerusalem) those
very nations from which you turned away, disgusted. For the Babylonians will come,
and all the Chaldeans from Pekod, Shoah and Koa; and all-of the Assyrians with them
~ handsome young men of high rank, riding their steeds.
They will come against you from the north, with chariots, and wagons, and a great army,
fully prepared and equipped for the attack. They will surround you on every side, with
armoured men and I will let them at you, to do with you as they wish.
And I will send my jealousy against you and deal furiously with you, and cut off your
nose and your ears; your survivors will be killed; your children will be taken away as
slaves, and everything left will be burned. They will strip you of your jewels and your
beautiful clothes.

a
Jeremiah 50:21 d
See 16:37 g
Jeremiah 13:13
b
2 Kings 25:6 e
See 6:9 h
See verse 4
c
[h] instrument of thy decking f
Jeremiah 25:15 i
Isaiah 30:14

146
And so, I will put a stop to your lewdness and your prostitution brought from the land
of Egypt: you will no longer mourn for Egypt, and her gods.
For the Lord GOD says: I will surely deliver you over to your enemies, to those you
loathe. They will deal with you in hatred, and rob you of all that you own, leaving you
naked and bare. And the shame of your prostitution shall be exposed to the whole world.
You brought all-of this upon yourself, by worshipping the gods of other nations, defiling
yourself with all-of their idols.
You have followed in your sister’s footsteps, so I will punish you with the same terrors
that destroyed her. Yes, the terrors that fell upon her, will now fall upon you ~ and the
cup from which she drank was full and large. And all-of the world will mock you for your
woe.
You will stumble around like a drunkard beneath the awful blows of sorry and distress,
just as your sister Samaria did. In deep anguish you will drain that cup of terror, to the
very bottom and lick inside the cup, to get every last drop. For I have spoken, says the
Lord.
Because you have forgotten me, and turned your backs upon me, therefore, you must
bear the consequences of all-of your sins.
36.The Lord said moreover unto me: Son of man, awilt thou bjudge Aholah and Aholibah?
Yes, declare unto them their abominations;
37.That they have committed adultery, and cblood is on their hands, and with their idols
that have committed adultery; and have also caused their sons, whom they bare
unto me, dto pass them through the fire, to devour them.
38.Moreover, this they have done unto me: ethey have defiled my sanctuary in the same
day, and have fprofaned my Sabbaths.
39.For when gthey had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day
h
into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, ithus have they done in the midst on my
house.
40.And furthermore, that you have sent for men jto come from afar, unto whom a
messenger was sent; and, lo, they came; for whom thou did wash thyself, painted
thine eyes, and decked thyself with ornaments.
41.And sat upon a kstately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon lthou hast
set my incense and my oil.
42.And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men mof the
common sort were brought nSabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets on
their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
43.Then I said to her that was old in adulteries; Will they now commit owhoredoms with
her, and she with them?
44.Yet, they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman, that plays the harlot: so,
went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
“Son of dust, you must accuse Jerusalem and Samaria of all their awful deeds. For they
have committed both adultery and murder; and they have worshipped idols and
murdered my children whom they bore to me, burning them as sacrifices on their altars.

a
See 20:4 f
See 22:8 k
[h] honorable
b
[h] plead for g
See 16:20 l
See 26:18
c
See 22:2 h
See 44:7 m
[h] of the multitude of men
d
See 16:20 i
2 Kings 21:4 n
[h] drunkards
e
See 5:11 j
[h] coming o
[h] her whoredoms

147
On the same day, they defiled my Temple and ignored my Sabbaths, for when they had
murdered my children in front of their idols, then even that same day they actually came
into my Temple to worship me ~ still with blood on their hands. That is how much regard
they have for me!”
“You even sent away to distant lands for priests to come with other gods for you to
serve, and they have come and have been welcomed! You bathed yourself, painted your
eyelids, and put on your finest clothes and jewels for them. You sat together on a
beautifully embroided bed, and put my incense and my oil on a table spread out before
you.
From your apartment came the sound of many men carousing ~ lewd men and
drunkards from the wilderness, who put bracelets on your wrists and a beautiful crown
upon your head. Will they commit adultery with these two who have become old harlot
hags? Yet that is exactly what they did.
They went in to them ~ to Samaria and Jerusalem, these shameless harlots, ~ with all
the zest of lustful men who visit prostitutes.
45.And the righteous men, athey shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and
after the manner of women that shed blood: because they are adulteresses, and
blood is on their hands.
46.For thus says the Lord GOD: bI will bring up a company upon them, and will give
them cto be removed and spoiled.
47.And the company shall stone them with stones, and ddispatch them with their swords;
they slay their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
48.Thus, will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught
not to do after your lewdness.
49.And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the sins of
your idols: and you shall know that I AM the Lord GOD.
But righteous persons everywhere will judge them for what they really are ~~
adulteresses and murderers. They will mete out to them the sentences the law demands.
“The Lord God says: Bring an army against them and hand them out to be crushed and
despised. For their enemies will stone them and kill them with swords; they will butcher
their sons and daughters, and burn their homes. Thus, will I make lewdness and idolatry
to cease from the land. My judgement will be a lesson against idolatry for all to see. For
you will be fully repaid for all your harlotry, and your worshipping of idols. You will suffer
the full penalty, and you will know that I alone am GOD.
[This whole chapter is a warning to all nations. God set Israel apart and as “example
nation,” to show the world what happens to a nation when they obey God’s laws and
statutes (they get peace and blessings), and also what happens to nations, that turn
their back on God, or worship other god’s and/or idols, (they get judgement and war!]
CHAPTER 24: PARABLE OF A BOILING POT
1. Again,e in the ninth year, in the tenth month, and the tenth day of the month, the
word of the Lord came unto me, saying;
2. Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even the name of this same day: the
King of Babylon sets his face against Jerusalem this same day. [God’s plans are so
accurate, they are even planned years in advance, even down to the exact day!]

a
See 16:38 c
[h] for a removing and spoil e
2 Kings 25:1, Jeremiah 39:1
b
See 16:40 d
[h] single them out

148
3. And autter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them; Thus says the
Lord GOD; bSet on a pot, set it on, and also, pour water into it.
4. Gather the pieces gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, and thigh,
and the shoulder, fill it with the choicest bones.
5. Take the choice of the flock, and cburn also the bones under it, and make it boil well,
and let them see the bones of it therein.
On a day, late in December, of the ninth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, another
message came to me from the Lord.
“Son of dust,” He said, “write down this date, for today the King of Babylon has attacked
Jerusalem. And now give this parable to these rebels, Israel: Tell them the Lord GOD
says: Put a pot of water on the fire to boil. Fill it with the choicest mutton, the rump and
shoulder and all-of the most tender cuts. Use only the best sheep from the flock, and
heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot. Boil the meat well, until the flesh falls off the
bones.
6. Wherefore, thus says the Lord GOD; Woe to dthe bloody city, to the pot whose scum
is not gone out of it! Bring it out piece by piece; elet no lot fall upon it.
7. For her blood is in-the-midst-of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she fpoured it
not upon the ground, to cover it with dust.
8. That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon
the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
9. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile
of fire great.
10.Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones
be burned.
11.Then set it empty upon the coals thereof; that the brass of it may be hot, and my
burn and that gthe filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be
consumed.
12.She has wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her; her
scum shall not be in the fire.
13.In thy filthiness is lewdness; because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged,
thou shall not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till hI have caused my fury to
rest upon thee.
14.I, the Lord, have spoken it; It shall come to pass, and I will do it! I will not go back,
neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy
doings, shall they judge thee, says the Lord GOD. [Do you realize that God
sometimes repents of his actions? But not this time!]
“For the Lord GOD says; Woe to Jerusalem, City of Murderers; you are a pot that is
pitted with rust and with wickedness. So, take out the meat, chunk by chunk, in
whatever order it comes, ~ for none is better than any other. For her wickedness is
evident and visible to all ~ she boldly murders, leaving blood upon the rocks in plain
view for all to see; she does not even bother to try and cover it up.

a
See 16:44 e
2 Samuel 8:2, Joel 3:3 h
See 5:13
b
Jeremiah 1:13; See 11:3,7,11 f
Leviticus 17:13; Deuteronomy
c
[h] Heap 12:16,24
d
See 22:2 g
See 22:15

149
And I have left it there, uncovered, to shout to me against her and arouse my wrath
and vengeance against her.
Woe to Jerusalem, City of Murderers, I will pile on the fuel beneath her. I will heap on
the wood; let the fire roar, and the pot boil. Cook the meat well (until the meat falls off
the bones) and then empty the pot, and burn the bones. Now set it empty upon the
coals to scorch away the rust and corruption. But all for naught! It all remains despite
the hottest fire.
It is the rust and corruption of your filthy lewdness, of worshipping your idols. And now,
because I wanted to cleanse you, and you refused to be cleansed, remain filthy until
fury has accomplished all-of its terrors upon you. I, the Lord, have spoken it! It shall
come to pass, and I will do it!” [God says what He means & means what He says!]
15.Also, the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
16.Son of man, behold, I take away from thee athe desire of thine eyes with a stroke;
yet neither shall thy mourn or weep, neither shall thy tears brun down.
17.cForebear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, dbind the tire of thine head upon
thee, and eput on thy shoes upon thy feet, fand cover not thy lips, and eat not the
bread of men.
18.So, I spoke unto the people in the morning; and at even my wife died; and I did in
the morning as I was commanded.
Again, a message came to me from the Lord, saying: “Son of dust, I am going to take
away your lovely wife. Suddenly she will die. Yet, you must show no sorrow. Do not
weep; let there be no tears. You may sigh but only quietly. Let there be no wailing at
her grave; Don’t bear your head nor your feet, (as a sign of mourning) and don’t accept
the food brought to you by consoling friends. I proclaimed this to the people in the
morning, and in the evening my wife died. And next morning I did all that the Lord had
told me to do. [God is merciful. He did not want Ezekiel’s wife to have to suffer the trials
which are about to befall upon Israel and Jerusalem ~ so He took her to Himself, and
forewarned Ezekiel, so it would not be a shock to him.]
19.And the people said unto me; gWilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that
thou doest so?
20.Then I answered them: The word of the Lord came unto me saying:
21.Speak unto the House of Israel; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, hI will profane my
sanctuary, ithe excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and jthat which
your soul pities; and kyour sons and your daughters whom you have left, shall fall by
the sword.
22.And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of
men.
23.And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: you shall
not mourn nor weep: but lyou shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one
towards another.
24.Thus, Ezekiel is unto you as ma sign: naccording to all that he has done, so shall you
also do: and this comes then oyou shall know that I AM the Lord GOD.

a
1 Kings 20:6 f
Micah 3:7 k
See 23:47
b
[h] go g
See 12:9 l
See 4:17
c
[h] Be silent h
Jeremiah 7:14: See 7:21-22 m
See 12:6; See verse 27
d
Leviticus 10:6 i
See 7:20 n
See 12:11
e
2 Samuel 15:30 j
[h] The pity of your soul o
See 6:7

150
25.Also, thou Son of man, shall it not be in the day that I take from them their strength,
the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and athat whereupon they set their
minds, their sons, and their daughters,
26.That bhe that escapes in that day shall come unto thee, to cause you to hear it with
thine ears.
27.In that day, cshall thy mouth be open to him which is escaped, and you shall speak;
and be no longer dumb: and thou shall be a sign unto them; and they shall know
that I AM the Lord.
And you will do as I have done; you may not mourn in public, or console yourself by
eating the food brought to you by sympathetic friends. You head and your feet shall not
be bared; you shall not mourn or weep. But you will sorrow to one another for your sins,
and mourn privately for all-of the sins that you have done.
Ezekiel is an example to you; the Lord GOD says; You will do as he has done. And when
the time comes, then you will know the I AM the Lord.”
“Son of dust, on the day I finish taking from them in Jerusalem, the joy of their hearts
and their glory and joys ~ their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, ~ on that
day a refugee from Jerusalem will start on a journey, to come to you in Babylon, to tell
you what has happened. And on the day of his arrival, your voice will suddenly return
to you, so that you can talk with him: and you will be a symbol for these people, and
they shall know that I AM the Lord.
CHAPTER 25: GOD’S VENGEANCE UPON THE NATIONS
[God’s word says that if you pray for Israel, or help Israel, you nation will be blessed,
but if you curse Israel, or attack them, then the wrath of God will come against your
nation. This is one of those chapters]
Message against the Ammonites
1. The word of the Lord came again, saying;
2. Son of man, set they face dagainst the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
3. And say unto the Ammonites; Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Because thou said;
Aha, against my sanctuary, when eit was profaned: and against the land of Israel,
when it was desolate; and against the House of Judah, when they went into captivity;
4. Behold, therefore, I will deliver thee to fthe gmen of the east for a possession, and
they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: and they shall
eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
5. And I will make hRabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couching place
for flocks: and you shall know that I AM the Lord.
6. For thus says the Lord GOD: Because thou hast clapped thine ihands, and stamped
your jfeet, and rejoiced in your khearts, with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
7. Behold. Therefore, I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and will thee as la spoil to
the heathen; and I will cut thee off from thy people, and I will cause you to perish
out of the countries: I will destroy thee: and thou shall know that I AM the Lord.
Then the Lord’s message came to me again. He said: “Son of dust, look towards the
land of Ammon, and prophesy against its people. Tell them: Listen to what the Lord GOD
says. Because you scoffed when my Temple was destroyed, and mocked Israel in her

a
[h] the lifting up of their souls e
See 22:16 i
[h] hand
b
See 33:21-22 f
Compare with 21:20 j
[h] foot
c
See 3:26-27: 29:21 g
[h] children k
[h] soul
d
See 21:28 h
See 21:20 l
[h] meat

151
anguish, and laughed at Judah when she was marched away captive, therefore, I will let
the Bedouins from the desert to the east of you overrun your land, and conquer it.
They will set up their encampments among you. They will harvest all-of your fruit, and
steal your dairy cattle. And I will turn the city of Rabbah into a pasture for camels and
all-of the country of the Ammonites into a waste land where flocks of sheep can graze.
Then, you will know that I AM the Lord.”
Message against Moab

8. “For the Lord God says: Because you clapped and stamped and cheered with glee at
the destruction of my people, therefore, I will lay my hand heavily upon you,
delivering you to many nations for devastation. I will destroy you: then you shall
know that I AM the Lord.”
9. Thus says the Lord GOD: Because that aMoab and bSeir do say, Behold, the house of
Judah is like unto all the heathen;
10.Therefore, behold, I will open the cside of Moab from the cities, from the cities which
are on his frontiers, the glory of the country, dBethjeshimoth, eBaalmeon, and
f
Kiriathaim,
11. Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that
the Ammonites my not be remembered among the nations.
12.And I will execute judgements upon Moab: and they shall know that I AM the Lord.
And the Lord says: Because the Moabites have said that Judah is no better off than any
other nation, Therefore I will open up the eastern flank of Moab, wiping out her frontier
cities, the glory of the nation ~ Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim.
And Bedouin tribes from the desert to the east will pour in upon her, just as they will
upon Ammon. And Moab will no longer be counted among the nations. Thus, will I bring
down my judgements upon the Moabites, and they shall know that I AM the Lord.
Message against Edom
13.Thus says the Lord GOD: gBecause that Edom has dealt against the house of Judah
h
by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them:
14.Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I will also stretch out my hand against Edom,
and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from iTeman: and
they of jDedan shall fall by the sword.
15.And kI will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel; and they
shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury: and they shall
know my vengeance says the Lord GOD.
And the Lord GOD says; Because the Moabites have said that Judah is no better than
any other nation, therefore I will open up the eastern flank of Moab, wiping out her
frontier cities, the glory of the nation ~ Bethjeshimoth, Baalmeon, and Kiriathaim.
And Bedouin tribes from the desert to the east will pour in upon her, just as they will
upon Ammon, And Moab will no longer be counted among the nations.
And the Lord GOD says; Because the people of Edom have sinned so greatly by avenging
themselves upon the people of Judah, I will smash Edom, with my fist, and wipe out her
people, her cattle, and her flocks. The sword will destroy everything from Teman to

a
Isaiah 15:1 e
1 Chronicles 5:8 i
1 Chronicles 1:45
b
See 35:2 f
Jeremiah 48:1 j
See 27:15, 20; 38:13
c
[h] Shoulder of Moab g
Psalm 137:7; Isaiah 34:5 k
Jeremiah 49:7-22; Amos 9:12;
d
Joshua 12:3 h
[h] by revenging revengement Obadiah 18,19,21

152
Dedan. By the hand of my people, Israel, this shall be done. They will carry out my
furious vengeance.
Message against the Philistines
16.Thus says the Lord GOD: Because athe Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have
taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it bfor the old hatred;
17.Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the
Philistines, and I will cut off cthe Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the dsea
coast.
18.And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes: and they shall
know that I AM the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.
And the Lord GOD says: Because the Philistines have acted against Judah out of revenge
and long-standing hatred, I will shake my fist over the land of the Philistines, and I will
utterly destroy those along the sea coast. I will execute terrible vengeance upon them,
to rebuke them for what they have done. And when this happens, then shall they know
that I AM the Lord.
CHAPTER 26: TYRUS IS THREATENED
[This chapter relates to prophecies given by God to Ezekiel, about the destruction of
Tyrus (also referred to in the New Testament as Tyre), which took place with the invasion
by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, who besieged Tyre for 13 years (c. 587–574
B.C.) and later a seven-month siege by Alexander the Great, in 332 B.C.]
1. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first day of the month, that the word
of the LORD came unto me, saying;
2. Son of man, ebecause that Tyrus has said against Jerusalem, aha, she is broken,
that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me; I shall be replenished, now
she is laid waste:
3. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and I will
cause fmany nations to come up against thee, as the sea causes the sea to come
up.
4. And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also
scrape her dust from her, and make her like gthe top of a rock.
5. It shall be a place for hthe spreading of nets iin-the-midst-of the sea: for I have
spoken it, says the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
6. And jher daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall
know that I AM the Lord.
Another message came to me from the Lord, on the first day of the month, in the
eleventh year (after King Jehoiachin was taken away into captivity).
“Son of dust, Tyre has rejoiced over the fall of Jerusalem, saying ‘Ha! She who controlled
the lucrative north-south trade routes along the coast, and along the course of the River
Jordan has been broken. [Literally, the gates of the people], and I have fallen heir!
Because she has been laid waste, I shall become wealthy!”
“Therefore, the Lord GOD says: I stand against you, Tyre, and I will bring nations against
you like ocean waves. They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers. I
will scrape away her soil and make her a bare rock. Her island shall become uninhabited,
a place for fishermen to spread their nets, for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD. Tyre

a
Isaiah 14:29-32; Jeremiah c
1 Samuel 30:14 g
See 24:7
25:20; 47:1; Joel 3:4; Amos d
[h] haven of the sea. h
See verse 14
1:6 e
Isaiah 23:1 i
See 27:32
b
[h] with perpetual hatred f
Jeremiah 34:1 j
See 16:27, see verse 8

153
shall become the prey of many nations, and her mainland city shall perish by the sword.
Then they shall know that I AM the Lord.
7. For thus says the Lord GOD: aBehold, I will bring upon Tyrus, Nebuchadnezzar King
of Babylon, ba king of kings, cfrom the north, with horses, and with chariots, and
with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
8. He shall slay with the sword dyour daughters in the field; and he shall make a fort
against you, and ecast a mount against thee, and lift-up the buckler against thee.
9. And he shall set engines of war against thy walls, and with his axes he shall break
down your towers.
10. By reason the abundance of his horses, their dust shall cover thee; thy walls shall
shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the chariots, when he shall enter-into
thy gates, fas men enter-into a city, wherein is made a breach.
11. With the hoofs of his horses shall her tread down all thy streets; He shall slay thy
people with the sword, and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground.
12. And they shall make a spoil of thy riches, and make a prey of thy merchandise; and
they shall break down thy walls, and destroy gthy pleasant houses; and they shall
lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in-the-midst-of the waters.
13. And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the songs of thy harps shall no
longer be heard.
14. And I will make thee like the top of a rock: thou shall be a place to spread nets
upon: thou shall be built no more; for I, the Lord have spoken it, says the Lord
GOD.
For the Lord GOD says; I will bring Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon ~ the king of kings
from the north ~ against Tyre, with a great army and with cavalry and with chariots.
First, he will destroy your suburbs; then he will attack your mainland city by building a
siege wall and raising a roof of shields against it. He will set up battering rams against
your walls and with sledge hammers, demolish your forts.
The hooves of his cavalry will choke the city with dust, and your walls will shake as the
horses’ gallop through your broken gates, pulling chariots behind them. Horsemen will
occupy every street in the city; they will butcher your people, and your famous pillars
will topple to the ground.
They will plunder all-of your riches and merchandise and break down your walls. They
will destroy your lovely homes and dump your stones and timber and even your dust
into the sea.
I will stop the music of your songs. No more will there be the sound of harps among
you. I will even make your island a bare rock, a place for fisherman to spread their nets.
You will never be rebuilt, for I, the Lord have spoken it. So, says the Lord.
15. Thus, says the Lord GOD to Tyrus: Shall not the isles hshake at the sound of thy fall,
when the wounded cry, when the slaughter is in-the-midst-of thee?
16. Then all-of ithe princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away
their robes, and put off their embroided garments; they shall clothe themselves with
j
trembling; they shall sit on the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be
astonished at thee.

a
See 29:18 e
[h] pour out the engine of shot h
Jeremiah 49:21; See 27:28;
b
Ezra 7:12, Daniel 2:37 f
[h]~ according to the entering 31:16
c
Jeremiah 1:14 of a city broken up i
Isaiah 23:8
d
See 16:27 g
[h]~ houses of they desire j
[h]~ tremblings

154
17. And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, how are thou
destroyed, that was inhabited aof seafaring men, the renowned city, bwhich was
strong in the sea, she, and her inhabitants, cwhich cause their terror to be on all that
haunt it!
18. Now shall the Isles tremble in the day of thy fall: yes, the isles that are in the sea
shall be troubled at thy departure.
19. For thus says the Lord GOD: When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities
that are not inhabited: dwhen I shall bring up the deep upon thee; and great waters
shall cover thee:
20. When eI shall bring thee down with them that descended into the pit; with the people
of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old,
with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited: and I shall set glory
in the land of the living;
21. I will make thee a terror; and thou shall be no more; though thou be sort for, yet
shall be never found again, says the Lord.
The whole country will shake with your fall; the wounded will scream as the slaughter
goes on. Then all the seaport rulers shall come down from their thrones and lay aside
their robes and beautiful embroidered garments, and sit on the ground shaking with fear
at what they have seen. And they shall wail for you, singing this dirge: ‘O mighty island
city, with your naval power that terrorized that mainland, how you have vanished from
the seas! How the island trembles at your fall! They watch dismayed.’
“For the Lord GOD says; I will destroy Tyre to the ground. You will sink beneath the
terrible waves of enemy attack. Great seas shall swallow you. I will send you to the pit
of hell, to lie there with those of long ago. Your city will lie in ruins, dead, like the bodies
of those in the underworld, who entered long ago the nether world of the dead. Never
again will you be inhabited, or be given beauty here in the land of those who live. I will
bring you to a dreadful end: no search will be enough to find you, says the Lord.
CHAPTER 27: THE LAMENTATION OF TYRUS
1. The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying:
2. Now, son of man, take up a lamentation for Tyrus;
3. And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which are a
merchant of the people for many isles; Thus says the Lord GOD: O Tyrus, thou hast
said; fI am gof perfect beauty.
4. The borders are in-the-hmidst-of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
5. They have imade all thy ship boards of fir trees of jSenir: that have taken cedars
from Lebanon to make tall masts for thee.
6. Of the oaks of Bashan have they made the oars; kthe lcompany of the Ashurites have
made thy benches of ivory, brought out of the isles of Chittim.
7. Fine linen with embroided work from Egypt, was that which thou spread forth to be
thy sail; blue and purple from the Isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.
8. The inhabitants of Zidon and Arvad were thy mariners; thy wise men, O Tyrus, that
were in thee, that were thy pilots.

a
[h]~ of the seas f
See 28:12 k
[h]~ they have made the
b
Isaiah 23:4 g
[h]~ perfect of beauty hatches of ivory well-trodden
c
See 32:23 h
[h]~ in the heart of l
[h]~ daughter
d
See 27:34 i
[h]~ built
e
See 31:14; 32:18 j
Deuteronomy 3:9

155
9. The ancients of aGebal and the wise men thereof were thy bcalkers: all the ships of
the sea were their mariners, and were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.
10. They of Persia and they of cLud and Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they
hanged the shield and the helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.
11. The men of Arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about, and the Gamma
dims were in thy towers; they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about; they
have made thy beauty perfect.
12. dTarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with
silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.
13. eJavan, Tubal, Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men
and vessels of brass in thy fmarket.
14. They of the house of gTogarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and
mules.
15. The men of hDedan were thy merchants: many isles were the merchandise of thine
hand: they brought thee for a present, horns of ivory and ebony.
16. Syria, was they merchant by reason of the multitude of ithe wares of thy making;
they occupied in thy fairs, with emeralds, purple, and embroided work, and fine
linen, and coral, and jagate?
17. Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market
wheat of kMinnith, and Pannag, and honey and oil and lbalm.
18. Damascus, was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making; for the
multitude of all the riches; in the wine of Helbon, and its white wool.
19. Dan and Javan [Meuzal], going to and fro occupied in thy fairs; bright iron, mcassia,
and ncalamus, were in thy market.
20. Dedan was thy merchant in oprecious clothes for chariots.
21. Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, pthey occupied thee with lambs, and rams, and
goats: in these they were thy merchants.
22. The merchants of Sheba and Ramah, they were thy merchants: they occupied in thy
fairs, with chiefs of all spices, and will all precious stones, and gold.
23. Haran and Canneh, and Eden, the merchants of Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad, were
thy merchants.
24. They were thy merchants in qall sorts of things, in blue clothes, and embroided work,
and in chests of rich apparel, bound with cords, and made of cedar, among thy
merchandise.
25. rThe ships of Tarshish did sing of thee in thy market: and thou were replenished,
and made very glorious in-the-midst-of the seas.
Then this message from the Lord came to me, saying. “Son of dust, sing this sad dirge
for Tyre;
“O mighty seaport city, merchant centre of the world, the Lord GOD speaks: You say,
‘I am the most beautiful city in all the world.’ You have extended your boundaries out

a
1 Kings 5:18, Psalm 83:7 f
[h]~ in merchandise m
Exodus 304
b
[h]~ stoppers of chinks, or g
Genesis 10:3 n
Used in traditional medicines
strengtheners h
See 25:13 Eden o
[h]! Clothes of freedom
c
Isaiah 66:19, Jeremiah 46:9, i
[h]~ thy works p
[h]~ they were the merchants
See 30:5 j
chrysoprase of thy hands
d
1 King 10:22, See 38:13 k
Judges 11:33 q
[h]~ excellent things
e
Genesis 10:2 l
[h]~ rosin, Jeremiah 8:22 r
Psalm 48:7, Isaiah 2:16

156
into the sea; your architects have made you glorious, You, are like a ship built of the
finest fir from Senir. They took a cedar from Lebanon to make the mast for you. They
made your oars from oaks of Bashan. The walls of your cabin are of cypress pine from
the southern coast of Cyprus. Your sails are made of the finest linen from Egypt; you
stand beneath awnings bright with purple and scarlet dyes from eastern Cyprus.”
“Your sailors, come from Sidon and Arvad; your helmsmen are skilled men from Zemer.
Wise old craftsmen from Gebal do the caulking of your ships. Ships come from every
land with all their goods, to barter for your trade.”
“Your army includes men from far-off Paras, Lud and Put. [These are 3 ancient cities in
North Africa]. They serve you ~ it is a feather in your cap, to have their shields hand
upon your walls; it is the ultimate of honour. Men from Arvad and from Helech; [A region
in ancient Cilicia, also know from Assyrian records as Hilakku], are the sentinels upon
your walls; your towers are manned by men from Gammad. Their shields hang row upon
row upon the walls, perfecting your glory.”
“From Tarshish comes all types of riches to your markets; sliver, iron, tin, and lead.
Merchants from Javan, Tubal and Meshech (a region of Asia, now in Turkey), bring slaves
and bronze dishes, while from Togarmah (a region of Asia, now in Turkey), comes
chariots, horses, steeds and mules.”
“Merchants come to you from Rhodes, and many coastlands are your captive markets,
giving in ebony and ivory. Edom sends their traders to buy your many wares. They
bring emeralds, purple dyes, embroidery, fine linen, and jewellery of coral and agate.
Judah and the cities, in what was once, the kingdom of Israel, send merchants with
wheat from Minnith, and Pannag, and with honey, oil and balm. Damascus comes. She
brings wines from Helbon, and white Syrian wool, to trade for all the rich variety of
goods that you make. Vedan and Javan bring Arabian yarn, wrought iron, cassia and
calamus, while Dedan brings expensive saddlecloths for riding.”
The Arabians, and Kedar’s wealthy merchant princes, bring you rams, lambs, and goats.
The merchants of Sheba and Ramah, come with all kinds of spices, jewels and gold.
Haran and Canneh, Eden, Asshur and Chilmad, all send their wares. They all bring choice
fabrics to trade ~ blue cloth, embroidery, and many coloured carpets, bound with cords,
and made secure. The ships from Tarshish are your ocean caravans; your island
warehouses are filled to the brim.
26. Thy rowers have brought you into great waters; the east wind has broken thee in-
the-amidst-of the seas.
27. Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, and thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy
caulkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in
thee, band in all thy company which is in-the-amidst-of thee, shall fall into the midst
of the seas, in the day of thy ruin.
28. The csuburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots.
29. dAnd all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come
down to their ships, they shall stand upon the land:
30. And shall cause their voice to be heard against thee; and shall cry bitterly, and shall
cast up dust, upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes.
31. And they shall emake themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird themselves with
sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing.

a
[h]~ heart c
[h]~ waves e
Job 1:20, Isaiah 3:24
b
[h]~ even with all d
Revelation 18:17-18

157
32. And in their wailing, they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee,
saying; “What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in-the-midst-of the sea?
33. aWhen thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filled many people: thou did enrich
the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise.
34. In the time bwhen thou shall be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, thy
merchandise and all thy company in-the-midst-of thee shall fall.
35. cAll the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee, and their kings shall be
sore afraid, they shall be troubled in their countenance.
36. The merchants among the people shall hiss at thee: thou shall be da terror: and
e
never shall be anymore.
[This is what happens when nations worship money, fame, and fortune, instead of
worshipping the God of Israel].
But now, your statesmen bring your ship of state into a hurricane! Your mighty vessel
flounders in a heavy easterly gale, (King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon coming to attack
you) and you are wrecked in the heart of the seas.
Everything is lost. Your riches and wares, your sailors and pilots, your shipwrights, and
merchants, and soldiers, and all-of the people sink into the sea on the day of your vast
ruin.
The surrounding cities quake, at the sound as your pilots scream with fright. All-of your
sailors out as sea come to land and watch upon the mainland shore, weeping bitterly
and casting dust upon their heads and wallowing in ashes. They shave their heads in
grief, and put on sackcloth and weep for you with bitterness of heart and deep mourning.
CHAPTER 28: GOD’S JUDGEMENT UPON THE PRINCE OF TYRUS.
1. The word of the Lord came to me again saying;
2. Son of man, say unto the Prince of Tyrus: Thus says the Lord GOD: Because thine
heart is lifted-up, and you have said, I am God, I sit in the seat of God, fin-the-
g
midst-of the seas: yet thou art a man, and NOT God, though thou set thine heart,
as the heart of God:
3. Behold, hthou art wiser than Daniel: there is no secret that they can hide from thee;
4. With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten your riches, and
has gotten gold and silver into your treasures;
5. By ithy great wisdom and by thy traffick you have increased your riches, and thine
heart is lifted-up because of thy riches:
6. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have set your heart, as the heart
of God:
7. Behold, therefore I will bring jstrangers upon thee; kthe terrible of the nations; and
they shall draw thy swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, they shall defile thy
brightness.
8. They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shall die the deaths of them that are
slain in the depths of the sea.
9. Wilt thou yet say before him that slays thee: I am God? But thou shall be a man,
and not God, in the hand of him that lslays thee.

a
Revelation 18:15,19 f
See 27:4 j
See 7:21, 30:17, 31:12
b
See 26:19 g
[h]~ heart k
See 30:11
c
See 26:15 h
Zechariah 9:2 l
[h]~ slays/wounds
d
[h]~ terrors i
[h]~ the greatness of thy
e
[h]~ shall not be forever wisdom

158
10. You shall die the deaths of athe uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have
spoken it, says the Lord GOD.
Here is another message given to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, say to the prince of
Tyre: The Lord GOD says: You are so proud that you think you are God, sitting on the
throne of a god, on your island home in-the-midst-of the seas. But you are only a man,
and not a god, though you boast yourself to be like GOD.
You are wiser than Daniel, for no secret is hidden from you. You have used your wisdom
and understanding to get great wealth ~ gold and silver, and many treasures. Yes, your
wisdom, has made you very rich and very proud.
Therefore, the Lord GOD says: Because you claim that you are as wise as God, an enemy
army, the terror of the nations, shall suddenly draw their swords against your marvellous
wisdom and defile your splendour!
They will bring you to the pit of hell and you shall die as those pierced with many wounds,
there on your island in the heart of the seas. Then, will you boast as a god?
At least to these invaders you will be no god; but merely a man. You will die an outcast,
at the hands of foreigners. For I have spoken it, the Lord GOD says!”
[This is a warning to any nation, tribe or tongue, or any religious entity. If you think you
are as wise as God, and your trust your wisdom and your riches, more than you trust
God’s word, then God has an appointed time, when He will deal with you, just like He
did here with the People of Tyre.
No-one on earth is above God’s law ~ and all are the people on the earth must give
account of themselves before this righteous God, for either reward, or punishment.]
This next passage of scripture compares the King of TYRUS, to the arch-angel Lucifer,
in the Garden of Eden, BEFORE HIS FALL.
11. Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me again saying;
12. Son of man, btake up a lamentation against the King of Tyrus, and say unto him;
Thus says the Lord GOD: Thou seal up the sum, full of wisdom, and cperfect in
beauty.
13. You have been in the dEden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy
covering, the esardius, topaz, and the diamond, the fberyl, the onyx, and the jasper,
the sapphire, the gemerald, and the carbuncle and gold; the workmanship of the
tabrets, and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
14. Thou are the anointed cherub that covereth: and I have set thee so: you were upon
h
the holy mountain of God: you have walked up and down in-the-midst-of ithe stones
of fire.
15. Thou were perfect in thy ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was
found in you.
16. By the multitudes of thy merchandise, they have filled the midst of thee with
violence, and thou hast sinned; therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the
mountain of God: and I will destroy thee: O covering cherub, from the midst of the
stones of fire.
17. Thine heart was lifted-up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by
reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings,
that they may behold thee.

a
See 31;18, 32:19,21,24-30,32 e
[h]~ ruby i
See verse 16 & compare with
b
See 32:2 f
[h]~ chrysolite Malachi 3:17
c
See 27:3 g
[h]~ chrysoprase
d
See 31:8-9 h
See 20:40

159
18. aThou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the
iniquities of thy traffick: therefore, bwill I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee; it
shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all
them that behold thee.
19. All those that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shall
be ca terror, and never shalt thou be anymore.
Then a further message came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, weep for the king of
Tyre. [In this passage (verses 11-19) some descriptive phrases apply to a human king
of Tyre, and some verses seem to apply to the cherub, Lucifer (Satan). Therefore, great
care must be taken in applying these verses, using the “spirit of Discernment”.] Tell
him, the Lord GOD says: You were the perfection of wisdom and beauty, (but you blue
it!) You were in Eden, the garden of God: your clothing was bejewelled with every
precious stone ~ ruby, topaz, diamond, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, carbuncle (a
fiery red gem), and emerald ~ all in beautiful settings of finest gold. They were given to
you on the day that you were created. I appointed you to be the anointed guardian
cherub. You had access to the holy Mountain of God. You walked among the stones of
fire. [the holy angels of God].
You were perfect in all that you did from the day that you were created, until that time
when iniquity was found in you. Your great wealth filled you with internal turmoil and
you sinned. Therefore, I cast you out of the mountain of God, like a common sinner. I
destroyed you, O overshadowing cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart
was filled with pride because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom, for the sake
of your splendour.
Therefore, I have cast you down to the ground and exposed you helpless before the
curious gaze of kings. You defiled your holiness with lust for gain: therefore, I brought
forth fire from your own actions, and let it burn you to ashes upon the earth, in the sight
of all those watching you. All who know you are appalled at your fate; you are an
example of horror; you are destroyed forever.”
Judgement against Zidon (SIDON):
20. Again, the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
21. Son of man, set thy face dagainst Zidon, and prophesy against it,
22. And say; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold I AM against thee, O Zidon: and I will be
glorified in-the-midst-of thee; and they shall know that I AM the LORD, when I shall
have executed judgements in her, eand shall be sanctified in her.
23. For I will send into her fpestilence, and blood into her streets: and the wounded shall
be judged in-the-midst-of her by the sword upon her on every side: and they shall
know that I AM the LORD.
24. And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving
thorn of all that are round about them: and they shall know that I AM the Lord GOD.
Then another message came to me from the Lord: “Son of Dust, look towards the city
of Sidon and prophesy against it. Say to it: “The Lord God says: I am your enemy, O
Sidon, and I will reveal my power over you. When I destroy you and show forth my
holiness upon you, then all who see shall know that I AM the LORD. I will send an
epidemic of disease and an army to destroy: the wounded shall be slain in your streets
by troops on every side. THEN you shall know that I AM the Lord. No longer shall you

a
See 22:16 c
[h]~ terrors e
See 20:41
b
See 30:8,14, 16; Revelation d
Isaiah 23:4,12; Jeremiah f
See 38:22
18:9 25:22, 27:3; See 32:30

160
and Israel’s other nations prick and tear at Israel like thorns and briars, though they
formerly despised her and treated her with great contempt.
25. [M] Thus says the Lord GOD; aWhen I shall have gathered the house of Israel from
the people from among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them, in
the sight of the heathen, then bshall they dwell in their land that I have given to my
servant Jacob.
26. [M] And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards:
Yes, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgements upon all
those that despise them round about them: and they shall know that I AM the Lord,
their GOD!
CHAPTER 29: THE JUDGEMENT OF PHAROAH
1. In the tenth year, in the tenth month, in the twelfth day of the month, the word of
the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Son of Man, set thy face against the Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and prophesy against
him, and cagainst all-of Egypt.
3. Speak and say; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh, king
of Egypt, the great ddragon that lies in-the-midst-of his rivers, which has said; ‘My
river is my own, and I have made it for myself.’
4. But eI will put hooks on thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto
thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all-of the fish
of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.
5. And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all-of the fish of thy rivers:
thou shall fall upon the fopen fields; gthou shall not be brought together, nor
gathered; I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of
the heaven.
6. And all-of the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I AM the LORD, because they
have seen ha staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7. i
When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their
shoulder; and when they leaned upon thee, thou break them, and made all their
loins to be at a stand.
Late in December, of the tenth year (of the imprisonment of King Jehoiachin), this
message came to me from the Lord; “Son of dust, face towards Egypt and prophesy
against Pharaoh, her king and all her people. Tell them that the Lord GOD says: I AM
your enemy, Pharaoh, king of Egypt, ~ mighty dragon, lying in the middle of your rivers.
For you have said; ‘The Nile is mine; I have made it for myself!’
I will put hooks into your jaws and drag you out onto the land with fish sticking to your
scales. And I will leave you and all the fish stranded in the desert to die, and you won’t
be buried, for I have given you as food for the wild animals and birds.
Because of the way you might collapsed, when Israel called on you for aid [instead of
trusting me], all-of you shall know that I AM the Lord. Israel leaned on you but, like a
cracked staff, you snapped beneath her hand and wrenched her shoulder out of joint,
and made her stagger with pain.

a
See 39:27 d
Isaiah 27:1, 51:9; Jeremiah g
Jeremiah 8:2, 25:33;
b
See 37:25 46:22; Psalm 44:19, 74:13 h
2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6
c
Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 25:19 e
See 38:4 i
Isaiah 20:5, 30:3-5; Jeremiah
f
[h]~ face of the field 2:36

161
8. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut
off man and beast out of thee.
9. And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and laid waste: and they shall know that I
AM the Lord: because he has said; the river is mine and I have made it.
10. Behold, therefore, I Am against thee, and against thy rivers, and aI will make the
land of Egypt butterly waste and desolate, cfrom the tower of Syene even unto the
border of Ethiopia.
11. No foot of man shall pass through it, nor foot of beast shall pass through it, neither
shall it be inhabited for forty years.
12. And I will make the land of Egypt ddesolate in-the-midst-of the countries that are
desolate, and her cities among the cities that are laid waste and they shall be
desolate for forty years: eand I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and
will disperse them through the countries.
Therefore, the Lord GOD says; I will bring an army against you, O Egypt, and destroy
both men and herds. The land of Egypt shall become a desolate wasteland, and the
Egyptians shall know that I, the Lord, have done it.
“Because you said: ‘The Nile is mine! I made it!’ Therefore, I am against you and your
river and I will destroy the land of Egypt from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of
Ethiopia. For forty years not a soul will pass that way, neither men nor animals. It will
be completely uninhabited. I will make Egypt desolate, surrounded by desolate nations,
and her cities shall lie as wastelands for forty years. I will exile the Egyptians to other
lands.”
13. Yet, thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years fwill I gather the Egyptians
from the people whither they were scattered:
14. And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and cause them to return into the land
of gPathros, into the land of their hhabitation: and they shall be there a ibase
kingdom.
15. It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above
the nations; for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
16. And it shall be no more the confidence of the house of Israel; which brings their
iniquity to remembrance, when they shall look after them: but they shall know that
I AM the Lord GOD.
But the Lord God says; that at the end of the forty years, he will bring the Egyptians
back home again, from the nations to which they were banished. And I will restore the
fortunes of Egypt, and bring her people back to the land of Pathros, in Southern Egypt,
where they were born, but she will be an unimportant, minor kingdom. She will be the
lowliest of all the nations; never again will she rise herself above the other nations;
never again will Egypt be great enough for that. Israel will no longer expect any help
from Egypt. Whenever she thinks of asking for it, then she will remember her sin in
seeking it before. Then Israel will know that I, alone, am God.
17. And it came to Pass on the first day, of the first month, of the twenty-seventh year,
that the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
18. Son of man, jNebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, caused his army to serve a great
service against Tyrus; every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled:

a
See 30:12 d
See 30:7 h
[h]~ birth
b
[h]~ wastes of waste e
See 30:23,26; Jeremiah 46:19; i
[h]~ lowly
c
[h]~ From Migdol [Exodus 14:2, f
Isaiah 19:23; Jeremiah 46:26 j
See 26:7-8
Jeremiah 44:1] g
See 30:14

162
 yet he had no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for his service that he had served
against it;
19. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I awill give the land of Egypt unto
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and btake her
spoil and take her pray; and it shall be the wages for his army.
20. I have given him the land of Egypt cfor his labour, wherewith he served against it,
because they wrought for me, says the Lord GOD.
In the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, around the middle
of March, this message came to me from the Lord: Son of dust, the army of King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon fought hard against Tyre. The soldier’s heads were bald
(from carrying heavy basketfuls of earth); their shoulders were raw and blistered (from
burdens of stones for the siege). And Nebuchadnezzar no compensation and could not
pay the army for all this work. [Tyre capitulated to Nebuchadnezzar at the end of a 13-
year siege (587-564 B.C.). There was little left to pay the “salary” of Nebuchadnezzar,
so the Lord was giving Egypt to him to make up for what he was ‘short-changed’ at
Tyre.] [Notice that God is actually-putting his own word into practise ~ “owe no man
anything”. Nebuchadnezzar was God’s servant and a servant is worthy of his hire, and
must be paid.]
Therefore, the Lord GOD says; I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar, king of
Babylon, and he will carry off her wealth, plundering everything she has, for his army.
Yes, I have given him the land of Egypt for his salary, because he was working for me
during those thirteen years of siege at Tyre, says the Lord.
21. [M] In that day will I cause the horn of the house of Israel to bud forth, and I will
give thee the opening of the mouth in-the-midst-of them: and they shall know that
I AM the LORD.
And the day will come when I will cause the ancient glory of Israel to revive, and then
at last her words will be respected, and Egypt shall know I AM the LORD”.
CHAPTER 30: THE DESOLATION OF EGYPT AND HER HELPERS
1. The word of the Lord came again unto me saying;
2. Son of man, prophesy and say; Thus says the Lord GOD: Howl ye, Woe worth the
day!
3. [LD] For dthe day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day: it shall be
the time of the heathen.
4. And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great epain shall be in Ethiopia, when the
slain shall fall in Egypt, and fthey shall take away her multitude, and her foundations
shall be broken down.
5. Ethiopia, and gLibya, and Lydia, and hall the mingled people of Chub, and the imen of
the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
6. Thus, says the LORD: They also that uphold Egypt shall fall: and the prides of her
power shall come down: jfrom the tower of Syene shall they fall in it by the sword,
says the Lord.
7. And they shall be desolate in-the-midst-of the countries that are desolate, kand her
cities shall be in-the-midst-of the cities that are wasted.

a
See 30: 10,12,24-25 d
See 7:7,12; Joel 1:15, 2:1; h
Jeremiah 25:20
b
[h]spoil her spoil & prey her Zephaniah 1:7 i
[h]~ children
prey e
[h]~ fear j
[h]~ from Migdol to Syene
c
[h]~ for his hire f
See 29:19 k
See 29:12
g
[h]~ Phut

163
8. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I set a fire in Egypt, and when all her
helpers shall be adestroyed.
9. In that day, shall messengers go forth from me in ships, to make the careless
Ethiopians afraid, and great pain shall come upon them, as in the day of Egypt: for,
lo, it comes.
Another message came to me from the Lord GOD! “Son of dust, prophesy and say: The
Lord GOD says; Weep for the terrible day is almost here; the day of the Lord; a day of
clouds and gloom; a day of despair for the nations! A sword shall fall on Egypt; the slain
shall cover the ground. Her wealth is taken away, her foundations destroyed. The land
of Cush has been ravished. For Cush and Put and Lud, and Arabia and Libya and all the
countries leagued with them shall perish in that war.”
“For the Lord GOD says: All Egypt’s allies shall fall, and the pride of her power shall
end. From Migdol to Syene they shall perish by the sword. She shall be desolate,
surrounded by desolate nations, and her cities shall be in ruins, surrounded by other
ruined cities.
And they will know that I AM the Lord when I have set Egypt on fire and destroyed her
allies. At that time, I will send swift messengers to bring panic to the Ethiopians: great
terror shall befall them at the time of Egypt’s doom. This will all come true.”
[God says what He means; and means what He says!]
10. Thus says the Lord GOD: bI will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the
hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
11. He and his people with him, cthe terrible of the nations, shall be brought to destroy
the land; and they shall draw their swords against Egypt, and fill the land with their
slain.
12. And I will make the rivers ddry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I
will make the land waste; and eall that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the
LORD have spoken it.
13. Thus says the Lord GOD: fI will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images
to cease out of gNoph: and there shall be no more a prince in the land of Egypt: and
I will put a fear in the land of Egypt.
14. And I will make hPathros desolate, and I will set fire in iZoan, and will execute
judgements in jNo.
15. And I will pour out my fury on kSin, the strength of Egypt; and I will cut off the
multitude of eNo.
16. And I will set fire in Egypt: Sin shall have great pain, and no shall be rent asunder,
and Noph shall have distresses daily.
17. The young men of lAven and of mPibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities
shall go into captivity.
18. At nTahpanhes, also the day shall be odarkened, when I shall break there the yokes
of Egypt; and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her: as for her; a cloud shall
cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity.
19. Thus, will I execute judgements in Egypt: and they shall know that I AM the Lord.

a
[h]~ broken g
Jeremiah 19:13; see verse 16 l
[Heliopolis] see Genesis 41:45,
b
See 29:19 h
See 29:14 50
c
See 28:7 i
[h]~ Tanis; Numbers 13:22 m
[Pubastum]
d
[h]~ drought j
Jeremiah 46:25; See verses 15- n
Jeremiah 2:16
e
[h]~ the fullness thereof 16 o
[h]~ restrained
f
Jeremiah 43:12 k
[h]~ Pelusium

164
“For the Lord GOD says: Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, will destroy the multitudes
of Egypt. He and his armies ~ the terror of the nation’s ~ are sent to demolish the land.
They shall war against Egypt, and cover the ground with the slain. I will dry up the Nile
and sell the whole land to wicked men. I will destroy Egypt and everything in it, using
foreigners to do it. I, the Lord, have spoken it. And I will smash the idols of Egypt and
the images at Memphis, and there will be no king in Egypt: anarchy shall reign!
The cities of Pathros (along the Upper Nile), and Zoan, and Thebes shall in ruins in my
hands. And I will pour out my fury upon Pelusium, the strongest fortress of Egypt, and
I will stamp out the people of Thebes.
Yes, I will set fire to Egypt, Pelusium shall be racked with pain, Thebes will be torn apart,
Memphis will be in daily terror. The young men of Heliopolis and Bubastis shall die by
the sword, and the women will be taken away as slaves.
When I come to break the power of Egypt, it will be a dark day for Tahpanhes too: a
dark cloud will cover her, and her daughters will be taken away as captives. And so will
I greatly punish Egypt, and they shall know that I AM the Lord.”
20. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the seventh month, and the tenth day
of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me saying;
21. Son of man, aI have broken the arm of Pharaoh, King of Egypt: and lo, it shall not be
bound up to be healed, to put a roller to bind it, to make it strong to hold a sword.
22. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I AM against Pharaoh, the King of Egypt,
and will break his arms, the strong, and that which was broke; and I will cause the
sword to fall out of his hand.
23. bAnd I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and will disperse them through
the countries.
24. And cI will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put MY SWORD in his
hand: but I will break Pharaoh’s arms; and he shall groan before him with the groans
of a deadly wounded man.
25. But I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and the arms of the Pharaoh
shall fall-down: and they shall know that I AM the Lord, when I shall put MY SWORD
into the hands of the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall stretch it out upon
the land OF Egypt.
26. And I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them among the
countries; and they shall know that I AM the Lord.
A year later, around the middle of March, (587 B.C. the year that Jerusalem fell to
Nebuchadnezzar and was destroyed) in the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity,
the message of the Lord came to me:
“Son of dust, I have broken the arm of the Pharaoh, King of Egypt [When Pharaoh sent
an army to relieve Jerusalem in 588 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar withdrew from the siege of
Jerusalem, just long enough to defeat the Egyptian force. This is what Ezekiel means by
the “FIRST broken arm”]. And it has not been set, nor put in a cast to make it strong
enough to hold a sword.
For the Lord GOD says: I AM against Pharaoh, King of Egypt, and I will break both of his
arms ~ the strong one, and the one that was broken before, and I will make his sword
useless in his hands, and it shall clatter to the ground. And I will, banish the Egyptians
to many lands.

a
Jeremiah 48:25 b
See 29:12, & verse 26 c
See verse 10

165
And I strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and I will place MY SWORDa in his
hand. But I will break the arms of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and he shall groan before
the king of Babylon, as one who has been wounded unto death.
I will strengthen the hands of the king of Babylon, while the hand of Pharaoh shall fall
useless by his sides. Yes, when I place MY SWORD into the hands of the king of Babylon,
and he swings it over the land of Egypt, then Egypt shall know that I AM the Lord. I will
scatter the Egyptians among the nations: and THEN they shall know that I AM the Lord.

CHAPTER 31: THE PRIDE AND FALL OF THE ASSYRIANS

1. And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, and on the first day of
the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:
2. Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art
thou like in thy greatness?
3. Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon, bwith fair branches, and with a
shadowing shroud, and of a high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4. Thy waters cmade him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running
round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
5. Therefore, dhis height was exalted high above all the trees of the field, and his
boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of
the waters, ewhen he shot forth.
6. All the fowls of Heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did
f

all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all
great nations.
7. Thus, was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by
great waters.
8. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his
boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches: nor any tree gin the
garden of God was like unto him in his beauty.
9. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of hEden
that were in the garden of God, envied him.
In the middle of May of the eleventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message
came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and all-of his
people: You are as Assyria was ~ a great and mighty nation ~ like a cedar of Lebanon,
full of thick branches and full of shade, with its head high up among the clouds. Its roots
went deep into the moist earth. It grew luxuriantly and gave streamlets of water to all
the trees around. It towered high above all-of the other trees. It prospered and grew
long thick branches, because of all the water at its roots. The birds nested in its
branches, and in its shade the flocks and herds gave birth to their young. All the great
nations of the world lived beneath its shadow. It was strong and beautiful, because its
roots went deep to water. This tree was taller than any other tree in the garden of God:
no cypress had branches equal to it; none had boughs to compare; none equalled it in
beauty. Because of the magnificence that I gave it, it was the envy of all the other trees
in the Garden of Eden.

a
When you have GOD’S sword in c
[h]~ nourished g
See verse 9, See 28:13
your hand, no-one can defeat d
Daniel 4:11 h
See verse 9, See 28:13
you! e
[h]~ when it sent them forth
b
[h]~ fair of branches f
See 17:23; Daniel 4: 12,21

166
10. Therefore, says the Lord God: Because thou hast lifted-up thyself in height, and he
has shot up his top among the thick boughs, and ahis heart is lifted-up in his height;
11. I have therefore delivered him into the hands into the hands of the mighty one of
the heathens: bhe shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his
wickedness.
12. And strangers: cthe terrible of the nations, have cut him off, and have left him: upon
the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen, and his boughs are
broken by all the rivers of the land: and all the people of the earth are gone down
from his shadow, and have left him.
13. dUpon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain: and all the beasts of the
fields shall be upon his branches.
14. To the end that none of all the trees by the water exalt themselves for their height,
neither shoot up their top among the boughs, neither etheir trees stand up in their
height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death; fto the nether parts
of the earth, in-the-midst-of the children of men, with them that go down into the
pit.
15. Thus says the Lord GOD: In the day that he went down to the grave I caused a
mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the
great waters were stayed; and I caused Lebanon gto mourn for him, and all-of the
trees of the field fainted for him.
16. hI made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell
with them that descend into the pit: and iall the trees of Eden, the choice of the best
of Lebanon, all that drink water, jshall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
17. They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword: and
they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in-the-midst-of the heathen.
But Egypt has become proud and arrogant, the Lord GODS says: Therefore, because
she has set herself so high above the others, reaching to the clouds, I will deliver her
into the hands of a mighty nation, to destroy her as her wickedness deserves. I, myself,
will cut her down. A foreign army from Babylon ~ the terror of the nation’s ~ will invade
her land and cut her down, and leave her fallen on the ground. Her branches will be
scattered across the mountains, valleys, and rivers of the land.
All those who lived beneath her shade will go away and leave her lying there.
The birds will pluck off her twigs and the wild animals will lie among her branches; let
no other nation exult with pride for its own prosperity, though it be higher than the
clouds, for all are doomed and they will land in hell, along with all the proud men of the
world.
The Lord God says: When she fell, I made the oceans mourn for her and restrained their
tidesk. I clothed Lebanon in black and caused the trees of Lebanon to weep. I made
the nations shake with fear at the sound of her fall, for I threw her down to hell with all-
of the others, like her. And all-of the other proud trees of Eden, the choicest and the
best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, are comforted to find
her there with them in hell. Her allies too are all destroyed and they perished with her.

a
Daniel 5:20 e
[h]~ stand upon themselves for h
See 26:15
b
[h]~ in doing, he shall do unto their height. i
Isaiah 14:8
him f
See 26:20, 32:18,24; See j
Isaiah 14:9-11, See 32:31
c
See 28:7 verses 16, 18. k
[h] The great waters were held
d
See 32:4 g
[h]~ be black for him. back

167
They went down with her to the nether world ~ those nations that had lived beneath
her shade.
18. To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet
shall thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth:
thou shall lie in-the-midst-of the uncircumcised with them that were slain with the
sword. This is Pharaoh and all-of his multitude, says the Lord GOD.
“O Egypt, you are great and glorious among the trees of Eden ~ the nations of the world.
And you will be brought down to the pit of hell with all-of the other nations. You will be
among the nations that you despise, killed by the sword. This is the fate of Pharaoh and
all-of his teeming masses, says the Lord”.
CHAPTER 32: LAMENTATION FOR THE FALL OF EGYPT
1. And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, and on the first day of
the month, that the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and say unto him;
Thou are like aa young lion of the nations, and thou art as a bwhale in the seas: and
thou came forth with thy rivers, and troubled the waters with thy feet, and foulest
their rivers.
3. Thus says the Lord God: I will therefore cspread out my net over thee, with a
company of many people: and they shall bring thee up in thy my net.
4. Then dwill I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and
will ecause all the fowls of the heavens to remain upon thee, and I will fill the beasts
of the whole earth with thee.
5. And I will lay thy flesh fupon the mountains, and fill thy valleys with thy height.
6. I will also water with thy blood gthe land where you swim, even to the mountains:
and the rivers shall be full of thee.
7. And when I shall hput thee out, I will cover the heaven and make the stars dark: iI
will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
8. All of the jbright lights of heaven will I make kdark over thee and set darkness upon
thy land, says the Lord God.
9. I will also lvex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destructions among
the nations, into the countries that thou hast not known.
10. Yes, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall become horribly
afraid for thee; when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble
at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall.
In Mid-February, of the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this message came
to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, mourn for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and say to him:
You think of yourself as a strong young lion among the nations, but you are merely a
crocodile, laying on the banks of the Nile, making bubbles and muddying the streams.”
[God says that you have a high opinion of yourself ~ actually, you are really nothing to
talk about.]
The Lord God says: I will send a great army to catch you with my net ~ I will haul you
out, and leave you stranded on the land to die. And all-of the birds of the heaven shall
land upon you and the wild animals of the whole earth will devour you until they are
glutted and full. And I will cover the hills with your flesh, and fill the valleys with your

a
See 19:3,5-6 e
See 31:13 i
Matthew 24:29
b
[h]~ dragon f
See 31:12 j
[h]~ lights of the light in heaven
c
See 12:13 g
[h]~ the land of the swimming k
[h]~ them dark
d
See 29:5 h
[h]~ extinguish l
[h]~ provoke to anger

168
bones. And I will drench the earth with your gushing blood, filling the ravines to the tops
of the mountains. I will blot you out, and I will veil the heavens and darken the stars. I
will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give you, her light. Yes, darkness
shall be everywhere across your land ~ even the bright stars shall be dark above you.
And when I destroy you, and grief shall be in many hearts among the distant nations,
that you have never seen. Yes, terror shall strike in many lands, and their kings shall be
terribly afraid, because of all that I will do to you. They shall shudder with terror when
I brandish my sword before them. They shall greatly tremble for their lives on the day
of your fall.
11. For thus says the Lord GOD; aThe sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you.
12. By the sword of the mighty shall I cause thy multitude to fall, bthe terrible of the
nations, all-of them: and they shall spoil the pomp of Egypt, and all-of the multitudes
thereof shall be destroyed.
13. I will destroy the beasts thereof from beside the great waters; neither shall the foot
of man trouble them anymore, nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them.
14. Then will I make their waters deep, and cause their rivers to run like oil, says the
Lord GOD.
15. When I shall make the land of Egypt desolate, and the country shall be cdestitute of
that whereof it was full, when I shall smite all-of them that dwell therein, then dshall
they know that I am the Lord GOD.
16. This is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her: ethe daughters of the
nations shall lament her: they shall lament for her, even for Egypt, and for all-of
f
her multitude, says the Lord God.
For the Lord God Says: The Sword of Babylon shall come against you. I will destroy you
with Babylon’s mighty army ~ the terror of the nations. I will smash the pride of Egypt
and all-of her people; all will perish. I will destroy all-of your flocks and herds that graze
beside the streams, and neither man nor animals will disturb that water anymore.
Therefore, the waters of Egypt will be as clear and flow as smoothly as olive oil, the Lord
GOD says.
And I will destroy Egypt and wipe out everything that she has, then she will know that
I, the Lord, have done it. Yes, cry for the sorrow of Egypt. Let all-of the nations, weep
for her and for her people, says the Lord.
17. And it came to pass also on the first day of the first month, in the twelfth year that
the word of the Lord came to me, saying;
18. Son of man; wail for the multitudes of Egypt, and cast them down, even her, and
the daughters of the famous nations, gunto the nether parts of the earth with them
that go down into the pit.
19. hWhom does thou pass in beauty? Go down and be laid with the uncircumcised.
20. They shall fall in-the-midst-of them that are slain by the sword: ishe is delivered to
the sword: draw her and all-of her multitudes.
21. The strong among the mighty jshall speak to him, out of the midst of hell that help
him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.

a
Jeremiah 46:27, See 14:17, d
Exodus 7:5, See 6:7 i
[h]~ the sword is laid
29:8,19 e
See verse 18 j
Isaiah 14:9-10
b
See 28:7 f
See 31:2
c
[h]~ desolate from the fullness g
See 31;14
thereof h
See 31:2,18

169
22. Asshur is there and all-of her company: He graves are about him: all-of them slain,
fallen by the sword:
23. Whose graves are asset in athe sides of the pit, and her company is round about her
grave: all-of them slain, fallen by the sword, which caused bterror in the land of the
living.
24. There is cElam and the multitude around her grave, all-of them slain, fallen by the
sword, which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth, which
caused their terrorist in the land of the living; yet have they borne their shame with
them that go down to the pit.
25. They have set her a bed in-the-midst-of the slain with all-of her multitude, her
graves are round about him: all-of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword; though
their terror was caused in the land of the living, yet have they borne their shame
with them that go down to the pit: he is put in-the-midst-of them that be slain.
26. There is dMeshech, Tubal and all-of her multitude: her graves are round about him:
all-of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword, though they caused their terror in the
land of the living.
27. And ethey shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which
have gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords
under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were
the terror of the mighty, in the land of the living.
28. Yea, though shall be broken in-the-midst-of the uncircumcised, and shall lie with
them that are slain with the sword.
29. There is fEdom, her kings, and all-of her princes, which with their might are glaid by
them that were slain by the sword; they shall lie with the uncircumcised, and with
them that go down to the pit.
30. There be the princes of hthe north, all-of them, and all-of ithe Zidonians, which are
gone down with the slain: with their terror they are ashamed of their might; and
they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword; and bear their shame
with them that go down to the pit.
31. Pharaoh shall see them, and jshall be comforted over all his multitude, even Pharaoh
and all-of his army slain by the sword, says the Lord GOD.
32. For I have caused my terror in the land of the living: and he shall be laid in-the-
midst-of the uncircumcised, with them that are slain with the sword, even Pharaoh
and all his multitude, says the Lord GOD.
Two weeks later, [in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month], another
message came to me from the Lord. He said:
“Son of dust, weep for the people of Egypt and for the other mighty nations. Send them
down to the nether world among the denizens of death. What nation is as beautiful as
you, O Egypt? Yet your doom is the pit: you will be laid beside the people that you
despise. The Egyptians will die with the multitudes, slain by the sword, for the sword is
drawn against the land of Egypt. She will be draws down to judgement. The mighty
warriors of the nether world will welcome her when she arrives with all her friends, to
lie beside the nations she despised, all victims of the sword.

a
Isaiah 14:15 e
Isaiah 14:18-19 i
See 28:21
b
[h]~ dismaying f
See 25:12 j
See 31:16
c
Jeremiah 49:34-39 g
[h]~ given, or put
d
See 27:13 h
See 38:6,15; 39:2

170
“The princes of Assyria, lie there surrounded by the graves of all her people, those the
sword has slain. Their graves are in the depth of hell, surrounded by their allies. All
these mighty men, who once struck terror into the hearts of everyone are now dead, at
the hands of their foes.
“Great kings of Elam, lie there with their people. They scourged the nations while they
lived, and now they lie undone in hell: their fate is the same as that of ordinary men.
They have a resting place among the slain, surrounded by the graves of all their people.
Yes, they terrorised the nations while they lived, but now they lie in shame in the pit,
slain by the sword.
“The princes of Meshech and Tubal are there, surrounded by all-of the graves of their
armies ~ all-of them idolaters ~ who once struck terror into the hearts of all: now they
all lie dead. They are all buried in a common grave, and not as the fallen lords who are
buried in great honour, with their weapons beside them, with their shields covering
them, and their swords beneath their heads. They were a terror to all while they lived.
Now you will lie crushed and broken among the idolaters, among those who are slain by
the sword.
“Edom is there with her kings and her princes: mighty as they were, they too lie among
the others whom the sword has slain, with the idolaters who have gone down to the pit.
All-of the princes of the north are there, and the Sidonians, all slain. Once a terror, now
they lie in shame; they lie in ignominy (shame, discredited) with all the other slain who
go down to the pit.
“When Pharaoh arrives, he will be comforted to find that he is not alone in having all his
army slain; says the Lord GOD. For I have caused my terror to fall upon all the living.
And Pharaoh and his army shall lie among the idolaters who are by the sword.”
CHAPTER 33: THE DUTY OF A WATCHMANa
1. Again, the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Son of man, speak to bthe children of thy people, and say unto them; cwhen I bring
the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set
him for their watchman:
3. If when he sees the sword come upon the land, he blows the trumpet, and warn the
people;
4. Then dwhosoever hears ethe sound of the trumpet, and takes not warning; if the
sword come, and take him away, fhis blood shall be upon his own head.
5. He heard-the-sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon
him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul.
6. But if the watchman sees the sword come, and blows not the trumpet, and the
people be not warned: if the sword come, and take any person from among them,
he is taken away in his iniquity: but ghis blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
Once again, a message came to me from the Lord. He said: “Son of dust, when I bring
an army against a country, and people of that land choose a watchman, and when he
sees an army coming, and blows the alarm to warn them, then anyone who hears the
alarm and refuses to heed it ~ well, if he dies, then the fault is his own. For he heard
the warning and would not listen; the fault is his. If he had heeded the warning, he
would have saved his life.

a
FGBMI 14/3/87 ~ these people c
[h]~ a land, when I bring a e
Isaiah 58:1; Jeremiah 6:17;
to become watchmen over sword upon her Amos 3:6
Thailand d
[h]~ he that hearing heareth f
See 18;13
b
See 3:11, Hosea 4:4 g
See 3:18

171
But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn’t sound the alarm and warn the
people, he is responsible for their deaths. They will die in their sins, but I will charge the
watchman with their deaths.
7. So, thou son of man, I have set thee as a watchman unto the house of Israel:
therefore, thou shall hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shall surely die; if thou do not
speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but
his blood will I require at your hand.
9. a
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he does not turn
from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but that has delivered your soul.
10. Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the House of Israel; Thus, you speak,
saying; If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them,
how should we then live?
11. Say unto them; As I live says the Lord GOD, bI have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked; but that the wicked turn from his evil ways and live; turn ye, turn ye from
your evil ways; for cwhy will you die, O House if Israel?
12. Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, dthe righteousness
of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgressions: as for the
wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns from his
wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the
day that he sins.
[This is a very important scripture to understand in the Old Testament. If you are
righteous and you sin, all-of your righteous deeds are cancelled out, and you die
in your sin (unless you repent). On the other hand, if you are wicked and you turn
from your wickedness and do righteous deeds, then all-of the wicked deeds you
have done previously are cancelled out, and you now live in your righteousness.]
13. When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live: if he trusts in his own
righteousness, and commits iniquity, all-of his righteousness shall not be
remembered; but for his iniquity that he committed, he shall die for it.
14. Again, ewhen I say unto the wicked, thou shall surely die; fif he turns from his sin,
and do that which is lawful and right;
15. If the wicked grestores the pledge, hgive again that he had robbed, walk in ithe
statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16. None of his sins that he had committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done
that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
“So, with you, son of dust. I have appointed you as a watchman for the people of Israel;
therefore, listen to what I say and warn them for me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O
wicked man, you will die!’ And you don’t tell him what I say, so that he does not repent
~ that wicked person will die in his sins, BUT I will hold you responsible for his death.
But if you warn him to repent and he doesn’t, he will die in his sin, and you will not be
responsible for his death.
“O people of Israel, you are saying: ‘Our sins are heavy upon us; we pine away with
guilt. How can we live?’ Tell them: “As I live says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in
the death of the wicked; I desire that the wicked turn from their wicked ways and

a
See 3:19 e
See 3:18 h
Exodus 22:1,4,7; Leviticus
b
2 Samuel `14:14; See 18:23 f
See 18:27 6:2,4-5; Numbers 5:6-7
c
See 18:31 g
See 18:7 i
Leviticus 18:5
d
See 18:24

172
live. Turn, turn from your wickedness, for why will you die, O Israel? For the good works
of a righteous man will not save him if he turns to sin: and the sins of an evil man will
not destroy him, if he repents, and turns away from his sins.
“I have said that the good man will live. BUT, if he sins, expecting his past goodness to
save him, then none of his previous good deeds shall be remembered. I will destroy him
for his sins.
“And when I tell the wicked that he will die, and then he turns from his sins, and does
what is fair and right ~ if he gives back the borrower’s pledge and return what he has
stolen, and walks along the path of righteousness, not doing evil, then he shall surely
live.
17. aYet, the children of thy people say; The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for
them, their ways are not equal.
18. bWhen the righteous turn away from their righteousness, and commits iniquity, he
shall die thereby.
19. cBut if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right,
he shall live thereby.
“And yet your people say that the Lord is not fair. The trouble is that they are not fair.
For again, I say, when a good man turns to evil, he shall die. But if a wicked man turns
from his wickedness and does what is fair and just, shall surely live.

20. Yet you say, the way of the Lord is not equal. O you House of Israel, I will judge
each one after his ways.”
Yet you are saying that the Lords isn’t fair? But I will judge each of you in accordance
with his deeds.”
21. And it came to pass in the twelfth yeard of our captivity, in the tenth month and on
the fifth day of the month, that one that one had escaped out of Jerusalem came
unto me saying, ethe city is smitten.
22. Now fthe hand of the Lord was upon me in the evening, afore he that escaped came;
and had opened my mouth, until he came to me in the morning; and gmy mouth
was opened, and I was dumb no more.
23. Then the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
24. Son of man, those that inhabit those hwastes of the land of Israel speak, saying;
Abraham was one, and he inhabited the land; but we are many; the land is given to
us for an inheritance.
25. Wherefore say unto them; This says the Lord GOD: iYou eat with the blood, and
you lift-up your eyes to idols, shed blood: and shall you possess the land?
26. You stand upon your sword, you work an abomination, and you defile everyone his
neighbour’s wife: and shall you possess the land?
27. Say thou thus unto them: Thus says the Lord GOD: As I live, surely, they that are
in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to
the beasts jto be devoured, and they that are in the forts, and in the caves shall die
of the pestilence.
28. For I will lay the land kmost desolate, and the pomp of her strength will cease; and
the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.

a
See 18:25,29 e
Compare 26:2, with 2 Kings 25: i
See 44:17, Genesis 9:4;
b
See 18:26 2-4 Leviticus 3:17
c
See 18:27 f
See 1:3 j
[h]~ to devour him
d
See 1:2 g
See 24:17 k
[h]~ desolation & desolation
h
See 36:4

173
29. Then shall they know that I AM the Lord, when I have laid the land most desolate
because of all-of their abominations, which they have committed.
In the twelfth year of our exile, late in December, one of those who had escaped from
Jerusalem arrived to tell me; “The city has fallen!” [In a previous chapter, God had
already told Ezekiel, that a messenger would come and tell him that this event would
happen and that he would be dumb & an unable to speak, until this messenger arrived].
Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the previous evening, and he had healed
me, so that I could speak again by the time the man arrived. Then this message came
to me: “Son of dust, the scattered remnants of Judah living among the ruined cities
keep saying: ‘Abraham was only one man and yet he got possession of the whole
country! We are many, so we should certainly be able to get it back!’ But the Lord GOD
says: You are powerless, for you do evil! You eat meat with the blood; you worship
idols, and murder.
Do you think I will let you have the land? Murderers! Idolaters! Adulterers! Should you
really possess the land?
“Tell them: The Lord GOD says: As I live, surely those living in the ruined cities shall die
by the sword. Those living in the open fields shall be attacked and eaten by wild animals,
and those in the forts and the caves shall all die of disease.
I will desolate the land and her pride, and her power shall come to an end. And the
mountain villages of Israel shall be so ruined that no-one shall even travel through them.
When I have ruined the land because of their sins, then they will know that I AM the
Lord.
30. Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people are still talking against thee by the
walls and in the doors of their houses, and speak one to another, everyone to his
brother, saying; ‘Come I pray you, and hear what is the word that comes forth from
the LORD.
31. And they come unto thee aas the people comes, and they sit before thee as my
people, and they hear my words; BUT THEY WILL NOT DO THEM: for with their
mouths, they show much love, but their hearts go after their covetousness.
32. And lo, thou art unto them as ba very lovely song of one that has a pleasant voice,
and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, BUT THEY DO THEM
NOT!
33. And when this comes to pass, (LO, IT WILL COME) then shall they know that a
prophet has been among them. [This is why when Zechariah was struck dumb in
the Temple, the people knew that the Lord had visited him and given him a message
~~ because it had happened to Ezekiel before.]
“Son of dust, your people are whispering behind your back. They talk about you in their
houses, and whisper about you at their doors, saying: ‘Come on, let’s have some fun!
Let’s go and hear him tell us what the Lord is saying!’ So, they come as though they are
sincere and sit before you listening. But they have no intention of doing what I tell them
to do; they talk very sweetly about loving the Lord, but with their hearts, they are loving
their money.
You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings lovely songs, with a beautiful
voice, or plays well on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t pay any
attention to it! But when all these terrible things happen them ~ and they will happen!
Then they will know that a prophet has been among them.”
CHAPTER 34: A REPROOF OF THE SHEPHERDS
1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying:

a
[h]~ according to the coming of b
[h]~ a song of loves
the people

174
2. Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them;
Thus says the Lord GOD unto the shepherds: Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that
do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flocks?
3. You eat the fat, and you clothe yourself with wool, you kill them that are fed: but
you feed not the flock.
4. The diseased you have not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was
sick, neither have you bound up that which was driven away, neither have your sort
out that which was lost; but with force, and with cruelty have you ruled them.
5. And they were scattered, abecause there is no shepherd: and they became meat to
all-of the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6. My sheep wandered through the mountains, and upon every high hill; yes, my flock
was scattered upon all-of the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after
them.
THIS CHAPTER IS PROPHETIC ABOUT TODAY’S SITUATION AS WELL!
Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, prophesy against the
shepherds, the leaders of Israel, and say unto them: The LORD GOD says to you:
Woe to the shepherds who feed themselves instead of their flocks. Shouldn’t
shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the best food and wear the finest clothes, but
you let your flocks starve. You have failed to take care of the weak, nor tended or
visited the sick, nor bound up the broken bones, nor have you gone looking for the
ones who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with
force and cruelty. So, they were scattered, without a shepherd. They have become
the prey to animal (or evil force) that comes along. My sheep wandered through
the mountains and the hills and over the face of the earth, and no-one came to
search for them, or care for them.
7. Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:
8. As I live, says the LORD GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock
became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither
did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed
not my flock;
9. Therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
10. Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold I am against the shepherds; and I will require my
flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall
shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth,
that they may not be meat for them.
Therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, says the Lord GOD; you
abandoned my flock, leaving them to be attacked and destroyed, and you were no real
shepherds at all, for you didn’t search for them. You fed yourselves and you let them
starve; therefore, I am against the shepherds, and I will hold them responsible for what
happened to my flock ~ and take away their right to eat. For I will save my flock from
being taken for their food.
The remainder of this chapter is prophetic, referring to the last days. [LD]
11. [LD] For thus says the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and
seek them out.

a
[h]~ without a shepherd

175
12. [LD] aAs a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that
are scattered: so, will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places
where they have been scattered in bthe cloudy and cdark day.
13. [LD] And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries,
and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel
by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.
14. [LD] I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall
their fold be; there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed
upon the mountains of Israel.
15. [LD] I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord GOD.
16. [LD] dI will seek that which was lost. And bring again that which was driven away,
and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but
I will destroy ethe fat and the strong; I will feed them fwith judgement.
17. [LD] And as for you, O my flock, that says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will judge
between gcattle and cattle, between rams and the hhe goats.
18. [LD] Does it seem a small thing unto you, to have eaten up the good pasture, but
you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? And to have drunk
of the deep waters., but you must foul the residue with your feet? [so that others
cannot drink from the waters]
19. [LD] And as for my flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet; and
they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.
“For the Lord GOD says: I will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking
for his flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all-of the places they were
scattered in that dark and cloudy day. And I will bring them back from among the people
and nations where they were, back home to their own land of Israel, and I will feed them
upon the mountains of Israel and by the rivers where the land is fertile and good. Yes,
I will give them good pasture on the high hills of Israel. Here they will lie down in peace
and feed in luscious mountain pastures. I, myself, will be the shepherd of my sheep,
and cause them to lie down in peace, the LORD GOD says. I will seek my lost ones,
those who have strayed away, and bring them safely home again. I will put splints and
bandages upon their broken limbs and heal the sick. And I will destroy the powerful, fat
shepherds; I will feed them, yes, ~ feed them punishment.
“And as for you, O my flock, ~ my people, the Lord GOD says; I will distinguish lambs
from kids, and rams from billy goats! Is it a small to you, O evil shepherds, that you not
only keep the best of the pastures for yourselves, but trample down the rest? That you
take the best water for yourselves, and muddy the rest with your feet? All that’s left for
my flock is what you’ve trampled down; all they have to drink is the water that you have
fouled.
20. [LD] Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD unto them: Behold: I, even I, will judge
between the fat cattle and the lean cattle.
21. [LD] Because you have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the
diseased with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad;
22. [LD] Therefore will I save my flock, and they shall no more be a pray; and will judge
between cattle and cattle.

a
[h]~ according to the seeking e
Isaiah 10:16; compare Amos g
[h]~ small cattle of lambs &
b
See 30:3 4:1 kids
c
Joel 2:2 f
Jeremiah 10:24 h
[h]~ great he goats
d
Micah 4:6

176
23. [LD] And I will set up aone shepherd over them, and He shall feed them, beven my
servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
24. [LD] And cI, the Lord, shall be their God, and my servant David da prince among
them; I, the Lord have spoken it.
25. [LD] And I will make with them ea covenant of peace, and fwill cause the evil beasts
to cease out of the land; and gthey shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in
the woods.
26. [LD] And I will make them and the places roundabout my hill ha blessing; and I will
cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be ishowers of blessing.
27. [LD] And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her
increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the Lord,
when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of
those that served themselves of them.
28. [LD] And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the
land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
29. [LD] And I will raise up for them ja plant kof renown, and they shall be no more
l
consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear mthe shame of the heathen
anymore.
30. [LD] Thus, shall they know that I, the Lord their GOD, am with them, and that they,
even the House of Israel, are my people, says the Lord GOD.
31. [LD] And you my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your GOD, says
the Lord.
“Therefore, the Lord GOD says: I will surely judge between these fat shepherds and
their scrawny sheep. For these shepherds push and butt and crowd my sick and hungry
flock until they are scattered far away. So, I myself, will save my flock; no more will
they be picked on and destroyed. And I will notice which is plump and which is thin, and
why! And I will set one shepherd over all-of my people, even my Servant, David. He
shall feed them and be a shepherd to them.
“And I, the Lord will be their GOD, and my Servant David shall be a Prince among my
people. I, the Lord, have spoken it. I will make a peace pact with them, and drive away
the dangerous animals from the land, so that my people can safely camp in the wildest
places and sleep safely in the woods. I will make my people and their homes around my
hill a blessing. And there shall be showers, showers of blessing, for I will not shut off
the rains, but send them in their seasons. Their fruit trees and fields will yield bumper
crops, and everyone will live in safety. When I have broken off their chains of slavery,
and delivered them from those who profiteered at their expense, they shall know, that
I am the Lord. No more will other nations conquer them, nor wild animals attack them.
They shall live in safety and no one shall make them afraid.
“And I will raise up a notable Vine [The Messiah], in Israel so that my people will never
again go hungry, nor be shamed by heathen conquest. In this way they will know that
I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the people of Israel, are my people,

a
Jeremiah 23:4; see 37:24; John f
Leviticus 26:6; Isaiah 11:6-9; j
Isaiah 60:21, 61:3
10:11 35:9; Hosea 2:18 k
[h]~ for renown
b
See 37:24-25; Jeremiah 30:9 g
See 38:8 l
[h]~ taken away
c
Exodus 29:45, see 37:27 h
Genesis 12:2; Isaiah 19:24; m
See 36:6
d
See 37:22; 44:3 Zechariah 9:13
e
See 37:26 i
Malachi 3:10

177
says the Lord GOD. You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my men, and I
am your God, so says the Lord.”
CHAPTER 35: THE JUDGEMENT OF MOUNT SEIR
1. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:
2. Son of man, aset your face against bMount Seir, and cprophesy against it.
3. And say unto it; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, O Mount Seir, I am against thee,
and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make you dmost desolate.
4. I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shall be desolate, and thou shall know that I am
the Lord.
5. e
Because thou have had a fperpetual hatred, and has gshed the blood of the children
Israel, by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their
iniquity had an end:
6. Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will prepare thee unto blood, and blood
shall pursue thee: since thou hast not hated blood, even blood shall pursue thee.
7. Thus, will I make Mount Seir hmost desolate, and cut off from it him that passes out
of him that returns.
8. And I will his mountains with his slain men; in thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all
thy rivers, shall they fall that are slain with the sword.
9. And I will make thee perpetual desolations, and thy cities shall not return: and you
shall know that I AM the Lord.
10. Because you have said; These two nations ad these two countries shall be mine, and
we will possess it; iwhereas the Lord was there;
11. Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and
according to thine envy, which thou hast used out of your hatred against them; and
I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee.
12. And thou shall know that I AM the Lord, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies
which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying; They are laid
desolate, they are given us jto consume.
13. Thus, with your mouth you have kboasted against me, and have multiplied your
words against me; I have heard them.
14. Thus says the Lord GOD: When the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate.
15. As thou did rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate;
even so will I do unto thee; thou shalt be desolate, O Mount Seir, and lall Idumea,
even all-of it; and they shall know that I AM the LORD.
Again, a message came from the Lord. He said: “Son of dust, face towards Mount Seir
[Petra] and prophesy against the people saying: “The Lord GOD says: I am against you,
and I will smash you with my fist and utterly destroy you. Because you hate my people
Israel, I will demolish your cities and make you desolate, and then you shall know that
I AM the Lord.
You butchered my people when they were helpless, when I had punished them for all-
of their sins. As I live, the Lord GOD says, since you enjoy blood so much, I will give

a
See 6:2 d
[h]~ desolation & desolation j
[h]~ to devour
b
Genesis 32:3, 36:8-9; e
Psalm 137:7; See 36:2: k
[h]~ magnified
Deuteronomy 2;1,4-5; Isaiah Obadiah 10,11; l
See 36:5
21:11; see 25:8 f
[h]~ hatred of old
c
Jeremiah 49:7-8, See 25:12; g
[h]~ poured out the children
Joel 3:19; Amos 1:11; Obadiah h
[h]~ desolation & desolation
1:21 i
Though the LORD was there

178
you a blood bath ~ your turn has come! This is a warning to all nations who hate Israel
and who have sent terrorists into their land to destroy them. God Almighty says quite
clearly, YOUR TURN HAS COME!
I will utterly wipe out the people of Mount Seir, killing off all those who try to escape
and all those who return. I will fill your mountains with the dead ~ your hills, your
valleys, and your rivers will be filled with those the sword has killed. Never again will
you revive. You will be abandoned forever; your cities will never be rebuilt. Then you
will know that I AM the Lord. [I visited Petra in 1995 (more than 2,500 years after this
prophesy was made by Ezekiel) and Petra is deserted (except for some tourists) and the
cities have never been rebuilt, or inhabited again.]
“For you said, ‘Both Israel and Judah shall be mine. We will take possession of them.
What do we care that God is there!’ Therefore, as I live, the Lord GOD says: I will pay
back your angry deeds with mine ~ I will punish you for all-of your acts of envy and of
hate. And I will honour my name in Israel by what I do to you. And you shall know that
I have heard every evil word you spoke against the Lord, saying; ‘His people are
helpless: they are food for us to eat!’ Saying that, you boasted great words against the
Lord. AND I HEARD THEM ALL!
“The whole world will rejoice when I make you desolate. You rejoiced at Israel’s fearful
fate. Now I will rejoice at Yours! You will be wiped out ~ O people of Mount Seir, and all
who live in Edom! And then you will know that I AM the Lord!
CHAPTER 36: ISRAEL IS COMFORTED BY GOD’S BLESSINGS
1. Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto athe mountains of Israel, and say; Ye
mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:
2. Thus says the Lord GOD; Because bthe enemy has said against you; Aha, even cthe
ancient high places dare ours in possession;
3. Therefore, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: eBecause they have made
you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession
unto the residue of the heathen, fand gyou are taken up in the lips of talkers, and
are an infamy of the people;
4. Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the
Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the
desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and
derision to the residue of the heathen, that are round about;
5. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Surely hin the fire of my jealousy have I spoken
against the residue of the heathen, and against all-of Idumea, which has appointed
my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds,
to cast it out for a prey.
6. Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and
to the hills, and to the rivers, and to the valleys; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold,
I have spoken in my jealousy, and in my fury, because iyou have borne the shame
of the heathen:
7. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: I have lifted-up my hand; surely the heathen
that are about you, they shall surely bear their shame
“Son of Dust, Prophesy to Israel’s mountains. Tell them: Listen to this message from
the Lord. Your enemies have sneered at you, and claimed your ancient heights as theirs,

a
See 6:2 d
Isaiah 61:4; g
[h]~ you are made to come up
b
See 35:5 e
[h]~ Because for because on the lip of the tongue
c
Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy f
Deuteronomy 28:37; h
Deuteronomy 4:24
32:13; See 35:10 Lamentations 2:15-16 i
See 32:24

179
and destroyed you on every side, and sent you away as slaves, to many lands. You are
mocked and slandered.
“Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. He says to the hills
and mountains, dales, and valleys, and to the ruined farms and long-deserted cities,
destroyed and mocked by heathen nations all around. My anger is afire against these
nations, especially Edom, for grabbing my land with relish, in utter contempt of me, to
take it for themselves.
“Therefore, prophesy and say to the hills and mountains, dales, and valleys of Israel:
The Lord GOD says: I am full of fury because you suffered shame before the surrounding
nations. Therefore, I have sworn, with hand held high, that these nations are going to
have their turn of being covered with shame;
[This series of scriptures shows a God Almighty, who is not the “meek and mild” God of
your Sunday school classes, but a God who is very protective of His wife (Israel) and
will punish any nation that mocks her, or takes advantage against her, which is not
punishment determined by the Lord ~ her husband.]
8. But you, O Mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth abranches, and yield your fruit
to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.
9. For, behold I am for you, and I will turn unto you; and you shall be tilled and sown;
10.And I will, multiply men upon you; all-of the house of Israel, even all-of it: and bthe
cities shall be inhabited; and the wastes shall be rebuilt:
11.And I will multiply upon your man and beast; and they shall increase and bring forth
fruit; and I will settle you after cyour old estates, and will do better unto you than at
your beginning; and you shall know that I AM the Lord.
12.Yes, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess
thee; and thou shall be their inheritance, and thou shall no more henceforth bereave
them of men.
13.Thus says the Lord GOD: Because they say unto you, thou land devourest up men;
and has bereaved the nations;
14.Therefore, shall thou devour men no more, neither dbereave thy nations anymore,
says the Lord GOD.
15.Neither will I cause men to hear in thee shame of the heathen anymore; neither shall
thou bear the reproach of the people anymore, neither shall thy cause the nations to
fall anymore, says the Lord GOD.
“But for Israel, good times will return. There will be heavy crops of fruit to prepare for
my people’s return ~ and they will be coming home again soon! See, I am for you, and
I will come and help you as you prepare the ground and sow your crops. I will greatly
increase your population throughout all-of Israel, and the ruined cities shall be re-built
and filled with people.
“Not only your people, but your flocks and your herds will also greatly multiply. O
mountains of Israel, again you will be filled with homes. I will even do more for you than
I did before. Then you will know that I am the Lord. My people will walk upon you once
again, and you will belong to them again; and you will no longer be a place for burning
their children upon idol altars.
“The Lord GOD says: Now the other nations taunt you, saying, ‘Israel is a land that
devours her people!’ But they will not say this anymore. Your birth rate will rise and
your infant mortality rate will drop off sharply, says the Lord. No longer will those
heathen nations sneer, for you will no longer be a nation of sinners, the Lord God says.

a
See 17:23 c
See 16:55
b
See 38:12; Amos 9:14 d
[h]~ cause to fall

180
16. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me saying;
17. Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, athey defiled it by
their own way and by their doings: their way was before me bas the uncleanness of
a removed woman.
18. Wherefore, I poured out my fury upon them, for cthe blood that they had shed upon
the land, and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it:
19. And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the
countries; according to their way and according to their doings, I judged them.
20. And when they had entered unto the heathen, whither they went, dthey profaned
my holy name, when they said to them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and are
gone forth out of his land’.
21. But I had pity for emy holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the
heathen, whither they went.
22. Therefore, say unto the house of Israel; Thus says the Lord GOD; fI do this not for
your sakes, O house of Israel, but gfor my holy name’s sake, which you have
profaned whither you went.
23. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which
you have profaned in-the-midst-of them; and the heathen shall know that I AM the
LORD, says the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Then this further word came to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, when the people of
Israel were living in their own country, they defiled it by their evil deeds; to me, their
worship was as foul as filthy rags. They polluted the land with murder and worshipping
idols, so I poured out my fury upon them. I exiled them to many lands; that is how I
punished them for the evil way that they lived. But when they were scattered out among
the nations, then they were a blight upon my holy name, because these nations said,
‘these people are the people of God and He could not protect them from harm!’ “I am
concerned about my reputation that was ruined by my people throughout the world.
“Therefore, say to the people of Israel: The Lord GOD says: I am bringing you back
home
again, but not because you deserve it; I am doing it to protect my holy name, which
you have tarnished among the nations. I will honour my great name that you have
defiled, and the people of the whole world shall know that I AM the Lord. I will be
honoured before their eyes by delivering you from among them.
The following verses 24 to 30 are prophetic relating to the last days, when Jesus has
returned from Heaven with His Bride, to rule and reign on this existing earth.
This then applies for all of the chapters until the end of the book of Ezekiel.
24.[LD] For hI will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all-of the
countries, and will bring you into your own land. [this actually come to pass when
Israel was again created as a nation on the 14th May 1948]
25.[LD] Then will I isprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean; from all-of
your filthiness, and from All-of your idols, I will cleanse you.
26.[LD] jA new heart will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; kand I
will take away the stony heart within your flesh, and I will replace it with a heart of
flesh.

a
Leviticus 18:25 e
See 20:9 h
See 11;17; See 34:13
b
See 22:10 f
Deuteronomy 9:5 i
Isaiah 52:15
c
See 16:36, 22:3 g
Psalm 106:8; Isaiah 43:25, j
Jeremiah 31:33; see 18:31
d
Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24 48:11 k
See 11:19

181
27.[LD] And aI will put my Spirit within you. And cause you to walk in my statutes, and
you shall keep my judgements and do them.
28.[LD] And you shall live in the land that I gave to your fathers: and byou shall be my
people and I shall be your God.
29.[LD] I will also save you from all-of your uncleanliness; and I will call for the corn,
and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
30.[LD] And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that you
shall no longer reproach of famine among the heathen.
31.Then cshall you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good,
and dshall loathe yourself in your own sight for your iniquities and for your
abominations.
32.eNot for your sakes do I this, says the Lord GOD, be it known unto you; be ashamed
and confounded, for your own ways, O house of Israel.
33.[LD] Thus says the Lord GOD: In the day that I have cleansed you from all-of your
iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the waste shall be rebuilt.
34.[LD] And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas before it lay desolate in the sight
of all that passed by.
35.[LD] And they shall say; This land that was desolate is like fthe Garden of Eden; and
the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
36.[LD] Then gthe heathen that are left roundabout you shall know that I, the Lord build
the ruined places, and plant that which was desolate; I, that Lord have spoken it,
and I will do it!
37.[LD] Thus says the Lord GOD: hI will yet for this be inquired of by the House of Israel,
to do it for them; I will increase them with men and with flocks.
38.[LD] As the iholy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so, shall the
waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall all know that I AM the Lord.
Then you will remember you past sins, and loathe yourselves for all-of the evils that you
did. But always remember this: It is not for your own sakes that I will do this; but for
my own namesake. O my people Israel, be utterly ashamed of all that you have done!
“The Lord GOD says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will bring you home again to
Israel, and rebuild the ruins. Acreage will be cultivated again that through the years in
exile lay empty as a barren wilderness; all who passed by were shocked to see the
extent of ruin in your land. But when I bring you back, they will say; ‘This God-forsaken
land has become like Eden’s Garden.

a
See 37:14, Joel 2:28 d
See 6:9 g
Psalm 128:2
b
Leviticus 26:12 e
See verse 22 h
See 14:3
c
See 16:61 f
See 28:13 i
[h]~ flock of holy things

182
These are pictures I took in 1995 in Israel. In the foreground you can see the bountiful
harvest, whilst in the background you can see the barren wasteland referred to in this
portion of scripture and how the Lord promised it would bring forth a harvest.

These two pictures show low-pressure drip irrigation, using recycled bore water, which
has
had most of the salt content removed. God keeps His Promises.
‘The ruined cities are rebuilt and walled for protection and filled with people!’ Then the
nations all around ~ all those still left ~ will know that I, the Lord, rebuilt the ruins and
planted lush crops in the wilderness. For I, the Lord, have promised it, and I will do it.
“The Lord GOD says: I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers for these blessings, and to
grant them their requests. Let them but ask and I will multiply them like the flocks that
fill the streets of Jerusalem at the time of sacrifice. The ruined cities will be crowned
once more, and everyone will know that I AM the Lord.
CHAPTER 37: THE VALLEY OF THE DRY BONES
The whole chapter 37 in prophetic, concerning the Last Days. [LD]
1. The Hand of the Lord was upon me. And carried me out ain the spirit of the Lord,
and set me down in-the-midst-of bthe valley, which was full of bones.
[The word used here for “Spirit” is ROUAK ~ which is translated in this chapter as:
“Adonai”, “Spirit”, “Wind”, “Breath”, or “Breathe”.]

a
See 3:12 b
See 3:22-23

183
2. And caused me ato pass by them roundabout: and, behold, there were very many in
the open bvalley; and, lo, they were all very dry.
3. And He said unto Me: Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord
God, cthou knowest
4. Again, He said to me; Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them; O ye dry
bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5. This says the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause dbreath (ROUAK) to
enter-into you, and you shall live:
6. And I will lay sinews upon you; and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with
skin; and put breath (ROUAK) in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I
AM the Lord.
7. So, I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied there was a noise, and
behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came upon them; and the skin
covered them above; but there was no breath (ROUAK) in them.
9. Then said He unto me; Prophesy unto the wind (ROUAK) prophecy, son of man, and
say to the wind (ROUAK); Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from ethe four winds, O
breath (ROUAK), and breathe (ROUAK) upon these slain, that they may live.
10.So, I prophesied as He commanded me: and the breath (ROUAK) came into them,
and they lived, and fstood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
The Holy Spirit power of the Lord was upon me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of
the Lord, to a valley full of old, dry bones, that were scattered everywhere across the
ground. He led me around among them, and then He said to me; “Son of dust, can these
bones become people again?” I replied: “Lord, you alone know the answer to that
question.”
Then, the Lord told me to speak to the bones and say; “O dry bones, listen to the words
of God, for the Lord GOD says; See! I am going to make you live and breathe again! I
will replace the flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into
you, and you shall live and know that I AM the Lord. So, I spoke the words from God,
just as he told me to; and suddenly there was a rattling noise, from all-across the valley,
and the bones of each body came together and attached to each other, just as they used
to be. Then, as I watched, the muscles and flesh formed over the bones, and skin
covered them, but still the bodies had no breath in them. Then the Lord told me to call
to the wind and say; “The Lord God says: Come from the four winds, O Spirit, and
breathe upon the slain bodies, that they may live again.”
So, I spoke to the winds as He commanded me and the bodies began breathing: they
lived: and they stood up ~ a very great army.
11.Then He said to me; Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; Behold
they say; gOur bones are dried, and hour hope is lost: iwe are cut off from our parts.
12.Therefore, prophesy and say unto them; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, O my
people, jI will open your graves, and cause you to come up out your graves, and
k
bring you into the land of Israel.

a
[h]~ to hovered above them e
Daniel 7:2; 11:4: Revelation i
Lamentations 3:54
b
[h]~ champaign 7:1 j
Isaiah 26:19; Hosea 13:14
c
Deuteronomy 32:39; John 5:21; f
Revelation 11:11 k
See 36:24
2 Corinthians 1:9 g
Psalm 102:3
d
Genesis 2:7 h
Isaiah 49:14; See 49:14

184
[Many scholars believe that this means that all Jews, who have died in other countries,
will have their graves opened and they will be returned to the Land of Israel.]
13.And you shall know that I AM the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my
people, and brought you up out of your graves.
14.And ashall put my spirit (ROUAK) in you, and you shall live, and I shall place you in
your own land; Then shall you know that I, the LORD, have spoken it, and performed
it, says the LORD.
Then He told me what the vision meant: “These bones,” He said, “represent all-of
the people of Israel. They say: ‘We have become a heap of dried-out bones ~ all
hope is gone. But tell them, The Lord God says: My people, I will open your graves
of exile and cause you to rise again and return to the land of Israel. And, then at
last, O my people, you will know that I AM the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you,
and you shall live and return home again to your own land. Then you will know
that I, The LORD, have done just what I promised you.”
15.The word of the Lord came again unto me saying:
16.Moreover, thou son of man, btake thee one stick and write upon it, For cJudah, and
for dthe children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon
it, For eJoseph, the stick of fEphraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
17.And join them one to another into one stick: and they shall become one in thy hand.
Again, a message from the Lord came to me, saying: “Take a stick and carve on
it these words: ‘This stick represents Judah and her allied tribes.’ Then take
another stick and carve these words upon it; ‘This stick represents all of the other
tribes of Israel.’ Now, hold them together in your hand as one stick.
18.And when the children of thy people speak unto thee, saying; Will you not show us
what this means by these sticks?
19.Say unto them, Thus, says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph,
which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them
with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be
one in my hand.
20.And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand gbefore their eyes.
Tell these people (holding the sticks so that they can see what you are doing), the
Lord GOD says: I will take the tribes of Israel and join them to Judah and make
them one stick in my hand.
21.And say unto them, Thus, says the Lord GOD: Behold, hI will take the children from
among the heathen, whether they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and
bring them into their own land;
22.And iI will make them one nation upon the mountains of Israel: and jone king shall
be king to them all; and they shall no more be two nations, neither shall they be
divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
23.kNeither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their
detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I lwill save them out of

a
See 36:27 e
1 Chronicles 5:1 i
Jeremiah 50:4
b
Numbers 17:2 f
Genesis 48:13-14, 19; Hosea j
See 34:24
c
Zechariah 10:6 5:2,5 k
See 36:25
d
2 Chronicles 11:12-13,16; g
See 12:3 l
See 36:29
15:9; 30:11,18 h
See 26:24-25; Hosea 11:11

185
 all their dwelling-places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them; so, shall
they be my people, and I will be their God.
24.And aDavid my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd;
they shall also walk in my judgements, and observe my statutes and do them.
25.And bthey shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein
your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children,
and their children’s children, cforever: and my servant David shall be their Prince
d
forever.
26.Moreover, I will make ea covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting
covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and fwill set my
sanctuary in-the-midst-of them for evermore.
27.My tabernacle also shall be with them: yes, I will be their God, and they shall be my
people.
28.And gthe heathen shall know that I, the LORD does sanctify Israel, when my
sanctuary shall be in-the-midst-of them for evermore.
“For the Lord God says: I am gathering my people of Israel from among the
nations, and bringing them home from around the world, into their own land, to
unify them back into one nation. One king shall be king over them all; no longer
shall they be divided into two nations. They shall stop polluting themselves with
idols and their other sins, for I will save them from all-of this foulness. Then, they
shall truly be my people and I, their God.
And David ~ my Servant, the Messiah, shall be their King, their only Shepherd; and they
shall obey my laws and all-of my wishes. They shall live in the land of Israel, where their
fathers lived, the land that I gave my servant Jacob. They and their children after them
shall live there, and their grandchildren, for all generations. And my Servant David, their
Messiah, shall be their Prince forever.
And I will make a covenant of peace with them. Yes, I will be their GOD, and they shall
be MY People. And when the Temple remains among them, then the nations shall know
that I, the LORD, have set Israel apart for special blessings. [And we know that on 14th
May 1948, the nation of Israel was created in just one day, as prophesied, and many
Jews from nations all over the world have started returning to Israel, just as prophesied
in this chapter, with many more still to come.]
CHAPTER 38: GOG’S ARMY OF MALICE
[T] The whole of chapter 38 is prophetic, relating to the Tribulation period,
which it looks like we are entering into right now.
1. And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying:
2. h
Son of man, set they face against iGog, the land of Magog, jthe chief prince of
k
Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against it.
3. And say; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince
of Meshech and Tubal:
4. And I will turn thee back, and lput hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth,
and all thine army, horses, and horsemen, all-of them clothed with all sorts of

a
See 34:23 f
See 11:16, see verse 28; Joel i
Revelation 20:8
b
See 28:25, 36:28 2:27; 2 Corinthians 6:16; j
[h]~ prince of the chiefs
c
Isaiah 60:21; Joel 3:20 compare John 1:14 k
See 27:13
d
John 12:34 g
See 20:12 l
See 29:4
e
See 34:25 h
See 39:1

186
 armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, and all-of them handling
swords:
5. a
Persia, Ethiopia, and bLibya with them: all-of them with shield and helmet:
6. cGomer, and all-of his bands; the house of dTogarmah of the north quarters, and all-
of his bands: and many people with thee.
7. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are
assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.
8. e
After many days, you shall be visited; in the latter years, thou shall come into the
land that is brought back from the sword, and is fgathered out of many people,
against the mountains of Israel, which have always been a wasteland; but it is
brought forth out of the nations; and they shall gdwell safely all-of them.
9. Thou shall ascend and come hlike a storm, thou shall be ilike a cloud to cover the
land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.
10.Thus says the Lord GOD: It shall come to pass, that at that same time shall things
come into thy mind, and thou shall jthink an evil thought.
11.And thou shall say; ‘I will go up to the land of the unwalled villages; I will go to them
that are at rest, that dwell ksafely, all-of them dwelling without walls, and having
neither bars, nor gates.
12.lTo take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places, that
are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which
have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in-the-mmidst-of the land.
13.Sheba and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof,
shall say unto thee; ‘Art thou come to take a spoil? Hast thou, gathered thy company
to take a prey? To carry away silver and gold, to take a great spoil?’
“Here is another message to me from the Lord: “Son of dust, face towards the north,
towards the land of Magog, and prophesy against Gog, King of Meshech and Tubal.
(Which was in what is now Turkey.) Tell him that the Lord GOD says: I am against you,
GOG! I will put hooks into your jaws and pull you down to your doom.
“I will mobilize your troops and your armoured cavalry, and make you a mighty host, all
fully armed. Peras, Cush, and Put shall join you too, with all-of their weaponry, and so
shall Gomer, and all-of his hordes and the armies of Togarmah from the distant north,
as well as many others. Be prepared! Stay Mobilized. You are their leader, GOG!
“In the distant future, you will be called into action. At this time, you will swoop
down onto the land of Israel, that will be lying in peace, after the return of its
people from many lands. You and all-of your armies, a vast and awesome army,
will roll down upon them, like a storm, and cover the land like a dark cloud. For at
that time, an evil thought will have come into your mind.
“You will have said to yourself: ‘Israel is an unprotected land with unwalled
villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who are living with such
confidence. I will go to those once-desolate cities, that are now filled with people
again; those who have returned from all the nations, and I will capture vast booty,
riches, and many slaves. For the people are wealthy with cattle now, and the whole
earth revolves around them!’

a
See 27:10 f
See 34:13 k
[h]~ confidently
b
[h]~ Phut g
Jeremiah 49:31 l
[h]~ to spoil the spoil, and to
c
Genesis 10:2-3 h
Isaiah 28:2 prey the prey
d
See 27:14 i
Jeremiah 4:13 m
[h]~ navel
e
Isaiah 24:22 j
[h]~ conceive an evil purpose

187
“But Sheba and Dedan (the great trading centres in Arabia) and the merchant
princes of Tarshish, with whom she trades will ask; “Who are you to rob them of
silver and gold, and drive away their cattle, and seize their goods and make them
poor?”
14.Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog; Thus says the Lord GOD: In that
day, when my people of Israel dwell safely, shalt thou know it.
15.And athou shall come from thy place in the north parts, thou, and many people with
thee, all-of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army.
16.And thou shall come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it
shall be bin the latter days; and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen
may know me, cwhen I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
17.Thus says the Lord GOD: Art thee he of whom I have spoken in old time dby my
servants the Prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years ago that
I would bring thee against them?
18.And it shall come to pass at that same time, when Gog shall come against Israel,
says the Lord GOD, that emy fury shall come upon my face.
19.For in my jealousy and in the fire of wrath have I spoken; surely in that day there
shall be fa great shaking in the land of Israel.
20.So that the fish of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field,
and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the
face of the earth, shall shake in my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown
down, and the gsteep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21.And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, says the Lord
GOD: every man’s sword shall be against his brother.
22.And hI will plead against him with pestilence and with blood: and I will rain upon
him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an
overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23.Thus, will I magnify myself; and isanctify myself: and jI will be known in the eyes of
many nations, and they shall know that I AM the Lord.
The Lord GOD says to Gog: When my people are living in peace in their land, then you
will rouse yourself. You will come from all over the north, with your vast host of cavalry,
and cover the land like a cloud. This will happen in the distant future! ~ in the latter
years of history. I will bring you to attack my land, and my holiness will be vindicated in
your terrible destruction, right before their eyes, so that all the nations of the earth will
know that I AM GOD.
The Lord GOD says: You are the one I spoke of long ago through the prophets of
Israel, saying that “after many years had passed,” I would bring you against my
people. But, when you come to destroy the land of Israel, my fury will rise-up
against you. For in my jealousy and blazing wrath, I promise a mighty shaking in
the land of Israel on that day. All living things shall quake in terror at my presence;
mountains shall be thrown down, cliffs shall tumble; walls shall crumble to the
earth. I will summon every kind of terror against you, says the Lord GOD, and you
will fight against yourselves in mortal combat!

a
See 39:2 e
See 5:13 i
See 36:23
b
See verse 8; Jeremiah 30:24 f
Haggai: 2:6-7 j
See 37:28, 39:7
c
See 20:41 g
[h]~ towers or stairs
d
[h]~ by the hand of the h
Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 25:31;
prophets Joel 3:2

188
I will fight you with sword, disease, torrential floods, great hailstones, fire, and
brimstone! Thus, will I show my greatness and bring honour upon my name, and
all-of the nations of the world will hear what I have done, and know that I AM
GOD!
CHAPTER 39: GOG’S BURIAL IN HAMON-GOG
[T] The whole of chapter 39 is prophetic, relating to the Tribulation period,
which it looks like we are entering into right now.
1. Therefore, athou son of man, prophesy against Gog; and say; Thus says the Lord
GOD: Behold I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
2. And I will turn thee back, and bleave but a sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to
come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel:
3. And I will smite thy bow out of thy hand, and cause thy arrows to fall out of thy right
hand.
4. Thou shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all-of thy bands, and all-of
the people that were with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every
c
sort, and to the beasts of the field dto be devoured.
5. Thou shall fall upon ethe open field; for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD.
6. And I will send a fire on fMagog; and among them the dwell gcarelessly in hthe Isles;
and they shall know that I AM the LORD.
7. So, I will make my Holy Name known in-the-midst-of my people Israel; and I will
not let them pollute my Holy Name anymore; and ithe heathen shall know that I AM
the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
Son of Dust, Prophesy this also against Gog. Tell Him: I stand against you, Gog, Leader
of Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you and drive you towards the mountains of Israel,
bringing you from the distant north. And I will destroy 85% of your army in the
mountains. I will knock your weapons from your hands and leave you helpless. You and
all-of your vast armies will all die upon the mountains. I will give you to the vultures
and the wild beasts to devour you. You will never reach the cities! You will fall upon the
open fields; for I have spoken, the Lord GOD says.
And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all-of your allies who live safely on the coasts,
and they know that I AM the LORD. Thus, I will make known my Holy Name among my
people Israel; I will not let it be mocked at anymore. And the nations too shall know
that I AM the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.
8. jBehold, it is come, and it is done says the Lord GOD; this is the day whereof I have
spoken.
9. And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and kshall set on fire and
l
burn the weapons, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows, and the arrows, and
the mhand staves, and the spears, and they shall nburn them with fire for seven
years.
10. So that they shall to take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any of the
forests; for they shall burn the weapons with fire: and othey shall spoil those that
spoiled them, and rob those who robbed them, says the Lord GOD. Here in this

a
See 38:2-3 f
See 38:2 l
Isaiah 44:15
b
[h]~ will strike thee with 6 g
[h]~ confidently m
[h]~ javelins
plagues h
See 27:3,6-7,15 n
[h]~ make a fire of them
c
[h]~ wing i
See verse 11; 38:23 o
Isaiah 14:2, 17:14, 33:1
d
[h]~ to devour j
See 21:7
e
[h]~ the face of the field k
Psalm 46:9

189
 scripture, we don’t see a “gently Jesus meek and mild”. He tells the Nation of Israel
to rob those who robbed you. [This is Holy Justice: an eye for an eye!]
That day of judgement will come: everything will happen, just as I have declared it! The
people of Israel will go out and pick up your shields and bucklers, bows, and arrows,
javelins and spears, to use for fuel ~ enough to last them for seven years. For seven
years they will need nothing else for their fires. They won’t cut wood from the fields or
forests, for these weapons will give them all they need. They will use the possessions of
those who abused them.
11. And it shall come to pass in athat day, that I will unto Gog a place there for graves
in Israel. The valley of the passengers on the east of the sea; and it shall stop the
b
noses of the passengers; and there shall they bury Gog and all-of his multitude:
and they shall call it the “The Valley of cHamon Gog.”
12. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, dthat they may cleanse
the land.
13. Yes, all-of the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown
the day that I shall be glorified, says the Lord GOD.
14. And they shall sever out emen of continual employment, passing through the land to
bury fwith the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse
it: after the end of seven months shall they search.
15. And the passengers that pass through the land, when any sees a man’s bone, then
shall he gset up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in hthe Valley of Hamon
Gog.
16. And also, the name of the city shall be Hamon-ah: Thus, shall they cleanse the land.
“And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog, and his armies in the Valley of the Travellers,
on the eastern side of the Dead Sea. It will block the path of the travellers. There Gog
and all-of his armies will be buried. And they will change the name of the place to ‘The
Valley of Gog’s Army’.
“It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies. Everyone in Israel
will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel on that day, when I demonstrate my
glory, says the Lord.
“At the end of the seven months, they will appoint men to search the land systematically,
for any skeletons left, and bury them, so that the land will be cleansed. Whenever
anyone sees some bones, he will put a marker beside them, so that the buriers will see
them, and take them to the Valley of Gog’s Army, to bury them. A city name “Multitude”
is there! And so, finally, the land will be cleansed.
17. And thou, Son of man, thus says the Lord GOD: Speak iunto every feathered fowl,
and to every beast of the field; Assemble yourselves and come; gather yourselves
on every side to jmy ksacrifice that I do sacrifice for you; even the great sacrifice
upon the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood.
18. You shall eat the flesh of the mighty, and drink the blood of the princes of the earth,
of rams, of lambs, of lgoats, of bullocks, all-of them fatlings mof Bashan.
19. And you shall eat fat ntill you be full, and drink blood till you are drunk, of my
sacrifice, which I have sacrificed for you.

a
Isaiah 2:11; See verses 8, 22 f
See verse 15 k
[h]~ slaughter
b
[h]~ mouths g
[h]~ build l
[h]~ great goats
c
[h]~ the multitudes of Gog h
See verse 11 m
Psalm 22:12
d
Deuteronomy 21:23 i
[h]~ the fowl of every wing n
Isaiah 23:18
e
[h]~ men of continuance j
Zephaniah 1:7

190
20. Thus, you shall be filled at my table with horses and chariots, with mighty men, and
with all men of war, says the Lord GOD.
21. And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my
judgement that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.
22. So, the house of Israel shall know that I AM the LORD their God from that day and
forward.
“And now, son of dust, call all the birds and the animals and say to them: Gather
yourselves together, for a mighty sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the
mountains of Israel. Come, eat the flesh, and drink the blood! Eat the flesh of mighty
men and drink the blood of princes ~ they are the rams, the lambs, the goats, and the
fat young bulls of Bashan for my feast! Gorge yourself with the flesh until you are
glutted, drink blood until you are drunk; this is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for
you.
“Feast at my banquet table ~ feast on horses, riders, and valiant warriors, says the Lord
GOD. Thus, I will demonstrate my glory among the nations: and shall see the
punishment of Gog and know that I have done it. And from that time onward, the people
of Israel will know that I AM the LORD their GOD.”
23. And, the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captivity for their
iniquities: Because they trespassed against me, therefore, I ahid my face from them,
and bgave them into the hand of their enemies: so, fell they all by the sword.
24. cAccording to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions have I done
unto them, and hid my face from them.
25. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Now will I dbring again the captivity of Jacob,
and have mercy upon ethe whole house of Israel, and fwill be jealous for my Holy
Name.
26. After that,g they have borne their shame, and all-of their trespasses against me,
when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.
27. When I brought them again from the people and gathered them out of their enemies’
lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations:
28. Then shall they know that I AM the LORD the GOD, hwhich caused them to be led in
captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own land, and
have left none of them anymore there.
29. Neither will I hide my face anymore from them: for I have poured out my Spirit upon
the House of Israel, says the Lord GOD.
“And all-of the nations will know why Israel was sent away into exile ~ it was punishment
for their sins, for they acted in treachery against Me, their God. Therefore, I turned my
face away from them [I removed my protection from them] and let their enemies destroy
them. I turned my face away and punished them in proportion to the vileness of their
sins.
“But now, the Lord GOD says: I will, end the captivity of my people, and have mercy
upon them and restore their fortunes, for I am concerned about my reputation! Their
time of treachery and shame will all be in the past: they will be home again in peace
and safety in their own land, with no-one bothering them, or making them afraid.
“I will bring them home from the land of their enemies ~ and my glory shall be evident
to all the nations when I do it. Through them will I vindicate my holiness before the

a
Deuteronomy 31:17 d
See 16:53 g
See 32:24
b
Leviticus 26:25 e
Jeremiah 30:3; See 20:40 h
[h]~ by my causing of them
c
See 36:19 f
See 5:13

191
nations. Then my people will know that I AM the Lord their GOD. ~ responsible for
sending them away into exile, and responsible for bringing them home again. I will leave
none of them behind among the nations. And I will never hide my face from them again,
for I will pour out my Sprit upon them, says the Lord GOD.”
CHAPTER 40: THE VISION OF A CITY.
This whole chapter is about the Millennium Reign of Jesus Christ upon the
existing earth. [M]
1. In the twenty fifth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, (in the tenth
day of the first month), ain the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, in that
self-same day, bthe hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me thither.
2. cIn the visions of God, he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very
high mountain, dby which was as the frame of a city on the south.
3. And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a Man, whose appearance was
e
like the appearance of brass, fwith a line of flax in his hand, and ga measuring reed:
and he stood in the gate.
4. And the man said unto me; Son of Man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine
ears, and set thine heart upon all that I will shew thee: for to the intent that I might
shew them unto thee, art thou brought hither; Declare all that see to the house of
Israel.
5. And behold ha wall on the house roundabout, and in the man’s hand a measuring
reed, six cubits in length and by a cubit hand breadth: and so, he measured ithe
Breadth of the building, one reed: and the Height, one reed.
Early in April, of the twenty-fifth year of our exile ~ the fourteenth year after Jerusalem
was captured ~ the hand of the Lord was upon me, and in a vision, he took me to the
land of Israel, and set me down on a hight mountain, where I saw what appeared to be
a city opposite me. Going nearer, I saw a man whose face shone like bronze, standing
beside the Temple Gate, holding in his hand a measuring tape and a measuring stick.
He said to me: “Son of Dust, watch and listen, and take to heart everything I show you,
for you have been brought here so I can show you many things: and then you are to
return to the people of Israel, and tell them all that you have seen.”
6. Then he came unto the gate jthat looked towards the east, and went up the stairs
thereof, and measured the threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad: and
the other threshold of the gate, which was one reed broad.
7. And every klittle chamber was one reed long, and one reed broad: and between the
little chambers were five cubits: and the threshold of the gate by the porch of the
gate within was one reed.
8. He measured also the porch of the gate within, one reed.
9. Then he measured the porch of the gate, eight cubits: and the posts thereof, two
cubits; and the porch of the gate was inwards.
10.And the little chambers of the gate eastwards were three on this side, and three on
that side; they three were of one measure; and the posts had one measure on this
side and on that side.
11.And he measured the breadth of the entry of the gate, ten cubits; and the length of
the gate thirteen cubits.

a
See 26:1-2 e
See 1:7 i
See Revelation 21:16
b
See 1:3 f
See 47:3 j
[h]~ which face was the way
c
See 1:1 g
See 42:16-19; Revelation 11:1 towards the east
d
[h]~ upon which h
See 42:20 k
1 Kings 14:28

192
12.The space also before the little chambers was one cubit on this side and one cubit on
the other side: and the little chambers were six cubits in this side and six cubits on
that side.
13.He measured then the gate from the roof of one little chamber to the roof of another:
the breadth was twenty-five cubits, door against door.
14.He also made posts of three score (60) cubits, even unto the posts of the court
roundabout the gate.
15.And from the face of the gate of the entrance unto the face of the porch of the inner
gate was fifty cubits.
16.And there were anarrow windows to the little chambers, and to their posts within
their gate roundabout, and likewise to the barches: the windows were roundabout
inwards: and upon each post were cpalm trees.
17.Then he brought me into dthe outward court, and, lo, there were chambers, and a
pavement made for the court roundabout: thirty chambers were on the pavement.
18.And the pavement by the side of the gates over against the length of the gates was
the lower pavement.
19.Then he measured the breadth from the forefront of the lower gate unto the forefront
of the inner court ewithout, a hundred cubits eastward and northward.
The man began to measure the wall around the outside of the Temple area, with his
measuring stick, which was 101/2 feet long. He told me: “This wall is 101/2 feet high and
101/2 feet wide. [see diagrams 1,2,3].
Then he took me over to the passageway that goes through the eastern wall. [see
diagram 4]. We climbed the seven steps into the entrance and he measured the entry
hall of the passage; it was 101/2 feet wide. Walking on through the passageway, I saw
that there were three guardrooms on each side; each of these rooms was 101/2 feet
square, and the distance of 83/4 along the wall between them. In front of these rooms
there was a low barrier eighteen inches hight and eighteen inches wide. Beyond the
guardroom there was a 101/2 feet doorway opening into a fourteen feet hall with 31/2 feet
columns. Beyond this hall, at the inner end of the passageway, was a vestibule 223/4
feet wide, and 171/2 long.
These diagrams are from the Illustrated Living Bible, pages 787, 788 & 789,

Diagram # 1 Diagram # 2 Diagram # 3

a
[h]~ closed, 1 Kings 6:4 c
See 41:18 e
[h]~ from without (from the
b
[h]~ galleries, or porches d
See verse 20 outside)

193
 Diagram # 4 Diagram # 5 Diagram # 6
Next, he measured the entire outside width of the passageway, measuring across the
roof, from the outside doors of the guardrooms: the distance was 433/4 feet. Then he
estimated that pillars on each side of the porch to be about 100 feet high. The full length
of the entrance passage (end to end) was 871/2 feet.
There were windows that narrowed inwards through the walls along both sides of the
passageway; and along the guardroom walls, as well as in the entrance and exit halls.
The pillars were all decorated with palm-tree decorations.
Then we passed through the passageway to the inner court.
A stone pavement ran around the inside of the walls, and thirty rooms were built against
the walls, opening onto this pavement. This was called the “lower pavement”. It
extended out from the walls into the court, the same distance as the passageway did.
Then he measured across to the wall on the other side of the court [which was called
“the outer court” of the Temple] and found that the distance was 175 feet.
20. And the gate of the outward court, athat looked towards the north, he measured the
length thereof, and the breadth thereof.
21.And the little chambers thereof were three on this side and three on that side: and
the posts thereof and the barches thereof, were after the measure of the first gate:
the length thereof was fifty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty-five cubits.
22.And their windows, and their arches, and the palm trees, were after the measure of
the gate that looked towards the east: and they went up into it be seven steps: and
the arches there were before them.
23.And the gate of the inner court, was over against the gate towards the north, and
towards the east: cand he measured from gate to gate a hundred cubits.
As I followed, he left the eastern passageway and went over to the passage through the
northern wall and measured it. Here too there were three guardrooms on each side, and
all-of the measurements were the same as for the eastern passageway, that is; 871/2
feet long and 433/4 feet from side to side across the top of the guardrooms. There were
widows, an entry hall, and palm tree decorations, just the same as on the eastern side.
Here at the north entry, (just as at the eastern entry), if one walked through the
passageway into the court, and straight across it, he came to an inner wall and a
passageway through it to an inner court. The distance between the two passageways
was 175 feet.
24.After that, he brought me towards the south, and behold a gate towards the south:
and he measured the posts thereof and the arches thereof according to these
measurements.
25.And there were, windows in it and in the arches therefor roundabout, like those
windows: the length was 50 cubits, and the breadth was twenty-five cubits.

a
[h]~ whose face b
[h]~ breadth c
See 42:2

194
26.And there were seven steps ato go up to it, and the arches thereof were before them;
and it had palm trees on this side, and another on that side, upon the posts thereof.
27.And there was a gate in the inner court towards the south: and he measured from
gate to gate towards the south ~ one hundred cubits.
28.And he brought me to bthe inner court by the south gate: and he measured the south
gate according to these measurements;
29.And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof,
according to these measures; and there were windows in it and in the arches thereof
roundabout: it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
30.And the arches roundabout were twenty-five cubits long, and five cubits cbroad.
31.And the arches were towards the outer court: and palm trees were upon the posts
thereof; and the going up to it had eight steps.
Then he took me around to the south gate, and measured the various sections of its
passageway and found that they were exactly-the-same as in the others. It had windows
along the walls, as the others did, and an entry hall. And like the others, it was 871/2
feet long and 433/4 feet wide. It too had a stairway of seven steps leading up to it, and
there were palm tree decorations along the walls.
And here again, if one walked through the passageway into the inner court and straight
across it, he came to an inner wall and a passageway through it to the inner court. And
the distance between the passageways was 175 feet.
Then he took me over to the inner wall of its south passageway [See diagram #5]. He
measured this passageway, and found that it had the same measurements as the
passageway of the outer wall. [Some translations add: “and the arches around it were
371/2 feet, by 83/4 feet broad”]
NOTE: Verse 30 is omitted in the Septuagint and several others in the ancient
manuscripts, reads “There were vestibules roundabout, and they were 371/2 feet long,
and 83/4 feet broad.”
Its guardrooms, pillars and entrance and exit halls were identical to all-of the others,
and so were the windows along its walls and entry. And, like the others, it was 871/2 feet
long and 433/4 feet wide. The only difference was that it had eight steps instead of seven.
It had palm tree decorations on the pillars, just as the others.
32.And he brought me into the inner court towards the east: and measured the gate
according to these measures.
33.And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were
according to these measures: and there were windows therein in the arches thereof
roundabout: it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
34.And the arches thereof were towards the outer court; and palm trees were upon the
posts thereof, on this side and on that side: and going up to it had eight steps.
Then he took me along the court to the eastern entrance of the inner wall, and measured
it. It too had the same measurements as the others. Its guardrooms, pillars, and
entrance hall, were the same size as those of the other passageways, and there were
windows along the walls and in the entry hall: it was 871/2 feet long and 433/4 feet wide.
Its entry hall faced the outer court and there were palm tree decorations on its columns,
BUT there eight steps leading up to the entrance.
35.And then he took me to the north gate, and measured it according to these measures:

a
1 Kings 10:5 b
See 8:16 c
[h]~ breadth

195
36.And the little chambers thereof, and the posts thereof, and the arches thereof, were
according to these measures: and there were windows therein in the arches thereof
roundabout: it was fifty cubits long, and twenty-five cubits broad.
37.And the arches thereof were towards the outer court; and palm trees were upon the
posts thereof, on this side and on that side: and going up to it had eight steps.
38.And the chambers and the entries thereof were by the posts of the gates, where
a
they washed bthe burnt offering.
Then he took me around to the north gate of the inner wall, and the measurements
there were just like the others. The guardrooms, pillars and entry hall of this passageway
were the same as the others, with a length of 871/2 feet long and a width of 433/4 feet.
Its entry hall faced towards the outer court, and it had palm tree decorations on the
walls on each side of the passageway, and there were eight steps leading up to the
entrance.
39.And in the porch of the gate were two tables on this side, to slay thereon cthe burnt
offering and dthe sin offering and ethe trespass offering.
40.And at the side without, fas one goes up to the entry of the north gate, were two
tables; and on the other side, which was at the porch of the gate, were two tables.
41.Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side; eight tables, whereupon
they slew their sacrifices.
42.And the four tables were of hewn stone for the burnt offering, of a cubit and a half
long and a cubit and a half broad, and one cubit high: whereupon also they laid the
instruments wherewith they slew the burnt offering and the sacrifice.
43.And within were ghooks, an hand broad, fastened roundabout: and upon the tables
was the flesh of the offering.
But a door led from its entry hall into a side room, where the flesh of the sacrifices was
washed before being taken to the altar; On each side of the entry hall of the passageway,
there were two tables where the animals for the sacrifice were slaughtered for the burnt
offerings, sin offerings, and the guilt offerings, to be presented in the Temple.
Outside the entry hall, on each side of the stairs, going up to the north entrance, there
were two more tables. So, in all there were 8 tables, four inside and four outside where
the sacrifices were cut up and prepared. There were also four stone tables where the
butchering knives and other implements were laid. These tables were about 25/8 feet
square and 13/4 feet high. There were hooks, three or four inches long, fastened along
the walls of the entry hall, and on the tables the flesh of the offerings to be laid.
44.And without the inner gates were the chambers of hthe singers in the inner court,
which was at the side of the north Gate; and their prospect was towards the south:
one at the side of the east gate, having the prospect towards the north.
45.And he said to me; This chamber, whose prospect is towards the south, is for the
priests, ithe keepers of the jcharge of the house.
46.And the chamber whose prospect is towards the north is for the priests, kthe keepers
of the charge of the altar; lthese are mthe sons of Zadok, among the sons of Levi,
n
which come near to the Lord, to minister unto him.

a
2 Chronicles 4:6 e
Leviticus 5:6; 6:6; see 42:13; j
[h]~ ward, ordinance
b
See 46:2 46:20 k
Numbers 18:5
c
Leviticus 1: 3,9,13-14,17 f
[h]~ at the step l
See 43:19
d
Leviticus 4:2-3; see 42:13; g
[h]~ the two hearth stones m
1 Kings 2:35
46:20 h
1 Chronicles 6:31-33 n
See 42:13; 45:4
i
See 44:8

196
47.So, he measured the court, and one hundred cubits long, and one hundred cubits
broad, being four squares: and the altar that was before the house.
48.And he brought me to the porch of the house, and measured each post of the porch,
five cubits on this side and five cubits on that side: and the breadth of the gate was
three cubits on this side, and three cubits on that side.
49.The length of the porch was twenty cubits, and the breadth eleven cubits: and he
brought me by the steps whereby they went up to it: and there were apillars by the
posts, one on this side and another on that side.
In the inner court, there were two, one-room buildings, one beside the northern
entrance, facing south, and one beside the southern entrance, facing north. And he said
to me: “The building beside the inner northern gate, is for the priests, who supervise
the maintenance. The building beside the inner southern entrance, is for the priests in
charge of the altar ~ the descendants of Zadok ~ for they alone of all the Levites may
come near to the Lord, to minister to Him.”
Then he measured the inner court [in front of the Temple] and found it was 175 feet
square, and there was an altar in the court, standing in front of the Temple. Ten steps
led up to it from the inner court. Its walls extended up on either side to form two pillars,
each of them 83/4 feet think. The entrance was 241/2 feet wide, with 51/4 feet walls. Thus,
the entry hall was 35 feet wide and 191/4 feet long.
The diagram represents the 4 compass
points, and the four doors of the Temple
described above. As has been seen in the
text, the measurements of all gates,
pillars in each gate entrance and
hallways are the same. The only
difference in the number of steps that
you must ascend to enter each gate.
The first gate mentioned was the South
gate and it has 7 steps.
We know that seven in scripture means
perfection ~ (completeness). All the
other gates have 8 steps and we know
that in scripture 8 means a new
beginning. So why would the Holy Spirit
prompt me to show me that this is
important? And then I saw it.
“888” is the number for Jesus ~ The
Messiah, who is the perfect sacrificial
Lamb, to deal with and overcome sin.

Even in Old Testament times God the

Father was pointing people to the cross and to the fact that Jesus Christ, His only Son,
was the perfect sacrifice to deal with, and overcome sin and death.

a
1 Kings 7:21

197
 Diagram # 7 - from the Living Bible page 791
The Layout of the 12 Tribes around the Temple seen in Ezekiel’s Vision

CHAPTER 41: MORE DETAILS OF THE TEMPLE

This whole chapter is prophetic relating to the Millennium Reign of Jesus Christ, upon
this existing earth [M].

1. Afterwards, he brought me to the Temple, and measured the posts, six cubits broad
on one side, and six cubits broad on the other side, what was the breadth of the
Tabernacle.
2. And the breadth of the adoor was ten cubits: and the sides of the door were five
cubits on this side and five cubits on the other side: and he measured bthe length
thereof, forty cubits: and the breadth, twenty cubits.
3. Then went he inward, and measured the post of the door, two cubits: and the door,
six cubits; and the breadth of the door, seven cubits.
4. So, he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof twenty
cubits, before the Temple; and he said unto me, “This is cthe Most Holy Place.”
5. After, he measured the wall of the house, six cubits; and the breadth of every dside
chamber, four cubits, roundabout the house on every side.
6. And the side chambers ewere three, fone over another and gthirty in order; and they
entered-into the wall which was of the house of the side chambers roundabout, that
they might hhave hold, but they had not hold in the wall of the house.
7. And ithere was an enlarging, and a winding about still upward to the side chambers;
for the winding about of the house went still upward roundabout the house;

a
[h]~ entrance e
1 Kings 6:6 i
[h]~ it was made broader and it
b
1 Kings 6:17 f
[h]~ side chamber over side went round
c
1 Kings 6:16; See 44:13; 45:3 chamber
d
1 Kings 6:5,8; See verses 6- g
[h]~ three & thirty times
9,11,26 h
[h]~ be holden

198
 therefore, the breadth of the house was still upward, and so increased from the
lowest chamber to the highest by the midst.
8. I saw also the height of the house roundabout; the foundation of the side chambers
was aa full reed of six great cubits.
9. The thickness of the wall, which was for the side chamber without, was five cubits:
and that which was left, was the place of the side chambers that were within.
10. And between the chambers, was the wideness of btwenty cubits, roundabout the
house on every side.
11. And the doors of the side chambers were towards the place that was left, one door
towards the north, and another door towards the south: and the breadth of the place
that was left was five cubits roundabout.
12. Now, the building that was before that separate place at the end towards the west
was seventy cubits broad: and the walls of the building were five cubits thick
roundabout, and the length therefor ninety cubits.
13. So, he measured the house, a hundred cubits long; and the separate place, and the
building, with the walls thereof, were one hundred cubits long.
14. Also, the breadth of the face of the house, and of the separate place towards the
east, a hundred cubits.
15. And, he measured the length of the building, over against the separate place, which
was behind it, and the cgalleries thereof on the one side and on the other side, a
hundred cubits, with the inner temple, and the porches of the court.
16. The door posts, and the narrow windows, and the galleries roundabout on their three
storeys, over against the door, dcieled with wood roundabout, eand from the ground
up to the windows, and the windows were covered:
17. To that above the door, even unto the inner house, and without, and by all-of the
wall round about, within and without, by fmeasure.
18. And it was made with Cherubims and palm trees, so that a palm tree was between
a cherub and a cherub; and every cherub had two faces:
19. So that the face of a man was toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a
young lion towards the palm tree on the other side: it was made through all the
house roundabout.
20. From the ground unto above the door were cherubims and palm trees made, and
on the wall of the temple.
21. The gposts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the
appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
22. hThe altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits: and the
corners thereof, and the length thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me; This is
i
the table that is before the LORD.
23. And the Temple and the Sanctuary jhad two doors.
24. And the doors had two leaves apiece, two turning leaves: two leaves for the one
door, and two leaves for the other door.

a
See 40:5, 43:13 d
[h]~ ceiled of wood g
[h]~ post
b
See 42:3 e
[h]~ and from the ground unto h
Exodus 30:1; Revelation 11:1
c
[h]~ walkways, or walkways the windows i
See 44:16; Malachi 1:7,12
with pillars f
[h]~ measures j
1 Kings 6:31-33

199
25. And there were made on them, on the doors of the Temple, cherubims and palm
trees, like as was made upon the walls: and there were athick planks upon the porch
without.
26. And there were narrow windows and palm trees on the one side and on the other
side, on the sides of the porch, and upon the side chambers of the house, and thick
planks.
Afterwards, he brought me into the nave, the large main room of the Temple, and
measured the pillars that formed its doorway. There were 10.5 feet square. The
entrance hall was 17.5 feet wide and 8.75 feet deep. The nave itself was 70 feet long
and 35 feet wide.
Then he went into the inner room at the end of the nave and measured the columns at
the entrance and found them to be 3.5 feet think: its doorways were 10.5 feet wide,
with a hallway 12.25 feet deep behind it. The inner room was 35 feet square. “This,” he
told me, “Is the Most Holy Place.”
Then he measured the wall of the Temple and found it was 10.5 feet think, with a row
of rooms along the outside. Each room was 7 feet wide. The whole structure was
supported by girders and not attached to the Temple wall for support. Each tier was
wider than the one below, corresponding to the narrowing of the Temple wall, as it rose
higher. A stairway at the side of the Temple led up from floor to floor.
I noticed that the Temple was built on a terrace and that the bottom row of rooms,
extended out 10.5 feet onto the terrace. The outer wall of these rooms were 8.75 feet
thick, leaving a free space of 8.75 feet out to the edge of the terrace, and it was the
same on both sides.
35 feet away from the terrace, on both sides of the Temple, was another row of rooms
~ down in the inner court. Two doors opened from the tiers of rooms to the terrace
yard, which was 8.75 feet wide; one door faced north and the other faced south.
A large building stood to the west, facing the Temple yard, measuring 122.5 feet wide
and 157.5 feet long. Its walls were 8.75 feet thick. Then he measured the Temple and
its immediate surrounding yards. The area was 175 feet square. The inner court at the
eastern side of the Temple was also 175 feet square. And so was the building west of
the Temple, including its two walls.
The nave of the Temple and the Holy of Holies, and the entry hall were panelled, and all
three had recessed windows. The inner walls of the Temple were panelled with wood
above and below the windows.
The space above the door leading into the Holy of Holies was also panelled. The walls
were decorated with carvings of cherubim, each with two faces, and of palm trees,
alternating with the cherubim. One face ~ that of a man, looked towards the palm tree
on one side, and the other face ~ that of a young lion, looked towards the palm tree on
the other side. And so it was, all around the inner wall of the Temple.
[Why palm trees? Why Cherubim?
King David refers to Palm Trees in Ps 92: "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish
in the courts of our God." (Ps 92:12,13 NIV). Matthew Henry's Commentary on the
Whole Bible suggests that palm trees tend to grow more strongly when under stress.
This would suggest that we, when "depressed with the burden of affliction", likewise
grow more strongly.
There were square doorposts at the doors of the nave, and in front of the Holy of Holies,
was what appeared to be an altar, but it was made of wood. This altar was 3.5 feet
square and 5.25 feet high: its corners, base and sides were all-of wood. “This,” he told
me, “Is the Table of the Lord.”

a
1 Kings 7:6

200
Both the nave and the Holy of Holies had double doors, each with two swinging sections.
The doors leading into the nave were decorated with cherubim and palm trees, just like
on the walls. And there was a wooden canopy over the entry hall. There were recessed
windows and carved palm trees on both sides of the entry hall, the hallways beside the
Temple, and on the canopy over the entrance.
CHAPTER 42: TEMPLE ORNAMENTS & PRIEST’S CHAMBERS
This whole chapter is prophetic relating to the Millennium Reign of Jesus Christ, upon
this existing earth [M].
1. Then he brought me forth into athe outer court, way towards the north: and he
brought me into the chamber that was over against the separate place, and which
was before the building towards the north.
2. Before the length of 100 cubits, was the north door, and the breadth was 50 cubits
3. Over against the 20 cubits which were for the inner court, and over against the
pavement which was for the outer court, was bgallery against-against gallery, in three
stories.
4. And before the chambers was a walkway of 10 cubits breadth inward, a way of 1
cubit: and their doors opened to the north.
5. Now, the upper chambers were shorter: for the galleries cwere higher than these,
d
than the lower, and then the middle most of the building.
6. For they were in three stories, but had not pillars, as the pillars of the courts:
therefore, the building was straitened more than the lower, and the middlemost of
the building.
7. And the wall that was without, over against the chambers, towards the outer court,
on the forepart of the chambers, the length there was 50 cubits.
8. For the length of the chambers that were in the outer court was 50 cubits: and, lo,
before the Temple, were 100 cubits.
9. And efrom under these chambers, was fthe entry on the east side, over against the
separate place, and over against the building.
10.The chambers were in the thickness of the wall of the court towards the east, as one
goes into them from the outer court.
11.And the wall before them was like the appearance of the chambers which were
towards the north, as-long-as they, and as broad as they: and all their goings out
were both according to their fashions, and according to their doors.
12.And according to the doors of the chambers that were towards the south, was a door
g
in the head of the way, even the way directly before the wall towards the east, as
one enters-into them.
Then he led me out of the Temple, back into the inner court, to the rooms north of the
Temple yard, and to another building. This group of structures was 175 feet long, and
87.5 feet wide. The rows of rooms behind this building were the inner wall of the court.
The rooms were in 3 tiers (3 storeys), overlooking the outer court on one side, and
having a 35 feet strip of inner court on the other. A 17.5 feet walkway ran between the
buildings and the tiers of the rooms, extending the entire length, with the doors of the
building facing north. The upper 2 tiers of rooms, were not as wide as the lower one,
because the upper tiers had wider walkways beside them. And since the building was

a
See 40:20 d
The building consisted of the f
[h]~ he that brought me
b
See 41:15-16; see verse 5 lower & middle most g
See 16:25
c
[h]~ did eat of these e
[h]~ from the place

201
not built with girders, as those in the outer courts were, the upper stories were set back
from the ground floor.
The north tiers, next to the outer court, were 87.5 feet long ~only half as-long-as the
inner wing that faced the Temple court, which was 175 feet long. But a wall extended
from the end of the shorter wing, parallel to the longer wing. And there was an entrance
from the outer court to these rooms from the east. On the opposite side of the Temple
a similar building, composed of two units of tiers, was on the south side of the inner
court, between the Temple and the outer court; arranged the same as the other. There
was a walk between the two wings of the building, the same as in the other building
across the court ~ the same length and width and the same exits and doors ~ they were
all identical units. And there was a door from the outer court at the east.
13.Then said he unto me: The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before
the “separate place”, they are holy chambers, where athe priests that approach unto
the Lord bshall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things,
and cthe meat offering, and dthe sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place
is holy.
14.When the priests enter therein, then shall they not go out of the holy place into the
outer court, but ethere they shall lay their garments wherein they ministered; for
these garments are holy; and shall put on other garments, and shall approach to
those things which are for the people.
15.Now when he had made an end of measuring the inner house, he brought me forth
toward fthe gate whose prospect is to the east, and measured it round about.
16.He measured the east gside with hthe measuring reed, 500 reeds, with the measuring
reed roundabout.
17.He measured the north side, 500 reeds, with the measuring reed roundabout.
18.He measured the south side, 500 reeds, with the measuring reed.
19.He turned about the west side and measured 500 reeds, with the measuring reed.
20.He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round-about, 500 hundred reeds long,
and 500 reeds broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane
place.
Then he told me: “These north & south tiers of rooms facing the temple yard are holy;
there the priests who offer up the sacrifices to the Lord, shall eat of the most holy
offerings and store them ~ the cereal offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings,
for these rooms are holy.
When the priests leave the holy place, the nave of the Temple, they must change their
clothes, before going out into the outer court. The special robes in which they have been
ministering must first be removed, for these robes are holy. They must put on other
clothes before entering the parts of the building open to the public.”
When he had finished making these measurements, he led me out through the eastern
passageway to measure the entire Temple area. He found that it was in the shape of a
square, 875 feet long on each side, with a wall around it, to separate the restricted area
from the public places ~ [separating the holy place from the common public place].

a
See 40:46 d
See 40:39 g
[h]~ wind
b
Leviticus 6:16,26 e
See 44:19 h
See 40:3
c
Leviticus 2:3,10 f
See 40:6

202
CHAPTER 43: GOD’S GLORY IN THE TEMPLE
All-of this chapter is prophetic, relating to the future Millennium Period [M]
1. Afterwards, he brought me to athe gate, even the gate that looked to the east:
2. And behold, bthe glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and chis
voice was like the noise of many waters: and dthe earth shined with His glory.
3. And it was according to the appearance of the visions that I saw, even according to
the visions that I saw ewhen I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like
the visions that I saw fby the Rive Chebar; and I fell upon my face.
4. And the glory of the Lord came into the House by the way of the gate whose prospect
is towards the east.
5. So, gthe Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, hthe
glory of the LORD filled the house.
6. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me.
Afterwards, the angel brought me out again to the passageway, through the outer wall,
leading to the eastern gate. And suddenly, the glory of the LORD GOD of Israel appeared
from the east.
The sound of His coming was like the roar of many rushing waters, and the whole
landscape lit up with His glory. It was just as I had seen previously in the other visions,
firstly by the River Chebar Canal, and then later at Jerusalem, when He came to destroy
the city. And I fell-down before him with my face in the dust. And the glory of the LORD
came into the Temple through the eastern passageway.
Then, The Spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and the glory of the
Lord filled the Temple. And I heard the LORD speaking to me from within the Temple
(the man who had been measuring was still standing beside me).
7. And He said unto me, son of man, ithe place of my throne, and jthe place of the
soles of my feet, wherein I will dwell in-the-midst-of the children of Israel forever,
and my holy name, shall the House of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their
kings by their whoredoms, nor by the carcasses of their kings in their high places.
8. k
In the setting of their thresholds by my thresholds, and their posts by my posts,
and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name, by their
l

abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in my

anger.
9. Now, let them put away their whoredoms, and the carcasses of their kings, far from
me, and I will dwell in-the-midst-of them forever.
And the Lord said to me: “Son of dust, this is the place of my throne, and my footstool,
where I shall remain, living among the people of Israel forever. They and their kings will
not defile my holy name any longer, through the adulterous worship of other gods, or
by worship the totem poles, erected by their kings. They built their idol temples
beside mine, with only a wall between, and worshipped their idols. Because they
sullied my holy name by such wickedness, I consumed them in my anger. Now, let them
put away their idols and the totem poles [between the holy & the common], erected by
their kings, and I will live among them forever.

a
See 40:6 e
[h]~ when I came to prophesy i
Psalm 99:1
b
See 11:23; Revelation 21:11 that the city would be j
Isaiah 60:13
c
See 1:24 destroyed k
See 8:3; 2 Kings 16:14; 21;5,7
d
Revelation 18:1 f
See 1:1 l
[h]~ for there was but a wall
g
See 3:12; Revelation 21:10 between me and them
h
1 Kings 8:10-11; See 44:4

203
NOTE: God Almighty knows the end from the beginning; and even at this time in history,
(approximately 586 BC); this prophecy was given by God to Ezekiel more than 1200
years before this first mosque was constructed in Jerusalem in 638 AD.
GOD was proclaiming that the Muslims would build their mosques on the Temple Mount
where the Holy Temple of God had stood, with just a wall separating them, and it defiled
that Holy Place, because they are worshipping “other gods” in their mosques. That is
why in the last days these two mosques must be destroyed, and the Third Temple is
built, as per prophecy.
al-Aqsa Mosque, Jerusalem
Translated as "the Distant Mosque", al-
Aqsa is the third holiest site in Islam
and the holiest mosque in Jerusalem.
It stands on the Temple Mount, also
known in Arabic as Hara mesh-Sharif,
which means “Noble Sanctuary”.
Quite possibly, it sits on the site of the
very first mosque built in Jerusalem in
638 AD. Over the course of the
millennium, al-Aqsa has been
destroyed twice by earthquakes,
damaged multiple times by natural and
man-made causes, and rebuilt several
times.
THE DOME OF THE ROCK -
JERUSALEM
After conquering Jerusalem, the ninth
Islamic Caliph, Abd al-Malik,
constructed the Dome of the Rock
(complete in 692 AD) to commemorate
his conquest of Judaism's capital. That
is why it was built on the spot of the
Temple Mount where the Jewish
Temple of Jerusalem had once stood,
which was destroyed by the Romans in
70 AD. For the next 1,300 years, The
Dome of the Rock served as a flag of
victory for whoever conquered
Jerusalem.

10. Thou son of man, ashew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed
of their iniquities: and let them measure the bpattern.
11. And if they be ashamed of all they have done, shew them the form of the house,
and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and
all-of the forms thereof, and all-of the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that
they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them.
12. This is the law of the house; cUpon the top of the mountain the whole dlimit thereof
round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the House.
“Son of dust, describe the Temple, I have shown you to the people of Israel. Tell them
its appearance and its plan so they will be ashamed of all their sins. And if they are truly
a
See 40:4 c
See 40:2
b
[h]~ sum, number (design) d
See 40:12; 42:15-20

204
ashamed of what they have done, then explain to them the details of its construction ~
its doors and entrances, and everything about it. Write out all the directions and the
rules for them to keep. And this is the basic law of the Temple ~ HOLINESS! The entire
top of the hill where the Temple is built is HOLY! Yes, this is the primary law concerning
it.
NOTE: As Christians, we ARE the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit, Jesus dwells within us
~ therefore we must also be HOLY!
13. And these are the measures of athe altar: after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and
a hand breadth; even the bbottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the
border thereof by the cedge thereof roundabout shall be a span: and this shall be
the higher place of the alter.
14. And from the bottom upon the ground even to the lower dsettle shall be two cubits,
and the breadth one cubit; and from the lesser settle even to the greater settle shall
be four cubits, and the breadth one cubit.
15. So, ethe altar shall be four cubits; and from fthe altar upwards shall be four horns.
16. And the altar shall be twelve cubits long, twelve broad; square in the four squares
thereof.
17. And the settle shall be fourteen cubits long and fourteen broad ~ in the four squares
thereof; and the border round about it shall be half a cubit; and the bottom thereof
shall be a cubit about: and his stairs shall look towards the east.
And these are the measurements of the altar: [see page 105, diagram #6].
The base is 21” high, with a 9” rim around the edge, and it extends 21” beyond the altar
on all sides. The first stage of the altar is a stone platform 3’ 6” high (3 feet 6 inches
high). This platform is 21” narrower than the foundation base block on all sides. Rising
from this platform, is a narrower platform, which is 21” narrower on all sides, and 7’
high. From this base, still another platform rises 7’ high and this is the top of the altar,
with four horns projecting 21” up from each of the corners. This top platform of the altar
is 21’ square. The platform beneath it is 24’ 6” square, with a 10.5” curb around the
edges. The entire platform extends out from the top 21” on all sides. On the east side
there are steps to climb the altar.”
18. And he said unto me, Son of man, thus says the LORD GOD: These are the
ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings
thereon, and gto sprinkle the blood thereon.
19. And thou shall give to hthe priests, the Levites, ithat be of the seed of Zadok, which
approach unto me, says the LORD GOD, ja young bullock, kfor a sin offering.
Please Note: The scriptures state that there will be TWO TYPES OF PRIESTS
operating in the Temple at the times of the Last Days: The Zadok priests who are
authorised to minister “vertically” unto God, and the Abiathar Priest (who are “less
esteemed”) who only minister “unto the people”. The test for all Christians is to
determine which priest in operating in your heart, because we are the Temple of the
Holy Spirit.

a
Exodus 27:1-8; See 40:47, e
[h]~ Harel (that is the mountain h
Deuteronomy 17:19; 24:8;
47:1 of gold) Jeremiah 33:18; See 44:15
b
[h]~ bosom f
[h]~ Ariel (that is the Lion of i
See 40:46
c
[h]~ lip God) j
Exodus 29:10
d
See verses 17,20; 45:19, g
Leviticus 1:5 k
Leviticus 8:14

205
20. And thou take the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four
corners of athe settle, and upon the border roundabout it: thus, shall you cleanse
and purge it.
21. Thou shall take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the
appointed place of the house, bwithout the sanctuary.
22. And on the second day, you shall offer a kid of the goats without blemish, for a sin
offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock
23. When you have made and end of cleansing it, you shall offer a young bullock without
blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.
24. And you shall offer them before the LORD, and the priests cshall cast salt upon them,
and they shall offer them up, for a burnt offering, unto the LORD.
25. dSeven days you shall prepare every day a goat, for a sin offering: they shall also
prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.
26. Seven days shalt they purge the altar and purify it: and they shall econsecrate
themselves.
27. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that fupon the eighth day, and so
forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your gpeace
offerings; and I will accept you, says the Lord GOD.
And He said unto me: “Son of dust, these are the measurements of futures to be made
in the future, when it is erected when it erected for the burnt offerings and the sprinkling
of the blood upon it.
At that time, the Zadok family, of the Levite tribe, who are my ministers, are to be given
a bullock for a sin offering. You shall take some of its blood and smear it on the four
horns of the altar and the four corners of the top platform and in the curb around it.
This will cleanse and make atonement for the altar. Then take the bullock for the sin
offering and burn it at the appointed place outside the Temple area.
“On the second day, sacrifice a young male goat, without any defects, without sickness,
deformities, cuts or scars ~ for a sin offering. Thus, the altar shall be cleansed, as it was
by the bullock.
When you have finished this cleansing ceremony, offer another perfect bullock, and a
perfect ram from the flock. Present them before the Lord, and the priests shall sprinkle
salt upon them as a burnt offering.
“Every day for seven days a male goat, a bullock, and a ram from the flock shall be
sacrificed as a sin offering. None are to have any defects, or unhealthiness of any kind.
Do this each day for seven days to cleanse and make atonement for the altar, thus
consecrating it. On the eighth day, and on each day afterwards, the priests will sacrifice
on the altar the burnt offerings, and thank offerings of the people, and I will accept you,
says the Lord GOD.”
CHAPTER 44: THE PRIESTS ARE REPROVED, ZADOK’S SONS ACCEPTED.
All-of this chapter is prophetic, relating to the future Millennium Period [M]
1. Then he brought me hback the way of ithe gate of the outward sanctuary, which
looks towards the east: and it was shut.
2. Then said the LORD unto me: This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no
man shall enter in by it; jbecause the LORD, the GOD of Israel, has entered in by it,
therefore, it shall be shut.

a
See verse 14 e
[h]~ fill their hands i
See 43:1
b
Exodus 29:14 f
Leviticus 9:1 j
See 43:4
c
Leviticus 2:13 g
[h]~ thank offering
d
Exodus 29:35-36 h
See 43:5

206
3. It is for the prince: the prince, he shall sit in it to aeat bread before the LORD; he
shall enter by way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same.
Then the LORD brought me back to the outer wall’s eastern passageway, but it was
closed. And He said to me: “This gate shall remain closed; it shall never be opened. No
man shall pass through it; for the LORD, the GOD of Israel. Entered here, and so it shall
remain shut Only the prince ~ because he is a prince ~ may sit inside the passageway,
to feast there before the LORD. But he shall come and go only through the entry-hall of
the passageway ~ not through the gate!”
4. Then he brought me to the way of tbhe north gate before the house: And I looked,
and behold, cthe glory of the Lord filled the house of the LORD: and dI fell upon my
face.
5. And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, emark well, and behold with thine eyes, and
hear with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning fall-of the ordinances of the
House of the Lord, and all the laws thereof: and hmark well the entering in of the
house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
6. And thou shall say to gthe rebellious, even to the house of Israel; Thus says the
LORD GOD: O ye house of Israel; let is suffice you of all your abominations,
7. h
In that you have brought into my sanctuary istrangers, uncircumcised in heart, and
uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when
you offer jmy bread, kthe fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant,
because of all your abominations.
8. And you have kept not the charge of mine holy things: but you have lset keepers of
my mcharge in the sanctuary for yourselves.
Then He brought me through the north passageway to the front of the Temple. I looked
and saw the glory of the LORD filled the Temple of the LORD, and I fell to the ground
with my face in the dust.
And the Lord said to me: “Son of dust, notice carefully: use your eyes and ears. Listen
to all I tell you about the laws and rules of the Temple of the LORD. Note carefully who
may be admitted to the Temple, and who is to be excluded from it. And say to the rebels,
the people of Israel, the LORD GOD says: O Israel, you have sinned greatly, by letting
the uncircumcised into my sanctuary ~ those who have no heart for God ~ when you
offer me my food, the fat and the blood. Therefore, you have broken my covenant, in
addition to all-of your other sins You have not kept the laws I gave you concerning these
holy affairs, for you have hired foreigners to take charge of my sanctuary.”
9. Thus says the LORD GOD: No stranger uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in
flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of
Israel.
Notice the conditions:
❖ The first condition: no entry ~ if the person is not circumcised in their
heart (Jeremiah 31:31). They must be following the NEW COVENANT,
not the OLD COVENANT.
❖ The second condition is to be circumcised, of the flesh.
10. And nthe Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which
went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

a
Genesis 31:54 f
See 43:11 k
Leviticus 3:16-17
b
See 40: 17,20 g
See 2:5 l
See 40:45
c
See 43:5 h
See 43:8 m
[h]~ ward, or, ordinance
d
See 1:28 i
[h]~ children of a stranger n
See verse 15; See 48:11
e
[h]~ set thine heart j
Leviticus 3:11

207
11. Yet shall they minister in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the house:
and aministering to the house: they shall slay the burnt offerings, and the sacrifice
for the people, and they shall stand before them, to minister unto them.
Here is the confirmation of chapter 43:19, which states that the Sons of Zadok will
minister unto God, and the other priest, who sinned against God (who have the spirit
of Eli in them), who are “less esteemed”, shall minister unto the people ~ but NOT
unto GOD.
12. Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and bcaused the House of
Israel to fall into iniquity: therefore, have I lifted-up my hand against them, says
the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.
13. And cthey shall not come near unto me, to do the office of a priest unto me, nor to
come near to any of my holy things, in dthe most holy place; but they shall bear
their shame, and their abominations, which they have committed.
14. But I will make them keepers of the charge of the house, for all-of the services
thereof, and for all that shall be done therein.
The Lord GOD says: No foreigner of all the many among you, shall enter my sanctuary,
if he has not been circumcised and does not love the Lord. And the men of the tribe of
Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from God and turned to idols must
be punished for their unfaithfulness.
They may be the Temple guards and gatemen; they may slay the animals brought for
burnt offerings and be present to minister unto the people. But because they encouraged
the people to worship other gods, causing Israel to fall int deep sin, I have raised my
hand and taken an oath, says the Lord GOD, that they must be punished. They shall not
come near me to minister as priests; they shall not touch any of my holy things, for
they must bear their shame for all-of the sins that they have committed. They are the
Temple caretakers, to do maintenance work and to assist the people in a general way.
This statement applies until the time that Jesus returns in the clouds to claim His bride.
There will be two lines of priests (pastors) inside the church; those that follow and
remain faithful to Jesus through all the trials, and in all situations (referred to as the
Sons of Zadok~ the righteous priests) and those who preach wrong doctrine, to lead the
people away from God to worship idols and “other gods”. “They shall have a form of
godliness”, but in fact they shall be ungodly.
15. But ethe priests the Levites, fthe sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary
when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me, to
minister unto me, and they shall stand before me, to offer unto me, the fat and the
blood, says the Lord GOD.
16. They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to gmy table, to
minister unto me, and they shall keep my charge.
However, the sons of Zadok, of the tribe of Levi, continues as my priests in the Temple,
when Israel abandoned me for idols. These men shall be my ministers; they shall stand
before me to offer the fat and the blood of the sacrifices, says the Lord GOD. They shall
enter my sanctuary and come to my Table, to minister unto me, they shall fulfil my
requirements.
17. And it shall come to pass, that hwhen they enter in at the gates of the inner court,
i
they shall be clothed with linen garments: and no wool shall come upon them, while
they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.

a
See 45:5 d
See 41:4 h
Exodus 28:43
b
[h]~ were a stumbling block of e
See 43:19 i
Exodus 28:39; 39:27
iniquity unto my people f
Deuteronomy 10:8
c
Numbers 18:3; 2 Kings 23:9 g
See 41:22

208
18. They shall have alinen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen bbreeches upon
their loins; they shall not gird themselves cwith anything that causes sweat.
19. And they shall go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people,
d
they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy
chambers, and they shall put on other garments: and they shall not esanctify the
people with their garments.
20. fNeither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall
only poll their heads.
21. gNeither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
22. Neither shall they take for their wives a hwidow, nor her that is iput away: but they
shall take maidens of the seed of the House of Israel, or a widow, jthat had a priest
before.
23. And kthey shall teach my people the “difference” lbetween the holy and the profane,
and cause them to discern mbetween the unclean and the clean.
24. And nin controversy they shall stand in judgement; and they shall judge it according
to my judgements: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all-of my
assemblies; and they shall hallow my Sabbaths.
25. And othey shall come to no dead person to defile themselves; but for father, or for
mother, or for son, or for daughter, for brother, or for sister, that has no husband,
they may defile themselves.
26. And after he is cleansed, they shall reckon unto him for pseven days.
27. And in that day that he goes into the sanctuary, unto the inner court, to minister in
the sanctuary, he shall offer his sin offering, says the Lord GOD.
28. And qit shall be unto them for an inheritance: and you shall give them no possession
in Israel; I AM their possession.
29. rThey shall eat the meat offering; and the sin offering: and the trespass offering,
and severy tdedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
30. And uthe vfirst of all the firstfruits of all things, and every oblation of all, of every
sort of your oblations, shall be the priest’s: you shall also give unto the priests, wthe
first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
31. The priest shall not eat of xanything that is dead of itself, or torn, whether it be fowl
or beast.
“They must wear only linen clothing when they enter the passageway to the inner court.
For they must wear no wool while on duty in the inner court, or in the Temple. They
must wear lined turbans and linen trousers: they must not wear anything that would
cause them to perspire. When they return to the outer court, they must take off the
clothes they wear while ministering to me, leaving them in the sacred chambers, and
put on other clothes, lest they consecrate the people, by touching them with this
clothing.

a
Exodus 39:28 i
[h]~ thrust forth r
Leviticus 6:14,17-18,25,29;
b
Leviticus 6:10 j
[h]~ from a priest 7:1,6
c
[h]~ in sweating k
Leviticus 10:11 s
Leviticus 27:21,28
d
See 42:14 l
See 22:26 t
[h]~ devoted
e
Exodus 29:37; 30:29, Leviticus m
Leviticus 10:10 u
Exodus 13:2; 22:29
6:27; See 46:20 n
Deuteronomy 17:8-9 v
[h]~ chief
f
Leviticus 21:5 o
Leviticus 21:1-3 w
Numbers 15:20
g
Leviticus 10:9 p
Numbers 19:11-12 x
Leviticus 22:8
h
Leviticus 21:7,13-14 q
Numbers 18:20

209
They must not let their hair grow too long, nor shave it off. Regular, moderate haircuts
are all they are allowed. No priest may drink wine before coming to the inner court. He
may marry only a Jewish maiden (he may not marry outside the tribes of Israel), or the
widow of another priest; he may not marry a divorced woman.
He shall teach my people the difference between what is holy and what is secular, what
is right and what is wrong.a
They shall serve as judges to resolve disagreements among my people. Their decisions
must be based upon my laws. And the priests themselves shall obey my rules and
regulations at all-of the sacred festivals, and they shall see to it that the Sabbath is kept
as a sacred day.
A priest must not defile himself by being in the presence of a dead person, unless it is
his father, mother, child, brother or unmarried sister. In such cases it is alright. But
afterwards, he must wait seven days before he is cleansed and able to perform his
Temple duties again. The first day he returns to work and enters the inner court and the
sanctuary, he must offer a sin offering for himself, the Lord GOD says.
“As for property, they shall not own anything, for I am their heritage. That is enough!
“Their food shall be the gifts and sacrifices brought to the Temple by the people ~ the
cereal offerings, the sin offerings, and the guilt offerings. Whatever anyone gives to the
Lord shall be the priests. The first of the first-ripe fruits and all-of the gifts for the Lord
shall go to the priests. The first samples of each harvest of grain shall be donated to the
priests too, so that the Lord will bless your homes. Priests may never eat meat from any
bird or animal that dies a natural death, or that dies after being attacked by other
animals.
CHAPTER 45: THE DIVISIONS OF THE LAND
All-of this chapter is prophetic, relating to the future Millennium Period [M]
1. Moreover, bwhen you shall divide by lot for an inheritance, you shall offer an coblation
unto the Lord, da holy portion of the land: the length shall be the lengths of twenty-
five thousand ereeds and the breadth shall be ten thousand (reeds). This shall be
holy in all the borders thereof roundabout.
2. Of this there shall be for the sanctuary 500 in length and 500 in breadth, square
roundabout; and fifty cubits roundabout for the suburbs thereof.
3. And of this measure shalt thou measure the length 25,000 and the breadth 10,000:
and fin it shall be the sanctuary and gthe most holy place.
4. The holy portion of the land shall be hfor the priests, the ministers of the sanctuary,
which shall come near to minister unto the LORD: and it shall be a place for their
houses; and a holy place for the sanctuary.
5. And the 25,000 of length and 10,000 of breadth, shall also the Levites, the ministers
of the house, have for themselves, for a possession for 20 chambers.
“When you divide the land among the tribes of Israel, you shall first give a section of it
to the LORD as his holy portion. This piece shall be 81/3 miles long and 62/3 miles wide.
It shall all be holy ground.
“A section of this land, 875 feet square, shall be designated for the Temple. An additional
871/2 feet strip all around, is to be left empty. The Temple shall be built within the area
which is 81/3 miles long and 31/3 miles wide. All this section shall be holy land: it will be
used by the priests, who minister in the sanctuary, for their homes and for my Temple.

a
Literally: between what is b
[h]~ when you cause the land e
See 42:16-20
ritually clean and ritually to fall. Joshua 13:6 f
See 48:10
unclean c
See 44:30 g
see 41:4
d
[h]~ holiness, Exodus 28:36 h
See 48:11-12

210
“The strip next to it, 81/3 miles long and 31/3 miles wide shall be the residence area for
the Levites who work at the Temple.
6. And you shall appoint the possession of the city 25,000 broad and 25,000 long, over
against the oblation of the holy portion, it shall be for the whole house of Israel.
Adjacent to the holy lands will be a section 81/3 miles long and 12/3 miles for a city, open
to everyone in Israel.
7. And aa portion shall be for the prince on the one side, and on the other side of the
oblation of the holy portion, and before the possession of the city, from the west
side westward, and from the east side eastward: and the length shall be over against
one of the portions, from the west border to the east border.
8. In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and bmy princes shall no longer oppress
my people; and the rest of cthe land shall they give to the house of Israel according
to their tribes.
“Two special sections of land shall be set apart for the prince ~ one on each side of the
holy lands and city: It is contiguous with them in length, and its easter and western
boundaries are the same as those of the tribal sections. This shall be his allotment. My
princes shall no longer rob and oppress my people, but shall assign all-of the remainder
of the land to the people, giving a portion to each tribe.
9. Thus says the Lord GOD: Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel; remove violence and
spoil, and execute judgement and justice, take away your dexactions, from my
people, says the Lord God.
10.You eshall have just balances, and a fjust ephah, and a just bath.
11.The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth
part of ga homer, and the ephah the tenth part of a homer: the measure thereof shall
be after the homer.
12. And hthe Shekel shall be twenty gerahs: 20 shekels, 25 shekels, 15 shekels shall be
your imaneh.
13.This is jthe oblation that you shall offer; the sixth part of an ephah of a homer of
wheat, and you shall give the sixth part of a homer of barley:
14.Concerning the ordinance of oil, you shall offer a tenth part of a bath out of the cor,
which is a homer of ten baths; for ten baths are a homer.
15.And one klamb, out of the flock, out of 200, lout of the fat pastures of Israel; for a
meat offering, and for mpeace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, says the
Lord GOD.
16.All-of the people in the land nshall give their oblations ofor the prince in Israel.
17.And pit shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and
q
drink offerings, rin the feasts, and in sthe new moons, and in the Sabbaths, in all
solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall tprepare the sin offering, and the meat
offering, and the burnt offering, and the upeace offering, to make reconciliation for
the House of Israel.

a
See 48:21 h
Exodus 30:13 p
See 46:4-7
b
Jeremiah 22:17; See 22:17 i
1 Kings 10:17 q
Exodus 29:40
c
See 46:18 j
See 44:30 r
See 46:9
d
[h]~ expulsions k
[h]~ kid s
Numbers 28:11
e
Leviticus 19:35-36 l
Genesis 13:10 t
Leviticus 14:19
f
Deuteronomy 25:14-15; Amos m
[h]~ thank offerings u
[h]~ thank offering
8:5 n
[h]~ shall be for
g
Leviticus 27;16 o
[h]~ with

211
18.Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first month, aon the first day of the month, thou shall
take a young bullock without blemish, and cleanse the sanctuary:
19.And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of
the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of
the gate of the inner court.
20.And so, you shall do the seventh day of the month for everyone that errs, and for
him that is simple; so, shall you reconcile the house.
21.bIn the first month [Nisan], on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall have the
Passover, a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten.
22.And upon that day shall the prince prepare for himself and for all-of the people of
the land, a bullock for the sin offering.
23.And seven days of the feast he shall prepare a burnt offering to the LORD, seven
bullocks, seven rams, without blemish, daily, for seven days; and ca kid of the goats
daily for the sin offering.
24.And he shall prepare a meat offering of an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil for an
ephah.
25.dIn the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, he shall do like in the
(Passover) feast of seven days, according to the sin offering, according to the burnt
offering, and according to the meat offering, and according to the oil.
THIS MESSAGE IS FOR TODAY’S LEADERS AS WELL!
“For the Lord GOD says to the rulers: Quit robbing and cheating my people out of their
land, and expelling them from their homes. Always be fair and honest!
“You must use honest scales, honest bushels, honest gallons. A “homer”e shall be your
standard unit of measurement for both liquid and dry measure. Smaller units shall be
the “ephah”, (which is one tenth of a homer) for dry measure, and the “bath”, (which is
one tenth of a homer) for liquid. The unit of weight shall be the silver shekel (about half
an ounce), and it must always be exchange for twenty gerah, no less! And ten shekels
at ten shekels! Fifty shekels shall always equal one maneh.
“This is the tax you must give to the prince: a bushel of wheat or barley, for every sixty
(60) you reap; and one percent (1%) of your oil; from each 200 sheep in all your flocks
in Israel, give him one sheep. These are the meal offerings, burnt offerings and thank
offerings, to make atonement for those who bring them, says the Lord GOD. All-of the
people of Israel shall bring their offerings to the prince.
“The prince shall be required to furnish the people with sacrifice for public worship,
namely the sin offerings, burnt offerings, and thank offering, to make reconciliation for
the people of Israel. This shall be done at the time of the religious feasts, the new moon
ceremonies, the Sabbaths, and all other similar occasions.
“The Lord GOD says: On each New Year’s Day, sacrifice a young bull with no blemishes,
to purify the Temple. The priest shall take some of the blood of this sin offering and put
it on the doorposts of the Temple and upon the four corners of the base of the altar, and
upon the walls at the entry of the inner court. Do this also on the seventh day of that
month for anyone who has sinned, through error or ignorance, so that the Temple will
be cleansed.
“On the fourteenth of that same month, you will celebrate the Passover. It will be a
seven-day feast. Only unleavened bread (bread without yeast) shall be eaten during
these seven days. On the day of Passover, the prince shall offer a young bull without
blemish for the sin offering, for himself, and for all-of the people of Israel. On each of

a
Numbers 28:11 c
Numbers 28:15 e
A homer was about 220 litres or
b
Leviticus 23:5 d
Leviticus 23:34 6.5 bushels of grain.

212
the seven days of the feast, he shall prepare a burnt offering to the Lord. This daily
offering shall consist of seven young bulls and seven rams, all without blemish. A young
goat will also be given each day for a sin offering. And the Prince shall provide fourteen
bushels of grain for the meal offering ~ one bushel for each bullock and ram; and
twenty-one gallons of olive oil, 1.5 gallons to go with each bushel.
“Early in October, during each of the days of the annual feast, the prince shall provide
these same sacrifices for the sin offering, burnt offering, meal offering, and oil offering.

213
CHAPTER 46: THE ORDINANCE OF THE PRINCE & THE PEOPLE IN THEIR
WORSHIP
All-of this chapter is prophetic, relating to the future Millennium Period [M]

1. Thus says the Lord God: aThe gate of the inner court that looks towards the east
shall be shut for the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and in
b
the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
2. And the prince shall enter by way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand
by cthe post of that gate, and dthe priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his
peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go
forth; but the gate shall not shut until the evening.
3. Likewise, ethe people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate, before the
Lord in the Sabbaths and in the new moons.
4. And the burnt offering that the prince shall offer unto the Lord, fin the Sabbath Day
shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish.
5. And gthe meat offering shall be an ephah for a ram, and this meat offering for the
lambs has he shall be able to give, and a hin of oil to an ephah.
6. And in the day of the new moon, it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six
lambs, and a ram: they shall be all without blemish.
7. And he shall prepare a meat offering; an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a
ram, and for the lambs according to his hand shall attain unto, and a hin of oil to an
ephah.
8. And when the prince shall enter, he shall go in by way of the porch of that gate, and
he shall go forth by that way thereof.
“The Lord GOD says: The inner walls of the eastern entrance shall be closed during the
six (6) days when people work, but open on the Sabbath, and on the days of the new
moon celebrations. The prince shall enter the outside entry hall of the passageway and
proceed to the inner wall at the other end, while the priests offer his burnt offering, and
his peace offering. He shall worship inside the passageway and then return back to the
entrance, which shall not be closed until evening. The people shall worship the Lord in
front of this passageway on the Sabbaths and on the days of the new moon celebrations.
“The burnt offering which the prince sacrifices to the Lord on the Sabbath days shall be
six (6) lambs and a ram, all unblemished. He shall present a meal offering of one bushel
of flour to go with the ram, and whatever amount he is willing for, to go with each lamb.
And he shall bring 1.5 gallons of olive oil for each bushel of flour.
“At the new moon celebrations, he shall bring one young bull, in perfect condition, six
(6) lambs, and a ram, all without and blemish. With the young bull, he must bring a
bushel of flour for a meal offering. With the ram, he is also to bring one bushel of flour.
With the lamb, he is to bring whatever he is willing to give. With each bushel he is to
bring 1.5 gallons of olive oil.
“The prince shall go into the entry-hall of the passageway and out the same way he
came in; but when the people come in through the north passageway to sacrifice during
the religious feasts, they must go out through the south passageway.

a
See 45:19 d
See 40:38 g
See 45:24
b
See 45:17 e
See verse 9 h
[h]~ the gift of his hand;
c
See 41:21 f
Numbers 28:9-10 Deuteronomy 16:17

214
9. But when the people of the land ashall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts,
he that enters by way of the north gate shall go out by way of the south gate; and
he that enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate; he
shall not return by the same way that he came in, but shall go forth over against it.
10. And the prince in-the-midst-of them, when they go in, shall go in: and when they
go forth, he shall go forth.
11. And in the feasts, and in the solemnities, the meat offering shall be an ephah to a
bullock, and an ephah to a ram, and to the lambs as he is able to give, and a hin of
oil to an ephah.
12. Now, when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burn offering, or peace offering,
b
voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate towards the east, and
he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, cas he did on the Sabbath
Day: and after his going forth, one shall shut the gate.
13. dYou shall daily prepare a burnt offering unto the LORD of a Lamb eof the first year,
without blemish: you shall prepare it fevery morning.
14. And you shall prepare a meat offering for it every morning, a sixth part of an ephah,
and a third of a hin of oil, to temper with fine flour.
15. Thus, shall they prepare the lamb, and the meat offering, and the oil, every morning
for the continual burnt offering.
“But when the people come in through the north passageway to sacrifice during the
religious feasts, they must go out through the south passageway. Those coming in from
the south must go out through by the north passageway. They must never go out by
the same way that they came in, but must always use the opposite passageway. The
prince shall enter and leave with the common people on these occasions.
“To summarise: At all the special feasts and the sacred festivals, the meal offering shall
be one bushel with a young bull; one bushel with a ram; as much as the prince is willing
to give with each lamb; and 1.5 gallons of oil with each bushel. Whenever the prince
offers and extra burnt offering or peace offering, to be sacrificed to the LORD, the inner
eastern gate shall be opened up for him to enter, and he shall offer his sacrifices just as
on the Sabbaths. Then he shall turn around and go out, and the passage shall be shut
behind him.
“Each morning, a yearling lamb must be sacrificed, as a burnt offering to the Lord. And
there must be a meal offering each morning, consisting of 1/6th of a bushel of flour, with
half a gallon of oil to mix it. This is a permanent ordinance ~ the lamb, the grain offering,
and the olive oil shall be provided every morning for the daily sacrifice.”
16. Thus says the Lord GOD: If the prince gives a gift to one of his sons, the inheritance
thereof shall be his sons; it shall be their possession by inheritance.
17. But, if he gives a gift gof his inheritance to one of his servants, then it shall be his to
h
the year of liberty; after that it shall return to the prince: but his inheritance shall
be his sons for them.
18. Moreover, the prince shall not take of the people’s inheritance iby oppression, to
thrust them out of their possession: but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his
own possessions: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.

a
Exodus 23:14-17; Deuteronomy d
Exodus 29:38; Numbers 28:3-4 h
Leviticus 25:10
16:16 e
[h]~ a son of his year i
See 45:8
b
Leviticus 7:16; 22:23 f
[h]~ morning by morning
c
See verse 2 g
See 45:7

215
“The Lord God says: If the prince gives a gift of land to one of his sons, it will belong to
him forever. But if he gives a gift of land to one of his servants, the servant may keep
it only until the Year of Release (every seventh year) when he is set free; then the land
returns to the prince.
“Only gifts to his sons are permanent. And the prince may never take anyone’s property
by force. If he gives property to his sons, it must be from his own land, for I don’t want
my people losing their property and having to move away.”
19. After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the
holy achambers of the priests, which looked towards the north: and, behold there
was place on the two sides westward.
20. Then said he unto me: This is the place where the priests shall boil bthe trespass
offering and the sin offering, where they cbake the meat offering; that they bear
them not out into the utter court, dto sanctify the people.
21. Then he brought me forth into the utter court, and caused me to pass by the four
corners of the court: and, behold, ein every corner of the court there was a court.
22. In the four corners of the court there were courts fjoined of forty cubits and thirty
broad: these four corners were of one measure.
23. And there was a row of buildings round about in them, roundabout them four, and
it was made with boiling places under the rows, roundabout.
24. Then he said unto me, these are the places of them that boil, where the ministers
of the house shall boil the sacrifice of the people.
After that, using the door through the side of the wall, at the side of the main
passageway, he led me through the entrance to the block of sacred chambers that faced
north. There, at the extreme west end these rooms, I saw a place, where my guide told
me, the priests boil the meat of the trespass offering and the sin offering and bake the
flour of the flour offerings into bread. They do it here to avoid the necessity of carrying
the sacrifice through the outer court, in case they sanctify the people.
Then he brought me out to the outer court again, and led me to each of the four corners
of the court. I saw that in each corner there was a room 70 feet long and 52.5 feet wide,
enclosed by walls. He said that these rooms were where the Temple assistants ~ the
Levites, boil the sacrifices that the people offer.
CHAPTER 47: THE VISION OF THE HOLY WATERS
All-of this chapter is prophetic, relating to the future Millennium Period [M]

1. Afterward, he brought me again untog the door of the house: and behold, waters
issued out from under the threshold of the house (going) eastward: for the forefront
of the house stood towards the east, and the waters came down from under the right
side of the house, at the south aside of the altar.
2. Then he brought me out of the way of hthe gate that faces northward, and led me
about the way without unto ithe utter gate, by the way that looks towards the east:
and behold, there run out waters on the right side.
3. And when the man that had the line in his hand went forth in an easterly direction,
he measured 1,000 cubits, and he brought me through the waters; jthe waters were
to the ankles.

a
See 42:4 e
[h]~ a court within a court, in g
See 41:1-2
b
See 40:39 every corner a court within a h
See 40:35
c
Leviticus 2:4 court i
See 40:6
d
See 44:19 f
[h]~ made with chimneys j
[h]~ waters of the ankles

216
4. Again, he measured 1,000 cubits, and brought me through the waters; the waters
were to the knees. Again, he measured 1,000 cubits, and brought me through; the
waters were to the loins.
5. Afterwards, he measured 1,000 cubits; and it was a river that I could not pass over:
for the waters were risen, the awaters to swim in, a river that could not be passed
over.
Then, he brought me back to the door of the Temple. I saw a stream flowing eastwards
from beneath the Temple, and passing to the right of the Altar, that is, on its south side.
Then he brought me outside the wall, through the north passageway and around to the
eastern entrance, where I saw the stream flowing along the south side of the eastern
passageway.
Measuring as he went, he took me 1,500 feet east along the stream, and told me to go
across. At this point as I was crossing the river the water was up to my ankles. He
measured off another 1,500 feet and told me to cross the river again. This time, the
water was now up to my knees. 1500 feet after that, the water was now up to my waist.
Another 1500 feet and the river had become so deep that I was unable to cross unless
I were to swim. It was too deep to cross on foot.
6. And he said unto me, Son of man, have you seen this? Then he brought me, and
caused me to return to the brink of the river.
7. Now, when I had returned, behold, at the bbank of the river were many trees on the
one side and on the other.
8. Then he said unto me; These waters issue out towards the east country, and go
down into the cdesert and go into the sea; which being brought forth into dthe sea,
the waters shall be healed.
9. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that lives, which moves, whithersoever
the erivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish,
because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed: and everything
shall live whither the river comes.
10. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from fEngedi even unto
g
Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth their nets; their fish shall be
according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.
11. But the miry places thereof, and hthe marshes thereof ishall not be healed; they shall
be given to salt.
12. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, jshall grow all
trees for meat, kwhose leaves shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be
consumed: it shall bring forth lnew fruit according to the months, because their
waters they issue out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat; and
the leaf thereof mfor medicine.
He told me to keep in mind what I had seen, then he led me back along the bank. And
now, to my surprise, many trees were growing on both sides of the river! He told me:
“This river flows east through the desert and the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea, where
it will heal the salty waters, and make them fresh and pure. Everything that touches the
water of this river shall live. Fish will abound in the Dead Sea, for its waters shall be
healed. [At the moment, no fish live in the Dead Sea, because it is too salty.] Wherever

a
[h]~ waters for swimming f
1 Samuel 23:20 j
[h]~ shall come up
b
[h]~ lip of the river g
Isaiah 15:8 k
Psalm 1:3
c
[h]~ plain h
1 Maccabees 9: 42,45 l
[h]~ principal
d
Deuteronomy 3:17, 4:49 i
[h] ~ and that which shall not m
[h]~ for bruises and sores
e
[h]~ two rivers be healed.

217
this water flows, everything will live. Fisherman will stand along the shores of the Dead
Sea, fishing all-of the way from Engedi to Eneglaim. The shores will be filled with nets
drying in the sun. Fish of every kind will fill the Dead Sea, just as they do in the
Mediterranean! But the marshes and swamps will not be healed; they will still be salty.
All kinds of fruit trees will grow along the river banks. The leaves will never turn brown
and fall, and there will always be fruit. There will be a new crop every month ~ without
fail! For they are watered by the river flowing from the Temple. The fruit will be for food
and the leaves for medicine.
13. Thus says the Lord GOD: This shall be the border, whereby you shall inherit the land
according to the 12 tribes of Israel: aJoseph shall have two portions.
14. And you shall inherit it, one as well as the other: concerning the which I blifted-up
mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for
inheritance.
15. And it shall be the border of the land towards the north side; from cthe great sea,
the way of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad:
16. Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the
border of Hamath: dHazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.
17. And the border from the sea shall be Hazarenan, the border of Damascus, and the
north northward, and the border of Hamath. And this is the north side.
18. And the east side you shall measure efrom Hauran, ffrom Damascus, and gfrom
Gilead, and from the land of Israel by Jordan from the border unto hthe eastern sea.
And this is the east side.
19. And the south side southward, from Tamar, even to ithe waters of jstrife in Kadesh,
the kriver to the great sea. And this is the south side southwards.
20. The west side shall also be the great sea from the border, till a man come over
against Hamath. This is the west side.
21. So shall you divide this land unto you, according to the tribes of Israel.
“Then the Lord GOD saysl: Here are the instructions for dividing the land for the 12
tribes of Israel: The tribe of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) shall be given two sections.
Otherwise, each tribe shall have an equal share. I promised, with my hand raised in an
oath of truth, to give the land to your fathers, and you shall inherit it now.
“The Northern boundary will run from the Mediterranean towards Hethlon, then on
through Labweh (originally called Lebo-Hamath) to Zedad; then to Berothah and
Sibraim, which are on the border between Damascus and Hamath, and finally to
Hazarhatticon, on the border with Hamath, to the north and Damascus to the south.
“The eastern border will run south from Hazarenan to Mount Hauran, where it will bend
westward to the Jordan, at the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, and down along the
Jordan River, separating Israel from Gilead, past the Dead Sea to Tamar.
“The southern border will go west from Tamar to the springs at Meribah-Kadesh and
then follow the course of the Brook of Egypt (Wadi-el-Arish) to the Mediterranean.
“On the west side, the Mediterranean itself will be your boundary from the southern
boundary to the point where the northern boundary begins.
“Divide the land within these boundaries, among the Tribes of Israel.

a
Genesis 48:5; Joshua 17:14 & e
[h]~ from between j
[h]~ or Meribah
17 f
[h]~ from between k
[h]~ valley
b
[h]~ swore (took an oath) g
[h]~ from between l
See Diagram # 7 on page 109
c
See verse 10 h
Joel 2:20
d
[h]~ The middle village i
Numbers 20:13

218
22. And it shall come to pass, that you shall adivide it by lot, for an inheritance unto you,
and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you:
They shall be unto you as bborn in the country among the children of Israel: they
shall have an inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
23. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall you
give him his inheritance, says the Lord GOD.
Distribute the land as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners, who live
among you with their families. All children born in the land ~ whether or not their parents
are foreigners ~ are to be considered as citizens, and have the same rights that
your own children have. All these immigrants are to be given land according to
the tribe where they now live.

CHAPTER 48: THE PORTIONS OF THE TRIBES

All-of this chapter is prophetic, relating to the future Millennium Period [M]

1. Now these are the name of cthe tribes. From the north end to the coast on the way
of Hethlon, as one goes to Hamath, Hazarenan, the border of Damascus northward,
to the coast of Hamath; for these are his sides east and west; da portion for eDan.
2. And by the border of Dan, from the east side, unto the west side, a portion for Asher.
3. And by the border of Asher, from the east side, even to the west side, a portion for
Naphtali.
4. And by the border of Naphtali, from the east side unto the west side, fa portion for
Manasseh.
5. And by the border of Manasseh, from the east side, to the west side, a portion for
Ephraim.
6. And by the border of Ephraim, from the east side, even to the west side, a portion
for Reuben.
7. And by the border of Reuben, from the east side, unto the west aside, a portion for
Judah.
“Here is the list of the tribes and the territory each shall receive, as their inheritance.
For Dan, From the northwest boundary at the Mediterranean, across to Hethlon, then to
Labweh, and then on to Hazarenan, on the border between Damascus to the south and
Hamath to the north. Those are the eastern and western borders of the land. Asher’s
territory lies south of Dan’s and has the same eastern and western boundaries.
Naphtali’s land lies south of Asher’s, with the same boundary line on the east and the
west.
8. And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be gthe
offering, which you shall offer of 25 thousand reeds in breadth and in length as one
of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be
in-the-midst-of it.
9. The oblation that you shall offer unto the LORD shall be 25,000 in length and 10,000
in breadth.
10. And for them, even for the priests, shall be this holy oblation; towards the north
25,000 in length towards the west 10,000 in breadth, and towards the east 10,000

a
See 45:1; 48:29 c
See 48:5, see verse 23 f
See 47:13
b
Exodus 12:19, 48-49; Leviticus d
[h]~ one portion g
See 45:1-6
16:29 e
Compare with Numbers 2:25-31

219
 in breadth, and towards the south 25,000 in length; and the sanctuary on the LORD
shall be in the midst thereof [a rectangle 25,000 x 10,000].
11. aIt shall be for the priests that are sanctified, bof the sons of Zadok; which have kept
my ccharge, which went not astray, when the children of Israel went astray, das the
Levites went astray.
12. And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by
the border of the Levites.
13. And eover against the border of the priests the Levites shall have 25,000 in length
and 10,000 in breadth: all the length shall be 25,000 and all breadth 10,000.
[another rectangle 25,000 x 10,000].
14. And fthey shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate gthe firstfruits of the
land: for it is holy unto the LORD.
“South of Judah is the land set aside for the Templeh. It has the same eastern and
western boundaries as the Tribal Units, with the Temple in the centre. This Temple area
shall be 81/3 miles long and 62/3 miles wide.
“A strip of land measuring 81/3 miles long and 31/3 miles wide, north to south, surrounds
the Temple. It is for the priests, that is, the sons of Zadok, who obeyed me and didn’t
go into sin, when the people of Israel and the rest of the tribe of Levi did. It is their
special portion when the land is distributed, the most sacred land of all. Next to it lies
the area where the other Levites will live. It will be the same size and shape as the first
piece. Together they measure 81/3 miles long and 62/3 miles wide. [The same size as the
Temple area]. None of this special land shall ever be sold or traded, or used by others,
for it belongs to the Lord: IT IS HOLY.
15. And ithe 5,000 that are left in the breadth over against the 25,000, shall be ja profane
place for the city, for dwellings and for ksuburbs: and the city shall be in the midst
thereof.
16. And these shall be the measures thereof: lthe north side 4,500 and the south side
4,500, and on the east side 4,500 and on the west side 4,500.
17. And the suburbs of the city shall be towards the north 250, and towards the south
250 and towards the east 250, and towards the west 250.
18. And the residue in length over against the oblation of the holy portion shall be 10,000
eastwards, and 10,000 westwards: and it shall be over against the oblation of the
holy portion; and the increase thereof shall be for food unto them that serve the
city.
19. And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all-of the tribes of Israel.
20. And mthe oblation shall be 25,000 by 25,000: you shall offer the holy oblation
foursquare, with the possession of the city.
“The strip of land 81/3 miles long and 62/3 miles wide, south of the Temple section, is for
public use ~ homes, pastures, and parks, with the city in the centre. The city shall be
11/2 miles square. Open land for pastures shall surround the city for approximately 1/10
of a mile. [437.5 feet in all directions] Outside the city, stretching east and west for 3
miles alongside the holy grounds, is garden area, belonging to the city, for public use.
It is open to anyone who is working in the city, no matter where he comes from in Israel.
“The entire area ~ including the sacred lands and the city lands is 81/3 miles square.

a
[h]~The sanctified portion shall e
See 45:5 j
See 42:20
be for the priests f
Leviticus 27:10,28,33 k
See 45:2, verse 17
b
See 40:46 g
See 44:30 l
See verses 30,32,34; Revelation
c
[h]~ word, or ordinances h
See diagram #7 on page 109 21:16
d
See 44:10,15 i
See 45:6 m
See verse 21

220
21. And athe residue shall be for the prince, on the one side and on the other of the holy
oblation, and of the possession of the city, over against the 25,000 of the oblation
towards the east border, and westward over against the 25,000 towards the west
border, over against the portions for the prince: and the sanctuary of the house
shall be in the midst thereof.
22. Moreover, from the possession of the Levites, and from the possession of the city,
being in-the-midst-of that which is the princes’, between the border of Judah and
the border of Benjamin, shall be for the prince.
23. As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west side, Benjamin shall have
b
a portion.
24. And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall
have a portion.
25. And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a
portion.
26. And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a
portion.
27. And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad a portion.
28. And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even
from Tamar, unto the waters of cstrife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great
sea.
29. This is the land which you shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance,
and these are their portions, says the Lord GOD.
“The land on both sides of this area, extending clear out to the eastern and western
boundaries of Israel, shall belong to the prince. This land, lying between the sections
allotted to Judah and Benjamin, is 81/3 miles square, on each side of the sacred and city
lands.
“The section given to the remaining tribes are as follows: Benjamin’s section extends
across the entire country of Israel, from its eastern border clear across to the western
border. South of Benjamin’s area, lies that of Simeon, also extending out to these same
eastern and western borders. Next is Issachar, with the same borders. Then comes
Zebulun, also extending all the way across, with the same borders. Then Gad, with the
same borders on the east and west, while its south border runs from Tamar to the
springs of Meribah-Kadesh, and then follows the Brook of Egypt (Wadi-el-Arish) to the
Mediterranean. These are the allotments to be made to each tribe, says the Lord GOD.
30. And these are dthe goings out of the city on the north side, 4,500 measures.
31. And ethe gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel: three gates
northward: one gate of Reuben, one gate of Judah and one gate of Levi.
32. And at the east side 4,500: and three gates; one gate of Joseph, one gate of
Benjamin, and one gate of Dan.
33. And at the south side 4,500 measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one
gate of Issachar, and one gate of Zebulun.
34. At the west side 4,500, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher,
and one gate of Naphtali.

a
See 45:7 d
Numbers 34:4-5,8-9,12; Joshua
b
[h]~ one portion 15:4,7,11
c
[h]~ Meribah Kadesh e
Revelation 21:12-13

221
35. It was roundabout 18,000 measures: and the name of the city from that day shall
be, aThe LORD is there.
“Each city gate will be name in honour of one of the tribes of Israel. On the north side,
with its 1.5-mile wall, there will be three gates, one named for Reuben, one for Judah
and one for Levi. On the east side, with its 1.5-mile wall, the gates will be named,
Joseph, Benjamin and Dan. The south wall also the same length, will have the gates of
Simeon, Issachar, and Zebulun; on the 1.5-miles of the west side, they will be named
for Gad, Asher, and Naphtali.
“The entire circumference of the city is 6 miles. And the name of the city will be called
“The City of God”. [“Jehovah Shammah” ~ “The Lord is there”.]

THE BOOK OF HAGGAI

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HAGGAI

The Book of Haggai is a book of the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) and of the Old Testament
~ Minor Prophets. It was written by the Prophet Haggai, in 520 BC, some 18 years after
king Cyrus had taken the kingdom of Babylon, and had made a law in 538 BC, so that
captive Jews could return to Judea.
Haggai prophesied in 520 BC, in Jerusalem, about the people needing to complete the
building of the “Second Temple”. He has four distinct messages, which began on 29th
August 520 BC, and culminated on 18th December 520 BC. (2,5042 years ago).
The NEW Temple was bound to exceed the awesomeness of the previous Temple.
[This means that Haggai is a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, who came back to
rebuild the Temple, and to rebuild and repair the walls of Jerusalem, but the progress
stalled. God raised up Haggai and Zechariah, to get things moving again!]

CHAPTER ONE: HAGGAI REPROVES THE PEOPLE

1. b
In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the
month, came the word of the LORD, cby Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel, the
son of Shealtiel, the dgovernor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, ethe
high priest, saying;
2. Thus speaks the LORD of Hosts, saying; This people say; The time is not come, the
time that the LORD’S house should be built.
3. Then came the word of the LORD fby Haggai, the prophet, saying;
4. It is time for you, O you, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lies waste?
5. *** Now Therefore, thus says the LORD of Hosts; gConsider your ways.
6. h
You have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you
drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves, but there is none
warm; and he that earns wages, earns wages to put it into a bag iwith holes.

Subject: A Message from the LORD.

To: Haggai the prophet, who delivered it to Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), governor of
Judah, and Joshua (the son of Josedech) the High Priest, for it was addressed to them.
[These were two of the officials who had returned from exile in Babylon, to rebuild
Jerusalem, and the Temple].

a
[h]~ Jehovah Shammah e
Zechariah 3:1 h
Deuteronomy 28:38; Isaiah
b
Ezra 4:24; 5:1 f
Ezra 5:1 5:10; Micah 6:15.
c
[h]~ by the hand of g
[h]~ set your heart on your i
[h]~ pierced through
d
[h]~ Or, captain ways

222
When: On the 29th of August 520 BC, which was in the second year of the reign of King
Darius 1.
“Why is everyone saying that it is not the right time for rebuilding my Temple?” asks
the LORD. His reply to them is this: “Is it then the right time for you to live in Luxurious
homes, while the Temple lies in ruins? Look at the result: You plant much, but harvest
little. You have scarcely enough to eat or drink, and not enough clothes to keep you
warm in the winter. Your income disappears, as though you were putting it into pockets
filled with holes!

7. Thus says the LORD God of Hosts; aConsider your ways.

8. Go up to the mountains and bring wood ~ and build the house: and bI will take
pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, says the LORD.
9. You looked for much, and lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I did
c
blow upon it. Why? Says the LORD of Hosts. Because of my House that is waste,
and you run every man into his own house.
10. *** Therefore; the heaven over you is stayed with dew, and the earth is stayed
from her fruit.
11. [P] And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon
the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon all that the ground
brings forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all-of the labours of the
hands.
“Think it over carefully”, says the LORD of Hosts. “Consider how you have acted and
what have been your results! Now, go up into the mountains and bring down timber and
rebuild My Temple, and I will be pleased with it, and appear there in My Glory,” says the
LORD.
“You hope for much harvest; but got so little. And when you bring it home, I will blow it
away ~ it doesn’t last at all. Why? Because My Temple lies in ruins, and you don’t care!
Your only concern is your own fine homes. That is why I am holding back the rains from
heaven, and giving you such small, reduced crops.
“In fact, I have called for a drought upon the land, yes, and in the highland mountains
too; a drought to wither the grain, and grapes, and olives, and all-of your other crops,
a drought to starve both you and your cattle, and ruin everything that you have worked
so hard to get.”
12. dThen Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel) the governor of Judah and Joshua (son of
Josedech), and ethe few people remaining in the land obeyed Haggai’s message
from the LORD their God; they began to worship Him in earnest.
13. Then spoke Haggai the LORD’S Messengerf in the LORD’S message unto the people
saying: gI AM with you, says the LORD.
14. And the LORD stirred up the Spirit of Zerubbabel, (the son of Shealtiel), Governor
of Judah, and the Spirit of Joshua, (the son of Josedech), the High Priest, and the
Spirit of all-of the remnant of the people: and they came and did work in the House
of the LORD of Hosts, their God.
15. In the 24th day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.
Then Zerubbabel, (son of Shealtiel), the governor of Judah, and Joshua (son of
Josedech), the High Priest, and the few remaining in the land obeyed Haggai’s message
from the LORD their God; they began to worship Him in earnest.

a
[h]~ set your heart on your c
[h]~ blew it away f
Malachi 2:7; 3:1
ways. d
Ezra 5:2 g
2:4
b
See 2:9 e
See verse 14

223
Then the LORD told them, (again sending the message through Haggai, His messenger,
“I AM with you: I will bless you.”
And the LORD gave them a desire to rebuild His Temple; so, they all gathered in early
September, of the second year of King Darius’ reign, and volunteered their help.
It only took two messages from the LORD, in about 10 days that change their minds
and their directions. May we ever be sensitive of the Words coming from our LORD &
King also.

224
CHAPTER TWO: HAGGAI ENCOURAGES THE PEOPLE TO BUILD THE TEMPLE

1. a
In the seventh month, in the twenty-first day of the month, came the word of the
LORD bby the prophet Haggai, saying;
2. Speak now to cZerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah, and cJoshua,
(the son of Josedech), the High Priest, and the residue of the people, saying;
3. d
Who is there among you, that saw this house in her first glory? And how do you
see it now? Is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
4. Yet now ebe strong, O Zerubbabel, says the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son
of Josedech, the High Priest; and be strong, all-of you people, of the land, and
f
work: for I AM with you, says the LORD of Hosts:
5. g
According to the word that I covenanted with you, when you came out of Egypt,
so hmy Spirit remains among you: fear you not.
6. [S] For thus says the LORD of Hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake
the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
7. [S] And I will shake iall-of the nations, and the desire of all nations jshall come;
and I will fill this house with kglory, says the LORD of Hosts.
8. [S] lThe silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of Hosts.
9. [S] The glory mof this latter house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD
of Hosts: and in this place, will I give npeace, says the LORD of Hosts.
In early October of the same year, the LORD sent them this message through Haggai,
the prophet: Ask this question of the Governor, and the High Priest, and the remnant
that is still in this land: “Who among you can remember the Temple as it was before?
How glorious it was! In comparison, it is nothing now, is it? But take courage, O
Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and all-of the people, take courage and work, for ‘I AM with
you,’ says the LORD of Hosts. ‘For I promised when you left Egypt that my Spirit would
remain among you; so, don’t be afraid’.
“For the LORD of Hosts says; ‘In just a little while, I will begin to shake the heavens and
the earth, ~ and the oceans, too, and the dry land. I will shake all-of the nations, and
the Desire of all Nations, (Christ the Messiah) shall come to this Temple, and I will fill
this place with my glory,’ says the LORD of Hosts.
The future splendour of this Temple will be greater than the splendour of the first one!
For I have plenty of silver and gold to do it! And here, from this Temple, I will give
peace, says the LORD.”
[The peace of God through Jesus Christ who, 500 years later, came often to this Temple.
And then at His Second Coming, as described in the Book of Revelation, from this same
location, on the Temple Mount, Christ will give eternal Peace, from the Third Temple,
constructed as described in Ezekiel chapters 40-48, and the Eternal Temple in the New
Jerusalem].
10. oIn the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of King Darius,
came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying,
11. Thus says the LORD of Hosts; pAsk now the priests concerning the law, saying;

a
Leviticus 23:34,36 g
Exodus 29:45-46 m
1:8
b
[h]~ by the hands of h
Isaiah 63:11; Zechariah 4:6 n
Psalm 85:8-9
c
1:1 i
See verse 22 o
See verses 18,20; Zechariah
d
Ezra 3:12 j
Malachi 3:1 1:1,7
e
Zechariah 4:7; 8:9 k
Psalm 24:7-10 p
Leviticus 10:10-11; 2 Chronicles
f
1:14 l
1 Chronicles 29:14,16 35:3

225
12. If one bear aholy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread,
or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered
and said, NO!
13. Then said Haggai; If one that is bunclean by a dead body, touch any of these, shall
it be unclean? And the priests answered and said; It shall be unclean.
14. Then answered Haggai, and said; So is this people, and so is this nation, and so is
every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.
15. And now, I pray you, consider from this day and upwards, from before a stone was
laid upon a stone in the Temple of the LORD:
16. Since those days were, cwhen one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were
but ten; when one came to dthe press fat for to draw fifty vessels out of the press,
there were but twenty.
17. I esmote you with blasting, and with mildew, and with hail, in all-of the labours of
your hands; yet you turned not to me, says the LORD.
18. Consider now from this day and upward, ffrom the 24th day of the ninth month,
even from gthe day that the foundation of the LORD’S Temple was laid, consider it.
19. Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the
pomegranate, and the olive trees, have not brought forth: from this day will I bless
you.
In early December (in the northern hemisphere winter), in the second year of the reign
of King Darius, this message same from the LORD through Haggai, the prophet:
Ask the priests this question about the law: “If one of you priests are carrying a holy
sacrifice in his holy robes, and happens to brush against some bread, or wine, or meat,
will it too become holy?” “No,” the priests replied. “Holiness does not pass to other
things that way.” [The holiness of God is NOT transferred from one person to another
by touching them].
Then Haggai asked again; “But if someone touches a dead person, and so becomes
ceremonially unclean, and then brushes against something, does it become
contaminated?” And the priests answered, “Yes.”
Then Haggai made his meaning clear. “You people,” he said (speaking for the LORD),
“were contaminating your sacrifices, by living with selfish attitudes, and evil hearts ~
and not only your sacrifices, but everything else that you did as a ‘service’ to me. So,
everything that you did went wrong! But all is different now because you have begun to
build the Temple.
“Before, when you expected a 20-bushel crop, there was only 10. When you came to
draw 50 gallons from the olive press, there was only 20. I rewarded all-of your labour
with rust, and mildew, and hail. Yet, even so, you still refused to return to me,” says
the LORD.
“But now note this: From today, this 24th day of the month (Kislev), as the foundation
of the LORD’S Temple is finished, and from this day onwards, I will bless you.
Notice, I am giving you this promise now before you have even begun to rebuild the
Temple structure, and before you have harvested your grain, and before the grapes,
and figs, and pomegranates, and olives have produced their next crops; From this day
onwards, I will bless you.”
20. And the LORD showed me four carpenters.
21. Then said I; What come these to do? And He spoke saying; These are the horns
which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are

a
Jeremiah 11:15 d
Isaiah 5:2 g
Ezra 3:10
b
Leviticus 22:4 e
Deuteronomy 28:22
c
1:6 f
See verses 10,20

226
 come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn
over the land of Judah, to scatter it.
Yet another message came to Haggai, from the LORD that same day: “Tell Zerubbabel,
the governor of Judah, “I AM about the shake the heavens and the earth, and to
overthrow thrones and destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations.
I will overthrow their armed might, and brothers and companions will kill each other.
But when that happens, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, and honour you like
a signet ring upon my finger, for I have specially chosen you,” says the LORD of Hosts.

CONCLUSION:

As can be seen by the detail of these messages from God to His people, they can be for
immediate action and attention, or for some period in the not-to-distant future, or a
couple of thousand years into the future.
In both cases these messages are both important and not to be ignored, because they
are both coming from the same source, and both have the same importance to bring
God’s plans to completion for the Father’s glory.

THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH

In the previous study (the Book of Haggai) God sends Haggai the prophet, in the 6th
month of the 2nd year of the reign of King Darius. (520 BC)
Now, just 2 months later, God sends Zechariah the Prophet, to make sure that the
Governor of Judah, and the High Priest get the message ~ and act upon it!
Whenever God wants something to be understood, He always confirms it 2, or more
places.
CHAPTER ONE: ZECHARIAH EXHORTS TO REPENTANCE
1. In the 8th month of 520 BC, the 2nd year of the reign of King Darius 1, came the
word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the
prophet, saying:
2. [R] The Lord has been asore displeased with your fathers;
3. ***[CP] Therefore, say you unto them; Thus says the LORD of Hosts: Turn you
unto me, says the LORD of Hosts, and I will turn unto you, says the LORD of Hosts.
[Notice at this stage, God has turned away from Judah and the people because of their
evil deeds, and He is making a “Conditional Promise.” IF you repent, and turn back
to Me, THEN, I will turn back to you. If you don’t ~ THEN I won’t!]
4. [R] bBe you not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying;
Thus says the LORD of Hosts; Turn you now from your evil ways, and from your evil
doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, says the LORD.
5. Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6. [CP] cBut my words and my statutes, Which I commanded my servants, the
prophets, ddid they not take hold of your fathers? And they returned and said; eLike
as the LORD of Hosts thought to do unto us, according to our fways, and according
to our doings, so has He dealt with us.
Subject: Messages from the LORD; These messages from the LORD were given to
Zechariah, (the son of Berechiah, and grandson of Iddo), the prophet in early November
520 BC, the second year of the reign of King Darius 1.
a
[h]~ with displeasure c
Matthew 24:25 e
Lamentations 2:17
b
Psalm 78:8 d
[h]~ overtake f
Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 36:31

227
These messages were being given at the same time as God was giving messages to the
same people through Haggai, the prophet.
The LORD of Hosts was very angry with your fathers. But He will turn back to you and
favour you, if only you will return to Him.
Don’t be like your fathers were! The earlier prophets pleaded with them in vain, to turn
from all-of their evil ways. “Come, return to me,” the LORD God said. But no, they would
not listen; they paid no attention at all.
Your fathers and those prophets are now long dead; but remember the lesson that they
learnt; that God’s Word Endures forever! It caught up with them; and punished
them. Then, at last, they repented.
“We have gotten what we deserved from God,” they said. “He has done exactly what He
said He would.”
7. Upon the 24th day of 11th month, which is the month of Sebat in 520BC, in the 2nd
year of the Reign of King Darius 1, came the Word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the
son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
8. I saw by night and behold; aa man briding upon a red horse, and he stood among
the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him there were red horses,
speckled, and white. [Daniel & Revelation both describe this red horse, after Jesus
opens the 2nd seal, in Revelation chapter 6].
9. Then said I, O LORD, what are these? And cthe angel that talked with me, said unto
me, I will show you, what they be.
10. And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said; These are they
that the LORD has sent to walk to-and-fro, throughout the earth.
11. And they answered the Angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees and
said; We have walked to-and-fro through the earth, and behold, all-of the earth sits
still, and is at rest. [Please Note: Whenever you see the words the “Angel of the
LORD” in scripture, where the “Angel” is written with a “capital A”, this denotes
Jesus in his “spiritual form”. Here we have Jesus, as a man upon the earth, waiting
to hear the report of the angels sent forth to travel to-and-fro throughout the earth].
Also note that angels can communicate with each other without speaking.
The following February, still in the 2nd year of the reign of King Darius 1, another
message from the LORD came to Zechariah, (son of Berechiah, and grandson of Iddo
the prophet), in a vision in the night:
I saw a man sitting on a red horse that was standing among the myrtle trees beside a
river. Behind him were other horses, red and bay, each with its riders.
An angel stood beside me, and I asked him, “Sir, what are all those horses for?” “I’ll tell
you;” he replied.
Then the rider on the red horse ~ He was the Angel of the LORD (Jesus in His spiritual
form) answered me: “The LORD has sent them to patrol the earth for Him.”
Then the other riders reported to the Angel of the LORD, “We have patrolled the whole
earth, and everywhere there is prosperity and peace.”
12. Then the Angel of the LORD answered and said, O LORD of Hosts, dhow long will you
not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, eagainst which you have
had indignation fthese last seventy years?
13. And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me, with ggood words and
comfortable words.

a
Joshua 5:13; Daniel 9:21 d
Habakkuk 2:6; Revelation 6:10 g
Jeremiah 29:10
b
Revelation 6:4 e
Malachi 1:4
c
See verses 9,13,14 f
Jeremiah 25:11; chapter 7:5

228
14. So, the angel that communed with me said unto me; Cry out saying; Thus, says
that LORD of Hosts; I aam jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15. And I am very displeased with the heathen that are bat ease: for I was but a little
displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
16. *** [P] Therefore, thus says the LORD: I AM returned to Jerusalem with mercies:
c
My house shall be built in it, says the LORD of Hosts, and da line shall be stretched
forth upon Jerusalem.
17. [P] Cry yet, saying; This says the LORD of Hosts; My cities through eprosperity, shall
yet spread abroad; and fthe LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and gshall yet choose
Jerusalem.
Upon hearing this, the Angel of the LORD prayed this prayer; “O Lord of Hosts (which is
His Father), for 70 years your anger has raged against Jerusalem and the cities of Judah
(which are part of the “Father’s Bride”, as God the Father is married to Israel). How long
will it be until you again show mercy to them?”
And the LORD answered the angel that stood beside me, speaking words of comfort and
assurance.
Then the angel said to me; “Shout out this message from the LORD of Hosts; Don’t you
think that I care about what has happened to Jerusalem and to Judah? I am jealous as
a husband for his captive wife.
“I am very angry with the heathen nations sitting around at ease, for I am only a little
displeased with my people, but the nations afflicted them, far beyond my intentions.
*** “Therefore, the LORD declares: I have returned to Jerusalem filled with mercy; My
Temples will be rebuilt, says the LORD of Hosts, so will be all-of Jerusalem.
“Say it again; The LORD of Hosts declares that the cities of Israel will again overflow
with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Jerusalem, and bless her, and live in
her.”
18. Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, hfour horns.
19. And I said unto ithe angel that talked with me; What be these? And he answered
me; jThese are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
20. And the LORD showed me four carpenters.
21. Then said I; what come these to do? And He spoke saying; These are the horns
which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come
to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over
the land of Judah to scatter it.
Then I looked and saw four animal horns! “What are these?” I asked the angel. He
replied; “They represent the four world powers, that have scattered Judah, Israel, and
Jerusalem.”
Then the LORD showed me four blacksmiths. “What have these men come to do?” I
asked. The angel replied; “They have come to take hold of the four horns that scattered
Judah so terribly, and to pound them on the anvil and to throw them away.”

CHAPTER TWO: ZION’S REDEMPTION

1. I lifted up my eyes again, and looked, and behold, a kman lwith a measuring line in
his hand.

a
Joel 2:18; chapter 8:2 e
[h]~ good i
See verses 9,13,14
b
Amos 6:1 f
Isaiah 51:3 j
Ezra 4:1; 4:7
c
Ezra 6:14,15 g
2:12 k
Ezekiel 4;3; 47;3
d
Jeremiah 31:39; Ezekiel 47:2 h
Daniel 8:3,8,9,21 l
Revelation 11:1

229
2. Then I said: Where are they going? And he said unto me; To measure Jerusalem,
to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof;
3. And, behold, athe angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went
out to meet him.
4. [P] And said unto him; Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be
inhabited as towns without walls, for the multitude of men and cattle therein.
5. [P] For I, says the LORD, will be a wall unto her, a wall of fire round about, and will
be the glory in the midst of her.
When I looked around again, I saw a man carrying a yardstick in his hand. “Where are
you going?” I asked. “To measure Jerusalem,” he said. “I want to see if it is big enough
for all of the who are going to be coming back to Israel for Aliyah!”
Then the angel who was talking to me, went to meet another angel that was coming
towards him.
“Go and tell this young man;” said the second angel, “that Jerusalem will someday be
so full of people, that she will not have room enough for all-of them! Many will live
outside the city walls, with their cattle ~ and yet they will be perfectly safe. For the
LORD Himself will be a wall of fire protecting them, and all-of Jerusalem; He will be the
glory of the city.” [This prophecy has already come to pass ~ as it is now estimated that
there are more people in Jerusalem living outside the old city walls than live inside the
city walls.]
The remaining verses in this chapter relate to the Gentiles nations under Tribulation.
6. [T] Ho, Ho, come forth, and bflee cfrom the land of the north, says the LORD: for I
have spread you abroad, as the 4 winds of the heavens, says the LORD.
7. [T] Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwells with the daughter of Babylon.
8. [T] For thus says the LORD of Hosts; After the glory, has he sent me unto the
nations, which spoiled you: for he that touches you, touches dthe apple of His eye.
9. [T] For I will eshake hand upon them, and they be a spoil to their servants: and then
you shall know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me.
“Come, flee from the land of the north, from Babylon,’ says the LORD to all-of his exiles
there: ‘I scattered you to the winds, but I will bring you (back home) again. Escape,
escape to Zion now!” says the LORD.
“The LORD of Glory has sent me, (this refers to the Messiah, here seen as one of the
Godhead – the Triune God), against the nations that oppressed you, for he who harms
you, sticks his finger in Jehovah’s eye!
“I will smash them with my fist, and their slaves shall become their rulers! Then you will
know that it was the LORD of Hosts who sent me.”
10. [LD] fSing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for glo, I come: and hI will dwell in-the-
midst-of thee, says the LORD.
11. [LD] And imany nations shall be joined to the LORD, jin that day, and they shall be
my people; and I will dwell in-the-midst-of thee, and you shall know that the LORD
of Hosts has sent me unto thee.
12. [SC] And the LORD shall inherit Judah, his portion in the Holy Land, and kshall choose
Jerusalem again.
13. [SC] lBe silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for He is raised up out of mHis holy
habitation.

a
1:19 f
Zephaniah 3:14 j
Isaiah 2:11; chapter 3:10
b
Isaiah 48:20 g
Psalm 40:7 k
1:17
c
Jeremiah 3:18 h
8:3 l
Habakkuk 2:20
d
Deuteronomy 32:10 i
Isaiah 2:2,3; 49:23; 55:5; m
[h]~ the habitation of His
e
Isaiah 11:15; 19:16 60:3; 66:23; chapter 8:22 holiness

230
“Sing Jerusalem and rejoice! For I have come to live among you,’ says the LORD. At
that time, many nations will be converted to the LORD, and they too shall be my people;
I will live among them all. Then you will know that it was the LORD of Hosts that
sent me to you. And Judah shall be the LORD’S inheritance in the Holy Land, for God
shall once more choose to bless Jerusalem.’
“Be silent, all mankind, for the LORD has come to earth from heaven, from His Holy
home, to dwell amongst us.”

CHAPTER THREE: ZION’S REDEMPTION ~ OF CHRIST, THE BRANCH

1. And he showed me aJoshua bthe High Priest standing before the Angel of the LORD,
and cSatan standing at his right hand dto resist him.
2. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; Even the LORD
that has chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee; is not this ea brand plucked out of the fire?
3. Now Joshua was fclothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
The rest of this chapter is about the first coming of Christ and His ministry.
4. [FC] And He answered and spoke to those that stood before him, saying: Take away
the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said; Behold, gI have caused thine
iniquity to pass from thee, and hI will clothe thee with a change of raiment.
5. [FC] And I said; Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So, they sat a fair mite
upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the Angel of the LORD stood
by.
6. [FC] And the Angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua saying,
7. [FC] Thus says the LORD of Hosts; If you will walk in my ways, and if you will ikeep
my jcharge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and
I will give you kplaces to walk, among these that stand by.
8. [FC] Hear now, O Joshua the High Priest, you and your fellows that sit before thee;
for they are men lwondered at: for behold, I will bring forth mmy servant nthe
BRANCH.
9. [FC] For behold, the stone that I have laid before oJoshua; upon one stone shall be
p
seven eyes: Behold, I will qengrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of Hosts,
and I will remove the iniquity of that land rin one day.
10. [FC] sIn that day, says the LORD of Hosts, shall you call every man his neighbour
under the vine and under the fig tree.
THEN THE ANGEL (in my vision) showed me, Joshua the High Priest, standing before the
Angel of the LORD; and Satan was standing there too, at the Angel’s right hand, accusing
Joshua of many things. [Here we have the clear picture of the courtroom of Heaven,
with the accused (Joshua), the prosecutor, (Satan ~ the accuser of the brethren), and
the Defence Lawyer (Jesus) who takes all our sins upon Himself, so that we are not
guilty of these crimes].
And the LORD said to Satan, “I reject your accusations, Satan: Yes, I, the LORD, for I
have decided to be merciful to Jerusalem, I rebuke you! I have decreed mercy to Joshua,
and to His nation; they are like a burning stick pulled out of the fire (of Hell).”

a
6:11 h
Isaiah 61:10 n
Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; chapter
b
Haggai 1:1 i
Genesis 26:5 6:12; Luke 1:78
c
[h]~ an adversary j
[h]~ ordinance o
6:11
d
[h]~ to be his adversary k
[h]~ walks p
4:10; Revelation 5:6
e
Amos 4:11 l
[h]~ of wonder q
Exodus 28:11,21
f
Isaiah 64:6; Jude 23 m
Isaiah 42:1 r
13:1; Hebrews 7:27
g
Isaiah 6:7 s
2:11

231
Joshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood before the Angel of the LORD. Then the angel
standing there, said to the others; “Remove his filthy clothing.” And turning to Joshua
he said; “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new
clothes.”
Then I said: “Please, could he also have a clean turban on his head?” So, they gave him
one.
Then the Angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Joshua and said; “The LORD of Hosts
declares: “If you follow the paths that I set for you, and do all that I tell you to, then I
will put you in charge of my Temple, to keep it holy; and I will let you walk in and out
of my presence with these angels.
“Listen to me, O Joshua, the High Priest, and all-of you other priests, you are illustrations
of the good things to come. Don’t you see? Joshua represents my servant the BRANCH,
(that is The Messiah, Christ) whom I will send. He will be the Foundation Stone, (the
Corner Stone) of the Temple that Joshua is standing beside; and I will engrave this
inscription on its seven facets. And the inscription will read: ‘I will remove the sins of
this land in a single day.’ And after that’ the LORD of Hosts declares; ‘you will all live in
peace and prosperity and each of you will own a home of your own, where you can invite
your neighbours’.”
When we look at these scriptures, and these proclamations of Jesus, from this side of
the cross, we should realise that they apply to us today as well.
We, as born again, Spirit filled believers, are members of the Royal Priesthood, and
ambassadors for Christ today. We are to be the examples, to the unbelievers, and to
the Orthodox Jews, of the good things which are to come, when Jesus comes again. Let
us make sure that we are always good ambassadors for Christ, in what we say, and I
what we do. Amen.

CHAPTER FOUR: ZERUBBABEL’S FOUNDATION

1. And athe angel that talked with me came again, and woke me, as a man that is
woken out of his sleep.
2. And said unto me; What do you see? And I said, I have looked, and behold, ba
candlestick all-of gold, with ca bowl upon the top of it, and dhis seven lamps therein,
and eseven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: [Revelation
1:12]
3. And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl and the other on the
left side thereof.
4. So, I answered and spoke to the angel that talked with me saying; What are these
my LORD?
5. Then that angel that talked with me answered and said unto me; Don’t you know
what they are? And I answered; No, my Lord.
6. The he answered and spoke unto me, saying; This is the WORD of the LORD unto
Zerubbabel, saying; fNot by might, nor by power, but gby my Spirit, says the LORD
of Hosts.
7. Who art you, hO great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall ibecome a plain: and
he shall bring forth jthe headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace
unto it.

a
1:19 e
[h]~ seven, or, several pipes to h
Jeremiah 51:25
b
Exodus 25:31 the lamps i
Isaiah 40:4
c
[h]~ her f
Daniel 2:34; Haggai 2:21-23 j
Psalm 118:22
d
Exodus 25:37; Revelation 1:12 g
Haggai 2:5

232
8. Moreover, the word came unto me, saying;
9. The hands of Zerubbabel ahave laid the foundations of this house; his hands shall
also finish it; and you shall know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me unto you.
10. For who has despised the day of small things? For they shall rejoice, and shall see
the plummet in the hands of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the
LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
THEN THE ANGEL who had been talking to me woke me up, as though I had been
asleep. “What do you see now?” he asked. I answered; “I see a golden lampstand,
holding seven lamps, and at the top there is a reservoir for the olive oil that feeds the
lamps, flowing into them through seven tubes. And I also see two olive trees carved
upon the lampstand, one on each side of the reservoir. “What is it?” I asked. “What does
it mean?”
“Don’t you really know?” The angel asked. “No sir,” I said, “I don’t.” Then the angel said
to me; “This is God’s message to Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, who has been
given the responsibility to rebuild the Temple. The message to Him from the LORD of
Hosts is this; ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.
And you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are a few and weak.’
*** Therefore, no mountains, irrespective of their height, can stand before Zerubbabel!
For it will flatten out before him! And Zerubbabel will rebuild this Temple, with mighty
shouts of thanksgiving for God’s mercy, declaring that all-of the work was completed by
God’s grace alone.”
Another message that I received from the LORD said; “Zerubbabel has laid the
foundation of this Temple and he will complete it. THEN, you will know that these
messages have come from GOD, the LORD of Hosts.
Do not despise this small beginning, for the eyes of the LORD rejoice to see the work
begin, to see the plumbline in the hand of Zerubbabel. For these seven lamps represent
the eyes of the LORD, that see everywhere, and everything, around the whole world.”
11. Then I answered and said unto him; What are these two olive trees upon the right
side of the candlestick, and upon the left side thereof?
12. And I answered again and said unto him; What be these two olive branches which
b
through the two golden pipes cempty the golden oil out of themselves?
13. And he answered me and said; Don’t you know what they are? And I said; NO, my
lord.
14. Then he said; These are the two danointed ones, ethat stand by the LORD of the
whole earth.
Then I asked him about the two olive trees, which stood, one on each side of the
lampstand, and about the two olive branches that emptied oil into the golden bowls
through two gold tubes.
“Don’t you know?” he asked. “No sir,” I said. Then he told me; “They represent the two
anointed ones who assist the LORD of all the earth.”

Who are the two Sons of Oil?

Firstly, the immediate ones; Zerubbabel the Governor and Joshua the High
Priest would be God’s two anointed ones (literally sons of oil), charged with completing
the Temple construction. In the vision they were the two olive trees from whom the oil
flowed, signifying the Holy Spirit working through them.
Looking back at this series of scriptures from THIS side of the cross, we remember what
Jesus told us. He said that He is The Vine and we are The Branches, and it is the power

a
Ezra 3:10 c
[h]~ empty out of themselves d
[h]~ sons of Oil
b
[h]~ by the hand of oil into the gold e
Revelations11:4

233
of the Holy Spirit flowing through the vine to the branches, that allows us to do great &
mighty works on the earth for the glory of God; just like the work that has been assigned
here to Zerubbabel, the governor (representing the worldly administration) and Joshua,
the High Priest (representing the Holy Spirit filled believers) on the earth, to build His
Second Temple.
Therefore, we must remember that we ARE the TEMPLE; our bodies are the Temple of
God in the world today, and we must be seen to be a holy, pure, and loving Temple, to
draw people to Jesus, by what we say and what we do ~ until Jesus comes back for us
in the clouds.

CHAPTER FIVE: VISION OF THE FLYING ROLL

1. Then I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked up, and behold, a flying aroll.
2. And he said unto me; What do you see? And I answered; I see a flying roll, the
length is twenty bcubits, and the breadth is ten cubits. [30 feet x 15 feet].
3. [R] Then he said unto me; This is cthe curse that goes forth over the face of the
whole earth: for deveryone that steals shall be cut off as on this side according to
it: and everyone that swears shall be cut off, as on that side according to it.
[Remember there are blessings & curses from God; but God always wants us to receive the
blessings, NOT the curses].
4. [R] I will bring it forth says the LORD of Hosts, and it shall enter into the house of
the thief and into the house of him that swears falsely by my name: and eit shall
remain in-the-midst-of his house, and fshall consume it with the timber thereof and
the stones thereof.
I looked up and I saw a scroll flying through the air. “What do you see?” the angel asked.
“A flying scroll!” I replied. It appears to be about 30 feet long and fifteen feet wide!”
Then he told me; “This scroll represents the word of God’s curse going out over the
entire land. It says that all who steal and lie have (already) been judged and sentenced
to death.”
“I AM sending this curse into the home of every thief and everyone who swears falsely
by my name,” says the LORD of Hosts. “And my curse shall remain upon his home and
completely destroy it.” [ALL THIEVES, CORRUPT BUSINESSMEN AND ANYONE WHO HAS
SWORN FALSELY ON THE NAME OF THE LORD ~ REPENT! BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.]
5. Then gthe angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me; lift up now your
eyes, and see what is this that goes forth.
6. And I said; What is it? And He said; This is han ephah that goes forth. He said;
Moreover, this is their resemblance through all-of the earth.
7. And, behold, there was lifted up a italent of lead: and this is a woman that sits in
the midst of the ephah.
8. And he said: This is wickedness! And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he
cast the weight of the lead upon the mouth thereof.
9. The I lifted up my eyes and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and
the wind was in their wings, for they had wings, like the wings of a stork: and they
lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10. Then I said to the angel that talked to me; Where are they taking the ephah?

a
Jeremiah 36:2 d
[h]~ every one of this people f
Leviticus 14:45
b
[h]~ a cubit is approximately 18 that steals, hold himself guiltless g
1:19
inches as it does. h
Ezekiel 45:11
c
Daniel 2:34; Haggai 2:21-23 e
Proverbs 3:33 i
[h]~ Or, weighty piece

234
11. And he said unto me; to build it a house in athe land of Shinar: and it shall be
established, and set there upon her own base.
Then the angel left me for a while, but then he returned and said; “Look up, something
is travelling through the sky!”
“What is it?” I asked. He replied; “It is a bushel basket, filled with the sin prevailing
everywhere throughout the land. [Question: What is the sin prevailing everywhere
throughout your nation? Is it corruption? Is it lust? Is it injustice? Or is it indifference?]
Suddenly, the heavy lid cover of the basket was lifted off, and I could see a woman
sitting inside the basket!
Before I could ask for an explanation, the angel said: “She represents wickedness,” and
he pushed her back into the basket, and clamped down the heavy lid again.
Then I saw two women flying towards us, having wings like those of a stork. And they
took the bushel basket and flew off with it, high into the sky. [And now you know where
the picture of the stork carrying a basket comes from. But the storks are not delivering
a baby ~ it is taking away sin].
“Where are they taking her?” I asked the angel. He replied; “To Babylon, where she
belongs, and where she will stay!”
[Babylon had, by the time of Zechariah, become a symbol, the centre of world idolatry,
and all forms of wickedness ~ and that is why there is so much evil in that area of the
world still today. Jesus has not yet come back to cleanse the existing earth.]

CHAPTER SIX: THE FOUR CHARIOTS

1. And I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked up, and, behold, there came four
chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of
brass.
2. In the first chariot were bred horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3. And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grizzled and cbay
horses.
4. Then I answered and said to the angel that talked with me; What are these my
lord?
5. And the angels answered and said to me; dThese are the four espirits of the
heavens, which go forth from standing before the LORD of all-of the Earth.
6. The black horses go forth into fthe north country; and the white horses go after
them; and the grizzled go forth towards the south country.
7. And the bay went forth, and sought to go, that they might walk to and fro through
the earth: and he said; Get you hence, walk to and from through the earth.
8. Then cried he upon me, saying; Behold, these that go towards the north country
have quietened my Spirit, in the north country.
Then I looked up again, and I saw four chariots, coming from between the two mountains
made of brass.
The first chariot was pulled by red horses, and the second chariot by black ones. Red
signifying blood & followed by black signifying death. The third by white horses and the
fourth by dappled-greys.
“And what are these, sir?” I asked the angel. He replied; “These are the four heavenly
spirits who stood before the LORD of all-of the earth; they are going out to do His work.
The chariot pulled by the black horses will go north, and the ones pulled by the white
horses will follow it there and then go west, while the dappled greys will go south.
a
Genesis 11:2 c
[h]~ strong e
[h]~ winds
b
1:8: Revelation 6:2 d
Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 3:1 f
Jeremiah 1:13; see verse 8

235
The red horses were impatient to be off, to patrol back and forth across the earth, so
the LORD said; “Go! Begin your patrol.” So, they left at once.
Then the LORD summoned me and said; “Those who went north have executed my
judgements, and quietened my anger there.”
9. And the word of the LORD came again to me saying;
10. Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are
come from Babylon, and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the
son of Zephaniah.
11. Then take silver and gold, and make acrowns, and set them upon the head of
b
Joshua, the son of Josedech, the High Priest.
12. [FC] And speak unto him saying; Thus says the LORD of Hosts, saying; Behold the
man whose name is cTHE BRANCH; and He shall dgrow up eout of his place, and fHe
shall build the Temple of the LORD.
13. [FC] fEven He shall build the Temple of the LORD; and gHe shall bear the glory, and
shall sit and rule upon His throne; and hHe shall be a priest upon His throne; and
the counsel of peace shall between them both. [He shall be both King & High Priest
of the Order of Melchizedek].
14. And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen, the
son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
15. [CP] And they that far off shall come and build in the Temple of the LORD, and you
shall know that the LORD of Hosts has sent me unto you. And this shall some to
pass, IF you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
In another message, the LORD said: “Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah will bring gifts of silver
and gold from the Jews exiled in Babylon. The same day that they arrive, meet them at
the home of Josiah (the son of Zephaniah), where they will stay. Accept their gifts and
make from them a crown from the silver and the gold. Then put the crown on the head
of Joshua (son of Josedech) the High Priest.
Tell him that the LORD of Hosts says; ‘You represent the MAN who will come, whose
name is “THE BRANCH” ~ He will grow up from himself ~ and will build the Temple of
the LORD. To Him belongs the Royal Title. He will rule as both as King and High Priest,
with perfect harmony between the two!’
Then put the crown in the Temple of the LORD, to honour those who gave it; Heldai,
Tobijah Jedaiah, and also Josiah.
These three who come from so far away represent many others who will some-day come
from distant lands to rebuild the TEMPLE of the LORD. And when this happens, you will
know that my messages have been from God, the LORD of Hosts. BUT, none of this will
happen UNLESS you carefully obey the commandments of the LORD your God.”
CHAPTER SEVEN: ON FASTING

1. And it came to pass, iin the fourth year of the reign of King Darius 1, that the word
of the LORD came to Zechariah in the 4th day of the 9th month, even in jChis-leu.
2. When they had sent unto the House of God Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their
men, to kpray before the LORD.

a
3:5 e
Exodus 10:23 h
Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1
b
3:1 f
Matthew 16:18; Ephesians i
1:1,7
c
3:8 2:20-22 j
Nehemiah 1:1
d
[h]~ branch up from under him g
Ezekiel 21:27 k
[h]~ intreat the face of

236
3. And to speak unto athe priests which were in the House of the LORD of Hosts, and
to bthe prophets, saying; Should I weep in cthe 5th month, separating myself, as I
have done these last so many years?
Another message come to me from the LORD in late November of the 4th year of the
reign of King Darius 1.
The Jews from the city of Bethel had sent a group of men headed by Sherezer, the chief
administrative officer of the king, and Regemmelech, to the Lord’s Temple at Jerusalem,
to seek His blessing, and to speak with the priests and prophets about whether they
must continue their traditional custom of fasting and mourning, during the month of
August each year, as they had been doing for so long.
4. Then came the word of the LORD unto me saying;
5. Speak unto all-of the people of the land, and to the priests saying; When dyou fasted
and mourned in the e5th and f7th months, even gthose seventy years, did you at all
fast unto me, even to me?
6. And when you did eat, and when you did drink, hdid you not eat for yourselves, and
drink for yourselves?
7. iShould you not hear the words which the LORD has cried by the former prophets,
when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and her cities thereof round about
her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
This was the LORD’S reply to their enquiry about fasting;
“When you return to Bethel, say to all-of your people and your priests; ‘During those 70
years of exile in Babylon, when you fasted and mourned in August & November (the 5th
& 7th months of the Hebrew calendar), were you really in earnest about leaving your
sins behind, and coming back to me? NO! Not at all! And even now, in your holy feasts
to God, you don’t even think of me, but only of the food, and the fellowship, and fun.
Many years ago, when Jerusalem was prosperous, and her southern suburbs spreading
out along the plain were filled with people, the prophets warned them that this attitude
would surely lead to ruin ~ and it has.
[Sadly today, in many churches across the world the same thing has happened: At
Christmas time, many churches are more interested in the food, the fellowship and the
fun, almost completely forgetting that “Jesus is the REAL REASON FOR THE SEASON,
and He only gets a passing mention.]
8. And the word of the LORD came to Zechariah saying;
9. Thus speaks the LORD of Hosts, saying; jExecute true judgement, and kshow mercy
and compassion, every man to his brother:
10. And oppress not lthe widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let
none of you imagine evil against your brother in his heart.
11. [R] But they refused to listen, and mpulled away the shoulder, and stopped their
ears, that they should not hear.
12. ***[R] Yes, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the
law, and the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent in His Spirit, nby the former
prophets: Therefore, came a great wrath from the LORD of Hosts.
13. *** [R] Therefore, it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so,
they cried, and I would not hear.

a
Malachi 2:7 e
2 Kings 25:8; Jeremiah 52:12; j
[h]~ Judge judgements of truth
b
Ezra 5:1-2 chapter 8:19 k
Micah 6:8
c
2 kings 25:8; Jeremiah 52:12; f
2 Kings 25:25; Jeremiah 41:1-2 l
Isaiah 1:7, 23; Jeremiah 5:28
chapter 8:12 g
1:12 m
[h]~ they gave a backsliding
d
Isaiah 58:5 h
[h]~ Or, be you not they that shoulder
i
[h]~ Are not these the words n
[h]~ by the hand of

237
14. [FP] But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew
not. Thus, the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor
returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
Then this message from the LORD came to Zechariah; “tell them to be honest and fair,
~ and not to take bribes ~ and to be merciful and kind to everyone. Tell them to stop
oppressing widows and orphans, foreigners and poor people, and to stop plotting evil
against each other.
“Your fathers would not listen to this message. In rebellion, they turned stubbornly away
and put their fingers in their ears to keep hearing from me.
“They hardened their hearts like flint, afraid the hear the words that God, the LORD of
Hosts, commanded them ~ the laws that He had revealed to them by His Spirit through
the former prophets. That is why such great wrath came down on them from God.
“I called them ~ but they refused to listen, so when they cried out to me, I turned away
from them, and refused to hear their cries for help.
“I scattered them as with a whirlwind among the far-off nations. Their land became
desolate: no one even travelled through it; the Pleasant Land lay bare and blighted.”
[God has not changed His mind, nor has He changed His word. Jesus is the same
yesterday, today, and forever. This same set of rules apply today, ~ this side of the
cross. If the true prophet comes with a word from God, and the Christian Churches, or
the Christian nations refuse to listen and to obey, then when the time comes for us to
cry out to God for help, He will turn away and refuse to hear us. Do you really want to
be in a situation like that? It is time to turn back to the LORD, before it is too late!
Remember: WITHOUT REPENTANCE ~ NO-ONE SHALL SEE GOD!]

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE RESTORATION OF JERUSALEM

1. Again, the word of the LORD of Host came to me saying;

2. Thus says the LORD of Hosts; aI was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I
was jealous for her with great fury.
3. Thus says the LORD: bI AM returned unto Zion, and will dwell in-the-midst-of
Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called cthe city of Truth; and the mountain of
the LORD of Hosts, the Holy Mountain.
4. Thus says the LORD of Hosts; dThere shall yet old men and old women dwell in the
streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for every age.
5. And the streets of the city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets
thereof.
6. Thus says the LORD of Hosts; If it be fmarvellous in the eyes of gthe remnant of
this people in these days, should it also be amarvellous in my eyes? Says the LORD
of Hosts.
7. Thus says the LORD of Hosts; Behold, I will save my people hfrom the east country,
and from ithe west country;
8. And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in-the-midst-of Jerusalem: and jthey
shall be my people; and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Again, the LORD’s message came to me; “The LORD of Hosts says; I am greatly
concerned ~ yes, furiously angry, because of all that Jerusalem’s enemies have done to
her. Now, I AM going to return to my land, and I, myself, will live within Jerusalem, and

a
Joes 2:18 e
[h]~ multitude of days i
[h]~ the country of the going
b
1:16 f
[h]~ Or, hard, or, difficult down of the sun.
c
Isaiah 1:21,26 g
Zephaniah 2:7; see verse 12 j
13:9
d
Isaiah 65:20,22 h
Isaiah 43:5; 49:12; Malachi 1:11

238
Jerusalem shall be called ‘The Faithful City,’ and ‘The Holy Mountain’ of the LORD of
Hosts.’”
The LORD of Hosts declares that Jerusalem will have peace and prosperity so long as
there will be once again elderly men and women, hobbling though her streets on canes,
and the streets shall be filled with boys and girls at play.
The LORD God says; “This seems unbelievable to you, ~ a small remnant, discouraged
as you are, but it is no great thing for me. You can be sure that I will rescue my people
from the east and the west, wherever they are scattered. I will bring them all back home
again, to live safely in Jerusalem, and they will by MY people, and I will be their God,
just and true, and yet, forgiving them their sins!”
9. Thus says the LORD of Hosts; aLet your hands be strong, you that hear in these
days, all-of these words, by the mouth of bthe prophets, which were in cthe day that
the foundation of the house of the LORD of Hosts was laid, that the Temple might
be built.
10. For before these days, dthere was no hire for man, nor any hire for beast; neither
was there any peace for him that went out, or came in, because of the affliction: for
I set all men, everyone against his neighbour.
11. But now, I will be unto the residue of this people, as it was in the former days, says
the LORD of Hosts.
12. For the seed shall be eprosperous; the vine shall give here fruit, and the ground shall
give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant
of this people, to possess all-of these things.
13. [P] And it shall come to pass, that as you were fa curse among the heathen, O house
of Judah, and the House of Israel; so, will I save you, and gyou shall be a blessing:
fear not, but let your hands be strong.
14. For thus says the LORD of Hosts; hAs I thought to punish you, when your fathers
provoked me to wrath, says the LORD of Hosts, and I repented not:
15. So again, in these days, have I thought to do well unto Jerusalem and to the House
of Judah: fear you not.
The LORD of Host says; “Get on with the job and finish it! You have been listening long
enough! For since you have been laying the foundation of the Temple, the prophets have
been telling you about the blessings that await you, when it’s finished.
Before the work began, there were no jobs, no wages, no security; if you left the city,
there was no assurance that you would ever return, for crime was rampant.
“But it is all so different now!” says the LORD of Hosts. For I am sowing peace and
prosperity among you. Your crops will prosper; the grapevines will be weighted down
with fruit; the ground will be fertile, with plenty of rain; all-of these blessings will be
given to the people that are left in the land. ‘May you be as poor as Judah,’ the heathens
used to say, to those they cursed! But not anymore! For now, ‘Judah’ is a word of
blessing, not a curse.
‘May you be as happy and as prosperous as Judah is,’ they will say. So do not be afraid,
or discouraged! Get on with building the Temple! If you do, I will certainly bless you.
And don’t think that I might change my mind. I did what I said I would when your fathers
angered me, and I promised to punish them, and I won’t change this decision of mine
to bless you.

a
Haggai 2:4 d
[h]~ the hire of man became f
Jeremiah 42:18
b
Ezra 5:1,2 nothing g
Genesis 12:2
c
Haggai 2:18 e
[h]~ of peace h
Jeremiah 31:28; 32:42

239
16. These are the things that you shall do; aSpeak you every man the truth to his
neighbour; bexecute the judgement of truth and peace in your gates:
17. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against your neighbour; and love no
false oath; for all-of these things I hate, says the LORD.
“This is what you have to do to get my blessings; Tell the truth. Be fair. Live at peace
with everyone. Don’t plot harm against others; Don’t swear something is true, when it
isn’t! How I hate all that sort of this!” says the LORD.
18. And the word of the LORD came unto me saying;
19. *** Thus says the LORD of Hosts; The fast of cthe 4th month, and the fast of dthe
5th, and the fast of ethe 7th, and the fast of the ftenth months, shall be to the House
of Judah, joy and gladness, and cheerful gfeasts; therefore, love the truth and peace.
20. [P] Thus says the LORD of Hosts; It shall come to pass, that there shall come people,
and the inhabitants of many cities;
21. [P] And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying; Let us go hspeedily
i
to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of HOSTS: I will go also.
22. [P] Yes, jmany people and strong nations shall come seek the LORD of Hosts in
Jerusalem, and ito pray before the LORD.
23. [P] Thus says the LORD of Hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that kten men
l
shall take hold out mof all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt
of him that is a Jew, saying; We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with
you.
The traditional fasts and times of mourning that you have kept in July, August, October,
and January, are ended. They will be changed to joyous festivals, IF you love, truth and
peace!
People from around the world, will come on pilgrimages and pour into Jerusalem from
many foreign cities, to attend these celebrations. People will write their friends in other
cities and say, “Let’s go to Jerusalem to ask the LORD to bless us, and be merciful to
us. I’m going! Please come with me. Let’s go now!
Yes, many people, even strong nations, will come to the LORD of Hosts, in Jerusalem,
to ask for His blessing and help.
In those days, ten men, from ten different nations, will clutch at the coat sleeves of one
Jew and say: ‘Please be my friend, for I know that God Almighty is with you.’”
[You only have to watch the news, to see that this promise for the LORD is being fulfilled
every year, before our very eyes, as thousands of people from different nations, flock
to Israel, to lay their petitions before the LORD, on the Temple Mount, or at the Wailing
Wall.]

CHAPTER NINE: CHRIST’S FIRST COMING FORETOLD

1. [P] nThe burden of the Word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus
shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall
be towards the LORD.
2. [P] And oHamath also shall border thereby; pTyrus, and qZidon, though rit be very
wise.

a
Ephesians 4:25 g
[h]~ Or, solemn, or, set times n
12:1
b
[h]~ judge truth and the h
[h]~ continually o
Jeremiah 49:23
judgement of peace i
[h]~ to intreat the face of p
Isaiah 23:1
c
Jeremiah 39:2; 52:6 j
2:11 q
Ezekiel 28:21
d
7:3 k
Genesis 31:7 r
Ezekiel 28:3-5,12
e
7:5 l
Isaiah 4:1
f
2 Kings 25:1; Jeremiah 39:1 m
Isaiah 66:18; Revelation 5:9

240
3. [P] And Tyrus did build herself a stronghold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and
fine gold as the mire of the streets.
4. [P] Behold, the Lord will cast her out, and He will smite aher power in the sea; and
she shall be devoured with fire.
5. [P] bAshkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza shall also see it and be very sorrowful,
and Ekron; for her expectation, shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from
Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6. [P] And a bastard shall dwell in cAshdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7. [P] And I will take away dhis eblood out of his mouth, and his abominations from
between his teeth; but he that remains, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall
be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron, as fa Jebusite.
8. [P] And gI will encamp about my house, because of the army, because of hhim that
passes by, and because of him that returns: and ino oppressor shall pass through
them anymore: for now, I have seen with my eyes.
This the message concerning God’s curse on the lands of Hadrach and Damascus, for
the LORD is closely watching all mankind, as well as Israel.
“Doomed is Hamath, near Damascus, and Tyre, and Zidon, too, shrewd though they be.
Although Tyre has armed itself to the hilt, and become so rich that silver is like dirt to
her; and fine gold like dust on the streets, yet the LORD will dispossess her, and hurl
her fortifications int the sea; and she shall be set on fire, and burnet to the ground.
“Ashkelon shall see it happen, and be filled with fear: Gaza will huddle in desperation,
and Ekron will shake with terror, for their hopes that Tyre would stop the enemies’
advance shall all be dashed. Gaza will be conquered, her king killed, and Ashkelon will
be completely destroyed.
“Foreigners will take over the city of Ashdod, that rich city of the Philistines.
I will yank her idolatry out of her mouth, and pull from her teeth her sacrifices, that she
eats with blood.
“Everyone left, will worship God, and be adopted into Israel as a new clan: the Philistines
of Ekron will inter-marry with the Jews, just as the Jebusites did so long ago. And I will
surround My Temple like a guard to keep invading armies from entering Israel. I AM
closely watching their movements, and I will keep them away; no foreign oppressors
will ever overrun my people’s land again!
9. [FC] Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion: shout: O daughter of Jerusalem: behold,
your King comes unto thee: He is just, and having salvation; Lowly, and riding
upon a colt, the foal of an ass (Donkey).
[Jesus Christ shall reign as King: In the Book of Daniel chapter 9, this is also mentioned.
Don’t get confused because there is a second part of this prophecy, that refers to the
presentation of Jesus as King.
There are TWO princes referred to in this text. The first is Jesus, who will reign as the
“Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The second prince is the Roman general who invades
Jerusalem.
Here we are talking about the first Prince ~ Jesus Christ, who will be cut off after
69 weeks, or 483 years. Now we take these 483 years and multiply them by the Old
Hebrew calendar (360 days per year), which equates to 173,880 days.
From the day that Nehemiah said; “You may go ahead and rebuild your wall and
Jerusalem” [14th March, 445 BC] to the day that Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on the
foal of a donkey (6th April 32 AD) ~ was exactly 173,880 days! The prophecy was

a
Ezekiel 26:17 d
Leviticus 3:17 g
Psalm 34:7
b
Zephaniah 2:4 e
[h]~ bloods h
7:14
c
Amos 1:8 f
Judges 1:21 i
Isaiah 11:9

241
absolutely correct! They were looking for a king! If the Jewish leaders had been studying
these Old Testament scriptures, they would have known He was the Messiah!
Day # 173,880 was the crowning day of Jesus, and the Jewish people’s minds did not
grasp or understand it. And because of this, they failed to recognise their Messiah! So,
this prophecy was fulfilled to the very day. One can assume therefore that all-of the
other prophecies in the book of Daniel, and every other book in the Bible, will also be
fulfilled, exactly on time.]
10. [FP] And aI will cut off the chariot of Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and
the battle bow shall be cut off: And He shall speak bpeace unto the heathen; cand
His dominion shall be from the sea, even to sea, and from the river, even to the
ends of the earth.
11. [FP] As for you also, dby ethe blood of thy covenant, I have sent forth thy prisoners
out of the pit, wherein there is no water.
I will disarm all-of the peoples on the earth, including my own people in Israel, and He
shall bring peace among the nations. His realm shall stretch from sea to sea, from the
river to the ends of the earth.
I have delivered you from death in a waterless pit, because of the covenant that I made
with you, sealed with blood.
12. [P] Turn you to the stronghold, fyou prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that
I will render gdouble unto thee;
13. When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons,
O Zion, against thy sons, hO Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man.
14. And the LORD shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning:
and ithe LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go jwith whirlwinds of the south.
15. The LORD of Hosts shall defend them: and they shall devour, and subdue, kwith
sling stones; and they shall drink, and shall make a noise as through wine; and they
shall lbe filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
16. And the LORD their God shall save them min that day, as the flock of His people; for
they shall be as nthe stones of a crown, olifted up and an ensign upon His land.
17. For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! Corn shall make the
young men pcheerful, and new wine the maids.
Come to the place of safety, all-of you prisoners, for there is yet hope! I promise right
now, I will repay you two mercies for each of your woes!
Judah, you are now My bow! Ephraim you are My arrows! Both of you will be My sword,
like the sword of a mighty soldier, brandished against the sons of Greece.
The LORD shall lead His people as they fight! His arrows shall fly like lightning; the LORD
God shall sound the trumpet call, and go out against His enemies like a whirlwind off
the desert from the south.
He will defend His people, and they will subdue their enemies, treading them down
beneath their feet. They will taste victory, and shout with triumph! They will slaughter
their foes, leaving horrible carnage everywhere. The LORD their God will save His people
in that day, as a shepherd caring for His sheep.
This will NOT be a “gentle Jesus meek and mild!” This is “the LION of Judah”, coming in
all-of His divine Power, slaughtering the enemies of Judah & Israel. He will restore the

a
Hosea 1:7 g
Isaiah 61:7 m
Isaiah 2:11
b
[h]~ Or, answered that h
Ezekiel 27:13 n
Isaiah 62:3
c
Psalm 72:8 i
Isaiah 18:3 o
Isaiah 11:10,12
d
[h]~ where covenant is by blood j
Isaiah 21:1 p
[h]~ grow, or, speak
e
Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 10:29 k
[h]~ the stones of the sling
f
Isaiah 49:9 l
[h]~ fill both the bowls

242
“Biblical boundaries of Israel;” and as promised in His word, destroy every nation that
stole land from Israel.
Then they shall shine in His land, as glittering jewels in a crown. How wonderful and
beautiful all shall be; when Jesus comes back to the earth and establishes His kingdom
on this existing earth for 1,000 years.
The abundance of grain and wine will make the young men and young girls’ flourish;
they will be radiant with health and happiness.

CHAPTER TEN: SEEK AFTER GOD

1. [M] Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so, the LORD shall make
bright clouds, and give them showers of rain to every one grass in the field.
2. *** For the aidols have spoken vanity, and bthe diviners have seen a lie, and chave
told false dreams; they comfort in vain: Therefore, they went their way as the
flock, they dwere troubled, ebecause there was no shepherd.
3. [FP] My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I fpunished gthe goats: For
the LORD of Hosts has visited His flock, the House of Judah, and had made them
as His goodly horse in the battle.
4. [FP] Out of Him came forth hthe corner, out of Him ithe nail, out of Him jthe battle
bow; out of Him every oppressor together.
Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime, and He will answer with lightning and showers.
Every field will become a lush pasture. How foolish you are to ask an idol for anything
like that! Fortune-tellers’ predictions are all a bunch of silly lies; what value are there in
promises that don’t come true? Judah and Israel have been hooked in their noses and
led astray, and now wander around like lost sheep: everyone attacks them, for they
have no shepherd to protect them.
“My anger burns against you shepherds ~ your leaders ~ and I will punish them ~ these
goats! For the LORD of Hosts has arrived to help His flock in Judah, I will make them
strong and glorious like a proud steed in battle.
From them will come the Cornerstone (Jesus, the Messiah), the PEG on which all hope
hangs; the Bow that wins the battle, the Ruler over all-of the earth.
5. [P] And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies, in the mire
of the streets in battle: and they shall fight, because the LORD is with them, and
k
the riders on horses shall be confounded.
6. [P] And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I shall save the House of Joseph,
and I will bring them again to place them: for I have mercy upon them: and they
shall be as though had not cast them off: for I AM the LORD their God, and will hear
them.
7. [P] And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and ltheir hearts shall rejoice
as through wine: Yes, their children shall see it, and be glad; their hearts shall
rejoice in the LORD.
8. [P] mI will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they
shall increase as they have increased.

a
[h]~ Teraphims f
[h]~ visited upon k
[h]~ and they shall make the
b
Jeremiah 27:9 g
Isaiah 14:9 riders on horses ashamed
c
Jeremiah 23:25 h
Psalm 118:22 l
Psalm 104:15; chapter 9:15
d
[h]~ Or, answered that i
Isaiah 22:23 m
Isaiah 5:26
e
Ezekiel 34:5 Matthew 9:36 j
9:13

243
9. [P] And I will sew them among the people: and they shall remember me in far
(away) countries; and they will live with their children, and turn again.
10. [P] I will bring them again, out of the land of Egypt, and gather them aout of Assyria;
and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon: and a bplace shall not be
found for them.
11. [P] And che shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in
the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: And the pride of Assyria shall be
brought down, and the dsceptre of Egypt shall all depart away.
12. [P] And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in His
name, says the LORD.
They will bring mighty warriors to GOD, grinding their enemies’ faces in the dust beneath
their feet. the LORD is with them as they fight; their enemy is doomed.
“I will strengthen Judah; Yes, and Israel too! I will re-establish them because I love
them. It will be as though I had never cast them away, for I, the LORD their God, will
hear their cries.
“They shall be like mighty warriors. They shall be happy as with wine. Their children,
too, shall see the mercies of the LORD and be glad. Their hearts shall rejoice in the
LORD.
“When I whistle to them, they will come running, for I have brought them back again.
From the few that are left, the population will grow again to its former size.
“Though I have scattered them among the Nations, still they will remember me and turn
back to GOD; with all-of their children they will come home again to Israel.
“I will bring them back home for Egypt and from Assyria, and re-settle them in Israel ~
in Gilead and Lebanon; there will be scarcely room for all-of them! They shall pass safely
though the sea of distress, (the Red Sea) for the waves will be held back. The Nile will
become dry, ~ the rule of Assyria and Egypt over my people shall end.”
The LORD says; “I will make my people strong with Holy Spirit power from Me! They will
go wherever they wish, and wherever they go, they will be under my personal care and
protection.”

What a wonderful promise from the LORD for the returning people of Israel? God
Himself, will be their protection!

CHAPTER ELEVEN: GOD SAVES HIS PEOPLE ~ FLOCKS OF SLAUGHTER

1. Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars.
2. Howl fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the emighty are spoiled; Howl, O you
oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.
OPEN WIDE YOUR DOORS, O Lebanon, to Judgement (by the Messiah)! You will be
destroyed, as though by raging fire galloping though your forests.
Weep, O Cypress trees, for all-of the ruined cedars, the tallest and most beautiful of
them have fallen. Cry out in fear, the oaks of Bashan, as you watch the thickest forests
fallen.
3. There is the voice of the howling of the shepherds: for their glory is spoiled: a voice
of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
4. This says the LORD my God: fFeed the flock of the slaughter;

a
Isaiah 11:11; 27:3 c
Isaiah 11:15 e
Isaiah 2:13
b
Isaiah 49:20 d
Ezekiel 30:13 f
See verse 7.

244
5. Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty; and they that sell
them say; Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pit them
not.
6. For I will no longer pity the inhabitants of the land says the LORD; but, lo, I will
a
deliver the men every one into His neighbour’s hand, and into the hand of his king;
and they shall smite the land, and out their hand I will not deliver them.
7. And I will feed the flock of slaughter, beven you, O poor of the flock; And I took unto
me two staves; the first one I called Beauty, and the second one I called Bands;
and I fed the flock.
Why did the Prophet have to feed the flock? Because the shepherd (pastor) was not
doing his job and feeding them! This also proves the Jesus really cares for His sheep.
8. Three shepherds I also cut off in one month; and my soul cloathed them, and their
souls also abhorred me.
9. Then said I, I will not feed you: that which dies, let it die; and that which is to be
cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one, the flesh of another.
Listen to the wailing of Israel’s leaders ~ all-of these evil shepherds. Why? For all-of
their wealth is gone. Hear the young lions roaring ~ the princes are weeping, for their
glorious Jordan Valley lies in ruins.
Then said the LORD my God to me: “Go and take a job as a shepherd of a flock being
fattened for the butcher. They are already destined for death! This will illustrate the way
my people have been bought and slain by wicked leaders; who go unpunished! ‘Thank
God, now I am rich!’ say those who have betrayed them. Their own shepherds have sold
them without mercy.
Therefore, I will not spare them either,” says the LORD; “For I will let them fall into the
clutches of their own wicked leaders, and they will slay them. They shall turn the land
into a wilderness and I will NOT protect it from them.”
So, I took two shepherd’s staffs, naming one “GRACE” and the other “UNION”, and I fed
the flock as I had been told to do.
I got rid of three evil shepherds in a single month. But I became impatient with these
sheep ~ this nation ~ and they hated me too.
So, I told them: “I won’t be your shepherd any longer. If you die, you die! If you are
killed, I don’t care. Go ahead and destroy yourselves.
10. And I took my staff called Beauty, and cut it in two, that I might break my covenant,
which I had made with all-of the people.
11. And it was broken in that day: and dso ethe poor of the flock that waited upon me
knew that it was the word of the LORD (being put into action).
12. And I said unto them; fIf you think good, give me my price; and if not forbear. So,
they weighed out gthirty pieces of silver.
13. And the LORD said to me; Cast it unto the potter: ha goodly price that I was prised
at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver (signifying betrayal) and cast them
to the potter in the house of the LORD.
14. Then I cut in two my other staff, named iBands, that I might break the brotherhood
between Judah and Israel.
And I took my staff called “Grace” and snapped it in two, showing that I had broken my
contract to lead and protect them. That was the end of the agreement! Then those who

a
[h]~ make to be found d
[h]~ the poor of the flock g
Exodus 21:32; Hosea 3:2
b
[h]~ verily the poor certainly knew h
Matthew 27:9-10
c
[h]~ was straightened for them e
Isaiah 14:32; Zephaniah 3:12 i
[h]~ binders
f
[h]~ if it be good in your eyes

245
bought and sold sheep, who were watching me, realised that God was telling them
something through my actions~ and what I did.
And I said to their leaders, “If you like, give me my pay, whatever I am worth; but only
if you want to.”
So, they counted out 30 little silver coins as my wages. [This is the price of a slave,
Refer to Exodus 21:32, and Matthew 27:3-9].
And the LORD told me; ‘Toss it into the Temple Treasury;’ This magnificent sum they
value you at!” [Translation from the Syriac version of the Scriptures].
So, I took the 30 coins and threw them in. Then I broke my other staff (Union), to show
that the bond of unity between Judah and Israel was broken.
15. And the LORD said unto me; Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish
shepherd.
16. For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, that shall not visit those that be acut
off, neither shall seek the young ones, nor heal that one that is broken, nor bfeed
that which stands still; BUT che shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws
into pieces.
17. Woe to the idle shepherd, that leaves the flock! The sword shall be upon his arm,
and upon his right eye: His arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be
utterly darkened.
Then the LORD told me to go again and get a job as a shepherd; this time, I was to act
the part of a worthless, wicked shepherd.
And He said to me; “This illustrates how I will give the nation a shepherd who will not
care for the dying ones, nor look after the young ones, nor carry the lame that cannot
walk; Instead, he will eat the fat ones, even tearing off their feet.
Woe to this wicked, worthless shepherd, who doesn’t care for the flock. God’s sword will
cut his arm, and pierce through his right eye; his arm will become useless, and he will
become blind in his right eye.
That is the warning from the OLD Testament about lazy, wicked shepherds and the
punishment that will befall them.
In the New Testament, there are also commandments for shepherds.
Jesus said that if he gives 100 sheep into your care and one of them wanders off, you
are to leave the 99 in the sheepfold (under the care of your elders) while you go and
search out the lost sheep and bring it back into the fold. If you obey, and you go and
find the sheep and it refuses to return, then the blood of that lost sheep is no longer on
your head.
But if you refuse to obey God’s word, and fail to go out and try to find the “lost sheep”,
then God Almighty will hold you responsible for that lost soul. He blood will be upon your
head. It is no good to quote statistics that a certain percentage will fall away! Jesus gave
you 100 sheep, and you have to account for all-of them.
Jesus holds shepherds responsible for their actions and also for their inactions!

CHAPTER TWELVE: JUDAH’S RESTORATION

1. [CP] The burden of the Word of the LORD for Israel, says the LORD, which stretches
for the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth, and dforms the spirit of man
within him.

a
[h]~ hidden c
Ezekiel 34:3-4
b
[h]~ bear d
Numbers 16:22

246
2. [P] Behold, aI will make Jerusalem ba cup of ctrembling unto all-of the people round
about, dwhen they shall be in the siege, both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
THIS IS THE FATE OF ISRAEL, as pronounced by the LORD, who stretched out the
heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and who formed man and breathed His
spirit into man: “I will make Jerusalem and Judah like a cup of poison to all-of the nearby
nations that send their armies to surround Jerusalem.
3. [P] And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that
burden themselves with it shall be cut into pieces, though all-of the people of the
earth be gathered together against it.
4. [P] In that day, says the LORD, I will smite every horse with eastonishment, and his
rider with madness: and I will open my eyes upon the House of Judah, and will smite
every horse of the people with blindness.
5. [P] And the governors of Judah shall say in their hearts; fThe inhabitants of
Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of Hosts, their God.
Jerusalem will be a heavy stone burdening the whole world. And although all-of the
nations of the world unite in an evil attempt to remove her, they shall all be crushed.
“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will bewilder the armies that are drawn up against her,
and make complete fools of them, for I, the LORD of Hosts, shall watch over the people
of Judah, but blind all-of her enemies.
“And the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The people of Jerusalem have found
strength in the LORD of Hosts, their God’.
6. [P] In that day, will I make the governors of Judah, glike a hearth of fire among the
wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf: and they devour all-of the people that are
round about them, on the right hand and on the left: and hJerusalem shall be
inhabited again iin her own place, even in Jerusalem.
7. [P] The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the House of
David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves
against Judah.
8. [P] In that day shall the LORD shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
and jhe that is kfeeble among them at that day shall be as David: and the House of
David shall be as GOD, as lthe Angel of the LORD before them.
“In that day, I will make the clans of the tribe of Judah, like a little fire that sets the
forests aflame ~ like a burning match among the sheaves; they will burn up all-of the
neighbouring nations all around them to the left and right, while Jerusalem remains
unscathed. The LORD will give victory to the rest of Judah first, before Jerusalem, so
that the people of Jerusalem and the Royal Line of David won’t be filled with pride at
their success.
“The LORD (Himself) will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will
be as mighty as King David! And the royal line will be as GOD, like the Angel of the
LORD, (Jesus) who goes before them!
9. [P] And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all-of the nations
that come against Israel.
10. [SC] And I will pour out upon the House of David, and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the Spirit of Grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me,
the one that they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for

a
Isaiah 51: 17,22,23 e
Deuteronomy 28:28 j
Joel 3:10
b
Exodus 12:22 f
[h]~ There is strength to me in k
[h]~ fallen
c
[h]~ slumber, Or, poison the inhabitants of l
Exodus 32:34
d
[h]~ and also against Judah, g
Jeremiah 5:14
which he be which shall be in h
2:4
siege against Jerusalem i
6:12

247
 His only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for His
first born.
11. [SC] aIn that day there bshall be great mourning in Jerusalem, cas the mourning of
Hadadrimmon in the valley of Migiddon.
12. [SC] and the whole land will mourn, every family apart the family of the House of
David apart, and they wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and
their wives apart;
13. [SC] The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart, the family dof
e
Shimel apart, and their wives apart;
14. [SC] All-of the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
For my plan is to destroy all-of the nations that come up against Jerusalem.
“Then, I will pour out my Spirit of Grace and prayer upon all-of the people of Jerusalem,
and they will look upon Him that they pierced. They will recognise who Jesus really is ~
their Messiah, and they will mourn for Him as for the only son, and grieve bitterly for
him, as for the oldest child who has died. The sorrow and mourning in Jerusalem at that
time will be even greater that the grievous mourning for the godly king Josiah, who was
killed in the valley of Megiddo.
“All-of Israel will weep in profound sorrow. The whole nation will be bowed down with
universal grief ~ king, prophet, priest, and the people. Each family will go into private
mourning, husbands and wives apart, to face their sorrow alone.
Imagine what will it be like, when the whole Nation of Israel, who have been waiting for
their Messiah for so long, suddenly see Him and they recognise that it is Jesus Christ ~
the one that they chose to die ~ instead of the robber Barabbas. Their mourning will be
great!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE FOUNTAIN OF PURGATION

1. [SC] In the day there shall be fa fountain opened in the house of David and to the
inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
“AT THAT TIME, a fountain will be opened to the people of Israel and to Jerusalem, a
Fountain to cleanse them from all-of their sins and uncleanness. [Although your sins
shall be as scarlet, they shall be washed white as snow].
2. [SC] And it shall come to pass, in that day, says the LORD of Hosts, that I will cut
off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered:
and I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirits to pass out of the land.
3. [SC] And it shall come to pass that yet when any shall prophesy, that his father
and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, you shall not live; for you speak
lies, in the name of the LORD: and ghis father and mother who begat him shall
thrust him through when he prophesies.
4. [SC] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets, hshall be ashamed,
every one of his visions when he has prophesied: neither ishall they wear a rough
garment, to jdeceive.
5. [SC] But he shall say, I am no prophet, kI am a husbandman; for man taught me
to keep cattle from my youth.
6. [SC] And one shall say unto him; What are these wounds in your hands? Then he
shall answer; Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

a
See verse 3 e
Numbers 3:18 i
2 Kings 1:8
b
Matthew 24:30 f
Malachi 3:2 j
[h]~ lie
c
2 Kings 23:29 g
Deuteronomy 13:6,8 k
Amos 7:14
d
Of Simeon (of the 70 years) h
Micah 3:6-7

248
And the LORD OF HOSTS declares; “In that day, will I get rid of every vestige of idol
worship throughout the land, so that even the names of the idols shall be forgotten.
Your money, or you career, or that item that you put as a higher priority in your life
than Jesus Christ, shall be removed and forgotten; because compared to Jesus, it is of
no value.
“All prophets and fortune-tellers will be wiped out; and if anyone begins false prophesies
again, his own father and mother will slay him! ‘You must die’, they will tell him, ‘For
you are prophesying lies in the name of the LORD.’
“At that time, No one will be boasting of their prophetic gift. No one will wear rough
prophet’s clothes, to try to fool the people then.
“‘No,’ he will say. ‘I am not a prophet; I am a farmer. The soil has been my livelihood
from my earliest youth.’
“And if someone asks, ‘Then what are these scars on your chest and your back?’
[Evidently, self-inflicted cuts, as practised by false prophets, as referred to in 1 Kings
18:28]. But he will answer, ‘I got them in a brawl at the home of a friend!’
7. [FC] Awake, O sword, against amy shepherd, and against the man that is bmy fellow,
says the LORD of Hosts: csmite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and
I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
8. [FC] And it shall come to pass, that in all-of the land, says the LORD, two parts
therein shall be cut of and die; but the third part shall be left therein.
9. [P] And I will bring that third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is
refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call upon my name, and I will
hear them: I will say; It is my people: and they shall, The LORD is my GOD!
“Awake O sword, against my shepherd, the man who is my associate and equal,” says
the LORD of Hosts. “Strike down the shepherd ~ and the sheep will scatter, but I will
come back and comfort the lambs. Two-thirds of all-of the nation of Israel will be cut off
and die; but one third of the people will be left in the land. [This actually happened
TWICE ~ 2 million people perished during the Roman wars, and 6 million under Hitler.]
I will bring the third that remain through the fire of trial and tribulation, and make them
pure, as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call upon my name,
and I will hear them; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say; ‘The LORD is
our God.’”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: CHRIST’S RETURN ~ THE PLAGUE OF JERUSALEM’S

ENEMIES

This whole chapter is about the Second Coming of Christ, back to the earth (NOT the
“catching away,” referred to as “the rapture”).
1. [SC] dBehold, the Day of the LORD comes, and thy spoil shall be divided in-the-
midst-of thee.
2. [SC] For eI will gather all-of the nations against Jerusalem to battle: and the city
shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished, and half of the city
shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the city shall not be cut off from the
city.
3. [SC] THEN shall the LORD go forth; and fight against those nations, fas when He
fought in the day of battle.
KEEP WATCH! For the Day of the LORD is coming Soon! [Much sooner than many people
of this generation believe.]

a
Isaiah 40:11 c
Matthew 26:31 e
Joel 3:2; Revelation 16:14
b
Leviticus 6:2; John 10:30 d
Isaiah 13:9; Joel 2:1 f
Exodus 15:3

249
On that day, the LORD will gather together the nations to fight Jerusalem; the city will
be taken, the houses rifled, the women raped; half of the population will be taken away
as slaves, and half will be left in what remains of the city. Then the LORD will go out
fully armed for war, to fight against those nations.
4. [SC] And His feet shall stand that day upon athe Mount of Olives, which is before
Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof,
towards the east and towards the west, and there shall be ba very great valley; and
half of the mountain shall be removed to the north, and half of it toward the south.
5. [SC] And you shall flee to the valley of cthe mountains; dfor the valley of the
mountains shall reach unto Azal: Yes! You shall flee, like as you fled from before
e
the earthquake in the days of Uzziah, king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall
come, and fall-of the saints with thee
6. [SC] And it shall come to pass in that day, gthat the light shall not clear, not dark:
7. [SC] But hit shall be one day, which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night:
but it shall come to pass, that iat evening time it shall be light.
8. [SC] And it shall be in that day, that jliving waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half
of them towards the kformer sea, and half of them towards the hinder sea; in
summer and winter shall it be.
9. [SC] And lthe LORD shall be King over all-of the earth: in that day there shall be
one LORD, and His name ONE.
10. [SC] All-of the lands shall be mturned into nas a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south
of Jerusalem: and oit shall be lifted up, and pinhabited in her place, from qBenjamin’s
Gate unto the place of the First Gate, unto rthe Corner Gate, and from sthe Tower
of Hananeel, unto the King’s winepresses.
11. [SC] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction: but
Jerusalem tshall be safely inhabited.
On that day, His feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives, to the east of Jerusalem, and
the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a very wide valley running from to east to
west; for half of the mountain will move towards the north and the other half towards
the south.
You will escape through that valley, for it will reach right up to the city gate. Yes, you
will escape, just like you did centuries ago from the earthquake; in the days of Uzziah,
king of Judah, and the LORD my God shall come, and all-of His saints and angels with
Him.
The sun and the moon shall no longer shine, yet there will be continuous day! Only the
LORD knows how this will be accomplished! There will be no normal day and night ~ at
evening time, it will still be light, because the glorious light of Jesus shall replace the
sun and the moon.
Life-giving waters will flow out from Jerusalem; with half flowing into the Dead Sea
(which now becomes alive), and the other half flowing towards the Mediterranean,
flowing continuously, both winter and in summer.
And the LORD shall be King over all-of the earth. In that day, there shall only be one
LORD, and HIS name alone shall be worshipped. [No Buddha, No Allah, No Indian gods,

a
Ezekiel 11:23 g
[h]~ That is, it shall not be clear m
[h]~ compassed
b
See verse 5 in some places and dark in other n
Isaiah 40:4
c
[h]~ my mountains places, of the world. o
Isaiah 2:2
d
[h]~ when He shall touch the h
[h]~ the day shall be one p
[h]~ shall abide
valley of the mountains to the i
Isaiah 30:26; 60:19,20; q
Jeremiah 37:13
place He separated. Revelation 21:23 r
Jeremiah 31:38
e
Amos 1:1 j
Ezekiel 47:1; John 4:10 s
Nehemiah 3:1
f
1 Thessalonians 3:13; k
[h]~ Or, eastern sea t
[h]~ shall abide
Deuteronomy 33:2 l
Psalm 47:7

250
~ the name of Jesus Christ, as King of Kings, and LORD of Lords, shall only be
worshipped].
All-of the land from Geba (the northern border of Judah,) to Rimmon (the southern
border) will become one vast plain, but Jerusalem will be on an elevated site, covering
the area from all-of the way from the Gate of Benjamin, over to the site of the Old Gate,
then to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananeel, to the king’s winepresses.
And Jerusalem shall be inhabited, safe at last, never again to be cursed, or destroyed.
12. [SC] And this shall be the plague, that the LORD will smite all-of the people that
have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away, while they stand
upon their feet, their eyes will consume away in their sockets, and their tongue shall
consume away in their mouths.
13. [SC] And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the LORD shall
be among them: and they shall lay hold of the hand of his neighbour; and ahis hand
shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
14. [SC] And bJudah also shall fight cat Jerusalem; and the wealth of all-of the heathen
round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great
abundance.
15. [SC] and so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the
ass, and of all-of the beasts, that shall be in these tents, as this plague.
16. [SC] And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all-of the nations, which
came against Jerusalem, dshall even go up, efrom year to year, to worship the King,
the LORD of Hosts, and to keep fthe Feast of Tabernacles.
17. [SC] And it shall be, gthat whosoever will not come up of all-of the families of the
earth, unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, even hupon them
shall be no rain.
18. [SC] And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there
shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that comes not up
to keep the Feast of Tabernacles
19. [SC] This shall be the ipunishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nation that
come not up to the Feast of Tabernacles.
Here is a warning to all Nations, that want to wipe out Israel and Jerusalem!
And the LORD will send a plague on all-of the people that fought against Jerusalem.
They will become like walking corpses, their flesh rotting away; their eyes will shrivel up
in their sockets; and their tongues will decay in their mouths.
They will be seized with terror, panic stricken from the LORD, and will fight each other
in hand-to-hand combat, killing each other.
Even all-of Judah will be fighting against Jerusalem. The wealth of all-of the neighbouring
nations will be confiscated; great quantities of gold and silver, and fine clothing. [This
same plague will strike the horses, mules, camels, donkeys, and all-of the other animals
that are in the enemy camp].
In the end, those who survive these battles and the plague, will go up to Jerusalem each
year, to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Any nation anywhere in all the world, that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the
King, the LORD of Hosts, will have not rain.
But if Egypt refuses to come, God will punish her with a different plague. And so, Egypt
and the other nations will be punished if they refuse to come.

a
Judges 7:22;1 Samuel 14:20; 2 d
8:22 h
Jeremiah 3:3
Chronicles 20:23 e
Isaiah 66:23 i
[h]~ sin
b
[h]~ and you of Judah shall f
Leviticus 23:34
c
[h]~ against g
Isaiah 60:12

251
[A note in my Bible (dated 9/7/1992,) Pakistan does not recognise Israel, therefore it
shall refuse to go up, and the LORD will honour His word, and no rain shall fall throughout
all-of Pakistan, from that day forward, unto they REPENT of their SINS].
20. [SC] In that day shall there be upon the abells of the horses, engraved bHOLINESS
UNTO THE LORD; and cthe pots in the LORD’S house shall be like dthe bowls before
the altar.
21. [SC] Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of
Hosts; and all they that sacrifice shall come and take them, and seethe therein: and
in that day, there shall be no more Canaanite in the House of the LORD of Hosts.
In that day the bells on the bridles of the horses will have engraved upon them, “These
are Holy Property”; (Holy of the LORD), and the trash cans in the Temple of the LORD
will be as sacred as the bowls beside the altar.
In fact, every container in Jerusalem and Judah will be sacred to the LORD of Hosts; all
who come to worship may use any of them, free of charge, to boil their sacrifices in;
there will be no more grasping traders in the Temple of the LORD of Hosts.

CONCLUSION.
Well, it is clear, that even in the OLD Testament, The LORD of Hosts, clearly lays out
the end time scenarios, punishments and plagues, that will come upon all of those who
refuse to acknowledge Him as King of Kings and LORD of Lords. I pray that you are not
one of them.

THE BOOK OF JOEL

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF JOEL

Most scholars believe this book was written in the decades around 400 BC, during the
Persian period (making him one of the latest writing prophets). This is supported by the
apparent mention of the 587 BC destruction of Jerusalem, as a past event in 3:1 and
3:17, and the mention of Greeks in 3:6. However, some scholars believe it may have
been written as late as 350 BC, but there is no mention of the Babylonian capture &
destruction of Jerusalem, nor the captives being taken to Babylon.

CHAPTER ONE: JOEL EXHORTED TO OBSERVE GOD’S JUDGEMENTS

1. The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel.
2. Hear this! eYou old men, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. fHas this been
your days, or even in the days of your fathers?
3. g
Tell your children of it, and let you children tell their children, another generation.
4. h
That which the ipalmerworm has left, jthe locust has eaten; and that which the
locust has left, the cankerworm has eaten; and that which the canker-worm has
left has the caterpillar eaten.

a
[h]~ bridles e
See verse 14 h
[h]~ the residue of the palmer-
b
Exodus 28:36 f
2:2 worms
c
2 Chronicles 35:13 g
Psalm 78:4 i
2:25
d
9:15 jj
Deuteronomy 28:38

252
 Palmerworm Locust

Cankerworm Caterpillar

The plagues in the Africa, the Middle East & Pakistan recently

We recognise some of these insect pests today, so these same warnings also apply to
us. If God can use these pests to cause famine in the Old Testament against a rebellious
nation, He can use them again in the New Testament, to any nation that refuses to heed
the warnings of his prophets.
5. Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and howl; all you drinkers of wine, because of
the new wine; afor it is cut off from your mouth.
6. For ba nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth
are the teeth of a lion, and he has the cheek teeth of a great lion.
7. He has laid my vines waste, and cring-barked my fig tree: he has made it clean
bare, and cast it away: the branches thereof are made white.
The message of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel. Listen! You old men of
Israel! Listen everyone! In all-of your lifetime; Yes, in all-of your past history, have you
ever heard of such a thing, as I am going to tell you now? In years to come, tell your
children about it; pass this awful story down from generation to generation, right down
until today!
After the cutter-locusts finish eating your crops, the swarmer locusts will take what is
left! After them will come the hopper-locusts! And then the stripper-locusts too!
Wake up and weep; all-of you drunkards, for all-of the grapes are ruined, and all-of your
wine is gone! A vast army of locusts covers the nation. It is a terrible army, too numerous

a
Isaiah 32:20 b
2:2 c
[h]~ laid my fig tree for a barking

253
to count; with teeth as sharp as lion’s teeth. They have ruined my vines and stripped
the bark off the fig trees, leaving the trunks and branches white and bare.
8. Lament like a virgin, girded with sackcloth afor the husband of her youth.
9. b
The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of the LORD;
the Priests, the LORD’S ministers, mourn.
10. The field is wasted, cthe land mourns: for the corn is wasted: the new wine is ddried
up, the oil languishes.
11. Be you ashamed, O you husbandmen; howl, O you vinedressers, for the wheat and
for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.
12. The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languishes; the pomegranate tree, the palm
tree also, and the apple tree, even all-of the trees of the field, are withered:
because ejoy is withered away from the sons of men.
13. fGird yourselves, and lament, you priests: howl you ministers of the altar: come,
lie all night in sackcloth ~ you ministers’ of my God: for the meat offering and the
drink offering is withholden from the house of your God.
Weep with sorrow, as a virgin weeps whose fiancé is dead. Gone are the offerings of
grain and wine to bring to the Temple of the LORD: the priests are starving. Hear the
cry of these ministers of God.
The fields are bare of crops: sorrow and sadness are everywhere. The grain, the grapes,
the olive oil, are all gone.
Well may your farmers stand shocked, stricken and in despair; well may your
vinedressers weep. Weep also for the wheat and the barley harvests, because there is
none, they are all gone. The grapevines are dead; the fig trees are dying; the
pomegranates wither, the apples shrivel on the trees and drop to the ground; all joy on
the farm has withered with them.
O Priests: robe yourselves in sackcloth & ashes. O ministers of God, lie all night before
the altar, weeping, in intercession for the people. For there are no more offerings of
grain and wine for you.
14. [LD] gSanctify you a fast, for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction
from the Almighty shall it come.
15. [LD] Alas for the day of the LORD! hFor the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a
destruction from the Almighty shall it come!
16. Is not the meat cut off before our eyes? Yes, ijoy and gladness from the house of
our God.
17. The jseed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are
broken down: for the corn is withered.
18. kHow do the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed; because they have
no pasture; Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
19. O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness,
and the flames have burned up all-of the trees of the field.
20. The beasts of the field also cry out unto thee; for the rivers of water have all dried
up, and the fires have devoured the pastures of the wilderness.
Call a national fast! Call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all-of the people into
the Temple of the Lord your God, and weep before Him there. Alas! This terrible day of
punishment ~ “the day of the LORD” is on its way! Destruction from God Almighty is
almost here! Our food will disappear from before our eyes; all joy and gladness will be
ended in the Temple of our God.

a
Proverbs 2:17; Jeremiah 3:4 f
Jeremiah 4:8 i
Deuteronomy 12:6-7; 16:11,14-
b
See verse 13; 2:14 g
2 Chronicles 20:3; chapter 2:15 15
c
Hosea 4:3 -16 j
[h]~ the grains
d
[h]~ Or, ashamed h
Isaiah 13:6,9 k
Hosea 4:3
e
Isaiah 24:11: Jeremiah 48:33

254
 The seeds rot in the ground; the harvest barns are empty; the grain has dried up in the
fields. The cattle groan with hunger; the herds stand perplexed because there is no
pasture for them; the sheep bleat in misery.
O Lord, please help us! For the heat has withered the pastures and burned up all-of the
trees. Even the wild animals cry out to you for help, for there is no water for them. The
creeks are dry and the pastures are scorched. [Read the prophecies of the 21
judgements and you will see that this is what is coming to pass].

CHAPTER TWO: ISRAEL CALLED TO REPENTANCE

1. [S] aBlow the btrumpet cin Zion, and sound the alarm on dmy holy mountain; let all-of
the inhabitants of the land tremble; efor the day of the LORD comes, for it is nigh at
hand.
2. [T] fA Day of Darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as gthe
morning spreads upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there has not been
ever the like, neither shall there ever be anymore after it, even to the years hof many
generations.
3. [LD] A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns: the land is as ithe
garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; YES, and nothing
shall escape them.
4. [T] jThe appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so
shall they run.
5. [T] Like the noise of chariots on the tops of the mountains shall they leap, like the
noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.
6. [T] Before their face the people shall be much pained; kall faces lshall gather
m
blackness.
7. [T] They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they
shall march everyone on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.
8. [T] Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk everyone in his path: and when
they fall upon the nsword, they shall not be wounded.
9. [T] They shall run to and fro in the city: they shall run upon the wall; they shall climb
up upon the houses; they shall; enter into the houses like a thief.
10. [T] oThe earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble; pthe sun and the
moon shall be dark; and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
11. [S] And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army; for His camp is very great, and
very terrible; and qwho can abide it?
Here, Joel has two parallel visions: One of immediate danger to Jerusalem and the nation
of Israel; and another of the visions of the Last Days, when Jesus leads His Heavenly armies
into battle, against the evil of this world.
Sound the alarm in Jerusalem! Let the blast of the warning trumpet be heard upon my holy
mountain! Let everyone tremble in fear, for the day of the Lord’s judgement rapidly
approaches.
It is a day of darkness and gloom; of black clouds and thick darkness which envelopes you.
What a mighty army! It covers the mountains completely, like the night covers the sky!
How great; how powerful these people are! The likes of them have not been seen before
(because they are the Lord’s heavenly armies), and never again, throughout the
generations of this world! [Because after the reign of Jesus on this existing earth for 1,000

a
See verse 15 g
Amos 4:13 l
Jeremiah 8:21
b
[h]~ Or. cornett h
[h]~ of generation and m
[h]~ pot
c
3:17 generation n
[h]~ Or, dart
d
3:17 i
Ezekiel 28:13 o
3:16
e
1:15 j
Revelation 9:7 p
Matthew 24:29
f
Amos 5:18,20 k
Nahum 2:10 q
Numbers 24:23; Malachi 3:2

255
years, this “existing earth” is destroyed, and a new heaven and a new earth are created:
the new earth has no sea].
The Fire of Righteousness goes before them, and encloses them on every side. Ahead of
them, the land appears as fair as the Garden of Eden, in all-of its beauty; but they destroy
it to the ground; not one thing escapes!
They look like tiny horses, and they run just as fast. Watch them leap along to tops of the
mountains! Listen to the noises they make; like the sounds of many chariots; or like the
bushfires roaring across an open field; just like a mighty army rapidly moving into battle.
Fear grips the waiting people, because all-of them can see what is approaching them; their
faces grow pale with fright.
This great army of heavenly soldiers charge like infantry; they scale the walls like hand-
picked commandos. They march straight forward ~ never breaking ranks. They never crowd
each other; each is in his assigned place. No weapon manufactured upon this earth can
stop them! They swarm upon the city; they run upon the tops of the walls; they climb up
into the houses, coming like thieves through the windows, so that none can escape!
The earth quakes before them, and the heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are
obscured and the stars are hidden.
The Lord God, the Lord of the heavenly armies, leads them with a shout! This is His mighty
army, and they all follow His orders! The Day of Judgement of the Lord, is an awesome and
terrible thing; Who can endure it?
12. *** Therefore, also now, says the LORD; aTurn you even to me, with all-of your heart,
b
with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning [this is your last chance for
repentance].
13. And crend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD, your God: for
d
He is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of
the evil.
14. eWho knows if he will return and repent, and leave fa blessing behind him; even ga
meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?
That is why the Lord said: “REPENT & turn to me now, while there is still time. Surrender
all-of your heart to me. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Let your remorse tear
at your heart, not your garments.” Return to the LORD, your God, for He is gracious and
merciful, slow to anger and full of kindness, and anxious not to punish you, for your rebellion
against Him.
Who knows? Even now, even at this late stage, perhaps He will decide to relent and leave
you alone, and give you a blessing, instead of His horrible curse. Perhaps He will give you
so much, that you will want to offer your grain and wine offering to the Lord, in His Temple,
just as before!
15. hBlow the trumpet in Zion; isanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:
16. Gather the people; jsanctify the (whole) congregation, assemble the elders, gather
the children, an d those (babies) that still suck at the breasts: klet the bridegroom go
forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. [no-one is to be excluded]!
17. Let the Priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, lbetween the porch and the altar,
and let them say; Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach,
that the heathen should mrule over them: nwherefore should they say among the
people; Where is their God?

a
Deuteronomy 4:30; 1 Samuel f
Isaiah 65:8; Haggai 2:19; Malachi k
1 Corinthians 7:5
7:3; Hosea 12:6 3:10 l
Ezekiel 8:16; Matthew 23:35
b
1 Samuel 7:6 g
1:9, 13 m
[h]~ Or, use a byword against
c
Psalm 34:18 h
See verse 1 them
d
Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3 i
1:14 n
Exodus 32:11-12
e
Amos 5:15; Jonah 3:9 j
Exodus 19:10, 22

256
Sound the Trumpet in Zion! Call a fast! Gather all-of the people together for a solemn
assembly. Bring everyone, the elders, the children, and even the babies in arms. Call the
bridegroom back from his quarters, and the bride from her privacy.
The Priests, the ministers of God, will stand between the people and the altar, robed in
sackcloth, weeping; and they will pray, crying out to God; “Spare your people, O our God;
don’t let the heathen rule them, for they belong to you. Don’t let them be disgraced, by the
mocking taunts of the heathen who say; “Where is the God of theirs? How weak and helpless
He must be!”
18. [P]THEN will the LORD be jealous for His land, and pity his people.
19. [P] Yes; the LORD will answer and say unto He people; Behold, I will send you acorn,
and wine, and oil, and you shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no longer make you
a reproach among the heathen:
20. [LD] But I will remove far off from you bthe northern army, and will drive him into a
land (that is) barren and desolate, with his face towards cthe eastern sea, and his hind
quarter facing towards dthe utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour
shall come up, because he ehas done great things.
Then the LORD will take pity upon His people, and shall become indignant for the honour
of His land! He will reply to their prayers and say: “See, I am sending you much corn, and
wine, and oil, to fully satisfy all-of your needs. No longer will I make you the laughing stock
among the nations. I will remove these armies from the north and send them far away; I
will send them back into the parched wastelands where they will die: half shall be driven
into the Dead Sea, and the rest, into the Mediterranean Sea, and then their rotting stench
shall rise up upon the land. The LORD has done a mighty miracle for you.”
21. [P] Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD fwill do great things.
22. [P] Be not afraid, you beasts of the field: for gthe pastures of the wilderness do spring
up, for the tress all bear their fruit, and the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.
23. [P] Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; For He has
given you hthe iformer rain jmoderately: and He will cause to come down on you the
rain, the kformer rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24. [P] And the floors shall be full of wheat, and lthe vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25. [P] And I will restore to you the years that the locusts have eaten, the canker worm,
and the caterpillar, and the palmer worm, my great army that I sent among you.
26. [P] And you shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD
your God, that has dealt wondrously with you; and mmy people shall never be
ashamed.
27. And you shall know that I AM nin-the-midst-of Israel, and that I oAm the LORD your
GOD; and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Fear not, my people; be glad now and rejoice; for He has done amazing things for you. “Let
the flocks and herds forget their hunger, the pastures will turn green again. The trees will
bear their fruit; the fig trees, and grape vines, will flourish once more.
“Rejoice, O people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the LORD your GOD! For the rains that He sends
are tokens and signs of His forgiveness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as
those in the springtime. The threshing floors will pile high once again with wheat, and the
presses shall overflow with olive oil and wine. And I will give you back the crops that the
locusts ate! My great destroying army that I sent against you. Once again, you will have
all-of the food that you want.

a
1:10; Malachi 3:10-12; g
1:19 l
3:13
b
Jeremiah 1:14 h
[h]~ Or, a teacher of m
Isaiah 49:23; see verse 27
c
Ezekiel 47:18; Zechariah 14:8 righteousness n
Leviticus 26:11-12
d
Deuteronomy 11:24 i
Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3 o
Isaiah 45:5; Ezekiel 39:22
e
[h]~ has magnified to do j
[h]~ according to righteousness
f
[h]~ has magnified to do k
Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3

257
“Praise the LORD, that does these wonderful miracles for you. Never again will my people
experience a disaster such as this. And you will know that I AM here among my people
Israel, and that I alone am the LORD, your God. And my people shall never again be dealt
a blow like this.
28. [F] aAnd it shall come to pass afterwards, [after what? After I ascend to My Father],
that bI will pour out my Spirit upon flesh; and cyour sons and your daughters shall
prophecy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
29. [F] And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids, in those days will I pour out
my spirit.
30. [F, LD] And dI will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, fire and pillars
of smoke.
31. [LD] eThe sun shall be turned into darkness and fthe moon into blood, before the great
and gthe terrible day of the LORD comes.
32. [LD] And it shall come to pass, that hwhosoever shall call upon the name f the LORD,
shall be delivered: for iin Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the
LORD has said, and in the remnant that the LORD shall call.

The sun shall go dark and the moon shall turn to blood.
This prophecy has taken place, within the last 10 years

a
Acts 2:17-21 d
Luke 21:11 h
Romans 10:13
b
Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29; e
See verse 10 i
Isaiah 46:13; 59:20; Obadiah 17
Zechariah 12:10 f
Revelation 6:12
c
Isaiah 54:13 g
See verse 11.

258
“After I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all-of you! Your
sons and daughters will prophecy; your old men will dream dreams, and your young men
shall see visions. I will pour out my Spirit upon your servants and slaves, both men and
women alike, and put strange symbols in the sky ~ blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon to blood, BEFORE the great and
terrible day of the LORD, when He comes to judge the whole earth.
Everyone that calls upon the name of the LORD, will be saved; even in Jerusalem, some
will escape, just as the LORD has promised, for He has chosen some to survive, and to
become His evangelists during the Tribulation period.

CHAPTER THREE: GOD’S JUDGEMENTS AGAINST THE ENEMIES OF HIS PEOPLE

1. [LD] For, behold, ain those days, and at that time, when I shall bring again, that
captivity of Judah and Jerusalem.
2. [LD] bI will also gather all nations, and bring them down cinto the valley of
Jehoshaphat, and dwill plead with them for my people, and for my heritage Israel,
whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
3. [LD] And ethey have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for a harlot,
and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.
4. Yes, and what have you to do with me, fO Tyre, and Zidon, and all-of the coast of
Palestine [Philistia]? Will you render me a recompense? And if you recompense me,
swiftly and speedily, I will return your recompense upon your own head;
5. Because gyou have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples
my goodly hpleasant things.
6. The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have you sold unto ithe
Grecians, that you might remove them far from their borders.
7. Behold, I will raise the out of the places wither you have sold them, and will return
your recompense upon your own head:
8. And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hands of the children of Judah,
and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD has
spoken it!
“At that time, when I restore the prosperity of Judah and Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “I
will gather the armies of the world into the ‘Valley Where Jehovah Judges’ [the Valley of
Jehoshaphat], and punish them there for harming my people, for scattering my
inheritance among the nations, and dividing up the biblical borders of my land.
“They divided up my people as their slaves; they traded a young lad for a prostitute,
and a little girl for enough wine to get drunk. Tyre and Sidon, don’t you try to interfere!
Are you trying to take revenge on me, you cities of Philistia? Beware, for I will strike
back swiftly, and return the harm to your own heads.
“You have taken my silver and gold, and all-of my precious treasures, and carried them
off to your heathen temples. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the
Greeks, who took them far from their own land. But I will bring them back again, from
the places that you have sold them to, and I will pay you back for all-of the evil that you
have done. I will sell your sons and your daughters to the people of Judah, and they will
sell them to the Sabeans (modern day Yemen) far away. This is a promise from the
LORD.”
9. [LD] Proclaim this message among the Gentiles; jPrepare war, wake up the mighty
men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:

a
Jeremiah 33:3; Ezekiel 38:14 e
Obadiah 11; Nahum 3:10 i
[h]~ the sons of the Grecians
b
Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 14:2, 4 f
Amos 1:9 j
[h]~ sanctify
c
2 Chronicles 20:26 g
2 Chronicles 21:16-17
d
Isaiah 66:16; Ezekiel 38:22 h
[h]~ desirable things

259
10. [LD] aBeat your plough shears into swords, and your bpruning hooks into spears:
let the weak say that I am strong.
11. [LD] Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen, and gather yourselves
together roundabout: thither ccause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12. [LD] Let the heathen be awakened, and come up dto the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for
there will I sit eto judge all-of the heathen round about.
13. [LD] You fput in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for gthe
press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14. [LD] Multitudes, multitudes hin the Valley of iDecision: for the day of the LORD is
near, in the Valley of Decision.
15. [LD] jThe sun and the kmoon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their
shining.
16. [LD] The LORD shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the
heavens and the earth shall shake; but the LORD will be the lhope of his people,
and the strength of the children of Israel.
17. [LD] mSo shall you know that I AM the LORD dwelling in Zion, nmy Holy Mountain;
then shall Jerusalem be oholy, and there pno stranger shall pass through her gates.
Announce this far and wide: Get ready for War III! Conscript you best soldiers; collect
all-of your armies. Melt your plough shears into swords, and beat your pruning hooks
into spears. Let the weak become strong. Gather together and come, all nations from
everywhere. And now O LORD, bring down your angelic warriors! Collect the nations;
bring them into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there is will sit and pronounce judgement
on all-of the nations.
Now let the sickle do its work: the harvest is ripe and waiting. Tread the winepress, for
it is full and overflowing with the wickedness of these men. Multitudes, multitudes
waiting in the valley for the verdict of their doom! For the day of the LORD is near ~ in
the Valley of Judgement! The sun and the moon will be darkened, and the stars will
withdraw their light. The Lord God shouts from His Temple in Jerusalem, and the earth
and the heavens begin to shake. BUT, to His people Israel, the LORD will be very gentle;
for He is their refuge and their strength. THEN, you shall know at last, that I AM the
LORD your GOD in Zion, my Holy Mountain. Jerusalem shall be mine forever! The time
will come when no foreign armies shall pass through her anymore.
18. And it shall come to pass qin that day, that the mountains shall drop down new
wine, and the hills shall rflow with milk, and all-of the rivers of Judah shall sflow
with waters, and ta fountain shall come forth from the House of the LORD, and shall
water the Valley of uShittim.
19. Egypt shall be a desolation, and vEdom, shall be a desolate wilderness, for the
violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in
the land.
20. But Judah shall wdwell forever, and Jerusalem for generation to generation.
21. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: xfor the LORD dwells in Zion.
“Sweet wine will drip from the mountains, and the hills shall flow with milk. Water will
fill the dry stream beds of Judah, and a fountain will burst forth from the Temple of the
LORD, to water the Acacia Valley. Egypt shall be destroyed, and Edom too, because of

a
Isaiah 2:4 i
[h]~ concision, OR threshing q
Isaiah 2:11
b
[h]~ Or scythes j
2:10 r
[h]~ go
c
[h]~ Or, the LORD shall bring k
Revelation 6:12 s
[h]~ go
down l
[h]~ place of repair, Or harbour t
Ezekiel 47:1
d
2 Chronicles 20:26 m
2:27 u
Number 25:1
e
Psalm 96:13; Isaiah 2:4; Micah n
Obadiah 16; Zechariah 8:3 v
Jeremiah 49:8, 17
4:3 o
[h]~ holiness w
[h]~ abide
f
Revelation 14:15 p
Isaiah 35:8; Nahum 1:15; x
[h]~ even I, the LORD that
g
Revelation 14:18-20 Zechariah 14:21; Revelation dwell in Zion.
h
2:12 21:27; 22:15
their violence against MY People ~ the Jews, for they killed innocent people in those
nations.
But Israel will prosper forever, and Jerusalem will thrive as generations pass (from one
generation after another). For I will avenge the blood of my people: I will not clear their
oppressors of their guilt. For my home is among my people in Zion.

THE BOOK OF MALACHI

INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MALACHI

Opinions vary as to the prophet's exact date, but nearly all scholars agree that Malachi
prophesied during the Persian period, and after the reconstruction and dedication of the
Second Temple in 516 BC. More specifically, Malachi probably lived and laboured during
the times of Ezra and Nehemiah.

CHAPTER ONE: JESUS REMINDS ISRAEL OF HIS LOVE FOR THEM

1. a
The burden of the word of the LORD to bIsrael by Malachi.
2. c
I have loved you says the LORD. Yet you say; Wherein have you loved us? Was
not Esau Jacob’s brother? Says the LORD: Yet dI loved Jacob;
3. And I hated Esau, and elaid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons
of the wilderness.
4. Whereas Edom says; We are impoverished, but we will return and rebuild the
desolate places; thus says the LORD of Hosts, they shall build, but I will throw
down; and they shall call them; The border of wickedness, and; The people
against whom the LORD has indignation forever.
5. And your eyes shall see, and you shall say; The LORD will be magnified ffrom the
border of Israel.
Here is the LORD’S message to Israel: “I have loved you very deeply,” says the LORD.
But you reply sarcastically; “Really? When was this?”
And the LORD replies; “I showed my love for you by loving your father, Jacob. I didn’t
need to. I even rejected your very own brother, Esau, and destroyed Esau’s Mountain,
and his inheritance, to give it to the jackals of the desert. And if his descendants should
say, “We will rebuild the ruins,’ then the LORD f Hosts will say; ‘Try to if you like, but I
will destroy it again,’ for their country is called ‘The Land of Wickedness’ and their people
are called, ‘Those Whom the LORD Does Not Forgive.’”
O Israel; open up your eyes to see what God is doing all around the world: then you will
say; “Truly, the LORD’S great power goes far beyond our own borders!”
6. A son honours his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where
is my honour? And if I be a master, where is my fear? Says the LORD of Hosts
unto you, gO Priests, that despise My name. And you say; Wherein have we
despised your name?
7. You hoffer ipolluted jbread upon my altar: and you say; Wherein have we polluted
thee? In that you say; The Table of the LORD is contemptible.
8. And if you offer kthe blind lfor sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the lame and
the sick, is it not evil? Offer it now unto mthy governor: Will he be pleased with
you, or accept your person? Says the LORD of Hosts.
9. And now, I pray you, beseech God that He will be gracious unto us: this has been
by your means; will He regard your persons? Says the LORD of Hosts.

a
Nahum 1:1 e
Jeremiah 49:10,19; Ezekiel i
Ezra 2:62; Nehemiah 7:64
b
See 2:11 25:13,14; 35:3,4,7 j
Leviticus 3:11
c
Deuteronomy 7:8; Jeremiah f
Or, upon k
Leviticus 22:22
31:3 g
2:1 l
[h]~ to
d
Romans 9:13 h
[h]~ bring unto m
Haggai 1:1
10. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nothing? Neither do
you kindle fire on my altar for nothing. I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD
of Hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.
11. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, my name
shall be great among the Gentiles: and in every place incense shall be offered
unto my name, and a pure offering; for my name shall be great among the
heathen, says the LORD of Hosts.
Hear the Word of the Lord to Israel, given through the Prophet Malachi: “I have loved
you very deeply,” says the LORD. But you sarcastically reply: “Really? When was this?”
And the LORD replies; “I showed my love for you by loving your father, Jacob. I didn’t
have to do it. I even rejected his very own brother, Esau, and destroyed Esau’s
Mountain, and his inheritance, to give it back to the jackals of the desert. And if his
descendants should say; ‘We will rebuild the ruins,’ then the LORD of Hosts will say; ‘Try
it if you like, but I will destroy it all again,’ for their country is named ‘The Land of
Wickedness’ and their people are called ‘Those Whom God Does Not Forgive.’”
O, Israel, open your eyes, to see what God is doing all around the world; then you will
say, “Truly, the LORD’S great power goes far beyond our borders!”
“A son honours his father; a servant honours his master. I AM your father, I created you
out of the dust, yet you refuse to honour me; O Priests, you even despise my name.”
“WHO? US?” you say. “When did we ever despise your name?”
“When you offered polluted sacrifices on my altar.” “Polluted sacrifices? When have we
ever done a thing like that?” “You do it every time you say, ‘Don’t bother bringing
anything very valuable to offer to God!’ You tell the people, ‘Lame animals are all right
to bring as an offering on the altar to the LORD, ~ Yes, even the sick and the blind ones.’
And you claim that this is not evil? Try to offer this to your Governor some time ~ give
him gifts like that ~ and see how pleased he is!
“‘God have mercy on us,’ you recite; ‘God be gracious to us!’ But when you bring that
kind of gift, why should God show you any favour at all?
“Oh, to find one priest among you, who would shut the doors and refuse this kind of
sacrifice. I have no pleasure in you,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and I will not accept your
offerings.”
But my name shall be honoured by the Gentiles, from morning till night. All around the
world they will offer sweet incense, and pure offerings in honour of my name. For my
name shall be great among the nations,” says the LORD of Hosts.
12. “But you have profaned it, in that you say, ‘aThe table of the LORD is polluted;
and the fruit thereof, even his meat is contemptible.
13. You said also, ‘Behold, what a weariness is it! bAnd you have snuffed at it,’ says
the LORD of Hosts; and you brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the
sick; thus, you brought an offering: should I really accept this from your hand?
Says the LORD.
14. But cursed be the deceiver, which has in his flock a male, and vows, and sacrifices
unto the LORD, a corrupt thing: for I AM a great King, says the LORD of Hosts,
and my name is dreadful among the heathen.
“But you dishonour My name, but saying that my altar is not important, and by
encouraging people to bring cheap, sick animals, to make an offering to me on it.”
“You say, ‘Oh it is too difficult to serve the LORD and to do what He asks.’ And you turn
up your noses at the rules that He has given you to obey. Just think of it! Stolen animals,
lame and sick animals ~ as offerings to God! Should I really accept such offerings as
these?” says the LORD.
“Cursed is the man who promises a fine ram from his flock, and substitutes a sick one
to sacrifice to God. Do you really think that God does not see your deception? For I AM

a
See verse 7 b
[h]~ whereas you might have
blown it away
a Great KING,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be mightily revered among
the Gentiles.”

CHAPTER TWO: PRIEST AND THE PEOPLE REPROVED

1. And NOW, aO priests, This Commandment is for You.

2. [P] IF you will not hear, and if you will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my
name, says the LORD of Hosts, bI will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse
c
your blessings: yes, I will have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to
heart.
3. [P] Behold, I will dcorrupt your seed, and espread dung among your faces, even the
dung of your solemn feasts: and fone shall take you away with it.
4. [P] And you shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that gmy
covenant might be with Levi, says the Lord of Hosts.
5. [FC] hMy covenant was with Him of life and peace; and I gave them to Him for
the fear wherewith He feared me, and was afraid before My name
6. [FC] iThe Law of Truth was in His mouth, and iniquity was not in His lips; and He
walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7. [FC] jFor the priest’s mouth should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law
at His mouth: for he is kthe Messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
8. But you have departed out of the way; you have caused many to lstumble at the
Law; you have corrupted mthe covenant of Levi, says the LORD of Host.
9. *** Therefore, nhave I also made you contemptible and base before all-of the
people, according as you have not kept my ways, but ohave been partial in the
Law.
10. p
Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why do we deal
treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our
fathers?
Listen you priests! This warning comes directly from the LORD of Hosts, and it is
specifically for you!
“IF you don’t change your ways, and give glory to my name, THEN I will send terrible
punishment upon you; and instead of giving you blessings, that I would like to, I will
turn on you and give you curses! Indeed, I have cursed you already, because you haven’t
taken seriously the things that are most important to me.
“Take note that I will rebuke your children and I will spread on your faces, the manure
of these unclean animals that you offer to me, and throw you out, like the dung. THEN
at last, you will get the message, and recognise that it was I, that sent this warning to
you, to return to the Laws that I gave to your father Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts.
“The purpose for these laws was to give him life and peace, to be a means of showing
his awe and respect for me ~ by keeping them.
“He passed on to the people, all-of the truth he got from me. He did not lie or cheat: he
walked with me, living a good and righteous life, and turned many away from their sins.
“Priests’ lips should flow with the knowledge of God, so the people will learn God’s laws.
The priests are the messengers of the LORD of Hosts, and men should come to them for
guidance. But not to you! For you have left God’s path. Your ‘guidance’ has caused many

a
1:6 g
Numbers 25:12; Nehemiah l
[h]~ fall in
b
Deuteronomy 28:20 13:29; chapter 3:1 m
Numbers 25:12; Nehemiah
c
Psalm 69:22 h
Isaiah 54:10 13:29; chapter 3:1
d
[h]~ reprove i
Deuteronomy 33:10 n
Nahum 3:6; see verse 3
e
[h]~ scatter; Nahum3:6 j
Leviticus 10:11: Deuteronomy o
[h]~ lifted up faces against, Or,
f
[h]~ Or, it shall take you away 17:9; Jeremiah 18:18; Ezekiel accepted faces
to it. 7:26 p
1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6
k
Haggai 1:13
to stumble into sin. You have distorted the covenant of Levi, and made it into a grotesque
parody,” says the LORD of Hosts.
*** “Therefore, I have made you contemptible in the eyes of all-of the people; for you
have not obeyed me, but you let your favourites break the law, without rebuke.”
‘We are children of the same father, Abraham, all created by the same God. And yet,
you are faithless to one another, violating the covenant of our fathers!”
11. Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in aIsrael, and
in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the holiness of the LORD, which he bloved,
c
and has married dthe daughter of a strange god.
12. The LORD will cut off the man that does this, ethe master and the scholar, out of
the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offers an offering unto the LORD of Hosts.
13. And this have you done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with
weeping, and with crying out, in so much that he regards not the offering
anymore, or received it with good will at you hand.
In Judah, in Israel, and in Jerusalem, there is treachery, for the men of Judah have
defiled God’s holy and beloved Temple by marrying heathen women, who worship idols.
Have you forgotten what happened in the times of King Solomon? May the LORD cut off
from his covenant every last man, whether priest, or layman, who has done this terrible
thing! Yet you cover the altar with your tears, because the LORD does not pay any
attention to your offerings anymore; and you receive no blessings from him.
14. Yet you say; Wherefore? Because the LORD has been a witness between you and
f
the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously; yet is she
your companion, and the wife of your covenant?
15. *** And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the Spirit. And wherefore
one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore, take heed to your spirit, and
let none deal treacherously, against the wife of his youth.
16. *** For the LORD, the God of Israel, says that He hates putting away: for one
covers violence, with his garment, says the LORD of Hosts: Therefore, take heed
to your spirit, that you deal not treacherously.
Ask yourself; “Why has God abandoned us?” “I’ll tell you why; it is because the LORD
has seen your treachery in divorcing your wives, who have been faithful to you through
the years, the companions that you promised to care for and keep.
You were united to your wife by the LORD. In God’s wise plan, when you married, the
two of you became one person in His sight. And what does He want? Godly children from
your union. *** Therefore, guard your passions! Keep faith with the wife of your youth.
*** For the LORD, the God of Israel says; He hates divorce and cruel men. Therefore,
control your passions ~ let there be no divorcing of your wives.
17. You have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet you say; Wherein have we
wearied him? When you say; Everyone that does evil is good in the sight of the
LORD, and that He delights in them; or, where is the God of Judgement?
You have wearied the LORD with your words. “Wearied Him?” you ask in fake surprise.
“How have we wearied him?”
By saying the evil is good, that it pleases the LORD! Or, by saying that God
won’t punish us ~ He doesn’t care.

a
1:1 d
Jeremiah 2:27 f
See verse 15; Isaiah 54:6
b
[h]~ ought to love e
[h]~ Or, him that wakes and him
c
Ezra 9:2 that answers
CHAPTER THREE: THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH PROPHESIED.

1. [FC] aBehold, I will send bmy Messenger [John the Baptist], and cHe will prepare
the way before me; and the LORD, whom you seek, dshall suddenly come to His
Temple; Even ethe messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in; Behold He
shall come, says the LORD of Hosts.
2. [SC] But who may abide fthe day of His coming? And who shall stand when He
appears? For gHe is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap:
3. [SC] And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons
of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an
offering in righteousness.
4. [SC] Then, shall hthe offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD,
as in the days of old, and as in the iformer years.
5. [SC] And I will come near to you to judgement: and I will be a swift witness against
the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and
against jthose that koppress the hireling in his wages, lthe widow and the fatherless,
and mthat turn aside the stranger, from his right, and fear not me, says the LORD
of Hosts.
6. *** [SC] For I AM the LORD, nI change not; otherefore, you sons of Jacob are not
consumed.
“LISTEN! I will send my messenger (John the Baptist) before me, to prepare the way.
And then the one you are looking for will come suddenly to His Temple ~ the Messenger
of God’s promises, to bring you great joy. Yes! He is surely coming.,” says the LORD of
Hosts.
“But who can live when He appears? Who can endure His coming? For He is like a blazing
fire, refining precious metal, and He can bleach the dirtiest garments ~ so they become
as white as snow!
“Like a refiner of silver, He will sit and closely watch as the dross is burned away. He
will purify the Levites, the ministers of God, refining them like gold or silver, so that
they will do their work for God, with pure hearts. Then once more, the LORD will enjoy
the offerings brought to Him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, just like He did
before.
“At that time, my punishments will be quick and certain; I will move swiftly against all
wicked men who trick the innocent, against adulterers, and liars, against all those who
cheat their hired hands, or oppress the widows and the orphans, or defraud strangers,
and who do not fear me,” says the LORD of Hosts.
“For I AM the LORD, and I change not ~ and that is why you are not already utterly
destroyed, [because my mercy endures forever.]
7. [CP] pEven from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from my ordinances,
and have not kept them. qReturn unto me, and I will return unto you, says the
LORD of Hosts. rBut you said; Wherein shall we return?
“Although you have scorned my laws from earliest time, yet you still may return to me;
says the LORD of Hosts. “Come and I will forgive you.” “But you say; ‘We have never
even gone away!’
8. Will a man rob God? Yet, you have robbed me. But you say; Wherein have we
robbed you? In stithes and offerings.

a
4:5; Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; f
4:1 m
Exodus 23:6
Luke 7:27 g
Isaiah 4:4; Matthew 3:11.12 n
James 1:17
b
Haggai 1:13 h
1:11 o
Lamentations 3:22; Amos 9:9
c
Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:17,76; John i
[h]~ ancient p
Acts 7:51
1:6,26 j
Leviticus 9:13 q
Zechariah 1:3
d
Haggai 2:7,9; Matthew 12:6 k
[h]~ defraud r
1:6
e
Isaiah 63:9 l
Deuteronomy 24:17 s
Nehemiah 13; 10,12
9. [P] You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed me~ even this whole
nation.
10. [CP] Bring you all of the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be ameat in
my house, and bprove me now herewith, says the LORD of Hosts; If I will not
open you the windows of heaven, and cpour you out a blessing, that there shall
not be room enough to receive it.
11. [P] And I will rebuke the devourer, for your sakes, and he shall not destroy of
your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field,
says the LORD of Hosts.
12. [P] And dall nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land,
says the LORD of Hosts.
Here is one of the most misunderstood passages in Malachi.
“Will a man rob God?” Surely not! And yet you have robbed me.
“What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?
“You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings DUE TO ME!
What were the tithes and the offerings “due to God” under the Old Testament
Law? How were they calculated? Who had to pay them?
You need to do a study on this particular topic, so that you understand why God now
says, He is going to put you under a curse! ~ even your whole nation!
And so, the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing
me. [This is really serious, when God says He will curse your whole nation.]
[CP] Bring all-of the tithes, (not just some of the tithes), into the storehouse, so that
there will be food enough in my Temple; If you do, I will open up the windows of heaven
for you, and pour out a blessing so great, you won’t have room enough to take it in!
“C’mon, Try it! Let me prove it to you! Your crops will be large, for I will guard them
from insects and plagues. Your grapes will not shrivel away before they ripen,” says the
LORD of Hosts.
“And all nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a land sparkling with happiness.
These are the promises of the LORD of Hosts.”
13. e
Your words have been stout against me, says the LORD. Yet you say; What have
we spoken against you?
14. You have said; It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept His
f
ordinances, and that we have walked gmournfully before the LORD of Hosts?
15. And now we call the proud happy: yes, they that work wickedness are set up:
Yes, they that tempt God are even delivered.
“Your attitudes towards me have been proud and arrogant,” says the LORD. “But you
say; ‘What do you mean?’ What have we said that we shouldn’t?’
“Listen; you have said; ‘It is foolish to worship God and obey Him. What good does it do
to obey His laws, and to sorrow and mourn for our sins?
From now on, as far as we’re are concerned, we will say: “blessed are the arrogant.”
For those who do evil shall prosper, and those who dare God to punish them, shall get-
off scot-free.’”
16. [LD] Then they that feared the LORD, spoke often one to another: And the LORD
hearkened and heard it, and a h“Book of Remembrance” was written before Him,
for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name.
17. [LD] And they shall be mine, says the LORD of Hosts, in that day, when I make
up my ijewels; and I will spare them, jas a man spares His own son that serves
him.

a
Psalm 111:5 e
2:17 i
[h]~ special treasure
b
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 f
[h]~ observation j
Psalm 103:13
c
[h]~ empty out g
[h]~ in black
d
Luke 1:48 h
Psalm 56:8; 149:9
18. [M] Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked,
between him that serves God and him that serves him not.
Then those that feared the LORD, spoke often of Him to one another. And He had a Book
of Remembrance drawn up, in which He records the names of those who feared Him and
loved to think and talk about Him.
“They shall be mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “in that day, when I make up my jewels.
And I will spare them, as a man spares an obedient and dutiful son. Then, you will see
the difference between God’s treatment of good men and bad ~ between those who
serve Him and those that don’t.
Please Note:
Up until the 13th century, there were no chapter or verse references in the Bibles.
It was not until 1557 that chapter and verses were used in the English Bibles, to assist
in finding of scripture references. These decisions were not always “anointed”.
Sadly, this is one of these times as the final 6 verses of Malachi, are really a continuation
of chapter 3.

CHAPTER FOUR: ELIJAH COMING AND HIS OFFICE

1. [LD] For behold athe day comes bthat shall burn like an oven: and all-of the proud;
Yes, and all that do wickedly, cshall be stubble, (because the harvest has been
completed), and dthe day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of Hosts,
that it shall leave neither root nor branch.
“Watch Now,” The LORD of Hosts declares: “The day of Judgement is coming, burning
like a furnace. The proud and the wicked will be burned up like straw; like a tree, they
will be consumed ~ roots and all!
2. But unto you that fear my name shall ethe Sun of Righteousness arise with healing
in His wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3. And you shall tread down the wicked: for they shall be as ashes under the soles of
your feet, in that day that I shall do this, says the LORD of Hosts.
“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness, will rise with healing in His
wings, and you will go free, leaping with joy, like calves let out to pasture.
Then you will tread upon the wicked, as ashes underfoot,” says the LORD of Hosts.
4. Remember you the LAW of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in
Horeb, for all of Israel, with the statutes and the judgements.
“Remember to obey the Laws that I gave to all-of Israel though Moses my servant, on
Mount Horeb.
5. [LD] fBehold, I will send you gElijah the Prophet, hbefore the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the LORD:
6. And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
“See, I will send you another prophet like Elijah, before the coming of that great and
terrible Judgement Day of God. His preaching will bring fathers and children together
again, and they shall be of one mind and one heart, for they will know that if they do
not repent, I will come and utterly destroy their land.”

CONCLUSION:

Many western pastors harp on the scripture about tithing, but there is more to this book
than that. It gives warnings to evil priests, and people who profit off fraud and the
hardship of others.

a
3:2 d
Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9 f
3:1
b
2 Thessalonians 1:8 e
Psalm 84:11; Luke 1:78; John g
Matthew 11:14
c
Isaiah 47:14 1:4,9; 12:46 h
Joel 2:31
 It gives the good news of the coming Messenger (John the Baptist), to prepare the way
for His first coming, as a baby in a manger. It also gives warnings about His second
coming as the Lion of Judah, and the harvest of the righteous, and the destruction of
the wicked; those who rejected His laws and precepts and who scoffed at God’s forth
coming Judgements.
May your name be found in the Book of Remembrance and not be burnt to ashes in the
judgement fire.

THE BOOKS OF EZRA & NEHEMIAH

CHAPTER ONE: CYRUS ISSUES A ROYAL PROCLAMATION

1. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the
a

mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king
of Persia, that he bmade a proclamation throughout all-of his kingdom, and put it
also in writing, saying;
2. Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia, The LORD God of Heaven has given me all-of the
kingdoms of the earth; and he has ccharged me to build him a house at Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
3. Who is there among you of all his people? His God be with him, and let him go up
to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of LORD God of Israel, [dhe is
the God] which is in Jerusalem.
4. And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place
e
help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the
free-will offering for the House of God that is in Jerusalem.
In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled Jeremiah’s
prophecy. [Jeremiah had predicted in Jeremiah 25:12 & 29:10 that the Jews would
remain in captivity to the Babylonians for seventy years.]. This was achieved by the
LORD stirring up the spirit in Cyrus and causing him to issue a proclamation throughout
his entire empire. He also decreed to have it recorded in the permanent records of the
Realm.
“Cyrus, King of Persia, hereby announces that Jehovah, the God of Heaven, who gave
me my vast empire, has now given me the responsibility of building him a Temple in
Jerusalem, in the land of Judah. All Jews, throughout the kingdom may now return to
Jerusalem to rebuild this Temple of Jehovah, who is the God of Israel and of Jerusalem.
May His blessings rest upon you. Those Jews who do not return, should contribute
towards the expenses of those that do, and also supply them with clothing,
transportation, supplies for the journey, and a freewill offering for the Temple
construction.”
5. Then rose up the fathers of the Judah and Benjamin, and the Priests and the
Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of
the LORD which is in Jerusalem.
6. And all they that were about them fstrengthened their hands with vessels of silver,
with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that
was willingly offered.
Then God gave a great desire to the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, and
the Priests and the Levites, to return to Jerusalem at once to rebuild the Temple. And
all-of the Jewish exiles, who chose to remain in Persia, gave them whatever assistance
they could, as well as gifts for the Temple.

a
See verse 3 c
Isaiah 44:28; 45:1,13 e
[h]~ lift him up
b
[h]~ caused a voice to pass d
Daniel 6:26 f
[h]~ that is, helped them
7. Also, Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, bwhich
a

Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the
housed of his gods;
8. Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath, the
c
treasurer, and numbered them unto dSheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.
9. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand charges of
silver, nine and twenty knives;
10. Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort, four hundred and ten, and
other vessels, a thousand.
11. All-of the vessels of gold and silver were five thousand and four hundred.
King Cyrus himself donated the gold bowls and other valuable items which king
Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple at Jerusalem and had placed them in the
temple of his own gods. He instructed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to present
these gifts to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah.
The items donated included: 1,000 gold trays, 1,000 silver trays, 29 censors, 30 bowls
of solid gold, 2,410 silver bowls of various designs, and 1,000 miscellaneous items. In
total there were 5,469 gold and silver items turned over to Sheshbazzar, to take back
to Jerusalem.
NOTE: If Nebuchadnezzar had not brought these items back to Babylon and into “safe
keeping” ~ they would have been stolen by the looters in Jerusalem, and lost forever.
But God knows the end from the beginning, so He made sure that these items were not
lost, but were ready to return to Jerusalem, alongwith the exiled Jews, returning to their
homeland. God is good ~ all-of the time, even in times of captivity.

CHAPTER TWO: THE RETURNING EXILES

1. Now ethese are the children of the province that went out of the captivity, of those
which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had
carried away unto Babylon, and came again unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one
of them unto his city;
2. Which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, fSeraiah, gReelaiah Mordecai,
Bilshan, hMispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of
Israel.
3. The children of Parosh, two thousand, one hundred & seventy-two.
4. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred & seventy-two.
5. The children of Arah, seven hundred & seventy-five.
6. The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand,
eight hundred & twelve
7. The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred & fifty-four.
8. The children of Zattu, nine hundred & forty-five.
9. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred & sixty.
10. The children of Bani, six hundred & forty-two.
11. The children of Bebai, six hundred & twenty-three.
12. The children of Azgad, one thousand, two hundred & twenty-two.
13. The children of Adonikim, six hundred & sixty-six.
14. The children of Bigvai, two thousand & fifty-six
15. The children of Adin, four hundred & fifty-four.
16. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
17. The children of Bezai, three hundred & twenty-three.

a
See 5:15; 6:5 d
See 5:14 f
[h]~ also known as Azariah
b
2 Chronicles 36:7 e
See verse 70; Nehemiah 7: 6- g
[h]~ also known as Raamiah
c
See 7:21 73; Compare Esther: 5:4-46 h
[h]~ also known as Mispereth
18. The children of aJorah, one hundred & twelve.
19. The children of Hashum, two hundred & twenty-three.
20. The children of bGibbar, ninety-five.
21. The children of Bethlehem, one hundred & twenty-three.
22. The men of Netophah, fifty-six.
23. The men of Anathoth, one hundred & twenty-eight.
24. The children of Azmaveth, forty-two.
25. The children of Kiriathaim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred & forty-three.
26. The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred & twenty-one.
27. The men of Mishmash, one hundred & twenty-two.
28. The men of Bethel, and Ai, two hundred & twenty-three.
29. The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
30. The children of Magbish, one hundred & fifty-six.
31. The children of the other Elam, one thousand, two hundred & fifty-four.
32. The children of Harim, three hundred & twenty.
33. The children of Lod, cHadid, Ono, seven hundred & twenty-five.
34. The children of Jericho, three hundred & forty-five.
35. The children of Sanaa, three thousand, six hundred & thirty.
36. The Priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred &
seventy-three.
37. The children of Immer, one thousand & fifty-two.
38. The children of Pashur, one thousand, two hundred & forty-seven.
39. The children of Harim, one thousand & seventeen.
40. The Levites: The children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah,
seventy-four.
41. The Singers: The children of Asaph, one hundred & twenty-eight.
42. The children of the porters: The children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the
children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of
Shobai, a total of one hundred & thirty-nine.
43. The dNethinim’s: The children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of
Tabbaoth;
44. The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
45. The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
46. The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
47. The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
48. The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
49. The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
50. The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of eNephusim;
51. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
52. The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
53. The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamar,
54. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
55. The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of
Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
56. The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
57. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of
Zebaim, the children of Ami.
58. All-of the Nethinim’s, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred
& ninety-two.

a
[h]~ Or, Hariph; Nehemiah c
[h]~ Or. Harid, in some
7:24 copies.
b
[h]~ Or, Gibeon; Nehemiah d
[h]~ “those who are given”
7:25 e
[h]~ Or, Nephishesim
59. And these were they that went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, aAddan, and
Immer: but they could not show their father’s house, and their bseed, whether they
were of Israel.
60. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred
& fifty-two.
61. And the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the
children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite;
and was called after their name; [these were the children of the priests who
married outside of their tribe].
62. These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but
they were not found; therefore, cthey were as polluted, and put from the
priesthood.
63. And the dTirshatha said unto them that they eshould not eat of the most holy things,
until there stood up a priest with fUrim and with Thummim.
64. [Two objects of a now unknown nature, possibly used for
divination, worn on the breastplate of a Jewish high priest.
Refer 1 Samuel 28:6]
65. The whole congregation was forty-two thousand, three
hundred & sixty,
66. Beside their servants and their maids, of whom there were
seven thousand, three hundred & thirty-seven; and there were
among them two hundred singing men and singing women.
67. There horses were seven hundred & thirty-six; their mules two
hundred & forty-five;
68. Their camels, four hundred & thirty-five; their asses, six thousand, seven hundred
& twenty.
69. And some of the chiefs of the fathers, when they came to the House of the LORD,
which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place;
70. They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work one thousand & gsixty
h
drams of gold, and five thousand pounds of silver, and one hundred priests’
garments.
71. So, the Priests, and the Levites, and some of the people, and the singers, and the
porters, and the Nethinims, dwelt in their cities, and all-of Israel in their cities.

CHAPTER THREE: THE ALTAR SETUP & THE FOUNDATIONS LAID

1. And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the
i

cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.

2. Then stood up jJeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and
k
Zerubbabel, the son of lShealtiel, and his brethren, and built the altar of the God
of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is mwritten in the law of Moses, the
man of God.
3. And they set up the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because to the
people of those countries; and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD,
even burn offerings morning and evening.

a
[h]~ Or, Addon g
Nehemiah 7:70-72 k
Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27;
b
[h]~ Or, pedigree h
1 Chronicles 29:7 called Zorobabel.
c
[h]~ They were polluted from i
Nehemiah 7:73 l
Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27; called
the priesthood. j
[h]~ Or, Joshua: Haggai 1:1, Salathiel
d
[h]~ Or, Governor 12,14; 2:2,4; Zechariah m
Deuteronomy 12:5-6
e
Leviticus 22:2, 10,15-16 3:1,3,6,8
f
Exodus 28:30
4. They kept also the afeast of Tabernacles, bas it is written, and offered cthe daily
burnt offerings by number, according to the custom, das the duty of everyday
required;
5. And afterwards offered the econtinual burnt offerings, both fof the new moons, and
of all the gset feasts of the LORD, that were consecrated, and of everyone that that
willingly offered a free-will offering unto the LORD.
6. From the first day of the seventh month (Nisan) they began to offer burnt offerings
unto the LORD. But hthe foundation of the Temple was not yet laid.
7. They gave money also unto the masons, and to the icarpenters; and jmeat, and
drink, and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from
Lebanon to the sea of kJoppa, laccording to the grant that they had of Cyrus, King
of Persia.
During the month of September, everyone who had returned to Judah came to
Jerusalem from their homes in the other towns. Then Jeshua, (son of Jozadak) with his
fellow priests, and Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel) and his clan, rebuilt the altar of the God
of Israel; and sacrificed burnt offerings upon it, as instructed in the laws of Moses, the
man of God. The altar was rebuilt on its old site, and it was used immediately to sacrifice
morning and evening burnt offerings to the LORD; for the people were fearful of being
attacked by the surrounding locals.
And they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles, as prescribed in the law of Moses,
sacrificing the burnt offerings specified for each day of the feast. They also offered the
special sacrifices required for the Sabbaths, the New Moon celebrations, and the other
regular annual feasts of the LORD.
Voluntary offerings of the people were also sacrificed. It was on the fifteenth day of
September, [the first day of the month of Nisan ~ the first day of the Hebrew Spiritual
calendar, proclaimed by God to Moses in Exodus chapter 12.] that the priests began
sacrificing the burnt offerings to the LORD. [This was even before they began rebuilding
the foundations of the Second Temple].
Then they hired masons and carpenters, and bought cedar logs from the people of Tyre
and Sidon, paying for them with food, wine, and olive oil. The logs were brought down
from the Lebanon mountains and floated along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to
Joppa, for King Cyrus had included this provision in his grant.
8. Now in the second year of their coming up unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in
the second month, began mZerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son
of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren and the Priests and the Levites, and
all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem: and appointed the
Levites, from ntwenty years-old and upward, to set forward the work of the house
of the LORD.
9. Then stood Jeshua and his sons, and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons
of oJudah, ptogether, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of
Henadad, with their sons, and their brethren, the Levites.
10. And when the builders laid the foundations of the Temple of the LORD, they set the
Priests qin their apparel with rtrumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph with
s
cymbals, to praise the LORD, tafter the ordinance of David, King of Israel.
11. And they usang together by course, in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD;
v
because He is good, and His mercy endureth forever towards Israel. And all-of the

a
Nehemiah 8: 14,17; Zechariah h
[h]~ the Temple of the LORD was p
[h]~ as one
14:16 not yet founded. q
2:69
b
Leviticus 23:34
i
[h]~ workmen r
1 Chronicles 15:24
c
Numbers 29:12-38
j
1 Kings 5:6,9 s
1 Chronicles 15:16
d
[h]~ the matter of the day in
k
Joshua 19:46 t
1 Chronicles 25:1-2
his day
l
See 1:2,3 u
Numbers 12:24
e
Exodus 29:38
m
See verse 2 v
1 Chronicles 16:34,41
f
Numbers 28:11
n
1 Chronicles 23:24
g
Numbers 29:39
o
[h]~ Or, Hodaviah
 people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the
foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
12. But many of the Priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men,
a
that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before
their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13. So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout from the noise of the
weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was
heard afar off.
The actual construction of the Temple began in June, of the second year after their
arrival at Jerusalem. The workforce consisted of all those who had returned, and they
were under the direction of Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel), Jeshua (son of Jozadak), and
their fellow Priests and the Levites.
The Levites who were twenty years old (or older) were appointed to supervise the
workmen. The supervision for the whole project was given to Jeshua, Kadmiel, Henadad,
and their sons and relatives, all-of whom were Levites.
When the builders completed the foundation of the Temple, the Priests put on their
priestly robes and blew their trumpets; and the descendants of Asaph crashed their
cymbals to praise the LORD in the manner ordained by King David. They sang rounds of
praise and thanks to God, singing this song; “He is good, and his love and mercy towards
Israel will last forever.” Then all-of the people gave a great shout, praising God because
the foundation of the Temple had been laid.
But, many of the Priests and Levites, and other leaders ~ the old men who remembered
Solomon’s beautiful Temple [because they realised that this temple was not as glorious
as the one that had been destroyed] ~ wept loudly, while others were shouting for joy!
So, the shouting and the weeping mingled together in a loud commotion that could be
heard from far away.

CHAPTER FOUR: ISRAEL’S ENEMIES TRY TO STOP THE WORK

1. Now when bthe adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that cthe children of the
captivity builded the Temple unto the LORD God of Israel:
2. Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them;
Let us build with you; for we seek your God as you do; and we do sacrifice unto
him dsince the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assur, which brought us up here. [This
was Satan’s subtle way of getting involved to subvert the work for God of rebuilding
His Temple]
3. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said
unto them; You have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we
ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as eKing Cyrus, the king
of Persia has commanded us.
4. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and
troubled them in building.
5. And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of (the
reign of) Cyrus, king of Persia, even unto the reign of Darius, king of Persia.
6. And in the reign of fAhasuerus, in the beginning of his reign wrote they unto him
an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
If you have ever wondered where the hatred started between Israel and the inhabitants
of Samaria, here is a very good place to start!
When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles had returned and were
rebuilding the Temple, they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and

a
Haggai 2:3 c
[h]~ the sons of the e
See 3:7
b
See verses 7-9 transportation f
[h]~ Also called “Ahashverosh”
d
2 Kings 17: 24,32-33; 19:37
suggested; “Let us work with you, for we are just as interested as you in your God as
you are; we have sacrificed to Him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us to
live here.”
But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the other Jewish leaders replied; “No, you may have no
part in this work. [Because you are defiled and not holy]. The Temple of the God of
Israel must be built by the Israelis, just as King Cyrus has commanded.”
Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten them, by sending agents about
them to King Cyrus. This lasted during his whole reign, and even continued when king
Darius took the throne. And afterwards, when king Ahasuerus began to reign, they wrote
him a letter of accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
[Do you see any change in their behaviour? Even today, the residence of Samaria, are
still telling lies about the Israelis, more than 2600 years later. It is easy to see under
whose authority they are really worshipping. None of their actions bring glory or honour,
to the God of Israel.]
7. And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote aBishlam, bMithredath, Tabeel, and the rest
of their ccompanions unto Artaxerxes, king of Persia; and the of the letter was
d
in the Syrian [Aramaic] tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian [Aramaic] tongue.
8. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the escribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem
to Artaxerxes the king, in this sort;
9. Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their
companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites,
the Archerites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the
Elamites.
10. And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble fAsnappar brought over,
and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side of the river
(Euphrates), and at such a time.
And they did the same thing during the reign of Artaxerxes. Bishlam, Mithredath, and
Tabeel, and their associates, wrote a letter to him in the Aramaic language, and it was
translated to him. Others who participated was Governor Rehum, Shimshai (the scribe),
several judges, and other local leaders, the Persians, the Babylonians, the men from
Erech and Susa, and men from several other nations, who had been taken captives from
their own lands by the great and noble Asnappar and relocated (by force) in Jerusalem,
Samaria, and throughout the neighbouring lands west of the Euphrates River.
11. This is a copy of the letter that they sent unto him, even unto Artaxerxes the
king; Thy servants the men on this side of the river, and at such a time.
12. Be it known unto the king, that the Jews which came up from thee to us are
come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have gset up
the walls thereof, and hjoined the foundations.
13. Be it now known unto the king, that, if this city is builded, and the walls set up
again, then they will not ipay jtoll, tribute, and custom, and so shalt endamage
the krevenue of the kings.
14. Now because lwe have maintenance from the king’s palace, and it was not meet
for us to see the king’s dishonour, therefore, have we sent and certified the king;
15. That search may be made in the book of the records of thy fathers; so shalt thou
find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and
hurtful unto kings and provinces, and that they have mmoved sedition nwithin
the same of old time; for which cause this city was destroyed.
16. We certify the king that, if this city be builded again, and the walls thereof set
up, by this means thou shall have no portion on this side of the river.
a
[h]~ Or, in peace f
Compare verse 2 k
[h]~] strength
b
See 1:8 g
[h]~ finished l
[h]~ we are salted with the salt
c
[H]~ societies h
[ch]~ sewed together of the palace
d
2 Kings 18:26 i
[ch]~ give m
[ch]~ made
e
[h]~ Or, secretary j
7:24 n
[ch]~ in the midst thereof
Here is the text of the letter that they sent to King Artaxerxes: “Sir: Greetings from your
loyal subjects, west of the Euphrates River. Please be informed that the Jews sent back
to Jerusalem from Babylon are rebuilding this historically rebellious and evil city; they
have already rebuilt its walls, and have repaired the foundations of the Temple. But we
wish you to know that if this city is rebuilt, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the
Jews will then refuse to pay their taxes to you.
Since we are grateful to you as our patron, and we do not want to see you dishonoured
in this way, we have decided to send you this information. We humbly suggest that you
search the ancient records to discover what a rebellious city this has been in the past;
in fact, it was destroyed because of its long history of sedition against the kings and
countries who attempted to control it. We wish to declare that if this city is rebuilt and
the walls finished, you might as well forget this part of your empire beyond the
Euphrates, for it will be lost to you.” [Note: As they were under the patronage of the
king, they did not pay tribute, or taxes either. This was all about jealousy, pride, and
the fact that they had not been successful in having the Jews agree for them to help
rebuild the Temple.]
17. Then sent the king an answer to Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai, the
scribe, and to the rest of their acompanions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the
rest beyond the river; Peace, and at such a time.
18. The letter which you sent unto us has been plainly read before me.
19. And bI commanded and a search has been made, and it is found that this city of
old time has cmade insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition
have been made therein.
20. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have druled over all
countries beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom were paid unto them.
21. e
Give you now commandment to cause these men to cease; and that this city
be not built, until another commandment shall be given from me.
22. Take heed now that you fail not to do this; why should damage grow to the hurt
of the kings?
Then the king made this reply to Governor Rehum and Shimshai the scribe, and to their
companions living in Samaria and throughout the area west of the Euphrates River:
“Gentlemen: Greetings! The letter you sent has been translated and read to me. I have
ordered a search be made of the historical records and have indeed found that Jerusalem
has in times past, been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings; In fact; rebellion
and sedition are normal there. I find, moreover, that there have been some very great
kings in Jerusalem, who have ruled the entire lands beyond the Euphrates River, and
received vast tribute, custom, and toll. Therefore, I command that these men stop
building the Temple until I have investigated this matter more thoroughly. Do not delay,
for we must not permit the situation to get out of control!”
23. Now when the copy of king Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum and
Shimshai, the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem
unto the Jews, and made them to cease fby force and power.
24. Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So, it ceased,
until the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.
When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and Shimshai, the scribe,
they hurried to Jerusalem and forced the Jews to stop building. So, the work ended until
the second year of the reign of Darius, King of Persia.

a
[ch]~ societies c
[ch]~ lifted up itself e
[ch]~ make a decree
b
[ch]~ by me a decree is set d
1 Kings 4:21 f
[ch]~ by arm and power
CHAPTER FIVE: A NEW LETTER TO KING DARIUS.

1. Then the prophets, aHaggai the prophet, and bZechariah, the son of Iddo,
prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the
God of Israel, even unto them.
2. Then rose up Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and
began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem; and with them were the
prophets of God helping them.
But there were TRUE prophets in Jerusalem and Judah at that time ~ Haggai, and
Zechariah (the son of Iddo) ~ who brought messages from the God of Israel to
Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel) and Jeshua (the son of Jozadak), encouraging them to
begin build the Temple again! So, they did and the prophets worked alongside of them.
3. At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side of the river, and
Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them; Who hath
commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
4. Then said we unto them after this manner; What are the names of the men that
c
make this building?
5. But dthe eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not
cause them to cease till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer
by letter concerning this matter.
But Tatnai, the governor of the lands west of the Euphrates River, and Shetharboznai,
and their companions soon arrived at Jerusalem and demanded; “Who gave you
permission to rebuild this Temple and finish the walls?” They also asked for the list of
names of the people who were working on the Temple. But because the LORD was
overseeing the entire situation, our enemies did not force us to stop building, but let us
continue while King Darius looked into the matter and returned his decision. [Notice this
is just like today, where the government want to know the names of everyone who was
working, who had not been vaccinated.]
6. Following is the letter which governor Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and the other officials
sent to King Darius:
7. They sent a letter unto him, ewherein was written thus: Unto Darius the king, all
peace;
8. Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judah, to the house
of the great God, which is builded with fgreat stones, and timber is laid in the walls,
and this work goes fast on, and prospers in their hands.
9. Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus; who commanded you to
build this house, and to make up these walls?
10. We asked for their names also; to certify thee, that we might write the names of
the men that were the chief of them.
11. And thus, they returned us this answer saying: We are the servants of the God of
Heaven and earth, and build the house that was built these many years ago. Which
a great King of Israel built gand set up.
12. But hafter that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, He gave
them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean who
destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.
13. But in the first year of iCyrus, the king of Babylon the same king made a decree to
build this house of God.
14. And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar
took out of the Temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple

a
Haggai 1:1 d
Psalm 33:18 g
1 Kings 6:1
b
6:14; Zechariah 1:1 e
[ch]~ in the midst thereof h
2 Chronicles 36:16-17
c
[ch]~ build f
[ch]~ stones of great rolling i
See 1:1
 in Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name is Sheshbazzar, who
he had made governor.
15. And said unto him; Take these vessels, go, carry them into the Temple that is in
Jerusalem; and let the house of God be built in his place.
16. Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and alaid the foundation of the house of God,
which is in Jerusalem; and since that time even until now has it been in building,
and yet it is still not finished.
17. Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let be a search made in the king’s
treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was
made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king
send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
The following is the letter which Governor Tatnai, Shetharboznai, and the other officials
sent to King Darius;
To King Darius; Greetings!
“We wish to inform you that we went to the construction site of the Temple of the great
God of Judah! It is being built with huge stones, and timber is being laid in the city walls.
The work is going forward with great energy and success. We asked the leaders; “Who
gave you permission to do this?” And we demanded their names so that we could notify
you. There answer was; ‘We are the servants of the God of Heaven and Earth, and we
are building the Temple that was constructed here many centuries ago, by a great king
of Israelb. But afterwards our ancestors angered the God of Heaven, and He abandoned
them, and let King Nebuchadnezzar destroy the Temple; and exile the people to
Babylonia.’
“But they insist that King Cyrus of Babylon, during the first year of his reign, issued a
decree that the Temple should be rebuilt, and they say King Cyrus returned the gold
and the silver bowls which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem
and had placed in the temple in Babylon. They say these items were delivered into the
safekeeping of a man named Sheshbazzar, whom King Cyrus appointed as governor of
Judah.
The king instructed him to return the bowls to Jerusalem and to let the Temple of God
be built there as before. So Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the Temple
at Jerusalem; and the people have been working on it ever since, though it is not yet
completed.
We request that you search in the royal library of Babylon to discover whether King
Cyrus ever made such a decree; and then let us know your pleasure in this matter.”

CHAPTER SIX: DECREES OF CYRUS & DARIUS IN THE JEWS’ FAVOUR.

1. The Darius the king made a decree, cand a search was made in the house of the
d
rolls, where the treasures were elaid up in Babylon.
2. And there was found at fAchmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the
Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written:
3. In the first year of Cyrus the King the same Cyrus made a decree concerning the
House of God at Jerusalem; Let the house be built, the place where they offered
sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid: the height thereof three
score cubits [60 cubits], and the breadth thereof three score cubits [60 cubits]. [A
cubit is the distance measured from the tip of the forefinger to your elbow ~
approximately 18 inches].
4. g
With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses
be given out of the King’s House:

a
See 3:8-10 d
[ch]~ books g
1 Kings 6:36
b
King Solomon e
[ch]~ made to descend
c
See 5:17 f
Or, Ecbatana, Or, in a coffer.
5. And also let the agold and silver of the House of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took
forth out of the Temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be
restored, and bbrought again unto the Temple, which is at Jerusalem, everyone in
his place, and place them in the house of God.
6. [Conclusion] Now therefore, cTatnai, Governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai,
and dyour companions, the eApharsites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from
thence:
7. Let the work of this House of God alone: Let the governor of the Jews, and the
Elders of the Jews build the House of God in His place.
8. Moreover, fI make a decree what you shall do to the elders of these Jews for the
building of this House of God: that of the King’s goods, even of the tribute beyond
the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not ghindered.
9. And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for
the burnt offerings of the God of Heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to
the appointment of the Priests, which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by
day without fail:
10. That they may offer sacrifices hof sweet savour’s, unto the God of Heaven, and pray
for the life of the king, and of his sons.
11. Also, I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be
pulled down from his house, and being set up, ilet him be hanged there on; and let
his house be made a dunghill for this.
12. And the God that has caused His name to dwell there, destroy all kings and people,
that shall put their hand to alter, and to destroy this house of God which is at
Jerusalem. I, Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed.
So, King Darius issued orders that a search be made in the Babylonian archives, where
historical documents were stored.
Eventually, the record was found in the palace of Ecbatana, in the province of Media.
[Ecbatana was the capital of Media and was subsequently the summer residence of the
Achaemenian kings, and one of the residences of the Parthian kings].
This is what the decree said: “In the first year of the reign of King Cyrus, a decree has
been sent out concerning the Temple of God at Jerusalem, where the Jews offer
sacrifices. It is to be rebuilt, and the foundations are to be strongly laid. The height will
be 90 feet, and the width will be 90 feet. There will be three layers of heavy stones in
the foundation, topped with a layer of new timber. All expenses will be paid by the king.
And the gold and silver bowls, which were taken from the Temple of God by
Nebuchadnezzar shall be taken back to Jerusalem as they were before.”
So, King Darius sent this message to Governor Shethar-bozenai, and the other officials
west of the Euphrates River:
“Do not disturb the construction of the Temple. Let it be rebuilt on its former site, and
don’t molest the governor of Judah and the other leaders in their work. Moreover, I
decree that you are to pay the full construction costs without delay from my taxes
collected in your territory. Give the priests in Jerusalem, young bulls, rams, and lambs
for the burnt offerings to the God of Heaven: Give them wheat, wine, salt, and olive oil,
each day, without fail. Then they will be able to offer sacrifices to the God of Heaven,
and to pray for me and my sons. Anyone, who attempts to change this message, in any
way, shall have the beams pulled from his house and built into gallows, on which he will
be hanged; [literally impaled] and his house shall be reduced to a pile of rubble. The
God who has chosen the city of Jerusalem will destroy any king (or Caesar, or President,
or Prime Minister) and any nation that alters this commandment and destroys this,

a
See 1:7-8; 5:14 d
[ch]~ their societies g
[ch]~ made to cease
b
[ch]~ Go e
4:9 h
[ch]~ of rest
c
5:3,6 f
[ch]~ by me a decree is made i
[ch]~ let him be destroyed
Temple. I, Darius, have issued this decree; it is be obeyed with all diligence.”
In this chapter, we see the wisdom of God being fulfilled.
• He moved upon the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar to take all-of the Temple vessels out
of the Temple before it was destroyed and take them to Babylon and store them
in the house of his god in Babylon for 70 years.
• If this had not been done, the looters would have plundered them, and they would
have been lost forever.
• God moved upon the Spirit of Cyrus to allow the Jews to return, to fulfill the
prophecy of Jeremiah that the Jews would be captives in Babylon for only 70
years.
• He also moved upon Cyrus to instruct them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem,
on the exact spot of the First Temple, and to return all-of the Temple vessels, to
be placed back into the Temple in their original positions.
• Despite the opposition of the surrounding peoples, who like today, want Israel to
be destroyed, Darius issued a decree that they must not interfere, or prevent the
construction of the Temple & that they must provide the necessary offerings, for
the temple sacrifices every day.
• If anyone changed this decree, they would be hanged from the timbers of their
own dwellings, which was to be destroyed.
THIS IS A WARNING TO EVERY NATION AROUND ISRAEL TODAY. THIS LAND BELONGS
TO ISRAEL AND THE GOD OF HEAVEN’S ARMIES IS THEIR PROTECTOR! INTERFERE
WITH THIS NATION AT YOUR OWN PERIL!

The Temple Finished & dedicated; The Passover Kept.

Governor Tatnai, Shethar-bozenai, and their companions complied at once with the
command of King Darius. So, the Jewish leaders continued in their work (without
interference) and they were greatly encouraged by the preaching of the prophets Haggai
and Zechariah (son of Iddo).
The Temple was finally finished, as had been commanded by God and decreed by Cyrus,
Darius, and Artaxerxes, the kings of Persia. The completion was on the 18th February
(the 3rd day of the month of Adar) in the sixth year of the reign of king Darius.
13. And the children of Israel, the Priests, and the Levites, and the rest of athe children
of the captivity, kept bthe dedication of this house of God with joy;
14. And offered at the dedication of this house of God on hundred bullocks, two hundred
rams, four hundred lambs; and cfor the sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats,
according to the tribes of Israel. [Please note that the tribe of Dan was still included
at this stage of Israel’s history].
15. And they set the priests in their ddivisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the
service of God, which is at Jerusalem; eas it is written in the book of Moses.
16. And the children of the captivity kept the Passover upon the 14th day of first month
[Nisan, of the new spiritual calendar, as decreed to Moses by God in Exodus chapter
12].
17. For the Priests and the Levites were fpurified together, all-of them were pure, and
killed the Passover for all or the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the
priests, and for themselves.
18. And the children of Israel which were come again out of captivity, and all such as
had separated themselves unto them for the filthiness of the heathen of the land,
to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat.

a
[ch]~ the sons of the c
8:35 e
[ch]~ according to the writing;
transportation d
1 Chronicles 24:1 Numbers 3:6; 8:9; Exodus 12:6
b
1 Kings 8:63 f
2 Chronicles 30:15; 35:11
19. And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the LORD had
made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to
strengthen their hands in thew work of the house of God, the God of Israel.
The Temple was then dedicated with great joy by the priests, the Levites, and all-of the
people. During the dedication ceremony 100 young bulls, 200 Rams, and 400 young
lambs were sacrificed; and 12 male goats were presented as a sin offering for the 12
tribes of Israel. [Note: All-of these sacrificed animals were provided by the king, as per
the decree already issued by King Darius.]
Then the priests and the Levites were divided into the various service corps; to do the
work of God, as instructed in the laws of Moses.
The Passover was celebrated on the first day of April (the 14th day of Nisan, the first
month of the Hebrew “spiritual Calendar”). For by that time, many of the priests had
completed their purification requirements and had consecrated themselves unto the
Lord. And some of the heathen people who had been relocated in Judah, turned from
their immoral conduct and customs and joined the Israelis in worshipping the Lord God.
They, with the entire nation of Israel, ate the Passover Feast, and celebrated the Feast
of Unleavened Bread for seven days.
There was great joy throughout the land because the Lord had caused the king of Assyria
to be generous to Israel and to ASSIST IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE Temple.
[Note: when the Sanhedrin was recommenced in 2016, and
the new High Priest was commissioned (the first one since
the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.) a request was sent
to the President of Iraq, requesting that they assist in
rebuilding the Temple, just like his forefather had done.
[This of course will be the 3rd Temple, as described in
Ezekiel chapters 40 onwards. They have already
constructed, and dedicated the Davidic Altar, outside the
walls of the City of Jerusalem.]
And at Passover they sprinkle the blood of the Passover
Lamb on the Temple Mount, because sadly the Orthodox
Jews are still waiting for their Messiah to come.

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE COMMISSION OF ARTAXERXES TO EZRA

The Genealogy of Ezra:
1. Now, after these things, in the reign of aArtaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra the son of
Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2. The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3. The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4. The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5. The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the
Chief Priest: [So, Ezra, was a direct descendant of Aaron, the brother of
Moses].
6. This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was ba ready scribe in the law of Moses,
which the Lord God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all-of his
requests, caccording to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.
7. And there went up some of the dchildren of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites,
and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the 7 th
year of Artaxerxes the king.
8. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the
king.

a
Nehemiah 2:1 c
See verses 9,28
b
Nehemiah 8:12, 4-5,13 d
8:1-14
9. For upon the first day of the first month abegan he to go up from Babylon and on
the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand
of his God upon him.
10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to
b
teach in Israel statutes and judgements.
This is the genealogy of Ezra, who travelled from Babylon to Jerusalem, during the reign
of King Artaxerxes of Persia;
➢ Ezra was the son of Seriah;
➢ Seriah was the son of Azariah;
➢ Azariah was the son of Hilkiah;
➢ Hilkiah was the son of Shallum;
➢ Shallum was the son of Zadok ~ the favoured High Priest
➢ Zadok was the son of Ahitub;
➢ Ahitub was the son of Amariah;
➢ Amariah was the son of Meraioth
➢ Meraioth was the son of Zerahiah;
➢ Zerahiah was the son of Uzzi;
➢ Uzzi was the son of Bukki;
➢ Bukki was the son of Abishua;
➢ Abishua was the son of Phinehas;
➢ Phinehas was the son of Eleazar;
➢ Eleazar was the son of Aaron, the chief Priest;
➢ [Aaron was the brother of Moses.]
As a Jewish Religious Leader, Ezra was well versed in Jehovah’s laws, which Moses had
given to the people of Israel. He asked to be allowed to return to Jerusalem, and the
king granted his request; for the LORD his God was blessing him.
Many ordinary people, as well as priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and Temple
workers travelled with him. They left Babylon in the middle of March in the seventh year
of the reign of Artaxerxes, and arrived at Jerusalem in the month of August; for the
LORD gave them a good trip.
This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the laws of the LORD, and to
become a Bible Teacher, teaching those laws to the people of Israel.
11. Now this is a copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest,
the scribe, even a scribe of the commandments of the LORD, and of his statutes to
Israel.
12. Artaxerxes, cking of kings, dunto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of
Heaven, peace, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13. I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites,
in my realm, which are minded of their own free will to go up to Jerusalem, go with
thee.
14. Forasmuch as thou art sent eof the king, and of his fseven counsellors, to inquire
concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine
hand;
15. And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely
offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem.
16. And all the silver and gold that thou can find in all-of the provinces of Babylon, with
the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house
of their God which is in Jerusalem.

a
[h]~ was the foundation of the d
[ch]~ or, Ezra the priest, a f
Esther 1:14
going up perfect scribe of the law of God
b
Nehemiah 8:1-8 of heaven, peace, etc.
c
Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37 e
[ch]~ from before the king
17. That thou may buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with
their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the
house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18. And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest
of the silver and gold, that do after the will of your God.
19. The vessels that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those
deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20. And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shall
have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
21. And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are
beyond the river; that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God
of Heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily.
22. Unto one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred ameasures of wheat, and
to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without
prescribing how much.
23. bWhatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven, let it be diligently done for the
house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of
the king and his sons?
24. Also, we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters,
Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose ctoll,
tribute, or custom, upon them.
25. And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates
and judges, which may judge all-of the people that are beyond the river
(Euphrates), all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know
them not.
26. And whosever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgement
be executed speedily upon them, whether it be unto death, or dto banishment, or
to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
King Artaxerxes presented this letter to Ezra the priest, the student of God’s commands:
“From Artaxerxes, the king of kings. “To: Ezra, the priest, the teacher of the laws of the
God of Heaven. “I decree that any Jew in my realm, including the priests, and Levites,
may return to Jerusalem with you. I and my council of seven hereby instruct you to take
a copy of God’s laws to Judah and Jerusalem and to send back a report of the religious
progress being made there. We also commission you to take with you to Jerusalem the
silver and gold, which we are presenting as an offering to the God of Israel.
Moreover, you are to collect voluntary Temple offerings of silver and gold from the Jews
and their priests in all-of the provinces of Babylon. These funds are to be used primarily
to the purchase of oxen, rams, lambs, grain offerings, and drink offerings, all of which
will be offered upon the altar of your Temple when you arrive in Jerusalem. Then money
that is left over maybe used in whatever you and your brothers feel is the will of your
God. And take with you the gold bowls and other items we are giving you for the Temple
of your God in Jerusalem. If you run short of money for the construction of the Temple,
or for similar needs, you may requisition funds from the royal treasury.
I, Artaxerxes the king, send this decree to all-of the treasurers in the provinces west of
the Euphrates River. You are to give Ezra whatever he requests of you (for he is a priest
and teach of the laws of heaven), up to $200,000 in silver; 1,225 bushels of wheat; 990
gallons of wine; any amount of salt; and whatever else the God of Heaven demands for
his Temple; for why should we risk God’s wrath and anger against the king and his sons?
I also decree that no priest, Levite, choir member, gatekeeper, Temple attendant, or
other worker in the Temple, shall be required to pay taxes of any kind.

a
[ch]~ cors b
[ch]~ Whatsoever is of the c
4:13
decree d
[ch]~ to rooting out
And you, Ezra, are to use the wisdom God has given you to select and appoint
magistrates, judges, and other officials to govern all-of the people west of the Euphrates
River. If they are not familiar with the laws of your God, you are to teach them. Anyone
refusing to obey the laws of your God and the laws of the king, shall be punished
immediately by death, banishment, confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.
27. Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which has put such a thing as this in the
king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem:
28. And has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before
all-of the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD
my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up
with me.
Well, praise the LORD God of our ancestors, who made the king want to beautify the
Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem! And praise God for demonstrating such lovingkindness
to me (the speaker for the remainder of this book is Ezra) by honouring me before the
king and his council of seven, and before all-of his mighty princes! I was given great
status because the LORD my GOD was with me; and I persuaded some of the leaders
of Israel to return with me to Jerusalem.
Note: In the previous chapters, you will remember that it was the “unbelieving nations”
west of the Euphrates River that were the rulers over Jerusalem and Judah. But NOW,
with this new decree issued by Artaxerxes, Ezra now is authorised to appoint magistrates
& judges to rule over all-of the provinces west of the Euphrates River. God’s glory now
is revealed in His righteousness.

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE COMPANIONS OF EZRA, WHO RETURNED FROM BABYLON

1. These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that
went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king;
2. Of the sons of aPhinehas; Gershom: of the sons of bIthamar; cDaniel: of the sons
of David; dHattush.
3. Of the sons of eShechaniah, of the sons of fPharosh; Zechariah: and with him were
reckoned by genealogy of males one hundred & fifty.
4. Of the sons of gPahathmoab; Elihoenai, the son of Zerahiah, and with him two
hundred males.
5. Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
6. Of the sons of Adin; Ebed, the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
7. And the sons of hElam; Jeshaiah, the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.
8. And the sons of iShephatiah; Zebadiah, the son of Michael, and with him eighty
males.
9. Of the sons of jJoab; Obadiah, the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and
eighteen males.
10. And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him one hundred &
sixty males.
11. And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him twenty-eight
males.
12. And the sons of Azgad; Johanan, kthe son of Hakka-tan, and with him one hundred
& ten males.
13. And of the last sons Adonikim; whose names are these; Eliphelet, Jeiel, and
Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.

a
1 Chronicles 24:3-4 e
1 Chronicles 3:21 i
2:4
b
1 Chronicles 24:3-4 f
2:3 j
2:6
c
Nehemiah 10:6 g
2:6 k
[h]~ the youngest son of
d
1 Chronicles 3:22 h
2:7
14. Of the sons of aBigvai; Uthai, and bZab-bud, and with them seventy males.
These are the names and the genealogies of the leaders who accompanied me from
Babylon during the reign of Artaxerxes;
➢ From the clan of Phinehas ~ Gershom;
➢ From the clan of Ithamar ~ Daniel;
➢ From the subclan of David, of the clan of Shechaniah ~ Hattush;
➢ From the clan of Parosh ~ Zechariah, with 150 other men;
➢ From the clan of Pahathmoab ~ Elihoenai (son of Zerahiah), and 200 other
men;
➢ From the clan of Shechaniah ~ the son of Jahaziel, and 300 other men;
➢ From the clan of Adin ~ Ebed (son of Jonathan), and 50 other men;
➢ From the clan of Elam ~ Jeshaiah (son of Athaliah), and 70 other men;
➢ From the clan of Shephatiah ~ Zebadiah (son of Michael), and 80 other men;
➢ From the clan of Joab ~ Obadiah (son of Jehiel) and 218 other men;
➢ From the clan of Bani ~ Shelomith (son of Josiphiah), and 160 other men;
➢ From the clan of Bebai ~ Zechariah (son of Bebai), and 28 other men;
➢ From the clan of Azgad ~ Johanan (son of Hakka-tan), and 110 other men;
➢ From the clan of Adonikim ~ Eliphelet, Jeuel, Shemaiah, and 60 other men [who
arrived at a later time].
➢ From the clan of Bigvai ~ Uthai, Zaccur, and 70 other men. [approximately
1500 men in all].
15. And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there cabode in
tents for three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there
none of the sons of Levi.
16. Then I sent for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and
(the second) Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, all
chief men; also, for Joiarib, and for (the third) Elnathan, men of understanding.
17. And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo, the chief at the place Casiphia, and
d
I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at
the place of Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the House of our
God.
18. And eby the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of
understanding, of the son of fMahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and eighteen
of his brethren;
19. And Hash Abiah, and with him Jeshaiah, of the sons of Merari, his brethren, and
their sons twenty;
20. Also, of the Nethinims, who David and his princes had appointed for the service of
the Levites, two hundred & twenty Nethinims; all-of them were expressed by name.
We assembled at the Ahava River and camped there for three days, while I went over
the lists of the people and the priests who had arrived; and I found that not even one
Levite had volunteered!
So, I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan#2, Nathan, Zechariah,
and Meshullam, the Levite leaders; I also sent for Joiarib, and Elnathan#3, all who were
very wise men.
I sent them to Iddo, the leader of the Jews at Casiphia, to ask him and his brothers and
the Temple attendants to send us priests for the Temple of God at Jerusalem. And God
was good! He sent us an outstanding man named Sherebiah, alongwith 18 of his sons
and brothers; he was a very astute man, and a descendant of Mahli, the son of Levi,
and the grandson of Israel.
God also sent Hash Abiah; and Jeshaiah (the sons of Merari), with 20 of his sons and
brothers; and 220 Temple attendants. (The Temple attendants were assistants to the

a
2:2;14 c
[ch]~ pitched our tents e
7:6
b
[h]~ also known as ~ Zaccur d
[h]~ I put words in their month f
1 Chronicles 6:19
Levites ~ called Nethinims ~ a job classification of Temple employees, first instituted by
King David). These 220 men were all listed by name.
21. Then I aproclaimed a fast there, at the River of Ahava, that we might bafflict
ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones,
and for all-of our substance. [Before you ever set out on a Journey for the LORD ~ FAST
& PRAY!]
22. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help
us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying;
“cThe hand of our God is upon all them dfor good that seek Him; but His power and
His wrath is against all-of them that eforsake Him.”
23. So, we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was fintreated of us.
[The way of a godly man is protected by His hand, if he puts his complete trust in the
LORD. 3/10/1985].
Then I declared a fast while we were at the Ahava River, so that we would humble
ourselves before our God; and we prayed that He would give us a good journey and
protect us, our children, and our goods as we travelled. For I was ashamed to ask the
king for soldiers and cavalry to accompany us to protect us from the enemies along the
way. After all, we had proclaimed to the king that our God would protect all-of those
who worshipped Him, and that disaster could only come to those who had forsaken Him!
So, we fasted, and begged God to take care of us (for His namesake). And He did!
24. Then I separated twelve of the chiefs of the priests, Sherebiah, Hash Abiah, and
ten of their brethren with them.
25. And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering
of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all-
of Israel there present, had offered:
26. I even weighed into their hand six hundred & fifty talents of silver, and silver
vessels one hundred talents, and of gold one hundred talents;
27. Also, twenty gbasons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper;
h
precious as gold.
28. And I said unto them; You are iholy unto the LORD; the vessels are jholy also; and
the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.
29. Watch you, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chief of the priests
and the Levites, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in kthe
chambers of the house of the LORD.
30. So took the priests, and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the
vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
I appointed 12 leaders of the Priests, under Sherebiah and Hash Abiah, and ten other
priests, to be in charge of the transporting of the silver, gold, and golden vessels, and
other items which the king and his counsellors, and the leaders and people of Israel had
presented to the Temple of God.
I weighed the money as I gave it to them found it to total $1,300,000 in silver, $200,000
in silver utensils, $3,000,000 in gold; and 20 gold bowels worth a total of $5,000. There
were also two pieces of copper (brass in some translations), which were as precious as
gold. I consecrated these men to the LORD, and then consecrated the treasures ~ the
equipment and money and bowls, which had been given as free-will offerings to the
LORD God of our fathers.
“Guard these treasures well!” I told them; “present them without even a penny lost to
the priests and the Levite leaders and the Elders of Israel at Jerusalem, where they are
to be placed in the Treasury of the Temple.”

a
2 Chronicles 20:3 e
Joshua 24:20 i
Leviticus 21:6
b
Leviticus 16:29 f
Genesis 25:21 j
Leviticus 22:2-3
c
7:6 g
1:10 k
2 Kings 23:11
d
Romans 8:28 h
[h]~ desirable
So, the priests and the Levites accepted the responsibility of taking it to God’s Temple
in Jerusalem.
31. Then we departed from the river of aAhava on bthe twelfth day of the first month,
to go unto Jerusalem; and cthe hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us
for the hand of the enemy, and of such that lay in wait by the way.
32. And we came to Jerusalem and abode there three days.
We broke camp at the Ahava River at the end of March (on the 12 th day of the first
month, of the Hebrew calendar) and started off to Jerusalem; and God protected us,
and saved us from enemies and bandits along the way. So, at last we arrived safely at
Jerusalem.
33. Now, on the fourth day was the silver and the gold and the vessels weighed in the
house of our God by the hand of Mere-moth, the son of Uriah the priest; and with
him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas; and with them was Jozabad the son of Jeshua
and Noadiah, the son of Binnui, the Levites.
34. By number and weight of everyone; and all the weight was written at that time.
35. Also, the children dof those that had been carried away, which were come out of
the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, 12 bullocks for all-of
(the 12 tribes) of Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 he goats for a sin offering: all this
was a burnt offering unto the LORD.
On the 4th day after our arrival, the silver, gold, and other valuables were weighed in
the Temple by Mere-moth (the son of Uriah the Priest) Eleazar (the son of Phinehas),
Jozabad (son of Jeshua), and Noadiah (son of Binnui) ~ all of whom were Levites. A
receipt was given for each item, and the weight of the silver and gold was recorded.
Then everyone in our party sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel ~ 12 oxen for
the 12 tribes of Israel, 96 rams; 77 lambs, and 12 he goats as a sin offering.
36. And they delivered the king’s ecommissions unto the king’s flieutenants, and to the
g
governors and this side of the river: and they furthered the people, and the house
of God.
The king’s decrees were delivered to his lieutenants and the governors of all-of the
provinces west of the Euphrates River, and of course they then cooperated (on pain of
death) in the rebuilding of the Temple of God.

CHAPTER NINE: EZRA PRAYS UNTO GOD FOR CONFESSION OF SINS

1. Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying; The people of
Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not hseparated themselves from the
people of the lands, idoing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites,
the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the
Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2. For they have jtaken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that
the kholy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yes, the
hand of the princes and rulers have been the chief in trespass.
3. And when I heard this thing, lI rent my garments, and my mantle, and plucked off
the hair of my head, and my beard, and sat down astonied.
4. Then were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of
Israel, because of this transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat
astonied until the mevening sacrifice.

a
See verses 15, 21 f
Esther 3:12; 8:9; 9:3; Daniel j
Exodus 34:16; chapter 10:2;
b
Compare with chapter 7:9 3:2,3,27; 6:2-3 Nehemiah 10:30; 13:23,27
c
7:6 g
Nehemiah 2:7,9: 3:7 k
Deuteronomy 7:6
d
2:1 h
6:21 l
Genesis 44:13; Job 1:20
e
7:21 i
Deuteronomy 12:30-31 m
1 Kings 18:29
But then the Jewish leaders came to tell me that many of the Jewish people, and even
some of the Priests and the Levites, had taken up the horrible customs of the heathen
people who lived in the land ~ the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites,
Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. The men of Israel had married girls from these
heathen nations, and had taken them as wives for their sons. So, the holy people of God
were being polluted by these mixed marriages, and the political leaders were some of
the worst offenders.
When I heard this, I tore my clothing, and pulled hair from my head and my beard and
sat down utterly baffled. Then many who feared the God of Israel, because of this sin of
his people, came and sat with me until the time of the evening burnt offering.
5. And at the evening sacrifice, I arose up from my aheaviness; and having rent my
garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and bspread out my hands unto the
LORD my God.
6. And I said: O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God:
for cour iniquities are increased over our heads, and our dtrespass eis grown up unto
the heavens.
7. Since the days of our fathers, have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and
for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hands
of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to fconfusion
of face, as it is this day.
8. And now for a little gspace, grace has been showed from the LORD our God, to
leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us ha nail in His holy place, that our God
may ilighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage.
9. For we are bondmen: yet our God has nor forsaken us in our bondage, but jhas
extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to
set up the house of our God, and kto repair the desolations thereof, and to give us
a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.
10. And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken thy
commandments.
11. Which thou have commanded, lby thy servants the prophets, saying; The land,
unto which you go to possess it, is an unclean land with the filthiness of the people
of the lands, with their abominations, which have filled it mfrom one end to another
with uncleanness.
12. Now therefore, ngive not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their
daughters unto your sons, nor oseek their peace or wealth forever: that you may
be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your
children forever.
13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass,
seeing that thou our God phas punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and has
given us such deliverance as this;
14. Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of
these abominations? Would thou not be angry with us till thou hast consumed us,
so that there should be no remnant, nor escaping?
15. O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we remain yet escaped, as it is this
day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee
because of this.

a
[h]~ affliction h
[h]~ A pin! a constant sure and m
[h]~ from mouth to mouth
b
1 Kings 8:22 pure abode; Isaiah 22:23,25 n
Exodus 33:32
c
Psalm 38:4 i
Psalm 13:3 o
Deuteronomy 23:6
d
[h]~ guiltiness j
7:28 p
[h]~ has withheld beneath our
e
2 Chronicles 28:9 k
[h]~ to set up iniquities
f
Daniel 9:7-8 l
[h]~ by the hand of the
g
[h]~ moment prophets
Finally, I stood before the LORD in great embarrassment; then I fell on my knees and
lifted up my hands to the Lord, and cried out; “O my God, I am ashamed; I blush to lift
my face to you, for our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt is as boundless
as the heavens. Our whole history has been one of sin; that is why we and our kings
and our priests were slain by the heathen king ~ we were captured, robbed, and
disgraced, just as we are today.
But we now have been given a moment of peace, for you have permitted a few of us to
return to Jerusalem from our exile. You have given us a moment of joy and new life in
our slavery. For we were slaves, but in your love and mercy, you did not abandon us to
slavery; instead, you caused the kings of Persia to be favourable to us. They have even
given us their assistance in rebuilding the Temple of our God, and in giving us Jerusalem
as a walled city in Judah.
And now, O God, what can we say after all-of this? For once again we have abandoned
you and forsaken your laws! The prophets warned us that the land that we would possess
was totally defiled by the horrible practises of the people living there. From one end of
the lands to the other, it is filled with corruption.
You told us not to let our daughters marry their sons, and not to let our sons marry their
daughters, and not to help those nations in any way. You warned us that only if we
followed this rule could we become a prosperous nation and forever leave that prosperity
to our children, as an inheritance.
And now, even after our punishment in exile, because of our wickedness (and we have
been punished far less than we deserved), and even though you have, in your mercy,
let some of us return, we have broken your commandments again, and intermarried
with people who do these awful things.
Surely your anger will destroy us now, until not even this little remnant escapes. O LORD
God of Israel, you are a just God; what hope can we have if you give us justice as we
stand here before you in our wickedness?”

CHAPTER TEN: EZRA ENCOURAGED TO REFORM THE STRANGE MARRIAGES.

1. Now awhen Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping, and casting
himself down bbefore the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a
very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people cwept very
sore.
2. And Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto
Ezra. We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the
people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.
3. Now therefore, let us make a covenant with our God, dto put away all-of the wives,
and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those
that etremble at the commandment of our God: and let it be done faccording to the
law.
4. Arise: for this matter belongs unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good
courage, and do it.
5. Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, and the Levites, and all-of Israel, gto
swear (an oath) that they should do according to this word. And they swear.
As I lay on the ground in front of the Temple, weeping and praying, and making
confession, a large crowd of men, women, and children, gathered around and cried with
me.
Then Shechaniah (the son of Jehiel, of the clan of Elam) said to me; “We acknowledge
our sin against our God, for we have married these heathen women. But there is still

a
Nehemiah 1:6; Daniel 9:20 d
[h]~ to bring forth g
Nehemiah 5:12; 13:25
b
2 Chronicles 20:9 e
9:4
c
[h]~ wept a great weeping f
Daniel 7:2-3
hope for Israel in spirt of this. For we agree before God to divorce our heathen wives
and to send them away with our children; we will follow your commands, and the
commands of the others who fear our God. Take courage and tell us how to proceed in
setting things straight, and we will fully cooperate with your instructions.”
So, I stood up and demanded that the leaders of the priests, and the Levites, and all-of
the people of Israel, swear before the LORD God of Israel, that they would do as
Shechaniah had said; and they all agreed.
6. Then Ezra rose up afrom before the house of God, and went into the chamber of
b
Johanan, the son of Eliashib: and when He came thither, he did not eat bread, nor
drink water: for he mourned, because of the transgressions of them that had been
carried away.
7. And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all-of the
children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto
Jerusalem:
8. And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of
the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself,
separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
Then I went into the room of Johanan in the Temple, and refused all food and drink; for
I was mourning because of the sin of the returned exiles.
Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem that everyone should
appear at Jerusalem within three days and that the leaders and elders had decided that
anyone who refused to come would be disinherited and ex-communicated from Israel.
9. Then all-of the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto
Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the
month; and all-of the people sat in the streets of the house of God, trembling
because of this matter, and for cthe great rain.
10. And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them; You have transgressed, and
have dtaken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.
11. Now therefore, emake confession unto the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do
his pleasure: and separate yourselves from people of the land, and from the
strange wives.
12. Then all-of the congregation answered and said with a loud voice; As thou hast
said, so must we do.
13. But the people are many, and it is time of much rain, and we are not able to stand
without, neither is this a work of one day or two; for fwe are many that have
transgressed in this thing.
14. Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all-of them that have taken
strange wives in our cities come at gappointed times, and with them the elders of
every city, and the judges thereof; until the fierce wrath of God hfor this matter be
turned from us.
Within three days of the 5th of December, (the 20th day of the 9th month of the Hebrew
Calendar), all-of the men of Judah and Benjamin had arrived and were sitting in the
open space before the Temple on the Temple Mount; and they were trembling because
of the seriousness of the matter and because of the heavy rainfall.
Then I, Ezra, the priest, arose and addressed them: “You have sinned, for you married
heathen women, now we even more deeply under God’s condemnation than we were
before. Confess your sin to the LORD God of your fathers, and do what He demands:
Separate yourselves from the heathen people about you, and from these women.” Then
all-of the men spoke up and said; “We will do what you have said. But this isn’t
a
See verse 1 e
Joshua 7:19 h
[h]~ until this matter be
b
Nehemiah 12:22-23 f
[h]~ for we have greatly dispatched
c
[h]~ the showers. offended in this thing
d
[h]~ have caused to dwell, or g
Nehemiah 10:34; 13:31
brought back
something than can be done in a day or two; for there are many of us involved in this
sinful affair. And it is raining so hard that we cannot stay here much longer. Let our
leaders arrange trials for us. Everyone who has a heathen wife will come at the
scheduled time with the elders and judges of his city; then each case will be decided
and the situation will be cleared up and the fierce wrath of God will be turned away from
us.”
15. Only Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah, the son of Tikvah, awere employed
about this matter; and Meshullam and Sabathia, the Levite, helped them. [Other
translations: NLT, The Jerusalem Bible, The Amplified Bible, and the
Peshitta Bible] all state that these 4 persons opposed this solution.]
16. And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the Priest, with certain chiefs of
the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all-of them by their names, were
separated and sat down in the bfirst day of the tenth month to examine the matter.
17. And they made an end with all-of the men that had taken strange wives by the first
day of the first month
Only Jonathan (son of Asahel), Jahaziah (son of Tikvah), Meshullam, and Sabathia, the
Levite, opposed this course of action. So, this was the plan that was followed: Some of
the clan leaders and I were designated as judges; we began our work on 15th December
and finished on the 15th March.
18. And among the sons of the priests there was found that had taken strange wives:
namely of the sons of cJeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and
Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19. And they dgave their hands that they would put away their wives: and being guilty,
they offered ea ram of the flock for their trespass.
20. And the sons of Immer; Hanani, and Zebadiah.
21. And of the sons of Harim; Maaseiah, Elijah, and Shemaiah, and Jehiel, and Uzziah.
22. And of the sons of Pashur; Elihoenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethaneel, Jozabad, and
Elasah.
23. Also, of the Levites; Jozabad, and Shimei, and Kelaiah, (the same is Kelita),
Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.
24. Of the singers also; Eliashib: and of the porters; Shallum, and Telem, and Uri.
25. Moreover, of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, and Jeziah, and Malchiah, and
Miamin, and Eleazar, and Malchijah, and Benaiah.
26. And of the sons of Elam; Matt Anaiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jere-
moth, and Eliah.
27. And of the sons of Zattu; Elihoenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jere-moth, and Zabad,
and Aziza.
28. Of the sons also of Bebai; Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabai, and Athlai.
29. And the sons of Bani; Meshullam, Malluch, and Adaiah, Jashub, and Shelal, and
Ramoth.
30. And the sons of Pahathmoab; Adna, and Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattani,
Bezaleel, and Binnui, and Manasseh.
31. And the sons of Harim; Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchiah, Shemaiah, Shimeon.
32. Benjamin, Maluch, and Shemariah.
33. Of the sons of Hashum; Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh,
and Shimei.
34. Of the sons of Bani; Maadai, Amram, and Uel.
35. Benaiah, Bedeiah, Chelluh,
36. Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib,
37. Mattaniah, Mattenai, ad Jaasau,
38. And Bani, Binnui, and Shimei,

a
[h]~ stood c
3:2 e
Leviticus 6:6
b
9:17 d
2 Kings 10:15
39. And Shelemiah, and Nathan, and Adaiah,
40. Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai,
41. Azareel, ad Shelemiah, Shemariah,
42. Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph.
43. Of the sons of Nebo; Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jadau, and Joel, Benaiah.
44. All these had taken strange wives: and some of them had wives with whom they
had children.
Following is the list of priests, who had married heathen wives. (They vowed to divorce
their wives and acknowledged their guilt, by offering rams as sacrifices):

Designation of position/clan Name of individuals who married

& divorced their heathen wives
Priests: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, Gedaliah.
The sons of Immer: Hanani, Zebadiah
The sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel,
Uzziah.
The sons of Pashur: Elihoenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael,
Nethaneel, Jozabad, Elasah,
The Levites who were guilty: Jozabad, Shemei, Kelaiah (a.k.a)
Kelita, Pethahiah, Judah, Eliezer.
Of the Singers: There was Eliashib.
Of the Gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri.
Ordinary Citizens, who were declared guilty:
From the clan of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin,
Eleazar, Hashabiah, Benaiah.
From the clan of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi,
Jeremoth, Elijah.
From the clan of Zattu: Elihoenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah,
Jeremoth, Zabad, Aziza.
From the clan of Bebai: Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabai, Athlai.
From the clan of Bani: Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub,
Sheal, Jeremoth.
From the clan of Pahathmoab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah,
Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, Manasseh.
From the clan of Harim: Eliezer, Ishijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah,
Shimeon, Benjamin, Malluch,
Shemariah.
From the clan of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattathah, Zabad, Eliphelet,
Jeremai, Manasseh, Shemei.
From the clan of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, Benaiah,
Bedeiah, Cheluhi, Vaniah, Meremoth,
Eliashib, Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasau,
Bani, Binnui, Shemei, Shelemiah,
Nathan, Adaiah, Machnadebai,
Shashai, Sharai, Azarel, Shelemiah,
Shemariah, Shallum, Amariah,
Joseph.
From the clan of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina,
Jaddai, Joel, Benaiah.

Each of these men had heathen wives, and many had children by these wives.
THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH
WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH?
Book of Nehemiah. Author: The Book of Nehemiah does not specifically name its author,
but both Jewish and Christian traditions, recognize Ezra as the author.

CHAPTER ONE: NEHEMIAH MOURNS, FASTS & PRAYS

The Autobiography of Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah.

1. The words of aNehemiah, the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass the in the
month bChisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace.
2. That cHanani, one of my brethren came, he and certain men of Judah: and I asked
them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and
concerning Jerusalem.
3. And they said unto me; The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the
province of are in great affliction and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem also dis broken
down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
In the December of the twentieth year of the reign of King Artaxerxes of Persia, when I
was at the palace in Shushan, one of my fellow Jews named Hanani came to visit me
with some men who had arrived from Judah. I took the opportunity to inquire about how
things were going in Jerusalem.
“How are they getting along?” I asked. “~ the Jews who returned to Jerusalem from
their exile here?” “Well,” they replied, “things are not good; the wall of Jerusalem is still
torn down, and the gates are burned.”
4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that eI sat down and wept, and
mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of Heaven.
5. And said; I beseech thee, LORD God of Heaven, fthe great and terrible God, gthat
keeps covenant and mercy for them that love him and keep his commandments:
6. Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou may hear the prayer
of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day & night, for the children of Israel,
thy servants, and hconfess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned
against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned.
7. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments,
nor the statutes, nor the judgements, which thy commanded thy servant Moses.
8. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commanded to thy servant Moses,
saying; If you transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations.
9. i
But, if you turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; jthough
there was of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather
them from thence, and will bring them (back) kunto the place that I have chosen
to set my name there.
10. Now these are thy servants and thy people, that thou have redeemed by thy great
power, and by thy strong hand.

a
10:1 e
Ezra 9:3 i
Leviticus 26: 39-42
b
[h]~ 3rd month of the Hebrew f
Daniel 9;4; See also j
Deuteronomy30:4
Spiritual Calendar Deuteronomy 7:21 k
Deuteronomy 12:5
c
7:2 g
Deuteronomy 7:9
d
2:13 h
Ezra 10:1
11. O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy
servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this
day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king’s cup bearer.
When I heard this, I sat down and cried. In fact, I refused to eat for several days, for I
spent the time in prayer to the God of Heaven.
“O LORD God,” I cried out; “O great and awesome God, who keeps His promises, and is
so loving and kind to those who love and obey Him! Hear my Prayer! Listen carefully to
what I say! Look down and see me praying day & night for your people Israel.
“I confess that we have sinned against you; yes, I and my people have committed the
horrible sin of not obeying the commandments that you gave us through your servant
Moses. Oh, please remember what you told Moses! You said; “’If you sin, I will scatter
you among the nations; but if you return to me, and obey my laws, even though you
are exiled to the farthest corners of the universe, I will bring you back to Jerusalem. For
Jerusalem is the place in which I have chosen to live.’
“We are your servants, the people you rescued, by your great power. O Lord, please
hear my prayer! Heed the prayers of those of us who delight to honour you. Please help
me now as I go in and ask the king for a great favour; put it into his heart, to be kind
to me.” (For I was the king’s cupbearer.)

CHAPTER TWO: ARTAXERXES SENDS NEHEMIAH TO JERUSALEM

1. And it came to pass in the month of aNisan in bthe twentieth year of the reign of
Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and cI took up the wine and gave
it to the king. Now I have not been before time sad in his presence.
2. Wherefore the king said unto me; Why is thy countenance sad, seeing that thou
are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid.
3. And said unto the king; dLet the king live forever: why should not my countenance
be sad, when ethe city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchre, lies waste, and the gates
thereof are consumed with fire?
4. Then the king said unto me; For what does thou make request? So, I prayed to
f
the God of heaven.
5. And I said unto the king; If it please the king, and if thy servant has found favour
in thy sight, that thou would send me to Judah, unto the city of my fathers’
sepulchers, that I am build it.
6. And the king said unto me (the queen also sitting beside him), For how long shall
thy journey be? And when will thou return? So, it pleased the king to send me; and
I set a gtime.
7. Moreover, I said unto the king. If it please the king, let letters be given to me to
the hgovernors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into
Judah.
8. And a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber
to make beams for the gates of the ipalace which appertained to the house, and
for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king
granted me, jaccording to the good hand of my God upon me.
One day in April about four months later, as I was serving the king’s wine, he asked me;
"Why are you sad? You aren’t sick, are you? You look like a man with deep troubles.”
(Up until this time I had always been happy and cheerful in the presence of the king). I
was badly frightened, but I replied; “Sir, why shouldn’t I be sad? For the city where my
ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been burned down.”

a
Esther 3:7 e
1:3 i
7:2
b
1:1 f
1:4-5 j
1:3; Psalm 44:13; 79:4
c
1:11 g
5:14; 13:6
d
1 Kings 1:31 h
Ezra 8:36
“Well, what should be done?” the king asked. With a quick prayer to the God heaven, I
replied; “If it please Your Majesty, and if you look upon me with your royal favour, send
me to Judah to rebuild the city of my fathers!”
The king replied with the queen sitting beside him; “How long will you be gone? When
will you return?” So, it was agreed! And I set a time for my departure!
Then I added this to my request: “If it please the king, give me letters to the governors
west of the Euphrates River instructing them to let me travel through their countries on
my way to Judah; also, a letter to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing
him to give me timber for the beams and for the gates of the fortress near the Temple,
and for the city walls, and for the house for myself.” And the king granted my requests,
for God was being gracious to me.
9. Then I came to the agovernors beyond the river, and gave them the king’s letters.
Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me.
10. When bSanballat the cHoronite, and dTobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of
it, it grieved them exceedingly, that there was come a man eto seek the welfare of
the children of Israel.
When I arrived in the provinces west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters
to the governors there. [The king in his wisdom, has sent along army officers and troops
to protect me]. But when Sanballat (the Horonite) and Tobiah ~ (an Ammonite, who
was a government official) heard of my arrival, they were very angry that anyone was
interested in helping the people of Israel.
11. So, I came to Jerusalem ad was there three days.
12. And I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; neither told I any man what my
God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me,
save that the beast that I rode upon.
13. And I went out by night by the fgate of the Valley, even before the dragon well,
and to the gdung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down,
and the gates thereof were consumed with fire.
14. Then I went to theh gate of the fountain and to the iking’s pool: but there was no
place for the beast that was under me to pass.
15. Then I went up in the night by the jbrook, and viewed the wall, and turned back,
and entered by the gate of the Valley, and so returned.
16. And the krulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it
to the Jews, nor to the Priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest
that did the work.
Three days after my arrival at Jerusalem, I stole out during the night, to do some
reconnaissance, taking only a few men with me; for I had not told a soul about the plans
for Jerusalem, which God had placed within my heart. I was mounted on my donkey,
and my guardsmen were on foot, and we went out through the Valley Gate towards the
Jackal’s well and over to the Dung Gate, to see the broken walls and burned gates. Then
we went to the Fountain Gate, and to the King’s Pool, but my donkey could not get
through the rubble. So, we circle the city, and I followed the brook, inspecting the wall,
and entered once again through the Valley Gate.
The city officials did not know I had been out there, or why, for as yet I had said nothing
to anyone about my plans ~ not to the political or religious leaders, or even to those
who would be doing the work.
17. Then said I unto them; You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies
waste, and the gates are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the walls of
Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
a
Ezra 8:36 e
Esther 10:3 j
2 Samuel 15:23
b
4:1,7; 6:1-2,5,12,14 f
2 Chronicles 26:9 k
Ezra 9:2
c
Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:3,5 g
3:13-14
d
4:3,7, 6:1,12,14,17,19; 13:4,7- h
3:15; 12:37
8 i
2 Kings 20:20
18. Then I told them of the very hand of God that was good upon me; as also the king’s
words that he had spoken unto me. And they said; Let us rise up and build. So,
they astrengthened their hands for this good work.
19. But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah, the servant, the Ammonite, and
b
Geshem, the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and
said: What is this thing that you do? cWill you rebel against the king?
20. Then answered I to them, and said unto them. The God of heaven, He will prosper
us; therefore, we His servants, will arise and build; dbut you have no portion, nor
right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
But now I told them; “You know full well the tragedy that befell our city; it lies in ruins,
and it’s gates are burned. Let us rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and rid ourselves of this
disgrace!”
Then I told them about the desire that God had put in my heart, and my conversation
with the king, and to the plan to which he agreed. They replied at once; “Good! Let’s
rebuild the wall!” So, the work began.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem the Arab, heard of our plan, they scoffed
and said: “What are you doing. Rebelling against the king like this?”
But I replied: “The God of heaven will help us, and we, his servants, will rebuild this
wall; but you may have no part in this affair.

CHAPTER THREE: NAMES OF THEM THAT BUILD THE WALL

This chapter is all about working together to the same God-given plan, with the same
materials, the same size, the same height, the same width, and with the same
interlocking framework, to strengthen each portion, and also the whole structure. This
is a God-given example of how the various churches in a town/city should work together,
to defeat the “common enemy” [Satan] and to give glory & honour to Jesus Christ.
1. Then eEliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built
the fsheep gate: they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower
of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
2. And gnext to him, built the men of Jericho. And next to them built Zaccur, the son
of Imri.
3. But the hfish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof,
and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
4. And the next unto them repaired Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. The
next unto them repaired Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel.
And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
5. And next unto them the Tekoites repaired: but their nobles put not their necks
to ithe work of the LORD. [Maybe they were too proud to do manual work?]
6. Moreover, the old gates repaired Jehoiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshullam, the
sons of Besodeiah: they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof; and
the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7. And next to them repaired Melatiah, the Gibeonite, and Jadon, Meronothite, the
men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the jthrone of the governor on this side of the
river.

a
2 Samuel 2:7 e
See verses 20,21; 12:10,22-23 i
Judges 5:23
b
6: 1-2,6 f
See verse 32; 12:39; John 5:2 j
2:8
c
6:6 g
[h]~ at his hand
d
Ezra 4:3 h
2 Chronicles 32:14
 Notice even though there are many different families working on different section
of this wall ~ there is only ONE PLAN, given by God.
WAKE UP CHURCH! & GET WITH THE PLAN!

8. Next to him repaired Uzziel, the son of Harthaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him
also repaired Hananiah, the son of one of the apothecaries, and they afortified
Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
9. And next to them repaired Rephaiah, the son of Hur, the ruler of half part of
Jerusalem.
10. And next unto them repaired Jedaiah, the son of Harumaph, over against his house.
And next unto him repaired Hattush, the son of Hashabniah.
11. Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hashub, the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the
other, and the tower of the furnaces.
12. And next unto him repaired Shallum, the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part
of Jerusalem, he, and his daughters.
13. The bvalley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah: they built it, and
set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and one thousand
cubits on the walls unto the cdung gate.
14. But the dung gate repaired Malchiah, the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-
haccerem: he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars
thereof.
15. But dthe gate of the fountain repaired Shallun, the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of
part of Mizpah: he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks
thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of eSiloah by the fking’s
garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
16. After him repaired Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half part of Bethzur,
unto the place over against gthe sepulchers of David and to the hpool that was
made, and unto the house of the mighty.
17. After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired
Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
18. After him, repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half part
of Keilah.
[Notice in verses 17 & 18, that both rulers of the two halves of Keilah, worked side by
side, building the wall, together, to the same plan, for the same purpose, to glorify God
& their names are written forevermore in the Book of Remembrance ~ the Bible.
Imagine if we could have churches in each city working side by side, to repair the broken-
down hearts of unbelievers, working to the same plan given by God, to bring glory and
honour to His name.

a
[h]~ left Jerusalem unto the c
2:13; 12:31 f
2 Kings 25:4
broad wall d
2:14 g
1 Kings 2:10; Acts 2:29
b
2 Chronicles 26:9 e
Isaiah 8:6; John 9:7,11 h
Isaiah 22:11
Can you imagine how it would change the whole world, when the world sees church
people working side by side, with the same common purpose, showing their love to their
fellow man, and not fighting and squabbling among themselves].
19. And next to him repaired Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece
over against the going up to athe armoury, at the turning of the wall.
20. After him Baruch the son of Zabbai, earnestly repaired the other piece, from the
turning of the wall, unto the door of the house of Eliashib, the high priest.
21. After him repaired Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, another piece, from
the door of the house of Eliashib, even to the end of the house of Eliashib (the high
priest).
22. And after him repaired the priests, the men of bthe plain.
23. After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub, over against their house. After him
repaired Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, by his house.
24. After him repaired Binnui, the son of Henadad, another piece from the house of
Azariah unto the turning point of the wall, even unto the corner.
25. Palal, the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lies
out from the king’s high house, that was the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah,
the son of Parosh.
26. Moreover, the Nethinims cdwelt in dOphel, unto the place over against the water
gate, towards the east, and the tower that lies out.
27. After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that
lies out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
28. From above the ehorse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
Here again we have priests, each one working side by side, all working to the same plan
and purpose, to bring glory and honour to God, as He wants, as a witness to his people
~ and to the unbelievers.
As Christians, we also belong to a royal priesthood and this should be our revelation and
purpose.
29. After them repaired Zadok, the son of Immer, over against his house. After him
also Shemaiah, the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the feast gate.
30. After him repaired Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of
Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, over
against his chamber.
31. After him repaired Malchiah, the goldsmith’s son, unto the place of the Nethinims,
and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the
corner.
32. And between the ggoing up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the
goldsmiths and the merchants.
In this chapter, we have seen people from all walks of life, with many different skill sets,
working together, to the same plan, and for the same purpose, to bring honour and
glory to God’s city ~ by building the walls together.
As Christians, we are the living stones, anointed by the Holy Spirit, to be the city on a
hill, shining out God’s glory, for everyone to see, a unified, focussed people, in total
obedience to the word of God, as we are led by the Holy Spirit, on a daily basis, to bring
glory to His name.
This is how the New Living Bible Translates chapter 3: [with my comments in
brackets].
Then Eliashib, the High Priest and the other priests rebuilt the wall as far as the Tower
of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel; then they rebuilt the Sheep Gate, hung its
doors, and dedicated it.

a
1 Kings 10:17 c
[h]~ OR, which dwelt in Ophel, e
2 Chronicles 23:15
b
Genesis 13:10; 19:17; 2 repaired unto f
Jeremiah 18:2
Samuel 18:23, see 12:28. d
[h]~ the tower g
[h]~ corner chamber
[Notice that even the High Priest got his hands dirty, in the task of rebuilding this special
part of the wall, and dedicating it. No-one is exempt from working for the glory of God’s
kingdom!]
Men of the city of Jericho, came and worked next to them, [they were not perceived as
a threat to the local Jews and priests, but were welcomed “as fellow workers” for the
kingdom]. And beyond them was a work crew led by Zaccur (son of Imri).
The Fish Gate was built by the sons of Hassenaah; they did the whole thing ~ cut the
beams, hung the doors, and made the bolts and bars. Meremoth (son of Uriah, son of
Hakkoz) repaired the next section of the wall, and beyond him were Meshullam (son of
Berechiah, so of Meshezabel) and Zadok (son of Baana). Next were the men from Tekoa,
but their leaders were lazy and didn’t help.
The Old Gate was repaired by Joiada (son of Paseah) and Meshullam (son of Besodeiah).
They laid the beams, setup the doors, and installed the bolts and bars.
Next to them, the workers were led by Ezer (son of Jeshua), the mayor of another part
of Mizpah; they also worked on the section of wall across from the armoury, where the
wall turns.
Next to him was Baruch (son of Zabbai), who built from the turn in the wall to the home
of Eliashib, the High Priest. Meremoth (son of Uriah, son of Kakkoz) built a section of
the wall extending from a point opposite the door of Eliashib’s house to the side of the
house.
Then came the priests from the plains ~ outside the city. Benjamin, Hashub, and Azariah
(son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah) repaired the sections next to their own houses. Next
to Binnui (son of Henadad), who built the portion of the wall from Azariah’s House to
the corner.
Palal (son of Uzai) carried on the work from the corner to the foundations of the upper
tower of the king’s castle beside the prison yard. Next was Pedaiah (son of Parosh).
The temple attendants [the Nethinims] living in Ophel, repaired the wall as far as the
East Water Gate, and the Projecting Tower. Then came the Tekoites, who repaired the
section opposite the Castle Tower, and over to the wall of Ophel. The priests repaired
the wall beyond the Horse Gate, each one doing the section immediately opposite his
own house.
Zadok (son of Immer) also rebuilt the wall next to his own house, and beyond was
Shemaiah him (son of Shechaniah), the gate-keeper of the East gate. Next was
Hananiah (son of Shelemiah); Hanun (the 6th son of Zalaph); and Meshullam (son of
Berechiah); who built next to his own house.
Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the Temple attendants’ and
Merchants’ Guild Hall, opposite the Muster Gate, then to the upper room at the corner.
The other goldsmiths and merchants completed the wall from the corner to the Sheep
Gate.

CHAPTER FOUR: NEHEMIAH PRAYS & CONTINUES THE WORK

1. But it came to pass, athat when Sanballat heard the we built the wall, he was wroth
(very angry), and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
2. And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said; What do
these feeble Jews? Will they bfortify themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they make
and end in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish that
is burned?
3. Now Tobiah, the Ammonite was by him, and he said; Even what which they build,
if ca fox goes up, he shall even break down their stone wall.

a
2:10 b
[h]~ leave to themselves c
Lamentations 5:18
4. Hear, O our God; for we are bdespised: and cturn their reproach upon their own
a

head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity.

5. And dcover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee;
for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
6. So, built we the wall: and all-of the wall was joined together unto the half thereof:
for the people had a mind to work.
Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into
a rage, and insulted and mocked us and laughed at us, and so did his friends and the
Samaritan army officers. “What does this bunch of poor feeble Jews think they are
doing?” he scoffed. “Do they think that they can build the wall in a day, if they offer
enough sacrifices? And look at those charred stones they are pulling out of the rubble
to use again!” Tobiah, who was standing beside him, remarked; “If even a fox walked
along the top of the wall, it would collapse!”
Then I prayed; “Hear us, O LORD God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing
boomerang back upon their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a
foreign land! Do not ignore their sin. Do not blot it out, for they have despised you in
despising us, who are building your wall.”
At last, the wall was completed to half of its original height, around the entire city ~ for
the workers put their mind to the task and worked very hard.
7. But it came to pass, that Sanballat, and Tobiah and the eArabians, and the
Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem fwere made up,
and that breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth.
8. And conspired all-of them together, to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to
hinder it.
9. Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day
& night, because of them.
10. And Judah said; The strength of the bearers of burden is decayed, and there is
much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
11. And our adversaries said; They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the
midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12. And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto
us gten times; hfrom all places from whence you shall return unto us they will be
upon you.
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard
that the work was going right ahead and that the breaks in the wall were being repaired,
they became furious. They plotted to lead an army against Jerusalem to bring about
riots and confusion. [In 2600 years, nothing has changed. There is still this hatred
against Israel and Jerusalem, by the surrounding evil nations]. But we prayed to our
God and guarded the city, day and night, to protect ourselves.
Then some of the leaders began complaining that the workmen were becoming tired:
and there was so much rubble to be removed, that we could never get it done by
ourselves.
Meanwhile, our enemies were planning an attack; to swoop down upon us, and kill us,
thus ending the construction work. And whenever the workers who lived in the nearby
cities went home for a visit, our enemies tried to talk them out of returning to Jerusalem,
[using intimidation against the family members that remain behind. Again ~ nothing is
changed! The terrorists who want to destroy the nation of Israel, still use kidnapping
and other forms of intimidation against the families that help the Jewish people].

a
Psalm 123:3-4 d
Psalm 69:27-28; 109:14-15 g
Genesis 31;7
b
[h]~ despite e
2:19 h
[h]~ that from all places you
c
Psalm 79:12 f
[h]~ ascended must return to us.
13. Therefore, set I, ain the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I
even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their
bows.
14. And I looked and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and the rulers, and to the rest
of the people; Be not afraid of them: remember the LORD which is great and
terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives,
and your houses.
15. And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and GOD
had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all-of us to the wall, every
one unto his (assigned) work.
16. And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in
the work, and the other half of them held both the bspears, the shields, and the
bows, and the chabergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17. They which built on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded,
everyone with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with thew other hand,
held a weapon.
18. For the builders, everyone had his sword girded dby his side, and so (they) built.
And he that sounded the trumpet was (continually) by me.
So, I placed armed guards, from each family, in the cleared space behind the walls.
Then I looked over the situation, I called together the leaders, and the people and said
to them; “Don’t be afraid! Remember the LORD who is great and glorious; fight for your
friends, your families, and your homes!”
Our enemies learned that we knew of their plot, and that God had exposed and
frustrated their plan. Now we all returned to work on the wall; but from then on. Only
half worked, while the other half stood guard behind them. And the masons and the
labourers worked with weapons within easy reach beside them ~ or with swords belted
to their sides. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.
19. And eI said unto the nobles, and top the rulers, and to the of the people; The work
is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
20. In what place therefore you hear the sound of the trumpet, resort you thither unto
us; four God shall fight for us.
21. So, we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of
the morning till the stars appeared.
22. Likewise, at the same time, said I unto the people; Let everyone with his servant,
lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on
the day.
23. So, neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which
followed me, none of us put off our clothes, gsaving that everyone put them off for
washing.
“The work is so spread out,” I explained to them, “and we are separated so widely from
each other, that when you hear the trumpet blow, you must rush to where I am; and
GOD will fight for us.”
We worked early and late, from sunrise until sunset; and half of the men were always
on guard. I told everyone living outside the walls, to move into Jerusalem so that their
servants could go on guard duty, as well as work during the day. During the period,
none of us ~ ever took off our clothes. And we carried our weapons with us at all times.

a
[h]~ from the lower parts of the neck and breast. Every free e
See verse 14; 5:7; 7:5
place layman having ten marks in f
Exodus 14:14
b
2 Chronicles 26:14 chattels shall have a g
[h]~ OR, everyone went with his
c
Habergeon, [ha-bėr′je-un], A habergeon, iron cap, and lance. weapon for water.
piece of armour, to defend the d
[h]~ on his loins
CHAPTER FIVE: THE PRACTISE OF USURY IS REFORMED.

1. And there was a great cry of the people and their wives against their abrethren, the
Jews.
2. For there were that said: We, our sons, and our daughters, are many: therefore,
we take up corn for them, that we may eat, and live.
3. Some also there were that said; We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and
houses, that we might buy corn, because of the dearth.
4. There were also that said; We have borrowed money for the king’s btribute, and
that upon our land and our vineyards.
5. Yet now, our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children:
and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our cdaughters to be servants, and
some of our daughters are brought unto bondage already: neither is it in our power
to redeem them; for other men have our land and our vineyards.
ABOUT THIS TIME there was a great outcry of protest from parents against some of the
rich Jews, who were profiteering on them. What was happening was that families who
run out of money for food had to sell their children, or mortgage their fields, vineyards,
and homes, to these rich men; and some could not even do that, for they had already
borrowed to the limit, to pay their taxes.
“We are their brothers, and our children are just like theirs,” the people protested. “Yet
we must sell our children into slavery to get enough money to live. We have already
sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to redeem them, for our fields, too, are
mortgaged to these men.”
6. I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7. Then dI consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said
unto them; eYou, exact usury, every one of his brothers. And I set a great assembly
against them.
8. And I said unto them; We after our ability have fredeemed our brethren the Jews,
which were sold unto the heathen; and will you even sell your brethren? Or shall
they be sold unto us? Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9. Also, I said; It is not good that you do: ought you not walk gin the fear of our GOD,
h
because of the reproach of the heathen, our enemies?
10. I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact of them money and
corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11. Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive
yards, and their houses, also one hundredth part (1/100) of the money, and of the
corn, that you exact from them.
12. Then said they; We will restore them, and require nothing of them: so, will we do
as you say. Then I called the priests, and itook an oath of them, that they should
do according to this promise.
13. Also, I shook my jlap, and said; So, God shake out every man from his house, and
from his labour that performs not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and
k
emptied. And all-of the congregation said lAmen! And praised the LORD. And the
people did according to this promise.
I was very angry when I heard this; so, after thinking about it, I spoke out against these
rich government officials. “What is this you are doing?” I demanded. “How dare you
demand a mortgage, as a condition for helping another Israelite?”

a
Leviticus 25:35-36; d
[h]~ my heart consulted within h
4:4
Deuteronomy 15:7 me i
Ezra 10:5
b
Ezra 4:13 e
Exodus 22:25 j
Acts 18:4
c
Exodus 21:7 f
Leviticus 25:48-49 k
[h]~ empty, or, void
g
Leviticus 25:17, 36,43 l
8:6
Then I called a public trial to deal with them. At the trial I shouted at them. “The rest of
us are doing all that we can, to help our Jewish brothers who have returned from exile
as slaves in distant lands, but you lot are forcing them right back into slavery again.
How many times must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their own
defence.
Then I pressed further. “What you are doing is very evil,” I exclaimed. “Should you not
walk in the fear of our God? Don’t we have enough enemies among the nations that are
trying to destroy us?
The rest of us, are lending money and grain to our fellow-Jews, without any interest. I
beg you, gentlemen, stop this business of usury. Restore their fields, vineyards, olive
yards, and their houses to them, this very day, and drop your claims against them.”
So, they agreed to do it, and they said that they would assist their brothers, without
requiring them to mortgage their lands, and/or sell their children.
Then I summoned the priests, and made these men formally vow to carry out their
promises. And I invoked the curse of God upon any of them that refused. “May God
destroy your homes and your livelihood, if you fail to keep this promise,” I declared.
And all-of the people shouted, “AMEN,” and praised the LORD. And the rich men did as
they had promised.
14. Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of
Judah, from the a20th year even unto the b32nd year of Artaxerxes the king, that is,
twelve years, I and my brethren, have not ceaten the bread of the governor.
15. But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the
people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yes;
even their servant’s bare rule over the people: but so, I did not, because of the
fear of God.
16. Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all-
of my servants were gathered thither unto the work.
17. Moreover, there were at my table one hundred and fifty Jews, and rulers, besides
those that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
18. Now that dwhich was prepared for me daily was one ox, and six choice sheep: also,
fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days, store of all sorts of wine: yet for
all this required not I not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was
heavy upon this people.
19. eThink upon me, my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people.
“I would like to mention that for the entire 12 years that I was governor of Judah ~ from
the 20th until the 32nd year of the reign of King Artaxerxes ~ my aides and I accepted
no salaries, or other assistance from the people of Israel.
This was quite a contrast to the former governors, who had demanded food and wine
and $100 a day in cash, and had put the population at the mercy of their aides, who
tyrannized them; but I obeyed GOD, and did not act that way.
I stayed at work on the wall, and refused to speculate in land; I also required my officials
to spend time working on the wall. All-of this, despite the fact, that I regularly fed 150
Jewish officials at my table, besides visitors from other countries! The provisions
required for each day was one ox, six fat sheep, and a large number of domestic fowls:
and we needed a huge supply of all kinds of wines, every ten days. Yet, I refused to
make a special levy against the people, for they were having a difficult time. O my God,
please keep in mind all that I’ve done for these people and bless me for it.

a
2:1 c
See verse 18; 2 Thessalonians d
1 Kings 4:22
b
13:6 3:8 e
13: 14,32,41; 2 Kings 20:3
CHAPTER SIX: SANBALLAT’S CRAFTINESS

1. Now it came to pass, when aSanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and
the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall, and that there was no
breach left therein; (balthough at this stage I had not set up doors upon the gates;)
2. That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying; Come, let us meet together in
some one of the villages in the plain of cOno. But they thought to do me mischief.
3. And I sent messengers unto them, saying: I am doing a great work, so that I
cannot come down: Why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down
to you?
4. Yet they sent (letters) unto me four times after this sort; and I them after the same
manner.
5. Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open
letter in his hand;
6. Wherein was written: It is reported among the heathen, and dGashmu says it, that
thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause, thou build the wall, that thou
may be their king, according to these words.
7. And thou have also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying;
There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these
words. Come now therefore, and let us counsel together.
8. Then I sent unto him, saying; There are no such things done as you say, but you
feignest them out of thine own heart.
9. For they all made us afraid, saying; Their hands shall be weakened from the work,
that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
10. Afterward, I came unto the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of
Mehetabeel, who was eshut up; and he said; Let us meet together in the house of
God, within the Temple, and let us shut the doors of the Temple; for they will come
to slay thee; yea, in the night they will come to slay thee.
11. And I said; Should such a man as I flee? And who is there, that, being as I am,
would go into the Temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12. And I perceived that God had not sent him: but that he pronounced this prophecy
against me; for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13. Therefore, was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they
might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14. fMy God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat, according to these thy works, and
on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me
in fear.
When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies found out
that we had almost completed the rebuilding of the wall ~ although at this stage, we
had not hung all-of the doors of the gates ~ they sent messengers asking me to meet
them in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realised that they were planning to
kill me, so I replied, by sending them back this message to them: “I am doing a great
work! Why should I stop to come and visit with you?” Four time they sent the same
message, and each time I gave the same answer. The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant
came with an open letter in his hand, and this is what it said;
“Geshem tells me that everywhere he goes he hears that the Jews are planning to rebel
(against the king), and that is why you are building the wall. He claims that you are
planning to be their king ~ that is what is being said. He also reports that you have

a
2:10 c
1 Chronicles 8:12 e
Jeremiah 36:5
b
3:3 d
[h]~ Or, Geshem f
13:29
appointed prophets to campaign for you at Jerusalem by saying; “Look! Nehemiah is
just the man we need!”
“You can be very sure that that I am going to pass these interesting comments on to
king Artaxerxes! I suggest that you come and talk it over with me ~ for that is the only
way that you can save yourself!”
My reply was! “You know that you are lying. There is not one bit of truth in your whole
story ~ you are just trying to scare us into stopping our work.” O LORD God, please
strengthen me!
A few days later I went to see Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, for
he said he was receiving as message from God.
“Let us hide in the Temple and bolt the door,” he exclaimed, “for they are coming tonight
to kill you.”
But I replied; “Should I, the governor, run away from my danger? And if I go into the
Temple, not being a priest, I would forfeit my life. No, I won’t do it!”
Then I perceived that God had not sent him (because God would never tell you to break
God’s laws), but that Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him to scare me and make me to
sin, by fleeing to the Temple; and then they would be able to accuse me.
“O my God,” I prayed; “don’t forget the evil of Tobiah and Sanballat, Noadiah the
Prophetess, and all-of the other prophets who have tried to discourage me.”
15. So, the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of aElul, in fifty-two days.
16. And it came to pass, that when all-of our enemies heard thereof, and all-of the
heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their
own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought by God.
The wall was finished in early September (on the 25th day of the month of Elul (the first
month of the Hebrew calendar). It had taken only 52 days to complete this work. When
our enemies, and the surrounding nations heard about it they were frightened and
humiliated, and they realised that thew work had been done with the help of our God.
17. Moreover, in those days, the nobles of Judah bsent many letters unto Tobiah, and
the letters of Tobiah came unto them.
18. For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of
Shechaniah the son of Arah: and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of
c
Meshullam the son of Berechiah.
19. Also, they reported his good deeds before me; and uttered my dwords (back) to
him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
During those 52 days, many letters were sent back and forth between Tobiah and the
wealthy politicians in Judah. For many in Judah had previously sworn allegiance to
Tobiah because his father-in-law was Shechaniah (son of Arah) and because his son
Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam (son of Berechiah. They all told
me what a wonderful man Tobiah was, and then they told him everything I had said:
and Tobiah sent many letters to frighten me.

CHAPTER SEVEN: REGISTER OF THE GENEALOGY

1. Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had eset up the doors, and the
porters, and the singers, and the Levites were appointed.
2. That I gave my brother fHanani and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over
Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
3. And I said unto them; Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be
hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint

a
1 Maccabees 14:27 c
Ezra 8:16 f
1:2
b
[h]~ multiplied their letters d
[h]~ matters
passing to Tobiah e
6:1
 watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone is to
be over against his house.
4. Now the city was alarge and great: but the people were few therein, a d the houses
were not built.
After the wall had been finished construction, and we had hung the doors in the gates,
and had appointed the gate keepers, the singers, and the Levites, I gave authority of
governing Jerusalem, to my brother Hanani and to Hananiah, the commander of the
fortress ~ a very faithful man, who revered God more than most people do. I issued
instructions to them not to open the Jerusalem gates until well after sunrise, and to
close and lock them while the guards were still on duty.
I also directed that the guards be residents of Jerusalem (to recognise locals), and that
each home owner must be on duty at regular times, and that each homeowner that lives
near the wall, must guard the section of the wall next to his own home. For the city was
large, but the population was small; and only a few houses were scattered throughout
the city.
5. And my God put in my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, ad the
people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the
genealogy of them which came bat the first, and found written therein.
6. c
These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those
that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had
carried away, and came again to Jerusalem, and to Judah, everyone unto his city;
7. Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahimana,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nahum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the
men of the people of Israel was this;
8. The children of Parosh, two thousand, one hundred & seventy-two.
9. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred & seventy-two.
10. The children of Arah, sis hundred & fifty-two.
11. The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand,
eight hundred & eighteen.
12. The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred & fifty-four.
13. The children of Zattu, eight hundred & forty-five.
14. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred & sixty.
15. The children of Binnui, six hundred & forty-eight.
16. The children of Bebai, six hundred & twenty-eight.
17. The children of Azgad, two thousand, three hundred & twenty-two.
18. The children of Adonikim, six hundred & sixty-seven.
19. The children of Bigvai, two thousand & sixty-seven.
20. The children of Adin, six hundred & fifty-five.
21. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22. The children of Hashum, three hundred & twenty-eight.
23. The children of Bezai, three hundred & twenty-four.
24. The children of dJorah, one hundred & twelve.
25. The children of, two hundred & twenty-three.
26. The children of eGibbar, ninety-five.
27. The children of Bethlehem, and Netophah, one hundred & eighty-eight
28. The men of Anathoth, one hundred & twenty-eight.
29. The children of fBethazmaveth, (or Azmaveth), forty-two.
30. The children of Kiriathaim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred & forty-three.
31. The children of Ramah and Geba, six hundred & twenty-one.
32. The men of Mishmash, one hundred & twenty-two.

a
[h]~ broad in spaces d
[h]~ Or, Hariph; Nehemiah e
[h]~ Or, Gibeon; Nehemiah
b
Ezra 1:11 7:24 7:25
c
Verse 73;Ezra 2:1-70 f
[h]~ or, Azmaveth; Ezra 2:24
33. The men of Bethel, and Ai, one hundred & twenty-three.
34. The children of Nebo, fifty-two.
35. The children of the other Elam, one thousand, two hundred & fifty-four.
36. The children of Harim, three hundred & twenty.
37. The children of Lod, aHadid, Ono, seven hundred & twenty-one.
38. The children of Jericho, three hundred & forty-five.
39. The children of Sanaa, three thousand, six hundred & thirty.
40. The Priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred &
seventy-three.
41. The children of Immer, one thousand & fifty-two.
42. The children of Pashur, one thousand, two hundred & forty-seven.
43. The children of Harim, one thousand & seventeen.
44. The Levites: The children of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the children of Hodaviah,
seventy-four.
45. The Singers: The children of Asaph, one hundred & forty-eight.
46. The children of the porters: The children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the
children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of
Shobai, a total of one hundred & thirty-eight.
47. The bNethinim’s: The children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of
Tabbaoth;
48. The children of Keros, the children of Siaha, the children of Padon,
49. The children of Lebanah, the children of Hagabah, the children of Akkub,
50. The children of Hagab, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan,
51. The children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, the children of Reaiah,
52. The children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, the children of Gazzam,
53. The children of Uzza, the children of Paseah, the children of Besai,
54. The children of Asnah, the children of Mehunim, the children of cNephusim;
55. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
56. The children of Bazluth, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
57. The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Thamar,
58. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha.
59. The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of
Sophereth, the children of Peruda,
60. The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
61. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of
Zebaim, the children of Amon.
62. All-of the Nethinim’s, and the children of Solomon’s servants, were three hundred
& ninety-two.
63. And these were they that went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, dAddan, and
Immer: but they could not show their father’s house, and their eseed, whether
they were of Israel.
64. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred
& fforty-two.
65. And the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz,
the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the
Gileadite; and was called after their name; [these were the children of the
priests who married outside of their tribe].
66. These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but
they were not found; therefore, gthey were as polluted, and put from the
priesthood.

a
[h]~ Or. Harid, in some c
[h]~ Or, Nephishesim f
Ezra 2:60
copies.
d
[h]~ Or, Addon g
[h]~ They were polluted from
b
[h]~ “those who are given”
e
[h]~ Or, pedigree the priesthood.
67. And the aTirshatha said unto them that they bshould not eat of the most holy
things, until there stood up a priest with cUrim and with Thummim.
68. [Two objects of a now unknown nature, possibly used for
divination, worn on the breastplate of a Jewish high priest.
Refer 1 Samuel 28:6]
69. The whole congregation was forty-two thousand, three
hundred & sixty,
70. Beside their manservants and their maids, of whom there
were seven thousand, three hundred & thirty-seven; and
there were among them two hundred singing men and
singing women.
71. Their horses were seven hundred & thirty-six; their mules two hundred & forty-
five;
72. Their camels, four hundred & thirty-five; their asses, six thousand, seven hundred
& twenty.
73. And dsome of the chiefs of the fathers, gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to
the treasure one thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred & thirty
Priests’ garments.
74. And some of the chiefs of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work, twenty
thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.
75. And that which the rest of the people was twenty thousand drams of gold, two
thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven Priest’s garments.
76. So, the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of
the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the
seventh month came, the children were in their cities.
[PLEASE NOTE: When you research this list of people who are recorded as having
returned from exile in Babylon, and compare it to the list in Ezra chapter two, (line by
line), you will find that they are NOT identical. In some cases, the names are different,
and in other cases the numbers of people are different.]

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE READING OF THE LAW: THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

1. And all-of the people egathered themselves together as one man into the streets
that was before the fWater Gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the gscribe to bring the
book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
2. And Ezra the priest brought the Law before the congregation, both the men and
the women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the
seventh month.
3. And he read therein before the street that was before the Water Gate hfrom the
morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could
understand; and the ears of all-of the people were attentive unto the book of the
Law.
4. And Ezra the scribe, stood upon a ipulpit of wood, which they had made for the
purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and
Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand Pedaiah, ad Mishael,
and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5. And Ezra opened the Book in the jsight of all-of the people; (for he was above all-
of the people); and when he opened it, all-of the people stood up:

a
[h]~ Or, Governor e
Ezra 3:1 i
[h]~ a tower of wood
b
Leviticus 22:2, 10,15-16 f
3:26 j
[h]~ eyes
c
Exodus 28:30 g
Ezra 7:6
d
[h]~ part h
[h]~ from the light
6. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all-of the people answered; aAmen,
Amen, with lifting up their hands, and worshipped the Lord, with their faces to the
ground.
7. And Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah,
Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, bcaused the
people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place.
8. So, they read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and
caused them to understand the reading.
Now in mid-September, all-of the people assembled at the plaza in front of the Water
Gate and requested Ezra, their religious leader, to read to them the law of God, which
He had given to Moses.
So, Ezra, the priest, brought out to them the scroll of Moses’ Laws. [Please note that
the nation of Israel had been in captivity for 70 years in Babylon, and had returned 14
years earlier, to rebuild the Temple, and now the walls around Jerusalem had been
completed. Throughout all-of that time and tribulation, God Almighty had protected His
word on the sacred scrolls.]
He stood upon a wooden stand made especially for the occasion, so that everyone could
see him as he read. He faced the square in front of the Water Gate, and read from early
morning until noon. Everyone stood up as he opened the scroll. And all who were
old enough to understand, paid close attention.
[I have been attending church services all around the world, for over 75 years, and I
am yet to see a church congregation, have this type of respect for God’s Word.]
To his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah. To his left
stood, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all-of the people said; “Amen,” and
lifted up their hands towards heaven; then they bowed and worshipped the LORD with
their faces towards the ground.
[This is the major difference between the belief of Judaism and Christianity. The Jews
believe that their sins are ever before them (they are forgiven for a year ~ but never
forgotten), and if they look up and see the face of God, they will die: Whereas Christians,
believe that Jesus has not only “forgiven our sins,” but also “forgotten them,” and as
joint heirs with Jesus, we can enter the Holy of Holies, right into the very presence of
God.]
And as Ezra read from the scroll, Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai,
Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites went
among the people, (while the people remained in their places), and explained the
meaning of the passage that was being read.
[The interesting thing about this passage of scripture is that there were people in this
Jewish congregation who were qualified and able to explain the meaning of the passage
that was being read to the people By Ezra. In today’s churches, there would be very few
people, that the pastor would trust, to be assigned to this role, to explain the meaning
of the passages of scripture, that are being read to the congregation.]
9. And Nehemiah, which is the cTirshatha (the Governor), and Ezra the priest and
scribe, and the Levites, dthat taught the people, said unto the people; This day is
holy unto the LORD your GOD: mourn not, nor weep. For all-of the people wept,
when they heard the words of the Law.
10. Then he said unto them; Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send
portions unto them, for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our
LORD: Neither you be sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
11. So, the Levites stilled all-of the people, saying; Hold your peace, for the day is
holy; Neither be you grieved.

a
[h]~ 5:13 c
[h]~ the Governor
b
2 Chronicles 35:3 d
See verses 7,8,12
12. And all-of the people went their way to eat, ad to drink, and to send portions and
to make great mirth, because they had aunderstood the words that were declared
unto them.
All-of the people began sobbing, when they heard the commands of the Law.
Then Ezra the priest, and I as Governor, and the Levites, who were assisting me, said
to them; “Don’t cry on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD,
your God. It is time to celebrate with a hearty meal, and to send presents to those in
need, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. You must ne be dejected and sad, on this
special day!”
And the Levites, too, quietened the people, telling them; “That’s right! Don’t weep! For
this is a day of holy joy, not of sadness!”
So, the people went away to eat a festive meal, and to send presents; It was a time of
great and joyful celebration, because they could hear and understand God’s word.
13. And of the second day were gathered together the chiefs of the fathers of all-of the
people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even bto understand the
words of the Law.
14. And they found the words written in the Law which the LORD had commanded cby
Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh
month.
15. And that they should publish and proclaim in all-of their cities, and in Jerusalem,
saying; Go forth unto the mount, ad fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and
myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths,
as it is written.
The next day, the Clan Leaders, and the Priests and the Levites, met with Ezra, to go
over the law in greater detail. And they studied it, and they noted that Jehovah had told
Moses, that the people of Israel should live in tents, during the Feast of Tabernacles, to
be held that month. He had said also that a proclamation should be made throughout
all-of the cities of the land, and especially in Jerusalem, telling the people to go to the
hills to get branches from the Olive, Myrtle, Palm and Fig trees, and to make huts in
which to live, for the duration of the feast.
16. So, the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every
one upon dthe roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house
of God, and in ethe street of the Water Gate, and in the street of the fGate of
Ephraim.
17. And all-of the congregation of them were again out of the captivity made booths,
and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua (Joshua) the son of Nun
unto that day ghad not the children of Israel done so. And there was great gladness.
18. Also, day by day, from the first day unto the last day, hhe read in the book of the
Law of God. And the kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day, was ia
solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
So, the people went out and cut branches, and used them to build huts on the roofs of
their houses, or in their courtyards, or in the court of the Temple, or on the plaza beside
the Water Gate, or at the Ephraim Gate Plaza.
They lived in these huts for the seven days of the feast, and everyone was filled with
joy! (This procedure had not been carried out since the days of Joshua, the son of Nun.)
Ezra read from the scroll on each of the seven days of the feast, and on the eight day
there was a solemn closing service, as required by the laws of Moses. [Note: Joshua
passed away on the 26th of Nisan, 2516 (1245 BCE), at the age of 110 years. This
ceremony was for the Nation of Israel “to remember God’s protection for the nation of

a
See verses 7-9 d
2 Samuel 11:2 h
Deuteronomy 10:11
b
[h]~ Or, that they may instruct e
3:26 i
[h]~ a restraint.
in the words of the Law. f
2 Kings 24:13; 12:39
c
[h]~ by the hand of g
Ezra 3:4
Israel, as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years, because of their
disobedience.” Not since the days of Joshua, roughly 1,000 years earlier, had the people
of Israel properly observed the Feast of Tabernacles by living in booths. The Jewish
nation had not been following the Law, for 1,000 years. This shows how easy it is to be
going to the Temple, saying your prayers, making your offerings, but not actually being
obedient to God’s written word.
The same applies for Christians today; people go to church, sing the hymns, say their
prayers, give their offerings, but fail to have Communion “every time they meet
together” ~ “in remembrance of Me.” Maybe the Churches better start following the
word of God, in the New Testament, as well!
IN BOTH CASES (for the Jews & for the Christians) they have “a form of
godliness” ~ but they are not “holy,” because they are refusing to follow ALL-
OF the Word of the Lord.

CHAPTER NINE: THE LEVITE’S CONFESSION OF GOD’S GOODNESS

1. Now, on the twenty-fourth day of athis month, the children of Israel were
assembled with fasting, and with bsack-clothes, and cearth upon their heads.
2. And dthe seed of Israel separated themselves from all estrangers, and stood and
confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers.
3. And they stood up in their place, and read of the Book of the Law of the LORD their
God, one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and
worshipped the LORD their God.
On the 10th October (24th day of the Hebrew calendar month), the people returned for
another observance; this time, they fasted, and clothed themselves in sackcloth, and
sprinkled dirt in their hair. And the Israelis separated themselves from all foreigners.
And the laws of God were read aloud to them (KJV says for ¼ of a day, which is 6 hours),
and then for another 6 hours they took turns, confessing their sins, and the sins of their
ancestors. And everyone worshipped the Lord their God. So, they had a service which
lasted 12 hours. Some Christians complain, if the service goes more one hour. Look how
far we have fallen ~ we have left out first love, to worship a form of godliness!
4. Then stood up upon the fstairs, of the Levites, gJeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel,
Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani (2), and Chenani, and cried out with a loud
voice unto the LORD their God.
5. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah,
Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said; Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever
and ever; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessings
and praise.
6. h
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made the heaven, the heaven of
heavens, with all-of their hosts, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas,
and all that is therein, and you preserve them all; and the host of heaven worships
thee.
7. Thou art the LORD the God, who did choose iAbram, and brought him forth out of
Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name jAbraham.
8. And found his heart kfaithful, before thee; and made a lcovenant with him to give
the land of mthe Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say to his seed, and nhave performed
thy words; for thou art righteous:

a
8:2 f
[h]~ scaffold k
Genesis 15:6
b
1 Kings 20:31 g
8:7 l
Genesis 12:7; 15:18; 17:7-9;
c
Joshua 7:6 h
2 Kings 19:15 Leviticus 23:36
d
Ezra 10:11; chapter 13: 3:30 i
Genesis 11:31; 12:1 m
Exodus 13:5
e
[h]~ strange children j
Genesis 17:5 n
Joshua 23:14
9. And adid see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heard their cry by the Red
Sea;
10. And showed signs and wonders before Pharoah, and on all-of his servants, and on
all-of the people of his land; for thou knew that they dealt proudly against them.
So did thou bget thee a name, as it is this day.
11. And cthou did divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of
the sea on dry land; and their persecutors, thou threw into the deeps, as a stone
into the mighty waters.
12. Moreover, thou dlead them in the day by a cloudy pillar; and in the night by a pillar
of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
13. e
Thou came down also upon Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and
gave them right judgements, and ftrue laws, good statutes, and commandments:
14. And you made known unto them thy gholy Sabbath, and commanded them
precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:
15. And hgave them bread from heaven for their (physical) hunger, and ibrought forth
water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should
j
go into possess the land kwhich had been sworn to give them.
16. But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened
not to thy commandments.
17. And refused to obey, neither lwere mindful of thy wonders that thou did amongst
them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion mappointed a captain to
return to their bondage; but thou art na God ready to pardon, ogracious and
merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsakes them not.
18. Yes, pwhen they had made them a molten calf, and said; This is thy god that
brought thee out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations;
19. Yet thou, in thy manifold mercies, forsook not them in the wilderness: the pillar of
the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the
pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way therein that they should go.
[Imagine the amount of electricity we would save, if we, as nations turned back to
God, and had the Lord provide a fire by night to give us light.]
20. Thou gave also thy qgood Spirit (the Holy Spirit) to instruct them, and withheld not
thy manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst (in the desert).
21. Yes, rforty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked
nothing; stheir clothes waxed not old; and their feet swelled not.
22. Moreover, you gave them kingdoms and nations, and did divide them into tcorners:
So, they possessed the land of uSihon, and the land of the king of vHeshbon, and
the land of wOg, king of Bashan.
23. Their children also multiplied thou, as xthe stars in the heaven, and brought them
into the land, concerning which thou had promised to their fathers, that they should
go in to possess it.
24. So, the children went in and possessed the land, and thou subdued before them
the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hands ~ with
their kings, and the people of the land, that they might do with them yas they
would.

a
Exodus 3:7 j
Deuteronomy 1:8 r
Deuteronomy 2:7
b
Exodus 9:16 k
[h]~ which thou had lifted up s
Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5
c
Exodus 14:21-22,27-28 thine hand to give them t
Numbers 24:17; Jeremiah 48:45
d
Exodus 13:21-22 l
Psalm 78:11,42-43 u
Numbers 21:21
e
Exodus 19:20; 20:1 m
Numbers 14:4 v
Numbers 32:37
f
[h]~ laws of truth n
[h]~ God of pardons w
Numbers 21:33,35
g
Exodus 20:8-11 o
Exodus 34:6; Joel 2:13 x
Genesis 15:5
h
Exodus 16:14-15 p
Exodus 32:4 y
[h]~ according to their will
i
Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:9 q
Numbers 11:17; Isaiah 63:11
25. And they took strong cities, and a afat land, and possessed bhouses full of goods,
c
wells already dug, vineyards, and olive-yards, and dfruit trees in abundance: so,
they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy
goodness.
26. Nevertheless, they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and ecast thy law
behind their backs, and fslew thy prophets which testified against them, to turn
back to thee, and they wrought great provocations.
27. g
Therefore, thou delivered them into the hands of their enemies (as punishment
for their rebellion), who vexed them: and in the time of their troubles, when they
cried unto thee, thou heard them from heaven, and according to thy manifold
mercies, thou gave them hsaviours, who saved them out of the hand of their
enemies.
28. But after they had rest, ithey did evil again before thee; therefore, you left them in
the hands of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them: yet when they
returned, and cried unto thee, thou heard them from heaven: and many times, did
thou deliver them according to thy mercies;
29. And testified against them, that thou might bring them again unto the law: yet
they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against
my judgements, (jwhich if a man does, he shall live in them); and withdrew the
shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
30. Yet many years did thou kforbear them, and testified against them by the Spirit lin
thy prophets: yet would they not give ear: mtherefore, gave thou them into the
hands of the people of the lands.
31. Nevertheless, for thy great mercies’ sake, nthou did not utterly consume them, nor
forsake them: for thou art a ogracious and merciful God.
32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, pwho keeps
covenant and mercy, let not all-of the qtrouble seem little before thee, rthat has
come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our
prophets, and on our fathers, and on all-of thy people, ssince the time of the kings
of Assyria unto this day.
33. Howbeit, tthou art just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but
we have done wickedly:
34. Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor
hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst
testify against them.
35. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness, that
thou gave them, and in the large and fat land which thou gave before them, neither
turned they back from their wicked works.
36. Behold, uwe are servants this day, and for the land that thou gave to our fathers,
to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold we are servants in it:
37. And it yielded much increase unto the kings that thou have set over us, because of
our sins; also, they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their
pleasure, and we are in great distress.
38. And because of all this, vwe make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes,
Levites, and priests, wseal unto it.

a
Numbers 13:27 i
[h]~ they returned to do evil q
[h]~ weariness; Malachi 1:13
b
Deuteronomy 6:11 j
Leviticus 18:5 r
[h]~ that has found us
c
[h]~ Or, cisterns k
[h]~ protract over them s
2 Kings 17:3
d
[h]~ tree of food l
[h]~ in the hand of thy prophets t
Ezra 9:15
e
1 Kings 14:9 m
Ezra 9:7 u
Ezra 9:9
f
1 Kings 18:4; 19:10 n
Jeremiah 4:27 v
2 Kings 23:3; Ezra 10:3;
g
Judges 2:14, 3:8-9 o
See verse 17 chapter 10:29
h
Judges 3:9 p
Deuteronomy 7:9 w
[h]~ at the sealing of
Some of the Levites were on the platform, praising the Lord with songs of joy. These
men were Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani (2) and Chenani.
Then the Levite leaders called out to the people; “Stand up, and praise the LORD your
God, for he lives from everlasting to everlasting. Praise His glorious name! It is far
greater than we can think, or comprehend, or say.”
The leaders in this part of the service were Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah,
Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah.
Then Ezra prayed; “You alone are God. You made the skies and the heavens, the earth
and the seas, and everything in them. You preserve it all; and all-of the angels of heaven
worship you.
“You are the LORD God who chose Abram and brought him from Ur of the Chaldeans,
and renamed him Abraham. When he was faithful to you, you made a contract with him
to forever give him and his descendants (through the line of Isaac & Jacob) the land of
the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and the Girgashites; and now
you have done what you have promised, for you are always true to your word. [The
Girgashites were the 5th ethnic group that lived in the Land of Canaan.]
“You saw troubles and sorrow of our ancestors in Egypt, and you heard their cries from
beside the Red Sea. You displayed great miracles against Pharaoh and his people, for
you knew how brutally the Egyptians were treating them; you have a glorious reputation
because of those never-to-be-forgotten-deeds.
“You divided the sea for your people, so they could go through the sea on dry land! And
then you destroyed their enemies in the depths of that same sea; they sank like stones
beneath the mighty waters.
“You led our ancestors by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, so that
they could find their way and keep on the correct path.
“You came down onto Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, an gave them
good laws and true commandments, including the laws about the Holy Sabbath; and
you commanded them, through Moses your servant, to obey them all!
“You gave them bread from heaven, when they were hungry, and water from the rock
when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go in and to conquer the land, that
you had sworn to give them; but our ancestors were a proud and stubborn lot, and they
refused to listen to, or obey, your commandments.
“They refused to obey, and did not pay any attention to the miracles that you did for
them; instead, they rebelled, and appointed a leader to take them back into slavery in
Egypt! HOW STUPID IS THAT? God gets you out of slavery & your ancestors
wanted to go back into slavery??? But O LORD, you are a God of forgiveness, always
ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and full of love and mercy for
your people; you did not abandon them; even though they made a calf-idol and
proclaimed, ‘This is our God! He brought us our of Egypt!’ They sinned in so many ways,
BUT in your great mercy, you did not abandon them to die in the wilderness! The pillar
of cloud led them forward day by day, and the pillar of fire, showed them to correct way
through the night. You sent your good Spirit to instruct them, and you did not stop
giving them bread from heaven, and water from the rock, to quench their thirst.
For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing in all-of that
time. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell!
“Then you helped them conquer great kingdoms and many nations, and you placed your
people in every corner of the land; they completely took over the land of King Sihon of
Heshbon, and King Og of Bashan. You caused a population explosion among the
Israelites, and brought them into the land that you had promised to their ancestors. You
subdued whole nations before them ~ even the kings and people of the Canaanites were
powerless! Your people captured fortified cities and fertile land; they took over houses
full of good things, with cisterns, and vineyards and olive-yards, and many, many fruit
trees; so, they ate and were full and enjoyed themselves in all your blessings.
“But despite all this they were disobedient and rebelled against you. They threw away
your law, killed your prophets, who told them return to you, and they did many other
terrible things. But in their time of trouble, they cried out to you, and you heard them
from heaven, and in great mercy you sent them saviours who delivered them from their
enemies. But when all was going well, your people turned away into sin once again, and
once again you let their enemies conquer them. Yet whenever your people returned to
you and cried out to you for help, once more you listened form heaven, and in your
wonderful mercy delivered them!
You punished them in order to turn them back to your laws; but even though they should
have obeyed them, they were proud and would not listen, and continued to sin.
You were patient with them for many years. You sent your prophets to warn them about
sins, but still, they would not listen. So once again, you allowed the heathen nations to
conquer them. But in your great mercy you did not destroy them completely, or abandon
them forever. What gracious and merciful God you are!
“And now, O great and awesome God, you who keep your promises of love and kindness
~ do not let all-of the hardships that we have gone through become as nothing to you.
Great trouble has come upon us and upon our kings and princes and priests and prophets
and ancestors from the day when the kings of Assyria first triumphed over us, until now.
Every time you punished us, you were being perfectly fair; we have sinned so greatly,
that you gave us only what we deserved. Our kings, princes, priests, and ancestors
didn’t obey your laws or listened to your warnings. They did not worship you despite the
wonderful things that you did for them and the great goodness you showered upon
them. You gave them a large, productive land, but they refused to turn from their
wickedness.
“So now, we are slaves here in the land of plenty which you gave to our ancestors!
Slaves among all-of this abundance! The lush yield of this land passes into the hands of
the king whom you have allowed, because of our sins. They have power over our bodies
and our cattle, and we serve them at their pleasure, ad we are in great misery. Because
of all-of this, we again promise to serve the LORD! And we and our princes and Levites,
and priests, put our names to this covenant.

CHAPTER TEN: SEALING OF THE COVENANT

1. Now athose that sealed were Nehemiah, bthe Tirshatha (the Governor), cthe son of
Hachaliah, and Zedekiah,
2. d
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3. Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,
4. Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch,
5. Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,
6. Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,
7. Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,
8. Maasiah, Bilgai, Shemaiah: these were the priests.
9. And the Levites: both Jeshua the son of Azariah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad,
Kadmiel;
10. And their brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,
11. Micha, Rehob, Hashabiah,
12. Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
13. Hodijah, Bani, Beninu.
14. The Chief of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,
15. Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,
16. Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

a
[h]~ at the sealings c
1:1
b
[h]~ the Governor (see 8:9) d
11:11
17. Ater, Hizkijah, Azur,
18. Hodijah, Hashum, Bezai,
19. Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,
20. Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,
21. Meshezabeel, Zadok, Jaddua,
22. Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,
23. Hoshea, Hananiah, Hashub,
24. Hallohesh, Pileha, Shobek,
25. Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,
26. And Ahijah, Hanan, Anan,
27. Malluch, Harim, Baanah.
28. And the rest of the people, athe priests, and the Levites, the porters, the singers,
the Nethinims, and ball they that had separated themselves from the people of the
lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one
having knowledge, and having understanding;
29. They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an
oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given cby Moses, dthe servant of God, and to
observe and do all-of the commandments of the LORD, our Lord, and his
judgements and his statutes;
30. And that we would not give eour daughters unto the people of the land, nor take
their daughters for our sons;
31. f
And if the people of the land bring wares, or any victuals on the Sabbath Day to
sell; that we would not buy it on the Sabbath Day, or on the Holy Day; and that
we would leave the gseventh year, and the hexaction of ievery debt.
32. Also, we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of
a shekel for the service of the House of our God.
33. For jthe shewbread, and for the kcontinual meat offering, and for the continual burnt
offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for lthe set feasts, and for the holy
things, and for the sin offerings mto make an atonement for Israel, and for all the
work of the house of our God.
34. And nwe cast lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for othe wood
offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at
p
times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, qas it
is written in the law.
35. And to bring rthe firstfruits of our ground, and the firstfruits of all-of the trees, year
by year, unto the house of the LORD.
36. Also, the first born of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the
firstlings of our herds, and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God; unto the
priests that minister in the house of our God.
37. s
And that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the
fruit of all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the tchambers of
the house of our God; and the utithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same
Levites might have the tithes in all-of the cities of our tillage.

a
Ezra 2:36-43 g
Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus p
Ezra 10:14
b
Ezra 6:21 25:4 q
Leviticus 6:12
c
[h]~ by the hand of h
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 r
Exodus 23:19; 34:26;
d
Deuteronomy 33:1 i
[h]~ every hand Deuteronomy 26:2
e
Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy j
Leviticus 24:5-6 s
Leviticus 23:17; Numbers
7:3; Ezra 9:12,14 k
Numbers chapters 28 & 29 15:19; Deuteronomy 18:4
f
Exodus 20:10; Leviticus 23:3; l
Numbers 29:39 t
See verses 38-39
Deuteronomy 5:12; chapter m
Leviticus 1:4 u
Leviticus 27:30
13:15-22 n
See 11:1
o
See 13:31
38. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites, awhen the Levites take
tithes: and the Levites shall bring up the tithe to the tithes unto the house of our
God, to the chambers, into the treasure house.
39. For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring an offering of the corn,
of the new wine, and of the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the
sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers; and we
will not forsake the house of our God.
These men (listed above) signed the documents of the oath, on behalf of the entire
nation ~ which included the common people; the priests; the Levites; the gatekeepers;
the choir members, the Temple Servants (the Nethinims); and of the rest who, with
their wives and sons and daughters, who were old enough to understand, had separated
themselves from the heathen people, who were living in the land, in order to serve God.
For we all heartily agreed to this oath and vowed to accept the curse of God unless we
obeyed God’s laws, as issued by his servant Moses.
[Maybe Christian nations should consider taking a similar oath, to obey God’s Laws, as
defined by Jesus in the New Testament, and be prepared to suffer God’s curse upon
their nation, if they turn away from God and the oath that they have made.]
We also agreed not to pollute God’s inheritance by forbidding our daughters to marry
non-Jewish men, and not to let our sons marry non-Jewish girls.
We further agreed that if the heathen people in the land should bring any grain or other
produce to be sold on the Sabbath Day, or on any other holy day, that we would refuse
to buy it. And we agreed not to do any work every seventh year, and to forgive and
cancel the debts of our brother Jews.
We also agree to charge ourselves annually with a Temple Tax, so that there would be
enough money to care for the Temple of our God; for we needed supplies of the Special
Bread of the Presence, as well as grain offerings and burnt offerings for the Sabbaths,
the new moon feasts, and the annual feasts.
We also needed to purchase the other items necessary for the work of the Temple and
for the atonement of Israel.
Then we tossed a coin (cast lots) to determine when ~ at regular times each year, the
families of the priests, Levites, and leaders should supply the wood for the burnt offering
at the Temple, as required in the law.
We also agreed to always bring the first part of every crop (Yearly) to the Temple ~
whether it be a ground crop, or from our fruit and olive trees.
We agreed to give to God our oldest sons and the first born of all-of our cattle, herds,
and flocks, just as the law requires; we presented them to the priests who minister in
the Temple of our God. They stored the produce in the Temple of our God ~ the best of
our grain crops, and other contributions, the first of our fruit, and the first of the new
wine and the olive oil. And we promised to bring to the Levites one tenth of everything
our land produced, for the Levites were responsible to collect the tithes in all-of our rural
towns.
A priest ~ a descendant of Aaron, would be with the Levites, as they received these
tithes, and one tenth of all-of that, was collected as tithes and was delivered to the
Temple and placed in the appropriate storage areas.
The people and the Levites were required by law to bring these offerings of grain, new
wine, and olive oil to the Temple and place them in the sacred containers for use by the
ministering priests, the gate keepers, and the choir singers. So, we all agreed together
not to neglect the Temple of our God.

a
Numbers 18:26
CHAPTER ELEVEN: NAMES OF THE CHIEF INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM

1. And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people also cast
lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine parts, to dwell
in other cities.
2. And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at
Jerusalem.
The Israeli officials were all living in Jerusalem, the Holy City, at this time; but now one
tenth of the people from the other cities and towns in Judah and Benjamin were selected
by lots to live there too. Some of the people who moved to Jerusalem were volunteers,
and they were highly honoured.
3. Now, these are the chief of the province that dwell in Jerusalem: but in the cities
of Judah dwelt everyone in his possession, in their cities, to wit Israel, the priests,
and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and athe children of Solomon’s servants.
4. And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of
Benjamin. Of the children was: Athaiah, the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah,
the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children
of bPerez;
5. And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son
of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.
6. All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred & sixty-eight valiant
men.
7. And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed,
the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the
son of Jesaiah.
8. And after him Gabbai, Sallai, Nine hundred & twenty-eight.
9. And Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer: and Judah the son of Senuah was
second (in charge) over the city.
10. cOf the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin.
11. Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of
Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler of the house of God.
[Note: Already now, we have the separation of the two Levitical priestly lines as
prophesied. The Zadok priesthood, who are commanded by God to minister “unto
the Lord,” and the Abiathar Priesthood, who are allowed to minister unto the people,
but forbidden to minister unto God. If you want more information about this, please
check in the appendix.]
12. And their brethren that did the work of the house eight hundred & twenty-two: and
Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of
Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah.
13. And his brethren, chief of the fathers, two hundred & forty-two: and Amashai to
son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer.
14. And their brethren, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight, and their
overseer was Zabdiel, dthe son of one of the great men, the son of Haggolim.
15. eAlso, of the Levites: Shemaiah, the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of
Hasbabiah, the son of Bunnui.
16. And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, fhad the oversight of gthe
outward business of the house of God.

a
Ezra 2:55 c
See verse 14; 1 Chronicles e
See verse 19: 1 Chronicles
b
Genesis 38:29; (Pharez); 1 9:10-13 9:14-17
Chronicles 9:4 d
[h]~ the son of Haggolim f
[h]~ were over
g
1 Chronicles 26:29
17. And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the
principal, to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among
his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
18. All-of the Levites in the holy city were two hundred & eighty-four.
19. Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were
one hundred & seventy-two.
Now the Israeli Officials were all living in Jerusalem, the holy city at this time; but now
it was decided that one tenth of the people from other towns and cities throughout Judah
and Benjamin, were selected by lots to live there also.
Some people had already moved to Jerusalem at this time as volunteers, and were
highly honoured. The following is a list of the provincial officials, who came to Jerusalem
(though most of the leaders, the priests, the Levites, the Temple assistants, and the
descendants of King Solomon’s servants continued to live in their own homes, in the
various cities of Judah).
The Leaders from the tribe of Judah: Athaiah, (son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of
Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, a descendent of Perez.);
Maaseiah (son of Baruch, son of Colhozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib,
son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite). These were the 468 stalwart descendants of
Perez, who lived in Jerusalem.
The Leaders of the Tribe of Benjamin: Sallu (son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of
Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah). The 968
descendants of Gabbai and Sallai. Their chief was Joel, son of Zichri, who was assisted
by Judah, son of Hassenaah.
The Leaders from among the Priests: Jedaiah (son of Joiarib); Jachin; Seraiah, son of
Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the Chief Priest.
In all, there were 822 priests doing the work at the Temple, under the leadership of
these men. And there were 242 priests under the leadership of Adaiah (son of Jeroham,
son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashur, son of Malchijah).
There were also 128 stalwart men under the leadership of Amashai (son of Azarel, son
of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer); who was assisted by Zabdiel (son of
Haggolim).
The Levite Leaders: Shemaiah (son of Hashub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son
of Bunni); Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were in charge of the work outside of the
Temple; Mattaniah (son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph) was the one who began
the thanksgiving services with prayers; Bakbukiah and Abda (son of Shammua, son of
Galal, son of Jeduthun) were his assistants. In all, there 284 Levites in Jerusalem.
There were also 172 gatekeepers, led by Akkub, Talmon, and others of their clan.
20. And the residue of the Priests, and the Levites, were in all-of the cities of Judah,
a
everyone in his inheritance.
21. But the bNethinims dwelt in Ophel: and Ziha and Gi spa were over the Nethinims.
22. The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of
Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha. Of the sons of Asaph, the
singers were over the business of the house of God.
23. For it was the cking’s command concerning them, that da certain portion should be
for the singers, due for every day.
24. And Pethahiah, the son of Meshezabeel, of the children of eZerah, the son of Judah,
was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
25. And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at
f
Kirjatharba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof,
and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof.
26. And at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,

a
See verse 3 c
Ezra 6:8-9 e
Genesis 38:30 (Zarah)
b
1Chronicles 9:2 d
[h]~ a sure ordinance f
Joshua 21:11
27. And at Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and in the villages thereof.
28. And at Ziklag, and at Makoni, and in the villages thereof,
29. And at Enrimmon, and at Zariah, and at Yarmuth,
30. Zanoah, Adullam, and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekah,
and in the villages thereof. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of
Hinnom.
31. The children also of Benjamin afrom Geba dwelt at Mishmash, and Aija, and Bethel,
and in their villages,
32. And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33. Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34. Hadid, Zebaim, Neballat,
35. Lod, and Ono, bthe valley of craftsmen.
36. And of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
The other Priests, Levites, and people lived wherever their family inheritance was
located. However, the Temple workers (whose leader were Ziha and Gisha) all lived in
Ophel.
The supervisor of the Levites in Jerusalem and of those serving at the Temple was Uzzi
(son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica), a descendant of Asaph,
whose clan became the Tabernacle singers. He was appointed by King David, who also
set a pay scale of the singers.
Pethahiah (son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah, a son of Judah) assisted in all
matters of public administration.
Some of the towns where the people of Judah lived were:
Kiriatharba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, (and their surrounding villages), Jeshua, Moladah,
Bethphelet, Hazarshual, Beersheba (and its surrounding villages), Ziklag, Meconah, and
its villages, Enrimmon, Zorah, Jarmusch, Zanoah, Adullam, (and their surrounding
villages), Lachish and its nearby fields, Azekah and its towns.
The people of the tribe of Benjamin lived at: Geba, Mishmash, Aija, Bethel (and its
surrounding villages), Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Hadid, Zebaim,
Neballat, Lod, Ono (the valley of craftsmen).
Some of the Levites who lived in Judah were sent to live with the tribe of Benjamin.

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE HIGH PRIESTS & THE CHIEF LEVITES

1. Now these are the cPriests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel, the son
of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2. (Verses 2-6) Amariah, dMalluch, Hattush, eShechaniah, fRehum, gMeremoth, Iddo,
h
Ginnetho, Abijah, iMiamin, jMaadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7. k
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the Priests, and of their
brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8. Moreover, the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah,
which was lover mthe thanksgiving, he, and his brethren.
9. Also, Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were over against them in the watches.
Here is a list of the Priests who accompanied Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel) and Jeshua:
• Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Shechaniah, Rehum,
Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, Joiarib,
Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah.

a
[h]~ of f
[h]~ or Harim (verse 15) k
[h]~ Sallai (verse 20)
b
1 Chronicles 4:14 g
[h]~ Or, Meraioth l
Compare chapt. 11:17, with
c
Ezra 2:1-2 h
[h]~ Or, Ginnethon verses 24,25
d
[h]~ or Melicu i
[h]~ Or, Miniamin m
[h]~ the psalms of
e
[h]~ Or, Shebaniah j
[h]~ Or, Moadiah thanksgiving
The Levites who went with them were:
• Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, Mattaniah ~ who was the one in charge
of the thanksgiving service.
• Bakbukiah and Uno, their fellow clansmen, helped during the service.
10. And Jeshua begat Joakim, Joakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada.
11. And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan, begat Jaddua.
12. (verses 12-21) And in the days of Joakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of
Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah; of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah,
Jehohanan; of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; of Harim, Adna; of
Meraioth, Helkai; of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; of Abijah, Zichri;
of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
and of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; of Hilkiah,
Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel.
22. The Levites, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua, were
recorded chief of the fathers: also, the priests, to the reign of Darius, the Persian.
23. The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles,
even unto the days of aJohanan, the son of Eliashib.
24. And the chiefs of the Levites: Hasbabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of
Kadmiel, with their brethren bover against them cto praise and dto give thanks,
e
according to the commandment of David, fthe man of God, gward over against
ward.
25. Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters,
keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.
26. These were in the days of Joakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the
days of Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the Priest, the scribe.
Jeshua was the father of Joakim; Joakim was the father of Eliashib; Eliashib was the
father of Joiada; Joiada was the father of Jonathan; Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.
The following are the clan leaders of the Priests, who served under the High Priest
Joakim:
• Meraiah, leader of the Seraiah clan;
• Hananiah, leader of the Jeremiah clan;
• Meshullam, leader of the Ezra clan;
• Jehohanan, leader of the Amariah clan;
• Jonathan, leader of the Malluchi clan;
• Joseph, leader of the Shebaniah clan;
• Adna, leader of the Harim clan;
• Helkai, leader of the Meraioth clan;
• Zechariah, leader of the Iddo clan;
• Meshullam, leader of the Ginnethon clan;
• Zichri, leader of the Abijah clan;
• Piltai, leader of the Moadiah and the Miniamin clans;
• Shammua, leader of the Bilgah clan;
• Jehonathan, leader of the Shemaiah clan;
• Mattenai, leader of the Joiarib clan;
• Uzzi, leader of the Jedaiah clan;
• Kallai, leader of the Sallai clan;
• Eber, leader of the Amok clan;
• Hashabiah, leader of the Hilkiah clan;
• Nethaneel, leader of the Jedaiah clan.

a
Ezra 10:6 d
11:17, see verse 8 g
Ezra 3:11
b
See verse 9 e
1 Chronicles 25
c
2 Chronicles 5:13 f
2 Chronicles 8:14
A genealogical record of the heads of the clans of the Priests and the Levites, was
compiled during the reign of King Darius of Persia, in the days of Eliashib, Joiada,
Johanan, and Jaddua ~ all-of whom were Levites.
In the Book of the Chronicles the Levite names were recorded down to the days of
Johanan, the son of Eliashib.
These were the chiefs of the Levites at that time:
Hasbabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua (son of Kadmiel). Their fellow clansmen helped them
during the ceremonies of praise and thanksgiving, just as commanded by David, the
man of God.
The gatekeepers who had charge of the collection centres at the gates were;
• Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub.
These were the men who were active in the time of Joakim (son of Jeshua, son of
Jozadak), and when I was the Governor, and when Ezra the Priest and teacher of
religion.
The Dedication of the Wall
27. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites aout of all
their places, top bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness,
both with thanksgivings, and with singers, with bcymbals, cpsalteries, and with
harps.
28. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of dthe plain
country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
29. Also, from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth; for the
singers had builded them villages about Jerusalem.
30. And the Priests and the Levites epurified themselves, and purified the people, and
the gates and the wall.
31. Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great
companies of them that gave thanks, whereof fone went on the right hand upon
the wall, gtowards the Dung Gate;
32. And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah.
33. And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
34. Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah.
35. And certain of the Priests’ sons hwith Trumpets; namely Zechariah, the son of
Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son
of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
36. And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and
Judah, Hanani, with ithe musical instruments of David, the man of God, and Ezra
the scribe before them.
37. And at the jFountain Gate, which was over against them, they went up by kthe
stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David,
even unto the lWater Gate eastward.
38. And mthe other company of them that gave thanks, went over against them, and I
after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the ntower of the
furnaces even unto the obroad wall;
39. And from above the pGate of Ephraim, and above the qOld Gate, and above the
r
Fish Gate, and the sTower of Hananeel, and the tTower of Meah, even unto the
u
Sheep Gate: and they stood still in the vPrison Gate.

a
11:36 g
2:13: 3:13-14 p
8:16
b
1 Chronicles 15:16; 2 h
1 Chronicles 15:24 q
3:6
Chronicles 5:13; 7:6 i
1 Chronicles 23:5 r
2 Chronicles 33:14
c
A box covered with strings, j
2:14 s
3:1
plucked, or played with a k
3:15 t
3:1
plectrum. l
3:26 u
3:1
d
3:22 m
See verse 31 v
3:25
e
13:22,30 n
3:11
f
See verse 38 o
3:8
40. So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I,
and half of the rulers with me:
41. And the Priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elihoenai, Zechariah and
Hananiah, with trumpets:
42. And Maaseiah and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah,
and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers asang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43. Also, that day, they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: bfor God had made them
rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of
Jerusalem was heard afar off.
During the dedication of the new Jerusalem wall, all-of the Levites throughout the land
of Israel came to Jerusalem, to assist in the ceremonies, and to take part in the joyous
occasion, with thanksgiving, cymbals, psalteries, and harps.
The choir members also came to Jerusalem from the surrounding villages, and from the
villages of the Netophathites; they also came from Beth-Gilgal, and the areas of Geba
and Azmaveth, for the singers had built their own villages, as suburbs of Jerusalem.
The Priests and the Levites first dedicated themselves, the people, the gates, and the
wall.
I, as Governor, led the Judean leaders to the top of the wall and then divided them into
two long lines, to walk in opposite directions, along the top of the wall, giving thanks as
they went.
The group that went to the right, towards the Dung Gate, consisted of half of the leaders
of Judah, including Hoshaiah, Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah,
and Jeremiah.
The Priests who played the trumpets were Zechariah (son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah,
son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph), Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai,
Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, Judah, and Hanani.
They used the original musical instruments of King David.
Ezra the Priest, lead the procession. When they arrived at the Fountain Gate, they went
straight ahead and climbed the stairs, which go up beside the castle of the old City of
David: then they went to the Water Gate on the east.
The other group, of which I was a member, went around the wall in the other direction
to meet up with them. We walked from the Tower of the Furnaces, to the Broad Wall,
then from the Ephraim Gate, to the Old Gate, passed the Fish Gate, to the Tower of
Hananel, and went on to the gate of the Tower of the Hundred; and then we continued
on to the Sheep Gate, and stopped at the Prison Gate.
Both choirs then proceeded to the Temple. Those with me were joined by the trumpet-
playing Priests, namely; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elihoenai, Zechariah, and
Hananiah, and by the singers; Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan,
Malchijah, Elam and Ezer.
They sang loudly, and clearly, under the direction of Jezrahiah, the choirmaster.
Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given us cause for great
joy. The women and children rejoiced too, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem was
heard far away!
44. cAnd at that time, were some appointed over the dchambers of the treasures, for
the offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the
fields of the cities, the portions eof the law for the Priests and the Levites: ffor Judah
rejoiced for the Priests and for the Levites that gwaited.
45. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of
the purification, haccording to the commandment of King David, and of King
Solomon, his son.

a
[h]~ made their voices to be c
13:5,12-13 f
[h]~ for the joy of Judah
herd d
3:30 g
[h]~ stood
b
2 Chronicles 20:27 e
[h]~ appointed by the Law h
1 Chronicles chapters 25 &26
46. For in the days of David, and aAsaph of old there were chief of the singers, and
songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
47. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the
portion of the singers and the porters, bevery day his portion: and cthey dsanctified
holy things unto the Levites: and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of
Aaron.
On that day, men were appointed to be in charge of the treasuries, the wave offerings,
the tithes, and the first-of-the-harvest offerings, and to collect these from the farms, as
decreed by the Laws of Moses. These offerings were assigned to the Priests and the
Levites, for the people of Judah appreciated the Priests and the Levites and their
ministry.
They also appreciated the work of the singers and gatekeepers, who assisted them in
worshipping God, and performing the purification ceremonies as required by the laws of
David, and his son Solomon.
It was in that of David’s and Asaph that the custom began of having choir directors, to
lead the choirs in hymns of praise, and thanksgiving to God. So now, in the days of
Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, the people brought a daily supply of food for the members
of the choir, the gatekeepers, and the Levites, The Levites in turn, gave a portion of
what they received to the Priests ~ the descendants of Aaron.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: ISRAEL SEPARATED FROM STRANGERS

1. On that day, ethey read on the Book of Moses in the faudience of the people; and
therein was found written, gthat the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come
into the congregation of God forever:
2. Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hhired Balaam
against them, that he should curse them: ihowbeit our God turned the curse into a
blessing.
3. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, jthat they separated from Israel
all kthe mixed multitude.
On that same day, as the laws of Moses were being read, the people found a statement
which said that the Amorites and the Moabites should never be permitted to worship at
the Temple. For they had not been friendly to the people of Israel. Instead, they had
hired Balaam to curse them ~ although God turned the curse into a blessing. When this
rule was read, all-of the foreigners were immediately expelled from the assembly.
4. And before this, lEliashib the priest, mhaving the oversight of the chamber of the
house of our God, was allied unto nTobiah (the Ammonite).
5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, owhere aforetime, they laid the
meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the
new wine, and the oil, pwhich was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the
singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
6. But in all-of this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the qthirty second year of the
reign of Artaxerxes, rking of Babylon came I unto the king and safter certain days,
t
obtained I leave of the king:
7. And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah,
in preparing a chamber for him in the courts of the house of God.

a
1 Chronicles 25:1, 2 Chronicles h
Numbers 22:5 p
[h]~ the commandment of the
29:30 i
Numbers 23:11; 24:10 Levites.
b
11:13 j
9:2 q
5:14
c
Numbers 18:21,24 k
Exodus 12:38 r
Ezra 6:22
d
[h]~ that is: set apart l
3:1 s
[[h]~ at the end of days
e
[h]~ there was read m
[h]~ being set over t
[h]~ I earnestly requested
f
[h]~ ears n
2:10
g
Deuteronomy 23:3-5 o
12:44
8. And it grieved me sore: Therefore, I cast forth all-of the household of Tobiah, out
of the chamber.
9. Then I commanded, and they acleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again
the vessels of the House of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as custodian of
the Temple storeroom and who was also a good friend of Tobiah (the Ammonite), had
converted a storage room into a beautiful guest room for Tobiah.
Then room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, frankincense, bowls,
and tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil.
Moses had decreed, that these offerings belong to the Levites, the members of the choir,
and the gatekeepers. (The Wave Offering, was for the Priests).
I was not in Jerusalem at this time, for I had returned to Babylon in the thirty second
year of the reign of King Artaxerxes, (though I had permission from him to go back to
Jerusalem).
When I arrived back in Jerusalem and learned of this evil deed of Eliashib ~ that he had
prepared a guest room inside the Temple for Tobiah ~ I was very upset and threw out
all of his belongings from the room. Then I demanded that the room be thoroughly
cleansed, and I brought back the Temple bowls, the grain offerings, and the
frankincense.
10. And I perceived that bthe portion of the Levites had not been given them: for the
Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one back to chis fields.
11. Then dcontended I with the rulers, and said: “Why is the house of God forsaken?”
And I gathered them together, and set them in their eplace.
12. Then brought all-of Judah fthe tithe of the corn and the new wine, and the olive oil
unto the gtreasuries.
13. And hI made treasurers of the itreasuries. Shelemiah, the priest, and Zadok, the
scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and jnext to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur,
the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted kfaithful, and ltheir office was to
distribute unto their brethren.
14. mRemember me, O God, concerning this, and wipe not out my ngood deeds that I
have done for the house of my God, and for the ooffices thereof.
I also learned that the Levites had not been given what was due to them, so they and
the choir singers, who were supposed to conduct the worship services had returned to
their farms.
I immediately confronted all-of the leaders and demanded; “Why has the Temple been
forsaken?” Then I called all-of the Levites back again and restored them to their proper
duties. And once more all-of the people of Judah began bringing their tithes of grain,
new wine, and olive oil, to the Temple treasury.
I put Shelemiah, the priest, Zadok, the scribe, and Pedaiah, the Levite, in charge of
administration of the storehouses; and I appointed Hanan (son of Zaccur, son of
Mattaniah,) as their assistant. These men had an excellent reputation, and their job was
to make an honest distribution to their fellow Levites.
O my God, remember the good deeds and do not forget all that I have done for the
Temple.
15. In those days, I saw in Judah some treading wine presses pon the Sabbath, and
bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine grapes, and figs, and all manner
of burdens, qwhich they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day: and I testified
against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

a
2Chronicles 29:15-16,18 g
[h]~ storehouses m
Verse 22,31; See 5:19
b
2 Chronicles 31:4; Malachi 3:8 h
2 Chronicles 31:12-13 n
[h]~ kindnesses
c
12:28-29 i
[h]~ storehouses o
[h]~ observations
d
See verses 17,25 j
[h]~ at their hand p
Exodus 20:10
e
[h]~ in their standing k
7:2; 1 Corinthians 4:2 q
10:31
f
10:38; 12:44 l
[h]~ it was upon them
16. There dwelt men of aTyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of wares,
and sold on the Sabbath Day unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17. Then bI contended with the nobles, asnd said unto them; “What evil thing is this
that you do, and profane the Sabbath Day?”
18. cDid not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all-of this evil upon us, and
upon this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel, by profaning the Sabbath.
[This is what happens when people in power, ARE LOVERS OF MONEY, instead of
LOVERS OF GOD]
19. And when it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem dbegan to get dark
before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that
they should not be opened (again) until after the Sabbath: And some of my
servants set I at the gates, that there should be no burden brought in on the
Sabbath Day.
20. So, the merchants and the sellers of all kinds of ware lodged without Jerusalem
once or twice.
21. Then I testified against them, and said unto them; Why lodged you eabout the wall?
If you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more
to trade and/or conduct any business on the Sabbath Day.
22. And I commanded that the Levites should fcleanse themselves, and that they
should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath Day. Remember me, O
God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the ggreatness of thy mercy.
One day I was in the fields and I saw some men treading the winepresses on the
Sabbath, hauling in sheaves, and loading their donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all
sorts of produce, which they took that day into Jerusalem.
There were also some men of Tyre, bringing in fish and all sorts of wares, and selling
them on the Sabbath to the people of Jerusalem.
Then I asked the leaders of Judah; “Why are you profaning the Sabbath? Wasn’t it
enough that your fathers did this sort of thing and brought the present evil days upon
us and our city? And now you are bringing more wrath upon the people of Israel by
permitting the Sabbath to be desecrated in this way.”
So, from then on, I commanded that the gates of the city be shut as darkness falls on
Friday evenings (the beginning of the Sabbath) and not opened again until the Sabbath
had ended (at sundown on Saturday): and I sent some of my servants to guard the
gates, so that no merchandise could be brought in on the Sabbath day. The merchants
and the tradesmen camped outside of Jerusalem once or twice, but I spoke sharply to
them and said: “What are you doing out here, camping around the wall? If you do this
again, I will arrest you.” And that was the last time that they came on the Sabbath.
Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and to guard the gates in order to
preserve the sanctity of the Sabbath. Remember this good deed, O my God! Have
compassion upon me in accordance with your great goodness.
23. In those days also I saw Jews that hhad married wives of iAshdod, of jAmmon, and
of kMoab.
24. And their children spoke half of the speech of Ashdod, and lcould not speak in the
Jew’s language, but according to the language mof each people.
25. And I contended with them, and ncursed them and smote certain of them, and
plucked off their hair, and omade them swear by God saying; You shall not give
your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for
yourselves.

a
Joshua 19:29; Amos 1:9 g
[h]~ multitude l
[h]~ and they discerned not to
b
See verses 11,25 h
[h]~ Had made dwell with speak
c
Jeremiah 17:21-23 them; Ezra 10:10 m
[h]~ of people and people
d
Leviticus 23:32 i
4:7 n
[h]~ reviled
e
[h]~ before j
See verse 1; Ezra 9:1 o
Ezra 10:5; chapter 10:29-30
f
12:30 k
See verse 1; Ezra 9:1
26. Did not Solomon, king of Israel sin by (doing) these things? Yet among many
a

nations was there no king like him, bwho was beloved of his God, and God made
him king over all-of Israel: nevertheless, even him did outlandish women to sin.
27. Shall we then hearken unto you to all this great evil, to ctransgress against our God
in marrying strange wives (from outside the clans of Israel)?
28. And one of the sons dof Joiada, the son of eEliashib, the high priest, was the son in
law to fSanballat the Horonite: therefore, I chased him from me.
29. gRemember them, O my God, hbecause they have defiled the priesthood, and ithe
covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30. Thus jcleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the Priests
and the Levites, everyone in his business;
31. And for kthe wood offering, lat times appointed, and for the firstfruits. mRemember
me, O my God, for good.
About the same time, I realised that some of the Jews were married to women from
Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, and that many of their children spoke in the language of
Ashdod and could not speak the Jewish language at all. So, I argued with these parents
and cursed them, and punched a few of them and knocked them around, and pulled out
their hair, and they vowed before God that they would not let their children intermarry
with non-Jews.
“Wasn’t this exactly King Solomon’s problem?” I demanded. “There was no king who
could compare with him, and God loved him, and made him king over all-of Israel: but
even so he was led into idolatry by foreign women. Do you think that we will let you get
away with this sinful deed?”
One of the sons of Jehoiada (the son of Eliashib the High Priest) was a son-in-law to
Sanballat the Horonite, so I chased him out of the Temple. Remember them O my God,
for they have defiled the priesthood, and the promises and vows of the Priests and the
Levites. So, I purged out the foreigners, and assigned tasks to the Priests and Levites,
making certain that each knew his work., They supplied wood for the altar at the
appointed times, and cared for the sacrifices and the first offerings of every harvest.
Remember me, O my God, with your kindness.

CONCLUSION:

It can be seen when studying these two books that it is very easy to fall into a
compromise type of worship and service ~ a “form of godliness” ~ but “it is NOT
GODLY”!
1. The Jews were trading on the Sabbath, even though the laws strictly forbid such
actions.
2. The Jews were not obeying the mandatory feasts and building huts on their roofs,
to remember the 40 years in the wilderness, where God provided all-of their
needs, and they had not been doing this since the time of Joshua, nearly 1,000
years before.
3. The Jews were inter-marrying outside of the Tribes of Israel, even though it was
strictly forbidden, and the Nation had taken an oath before Ezra and before God,
that they would put away all-of the wives that were from outside of the Jewish
nation.

a
1 Kings 11:1-8 f
2:10 k
10:34
b
2 Samuel 12:24 g
6:14 l
Ezra 10:14
c
Ezra 10:2 h
[h]~ for the defilings m
See verse 14.
d
12:10: 11:22 i
Malachi 2:4
e
3:1 j
10:30
 4. This made matters worse, because they had defiled their oath before God. They
had lost the reverential fear of the Lord and the consequences of breaking oaths
made before God.
5. So now these are warning for the church of Jesus Christ! It is so easy to get lulled
into a sense of comfortableness, and resist anything which causes you to have to
change, even though it is shown to you in the word of God, that this is a
requirement of the scriptures.
6. Jesus said that there will be a time AND NOW IS, WHEN THOSE WHO WORSHIP
ME WILL WORSHIP ME, IN SPIRIT & IN TRUTH!!!
7. CHRISTIANS HAVE TO BE OPERATING IN BOTH!!! IF NOT ~ IT IS JUST A WASTE
OF TIME.

APPENDIX:

THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD

Extract from my book entitled: Opening Heaven’s Gates
Many people in western society have lost, or failed to understand the role of the Levitical
priesthood. Others look and think – it is in the Old Testament, so it does not apply to
us, because we live under grace, not under the law.
It is true that we now live under grace and not under the law, but it is not true that we
should disregard what is written in the Old Testament, because it is a shadow of what
is to take place in the New Testament.
The Levitical Priesthood is no exception! They were ordained into this office to minister
unto God – not unto man. They were to minister to God in the temple, whether there
were any people in the temple or not!
How many pastors (priests) do you know that would minister to empty chairs? Not many!
That is because they have not understood their responsibilities of ministering
unto God.
In the following study, you will see that God sent an unnamed prophet to Eli (the Priest),
to give him a message. This message is still relevant today, because the prophecy
states it will be in operation until Christ comes again!
So, this prophecy starts in the Old Testament and will finish when Jesus comes back –
at the end of the “Age of the Gentiles.” NOW, have I got your attention?
We are all commanded to be sons and daughters of the king; a royal priesthood, before
the throne room of grace. How can we act like priests if we do not understand their role,
function, and responsibilities?
Notice the prophecy clearly indicates two (2) very different types of priests, which will
be allowed to exist within the Body of Christ, right up until Christ returns for His bride.
On the next page, you see the Levitical Line of the Priests.
THE ZADOK PRIESTHOOD

Discerning the Difference between “Holy” and “Phony” Ministries!a

The book of First Samuel tells us that an unnamed prophet came to Eli (the High Priest)
with an awful message. This unknown man delivered an amazing prophecy ~ one that
has everything to do, with what we see going on in the church today.
This divine word reveals much about dead, dry, ungodly ministers and churches, that
are in operation, in the world around us right now!
The prophecy tells of two priesthoods that would develop and continue, from that day
onwards, until the very end of time. Both of these priesthoods would be ministering in
the church. One would be cursed with abominable shame; but the other would be a
ministry after God's own heart!
The unnamed prophet tells Eli: "Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and
the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house" (1
Samuel 2:31).
He is describing a curse upon the ministry of Eli! But then he continues: "And I will raise
me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart, and in
my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for
ever" (verse 35).
This prophecy of two priesthoods is being fulfilled today -- right before our very eyes.
Indeed, both ministries are operating simultaneously, in nations all across the world!
First, the prophet speaks of the ongoing ministry of a self-centred, backslidden,
compromising priesthood. He describes those priests who are “of the spirit of Eli,”
mentioning two specific things:
1. Priests who please man more than God!
a. Such priests are “people-pleasers,” more than “pleasers of God.”
"Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering ...and honour thy sons
above me..." (verse 29).
b. Eli was soft on sin! He never made any decisions that would offend his two
sons. Only once, in over fifty years of ministry, did Eli correct them. They had
been committing adultery, raping women, committing the vilest of acts. Yet
even then, all Eli could say to them was, "Why do you do this?"
c. This man had no righteous indignation! He was not “a keeper of the Law.” He
never shared God's wrath and hatred toward sin. He represents a priesthood
of ministers who are afraid to reprove God's family, that is - the congregation
today!
d. Unfortunately, there are churches today that you can attend for up to
a year, and yet never hear one word of reproof. A church could be totally
corrupted -- half of the congregation divorcing, adultery rampant, teenagers
sleeping around, children unruly!
e. The whole congregation has been given over to pleasure(s), or sports, or other
forms of entertainment -- but there is never a word of correction from the
pulpit!
f. Instead, the pastor caters to the people's weaknesses ~ and cravings. He is
afraid to offend anyone -- afraid the offerings will go down and he'll lose
his income.

a
This is an excerpt from an
article by David Wilkerson, July
25, 1994
This is the first characteristic of the evil ministry developing in Eli's soul. And it is the
mark of every ongoing compromising priesthood of today!
They cater to their own needs and comfort rather than give themselves toward
the needs of the flock. “They ... make (themselves) fat, with the chief (or best portion)
of all the offerings of Israel, my people" (verse 29).
When the people brought the meat offering to the priest, it was supposed to go into the
seething pot to be boiled. Afterwards, the priest dipped a three-pronged hook into the
pot, and whatever came out on the hook went onto his table.
But Eli's two sons didn't want the boiled, sodden meat. They wanted the red, raw filet
mignon! So, they brought their father the prime cuts. There was no sodden flesh on his
table. That's how Eli got fat, lazy, careless. If he would have dealt with his sons, he
might have lost his filet mignon!
Eli was concerned with his own interests, his own table. And that is what is happening
in many dying churches today:
Many preachers are interested only in their own comfort, in caring for
themselves -- instead of spending time on their knees for the sake of the people
entrusted into their care!
The prophet is saying, "You are self-absorbed, Eli -- feathering your own nest! To you,
the ministry means nothing more than food on the table, security for you and your
family. You are treating this position as a “profession,” not “a calling from God”.
You don't really care about the flock. You are more interested in what goes onto your
table than in what goes into the people's hearts.
Yet, you never once think about how your compromise and selfishness, brings reproach
to God's honourable name. You never consider the people who watch as your sons steal
the prime meat. You are soft on sin, afraid to reprove -- because you're consumed with
things that make you comfortable!"
The Unnamed Prophet Pronounced Three Terrible Judgments on This
Priesthood!
Every “so-called minister” who is of the seed of Eli -- compromising, soft on sin,
concerned only for himself, will know these three judgments:
1. A loss of all spiritual power and authority.
"...they that despise Me shall be “lightly esteemed.” Behold, the days come, that I will
cut off thine arm [strength], and the arm of thy father's house. [inheritance]." (verses
30-31).
To be "lightly esteemed" by the Lord meant, a loss of God's favour and blessing! It
meant your work has had no impact against Satan's kingdom. Such a minister may be
esteemed by others -- but in God's eyes he is a lightweight, someone in whom God puts
no trust!
God said, "You despise Me by not preaching My whole counsel. You're not a man of
prayer. You're not concerned about My people, but only about your success and
reputation. You just want to make sure there's a crowd. You have lightly esteemed My
Word ~ and now I am going to lightly esteem you! Go your way -- do your own works.
You are lightly esteemed in My eyes!"
This cutting off by removal of God's anointing, leaves the Eli priesthood to busy
themselves with helter-skelter programs - works of the flesh that looks good.
It all sounds like important kingdom work, but God refuses to touch it! It is simply busy
activity -- lightly esteemed ministries, undertaken by lightly esteemed ministers!
2. They will be bypassed by the true anointing and blessing of God in the last
days.
"And you will see the distress of My dwelling, in spite of all that I do good for
Israel..." (verse 32, NAS).
In other words, "When I choose the time to pour out My Spirit, you'll be standing in
ruins!" And that's exactly what is happening in Britain, Australia and America today:
Preachers are standing in churches that are dead, dry and ruined! God has said to them,
"I will pass you by!" This priesthood will be standing there among the ruins, as God
blesses and anoints another priesthood, -- men of God who have paid the price!
Right now, in these last days, His anointing is falling on those who have given their lives
to Him, who are prepared to serve Him and Him alone, without any thought for their
own well-being. The Spirit is laying hold of these praying, fearless men.
But those of Eli's seed are being bypassed, -- left to play their church games! God is
saying, in essence, "In spite of all I do, you will not see the good! You will not be part
of My last-day, holy remnant. You are lightly esteemed, -- and you will go about your
ministry with no real spiritual authority!"
3. They will lose God's touch in the very prime of their life.
"...all the increase of your house will die in the prime of life" (verse 33, NAS).
This verse is taken two ways.
First, it was fulfilled literally when King Saul sent Doeg up to Nob, to slay eighty-five
priests who were of the seed of Eli. But the verse also has a spiritual application: It is
saying that this priesthood will look good up to a certain point. The ministers will be very
active and busy. But just at the point when they ought to be at their best -- full of
energy, power, wisdom and holiness, ready to be used the most -- a spiritual death
will take place.
God is going to leave them! They will be left standing before the people as dead men,
while in the very prime of their lives! Yet perhaps the most tragic of all the prophecies
given by this unnamed man of God, is that this backslidden, compromised priesthood,
would never be cut off from God's altars! The evil ministry would continue to the very
end.
"Yet I will not cut off every man of yours from My altar that your eyes may fail from
weeping and your soul grieve..." (verse 33, NAS).
God will not cut them off! Compromising, spiritless, dead men are going to exist until
the last days, when the Lord returns. But, God says, "What a grief they're going to be.
They will be a cause for weeping!"
Now, I want to show you another kind of priesthood.
It is the other ministry of priests that the prophet said God was raising up: "But I will
raise up for Myself, a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart
and in My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before
My anointed always" (verse 35, NAS).
This holy ministry is the “Zadok priesthood”! It is made up of faithful, holy ministers of
God, who walk and live according to His desire – not their own.
And such a priesthood remains to this very day! Everything that this unnamed prophet
prophesied is fully illustrated in David's kingdom. David is a type of Christ, and Israel is
a type of church.
David had two priests who fulfilled these two prophetic priesthoods to the letter:
Abiathar and Zadok. "And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar, the
priests?" (2 Samuel 15:35).
1. Let Us First Consider Zadok. [Zadok's name means "one who's proved
righteous".]
"Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag... And Zadok, a young man mighty of
valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains" (1 Chronicles 12:1, 28).
Zadok was the first young priest to recognize God's anointing upon David!
Men were fleeing to David, coming from all over, to join his forces. Zadok recognized
that the Holy Spirit had left King Saul. His ministry now was all hype, flesh, with no call
or touch of heaven.
And Zadok said, "I don't want any part of that kind of ministry. It's dead -- God has
gone from it. I'm going with David, who has the Spirit's anointing resting upon him!" So
Zadok went to David at Ziklag -- never to leave him for the rest of his life! Through
every rebellion, Zadok stood with him, a man proved righteous. David had captured the
priest's heart -- and Zadok never looked back.
Thank God, there are men of God like this in many pulpits today. These are men of
prayer, who are committed to Jesus, having walked away from all flesh, entertainment
and worldliness. You know it when you hear them preach -- because something registers
in your soul!
When others forsook David, Zadok remained faithful. David was running from his son
Absalom, who had rebelled. And when David came to the brook Kedron, the Scripture
says, "Now behold, Zadok also came... and Abiathar went up..." (2 Samuel 15:24, NAS).
Notice here that both Zadok and Abiathar are with David. Both are at the brook Kedron
with him, and both go back to Jerusalem at David's order.
So, while Absalom defiled David's concubines in full public view, and Israel went berserk
with wickedness and revelry, two holy men stood in God's house -- Zadok and Abiathar.
And so, it is today! While the whole world is going to hell amid unheard-of wickedness,
God still has His holy men serving at His altar. He still has a Zadok priesthood, faithful
in all God's Word!
2. Consider Now the Abiathar Priesthood! [Abiathar's name means "at peace with
God.”]
He was with Zadok as they took the ark back to Jerusalem. Indeed, at this point in time,
Abiathar appears to be holy, dedicated, devoted, and loyal to David. He will have nothing
to do with Absalom's rebellion. He goes about his ministry looking as pure and
uncompromising as Zadok.
But why is he never mentioned in the Word after this? Why is he not named among the
prophets? Why does his name die out? Something happens. Suddenly Abiathar is "lightly
esteemed" -- and Zadok is made the example of the holy, remnant priesthood. Why? It
is because Abiathar had “the spirit of Eli” in him!
All those awful prophecies spoken by the unnamed prophet fell upon him. And it all
happened quickly! The unnamed prophet had said that not all such kind would be cut
off. Abiathar’s father and eighty-three other priests who wore an ephod were slain by
Doeg. Only Abiathar escaped! He ran to David -- and the ministry he represented
survived, which was according to prophecy. Yet just as the prophet had spoken, Abiathar
-- the seed of Eli -- in the prime of his life and at the peak of his blessings was seduced
by the call of success. He lost his place with God's anointed!
You see, David had another son, Adonijah. His name means "success and prosperity."
This young man pretended to introduce a "new move" into the land, by naming himself
king.
Yet it was only another rebellion -- not a move of God -- but a snare of Satan!
This is the very ministry the prophet had warned of: “self-exaltation and success.”
"Then Adonijah...exalted himself..." (1 Kings 1:5). It was self-centeredness, pride!
Adonijah said, "I will set myself up as king!" This young man was raised under a ministry
of "no reproof": "And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying; Why, hast
thou done so?" (Verse 6).
Notice here: Everything the prophet had prophesied of this kind of ministry had come
to pass. All of the elements he had said would happen under this kind of priesthood were
in this man, Adonijah! "And he conferred with Joab, the son of Zeruiah..." (verse 7).
Adonijah surrounded himself with ungodly men! There was not a holy man among them
-- not Zadok, not Nathan, not any faithful men of David (see verse 8).
Scripture says that this group met at "the stone of Zoheleth" -- which means "place of
the serpent." This was a group of self-serving, success-driven, ego-stroking rebels.
They cried out: "Here is something new, something that works! Away with David's old,
worn-out ways. God is doing a new thing in the land!"
Up to that point, Abiathar had been loyal to David. But now the word was out: "There's
a new move taking place -- some great, new thing happening in the land. And it's very
exciting!" It grabbed the heart of Abiathar -- because it looked like a ticket to success
and prosperity. Now he could make it! He had found a new man and a new message.
BUT IS WAS SATAN’S TRAP & HE FELL RIGHT INTO IT!
I meet many people who come to this country from places in Europe, Africa and Asia
where churches are dying. They hear about some new work happening in the churches
here, and they become hungry to see it happen in their church – “a new move of God.”
Once, when I was overseas, I told one pastor friend, "You and your wife used to be on
your faces continually, weeping before God. That's why your church was so blessed. But
you've gotten so busy, you don't know God anymore!" This couple began to weep,
crying, "You're right!" But instead of repenting, they went to America -- looking for some
new program that might make their ministry work!
That is the ministry of Abiathar! He got caught up in a fleshly, ungodly work of Satan.
And he gathered with the others at the stone of Satan, eating, drinking and shouting,
"Long live King Adonijah!"
When David was told about it, he cried out, "Get me Nathan, the Prophet!" You see,
when God wants to do something that really counts for His eternal purposes, He calls
on those who have been shut in with him. David is a type of Christ here. And he cried,
"Forget Abiathar. Go get Nathan, the Prophet! I lightly esteem Abiathar. Tell Nathan to
get the trumpet and the oil, and to go anoint Solomon to be king over Israel!"
So, Solomon was anointed king. And the first thing he did was to kill Shimei, who cursed
David. Then he began dealing with all of David's enemies -- and he called forth Abiathar.
Now, I remind you that the unnamed prophet said this Eli-Abiathar ministry would never
be cut off. And Solomon knew all about this prophecy. Abiathar should have been
executed for treason. But instead, Solomon told him: "You cast your lot in with my
brother Adonijah. You tried to bring down this kingdom. And because of that, you
deserve to die. But I'm not going to kill you. You carried the ark of God for my father,
David, and you were afflicted with him. Because of those things, I will not put you to
death at this time. Now, go to Anathoth, to your own field, to do your own thing. You
are lightly esteemed!"
"So, Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the Lord; that he might fulfil
the word of the Lord, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh" (verse 2:27).
The Eli priesthood is still here today! But God says to their kind, "Go, do your own thing.
I lightly esteem you!"
3. Ezekiel Understood the Prophetic ~ The Importance of These Two Priesthoods!
Both the Zadok and Abiathar priesthoods were operating in Ezekiel's day. And, like the
unnamed prophet, Ezekiel prophesied they both would flow, as two streams of ministry
to the very end: "...mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the
sanctuary" (Ezekiel 44:5).
God was telling Ezekiel, "Stand at My house and see all the people coming and going.
Discern all the activities going on here. It's all an abomination! They're bringing
strangers and foreigners into My house to defile it!"
Likewise, today, the abominations going on in churches are so horrible, God is saying,
"Enough -- I've had it!" Ungodly ministers have brought into the holy sanctuary rock-
and-roll, entertainment, utter foolishness, singers who use drugs and alcohol, and don't
even know Christ, or what He stands for.
These people stand ministering in the pulpit, and the congregations don't even know the
difference! "And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set
keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves" (Ezekiel 44:8).
He was saying, in other words: "You've brought in foreigners, people who do not know
me, to keep charge of My sanctuary!" These were foreign elements -- wicked, unholy,
unseparated, still of the world. God's house was being profaned!
So, God appointed an Abiathar priesthood, to minister to a people, whose hearts were
set on idols! The shepherds had strayed far from God. They were filled with the spirit of
Eli, chasing fame and success -- and the people loved to have it so! Thus, God appointed
idolatrous priests to give the people what they wanted. "Like people, like priest!" "Yet I
will appoint them to keep charge of the house of all its service, and of all that shall be
done in it" (verse 14, NAS). How blind such ministers are!
God says of them; And they shall not come near unto me..." (verse 13). They stand in
the pulpit lightly esteemed by God, full of self and idolatry, nowhere near to the Lord.
Yet they go through all the motions: preaching, teaching, counselling, all the ministerial
duties. But they don't know the difference! They have no discernment, no witness of the
Spirit of God!
Beloved, if you do not repent and surrender all to Jesus -- if you hold onto an idol in
your heart -- you will end up listening to a minister who preaches to your idolatry!
God made a promise in His Word that if His people would repent and return to Him with
all their hearts, He would raise up for them Zadok Shepherds!

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord... and I will bring you to Zion: and I will
give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and
understanding" (Jeremiah 3:14-15).
Ezekiel prophesied that a Zadok priesthood would be very much alive and well in the
last days: "But...the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of My sanctuary when the
children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to Me, to minister unto Me,
and they shall stand before Me, to offer unto Me the fat and the blood, said the Lord
God. They shall enter into My sanctuary, and they shall come near to My table, to
minister unto Me, and they shall keep My charge" (Ezekiel 44:15-16).
There will be no mixture in this priesthood: "...they shall be clothed with linen garments;
and no wool shall come upon them, while they minister..." (verse 17). Wool mixed with
linen represents mixture -- a little bit of God and a little bit of flesh. But God says, "My
priesthood is made of pure linen. There is no mixture!"
This Zadok priesthood will be fearless against sin -- and will have the power to lead
people into righteousness and holiness.
"And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane, and
cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean" (verse 23).
These are the marks of the Zadok priesthood:
1. They are not afraid to reprove with the power and authority of the Holy Ghost.
2. They make clear to you what wrong and right are, until you gain the knowledge
and wisdom to make right choices yourselves.
3. These men know and recognise the voice of the Lord. They know what & when
God speaks, because they sit and wait on Him! They don't pray, "Bless me, bless
my programs, give me money..." Rather, they cry out: "Oh, Jesus, I love you! I
want to know Your mind and Your heart!" “Show me Your ways, Oh Lord, and
give me the strength to follow this path, until the end.”
You may be saying, "It's good to know all this about preachers." But God is saying to
you right now: "What about you?"
Dear Saints, Did You Know This Message Is All About You?
Scripture says, "(He) hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him
be the glory and dominion for ever and ever..." (Revelation 1:6).
Beloved, this verse is true for the whole body of Christ! Everyone who calls himself or
herself by God's name is to be a priest unto the Lord.
So, I ask you: Which priesthood best describes your walk with God?
Are you of Zadok? Or of Abiathar?
Are you self-centred -- running around to conventions and seminars, looking for
comforting answers? Or do you receive reproof with joy, knowing that God wants to cut
the cancer of sin out of you, in order to heal you?
Do you buy tape after tape of some evangelist, to try to get a word from heaven? Or
are you learning to discern God's voice for yourself, by giving quality time to Him in the
secret closet, in prayer and fasting, seeking God’s face?
Everyone who lives by the name of Jesus should be learning to hear God's voice. He
wants you to hear His word in your own heart! If you learn that, you can go to any
church anywhere, and know within five minutes, if the Spirit of the Lord is there. If it's
really Zadok, your hands will go up in the air. You'll say, "I'm hearing something good.
Something is registering in my soul. This is God!"
Or -- you will discern what is of Abiathar. And it will make you sick to your stomach! You
will flee, because you cannot stand the stench of this flesh!
Oh, God -- give us the spirit of the Zadok priesthood right now! We pray that you raise
up this priesthood in our church, in our city and in our nation, so we can hear Your voice
and respond to Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

THE SONS OF ZADOK

Everyone knew that the Sons of Zadok were different. There is a clear path
explaining how man is to minister to God, and what He requires of this ministry. In this
day, we are challenged to examine our faith and belief structure, under the guidance of
the Holy Spirit and in light of the Word. The King-Priest blessings are framed in powerful
perspective, along with the demand for righteousness and holiness. It's time to release
the Sons of Zadok!
Sons of Zadok minister under the great High Priest, Jesus. Only the Sons of Zadok were
to minister unto God. Eli ministered unto the people. Zadok ministered unto God.
Who Are the Sons of Zadok?
Few people even believe that God needed ministering to, or that no one would know
where to begin. Unmistakably, the essence of Ezekiel 44 was 'what characterizes the
person who may minister to God?'
Ezekiel 44:14 was a pivotal verse, separating those who minister to the people and
declaring who will NOT minister to God.
Only the Sons of Zadok were to minister to God. They ministered to God through their
sacrifices, their leadership, all the while walking in holiness. Their prayers were mingled
with their anointed, sweet-smelling savour at the altar of incense. Their holiness exuded
from their lives as they offered sin and peace offerings. People knew... they were
different!
Ritual was/is not observed by the Sons of Zadok: They entered/enter into the presence
of the Lord during their duties. They taught the difference between the holy and the
profane. They talked differently and they walked differently. Their lives reflected the
purity and holiness of the Lord.
Demonstration in the Holy Ghost and power is not the unusual but rather the ordinary
for the Sons of Zadok. Only the Sons of Zadok (righteousness) could come before the
Lord and minister unto Him. Those who walk in holiness compromising no aspect of
Word or walk, and who teach the people to be holy - qualify.
To minister to God begins with clean hands and a pure heart!
It's rewards are different; instead of accolades from men, the Sons of Zadok find
accolades from the Lord. His Presence ensures that peace reigns and 'every dedicated
thing in Israel shall be theirs' (Ez. 44:29) Peace will rest upon the congregant’s houses,
as they minister to them holiness and the way of the Lord.
The bottom line is: Choose whether you will be a minister TO THE PEOPLE only, or a
MINISTER UNTO the People and UNTO GOD.
Will you continue to be what you have been, or will you become a Son of Zadok? There
is no middle ground: either you are a Son of Zadok, or you are not. That is why it is
necessary to know what is and what is not related to the Sons of Zadok.
What it means to be a Son of Zadok speaks of the “baptism of fire” by the Holy Spirit.
The sensitivity to the Spirit of God and about determination to have Jesus as my 'only'
Lord.
(Ezekiel 44). "Who will ascend into the Presence of the Lord or who shall stand in His
Holy Place?" Psalm 24:3. Its rewards are different -- instead of accolades from men,
Sons of Zadok find accolades from the Lord through His Presence (Ezekiel 44:29).
Sensitivity to the Spirit of God and determination to have Jesus as their only Lord is
their secret and power.
Demonstration in the Holy Ghost and power is not the “unusual,” but rather the
“ordinary” for the Sons of Zadok. They minister to God through their sacrifices and their
leadership, all the while walking in holiness. Their prayers are mingled with their
sacrifices (worship). The Earth Splits With The Sound.
1 Samuel 1-4 tells us that the Sons of Eli represents the “flesh-religion”, set apart from
God; but the Sons of Zadok represent a spiritual heritage, based on intimacy with God.
That which is precious to Eli (the system) is its people and its goods. That which is
precious to the Sons of Zadok are their vows to God, and they have one rule -- they
must obey the voice of the Lord in all things (Zechariah 6:15).
Righteousness and “rejection of the system” characterize the Sons of Zadok. Eli
ministers to the people and Zadok ministers to the Lord.
The system always substitutes something, to take the place of, or modify the real thing.
Righteousness is fluid like a river.
Ezekiel 47 shows the origin in the Throne Room of the Temple of God. Sons know that
one does not "take time to pray" because there simply is no meaningful time without it.
We were made to commune with God.
Religion/the system can only minister to man. In Eli's times, holiness was not
emphasized. Zadok does not practice "being in" God's Presence, they just "live in" His
Presence continually.
Everywhere Zadok and his Sons find themselves, there is great honour and blessing. I
Kings 1:39-40 says, "And Zadok, the priest, took a horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and
anointed Solomon to be king. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, 'Long
live King Solomon.' And all the people played on flutes, and rejoiced with great joy, so
that the earth split with the sound of it." Talk about the sound being released through
their worship and intercession! We need to release the Sons of Zadok in houses of prayer
and worship right across our nations today!
Ezekiel 44:15 But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of
my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to
me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the
blood, saith the Lord GOD:
Ezekiel 48:11 It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which
have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as
the Levites went astray.
Ezekiel 40-48 deals with the glory of the future kingdom that Israel will enjoy, once
the nation is reborn (chapter 37) and her enemies defeated (chapters 38-39) at the
second coming of Jesus Christ.
Twice it is repeated that the sons of Zadok will enjoy special blessings and special
privileges in that kingdom because they remained faithful to God despite the apostasy
and idolatry of the nation.
Zadok was a priest who lived and served during the reigns of David and Solomon. He
was of the line of Eleazer, Aaron's son (as opposed to the line of Ithamar; 1 Chronicles
24:3) and became the fulfilment of God's judgment upon the house of Eli (1 Samuel
2:35) at the outset of Solomon's reign over Israel (1 Kings 2:27, 35).
As a young man, the Bible says that Zadok was mighty of valour (1 Chronicles 12:28).
He was not only a priest but also a warrior. He remained true to the Lord and the king
when others were carried away by the rebellions under Absalom (2 Samuel 15) and
Adonijah (1 Kings 1). His progeny served faithfully in Judah's great revival under King
Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31).
Because of this steadfast commitment, the Lord will richly reward Zadok and his sons,
when Jesus Christ returns to rule and reign on the earth.
There's an important practical lesson for us to learn from this interesting statement in
the book of Ezekiel.
Just like Zadok and his sons, we find ourselves in a time, when God's people on a
massive scale, are going astray. Despite the apostasy and the apathy and the ignorance
and the lukewarm condition of today's church, God calls on us to stand fast, be faithful,
and remain true to the charge He's given us.
And there are ETERNAL blessings and privileges that await those who will answer the
call.
I believe the Sons of Zadok minister 'to' the Lord and not 'to' the people. Also, the Sons
of Zadok will teach the difference between the holy and the common (unholy).
Where Are the Sons of Zadok? [More than One Kind of Worship]
Are you satisfied with the worship you are seeing and hearing in the body of Christ
today? This is a question I heard the Lord speak to me some years ago. I did not have
to think long for an answer, as I have now been in worship ministry for more than 50
years. I had been very unsatisfied with what I had been hearing in churches and
Christian meetings and on Christian television for a very long time.
I knew that there was a higher place. A place where the true worship of the Great
Almighty God could be experienced by His children who truly loved Him. We had
experienced this type of worship in the meetings in Singapore and Thailand in the early
1980’s and longed for it to return to the Body of Christ.
Jesus had promised in John 4:23, "But the hour comes, AND NOW IS, when the true
worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father seeks such to
worship Him".
In saying this, Jesus made it obvious that there is more than one kind of worship. And
further He stated that there is such a thing as “true worship” which is done in the spirit,
rather than in the flesh. And He said the hour for that real worship was starting right
then.
Yet today, in the Body of Christ, I see very little of this type of worship. I estimate that
less than 10% of all worship in churches across the nations falls into this category today,
which is a pity, because where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Appearance of Worship
Part of the problem is our great advancements in technology. Virtually, everything can
be programmed now. And if you do not have a great voice, no problem. The right
equipment can be make anyone sound good!
I am not against the wonderful equipment that can be had today. I believe God is the
inventor of it all. After all, we are told that Satan himself was created with tabrets and
pipes right inside of him. (Ezek. 28:13).
However, equipment can become the instrument that is used to mimic reality. A person
can be made to appear to worship, when in fact his heart is not worshipping God at all.
You can be taught to look right and sound right, even when you are not right in your
own spirit.
Skill has become more important than anointing in a lot of our services. But I still believe
it is not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit, says the Lord. Give me an anointed
musician any day over a “skilled” musician who has no anointing.

Horizontal Worship
In the Old Testament, there is a bit of information about a man called Zadok. Now the
name Zadok means "righteous". It means, just, or to make right in a moral sense. Zadok
and his sons were priests but they belonged to a special order of the priestly calling.
These men were men of great integrity, who were deeply committed to the call of God
on their lives to worship Him who had called them. They were sanctified and
consecrated to the work that the Lord had called them to do.
In Ezek. 48:11 the Word says, 'It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons
of Zadok, which have kept My charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel
went astray, as the Levites went astray."
The Levites were called to minister to the house of the Lord. Their responsibility was to
care for the holy things and for the tabernacle itself. But the sons of Zadok had a
different calling. They were called to draw near to God Himself and to worship
Him only.
You could say the Levites were called to horizontal ministry. They ministered outward,
in regard to the tabernacle and to the Jewish people. The sons of Zadok had a vertical
worship. They worshipped upward to God.
Horizontal ministry is necessary. It is not a bad thing. However, this ministry is 'to' the
people and not as much 'to the Lord.' The vertical ministry of Zadok is unique and it is
a very high call to God Himself, before it ever touches the people of God. Both ministries
are necessary.
Zadok Anointing
Most importantly I do believe the ministry of the Sons of Zadok is unto or 'to the Lord.'
We are told in Revelation 1:5-6 that we have all been made to be kings and priests unto
our God. Every Christian is a priest unto God.
Yet as surely as there were those who were Levites and those who were sons of Zadok
in Old Testament days, so there are both kinds of priestly ministry today. The reason
we find ourselves unsatisfied with much of the worship today is that it does not come to
us by the Zadok anointing. It is often ego driven and self-centred.
But when you sit under a true Zadok anointing you will know it. Under that anointing
you will find release from yourself, as you soar upward into the throne room of the Most-
High God. You will become lost in His presence and will no longer suffer from the fear of
man. It is under this great anointing that you will experience realms of His Spirit, seeing
visions and hearing the heavenly orchestra and choir. In this anointing you will also find
healing and miracles to flow because you are in His Divine presence.
The worship that comes from a Zadok anointing will lift you higher and higher as you
climb the Mount of Ascension, to where He becomes the very centre of your being. And
at last, as you fall before His throne, you will know the satisfaction that comes from the
union of God and man. In this place you know that He is satisfied with the worship as
well.
The Zadok anointing doesn't have anything to do with technology, or voice training, or
learning to play an instrument. It has to do with a spiritual endowment, an anointing
given by God, and developed under His instruction. The worship produced under that
anointing comes from the spirit of a man, touched by the Spirit of God.
The purpose of the Zadok anointing is to minister to God. Yet when you are in the
presence of that anointing, (even if you are not moving in that anointing yourself), you
will be ministered to as well. For that anointing draws the presence of God and He is
always so powerful and generous that when He draws near, you cannot keep from being
blessed in numerous ways.
This is not about laying hands on people, although I very much believe in that ministry
as well. This is about the awesome presence of God as He Himself is drawn to His people,
by true spiritual worship.
This is not even what has come to be called "soaking music" for it has a prophetic edge,
as God speaks to His people, through new song and the prophetic word, which is
released by that anointing.
I do believe that this wonderful anointing is going to be poured out upon the Body of
Christ in this hour. Though we have travelled all over the world, I can count on one hand
the number of people with the Zadok anointing I have known. Yet I believe it is coming.
The cry of God's people for true worship is growing now. Surely, He will answer this cry
from the hearts of His people.
Are you ready to cry out to God for the release of the Zadok anointing to fall
upon the Body of Christ in your church, your city, and your nation?

THE TIME NOW IS, WHEN ALL WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER, IN SPIRIT & IN
TRUTH. IT HAS TO BE BOTH!!!

LIST OF PUBLISHED BOOKS BY THE SAME AUTHOR

Here is a list of my published books and Bible College Course Notes, with links to allow
you to read them online, or download them free of charge:
7 PILLARS OF CHRISTIANITY
https://www.scribd.com/.../1506.../7-Pillars-of-Christianity
A CRY IN THE WILDERNESS
https://www.scribd.com/.../150642352/A-Cry-in-the-Wilderness
AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
https://www.scribd.com/document/479169892
BE HEARERS AND DOERS OF GOD'S WORD
https://www.scribd.com/.../Be-Hearers-Doers-of-God-s-Word
COMMENTARY - BOOK OF ROMANS
https://www.scribd.com/.../3898.../Commentary-Book-of-Romans

GETTING CLOSER TO GOD - THE PRAYER SERIES

https://www.scribd.com/document/150642373
IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH
https://www.scribd.com/document/151229414
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY MASTER
https://www.scribd.com/document/361397033
IN THE IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST
https://www.scribd.com/document/500508639
JOURNEY TO THE KINGDOM
https://www.scribd.com/document/150642441
LIVING IN THE SECRET KINGDOM
https://www.scribd.com/document/150642468
ON GOD'S JOURNEY
https://www.scribd.com/document/150642888
ON THE POTTER'S WHEEL
https://www.scribd.com/document/150643134
ON THE POTTER'S WHEEL - AGAIN!
https://www.scribd.com/.../On-the-Potter-s-Wheel-Again...
ON THE WINGS OF ANGELS
https://www.scribd.com/document/262223995
ON THE WINGS OF EAGLES
https://www.scribd.com/doc/289621378/On-Wings-of-Eagles...
OPENING HEAVEN'S GATES
https://www.scribd.com/document/150643159
OUT OF DARKNESS
https://www.scribd.com/document/150643187
PRAISE GOD TO THE HEAVENS - WORSHIP BOOK
https://www.scribd.com/.../Praise-God-to-the-Heavens...
PROPHET, PRIEST & KING
https://www.scribd.com/doc/151830759/Prophet-Priest-King...
ROOTS OF OUR BELIEFS
https://www.scribd.com/doc.../150643235/Roots-of-Our-Beliefs
SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS
https://www.scribd.com/doc.../150643257/Showers-of-Blessings
THE 21st CENTURY CHURCH
https://www.scribd.com/.../150643264/The-21st-Century-Church
THE AWAKENING CHURCH
https://www.scribd.com/doc.../150643277/The-Awakening-Church
THE CALL OF GOD ON YOU - IDENTIFYING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
https://www.scribd.com/.../The-Call-of-God-on-You...
THE COASTAL PIONEERS - REVISED EDITION
https://www.scribd.com/document/150643339
THE FINGER OF GOD - IS POINTING AT YOU
https://www.scribd.com/document/150643339
THE FIRE OF GOD
https://www.scribd.com/document/389806537/The-Fire-of-God
THE GIFTS, OPERATIONS & ADMINISTRATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
https://www.scribd.com/.../The-Gifts-Operations...
THE GREAT INTERCESSORS
https://www.scribd.com/.../2828.../The-Great-Intercessors...
THE MARTYRS CRY OUT
https://www.scribd.com/doc/234364286/The-Martyrs-Cry-Out...
THE SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR AUSTRALIAN FLAG
https://www.scribd.com/.../The-Spiritual-Significance-of...
THY WORD IS TRUTH
https://www.scribd.com/document/150643433/Thy-Word-is-Truth

WALK HUMBLY BEFORE YOUR GOD

https://www.scribd.com/.../Walk-Humbly-Before-Your-God
RECOVERING THE BIBLICAL BORDERS OF ISRAEL
Recovering The Biblical Borders of Israel | Book Of Exodus | Israelites (scribd.com)
COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH & LAMENTATIONS
https://www.scribd.com/document/507325034/Commentary-of-the-Book-of-Jeremiah-
and-Lamentations
COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL.
A Commentary On The Book of Ezekiel | PDF | Ezekiel | Babylonian Captivity
(scribd.com)

BIBLE COLLEGE COURSE NOTES WITH LINKS:

THE CALL OF GOD

https://www.scribd.com/document/276614889/Cttnbc-001-Course-Outline-The-Call-
of-God
PRINCIPLES OF MINISTRY
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615088/CTTNBC-002-Course-Outline-
Principles-of-Ministry
PROPHETIC MINISTRY
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615122/CTTNBC-003-Course-Outline-
Prophetic-Ministry
THE SPIRIT OF EVANGELISM
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615159/CTTNBC-004-Course-Outline-The-
Spirit-of-Evangelism
THE WRITINGS OF JOHN
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615210/CTTNBC-005-Course-Outline-The-
Writings-of-John
WORSHIP IS A LIFESTYLE
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615373/CTTNBC-006-Course-Outline-Worship-
is-a-Lifestyle
SERMON PREPARATION
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615382/CTTNBC-007-Course-Outline-Sermon-
Preparation-Delivery
JESUS IN ACTION [A COMMUNITY PROJECT]
https://www.scribd.com/doc/276615391/CTTNBC-008-Course-Outline-Jesus-in-Action-
Community-Project
AUSTRALIAN CHURCH HISTORY
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615425/CTTNBC-009-Course-Outline-
Australian-Church-History
PRINCIPLES & CHARACTERISTICS OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP
https://www.scribd.com/document/276615466/CTTNBC-010-Course-Outline-
Principles-Characteristics-of-Spiritual-Leadership
BIBLE COLLEGE NOTES & TEACHING VIDEOS