Chapter 24 – Ezekiel

Symbol of the Cooking Pot

In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, instructing him to record this exact date. This was because the king of Babylon had laid siege to Jerusalem.

The Lord then commanded Ezekiel to present a parable to the rebellious people—the parable of the cooking pot. The cooking pot symbolised Jerusalem. The people believed that because they had not been taken into captivity like the northern kingdom of Israel, they were the “choice meat” – special, protected, and valued by God.

However, the Lord declared a woe upon the city. The pot was encrusted with a stubborn deposit that could not be cleaned, symbolising Jerusalem being so deeply encrusted with sin that it could no longer be washed or purified. Despite repeated warnings, the city refused to repent.

God further described the bloodshed within Jerusalem. The blood was not buried or covered but poured out on bare rock – open, visible, and exposed. This showed that the people felt no shame or remorse for their violence. Because of their conduct, God declared that He would bring punishment upon the city and would show no pity.

Put on the cooking pot; put it on
    and pour water into it.
⁴ Put into it the pieces of meat,
    all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder.
Fill it with the best of these bones;
⁵     take the pick of the flock.
Pile wood beneath it for the bones;
    bring it to a boil
    and cook the bones in it.

⁶ “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed,
    to the pot now encrusted,
    whose deposit will not go away!
Take the meat out piece by piece
    in whatever order it comes.

⁷ “‘For the blood she shed is in her midst:
    She poured it on the bare rock;
she did not pour it on the ground,
    where the dust would cover it.
⁸ To stir up wrath and take revenge
    I put her blood on the bare rock,
    so that it would not be covered.

⁹ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed!
    I, too, will pile the wood high.
¹⁰ So heap on the wood
    and kindle the fire.
Cook the meat well,
    mixing in the spices;
    and let the bones be charred.
¹¹ Then set the empty pot on the coals
    till it becomes hot and its copper glows,
so that its impurities may be melted
    and its deposit burned away.
¹² It has frustrated all efforts;
    its heavy deposit has not been removed,
    not even by fire.

~ Ezekiel 24:3-12

Even when the pot was placed on the fire and heated intensely, its impurities could not be removed – not even by fire. This demonstrated that Jerusalem’s corruption was beyond remedy, and judgment was inevitable.

Ezekiel Wife Dies

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel again, telling him that his wife – the delight of his eyes would suddenly die. God instructed Ezekiel not to lament, weep, or shed tears. Instead, he was to groan quietly, keep his turban on his head and sandals on his feet, and not observe the customary practices of mourning.

Ezekiel obeyed exactly as the Lord commanded.

This act was a sign to the people of Israel. Just as Ezekiel did not mourn openly for his wife, so the people would not mourn when God desecrated His sanctuary, the pride and delight of their eyes. Their sons and daughters in Jerusalem would fall by the sword, and they would be too overwhelmed and devastated to carry out traditional mourning.

When these things came to pass, the people would know that the Lord is the Sovereign Lord.