COMMENTARIES ON THE

PROPHETS &
MINOR PROPHETS:
IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER
~ Part 2
Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Daniel, Ezekiel, Haggai,
Zechariah, Joel, Malachi, Ezra, Nehemiah
By
Rev. Dr Jeffry David Camm
CONTENTS
DEDICATION 5
COPYRIGHT: 5
The Original Source Document: 5
Explanatory Notes: 5
Prophets listed as per their historical dates serving the LORD 6
THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK 6
Introduction to the Book of HABAKKUK 6
Chapter One: The Burden of Habakkuk 7
Chapter Two: Vengeance by the Chaldeans & Their Judgement 8
Chapter Three: The Prophet Trembles at God’s Majesty 10
THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH 11
Introduction to the Book of Zephaniah 11
Chapter One: God’s Severe Judgement Against Judah 11
Chapter Two: Judgement of Judah: Exhortation to Repentance 13
Chapter Three: Ethiopia, Jerusalem Sharply Reproved 15
Conclusion: 17
THE BOOK OF DANIEL 17
chapter one: Introduction: 17
chapter two: King Nebuchadnezzar Forgets His Dream 19
chapter three: Nebuchadnezzar Makes and Image of Gold 25
chapter four: Nebuchadnezzar tells his dream to Daniel 28
chapter five: The Writing is on the Wall for Belshazzar 31
chapter six: Daniel is Thrown into the Lions Den 34
chapter seven: His Vision of the 4 beasts & God’s Kingdom 38
Introduction to Chapter 7 39
The Time of the Gentiles 39
The Four Beasts 40
The Holy Spirit Begins to Reveal the End-Time Events 41
The Little Horn 41
The Beast Speaks 41
The Son of Man & the Ancient of Days 42
chapter eight: Daniel’s Vision of the Ram & He Goat. 43
Enter the Madman! 45
Antichrist ~ Temporarily in Control 46
Daniel’s Concern For Israel 46
Gabriel ~ The Messenger from God 47
Daniel’s Broken Heart 47
chapter nine: Daniel’s Prayer and Confession 47
Introduction to Chapter 9: 47
The Third Heaven 50
The Significance of the Seventy Weeks 50
Jesus Christ shall reign as King 51
The Rebuilding of The Temple 51
The Calm Before the Storm 52
Where are we in 2022? 52
Chapter Ten: David Sees a Glorious Vision 53
Daniel See Jesus! 53
Daniel’s State of Mind 53
Daniel Understands the Vision 53
Daniel Sees The “Angel of the LORD” ~ the Pre-incarnate Jesus Christ 54
Daniel Understands the Reason for His Appearing 55
Message of the Latter Days 55
chapter eleven: History Ends & Prophecy Begins! 55

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timeline of the Empires 56
Details that confound the sceptics 56
The War between the South & the North 58
The King at the Time of the End 59
Chapter Twelve: THE “END TIMES” IS UPON US. 60
LOOKING TOWARDS THE FUTURE 61
THOSE WHO SLEEP WILL AWAKE; 61
GET THE MARK OR DIE! 62
shut up the words & seal up the book! 63
THE TWO FORGOTTEN CHAPTERS OF DANIEL 64
Chapter Thirteen: Susanna ~ anD the Judgement of Daniel 64
Chapter Fourteen: Bel and the Dragon 66
Appendices FOR THE BOOK OF DANIEL: 68
Appendix 1: Authenticity of the Book of Daniel 68
Appendix 2: WHEN DID DARIUS THE MEDE ~ RULE BABYLON? 68
Appendix 3: Who was the ruler who succeeded NABONIDUS? 69
APPENDIX: 4 ~ WHO WAS DARIUS ~ THE MEDE IN THE BOOK OF DANIEL? 69
THe Book Of Ezekiel 72
Foreword: 72
Chapter 1: Ezekiel’s Prophecy at Chebar 73
Chapter 2: God Almighty speaks to Ezekiel 74
Chapter 3: Ezekiel’s Instructions: the roll of his calling ~ a Prophetic Ministry 75
Chapter 4: The Type of a Siege 77
Chapter 5: Type of the Prophet’s hair. 79
Chapter 6: The Judgement of Jerusalem & Israel 80
Chapter 7: Final Desolation of Israel 81
Chapter 8: A Type of Chain 84
Chapter 9: God’s Wrath for Idolatry 85
Chapter 10: Vision of the Coals of Fire 86
Chapter 11: The Presumption of the Princes 88
Chapter 12: Ezekiel’s Removing & Trembling 90
Chapter 13: Judgement of Lying Prophets 92
Chapter 14: God’s Judgement on Idolaters 94
Chapter 15: The Rejection of Jerusalem 96
Chapter 16: God’s Love towards her. 96
Chapter 17: Parable of the Two Eagles & a Vine 102
Chapter 18: The Proverb of Sour Grapes 104
Chapter 19: A Lamentation for Israel 106
Chapter 20: God refuses to Meet with the Elders of Israel 107
Chapter 21: The Sharp Bright Sword Against Israel 111
Chapter 22: Catalogue of Jerusalem’s Sins 114
Chapter 23: The Whoredoms of Aholah and Aholibah 116
Chapter 24: Parable of a Boiling Pot 120
Chapter 25: God’s Vengeance upon the Nations 122
Chapter 26: Tyrus is threatened 123
Chapter 27: The Lamentation of Tyrus 125
Chapter 28: God’s Judgement upon the Prince of Tyrus. 127
Chapter 29: The Judgement of Pharoah 130
Chapter 30: The desolation of Egypt and her Helpers 131
Chapter 31: The Pride and Fall of the Assyrians 133
Chapter 32: Lamentation for the Fall of Egypt 135
Chapter 33: The Duty of a Watchman 138
Chapter 34: A Reproof of the Shepherds 140
Chapter 35: The Judgement of Mount Seir 143
Chapter 36: Israel is Comforted by God’s Blessings 144
Chapter 37: The Valley of the Dry Bones 147
Chapter 38: Gog’s Army of Malice 150

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Chapter 39: Gog’s Burial in Hamon-gog 152
Chapter 40: The Vision of a City. 154
Chapter 41: More Details of the Temple 160
Chapter 42: Temple Ornaments & Priest’s Chambers 162
Chapter 43: God’s Glory in the Temple 164
Chapter 44: The Priests are Reproved, Zadok’s sons accepted. 167
Chapter 45: The Divisions of the Land 170
Chapter 46: The Ordinance of the Prince & the People in their Worship 172
Chapter 47: The Vision of the Holy Waters 174
Chapter 48: The Portions of the Tribes 176
THE BOOK OF HAGGAI 178
Introduction to the Book of Haggai 178
Chapter One: Haggai Reproves the People 178
Chapter Two: Haggai Encourages the People to Build the Temple 180
Conclusion: 181
THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH 182
Introduction to the Book of Zechariah 182
Chapter One: Zechariah Exhorts to Repentance 182
Chapter Two: Zion’s Redemption 184
Chapter Three: Zion’s Redemption ~ Of Christ, the Branch 185
Chapter Four: Zerubbabel’s Foundation 186
Chapter Five: Vision of the Flying Roll 187
Chapter Six: The Four Chariots 188
Chapter Seven: On Fasting 189
Chapter Eight: The Restoration of Jerusalem 191
Chapter Nine: Christ’s First Coming Foretold 192
Chapter Ten: Seek After God 194
Chapter Eleven: God Saves His People ~ Flocks of Slaughter 196
Chapter Twelve: Judah’s Restoration 197
Chapter Thirteen: The Fountain of Purgation 198
Chapter Fourteen: Christ’s Return ~ The Plague of Jerusalem’s Enemies 199
Conclusion. 201
THE BOOK OF JOEL 202
Introduction to the Book of Joel 202
Chapter One: Joel Exhorted to Observe God’s Judgements 202
Chapter Two: Israel called to Repentance 204
Chapter Three: God’s Judgements against the Enemies of His People 207
THE BOOK OF MALACHI 208
Introduction to the Book of Malachi 208
Chapter One: Jesus Reminds Israel of His Love For Them 208
Chapter Two: Priest and the People Reproved 210
Chapter Three: The Coming of the Messiah Prophesied. 211
Chapter Four: Elijah Coming and His Office 213
Conclusion: 214
THE BOOKS OF EZRA & NEHEMIAH 214
chapter one: Cyrus issues A Royal Proclamation 214
chapter two: The Returning Exiles 215
chapter three: The Altar Setup & the Foundations Laid 217
chapter four: Israel’s Enemies try to stop the work 218
chapter five: A New Letter to King Darius. 221
chapter six: Decrees of Cyrus & Darius in the Jews’ Favour. 222
chapter seven: The Commission of Artaxerxes to Ezra 225
chapter eight: The Companions of Ezra, who returned From Babylon 227
chapter nine: Ezra prays unto GOD for confession of sins 230
chapter ten: Ezra encouraged to reform the strange marriages. 231
THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH 234
Who is the author of the Book of Nehemiah? 234

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chapter one: Nehemiah Mourns, Fasts, & Prays 234
chapter two: Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem 235
chapter three: Names of them that Build the Wall 237
chapter four: Nehemiah Prays & Continues the Work 240
chapter five: The Practise of Usury is Reformed. 242
chapter six: Sanballat’s Craftiness 243
chapter seven: Register of the Genealogy 245
chapter eight: The Reading of the Law: The Feast of Tabernacles 247
chapter nine: The Levite’s Confession of God’s Goodness 250
chapter ten: Sealing of the Covenant 253
chapter eleven: Names of the Chief Inhabitants of Jerusalem 255
chapter twelve: The High Priests & the Chief Levites 258
chapter thirteen: Israel Separated From Strangers 261
Conclusion: 264
APPENDIX: 264
The Levitical Priesthood 264
THE ZADOK PRIESTHOOD 266
Discerning the Difference between “Holy” and “Phony” Ministries 266
The Sons of Zadok 271
Who Are the Sons of Zadok? 271
List of published Books by the Same Author 274
Bible College Course Notes With Links: 275
Bible College Notes & teaching videos 277

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.

5
 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.

PROPHETS LISTED AS PER THEIR HISTORICAL DATES SERVING THE LORD

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

Prophet BC BC
Samuel 11 th Century Was Priest, Prophet, & Judge, See separate books
PART ONE STARTS HERE
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 (731-722) He was a prophet 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, namely: Author of Jeremiah,
Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, and Zechariah. Kings & Lamentations
PART TWO STARTS HERE
Habakkuk 640 609 King Josiah
Zephaniah 640 609 Josiah
Daniel 620 538 Carried off into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar. Was still alive when
Served 6 kings. 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 Artaxerxes I, king of Persia
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.

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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. 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 bviolence,
and you will not save!
3. Why do you show me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling’s 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 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

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

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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,
c
you have ordained them for judgement; and O dmighty God, you have eestablished 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

1. 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.
2. And the LORD answered me and said; kWrite the vision, and lmake it plain upon tables, that
he may run that reads it.
3. [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.
4. [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!”
5. m
Yes, also because he transgresses nby 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:

a
Deuteronomy 33:27 f
[h]~ grievance k
Isaiah 8:1
b
Psalm 118:17 g
[h]~ moving l
Deuteronomy 1:5
c
Isaiah 10:5-7 h
Jeremiah 16:16 m
[h]~ How much more
d
[h]~ rock i
[h]~ fine net n
Daniel 5:1-4
e
[h]~ founded j
[h]~ dainty

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6. Shall not all-of these people, take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against
him, and say; aWoe to him that increases that which is not his! How long? And to him that
lades himself with thick clay!
7. 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?
8. Because you have spoiled many nations, and of the remnant of the people shall spoil thee,
because of men’s bblood 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.
9. Woe to him who ccovets and evil covetousness, to his house, that he may set his nest on
high, that he may be delivered from the dpower of evil!
10. You have consulted shame to your house, by cutting off many people, and (you) have
sinned against (your own) soul.
11. 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.
12. Woe to anyone that builds that builds a town with eblood and established a city by iniquity!
13. 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?
14. For the fearth shall be filled gwith 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.]
15. 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!
16. Thou are filled hwith 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.
17. For the violence of iLebanon 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.”
18. jWhat profits the graven image that the makers thereof have graven it: the molten image,
and the teacher of lies, that kthe maker of his work trusts therein, to make dumb idols?

a
[h]~ He f
Isaiah 11:9 j
Isaiah 44:10
b
[h]~ bloods g
[h]~ by knowing the glory k
[h]~ the fashioner of his fashion
c
[h]~ gains and evil gains h
[h]~ more with shame than
d
[h]~ palm of the hand with glory
e
bloods i
Isaiah 14:8; Jeremiah 22:23

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19. 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.
20. 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 aupon Shigionoth. [Variable tunes called in Hebrew ~
Shigionoth].
2. O LORD, I have heard thy bspeech and was afraid: O LORD crevive thy works in-the-midst-
of the years, in-the-midst-of the years make known: in wrath, remember mercy.
3. God came from dTeman, 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 ehorns coming out of His hand: and fthat was
the hiding of His power.
5. Before Him went the pestilence; and burning gcoals (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 hCushan iin 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 jthe earth with rivers.
10. kThe 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. lThe sun and the moon stood still in their habitation: mat 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; nyou
wounded the head of the house of the wicked, oby pdiscovering 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 qcame 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 rheap 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 sinvade 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!

a
[h]~ according to variable g
[h]~ diseases n
Psalm 68:21
songs, or tunes; called in h
[h]~ Ethiopia o
[h]~ making naked
Hebrew “Shigionoth” i
[h]~ under affliction, Or vanity p
Psalm 137:7
b
[h]~ report, or hearing j
[h]~ the rivers of the earth q
[h]~ were tempestuous
c
[h]~ preserve alive k
Exodus 19:16,18 r
[h]~ mud
d
[h]~ the south l
Joshua 10:12-13 s
[h]~ cut them in pieces
e
[h]~ bright beams out of His side m
[h]~ thine arrows walked in the
f
Zephaniah 1:14 light

10
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, 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.
3. [FP] I will consume eman and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the fish
of the sea, and fthe gstumbling 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 hI will cut off the remnant of Baal from this place, and the name of ithe Chemarims
with the priests.

a
[h]~ lie d
[h]~ the face of the land h
2 Chronicles 34:3,4
b
Psalm 9:14; 13:5; Luke 1:47 e
Hosea 4:3 i
Hosea 10:5
c
[h]~ By taking away, I will f
Ezekiel 7:19
make an end g
[h]~ idols

11
5. [FP] And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship
and athat swear bby the LORD, and that swear by cMalcham.
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 dthe day of the LORD is at hand:
for ethe 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 fpunish 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 gthat 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 hthe Fish Gate, and a howling from ithe 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 jsettled kon their lees; lthat 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; mthey
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.
“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.

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

12
“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, 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, gnot desired.

2. h
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. i
Seek ye the LORD, jall you meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgement; seek
righteousness, seek meekness; it kmay 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 lGaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the
noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

a
Joel 2:11 e
Deuteronomy 28:29; Isaiah i
Psalm 105:4; Amos 5:6
b
See verse 7 59:10 j
Psalm 76:9; Isaiah 11:4
c
Habakkuk 3:4 f
Psalm 79:3 k
Amos 5:15
d
Jeremiah 4:19 g
[h]~ not desirous l
Jeremiah 47:5; Amos 1:6-8;
h
See 3:8 Zechariah 9:5-6

13
5. Woe unto the inhabitants of athe seacoast, the nation of the bCherethites! 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 cthe 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: dfor the LORD their GOD shall
e
visit 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. f
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby
they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves gagainst their border.
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 hfor 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 iHe will jfamish all-of the gods of the earth;
and kmen shall worship Him, leveryone 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] m You Ethiopians, too, will be slain by His sword.
13. [FP] And so will the lands of the north: He will ndestroy Assyria; and make its great capital
o
Nineveh a desolate wasteland, like a wilderness.
14. [P] And flocks shall plie down in the midst of her all the beasts of the nations: both the
q
cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the rupper lintels of it; their voices shall sing in
the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; sfor he shall uncover tthe cedar work.
15. This is the rejoicing city uthat 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!
v
Everyone 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

a
Jeremiah 47:7; Ezekiel 25:16 h
Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29 p
Isaiah 13:21-22
b
1 Samuel 30:14 i
Psalm 50:12 q
[h]~ pelican
c
Joshua 19:29; see verse 5 j
[h]~ make lean r
[h]~ knops, or chapiters
d
[h]~ when k
Psalm 22:27 s
[h]~ when he has uncovered
l
Malachi 1:11 t
Jeremiah 22:14-15
e
Zechariah 10:3 m
Isaiah 18:1 u
Isaiah 47:8
f
Jeremiah 48:1, 27 n
Isaiah 10:12 v
Jeremiah 19:8
g
Jeremiah 49:1 o
Jonah 1:2

14
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.]

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,
q
shall 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

15
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
h
the 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 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.

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

16
“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.
2. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim, king of Judah, into his hand, with bpart 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.

a
2 Kings 24:1-2; 2 Chronicles: b
2 Kings 24:13; 25:15
36:6

17
 5. And the king appointed them aa daily provision of the king’s meat,
and of bthe wine which he drank: so, nourishing them three years, that
at the end thereof, they might cstand before the king.

6. Now among there were of the children of Judah, Daniel, dHananiah,

Mishael, and Azariah:Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs egave
names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of fBelteshazzar; gand to
Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego.
7. Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs hgave names: for he gave unto
Daniel the name of iBelteshazzar; jand to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and
to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, 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, Hananiah, 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.
8. But Daniel purposed in his heart, that he would not defile himself with the portion of the
king’s kmeat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore, he requested of the prince of
the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9. Now, God had brought Daniel into favour and love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10. 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 lworse liking than the children,
which are of your msort? Then shall you make me endanger my head to the king.

a 2 Chronicles 31:16 f 4:8 k

Deuteronomy 32:38; Ezekiel
b [h]~ the wine of his drink g 2:49: 3:12 4:13
c 1 Kings 10:8 h 2 Kings 23:34 l
[h]~ sadder looking
d
See verses 11,19; 2:17 i
4:8 m
[h]~ term, or, continuance
e
2 Kings 23:34 j
2:49: 3:12

18
11. Then said Daniel to aMelzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
12. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us bpulse cto eat, and water
to drink.
13. 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.
“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.
14. As for these four children, dGod gave them knowledge and skills in all learning and wisdom;
and eDaniel fhad understanding in all visions and gdreams.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. And in all matters of hwisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found
them at least ten times better than all-of ithe magicians and astrologers, that were in all-
of his realm.
18. 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 jin the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed
(several) dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

a
[h]~ the steward e [h]~ he made Daniel understand i 2:2
b
[h]~ of pulse (chick peas) f 9:23; 10:1 j
Compare 1:1 with 2 Kings
c
[h]~ that we may eat g
5:12; 7:1 23:36; 24:12, Jeremiah 52:28
d
2:20-22,28 h
[h]~ wisdom of understanding

19
 2. Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers,
a

and the bChaldeans, (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.
4. And the (sneaky) Chaldeans spoke to the king in cSyriac, and said; dO 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 ebe fcut in
pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6. But, gif 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 hgain 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 ithe gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all-of jthe
wise men of Babylon.

a 4:6; 5:7 what they were saying to the f [Ch]~ made pieces
b 1:4 king) g
5:7,16
c The Samarian language, (so the d Chaldean language until the end h
[Ch]~ buy
others would not understand of chapter 7. i
5:11,14
e
3:29 j
4:6,18; 5:7-8

20
 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 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.

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

21
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
g
thighs 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 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 ia king of kings: for jthe 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.k You are this head
of Gold.

a [Ch]~ that I have found e Or, but for the intent, that the h
[Ch]~ which was not in hands;
b [Ch]~ Children of the captivity of interpretation be made known Zechariah 4:6
Judah unto the king. i
Ezra 7:12
c
[Ch]~ came up f
[Ch]~ was seeing j
Ezra 1:2
d
Genesis 41:16 g
[Ch]~ sides k
See verse 32

22
 37. And after thee, shall rise up aanother kingdom, inferior to thee, (silver), and banother third
kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all-of the earth.
38. And the cfourth 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 dbroken.
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 eone to another, even as iron in not mixed with
clay.
42. And in fthe days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up ga 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 hthe stone was cut out of the mountain iwithout 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 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.

a
5:28,31; 7:5 f
[Ch]~ their days i
[h]~ Or, which was not in hands
b
7:6 g
4:3,34; 7:14,27; Micah 4:7;
c
7:7,23 Luke 1:33; Compare Isaiah
d
[h]~ brittle 60:1, with 1 Corinthians 15:24
e
[Ch]~ This with this h
Isaiah 28:16

23
• 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.
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.

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

24
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, eO
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.
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.
8. Wherefore, at that time, certain iChaldeans came near, and jaccused the Jews.
9. They spoke and said to king Nebuchadnezzar, O King, live forever.
10. 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.
11. And whosoever falls not down and worships, that he should be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
12. There are certain Jews whom kthou have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, lhave not regarded thee; they serve
not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up.

a
2:32,38 f
[h]~ an early form of trombone k
2:49
b
Genesis 11:2 g
[h]~ an early form of guitar l
[Ch]~ have set no regard upon
c
[Ch]~ with might h
Revelation 1314-15 thee
d
[Ch]~ they command i
1:4
e
See verses 7 & 29 j
6:24

25
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.]
13. Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them; Is it atrue, O Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, do not you serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15. 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 bwho is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king; O Nebuchadnezzar, we
are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17. 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.
18. 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.
“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.”
19. Then Nebuchadnezzar cfull 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 done seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20. And he commanded the emost mighty men, that were in his army, to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21. Then these men were bound in their fcoats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other
garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22. Therefore, because the king’s gcommandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot,
the hflame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
[these men were judged by God Almighty immediately they did this].
23. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down, bound into the midst
of the fiery furnace.
24. Then Nebuchadnezzar was astonished, and rose up iin haste and spoke, and said unto his
j
counsellors; Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered
and said unto the king; True of king.

a
Or, of purpose d
KJV says ONE SEVEN TIMES f
[Ch]~ mantles
b
Exodus 5:2; 2 Kings 18:35; HOTTER. Whilst other g
[Ch]~ word
chapter 6:20 translations say seven times h
[h]~ spark
c
[Ch]~ filled hotter. i
2:25
e
[Ch]~ Might of strength j
Or governors

26
25. He answered and said; Lo, see four men loose, walking in-the-midst-of the fire, and athey
have no hurt: and the form of the fourth (person) is like bthe 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!c
26. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the dmouth 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.
27. 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.
28. Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said; Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, ewho has sent fhis 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.
29. Therefore, gI make a decree; That every hpeople, nation, and language, which speaks
anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ishall be jcut in
pieces, and their house shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can
deliver after this sort.
30. 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”.

a
[Ch]~ and there is no hurt in d
[Ch]~ door i
2:5
them e
6:22 j
[Ch]~ made pieces
b
Job 1:6 f
Psalm 34:7
c
Literally: and the fourth look g
[Ch]~ A decree is made by me
like the son of the gods. h
See verse 4

27
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?”
So, some of you may ask: “Well, what about you?” Having been a missionary in 43 Nations, I
know what it is like to be spat upon, cursed, punched, kicked, beaten, tortured, and put in prison
for the gospel.

CHAPTER FOUR: NEBUCHADNEZZAR TELLS HIS DREAM TO DANIEL

1. Nebuchadnezzar, the king, aunto all nations, peoples, and languages, that dwell in all-of
the earth: bPeace be multiplied unto you.
2. c
I 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. g
Therefore, 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: mthe
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;

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
f
2:28 l
Ezekiel 31:3; see verses 23-26

28
14. He cried aaloud, and said; bHew 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;
16. Let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and clet
seven times pass over him.
17. This matter is by decree of dthe watchers and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to
the intent that ethe living may know (and understand) fthat the “Most High” grules 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, hforasmuch 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. iThe 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 jthy 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 the field; and let it be wet, with

a
[Ch]~ with might d
Verse 13 h
2:40
b
See verse 23; Matthew 3:10 e
Psalm 9:16 i
See verses 10-11
c
See verses 23, 25, 31: 7:25, f
5:21 j
Jeremiah 27:6-8
11:13 g
2:21

29
 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 thy sins by
righteousness, and thine iniquities, by showing mercy to the poor, if it may be da
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.
33. iThe same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men;
and did eat grass as oxen, and jhis body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair were
grown like eagle’s feathers, and 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:

a
See verse 32; 5:21 e
[h]~ upon i
See verse 19
b
Psalm 106:20 f
5:20 j
5:21
c
See verse 32; 5:21 g
Amos 7:13
d
[h]~ a healing of thine error h
See verse 25

30
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 anone can stay
his hand, bor say unto Him. What does 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, cpraise and extol and honour the King of heaven, dall whose work
are truth, and ehis 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

According to history, we are now at 638 BC, the beginning of the 69th year that the Jews have
been in captivity.
1. f
Belshazzar, 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 gthe golden and silver vessels his
h
father (actually grandfather) Nebuchadnezzar had itaken 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.

a
Isaiah 14:27 e
Deuteronomy 32:4 h
[Ch]~ Or grandfather, as per
b
Job 9:12; Romans 9:20 f
7:1; 8:1 Jeremiah 27:7
g
Ezra 5:14-15; chapters 6:5; i
[Ch]~ brought forth
c
See verse 34; 5:4; 7:19
d
Psalm 33:4

31
4. They drank wine, and apraised 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 bcountenance cwas changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that dthe
e
joints of fhis loins were loosed, and his knees smote one another.
7. g
The king cried haloud to bring the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And
the king spoke and said to the iwisemen of Babylon saying: jWhosoever shall read this
writing, and then show me the interpretation thereof shall be clothed with kscarlet, and
have a gold chain about his neck, and lshall 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 mcountenance 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 rulern in the kingdom!” But when they
came, none of them could understando 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, pin whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of
thy qfather (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 rDaniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel. Are
you that Daniel, which are sof 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.

a
4:34,37; see verse 23 k
[Ch]~ purple were unable to give a prophetic
b
[Ch]~ brightness l
Compare with 6:2 interpretation.
c
[Ch]~ changed it m
[Ch]~ brightness p
4:8
d
Isaiah 5:27 n
Belshazzar, was the 2nd ruler q
[Ch]~ Grandfather
e
[h]~ Girdles under Nabonidus, his father, r
At this stage Daniel is
f
2:25 who was out of town with his approximately 82 years old
g
2:2; 4:6 army. s
2:25
h
[Ch]~ with might o
As the writing was in the
i
2:12 familiar Aramaic language, they
j
2:6 could read the words, but they

32
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 amake interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now bif
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; cLet thy gifts be to thyself; and give thy
d
rewards to another. Yet will I read the writing unto the king, and make known unto him
the interpretation.
18. O thou king, the most-high God egave 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, ftrembled 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 gwhen his heart was lifted up and his mind hardened hin pride, he was deposed from
his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him;
21. And he was idriven from the sons of men; and jhis heart was made like the beasts, and his
dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and khis 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 lthe Lord of Heaven; and mthey 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 nthou 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 othe 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

a
[Ch]~ interpret f
6:26 k
4:33
b
2:26 g
4:30 l
4:37
c
2 Kings 5:16; Acts 8:20 h
[Ch]~ to deal proudly m
See verse 3
d
[Ch]~ Or, fee i
4:25 n
See verse 4
e
2:37; 4:17,22 j
[Ch]~ he made his heart equal o
See verse 5

33
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, aUPHARSIN
26. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE: God has numbered thy kingdom, and finished
it!
27. TEKEL; bYou are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting!
28. PERES: Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the cMedes and the dPersians.
29. Then commanded Belshazzar, and ethey 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. fIn that (same) night was Belshazzar, the king (Regent) of the Chaldeans slain.
31. And gDarius the Median took the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
That very night, Belshazzar, the Chaldean king (Regent), was killed, and Darius, the hMede,
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 ione hundred and twenty princes, which should
be over the whole kingdom;
2. And over these jthree 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, kbecause of
an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

a
IN some translations the word f
Jeremiah 51:31,39,57 the one mentioned in Nehemiah
here is PERES (or Parsin) g
9:1; 11:1 12:22.
b
Psalm 62:9 h
This Darius, the Mede, is not to i
Esther 1:1
c
2 Kings 17:6 be confused with Darius, the j
Compare chapter 5:7
d
6:28 Persian, mentioned in Ezra, k
5:12
e
See verse 7 Haggai, and Zechariah, nor with

34
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.
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. c
Wherefore 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].

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

35
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? 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 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

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

36
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
a
instruments 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.
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.”

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

37
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.

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 gBelshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel hhad a dream and visions of
his head upon his bed; then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the imatter;
2. Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, jthe four winds of the
heaven strove upon the great sea.
3. And four great beasts kcame up from the sea, diverse one from another.
4. The first was like a lion, and had leagles wings, I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked,
m
and 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 nanother beast, a second olike to a bear, and pit 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 qfour heads; and dominion was given to it.
7. After this, in the night visions, and behold ra fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong
exceedingly: and it had great siron teeth: It devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped

a
Esther 9:10 h
[Ch]~ saw n
2:39
b
4:1 i
[h]~ words o
Revelation 13:2
c
Ruth 1:16; Ezra 1:3; see 4:34 j
37:9 p
[h]~ it raised up one dominion
d
Psalm 42:2; see verse 20 k
Revelation 13:1 q
8:8,22: 11:3-4
e
[Ch]~ hand l
Deuteronomy 28:49; Jeremiah r
2:40
f
Ezra 1:1-2; 4:5; 6:14; see 10;1 4:13 s
2:41
g
5:1 m
[h]~ wherewith

38
 the residue with the feet of it; and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it:
and ait had ten horns.
8. I considered the horns, and behold, bthere 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 cof man, and da 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 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

a
Revelation 13:1; 17:2 c
Revelation 9:7
b
See verse 20, 21, 24; 8:9 d
Revelation 13:5-6

39
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.
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.
1. [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.
2. 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.
3. I beheld them, because of voice of the great words which the horn spoke: I beheld even
g
until the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.
4. As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away; yet htheir lives
were prolonged for a season and time.

a
Revelations 4:2 d
Ezekiel 1:15-16 g
Revelation 19:20; 20:20
b
Psalm 90:2; see verses 13 & 22 e
Revelation 5:11 h
[Ch]~ a prolonging in life was
c
Revelation 1:14 f
Revelation 11:18 given them

40
5. [M] I saw in the night visions and, behold, one like athe Son of Man came with the clouds
of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
6. And bthere 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.
7.

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.

a
John 5:25-27; Revelation 1:13 b
Psalm 2:6,8; 8:6; 110:1-2;
Matthew 28:18

41
 •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).

8. [M] I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit in-the-midst-of my bbody, and the visions of my head
troubled me.
9. 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.
10. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.
11. But the saints of the dMost-High shall take the Kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever,
even for ever and ever.
12. Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse efrom 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;
13. And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before
whom three fell:
14. I beheld, and the same horn fmade war with the saints, and prevailed against them!
15. 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.

a
No more other religions, or c
See verse 10 f
8:12,24
dominions on earth. d
[Ch]~ High ones, or high places
b
[Ch]~ sheath e
[Ch]~ from of all-of those

42
16. [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).
17. 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.
18. And ahe 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.
19. [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.
20. 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, bwhose kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and all cdominions shall serve and obey HIM.
21. Hitherto is the end of the matter. dAs 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.
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?

a
8:24-25; 11:36 c
[Ch]~ rulers
b
See verse 14 d
See 15, 8:27; 10:8,16

43
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.
10. And it waxed great, even lto 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 mto the prince of the host, and nby 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.

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

44
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 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.

45
 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 3 1/2
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
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, is 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 eUlai (River) which called and said;
f
Gabriel, 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 gset 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. hThe ram which you saw having two horns, are the kings of Media and Persia.
21. And ithe rough goat, is the king of Grecia: and the great horn, that is between the eyes, jis
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 khave come to the full,
a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
24. And his power shall be mighty, lbut not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully,
and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the mholy people.
25. [M] And nthrough his policy also, he shall cause craft to prosper, in his hand: and he shall
magnify himself in his heart, and by opeace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up
against the Prince of Princes; but he shall be broken pwithout hand.

a
4:13 f
9:21; Luke 1:19,26 k
[h]~ are accomplished
b
[h]~ the numberer of secrets, g
[h]~ made me stand upon my l
Revelation 17:17
or, the wonderful numberer. standing m
[h]~ people of the holy ones
c
[h]~ making desolation h
See verse 3 n
11:23
d
[h]~ evening & mornings i
See verse 5 o
Prosperity
e
See verse 2 j
11:3 p
2:34

46
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 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

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).

a
6:2-3

47
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.

1. a
In the first year of the reign of bDarius, the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the
Medes, cwhich was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans.
2. In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books and numbers, whereof the
word of the LORD came to dJeremiah, the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy
years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
3. And I set my face unto the LORD God, to seek eby prayer and supplication, with fasting,
and sackcloth, and ashes;
4. And I fprayed 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. g
Neither 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 hbelongs 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, ithat
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. j
To the Lord our God belongs mercy and kforgiveness, (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, lall 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 mthat is written in
the law of Moses, nthe servant of God, because we have sinned against him.
12. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us, and against oour judges that
judged us, pby 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 qmade we not our
prayers before the LORD our God, that we may turn from our iniquities, and understand
thy truth.
14. Therefore, rhas 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.

a
11:1 h
[h]~ thou have n
1 Chronicles 6:49; 2 Chronicles
b
Jeremiah 25:12; see Appendix 4 i
Esther 9:20 24:9
c
[h]~ in which he j
Nehemiah 9:17 o
2 Kings 23:22
d
Jeremiah 25:12 k
Psalm 130:4 p
Jeremiah 39:16
e
Nehemiah 1:4 l
Isaiah 1:4-6; Jeremiah 8:5,10 q
[h]~ entreated not the face
f
Ezra 10:1 m
Leviticus 26:14; Deuteronomy r
Jeremiah 31:28; 44:27
g
2 Chronicles 36:15-16 27:15; 28:15; 29:20,27

48
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, aaccording to all-of your righteousness, I beseech thee, to let thine anger and thy
fury be turned away from thy city of Jerusalem, bthy holy mountain: because for our sins
and for the iniquities of our fathers, cJerusalem 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 dcause
thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
18. O my God, incline thine ear and hear, open thine eyes and behold our desolations, and the
city, ewhich is called by thy name: for we do not fpresent 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 gthine 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.

a
1 Samuel 12:7; Psalm 31:1; d
Numbers 6:25 g
Psalm 79:9-10; 102:15-16
71:2 e
[h]~ whereupon thy name is
b
See verse 20; Zechariah 8:3 called
c
Lamentations 2: 15-16 f
[h]~ cause to fall

49
“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 aGabriel, whom I had seen in the
vision at the beginning, being caused to fly bswiftly, ctouched me dabout the time of the
evening oblation.
22. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said; O Daniel, I am now come forth eto give
thee skill and understanding.
23. At the beginning of thy supplications the fcommandment came forth, and I am come to
show thee, gfor thou art hgreatly beloved: therefore, understand the matter, and consider
the vision.
24. Seventy iweeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, jto finish the
transgression, and kto make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to
l
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and mprophecy, and to anoint
n
the most Holy.
25. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore
and to build Jerusalem unto othe Messiah the Prince, shall be seven weeks, and three score
and two weeks: the streets shall pbe built again, and the qwall even in rtroublous times.
26. [F] And after three score and two weeks sshall Messiah be cut off, tbut 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 udesolations are determined.
27. [T] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in-the-midst-of the
week (31/2 days) 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
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*108 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,

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

50
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.
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

51
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.
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
3½ 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.

52
 Five heifers arrived in Israel in 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
The animal sacrifice Altar for the Third Temple, only take 12 weeks to compete.
outside the City Wall in Jerusalem

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,
g
whose 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.
8. Therefore, I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in
me; for my kcomeliness 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, lthen 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

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 k
[h]~ vigor
d
Genesis 2:14 h
Ezekiel 1:16 l
8:18

53
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 aset me upon my knees, and upon my hands. [Every
knee shall bow!]
11. And he said unto me; O Daniel, a man bgreatly beloved, understand the words that I speak
unto thee, and stand cupright: 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; dFear not, Daniel: for efrom 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.
13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me for twenty-one days; but, lo, fMichael,
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, gin 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, hone like the similitude of the sons of men itouched 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 jthe 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; kO man, greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, lbe 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 mthe 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 ntruth: and there is none that
o
holds with me in these things, but pMichael your prince.

a
[h]~ moved f
See verse 21; 12:1; Jude 9; k
See verse 11
b
[h]~ of desires Revelation 12:7 l
Deuteronomy 31:7,23
c
[h]~ upon thy standing g
2:28 m
See verse 13
d
See verse 19; Revelation 1:17; h
8:15 n
11:2
e
9:3-4,22-23 i
Isaiah 6:7 o
[h]~ strengthened himself
j
[h]~ Or, this servant of my Lord p
See verse 13

54
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
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!

1. Also, I, ain the first years of Darius, the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and strengthen
him.
2. 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.
3. And ca mighty king shall stand up [Alexander the Great], that shall rule with great
dominion, and do according to his will.
4. 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.

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

55
TIMELINE OF THE EMPIRES

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, 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.
5. 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.
6. 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

a
[h]~ associate themselves, Or, b
[h]~ rights
form an alliance

56
 retain the power of the arm; neither shall he stand; but she shall be given up, and they
that brought her, and ahe that begat her, and he that strengthened her in these times.
7. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up bin 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:
8. And shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with ctheir
precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of
the north.
9. So, the king of the south shall come into his kingdom and shall return into his own land.
10. But his sons shall dbe stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces: and one
shall certainly come, and overflow and pass through: then shall he ereturn and be stirred
up.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. For the king of the north shall return, and set forth a multitude greater than the former,
and shall certainly come fafter certain years with a great army, and with much riches.
14. 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.
15. So, the king shall come, and cast up a mount, and take gthe most fenced cities: and the
arms of the south shall not withstand, neither hhis chosen people, neither shall there be
any strength to withstand.
16. 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 iglorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
17. He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and jupright ones
with him: thus, shall he do, and he shall give the daughter of women, kcorrupting her: but
she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.
18. After this, he shall turn his face to the isles, and shall take many: but a prince lfor his own
behalf, shall cause mthe reproach offered by him to cease: without his own reproach, he
shall cause it to turn upon him.
19. Then he shall his face towards the fort of his own land; but he shall stumble and fall and
not be found.
20. Then shall stand up in his nestate oa raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom: but within
a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in panger, nor in battle.
21. 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.
22. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overthrown from before him, and shall be broken;
also, qthe prince of the covenant.
23. And after the league made with him, rhe shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and
be strong, with a small people.
24. He shall enter speaceably 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 tforecast his devices against the strongholds,
even for a time.
25. u
And 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.

a
[h]~ Or, who she brought forth i
[h]~ godly o
[h]~ one that causes an exacter
b
[h]~ in his place, Or, in his office j
[h]~ much uprightness, or equal to pass over
c
[h]~ vessels of their desire conditions p
[h]~ angers
d
[h]~ war k
[h]~ to corrupt her q
2 Maccabees 4:7,10
e
[h]~ be stirred up again l
[h]~ for him r
2 Maccabees 4:23-31
f
At “the end of time”, even years m
[h]~ his reproach s
[h]~ into the peaceable & fat
g
[h]~ the cities of munitions n
[h]~ place t
[h]~ think his thoughts
h
[h]~ the people of his choices u
2 Maccabees 5:1

57
26. Yes, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow:
and many shall fall down slain.
27. And both of these king’s ahearts 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.
28. Then he shall return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against bthe holy
covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. [LD] And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and
c
shall take away the daily sacrifice, and dthey shall place the abomination that
e
makes is desolate.

a
[h]~ their hearts d
1 Maccabees 1:59; 2 e
[h]~ astonished
b
2 Maccabees 5:21 Maccabees 6:2; Matthew
c
12:11 24:15

58
32. And such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall be acorrupt by flatteries: but the people
that do know their God bshall be strong, and do exploits.
33. 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.
34. Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen cwith a little help: but many shall cleave to
them with many flatteries.
35. And some of them with understanding will fall, dto try ethem, and to purge, and to make
them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
36. [T] And the king shall do according to his will; and fhe shall exalt himself, and magnify
himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against gthe God of gods, and
shall prosper until the indignation be accomplished: for that, that is determined shall
be done.
37. 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.
38. But hin his iestate shall he honour the God of jforces: and a god whom his father knew, not
shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and kpleasant things.
39. Thus, shall he do in the lmost 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 mgain.
40. And at “nthe time of the end” shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the
north shall come against him olike a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with
many ships, and he shall enter into the country, and shall overflow and Passover.
41. He shall enter also into the pglorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but
these shall escape out of his hand, even qEdom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of
Ammon.
42. And he shall rstretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall
not escape.
43. 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.
44. 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.
45. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between sthe seas in the tglorious 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 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.
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

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

59
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.
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 hbank of the river, and the other on that side of the river.
6. And one said to ithe man clothed in linen, which was jupon the waters of the river,
[Remember Jesus walks on water]; kHow 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 lswear by Him that lives forever, that
it shall be for ma time, times, and na 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 othe words are closed up and sealed, o till the time of
the end.

a
10:13 f
Revelation 5:1 & 10:4 k
8:13
b
Exodus 32:32; Luke 10:20 g
See verse 13 l
Revelation 10:6
c
2 Maccabees 7:9 h
[h]~ lip m
8:19
d
[h]~ Teachers i
10:5 n
[h]~ part
e
Matthew 13:43 j
[h]~ Or, hovering above o
See verse 4

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10. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried: BUT athe 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 bthe daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and cthe abomination that
d
makes 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: efor 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.
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

a
Revelation 22:11 c
[h]~ to set up the abomination e
[h]~ and thou
b
11:31 d
[h]~ astonishes

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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 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 MOSQUES and 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. So, because of these Jews, millions survive the seven
years of the Tribulation, and will also be saved spiritually.
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.
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

62
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.
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).

In my Father’s House there are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you. [John 14:2-6].
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 9th 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.

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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.
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.’

64
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.
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

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

65
 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.
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?’

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

66
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 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.

a
Previously in Daniel it says that
he was in the pit only overnight

67
34. Now the prophet aHabakkuk 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.’
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)

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.

a
Habakkuk means ~ “mint”, and
is very close to the same name
in Hebrew as Daniel.

68
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

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

69
 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

Arses 338–336 BC

Darius III 336–330 BC

70
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
Darius the Mede as Cyaxares II, Last
King of Media
November 9, 2019 ~ In "Old Testament"

71
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:
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.

72
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 cvisions 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
j
unfolding 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.
7. And their feet were lstraight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot:
and they sparkled mlike the colour of burnished brass.
8. n
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; othey 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 pstretched upwards; two wings of everyone
were joined to one another, and two wings covered their bodies.
12. And they went everyone straight forward; qwhither 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 rcoals of fire,
and like the appearance of slamps; 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 ta 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. u
Now, as I beheld the living creatures behold one wheel upon the earth by the living
creatures with his four faces.

a
[h] Captivity i
Jeremiah 1:13 o
See verses 12,17, Chapter
b
Matthew 3:16, John 1:51 j
[h] catching itself 10:11
c
See 8:3, 40:2 k
Revelation 4:6, Matthew 3:16, p
[h] divided above
d
2 Kings 24:12,15 John 1:51 q
See verse 20
e
[h] Jekezkel l
[h] a straight foot r
Psalm 18:12-13
f
Jeremiah 1:1 m
Daniel 10:6 s
Revelation 4:5
g
See chapts. 3:22, 33:22, 37:1 n
See 10:8,21 t
Daniel 10:6
h
Job 38:1 u
See chapter 10:2

73
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, aas 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 brings 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.
20. cWhithersoever 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 dof 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 eof the living
Creature (Spirit of Life) was in the wheels.
22. And the likeness of fthe 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, gI heard the noise of their wings, hlike the noise of great waters, as
i
the voice of jthe 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 kthe likeness of a throne, as the
appearance of la 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, mfrom
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. nAs the appearance of the bow othat is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance
round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of pthe glory of the Lord. qAnd when
I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.

CHAPTER 2: GOD ALMIGHTY SPEAKS TO EZEKIEL

1. And He said unto me; rSon of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak with thee.

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

74
2. a
And the Spirit entered into me when He spoke unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I
heard Him that spoke 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
g
briers 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. h
And you shall speak MY words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they 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
1. Moreover, He said unto me; Son of man eat that thou findest, oeat 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. pThen 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 qof a strange speech, of a hard language, but to the
house of Israel.

a
See 3:24 g
[h] rebels m
Revelation 5:1
b
[h] nations h
Jeremiah 1:7 n
Revelation 10:10
c
See 3:7 i
[h] rebellion o
See chapter 2:8-9
d
[h] hard of face j
See 3:3, Revelation 10:9 p
Revelation 10:9-10
e
See chapter 33:33 k
Jeremiah 1:9, see chapter 8:3 q
[h] deep of lip & heavy of
f
Jeremiah 1:8, see Chapter 3:9 l
See chapter 3:1-3 tongue

75
6. Not too many people of a strange speech, and of a hard language, whose word you cannot
understand. aSurely, bhad 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 cimpudent 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, dharder 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 ethe 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 fthe 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 gthe living creatures that htouched 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 iin bitterness, in the jheat 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, 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 kby the river Chebar and lI 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 ma 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, nhe shall die in his
iniquity, obut you have delivered your own soul.
20. Again, pwhen a righteous man does turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and
q
I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because you have not given him warning,
he shall die in his sin, and his rrighteousness which he had done shall not be remembered:
but his blood I shall require at your hand.

a
Had I sent thee, would they not f
See 8:3, 11:1,24, 43:5, 1 Kings m
Isaiah, 52:8, 56:10, Jeremiah
have listened to you? 18:12, Matthew 4:1, Luke 4:1 6:17, 33:2,6
b
Matthew 11:21,23 g
See 1:5,15 n
See 18:18, John 8:21,24
c
[h] stiff of forehead & hard of h
[h] kissed o
See 33:9
heart. i
[h] better p
See 18:24
d
Isaiah 50:7 j
[h] hot anger q
Jeremiah 6:21, see 24:3, 1 John
e
See 33:2 k
See 1:1 2:10
l
Job 2:13 r
[h] righteousnesses

76
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. a
And, 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 binto the plain; and behold cthe 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. dThen the Spirit entered-into me, and set me upon my feet, and spoke with me, and said
unto me, Go shut thyself within thine house.
25. But you, O son of man, behold, ethey 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 fa reprover; for they are a rebellious house.
27. But when I speak with thee, gI will open thy mouth, and thou shall say unto them, Thus,
says the Lord; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forebears, 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 hbuild a fort against it, and icast a mount against it; set it and
came also against it, and set jbattering rams against it round about.
3. Moreover, take unto thee kan 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 lbear their iniquity.
5. For I have laid on thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of days, three
hundred & ninety (390); mso shall thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

a
See 1:3 f
[h] a man reproving k
[h] a flat plate or slice
b
See 37:1 g
See 24:27 l
See 44:10,12
c
See 1:28 h
2 Kings 25;1 m
Number 14:34
d
See 2:2 i
Jeremiah 6:6
e
See 4:8 j
[h] chief leaders

77
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; aI 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, bI will lay bands upon thee, and thou shall not turn cfrom 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 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.
1. Take thou also unto thee, wheat, and barley, and beans and lentils, and millet, and dfitches,
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.
2. And thy meat which thou shall eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to
time, thou shall eat it.
3. Thou shall also drink water by measure, the sixth part of ea hin, from time to time thou
shall drink it.
4. And thou shall eat it as barley cakes, and thou shall bake it with dung, that comes out of
man in their sight.
5. And the Lord said; even thus fshall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the
Gentiles, whither I will drive them.
6. Then said I; Ah Lord God! Behold, my soul has not been polluted; gfor from my youth up
until even now have I not eaten of hthat which dieth of itself, or iis torn into pieces; neither
came there, jabominable flesh into my mouth.
7. Then He said unto me; Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shall
prepare thy bread therewith.
8. Moreover, He said unto me; Son of man, behold, kI 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.
9. 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

a
Number 14:34 d
Nigella sativa~ black cumin h
Leviticus 7:24
b
See 3:5 e
See 45:24 i
Exodus 22:31
c
[h] from one side to the other f
Daniel 1:8, Hosea 9:3 j
Leviticus 7:18
side g
Acts 10:14 k
Leviticus 26:26

78
of sickness, or that I found injured or dead; and I have never eaten any kind of animal that our
law forbids.”a 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 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
b
cause 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 cthe days
of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shall take a third part, and smite about it with the knife;
and a third part dthou shall scatter in the wind; and eI will draw out a sword after them.
3. Thou shall also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy fskirts.
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, gneither 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 hthat which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do anymore the
like, because of all thine abominations.
10. Therefore, ithe 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 jscatter
into all the winds.
11. Wherefore, as I live, says the Lord; Surely, because kthou 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

a
See the dietary laws in Leviticus e
See verse 12, Jeremiah 9:126 j
See 2:12
chapter 11. f
[h] wings k
2 Kings 16:10-15, & 21:7, 2
b
Compare Leviticus 21:5, with g
Jeremiah 2:10-11, See 16:47 Chronicles 36:14, & See 8:3,5
Ezekiel 44:20, & 1:3 h
Lamentations 1:12, Daniel 9:12,
c
See 4:8-9 Amos 3:2
d
See verse 10 i
Deuteronomy 28:53

79
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.
1. A athird 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 bI will
scatter (the remaining) third part into all the winds.
2. Thus, shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and
c
I will be comforted; and they shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it, in dmy zeal, when
I have accomplished my fury in them.
3. Moreover, I will make thee waste, and ea reproach among the nations, that are roundabout
thee, fin the sight of all that pass by.
4. 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.
5. When I shall send upon them gthe evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction,
and which I will send to destroy you.
6. 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, hset thy face towards ithe mountains of Israel, and prophecy against them.
3. And say, Ye mountains of Israel, Hear the word of the Lord God; Thus says the Lord God
to the mountains, and jto the hills, to kthe rivers, and lto the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will
bring a sword upon you, and mI will destroy your high places.
4. And your altars shall be desolate, and your nimages shall be broken; and oI will cast down
your slain men before your idols.
5. And I will play 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, qand you shall know that I AM, the Lord.

a
See verse 2 g
Deuteronomy 32:23-24 m
Leviticus 26:30
b
See verse 10 h
See 20:46, 21:2 n
[h] sun images
c
Isaiah 1:24 i
See 19:9, 36:1,4,8 o
2 Kings 23:14,16
d
See 38:18-19 j
See 36:4-6 p
[h] give
e
Nehemiah 2:7, Jeremiah 24:9 k
See 35:8 q
See verse 13, 7:4,9
f
Lamentations 2:15 l
Jeremiah 2:23

80
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. a
Yet, 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 bwith their eyes, which cgo 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 dwith thine hand, and estamp 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, fwhen their slain men shall be among their idols,
roundabout their altars, gupon every high hill, hin all the tops of the mountains, and under
every green tree, and under every thick ioak, 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, jmore 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 kIsrael; lAn 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 mrecompense upon thee, all-of thine abominations.

a
See 12:16, 14:22 f
See verse 4-5 k
Malachi 1:1
b
See 20:7, 24 g
Jeremiah 2:20 l
Lamentations 4:18, see chapter
c
See 23:30 h
Hosea 4:13 3:16
d
See 21:14 i
Isaiah 1:30 m
[h] give
e
See 26:5 j
[h] desolate from the wilderness

81
4. And amine 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 byou 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 cwatches for thee; behold, it is come.
7. d
The morning is come unto thee; O thou that dwells in the land; the time is come, the day
of trouble is near, and not the esounding 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 fthee according to
thy ways, and thine abominations that are in-the-midst-of thee; and you shall know that I
AM the Lord gthat smites thee.
10. Behold the day, behold it is come; the morning has gone forth; hthe 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 itheirs; neither shall there be wailing for them.
12. The time is come, the day draws near; let not jthe buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn; for
the wrath is upon all the multitude thereof. [no-one will escape this terrible wrath of
God]!
13. For the seller shall not return to that which is sold, kalthough they were yet alive; for the
vision is touching the whole multitude thereof, which shall not return; neither shall any
strengthen themselves lin mthe 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. nThe 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!

a
See 5:11 f
[h] upon thee k
[h] though their life was yet
b
See verse 9, 27 & chapter 6:7 g
Isaiah 9:13 among the living
c
[h] awakes against h
Isaiah 10:5 l
[h] whose life is in his iniquity
d
See verse 10 i
[h] Their tumultuous persons m
[h] his iniquity
e
[h] echo j
Isaiah 24:2 n
Deuteronomy 32:25

82
1. But athey 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.
2. b
All their hands shall be feeble, and all their knees shall cbe weak as water.
3. They shall also dgird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them: and shame
shall be upon all their faces, and ebaldness upon all their heads.
4. They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold fshall 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 git is hthe stumbling block of their
iniquity.
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!
5. As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty; but ithey made their images of their
abomination and of their detestable things therein; therefore, have I set it far from them.
6. 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 jthey shall pollute it.
7. My face will I also turn away from them, and they shall pollute my secret place; for the
k
robbers 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”.
8. Make a chain: for lthe land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.
9. 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 mtheir holy places shall be defiled.
10. nDestruction cometh: and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.
11. oMischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; and they shall seek
a vision of the prophet; but pthe law shall perish from the priests, and counsel from the
ancients.
12. 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 qaccording 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

a
See 6:8 g
[h] their iniquity is their m
[h] they shall inherit their holy
b
See 21:7 stumbling block places
c
[h] go into water h
See 14:3-4,7; 44:12 n
[h] cutting off
d
Lamentations 2:10 i
2 Kings 21:4, See 8:5-16 o
Jeremiah 4:20
e
Isaiah 3:24 j
See 28:7 p
Malachi 2:7
f
[h] for a separation, or for k
[h] burglars q
[h] with their judgements
uncleanness l
2 Kings 21:16, see 11:6

83
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

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: fwhere 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
j
in 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.
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

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

84
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
d
though 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.”

CHAPTER 9: GOD’S WRATH FOR IDOLATRY

1. He cried also in my ears with a loud voice, saying, “Cause them ethat 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 fthe higher gate, gwhich lies towards the north,
and every man ha slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed
was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn iby his side; and they went in and stood
beside jthe brazen altar.
3. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to kthe
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 lset 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.

a
See 8:3 e
See 44:11 i
[h] upon his loins
b
[h] Is there anything lighter to f
2 Kings 15:35 j
Exodus 27:2
commit g
[h] which is turned k
See 10:4,18
c
See 15:2 h
[h] a weapon of his breaking in l
[h] mark a mark
d
Proverbs 1:28 pieces

85
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 amy hearing; Go ye after him through the city and smite: let
not your eye spare, neither have you pity.
6. Slay butterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near
any man upon whom is the mark; and cbegin at my sanctuary. Then they began at dthe
ancient men which were before the house.
7. And he said unto them, “eDefile 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?”
9. Then he said unto me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great,
and the land is ffull of blood, and the city full of gperverseness: 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 hI 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 ithe firmament that was above the head of the cherubims
there appeared over them jas it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness
of a throne.
2. And he spoke to kthe man clothed in linen, and said; “Go in between the wheels, even under
the cherubs, and fill lthine hands with mcoals of fire from between the cherubims, and
n
scatter them over the city.” And he went in, in my sight.

a
[h] mine ears f
[h] filled with k
See 9:2
b
[h] to destruction g
[h] wresting of judgement l
[h] the hollow of thine hand
c
Jeremiah 25:29 h
See 7:4 m
See 1:13
d
See 8:11-12 i
See 1:22 n
Revelation 8:5
e
See 7:22 j
See 1:26

86
3. Now the cherubims stood aon the of the house, when the man went in; and the court filled
the inner court.
4. Then bthe glory of the LORD cwent up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the
house; and dthe house was filled the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the
LORD’S glory.
5. And ethe 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 fstretched 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 gthe 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; “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 were 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 hthe 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. i
When they went, they went jupon 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 kbody, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels,
were lfull of eyes round about, even the wheels that these four had.
12. As for the wheels, mit was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel.
13. n
And everyone had four faces: the first was the face of a cherub, and othe 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 pby 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. q
When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted-up, these lifted-up themselves
also; for the spirit rof the living creature was in them.
17. Then sthe glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over
the cherubims.

a
See 16:46 h
See 1:16 n
See 1:6
b
See 1:28, 10:18-19 i
See 1:17 o
See 1:10
c
[h] was lifted-up j
See 1:8 p
See 1:1
d
1 Kings 8:10 k
[h] flesh q
See 1:21
e
See 1:24 l
See 1:18 r
[h] or life
f
[h] sent forth m
[h] they were called in my s
See 10:4
g
See 8:3 hearing, wheel, or galgal.

87
18. a
And 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 bunder the God of Israel by the River Chebar; and I
knew that they were the cherubims.
20. cEveryone had four faces apiece; and everyone had four wings; and the likeness of the
hands of a man was under their wings.
21. dAnd the likeness of their faces was the same faces that I saw by the River Chebar, their
appearances and themselves; ethey 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 fSpirit lifted me up, and brought me unto gthe eastern gate of the LORD’S
house, which looked eastward: and behold at the door of the gate, were htwenty-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, iIt 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!].
6. j
You have multiplied you slain in this city, and you have filled the streets thereof with the
slain.

a
See 11:22 e
See 1:9,12, 10:11 i
[h] It is not for us to build
b
See 1:22 f
See 3:12 houses near
c
See 1:6 g
See 10:9 j
See 7:23
d
See 1:10 h
See 8:16

88
7. Therefore, that says the Lord God; ayour slain that you have laid in-the-midst-of it, bthey
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. cYou shall fall by the sword; I will judge you, din the border of Israel; eand 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; ffor you have not walked in my statutes, neither
executed my judgements, but ghave 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 hwill I be to them,
as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. [ISRAEL SCATTERED]
17. [LD] Therefore say; Thus says the Lord God; iI 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!’

a
See 24:6 d
2 Kings 14:25 g
Leviticus 18:3
b
Micah 3:3 e
See 6:7, 11:12 h
Isaiah 8:14, see 37:26
c
2 Kings 25:19-21 f
[h] which have not walked i
See 20:41, 28:25, 34:13, 36:24

89
“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 adid the cherubims lift-up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and bthe 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 cthe 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 spoke 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, dwhich have eyes to see,
and see not; they have ears to hear, and they hear not; for they are a rebellious house!
3. Therefore, thou Son of man, prepare thee estuff 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, fas they go forth into captivity.
5. g
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 hI 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 idigged 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

a
See 10:19 e
[h] Instruments. h
Isaiah 20:3,11; See 24:24,27
b
See 1:28 f
[h] as the goings forth of i
[h] digged for me
c
Zechariah 14:4 captivity
d
Isaiah 42:20, Matthew 13:14 g
[h] dig for thee

90
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, aWhat does
thou?
10. ‘Thou say unto them’; “Thus, says the Lord God: This bburden concerns the Prince of
Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel that are among them.”
11. Say, “I am your sign: clike as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; dthey 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.
13. eMy net also will I spread upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I fwill bring him
to Babylon to the land of the Chaldeans; gyet shall he not see it, hthough he shall die there.
14. [D] And iI will scatter towards every wind all that are about him to help him; and all his
bands; jand I will draw out the sword after them.
15. [D] kAnd 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 lall that is therein,
m
because 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

a
See 17:12, 24:19, 37:18 e
See 17:20, Hosea 7:12 i
2 Kings 25:5
b
Isaiah 13:1 f
2 Kings 25:7 j
See 5:2
c
See 24:24 g
Compare Jeremiah 32:5, & See k
See 6:7
d
[h] by removing go into 34:3-4, & Jeremiah 39:7 l
[h] the fullness thereof
captivity. h
Jeremiah 52:11 m
Psalm, 107:34

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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;
22. Son of man, what is that proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying; aThe days are
prolonged, and every vision fails?
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.
1. 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 prophesied of the
times that are far off.
2. 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?
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!”

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

92
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 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 darmholes,
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 efor 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 fto 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,

a
Jeremiah 6:14, Micah 3:5 c
See 22:28 e
Proverbs 28:21
b
[h] a slight wall d
[h] elbows f
[h] into gardens

93
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, 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.

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

94
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.
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.
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.]

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

95
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.
7. And gI will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall
devour them: hand 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 icommitted 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 jbirth and thy nativity is of the
land of Canaan: the father was kan Amorite, and they mother la Hittite.
4. And as for thy nativity, min the day thou were born thy navel was not cut, neither was
thou washed in water nto supple thee; thou were 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 were cast out into the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou
were born.

a
[h] also when f
Psalm 80:8, See 17:6, 19:10-14 k
Genesis 16:15
b
See 5:17, 33:27, Revelation 6:8 g
See 14:8 l
Judges 1:26
c
See 6:8, 12:16 h
See 6:7 m
Hosea 2:3
d
[h] will it prosper? i
[h] trespassed a trespass n
[h] or when I looked upon thee
e
[h] made fit j
[h] cutting out, or habitation

96
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 apolluted 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 bcaused you to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen
great, and thou hast come to cexcellent 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 dI 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 ethou became mine.
9. Then washed I thee with water; Yes, I thoroughly washed away thy fblood from thee, and
I anointed thee with oil.
10. I clothed thee also with gbroidered work, and shod thee with badger’s skin, and I girded
thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
11. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put hbracelets upon thy hands, and ia chain on
thy neck.
12. And I put a jewel on thy jforehead, and earrings in thine ears, and ka 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 lthou 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 mplayed 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.

a
[h] Trodden under foot f
[h] bloods k
See 23:32
b
[h] made thee a million g
Exodus 26:36 l
Psalm 48:2
c
[h] ornament of ornaments h
Genesis 24:22,30,47 m
Isaiah 1:21, 57:8; Jeremiah
d
Ruth 3:9 i
Genesis 41:42 2:20, 3:2,6,20; See 23:3,8,11-
e
Exodus 19:5 j
[h] nose 12; Hosea 1:2

97
17. Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and silver, which I have given thee, and
made thyself images aof 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. bMy meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou
hast even set before them for ca 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
d
these has thou sacrificed unto them eto 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?
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 fpolluted 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 geminent place, and hhas made thee a high place
in every street.
25. Thou have built thy high place iat 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 jthe 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 kdaughters 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 lwith 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. mIn 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 nthou give thy gifts to all lovers, and ohires 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.

a
[h] of a male g
[h] Brothel house l
2 Kings 16:7-18, 2 Chronicles
b
Hosea 2:8 h
Isaiah 57:7, Jeremiah 2:20, See 28:16-21, Jeremiah 2:18,36;
c
[h] a savor of rest 3:3 See 23:12
d
Jeremiah 7:31, See 20:26,31 & i
See 21:19; 42:12 m
[h] is thy daughter is thine
23:37 j
See 20:7-8; 23:19-21 n
Hosea 8:9
e
[h] to devour k
[h] cities o
[h] bribes
f
See 16:6

98
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 ~ 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
f
thy 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!]
40. They shall also bring up a company against thee; and gthey shall stone thee with stones,
and thrust thee through with their swords.
41. And hthey 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.

a
See verse 20 d
See verses 24-25 g
John 8:5,7
b
[h] with judgements of e
See 23:26 h
2 Kings 25:9, Jeremiah 39:8,
c
Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy f
[h] instruments of thine 52:13
22:22 ornament

99
43. Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but has fretted me in all these
things: behold, therefore I will aalso 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; byour mother was
a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.
46. And thine elder sister is cSamaria, she, and thy daughters that dwell at thy left hand; and
d
thy younger sister that dwells at thy right hand, is eSodom and her daughters.
47. Yet thou hast not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but fas 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, gSodom thy sister has not done, nor her daughters, as you
have done, you and your daughters.
49. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; pride, hfulness 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 icommitted abominations before me: Therefore jI 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 khas justified they sisters in all thine abominations that
thou hast done.
52. lThou 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.

a
See 7:4 f
[h] that was loathed as a small j
Genesis 19:24
b
See verse 3 thing k
Jeremiah 3:11
c
See verses 51,53,55 g
Matthew 10:15, 11:24 l
Romans 2:3
d
[h] less than thou h
Genesis 13:10
e
Isaiah 1:10 i
Genesis 13:13, 18:20, 19:5

100
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 amentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy bpride.
57. Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of
c
Syria, and all that are roundabout her, the daughters of the Philistines, which ddespise thee
roundabout.
58. Thou hast eborne 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 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 fthe oath in breaking the covenant.
60. Nevertheless, gI will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will
establish unto thee han everlasting covenant.
61. Then shall thou remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shall receive ithy 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.

a
[h] for a report d
[h] spoil g
Leviticus 26:42
b
[h] pride or excellences e
[h] borne them h
Jeremiah 32:40, 50:5
c
[h] Aram f
Deuteronomy 29:12,14 i
See verses 45-46

101
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; aA great eagle with great wings, long-winged, full of
feathers, which handbdivers (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 cplanted it din 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, eof 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, fthis
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 gsoil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and
that it might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.
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? hShall it not utterly wither, when the ieast 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
j
the 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, kand has ltaken an oath of
him: he has also taken mthe mighty of the land:
14. That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up, nbut that by keeping its
covenant it might stand.
15. But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors ointo 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?

a
Jeremiah 48:40 g
[h] Field l
Brought him to an oath
b
[h] embroidering h
See 19:12, Jeremiah 4:11, m
2 Kings 24:15
c
[h] put it in a field of seed Hosea 13:15 n
[h] To keep his covenant is to
d
Deuteronomy 8:7-9 i
Jeremiah 18:17 stand to it.
e
See verse 14 j
2 Kings 24:11-12 o
Jeremiah 37: 5-7
f
Leviticus 26:42 k
See verse 3

102
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 ain the midst of Babylon
he shall die.
17. Neither shall bPharaoh 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 cgiven his hand and
done all these things, shall he escape?
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 dI will; spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring
him to Babylon, and ewill plead with him there for his trespass that he has trespassed
against me.
21. [D] And all his fugitive with all fhis 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 gtake of the highest branch of the high cedar,
and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs ha tender one, and will plant it
i
upon a high mountain and eminent.
23. [S, M] jIn 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 kunder 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 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].

a
2 Kings 25:7 e
See 20:35-36 i
Psalm 2:6
b
Jeremiah 44:30 f
See 12:14 j
See 20:40
c
1 Chronicles 29:24 g
See verse 3 k
See 31:6
d
See 12:13 h
Isaiah 53:2, Matthew 1:12-13

103
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 hisneighbour’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. i
He 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
l. Stays away from sin, and
m. Is honest and fair when judging others,
n. and obeys the law, that man is just, says the Lord, and he shall surely live.
10. If he begets a son who is a nrobber, a shedder of blood, and othat 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. p
Has 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,

a
See 16:44 g
Leviticus 18:19 m
See 20:11, Amos 5:4
b
Jeremiah 31:29 h
Exodus 22:26 n
[h] breaker up of a house
c
Jeremiah 31:30, Galatians 3:10 i
See 22:12 o
[h] that does to his brother
d
[h] Judgement and Justice j
Exodus 22:25, Jeremiah 15:10 besides any of these
e
See verses 11,15, 22:9, k
Leviticus 25:36 p
See 22:29
Deuteronomy 12:2 l
Deuteronomy 1:16, Zechariah
f
Deuteronomy 4:19, Psalm 123:1 8:16

104
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; ahis bblood shall
be upon him.
14. 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.
15. 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.
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; 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,
Neither has oppressed anybody, chas 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,
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.
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 dhe 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.
2. Yet, says you; WHY? eDoes 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.
3. f
The soul that sins, is the soul that shall die. gThe son shall not bear the iniquity of the
father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; hthe righteousness of the
righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
4. 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.
5. i
And 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!]
6. j
Have 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?
7. But kwhen 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? lAll-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.”

a
Leviticus 20:9,11, See 32:4 f
See verse 4 2 Peter 3:9
b
[h] his bloods g
Deuteronomy 24:16 k
See 3:30, 33:12-13,18
c
[h]Has not pledged the pledge h
Isaiah 3:10-11 l
2 Peter 2:20-21
d
See 3:128 i
See 33:16
e
Exodus 20:5 j
See 33:11, 1 Timothy 2:4,6;

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“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.
8. a
Yet 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?
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. Because he considers and turns away from all-of his transgressions that he has committed,
he shall surely live, he shall not die.
12. 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!
13. Therefore, I bwill judge you, O house of Israel, everyone according to his ways, says the
Lord God. cRepent and turn dyourselves from all-of your transgressions: so that iniquity will
not be your ruin.
14. Cast away from you all-of your transgressions, whereby you have transgressed; and make
e
a new heart, and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel?
15. For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies; says the Lord GOD: Wherefore turn
f
yourselves 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, gtake 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; hit 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 ithey 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 janother of
her whelps, and made him a young lion.
6. And he went up and down among the lions, he kbecame a young lion, and learned to catch
the prey, and devoured men.
7. And he knew their ldesolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was
desolate, and the fullness thereof, by the noise of his roaring.

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

106
8. a
Then 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 bthey put in ward cin 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 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 dlike a vine ein 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 fher 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 gthe 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. hThis 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 ithe 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, jI will not be inquired of by
you.
4. Wilt thou kjudge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? lCause 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. 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.”

a
2 Kings 24:2 e
[h] in the quietness j
See 14:3
b
2 Chronicles 36:6, Jeremiah f
See 31:3 k
[h] plead for them
22:18 g
See 17:10 l
See 16:2
c
[h] in hooks h
See verse 1
d
See 15:6 i
See 8:1

107
5. And say unto them; Thus says the Lord GOD: In the day awhen I chose Israel and blifted-
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. i
But 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 mshewed 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.
14. rBut 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 slifted-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 thearts went after their idols.
17. Nevertheless, umine 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 vthe statutes of your fathers,
neither observe their judgements, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
19. I AM the Lord your GOD; wwalk in my statutes, and keep my judgements and do them;

a
Exodus 6:7, Deuteronomy 7:6 j
Nehemiah 9:10, Psalm 106:8, q
Numbers 14:29, 26:25, Psalm
b
[h] swore Isaiah 63:14 106:23
c
Exodus 3:8, 4:31 k
Exodus 13:18,20 r
See verse 9
d
Exodus 20:2 l
Deuteronomy 4:8 s
Numbers 14:28-29, Psalm 95:11
e
Psalm 48:2, Zechariah 7:14 m
[h] made them to know t
Numbers 15:39, Psalm 78:37
f
See 18:31 n
Exodus 20:8-9, Nehemiah 9:14 u
See 5:11
g
Leviticus 18:3, Joshua 24:14 o
Leviticus 21:23 v
Joshua 24:14
h
See 7:8 p
Compare with Exodus 16:27-28 w
Deuteronomy chapters 6-12
i
Isaiah 48:11, See 36:11

108
20. And ahallow my Sabbaths; and bthey shall be a sign between me and you, that you may
know that I AM your God.
21. Notwithstanding cthe 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 dscatter 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. eWherefore, 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 fthey caused to pass through the fire all that
opened the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that gthey 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.
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 hcommitted 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 ievery high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their

a
Jeremiah 17:22 e
Psalm 81:12, Acts 7:42, g
See 6:7, and 20:38,42, 44
b
Genesis 9:12, 17:11 Romans 1:24, 2 Thessalonians h
[h] trespassed a trespass
c
Numbers 15:1-2 2:11 i
Isaiah 57;5, 65:7, See 6:13
d
Deuteronomy 28:64 f
2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 28:3,
33:6, Jeremiah 32:35

109
 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 aI 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 byour 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? cAs 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! 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 dthe wilderness of the people, and there will eI plead with you
f
face to face.
36. [LD] gLike 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 hI will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the
covenant:
38. [LD] And iI 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 jthey 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: kGo 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 lin 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 mwill I
accept them, and there will I require your offerings and your nfirst-fruits 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

a
[h] I told them what the high e
See 17:10 j
See 13:9
place was ~ Bamah f
Deuteronomy 5:4 k
Judges 10:14, Amos 4:4
b
See 26 & 39 g
Numbers 14:21-23, 28-29 l
Isaiah 56:7, see 17:23
c
See Verse 3 h
Leviticus 27:32, Jeremiah 33:13 m
See 44:30
d
See verse 10 i
See 34:17,20,22 n
[h] chief

110
the Angel of the Lord, Jesus, (in His spiritual form), was there to stop Abraham plunging the knife
into the son of Promise.
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 bI 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
f
dry tree; the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces gfrom the south to the
north shall be burned therein.
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 hspeak parables?

CHAPTER 21: THE SHARP BRIGHT SWORD AGAINST ISRAEL

1. And the word of the Lord came unto me saying:
2. Son of man, iset 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 jwill cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked;

a
[h] savour of rest e
See 39:7, 43:7
h
See 16:44
b
Numbers 20:12, see 26:22,25 f
See 39:7, 43:7
i
See 20:46
c
See 6:9 g
See 21:4
j
Job 9:22
d
See 6:2, 21:2

111
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 ashall 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 Templeb. 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; cA 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? dIt, 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.
12. Cry and howl, son of man; for it shall be upon my people; it shall be upon all-of the princes
of Israel: eterrors by reasons of the sword shall be upon all-of my people; fsmite 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 ghands 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, hwhich enters into their privy chambers.
15. I have set the ipoint 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 jwrapped up for the slaughter.
16. kGo thee one way or other, either on the right hand, lor on the left hand, withersoever thy
face is set;
17. I will smite mine hands together, and mI 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.

a
[h] shall go into water e
[h] they are thrust down to the i
[h] glittering (or fear)
b
[h] against the sanctuaries sword with my people j
[h] sharpened
c
Deuteronomy 32:41 f
Jeremiah 31:19 k
See 14:17
d
[h] The rod of my son despises g
[h] hand to hand l
[h] set thyself, take the left hand
every tree h
1 Kings 20:30 m
[h] see 5:13

112
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 twain’s 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 aRabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in
Jerusalem the defenced.
21. For the King of Babylon stood at the bparting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to
use divination; he made his carrows bright, he consulted with dimages, he looked in the
liver.
22. At his right hand was the divination of Jerusalem, to appoint ecaptains, to open the mouth
of the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, fto 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, gto them that have sworn oaths;
but he will call to remembrance the iniquity; that they may be taken.
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.
25. 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-Jordanh. 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.
26. And thou, O iprofane and jwicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall
have an end,
27. Thus says the Lord GOD: Remove kthe diadem and take off the crown: this shall not be the
same; lexalt him that is low, and abase him that is high.
28. [F] mI will overturn, overturn, overturn it: and it shall be no more; nuntil 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

a
See 25:4-5; Jeremiah 49:2, g
[h] for the oaths made unto them l
Luke 1:52
Amos 1:14 h
[h] Literally; Rabbah of the m
[h] perverted, perverted,
b
[h] mother of Amorites perverted, will I make it.
c
[h] knives i
Leviticus 21:7,14 n
Genesis 49:10, Zechariah 6:12-
d
[h] teraphim j
2 Chronicles 36:13, Jeremiah 13, John 1:49
e
[h] battering rams 52:2
f
See 4:2 k
Exodus 28:4

113
emerges will not succeed until the Man appears who has the right to do it. And I will give it all to
him.
29. And thou son of man, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord GOD, aconcerning 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.
30. 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.
31. bShall I call it to return unto its sheath? I will judge them in the place where thou were
created, in the land of thy nativity.
32. And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee; cI will blow against thee in the fire of my
wrath; and deliver thee into the hands of dbrutish men, and skilful to destroy.
33. Thou shall be for fuel to the fire; thy blood shall be in-the-midst-of the land; ethou 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, fwilt thou gjudge, with thou judge the hbloody city? Yea, thou shalt
i
shew her all-of her abominations.
3. Then say thou; Thus says the Lord GOD: jThe city sheds blood in-the-midst-of it, that kher
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 lreproach 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 minfamous
and much vexed.
6. Behold, the princes of Israel, everyone was in thee to their npower to shed blood.
7. In thee ohave they set let by father and mother; in-the-midst-of thee have they pdealt by
q
oppression with the stranger; in thee rhave 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 scarry tales to shed blood: and in thee tthey eat upon the mountains;
in-the-midst-of thee they commit lewdness.
10. In thee uhave they discovered their father’s nakedness: in thee have they humbled vher
that was set apart for pollution.

a
Jeremiah 25:21, 49:1; see i
[h] Make her know p
Exodus 22:21
25:2-3,6,10; Zephaniah 2:8-10 j
2 Kings 21:16 q
[h] by deceit
b
[h] cause it to return k
See 21:25 r
Exodus 22:22
c
See 22:20-21 l
See 5:14
s
[h] of slanders
d
[h] burnings m
[h] polluted of name, much in
t
See 18:6
e
See 25:10 vexation
u
Leviticus 18:7-8
f
See 20:4 n
[h] arm
v
Leviticus 18:19
g
[h] plead for o
Deuteronomy 27:16
h
[h] city of bloods

114
11. And aone has committed abominations with his neighbour’s wife; and another has blewdly
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 gwill
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.
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:

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

115
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 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 mtwo women, the daughters of one mother:
3. And nthey committed whoredoms oin 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 pthey were
mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names “Samaria” being qAholah,
and “Jerusalem” is rAholibah.
5. And Aholibah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers; on sthe
Assyrians, her neighbours.

a
Psalm 68:9, see 34:26, h
See 13:6 o
See 20:7
b
Jeremiah 20:5 i
[h] deceit p
See 16:8
c
Malachi 2:8 j
[h] without right q
[h] His tent or tabernacle
d
[h] offered violence to k
Jeremiah 5:1 r
[h] my Tabernacle in her
e
Jeremiah 17:22,24,27; See l
See 7:4 s
2 Kings 15:19; 17:3; Hosea 8:9
44:24, m
See 16:15, Jeremiah 3:5,7-
f
Micah 3:1-3, 9-11 8,10
g
See 13:10 n
See 16:15

116
6. Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all-of them desirable young men,
horsemen riding on horses.
7. Thus, she acommitted her whoredoms with them, with all them that were bthe 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 cfamous among women; for they had executed
judgement upon her.
11. And when her sister Aholibah saw this, dshe was more corrupt in her inordinate love than
she, and in her whoredoms, emore 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,
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 fas soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and gsent messengers
unto them into Chaldea.
17. And the hBabylonians 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 ialienated 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 jshe 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,

a
[h] bestowed her whoredoms d
[h] she corrupted her inordinate g
Isaiah 57:9
upon them love more than her sister h
[h] children of babel
b
The choice of the children of e
[h] more than the whoredoms of i
[h] loosed & disjointed
Asshur her sister j
See 16:25
c
[h] a name f
[h] at the sight of her eyes

117
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 aI will bring them against thee on every side;
23. The Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, bPekod 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 cthey 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 dfair 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 ewhom 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 fthou 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 gher 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 hwith drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and
desolation, with the cup of ithy sister Samaria.
34. Thou shall even drink it and then suck it out. And thou shall break jthe 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.
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.

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

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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 hinto
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. 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, pthey 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: qI will bring up a company upon them, and will give them rto
be removed and spoiled.
47. And the company shall stone them with stones, and sdispatch 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.

a
See 20:4 h
See 44:7 o
[h] her whoredoms
b
[h] plead for i
2 Kings 21:4 p
See 16:38
c
See 22:2 j
[h] coming q
See 16:40
d
See 16:20 k
[h] honorable r
[h] for a removing and spoil
e
See 5:11 l
See 26:18 s
[h] single them out
f
See 22:8 m
[h] of the multitude of men
g
See 16:20 n
[h] drunkards

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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,a 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!]
3. And butter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them; Thus says the Lord
GOD; cSet 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 dburn 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 ethe bloody city, to the pot whose scum is not
gone out of it! Bring it out piece by piece; flet 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 gpoured 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 hthe 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 were not purged, thou
shall not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till iI 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

a
2 Kings 25:1, Jeremiah 39:1 e
See 22:2 h
See 22:15
b
See 16:44 f
2 Samuel 8:2, Joel 3:3 i
See 5:13
c
Jeremiah 1:13; See 11:3,7,11 g
Leviticus 17:13; Deuteronomy
d
[h] Heap 12:16,24

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 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.
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
do 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.
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 pthat whereupon they set their minds, their
sons, and their daughters,
26. That qhe that escapes in that day shall come unto thee, to cause you to hear it with thine
ears.
27. In that day, rshall 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.

a
1 Kings 20:6 g
See 12:9 m
See 12:6; See verse 27
b
[h] go h
Jeremiah 7:14: See 7:21-22 n
See 12:11
c
[h] Be silent i
See 7:20 o
See 6:7
d
Leviticus 10:6 j
[h] The pity of your soul p
[h] the lifting up of their souls
e
2 Samuel 15:30 k
See 23:47 q
See 33:21-22
f
Micah 3:7 l
See 4:17 r
See 3:26-27: 29:21

121
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 made bare; 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 aagainst 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 bit 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 cthe dmen 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 eRabbah 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 fhands, and stamped your
g
feet, and rejoiced in your hhearts, with all thy despite against the land of Israel;
7. Behold. Therefore, I will stretch out my hand upon thee, and will thee as ia 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 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 wary 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 jMoab and kSeir do say, Behold, the house of Judah
is like unto all the heathen;
10. Therefore, behold, I will open the lside of Moab from the cities, from the cities which are on
his frontiers, the glory of the country, mBethjeshimoth, nBaalmeon, and oKiriathaim,
11. Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the
Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.
12. And I will execute judgements upon Moab: and they shall know that I AM the Lord.

a
See 21:28 f
[h] hand k
See 35:2
b
See 22:16 g
[h] foot l
[h] Shoulder of Moab
c
Compare with 21:20 h
[h] soul m
Joshua 12:3
d
[h] children i
[h] meat n
1 Chronicles 5:8
e
See 21:20 j
Isaiah 15:1 o
Jeremiah 48:1

122
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: aBecause that Edom has dealt against the house of Judah bby
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 cTeman: and they of dDedan
shall fall by the sword.
15. And eI 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 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 fthe Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken
vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it gfor 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 hthe Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the isea 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, jbecause 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
k
many 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 lthe top of a rock.

a
Psalm 137:7; Isaiah 34:5 f
Isaiah 14:29-32; Jeremiah j
Isaiah 23:1
b
[h] by revenging revengement 25:20; 47:1; Joel 3:4; Amos k
Jeremiah 34:1
c
1 Chronicles 1:45 1:6 l
See 24:7
d
See 27:15, 20; 38:13 g
[h] with perpetual hatred
e
Jeremiah 49:7-22; Amos 9:12; h
1 Samuel 30:14
Obadiah 18,19,21 i
[h] haven of the sea.

123
5. It shall be a place for athe spreading of nets bin-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 cher 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 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: dBehold, I will bring upon Tyrus, Nebuchadnezzar King of
Babylon, ea king of kings, ffrom the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with
horsemen, and companies, and much people.
8. He shall slay with the sword gyour daughters in the field; and he shall make a fort against
you, and hcast 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, ias 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 jthy 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 kshake at the sound of thy fall, when
the wounded cry, when the slaughter is in-the-midst-of thee?

a
See verse 14 f
Jeremiah 1:14 j
[h]~ houses of they desire
b
See 27:32 g
See 16:27 k
Jeremiah 49:21; See 27:28;
c
See 16:27, see verse 8 h
[h] pour out the engine of shot 31:16
d
See 29:18 i
[h]~ according to the entering
e
Ezra 7:12, Daniel 2:37 of a city broken up

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16. Then all-of athe 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 btrembling;
they shall sit on the ground, and shall tremble at every moment, and be astonished at thee.
17. And they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and say to thee, how are thou destroyed,
that was inhabited cof seafaring men, the renowned city, dwhich was strong in the sea, she,
and her inhabitants, ewhich 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: fwhen I shall bring up the deep upon thee; and great waters shall cover
thee:
20. When gI 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; hI am iof
perfect beauty.
4. The borders are in-the-jmidst-of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.
5. They have kmade all thy ship boards of fir trees of lSenir: that have taken cedars from
Lebanon to make tall masts for thee.
6. Of the oaks of Bashan have they made the oars; mthe ncompany 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.
9. The ancients of oGebal and the wise men thereof were thy pcalkers: all the ships of the
sea were their mariners, and were in thee to occupy thy merchandise.
10. They of Persia and they of qLud and Phut were in thine army, thy men of war: they
hanged the shield and the helmet in thee; they set forth thy comeliness.

a
Isaiah 23:8 h
See 28:12 n
[h]~ daughter
b
[h]~ trembling’s i
[h]~ perfect of beauty o
1 Kings 5:18, Psalm 83:7
c
[h]~ of the seas j
[h]~ in the heart of p
[h]~ stoppers of chinks, or
d
Isaiah 23:4 k
[h]~ built strengtheners
e
See 32:23 l
Deuteronomy 3:9 q
Isaiah 66:19, Jeremiah 46:9,
f
See 27:34 m
[h]~ they have made the See 30:5
g
See 31:14; 32:18 hatches of ivory well-trodden

125
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. a
Tarshish 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. b
Javan, Tubal, Meshech, they were thy merchants: they traded the persons of men and
vessels of brass in thy cmarket.
14. They of the house of dTogarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules.
15. The men of eDedan 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 fthe wares of thy making; they
occupied in thy fairs, with emeralds, purple, and embroided work, and fine linen, and
coral, and gagate?
17. Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat
of hMinnith, and Pannag, and honey and oil and ibalm.
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, jcassia, and
k
calamus, were in thy market.
20. Dedan was thy merchant in lprecious clothes for chariots.
21. Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, mthey 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 nall 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. o
The 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 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 Harlech; [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.”

a
1 King 10:22, See 38:13 g
chrysoprase m
[h]~ they were the merchants
b
Genesis 10:2 h
Judges 11:33 of thy hands
c
[h]~ in merchandise i
[h]~ rosin, Jeremiah 8:22 n
[h]~ excellent things
d
Genesis 10:3 j
Exodus 30:4 o
Psalm 48:7, Isaiah 2:16
e
See 25:13 Eden k
Used in traditional medicines
f
[h]~ thy works l
[h]~ Clothes of freedom

126
“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 Panag, and with
honey, oil and balm. Damascus comes. She brings wines from Helb-on, 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 Canne,
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-
a
midst-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.
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. fWhen 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 gwhen 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. hAll 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 ia terror: and jnever 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, kin-the-lmidst-of the
seas: yet thou art a man, and NOT God, though thou set thine heart, as the heart of God:

a
[h]~ heart e
Job 1:20, Isaiah 3:24 i
[h]~ terrors
b
[h]~ even with all f
Revelation 18:15,19 j
[h]~ shall not be forever
c
[h]~ waves g
See 26:19 k
See 27:4
d
Revelation 18:17-18 h
See 26:15 l
[h]~ heart

127
3. Behold, athou 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 bthy 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 cstrangers upon thee; dthe 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 eslays thee.
10. You shall die the deaths of fthe 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, gtake 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 hperfect in beauty.
13. You have been in the iEden, the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the
j
sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the kberyl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the
l
emerald, and the carbuncle and gold; the workmanship of the tabrets, and of thy pipes
was prepared in thee in the day that thou were created.
14. Thou are the anointed cherub that covereth: and I have set thee so: you were upon mthe
holy mountain of God: you have walked up and down in-the-midst-of nthe 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.

a
Zechariah 9:2 f
See 31;18, 32:19,21,24-30,32 l
[h]~ chrysoprase
b
[h]~ the greatness of thy g
See 32:2 m
See 20:40
wisdom h
See 27:3 n
See verse 16 & compare with
c
See 7:21, 30:17, 31:12 i
See 31:8-9 Malachi 3:17
d
See 30:11 j
[h]~ ruby
e
[h]~ slays/wounds k
[h]~ chrysolite

128
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.
18. *** aThou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquities
of thy traffic: 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 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; gWhen 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 hshall 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!

a
See 22:16 d
Isaiah 23:4,12; Jeremiah g
See 39:27
b
See 30:8,14, 16; Revelation 25:22, 27:3; See 32:30 h
See 37:25
18:9 e
See 20:41
c
[h]~ terrors f
See 38:22

129
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 aagainst all-of Egypt.
3. Speak and say; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh, king of
Egypt, the great bdragon 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 cI 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 dopen fields; ethou 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 fa staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7. g
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.
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 hI will make the land of
Egypt iutterly waste and desolate, jfrom 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 kdesolate 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:
l
and 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.”

a
Isaiah 19:1; Jeremiah 25:19 e
Jeremiah 8:2, 25:33; i
[h]~ wastes of waste
b
Isaiah 27:1, 51:9; Jeremiah f
2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6 j
[h]~ From Migdol [Exodus 14:2,
46:22; Psalm 44:19, 74:13 g
Isaiah 20:5, 30:3-5; Jeremiah Jeremiah 44:1]
c
See 38:4 2:36 k
See 30:7
d
[h]~ face of the field h
See 30:12 l
See 30:23,26; Jeremiah 46:19;

130
13. Yet, thus says the Lord GOD: At the end of forty years awill 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
b
Pathros, into the land of their chabitation: and they shall be there a dbase 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 (a time of testing), 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, eNebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, caused his army to serve a great service
against Tyrus; every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: 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 fwill give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadnezzar, king
of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and gtake her spoil and take her pray; and it
shall be the wages for his army.
20. I have given him the land of Egypt hfor 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 ithe day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day: it shall be the time
of the heathen.

a
Isaiah 19:23; Jeremiah 46:26 e
See 26:7-8 h
[h]~ for his hire
b
See 30:14 f
See 30: 10,12,24-25 i
See 7:7,12; Joel 1:15, 2:1;
c
[h]~ birth g
[h]spoil her spoil & prey her Zephaniah 1:7
d
[h]~ lowly prey

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4. And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great apain shall be in Ethiopia, when the slain
shall fall in Egypt, and bthey shall take away her multitude, and her foundations shall be
broken down.
5. Ethiopia, and cLibya, and Lydia, and dall the mingled people of Chub, and the emen 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: ffrom 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, gand her cities
shall be in-the-midst-of the cities that are wasted.
8. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I set a fire in Egypt, and when all her helpers
shall be hdestroyed.
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: iI will also make the multitude of Egypt to cease by the hand of
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
11. He and his people with him, jthe 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 kdry, and sell the land into the hand of the wicked: and I will
make the land waste; and lall that is therein, by the hand of strangers: I the LORD have
spoken it.
13. Thus says the Lord GOD: mI will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to
cease out of nNoph: 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 oPathros desolate, and I will set fire in pZoan, and will execute judgements
in qNo.
15. And I will pour out my fury on rSin, 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 sAven and of tPibeseth shall fall by the sword: and these cities shall go
into captivity.
18. At uTahpanhes, also the day shall be vdarkened, 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]~ fear i
See 29:19 q
Jeremiah 46:25; See verses 15-
b
See 29:19 j
See 28:7 16
c
[h]~ Phut k
[h]~ drought r
[h]~ Pelusium
d
Jeremiah 25:20 l
[h]~ the fullness thereof s
[Heliopolis] see Genesis 41:45,
e
[h]~ children m
Jeremiah 43:12 50
f
[h]~ from Migdol to Syene n
Jeremiah 19:13; see verse 16 t
[Pubastum]
g
See 29:12 o
See 29:14 u
Jeremiah 2:16
h
[h]~ broken p
[h]~ Tanis; Numbers 13:22 v
[h]~ restrained

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“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.
And I strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and I will place MY SWORDd 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:

a
Jeremiah 48:25 d
When you have GOD’S sword in
b
See 29:12, & verse 26 your hand, no-one can defeat
c
See verse 10 you!

133
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, awith fair branches, and with a shadowing
shroud, and of a high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
4. Thy waters bmade 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, chis 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, dwhen he
shot forth.
6. e
All the fowls of Heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did 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 fin 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 gEden 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.
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 hhis 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: ihe shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness.
12. And strangers: jthe 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. kUpon 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 ltheir trees stand up in their height, all that
drink water: for they are all delivered unto death; mto 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 nto mourn for him, and all-of the trees of the field fainted for
him.

a
[h]~ fair of branches g
See verse 9, See 28:13 l
[h]~ stand upon themselves for
b
[h]~ nourished h
Daniel 5:20 their height.
c
Daniel 4:11 i
[h]~ in doing, he shall do unto m
See 26:20, 32:18,24; See
d
[h]~ when it sent them forth him verses 16, 18.
e
See 17:23; Daniel 4: 12,21 j
See 28:7 n
[h]~ be black for him.
f
See verse 9, See 28:13 k
See 32:4

134
16. a
I 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 ball the trees of Eden, the choice of the best of Lebanon,
all that drink water, cshall 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 tidesd.
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. 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 ea young lion of the nations, and thou art as a fwhale 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 gspread out my net over thee, with a company of
many people: and they shall bring thee up in thy my net.
4. Then hwill I leave thee upon the land, I will cast thee forth upon the open field, and will
i
cause 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 jupon the mountains, and fill thy valleys with thy height.
6. I will also water with thy blood kthe land where you swim, even to the mountains: and the
rivers shall be full of thee.
7. And when I shall lput thee out, I will cover the heaven and make the stars dark: mI will
cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
8. All of the nbright lights of heaven will I make odark over thee and set darkness upon thy
land, says the Lord God.
9. I will also pvex the hearts of many people, when I shall bring thy destructions among the
nations, into the countries that thou hast not known.

a
See 26:15 f
[h]~ dragon l
[h]~ extinguish
b
Isaiah 14:8 g
See 12:13 m
Matthew 24:29
c
Isaiah 14:9-11, See 32:31 h
See 29:5 n
[h]~ lights of the light in
d
[h] The great waters were held i
See 31:13 heaven
back j
See 31:12 o
[h]~ them dark
e
See 19:3,5-6 k
[h]~ the land of the swimming p
[h]~ provoke to anger

135
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 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 fher 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

136
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.
“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

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

137
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.
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. h
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, iI 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 jwhy will you die, O House if Israel?
12. Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, kthe 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,

a
FGBMI 14/3/87 ~ these people d
[h]~ he that hearing heareth i
2 Samuel `14:14; See 18:23
to become watchmen over e
Isaiah 58:1; Jeremiah 6:17; j
See 18:31
Thailand Amos 3:6 k
See 18:24
b
See 3:11, Hosea 4:4 f
See 18;13
c
[h]~ a land, when I bring a g
See 3:18
sword upon her h
See 3:19

138
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, awhen I say unto the wicked, thou shall surely die; bif he turns from his sin, and do
that which is lawful and right;
15. If the wicked crestores the pledge, dgive again that he had robbed, walk in ethe 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 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. fYet, the children of thy people say; The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their
ways are not equal.
18. gWhen the righteous turn away from their righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall die
thereby.
19. hBut 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 Lord isn’t fair? But I will judge each of you in accordance with his
deeds.”
21. And it came to pass in the twelfth yeari 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,
j
the city is smitten.
22. Now kthe 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 lmy 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 mwastes 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: nYou eat with the blood, and you lift-
up your eyes to idols, shed blood: and shall you possess the land?

a
See 3:18 f
See 18:25,29 k
See 1:3
b
See 18:27 g
See 18:26 l
See 24:17
c
See 18:7 h
See 18:27 m
See 36:4
d
Exodus 22:1,4,7; Leviticus i
See 1:2 n
See 44:17, Genesis 9:4;
6:2,4-5; Numbers 5:6-7 j
Compare 26:2, with 2 Kings 25: Leviticus 3:17
e
Leviticus 18:5 2-4

139
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 ato
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 bmost desolate, and the pomp of her strength will cease; and the
mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through.
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 cas 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 da 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:
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?

a
[h]~ to devour him c
[h]~ according to the coming of d
[h]~ a song of loves
b
[h]~ desolation & desolation the people

140
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.
12. [LD] bAs 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 cthe cloudy and ddark 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] eI 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
f
the fat and the strong; I will feed them gwith judgement.
17. [LD] And as for you, O my flock, that says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will judge between
h
cattle and cattle, between rams and the ihe goats.

a
[h]~ without a shepherd e
Micah 4:6 h
[h]~ small cattle of lambs &
b
[h]~ according to the seeking f
Isaiah 10:16; compare Amos kids
c
See 30:3 4:1 i
[h]~ great he goats
d
Joel 2:2 g
Jeremiah 10:24

141
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.
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 lconsumed
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.

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

142
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, 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.

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

143
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 aall 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 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 bthe mountains of Israel, and say; Ye mountains of
Israel, hear the word of the LORD:
2. Thus says the Lord GOD; Because cthe enemy has said against you; Aha, even dthe ancient
high places eare ours in possession;
3. Therefore, prophesy and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: fBecause they have made you
desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession unto the
residue of the heathen, gand hyou 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 iin 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 jyou 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, and destroyed
you on every side, and sent you away as slaves, to many lands. You are mocked and slandered.

a
See 36:5 e
Isaiah 61:4; h
[h]~ you are made to come up
b
See 6:2 f
[h]~ Because for because on the lip of the tongue
c
See 35:5 g
Deuteronomy 28:37; i
Deuteronomy 4:24
d
Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy Lamentations 2:15-16 j
See 32:24
32:13; See 35:10

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“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.
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, ethey defiled it by their own
way and by their doings: their way was before me fas the uncleanness of a removed woman.
18. Wherefore, I poured out my fury upon them, for gthe 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, hthey 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 imy holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the
heathen, whither they went.

a
See 17:23 d
[h]~ cause to fall g
See 16:36, 22:3
b
See 38:12; Amos 9:14 e
Leviticus 18:25 h
Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24
c
See 16:55 f
See 22:10 i
See 20:9

145
22. Therefore, say unto the house of Israel; Thus says the Lord GOD; aI do this not for your
sakes, O house of Israel, but bfor 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 cI 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 dsprinkle 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] eA new heart will I also give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; fand I will
take away the stony heart within your flesh, and I will replace it with a heart of flesh.
27. [LD] And gI 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 hyou 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 ishall you remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and
jshall loathe yourself in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
32. kNot 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 lthe Garden of Eden; and the
waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
36. [LD] Then mthe 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: nI 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.

a
Deuteronomy 9:5 e
Jeremiah 31:33; see 18:31 j
See 6:9
b
Psalm 106:8; Isaiah 43:25, f
See 11:19 k
See verse 22
48:11 g
See 37:14, Joel 2:28 l
See 28:13
c
See 11;17; See 34:13 h
Leviticus 26:12 m
Psalm 128:2
d
Isaiah 52:15 i
See 16:61 n
See 14:3

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38. [LD] As the aholy 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.

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

a
[h]~ flock of holy things

147
 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”. Now you understand why English translations can be so
confusing!]
2. And caused me cto pass by them roundabout: and, behold, there were very many in the
open dvalley; 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, ethou
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 fbreath (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 gthe 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 hstood 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; iOur bones are dried, and jour hope is lost: kwe are cut off from our parts.
12. Therefore, prophesy and say unto them; Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, O my people, lI
will open your graves, and cause you to come up out your graves, and mbring you into the
land of Israel.
[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.

a
See 3:12 f
Genesis 2:7 k
Lamentations 3:54
b
See 3:22-23 g
Daniel 7:2; 11:4: Revelation l
Isaiah 26:19; Hosea 13:14
c
[h]~ to hovered above them 7:1 m
See 36:24
d
[h]~ champaign h
Revelation 11:11
e
Deuteronomy 32:39; John i
Psalm 102:3
5:21; 2 Corinthians 1:9 j
Isaiah 49:14; See 49:14

148
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 write 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 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 mDavid 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 nthey 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, oforever: and my servant David shall be their Prince pforever.
26. Moreover, I will make qa covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant
with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and rwill 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 sthe 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

a
See 36:27 g
See 12:3 o
Isaiah 60:21; Joel 3:20
b
Numbers 17:2 h
See 26:24-25; Hosea 11:11 p
John 12:34
c
Zechariah 10:6 i
Jeremiah 50:4 q
See 34:25
d
2 Chronicles 11:12-13,16; j
See 34:24 r
See 11:16, see verse 28; Joel
15:9; 30:11,18 k
See 36:25 2:27; 2 Corinthians 6:16;
e
1 Chronicles 5:1 l
See 36:29 compare John 1:14
f
Genesis 48:13-14, 19; Hosea m
See 34:23 s
See 20:12
5:2,5 n
See 28:25, 36:28

149
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. a
Son of man, set they face against bGog, the land of Magog, cthe chief prince of dMeshech
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 eput 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 armour, even a
great company with bucklers and shields, and all-of them handling swords:
5. f
Persia, Ethiopia, and gLibya with them: all-of them with shield and helmet:
6. h
Gomer, and all-of his bands; the house of iTogarmah 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. j
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 kgathered 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 ldwell safely all-of them.
9. Thou shall ascend and come mlike a storm, thou shall be nlike 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 othink 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 psafely, all-of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars,
nor gates.
12. qTo 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-rmidst-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

a
See 39:1 h
Genesis 10:2-3 o
[h]~ conceive an evil purpose
b
Revelation 20:8 i
See 27:14 p
[h]~ confidently
c
[h]~ prince of the chiefs j
Isaiah 24:22 q
[h]~ to spoil the spoil, and to
d
See 27:13 k
See 34:13 prey the prey
e
See 29:4 l
Jeremiah 49:31 r
[h]~ navel
f
See 27:10 m
Isaiah 28:2
g
[h]~ Phut n
Jeremiah 4:13

150
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!’
“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
f
a 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

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

151
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!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 csort, 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 (the ancient name for Moscow) 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. j
Behold, 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 lburn 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 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 pthat 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 qnoses of the

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 p
Isaiah 2:11; See verses 8, 22
e
[h]~ the face of the field k
Psalm 46:9 q
[h]~ mouths

152
 passengers; and there shall they bury Gog and all-of his multitude: and they shall call it
the “The Valley of aHamon Gog.”
12. And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, bthat 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 cmen of continual employment, passing through the land to bury
d
with 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
e
set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in fthe 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 gunto every feathered fowl, and to
every beast of the field; Assemble yourselves and come; gather yourselves on every side
to hmy isacrifice 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 jgoats, of bullocks, all-of them fatlings kof Bashan.
19. And you shall eat fat ltill you be full, and drink blood till you are drunk, of my sacrifice,
which I have sacrificed for you.
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 mhid my face from them, and ngave them
into the hand of their enemies: so, fell they all by the sword.
24. oAccording to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions have I done unto
them, and hid my face from them.

a
[h]~ the multitudes of Gog f
See verse 11 k
Psalm 22:12
b
Deuteronomy 21:23 g
[h]~ the fowl of every wing l
Isaiah 23:18
c
[h]~ men of continuance h
Zephaniah 1:7 m
Deuteronomy 31:17
d
See verse 15 i
[h]~ slaughter n
Leviticus 26:25
e
[h]~ build j
[h]~ great goats o
See 36:19

153
25. Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD: Now will I abring again the captivity of Jacob, and have
mercy upon bthe whole house of Israel, and cwill be jealous for my Holy Name.
26. After that,d 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, ewhich 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 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), fin the fourteenth year after the city was smitten, in that self-same day,
g
the hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me thither.
2. h
In the visions of God, he brought me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high
mountain, iby 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 jlike the
appearance of brass, kwith a line of flax in his hand, and la 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 ma 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 nthe 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 high 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.”

a
See 16:53 f
See 26:1-2 k
See 47:3
b
Jeremiah 30:3; See 20:40 g
See 1:3 l
See 42:16-19; Revelation 11:1
c
See 5:13 h
See 1:1 m
See 42:20
d
See 32:24 i
[h]~ upon which n
See Revelation 21:16
e
[h]~ by my causing of them j
See 1:7

154
[For all-of this vision to actually take place in the physical world, the following must have already
happened:
➢ Israel: A nation once again ~ [completed 14th May 1948]
➢ The Sanhedrin re-established ~ [8th December 2004]
➢ New High Priest appointed ~ [8th December 2004]
➢ New altar constructed outside the walls of Jerusalem ~ [10th December 2018]

➢ The 5 red heifers have arrived in Israel ready to be sacrificed, to cleanse the ground before
the construction of the Temple foundations, and at each stage of its completion. [17th
September 2022]
EVERYTHING IS READY FOR THE NEW TEMPLE TO START, AS SOON AS THEY GET
CONTROL OF THE TEMPLE MOUNT!

6. Then he came unto the gate athat 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 blittle 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. i
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
[h]~ which face was the way b
1 Kings 14:28
towards the east

155
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 high 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

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.

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)

156
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.
26. And there were seven steps dto 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 ethe 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 fbroad.
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”]

a
[h]~ whose face c
See 42:2 e
See 8:16
b
[h]~ breadth d
1 Kings 10:5 f
[h]~ breadth

157
NOTE: Verse 30 is omitted in the Septuagint; and several others, in the ancient manuscripts, it
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:
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 athey
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.

a
2 Chronicles 4:6 d
Leviticus 4:2-3; see 42:13; f
[h]~ at the step
b
See 46:2 46:20 g
[h]~ the two hearth stones
c
Leviticus 1: 3,9,13-14,17 e
Leviticus 5:6; 6:6; see 42:13;
46:20

158
44. And without the inner gates were the chambers of athe 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,
b
the keepers of the ccharge of the house.
46. And the chamber whose prospect is towards the north is for the priests, dthe keepers of the
charge of the altar; ethese are fthe sons of Zadok, among the sons of Levi, gwhich come
near to the Lord, to minister unto him.
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 hpillars 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 is 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 Chronicles 6:31-33 d
Numbers 18:5 g
See 42:13; 45:4
b
See 44:8 e
See 43:19 h
1 Kings 7:21
c
[h]~ ward, ordinance f
1 Kings 2:35

159
 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; 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
j
a 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 ktwenty cubits, roundabout the house
on every side.

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 j
See 40:5, 43:13
d
1 Kings 6:5,8; See verses 6- g
[h]~ three & thirty times k
See 42:3
9,11,26 h
[h]~ be holden

160
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 agalleries 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, bcieled with wood roundabout, cand 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 dmeasure.
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 eposts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of
the one as the appearance of the other.
22. f
The 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 gthe
table that is before the LORD.
23. And the Temple and the Sanctuary hhad 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.
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 ithick 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.

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

161
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.”
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, dthan
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.

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
c
[h]~ did eat of these e
[h]~ from the place

162
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 ain
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 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 bthe priests that approach unto the Lord
c
shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and dthe meat
offering, and ethe 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 fthere 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
g
the gate whose prospect is to the east, and measured it round about.
16. He measured the east hside with ithe 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 16:25 d
Leviticus 2:3,10 g
See 40:6
b
See 40:46 e
See 40:39 h
[h]~ wind
c
Leviticus 6:16,26 f
See 44:19 i
See 40:3

163
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, land the
wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name, by their 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.
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.

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

164
 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 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 ethe altar: after the cubits: The cubit is a cubit and a hand
breadth; even the fbottom shall be a cubit, and the breadth a cubit, and the border thereof
by the gedge 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 hsettle 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, ithe altar shall be four cubits; and from jthe altar upwards shall be four horns.

a
See 40:4 e
Exodus 27:1-8; See 40:47, i
[h]~ Harel (that is the mountain
b
[h]~ sum, number (design) 47:1 of gold)
c
See 40:2 f
[h]~ bosom j
[h]~ Ariel (that is the Lion of
d
See 40:12; 42:15-20 g
[h]~ lip God)
h
See verses 17,20; 45:19,

165
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 ato sprinkle
the blood thereon.
19. And thou shall give to bthe priests, the Levites, cthat be of the seed of Zadok, which
approach unto me, says the LORD GOD, da young bullock, efor 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.
20. And thou take the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners
of fthe 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, gwithout 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 hshall cast salt upon them, and
they shall offer them up, for a burnt offering, unto the LORD.
25. iSeven 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 jconsecrate themselves.
27. And when these days are expired, it shall be, that kupon the eighth day, and so forward,
the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your lpeace 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.

a
Leviticus 1:5 e
Leviticus 8:14 j
[h]~ fill their hands
b
Deuteronomy 17:19; 24:8; f
See verse 14 k
Leviticus 9:1
Jeremiah 33:18; See 44:15 g
Exodus 29:14 l
[h]~ thank offering
c
See 40:46 h
Leviticus 2:13
d
Exodus 29:10 i
Exodus 29:35-36

166
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 aback the way of bthe 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; cbecause the LORD, the GOD of Israel, has entered in by it, therefore,
it shall be shut.
3. It is for the prince: the prince, he shall sit in it to deat 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 tehe north gate before the house: And I looked, and
behold, fthe glory of the Lord filled the house of the LORD: and gI fell upon my face.
5. And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, hmark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear
with thine ears, all that I say unto thee concerning iall-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 jthe 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. k
In that you have brought into my sanctuary lstrangers, uncircumcised in heart, and
uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when you offer
m
my bread, nthe 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 oset keepers of my
p
charge 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:

a
See 43:5 g
See 1:28 m
Leviticus 3:11
b
See 43:1 h
[h]~ set thine heart n
Leviticus 3:16-17
c
See 43:4 i
See 43:11 o
See 40:45
d
Genesis 31:54 j
See 2:5 p
[h]~ ward, or, ordinance
e
See 40: 17,20 k
See 43:8
f
See 43:5 l
[h]~ children of a stranger

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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 athe 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.
11. Yet shall they minister in my sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the house: and
b
ministering 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 ccaused 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 dthey 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 ethe 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 fthe priests the Levites, gthe 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 hmy 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 iwhen they enter in at the gates of the inner court, jthey
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.
18. They shall have klinen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen lbreeches upon their
loins; they shall not gird themselves mwith anything that causes sweat.

a
See verse 15; See 48:11 e
See 41:4 j
Exodus 28:39; 39:27
b
See 45:5 f
See 43:19 k
Exodus 39:28
c
[h]~ were a stumbling block of g
Deuteronomy 10:8 l
Leviticus 6:10
iniquity unto my people h
See 41:22 m
[h]~ in sweating
d
Numbers 18:3; 2 Kings 23:9 i
Exodus 28:43

168
19. And they shall go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, athey
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 bsanctify the people with their
garments.
20. cNeither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only
poll their heads.
21. dNeither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.
22. Neither shall they take for their wives a ewidow, nor her that is fput away: but they shall
take maidens of the seed of the House of Israel, or a widow, gthat had a priest before.
23. And hthey shall teach my people the “difference” ibetween the holy and the profane, and
cause them to discern jbetween the unclean and the clean.
24. And kin 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 lthey 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 mseven 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 nit shall be unto them for an inheritance: and you shall give them no possession in
Israel; I AM their possession.
29. oThey shall eat the meat offering; and the sin offering: and the trespass offering, and pevery
q
dedicated thing in Israel shall be theirs.
30. And rthe sfirst of all the first-fruits 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, tthe first of your
dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest in thine house.
31. The priest shall not eat of uanything 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.
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.v
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.

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

169
“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, awhen you shall divide by lot for an inheritance, you shall offer an boblation
unto the Lord, ca holy portion of the land: the length shall be the lengths of twenty-five
thousand dreeds 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
ein it shall be the sanctuary and fthe most holy place.
4. The holy portion of the land shall be gfor 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 87 1/2
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.
“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 wide for a city, open to
everyone in Israel.
7. And ha 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 imy princes shall no longer oppress my
people; and the rest of jthe 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 eastern 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 kexactions, from my people, says the
Lord God.
10. You lshall have just balances, and a mjust ephah, and a just bath.

a
[h]~ when you cause the land e
See 48:10 j
See 46:18
to fall. Joshua 13:6 f
see 41:4 k
[h]~ expulsions
b
See 44:30 g
See 48:11-12 l
Leviticus 19:35-36
c
[h]~ holiness, Exodus 28:36 h
See 48:21 m
Deuteronomy 25:14-15; Amos
d
See 42:16-20 i
Jeremiah 22:17; See 22:17 8:5

170
11. The ephah and the bath shall be of one measure, that the bath may contain the tenth part
of aa homer, and the ephah the tenth part of a homer: the measure thereof shall be after
the homer.
12. And bthe Shekel shall be twenty gerahs: 20 shekels, 25 shekels, 15 shekels shall be your
c
maneh.
13. This is dthe 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 elamb, out of the flock, out of 200, fout of the fat pastures of Israel; for a meat
offering, and for gpeace offerings, to make reconciliation for them, says the Lord GOD.
16. All-of the people in the land hshall give their oblations ifor the prince in Israel.
17. And jit shall be the prince’s part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and kdrink
offerings, lin the feasts, and in mthe new moons, and in the Sabbaths, in all solemnities of
the house of Israel: he shall nprepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt
offering, and the opeace offering, to make reconciliation for the House of Israel.
18. Thus says the Lord GOD: In the first month, pon 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. qIn 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 ra 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. sIn 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”t 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 Manneh.
“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.

a
Leviticus 27;16 h
[h]~ shall be for o
[h]~ thank offering
b
Exodus 30:13 i
[h]~ with p
Numbers 28:11
c
1 Kings 10:17 j
See 46:4-7 q
Leviticus 23:5
d
See 44:30 k
Exodus 29:40 r
Numbers 28:15
e
[h]~ kid l
See 46:9 s
Leviticus 23:34
f
Genesis 13:10 m
Numbers 28:11 t
A homer was about 220 litres or
g
[h]~ thank offerings n
Leviticus 14:19 6.5 bushels of grain.

171
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 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.

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 bthe 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
c
the 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
h
as 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

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

172
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.

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, bvoluntarily
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 hthe
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.
“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.”

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

173
19. After he brought me through the entry, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy
a
chambers 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 of 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.
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 kwaters to swim in, a river that could not be passed over.
6. 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

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

174
 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.
7. 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.
8. Now, when I had returned, behold, at the abank of the river were many trees on the one
side and on the other.
9. Then he said unto me; These waters issue out towards the east country, and go down into
the bdesert and go into the sea; which being brought forth into cthe sea, the waters shall
be healed.
10. And it shall come to pass, that every thing that lives, which moves, whithersoever the
d
rivers 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.
11. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from eEngedi even unto
f
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.
12. But the miry places thereof, and gthe marshes thereof hshall not be healed; they shall be
given to salt.
13. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, ishall grow all trees
for meat, jwhose leaves shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall
bring forth knew 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 lfor 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 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.
14. Thus says the Lord GOD: This shall be the border, whereby you shall inherit the land
according to the 12 tribes of Israel: mJoseph shall have two portions.
15. And you shall inherit it, one as well as the other: concerning the which I nlifted-up mine
hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.
16. And it shall be the border of the land towards the north side; from othe great sea, the way
of Hethlon, as men go to Zedad:
17. Hamath, Berothah, Sibraim, which is between the border of Damascus and the border of
Hamath: pHazarhatticon, which is by the coast of Hauran.
18. 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.
19. And the east side you shall measure qfrom Hauran, rfrom Damascus, and sfrom Gilead, and
from the land of Israel by Jordan from the border unto tthe eastern sea. And this is the east
side.

a
[h]~ lip of the river h
[h] ~ and that which shall not n
[h]~ swore (took an oath)
b
[h]~ plain be healed. o
See verse 10
c
Deuteronomy 3:17, 4:49 i
[h]~ shall come up p
[h]~ The middle village
d
[h]~ two rivers j
Psalm 1:3 q
[h]~ from between
e
1 Samuel 23:20 k
[h]~ principal r
[h]~ from between
f
Isaiah 15:8 l
[h]~ for bruises and sores s
[h]~ from between
g
1 Maccabees 9: 42,45 m
Genesis 48:5; Joshua 17:14 & t
Joel 2:20
17

175
 20. And the south side southward, from Tamar, even to athe waters of bstrife in Kadesh, the
c
river to the great sea. And this is the south side southwards.
21. The west side shall also be the great sea from the border, till a man come over against
Hamath. This is the west side.
22. So shall you divide this land unto you, according to the tribes of Israel.
“Then the Lord GOD saysd: 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.
23. And it shall come to pass, that you shall edivide 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 fborn in the country among the children of Israel: they shall have an
inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.
24. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourns, 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]
Here are the Biblical Boundaries of Israel defined, which God Almighty has promised will be
restored to Israel, and the nations punished that stole land from Israel.
“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.
1. 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.
2. The oblation that you shall offer unto the LORD shall be 25,000 in length and 10,000 in
breadth.
3. 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 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].

a
Numbers 20:13 d
See Diagram # 7 on page 109 f
Exodus 12:19, 48-49; Leviticus
b
[h]~ or Meribah e
See 45:1; 48:29 16:29
c
[h]~ valley g
See 45:1-6

176
4. a
It shall be for the priests that are sanctified, bof the sons of Zadok; which have kept my
c
charge, which went not astray, when the children of Israel went astray, das the Levites
went astray.
5. And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the
border of the Levites.
6. 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].
7. And fthey shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate gthe first-fruits 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. And they that serve the city shall serve it out of all-of the tribes of Israel.
13. 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.
14. And nthe 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.
15. 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.
16. As for the rest of the tribes, from the east side to the west side, Benjamin shall have oa
portion.
17. And by the border of Benjamin, from the east side unto the west side, Simeon shall have a
portion.
18. And by the border of Simeon, from the east side unto the west side, Issachar a portion.

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

177
19. And by the border of Issachar, from the east side unto the west side, Zebulun a portion.
20. And by the border of Zebulun, from the east side to the west side, Gad a portion.
21. And by the border of Gad, at the south side southward, the border shall be even from
Tamar, unto the waters of astrife in Kadesh, and to the river toward the great sea.
22. 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.
23. And these are bthe goings out of the city on the north side, 4,500 measures.
24. And cthe 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.
25. And at the east side 4,500: and three gates; one gate of Joseph, one gate of Benjamin,
and one gate of Dan.
26. And at the south side 4,500 measures: and three gates; one gate of Simeon, one gate of
Issachar, and one gate of Zebulun.
27. At the west side 4,500, with their three gates; one gate of Gad, one gate of Asher, and one
gate of Naphtali.
28. It was roundabout 18,000 measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, dThe
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 the 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. e
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, fby Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel,
the ggovernor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, hthe 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.

a
[h]~ Meribah Kadesh c
Revelation 21:12-13 f
[h]~ by the hand of
b
Numbers 34:4-5,8-9,12; Joshua d
[h]~ Jehovah Shammah g
[h]~ Or, captain
15:4,7,11 e
Ezra 4:24; 5:1 h
Zechariah 3:1

178
3. Then came the word of the LORD aby 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; bConsider your ways.
6. c
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 dwith 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].
When: On the 29th of August 520 BC, 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; eConsider your ways.
8. Go up to the mountains and bring wood ~ and build the house: and fI 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 gblow
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. hThen Zerubbabel (son of Shealtiel) the governor of Judah and Joshua (son of Josedech),
and ithe 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 Messengerj in the LORD’S message unto the people saying:
k
I 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.
Then the LORD told them, (again sending the message through Haggai, His messenger, “I AM
with you: I will bless you.”

a
Ezra 5:1 d
[h]~ pierced through h
Ezra 5:2
b
[h]~ set your heart on your e
[h]~ set your heart on your i
See verse 14
ways ways. j
Malachi 2:7; 3:1
c
Deuteronomy 28:38; Isaiah f
See 2:9 k
2:4
5:10; Micah 6:15. g
[h]~ blew it away

179
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 changed their minds and their directions. May we ever be
sensitive of the Words coming from our LORD & King also.

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
b
by 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 fwork: 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;
12. If one bear qholy 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 runclean by a dead body, touch any of these, shall it be
unclean? And the priests answered and said; It shall be unclean.

a
Leviticus 23:34,36 h
Isaiah 63:11; Zechariah 4:6 o
See verses 18,20; Zechariah
b
[h]~ by the hands of i
See verse 22 1:1,7
c
1:1 j
Malachi 3:1 p
Leviticus 10:10-11; 2 Chronicles
d
Ezra 3:12 k
Psalm 24:7-10 35:3
e
Zechariah 4:7; 8:9 l
1 Chronicles 29:14,16 q
Jeremiah 11:15
f
1:14 m
1:8 r
Leviticus 22:4
g
Exodus 29:45-46 n
Psalm 85:8-9

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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, awhen one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten;
when one came to bthe press fat for to draw fifty vessels out of the press, there were but
twenty.
17. I csmote 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, dfrom the 24th day of the ninth month, even from
e
the 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 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.

a
1:6 c
Deuteronomy 28:22 e
Ezra 3:10
b
Isaiah 5:2 d
See verses 10,20

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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.
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 520 B.C, 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; ga man hriding 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 ithe 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

a
[h]~ with displeasure d
[h]~ overtake g
Joshua 5:13; Daniel 9:21
b
Psalm 78:8 e
Lamentations 2:17 h
Revelation 6:4
c
Matthew 24:25 f
Jeremiah 35:15; Ezekiel 36:31 i
See verses 9,13,14

182
 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, ahow long will you not
have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, bagainst which you have had
indignation cthese last seventy years?
13. And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me, with dgood words and comfortable
words.
14. So, the angel that communed with me said unto me; Cry out saying; Thus, says that LORD
of Hosts; I eam jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
15. And I am very displeased with the heathen that are fat 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: gMy
house shall be built in it, says the LORD of H, and ha line shall be stretched forth upon
Jerusalem.
17. [P] Cry yet, saying; This says the LORD of Hosts; My cities through iprosperity, shall yet
spread abroad; and jthe LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and kshall 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, lfour horns.
19. And I said unto mthe angel that talked with me; What be these? And he answered me;
n
These 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.

a
Habakkuk 2:6; Revelation 6:10 f
Amos 6:1 k
2:12
b
Malachi 1:4 g
Ezra 6:14,15 l
Daniel 8:3,8,9,21
c
Jeremiah 25:11; chapter 7:5 h
Jeremiah 31:39; Ezekiel 47:2 m
See verses 9,13,14
d
Jeremiah 29:10 i
[h]~ good n
Ezra 4:1; 4:7
e
Joel 2:18; chapter 8:2 j
Isaiah 51:3

183
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 aman bwith a measuring line in his
hand.
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, cthe 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 dflee efrom 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 fthe apple of His eye.
9. [T] For I will gshake 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] hSing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for ilo, I come: and jI will dwell in-the-midst-
of thee, says the LORD.
11. [LD] And kmany nations shall be joined to the LORD, lin 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 mshall choose
Jerusalem again.

a
Ezekiel 4;3; 47;3 f
Deuteronomy 32:10 k
Isaiah 2:2,3; 49:23; 55:5;
b
Revelation 11:1 g
Isaiah 11:15; 19:16 60:3; 66:23; chapter 8:22
c
1:19 h
Zephaniah 3:14 l
Isaiah 2:11; chapter 3:10
d
Isaiah 48:20 i
Psalm 40:7 m
1:17
e
Jeremiah 3:18 j
8:3

184
13. [SC] aBe silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for He is raised up out of bHis holy habitation.
“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 cJoshua dthe High Priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and
e
Satan standing at his right hand fto 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 ga brand plucked out of the fire?
3. Now Joshua was hclothed 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, iI have caused thine iniquity to
pass from thee, and jI 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 kkeep my
l
charge, then you shall also judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give
you mplaces 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 nwondered at: for behold, I will bring forth omy servant pthe BRANCH.
9. [FC] For behold, the stone that I have laid before qJoshua; upon one stone shall be rseven
eyes: Behold, I will sengrave the graving thereof, says the LORD of Hosts, and I will remove
the iniquity of that land tin one day.
10. [FC] uIn 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).”
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.

a
Habakkuk 2:20 h
Isaiah 64:6; Jude 23 p
Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15; chapter
b
[h]~ the habitation of His i
Isaiah 6:7 6:12; Luke 1:78
holiness j
Isaiah 61:10 q
6:11
c
6:11 k
Genesis 26:5 r
4:10; Revelation 5:6
d
Haggai 1:1 l
[h]~ ordinance s
Exodus 28:11,21
e
[h]~ an adversary m
[h]~ walks t
13:1; Hebrews 7:27
f
[h]~ to be his adversary n
[h]~ of wonder u
2:11
g
Amos 4:11 o
Isaiah 42:1

185
“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.
8. Moreover, the word came unto me, saying;
9. The hands of Zerubbabel khave 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.

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 k
Ezra 3:10

186
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 athrough
the two golden pipes bempty 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 canointed ones, dthat 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 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 eroll.
2. And he said unto me; What do you see? And I answered; I see a flying roll, the length is
twenty fcubits, and the breadth is ten cubits. [30 feet x 15 feet].
3. [R] Then he said unto me; This is gthe curse that goes forth over the face of the whole
earth: for heveryone 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 iit shall remain in-the-
midst-of his house, and jshall 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 kthe angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me; lift up now your eyes,
and see what is this that goes forth.

a
[h]~ by the hand of f
[h]~ a cubit is approximately 18 i
Proverbs 3:33
b
[h]~ empty out of themselves inches j
Leviticus 14:45
oil into the gold g
Daniel 2:34; Haggai 2:21-23 k
1:19
c
[h]~ sons of Oil h
[h]~ every one of this people
d
Revelations11:4 that steals, hold himself guiltless
e
Jeremiah 36:2 as it does.

187
6. And I said; What is it? And He said; This is aan ephah that goes forth. He said; Moreover,
this is their resemblance through all-of the earth.
7. And, behold, there was lifted up a btalent 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?
11. And he said unto me; to build it a house in cthe 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 dred horses; and in the second chariot, black horses;
3. And in the third chariot, white horses; and in the fourth chariot, grizzled and ebay 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; fThese are the four gspirits of the heavens, which
go forth from standing before the LORD of all-of the Earth.
6. The black horses go forth into hthe 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.

a
Ezekiel 45:11 d
1:8: Revelation 6:2 g
[h]~ winds
b
[h]~ Or, weighty piece e
[h]~ strong h
Jeremiah 1:13; see verse 8
c
Genesis 11:2 f
Psalm 104:4; Hebrews 3:1

188
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.
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 bJoshua, 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
k
pray before the LORD.
3. And to speak unto lthe priests which were in the House of the LORD of Hosts, and to mthe
prophets, saying; Should I weep in nthe 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 4 th 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

a
3:5 f
Matthew 16:18; Ephesians k
[h]~ intreat the face of
b
3:1 2:20-22 l
Malachi 2:7
c
3:8 g
Ezekiel 21:27 m
Ezra 5:1-2
d
[h]~ branch up from under him h
Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 3:1 n
2 kings 25:8; Jeremiah 52:12;
e
Exodus 10:23 i
1:1,7 chapter 8:12
j
Nehemiah 1:1

189
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 ayou fasted and
mourned in the b5th and c7th months, even dthose seventy years, did you at all fast unto
me, even to me?
6. And when you did eat, and when you did drink, edid you not eat for yourselves, and drink
for yourselves?
7. f
Should 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; gExecute true judgement, and hshow mercy and
compassion, every man to his brother:
10. And oppress not ithe 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 jpulled 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, kby 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.
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.”

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

190
[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 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; kLet your hands be strong, you that hear in these days, all-
of these words, by the mouth of lthe prophets, which were in mthe 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, nthere 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 oprosperous; 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 pa curse among the heathen, O house of
Judah, and the House of Israel; so, will I save you, and qyou shall be a blessing: fear not,
but let your hands be strong.
14. For thus says the LORD of Hosts; rAs I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked
me to wrath, says the LORD of Hosts, and I repented not:

a
Joes 2:18 h
Isaiah 43:5; 49:12; Malachi 1:11 n
[h]~ the hire of man became
b
1:16 i
[h]~ the country of the going nothing
c
Isaiah 1:21,26 down of the sun. o
[h]~ of peace
d
Isaiah 65:20,22 j
13:9 p
Jeremiah 42:18
e
[h]~ multitude of days k
Haggai 2:4 q
Genesis 12:2
f
[h]~ Or, hard, or, difficult l
Ezra 5:1,2 r
Jeremiah 31:28; 32:42
g
Zephaniah 2:7; see verse 12 m
Haggai 2:18

191
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.
16. These are the things that you shall do; aSpeak you every man the truth to his neighbour;
b
execute 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 ito 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 lshall
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.

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

192
2. [P] And aHamath also shall border thereby; bTyrus, and cZidon, though dit be very wise.
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 eher power in the sea; and she shall
be devoured with fire.
5. [P] fAshkelon 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 gAshdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7. [P] And I will take away hhis iblood 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 ja Jebusite.
8. [P] And kI will encamp about my house, because of the army, because of lhim that passes
by, and because of him that returns: and mno 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 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.]

a
Jeremiah 49:23 f
Zephaniah 2:4 k
Psalm 34:7
b
Isaiah 23:1 g
Amos 1:8 l
7:14
c
Ezekiel 28:21 h
Leviticus 3:17 m
Isaiah 11:9
d
Ezekiel 28:3-5,12 i
[h]~ bloods
e
Ezekiel 26:17 j
Judges 1:21

193
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
i
the 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 “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 qidols have spoken vanity, and rthe diviners have seen a lie, and shave told
false dreams; they comfort in vain: Therefore, they went their way as the flock, they twere
troubled, ubecause there was no shepherd.

a
Hosea 1:7 h
Ezekiel 27:13 o
Isaiah 11:10,12
b
[h]~ Or, answered that i
Isaiah 18:3 p
[h]~ grow, or, speak
c
Psalm 72:8 j
Isaiah 21:1 q
[h]~ Teraphims
d
[h]~ where covenant is by blood k
[h]~ the stones of the sling r
Jeremiah 27:9
e
Exodus 24:8; Hebrews 10:29 l
[h]~ fill both the bowls s
Jeremiah 23:25
f
Isaiah 49:9 m
Isaiah 2:11 t
[h]~ Or, answered that
g
Isaiah 61:7 n
Isaiah 62:3 u
Ezekiel 34:5 Matthew 9:36

194
3. [FP] My anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I apunished bthe 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 cthe corner, out of Him dthe nail, out of Him ethe 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 stong 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 fthe 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 gtheir hearts shall rejoice as
through wine: Yes, their children shall see it, and be glad; their hearts shall rejoice in the
LORD.
8. [P] hI will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall
increase as they have increased.
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 iout of Assyria; and I
will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon: and a jplace shall not be found for
them.
11. [P] And khe 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 lsceptre 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!

a
[h]~ visited upon f
[h]~ and they shall make the j
Isaiah 49:20
b
Isaiah 14:9 riders on horses ashamed k
Isaiah 11:15
c
Psalm 118:22 g
Psalm 104:15; chapter 9:15 l
Ezekiel 30:13
d
Isaiah 22:23 h
Isaiah 5:26
e
9:13 i
Isaiah 11:11; 27:3

195
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 amighty 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: bFeed the flock of the slaughter;
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 cdeliver
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, deven 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 eloathed 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 fso gthe 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; hIf you think good, give me my price; and if not forbear. So, they
weighed out ithirty pieces of silver.
13. And the LORD said to me; Cast it unto the potter: ja 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 kBands, 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 bought and sold
sheep, who were watching me, realised that God was telling them something through my

a
Isaiah 2:13 e
[h]~ was straightened for them h
[h]~ if it be good in your eyes
b
See verse 7. f
[h]~ the poor of the flock i
Exodus 21:32; Hosea 3:2
c
[h]~ make to be found certainly knew j
Matthew 27:9-10
d
[h]~ verily the poor g
Isaiah 14:32; Zephaniah 3:12 k
[h]~ binders

196
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.
2. [P] Behold, eI will make Jerusalem fa cup of gtrembling unto all-of the people round about,
h
when 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 iastonishment, 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; jThe 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.

a
[h]~ hidden f
Exodus 12:22 i
Deuteronomy 28:28
b
[h]~ bear g
[h]~ slumber, Or, poison j
[h]~ There is strength to me in
c
Ezekiel 34:3-4 h
[h]~ and also against Judah, the inhabitants of
d
Numbers 16:22 which he be which shall be in
e
Isaiah 51: 17,22,23 siege against Jerusalem

197
“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, alike 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 bJerusalem shall be inhabited again cin 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 dhe
that is efeeble among them at that day shall be as David: and the House of David shall be
as GOD, as fthe 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 His only son, and shall be
in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for His first born.
11. [SC] gIn that day there hshall be great mourning in Jerusalem, ias 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 jof kShimel
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 la 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].

a
Jeremiah 5:14 e
[h]~ fallen i
2 Kings 23:29
b
2:4 f
Exodus 32:34 j
Of Simeon (of the 70 years)
c
6:12 g
See verse 3 k
Numbers 3:18
d
Joel 3:10 h
Matthew 24:30 l
Malachi 3:2

198
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 ahis 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, bshall be ashamed, every one
of his visions when he has prophesied: neither cshall they wear a rough garment, to
d
deceive.
5. [SC] But he shall say, I am no prophet, eI 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.
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 fmy shepherd, and against the man that is gmy fellow, says
the LORD of Hosts: hsmite 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] iBehold, the Day of the LORD comes, and thy spoil shall be divided in-the-midst-of
thee.
2. [SC] For jI 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, kas when He fought in
the day of battle.

a
Deuteronomy 13:6,8 e
Amos 7:14 i
Isaiah 13:9; Joel 2:1
b
Micah 3:6-7 f
Isaiah 40:11 j
Joel 3:2; Revelation 16:14
c
2 Kings 1:8 g
Leviticus 6:2; John 10:30 k
Exodus 15:3
d
[h]~ lie h
Matthew 26:31

199
KEEP WATCH! For the Day of the LORD is coming Soon! [Much sooner than many people of this
generation believe.] 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 ethe 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
t
shall 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, ~ 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,

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

200
 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 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 jbells of the horses, engraved kHOLINESS UNTO
THE LORD; and lthe pots in the LORD’S house shall be like mthe 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.

a
Judges 7:22;1 Samuel 14:20; 2 e
Isaiah 66:23 j
[h]~ bridles
Chronicles 20:23 f
Leviticus 23:34 k
Exodus 28:36
b
[h]~ and you of Judah shall g
Isaiah 60:12 l
2 Chronicles 35:13
c
[h]~ against h
Jeremiah 3:3 m
9:15
d
8:22 i
[h]~ sin

201
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! aYou old men, and give ear, all you inhabitants of the land. bHas this been your
days, or even in the days of your fathers?
3. c
Tell your children of it, and let you children tell their children, another generation.
4. d
That which the epalmerworm has left, fthe 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.

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

a
See verse 14 d
[h]~ the residue of the palmer- ff
Deuteronomy 28:38
b
2:2 worms
c
Psalm 78:4 e
2:25

202
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 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 dfor the husband of her youth.
9. e
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, fthe land mourns: for the corn is wasted: the new wine is gdried 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 hjoy is withered
away from the sons of men.
13. iGird 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] jSanctify 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! kFor 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, ljoy and gladness from the house of our God.
17. The mseed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken
down: for the corn is withered.
18. nHow 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.

a
Isaiah 32:20 g
[h]~ Or, ashamed l
Deuteronomy 12:6-7; 16:11,14-
b
2:2 h
Isaiah 24:11: Jeremiah 48:33 15
c
[h]~ laid my fig tree for a barking i
Jeremiah 4:8 m
[h]~ the grains
d
Proverbs 2:17; Jeremiah 3:4 j
2 Chronicles 20:3; chapter 2:15 n
Hosea 4:3
e
See verse 13; 2:14 -16
f
Hosea 4:3 k
Isaiah 13:6,9

203
 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.
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 in the Book of Revelation 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 mblackness.
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 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!

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

204
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, bwith
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 dHe 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, and 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?
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 ocorn, 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 pthe northern army, and will drive him into a land (that
is) barren and desolate, with his face towards qthe eastern sea, and his hind quarter facing
towards rthe utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because
he shas 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

a
Deuteronomy 4:30; 1 Samuel g
1:9, 13 n
Exodus 32:11-12
7:3; Hosea 12:6 h
See verse 1 o
1:10; Malachi 3:10-12;
b
1 Samuel 7:6 i
1:14 p
Jeremiah 1:14
c
Psalm 34:18 j
Exodus 19:10, 22 q
Ezekiel 47:18; Zechariah 14:8
d
Jonah 4:2; Nahum 1:3 k
1 Corinthians 7:5 r
Deuteronomy 11:24
e
Amos 5:15; Jonah 3:9 l
Ezekiel 8:16; Matthew 23:35 s
[h]~ has magnified to do
f
Isaiah 65:8; Haggai 2:19; Malachi m
[h]~ Or, use a byword against
3:10 them

205
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 awill do great things.
22. [P] Be not afraid, you beasts of the field: for bthe 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
c
the dformer rain emoderately: and He will cause to come down on you the rain, the fformer
rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24. [P] And the floors shall be full of wheat, and gthe 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 hmy people shall never be ashamed.
27. And you shall know that I AM iin-the-midst-of Israel, and that I jAm 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.
“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] kAnd it shall come to pass afterwards, [after what? After I ascend to My Father], that lI will
pour out my Spirit upon flesh; and myour 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 nI will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, fire and pillars of
smoke.
31. [LD] oThe sun shall be turned into darkness and pthe moon into blood, before the great and
q
the terrible day of the LORD comes.
32. [LD] And it shall come to pass, that rwhosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD, shall be
delivered: for sin 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.
“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.

a
[h]~ has magnified to do g
3:13 m
Isaiah 54:13
b
1:19 h
Isaiah 49:23; see verse 27 n
Luke 21:11
c
[h]~ Or, a teacher of i
Leviticus 26:11-12 o
See verse 10
righteousness j
Isaiah 45:5; Ezekiel 39:22 p
Revelation 6:12
d
Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3 k
Acts 2:17-21 q
See verse 11.
e
[h]~ according to righteousness l
Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 39:29; r
Romans 10:13
f
Jeremiah 5:24; Hosea 6:3 Zechariah 12:10 s
Isaiah 46:13; 59:20; Obadiah 17

206
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:
10. [LD] kBeat your plough shears into swords, and your lpruning 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 mcause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
12. [LD] Let the heathen be awakened, and come up nto the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for there
will I sit oto judge all-of the heathen round about.
13. [LD] You pput in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for qthe press is
full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
14. [LD] Multitudes, multitudes rin the Valley of sDecision: for the day of the LORD is near, in
the Valley of Decision.
15. [LD] tThe sun and the umoon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

a
Jeremiah 33:3; Ezekiel 38:14 i
[h]~ the sons of the Grecians o
Psalm 96:13; Isaiah 2:4; Micah
b
Zephaniah 3:8; Zechariah 14:2, 4 j
[h]~ sanctify 4:3
c
2 Chronicles 20:26 k
Isaiah 2:4 p
Revelation 14:15
d
Isaiah 66:16; Ezekiel 38:22 l
[h]~ Or scythes q
Revelation 14:18-20
e
Obadiah 11; Nahum 3:10 m
[h]~ Or, the LORD shall bring r
2:12
f
Amos 1:9 down s
[h]~ concision, OR threshing
g
2 Chronicles 21:16-17 n
2 Chronicles 20:26 t
2:10
h
[h]~ desirable things u
Revelation 6:12

207
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 ahope of his people, and the strength
of the children of Israel.
17. [LD] bSo shall you know that I AM the LORD dwelling in Zion, cmy Holy Mountain; then shall
Jerusalem be dholy, and there eno 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 fin that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and
the hills shall gflow with milk, and all-of the rivers of Judah shall hflow with waters, and ia
fountain shall come forth from the House of the LORD, and shall water the Valley of jShittim.
19. Egypt shall be a desolation, and kEdom, 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 ldwell forever, and Jerusalem for generation to generation.
21. For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: mfor 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 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. n
The burden of the word of the LORD to oIsrael by Malachi.
2. p
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 qI loved Jacob;
3. And I hated Esau, and rlaid 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.

a
[h]~ place of repair, Or harbour g
[h]~ go n
Nahum 1:1
b
2:27 h
[h]~ go o
See 2:11
c
Obadiah 16; Zechariah 8:3 i
Ezekiel 47:1 p
Deuteronomy 7:8; Jeremiah
d
[h]~ holiness j
Number 25:1 31:3
e
Isaiah 35:8; Nahum 1:15; k
Jeremiah 49:8, 17 q
Romans 9:13
Zechariah 14:21; Revelation l
[h]~ abide r
Jeremiah 49:10,19; Ezekiel
21:27; 22:15 m
[h]~ even I, the LORD that 25:13,14; 35:3,4,7
f
Isaiah 2:11 dwell in Zion.
208
5. And your eyes shall see, and you shall say; The LORD will be magnified afrom 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 of 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, bO
Priests, that despise My name. And you say; Wherein have we despised your name?
7. You coffer dpolluted ebread 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 fthe blind gfor sacrifice, is it not evil? And if you offer the lame and the sick,
is it not evil? Offer it now unto hthy 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.
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, ‘iThe table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit
thereof, even his meat is contemptible.

a
Or, upon d
Ezra 2:62; Nehemiah 7:64 g
[h]~ to
b
2:1 e
Leviticus 3:11 h
Haggai 1:1
c
[h]~ bring unto f
Leviticus 22:22 i
See verse 7
209
13. You said also, ‘Behold, what a weariness is it! aAnd 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 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, bO 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, cI will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse dyour blessings: yes,
I will have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
3. [P] Behold, I will ecorrupt your seed, and fspread dung among your faces, even the dung
of your solemn feasts: and gone shall take you away with it.
4. [P] And you shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that hmy covenant
might be with Levi, says the Lord of Hosts.
5. [FC] iMy 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] jThe 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] kFor the priest’s mouth should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at His
mouth: for he is lthe Messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
8. But you have departed out of the way; you have caused many to mstumble at the Law; you
have corrupted nthe covenant of Levi, says the LORD of Host.
9. *** Therefore, ohave I also made you contemptible and base before all-of the people,
according as you have not kept my ways, but phave been partial in the Law.
10. qHave 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.

a
[h]~ whereas you might have h
Numbers 25:12; Nehemiah n
Numbers 25:12; Nehemiah
blown it away 13:29; chapter 3:1 13:29; chapter 3:1
b
1:6 i
Isaiah 54:10 o
Nahum 3:6; see verse 3
c
Deuteronomy 28:20 j
Deuteronomy 33:10 p
[h]~ lifted up faces against, Or,
d
Psalm 69:22 k
Leviticus 10:11: Deuteronomy accepted faces
e
[h]~ reprove 17:9; Jeremiah 18:18; Ezekiel q
1 Corinthians 8:6; Ephesians 4:6
f
[h]~ scatter; Nahum3:6 7:26
g
[h]~ Or, it shall take you away l
Haggai 1:13
to it. m
[h]~ fall in
210
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 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, cand 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 fthe 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.

CHAPTER THREE: THE COMING OF THE MESSIAH PROPHESIED.

1. [FC] gBehold, I will send hmy Messenger [John the Baptist], and iHe will prepare the way
before me; and the LORD, whom you seek, jshall suddenly come to His Temple; Even kthe
messenger of the covenant, whom you delight in; Behold He shall come, says the LORD of
Hosts.
2. [SC] But who may abide lthe day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appears?
For mHe is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap:

a
1:1 f
See verse 15; Isaiah 54:6 j
Haggai 2:7,9; Matthew 12:6
b
[h]~ ought to love g
4:5; Matthew 11:10; Mark 1:2; k
Isaiah 63:9
c
Ezra 9:2 Luke 7:27 l
4:1
d
Jeremiah 2:27 h
Haggai 1:13 m
Isaiah 4:4; Matthew 3:11.12
e
[h]~ Or, him that wakes and him i
Isaiah 40:3; Luke 1:17,76; John
that answers 1:6,26
211
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 athe offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the
days of old, and as in the bformer 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 cthose
that doppress the hireling in his wages, ethe widow and the fatherless, and fthat turn aside
the stranger, from his right, and fear not me, says the LORD of Hosts.
6. *** [SC] For I AM the LORD, gI change not; htherefore, 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] iEven from the days of your fathers, you have gone away from my ordinances, and
have not kept them. jReturn unto me, and I will return unto you, says the LORD of Hosts.
k
But 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 ltithes and offerings.
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 mmeat in my house,
and nprove me now herewith, says the LORD of Hosts; If I will not open you the windows
of heaven, and opour 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 pall 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.

a
1:11 g
James 1:17 m
Psalm 111:5
b
[h]~ ancient h
Lamentations 3:22; Amos 9:9 n
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
c
Leviticus 9:13 i
Acts 7:51 o
[h]~ empty out
d
[h]~ defraud j
Zechariah 1:3 p
Luke 1:48
e
Deuteronomy 24:17 k
1:6
f
Exodus 23:6 l
Nehemiah 13; 10,12
212
“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. aYour 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
b
ordinances, and that we have walked cmournfully 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 d“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
e
jewels; and I will spare them, fas a man spares His own son that serves him.
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 gthe day comes hthat shall burn like an oven: and all-of the proud; Yes,
and all that do wickedly, ishall be stubble, (because the harvest has been completed), and
j
the 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 kthe 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.

a
2:17 e
[h]~ special treasure i
Isaiah 47:14
b
[h]~ observation f
Psalm 103:13 j
Matthew 3:10; Luke 3:9
c
[h]~ in black g
3:2 k
Psalm 84:11; Luke 1:78; John
d
Psalm 56:8; 149:9 h
2 Thessalonians 1:8 1:4,9; 12:46
213
5. [LD] aBehold, I will send you bElijah the Prophet, cbefore 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.
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. d
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of
Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he
e
made 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 fcharged 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, [ghe is the God]
which is in Jerusalem.
4. And whosoever remains in any place where he sojourns, let the men of his place hhelp 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 istrengthened 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
3:1 d
See verse 3 g
Daniel 6:26
b
Matthew 11:14 e
[h]~ caused a voice to pass h
[h]~ lift him up
c
Joel 2:31 f
Isaiah 44:28; 45:1,13 i
[h]~ that is, helped them
214
7. a
Also, Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, bwhich
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 ctreasurer,
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, along with 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,
h
Mispar, 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.
18. The children of iJorah, one hundred & twelve.
19. The children of Hashum, two hundred & twenty-three.
20. The children of jGibbar, 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.

a
See 5:15; 6:5 e
See verse 70; Nehemiah 7: 6- h
[h]~ also known as Mispereth
b
2 Chronicles 36:7 73; Compare Esther: 5:4-46 i
[h]~ Or, Hariph; Nehemiah 7:24
c
See 7:21 f
[h]~ also known as Azariah j
[h]~ Or, Gibeon; Nehemiah
d
See 5:14 g
[h]~ also known as Raamiah 7:25
215
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, aHadid, 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 bNethinim’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 cNephusim;
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.
59. 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.
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, fthey were as polluted, and put out from the priesthood.

a
[h]~ Or. Harid, in some b
[h]~ “those who are given” e
[h]~ Or, pedigree
copies.
c
[h]~ Or, Nephishesim f
[h]~ They were polluted from
d
[h]~ Or, Addon the priesthood.
216
63. 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.
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 & dsixty edrams 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. f
And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the
people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem.
2. Then stood up gJeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and hZerubbabel,
the son of iShealtiel, and his brethren, and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer
burnt offerings thereon, as it is jwritten 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.
4. They kept also the kfeast of Tabernacles, las it is written, and offered mthe daily burnt
offerings by number, according to the custom, nas the duty of everyday required;
5. And afterwards offered the ocontinual burnt offerings, both pof the new moons, and of all
the qset 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 rthe foundation of the Temple was not yet laid.
7. They gave money also unto the masons, and to the scarpenters; and tmeat, and drink,
and oil, unto them of Zidon, and to them of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to
the sea of uJoppa, vaccording 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.

a
[h]~ Or, Governor i
Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27; called r
[h]~ the Temple of the LORD was
b
Leviticus 22:2, 10,15-16 Salathiel not yet founded.
c
Exodus 28:30 j
Deuteronomy 12:5-6
s
[h]~ workmen
d
Nehemiah 7:70-72 k
Nehemiah 8: 14,17; Zechariah
t
1 Kings 5:6,9
e
1 Chronicles 29:7 14:16
u
Joshua 19:46
f
Nehemiah 7:73 l
Leviticus 23:34
v
See 1:2,3
g
[h]~ Or, Joshua: Haggai 1:1, m
Numbers 29:12-38
12,14; 2:2,4; Zechariah n
[h]~ the matter of the day in
3:1,3,6,8 his day
h
Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27; o
Exodus 29:38
called Zorobabel. p
Numbers 28:11
q
Numbers 29:39
217
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 aZerubbabel, 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 btwenty 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 cJudah,
d
together, 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
e
in their apparel with ftrumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph with gcymbals, to praise
the LORD, hafter the ordinance of David, King of Israel.
11. And they isang together by course, in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; jbecause
He is good, and His mercy endureth forever towards Israel. And all-of the 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, kthat
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 lthe adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that mthe children of the captivity
built 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 nsince the

a
See verse 2 f
1 Chronicles 15:24 k
Haggai 2:3
b
1 Chronicles 23:24 g
1 Chronicles 15:16 l
See verses 7-9
c
[h]~ Or, Hodaviah h
1 Chronicles 25:1-2 m
[h]~ the sons of the
d
[h]~ as one i
Numbers 12:24 transportation
e
2:69 j
1 Chronicles 16:34,41 n
2 Kings 17: 24,32-33; 19:37
218
 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 aKing 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 bAhasuerus, 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 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 cBishlam, dMithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their
e
companions unto Artaxerxes, king of Persia; and the of the letter was fin the Syrian
[Aramaic] tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian [Aramaic] tongue.
8. Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the gscribe 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 hAsnappar 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 Erach 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 iset up the walls thereof,
and jjoined the foundations.

a
See 3:7 e
[H]~ societies i
[h]~ finished
b
[h]~ Also called “Ahashverosh” f
2 Kings 18:26 j
[ch]~ sewed together
c
[h]~ Or, in peace g
[h]~ Or, secretary
d
See 1:8 h
Compare verse 2
219
13. Be it now known unto the king, that, if this city is built, and the walls set up again, then
they will not apay btoll, tribute, and custom, and so shalt endamage the crevenue of the
kings.
14. Now because dwe 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 emoved sedition fwithin the same of old time; for which
cause this city was destroyed.
16. We certify the king that, if this city be built again, and the walls thereof set up, by this
means thou shall have no portion on this side of the river.
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 gcompanions 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 hI commanded and a search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time
has imade insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made
therein.
20. There have been mighty kings also over Jerusalem, which have jruled over all countries
beyond the river; and toll, tribute, and custom were paid unto them.
21. kGive 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 lby 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.

a
[ch]~ give e
[ch]~ made j
1 Kings 4:21
b
7:24 f
[ch]~ in the midst thereof k
[ch]~ make a decree
c
[h]~] strength g
[ch]~ societies l
[ch]~ by arm and power
d
[h]~ we are salted with the salt h
[ch]~ by me a decree is set
of the palace i
[ch]~ lifted up itself
220
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.

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 cmake 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 built 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 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.

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
221
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. Then Darius the king made a decree, cand a search was made in the house of the drolls,
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:
5. And also let the hgold 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 ibrought
again unto the Temple, which is at Jerusalem, everyone in his place, and place them in the
house of God.
6. [Conclusion] Now therefore, jTatnai, Governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and kyour
companions, the lApharsites, 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, mI 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 nhindered.

a
See 3:8-10 f
Or, Ecbatana, Or, in a coffer. k
[ch]~ their societies
b
King Solomon g
1 Kings 6:36 l
4:9
c
See 5:17 h
See 1:7-8; 5:14 m
[ch]~ by me a decree is made
d
[ch]~ books i
[ch]~ Go n
[ch]~ made to cease
e
[ch]~ made to descend j
5:3,6
222
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 aof 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, blet 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 Shetharboznai, 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, 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, Shetharboznai, and their companions complied at once with the command of
King Darius.

a
[ch]~ of rest b
[ch]~ let him be destroyed
223
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.
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
the 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.

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
224
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 7th year of
Artaxerxes the king.
8. And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9. For upon the first day of the first month ebegan 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 fteach 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, gking of kings, hunto 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.

a
Nehemiah 2:1 e
[h]~ was the foundation of the h
[ch]~ or, Ezra the priest, a
b
Nehemiah 8:12, 4-5,13 going up perfect scribe of the law of God
c
See verses 9,28 f
Nehemiah 8:1-8 of heaven, peace, etc.
d
8:1-14 g
Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37
225
14. Forasmuch as thou art sent aof the king, and of his bseven 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.
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 cmeasures of wheat, and to one
hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how
much.
23. dWhatsoever 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 etoll, 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 fto 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 teacher
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]~ from before the king d
[ch]~ Whatsoever is of the f
[ch]~ to rooting out
b
Esther 1:14 decree
c
[ch]~ cors e
4:13
226
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;
d
Hattush.
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.
14. Of the sons of lBigvai; Uthai, and mZab-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;

a
1 Chronicles 24:3-4 f
2:3 k
[h]~ the youngest son of
b
1 Chronicles 24:3-4 g
2:6 l
2:2;14
c
Nehemiah 10:6 h
2:7 m
[h]~ also known as ~ Zaccur
d
1 Chronicles 3:22 i
2:4
e
1 Chronicles 3:21 j
2:6
227
 ➢ 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 aabode 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 bI 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 cby the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the
son of dMahli, 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 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 eproclaimed a fast there, at the River of Ahava, that we might fafflict 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; “gThe hand of our
God is upon all them hfor good that seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all-of
them that iforsake Him.”
23. So, we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was jintreated 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!

a
[ch]~ pitched our tents e
2 Chronicles 20:3 i
Joshua 24:20
b
[h]~ I put words in their month f
Leviticus 16:29 j
Genesis 25:21
c
7:6 g
7:6
d
1 Chronicles 6:19 h
Romans 8:28
228
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 abasons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper; bprecious
as gold.
28. And I said unto them; You are choly unto the LORD; the vessels are dholy 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 ethe 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.” 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 fAhava on gthe twelfth day of the first month, to go unto
Jerusalem; and hthe 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 12th 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 iof 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 jcommissions unto the king’s klieutenants, and to the
l
governors and this side of the river: and they furthered the people, and the house of God.

a
1:10 f
See verses 15, 21 k
Esther 3:12; 8:9; 9:3; Daniel
b
[h]~ desirable g
Compare with chapter 7:9 3:2,3,27; 6:2-3
c
Leviticus 21:6 h
7:6 l
Nehemiah 2:7,9: 3:7
d
Leviticus 22:2-3 i
2:1
e
2 Kings 23:11 j
7:21
229
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 aseparated themselves from the people of the
lands, bdoing 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 ctaken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the dholy
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, eI 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 fevening sacrifice.
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 gheaviness; and having rent my garment
and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and hspread 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 iour
iniquities are increased over our heads, and our jtrespass kis 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 lconfusion of face, as it is this
day.
8. And now for a little mspace, grace has been showed from the LORD our God, to leave us a
remnant to escape, and to give us na nail in His holy place, that our God may olighten 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 phas 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 qto 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, rby 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 sfrom one end to another with uncleanness.
12. Now therefore, tgive not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto
your sons, nor useek 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.

a
6:21 h
1 Kings 8:22 o
Psalm 13:3
b
Deuteronomy 12:30-31 i
Psalm 38:4 p
7:28
c
Exodus 34:16; chapter 10:2; j
[h]~ guiltiness q
[h]~ to set up
Nehemiah 10:30; 13:23,27 k
2 Chronicles 28:9 r
[h]~ by the hand of the
d
Deuteronomy 7:6 l
Daniel 9:7-8 prophets
e
Genesis 44:13; Job 1:20 m
[h]~ moment s
[h]~ from mouth to mouth
f
1 Kings 18:29 n
[h]~ A pin! a constant sure and t
Exodus 33:32
g
[h]~ affliction pure abode; Isaiah 22:23,25 u
Deuteronomy 23:6
230
13. And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that
thou our God ahas 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.
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 bwhen Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping, and casting himself
down cbefore the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great
congregation of men and women and children: for the people dwept 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, eto put away all-of the wives, and
such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that ftremble
at the commandment of our God: and let it be done gaccording 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, hto 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 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.”

a
[h]~ has withheld beneath our c
2 Chronicles 20:9 f
9:4
iniquities d
[h]~ wept a great weeping g
Daniel 7:2-3
b
Nehemiah 1:6; Daniel 9:20 e
[h]~ to bring forth h
Nehemiah 5:12; 13:25
231
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 bJohanan,
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
c
the 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
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, iwere 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 jfirst day of the tenth month to examine the matter.

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 i
[h]~ stood
d
[h]~ have caused to dwell, or g
Nehemiah 10:34; 13:31 j
9:17
brought back
232
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 aJeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren; Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and
Jarib, and Gedaliah.
19. And they bgave their hands that they would put away their wives: and being guilty, they
offered ca 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,
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 disobeyed God and 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.

a
3:2 b
2 Kings 10:15 c
Leviticus 6:6
233
 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, but they were no
longer recognised as of the Tribe of Aaron, hence they could not claim priestly inheritance, but if
the children were born in Israel, they were entitled to Israeli citizenship (as already decreed ~
as a stranger born inside Israel).

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
b
Chisleu, 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.”

a
10:1 b
[h]~ 3rd month of the Hebrew c
7:2
Spiritual Calendar d
2:13
234
4. And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that aI 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, bthe great and terrible God, cthat 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 dconfess 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. e
But, if you turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; fthough 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) gunto 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.
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 hNisan in ithe twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes
the king, that wine was before him: and jI 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; kLet the king live forever: why should not my countenance be sad,
when lthe 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 mthe 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’ sepulchres, that I am
build it.

a
Ezra 9:3 e
Leviticus 26: 39-42 j
1:11
b
Daniel 9;4; See also f
Deuteronomy30:4 k
1 Kings 1:31
Deuteronomy 7:21 g
Deuteronomy 12:5 l
1:3
c
Deuteronomy 7:9 h
Esther 3:7 m
1:4-5
d
Ezra 10:1 i
1:1
235
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
a
time.
7. Moreover, I said unto the king. If it please the king, let letters be given to me to the
b
governors 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 cpalace 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, daccording
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.”
“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 egovernors 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 fSanballat the gHoronite, and hTobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it
grieved them exceedingly, that there was come a man ito 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 jgate of the Valley, even before the dragon well, and to the
k
dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates
thereof were consumed with fire.
14. Then I went to thel gate of the fountain and to the mking’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 nbrook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and
entered by the gate of the Valley, and so returned.
16. And the orulers 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

a
5:14; 13:6 g
Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 48:3,5 l
3:15; 12:37
b
Ezra 8:36 h
4:3,7, 6:1,12,14,17,19; 13:4,7- m
2 Kings 20:20
c
7:2 8 n
2 Samuel 15:23
d
1:3; Psalm 44:13; 79:4 i
Esther 10:3 o
Ezra 9:2
e
Ezra 8:36 j
2 Chronicles 26:9
f
4:1,7; 6:1-2,5,12,14 k
3:13-14
236
Pool, but my donkey could not get through the rubble. So, we circled 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.
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 bGeshem,
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
237
 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
GOD’S 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 Bethhaccerem:
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 sepulchres 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.
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 ~ they would see that we were not “Green
with envy”.
19. And next to him repaired Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over
against the going up to ithe 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.

a
[h]~ left Jerusalem unto the d
2:14 h
Isaiah 22:11
broad wall e
Isaiah 8:6; John 9:7,11 i
1 Kings 10:17
b
2 Chronicles 26:9 f
2 Kings 25:4
c
2:13; 12:31 g
1 Kings 2:10; Acts 2:29
238
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 athe 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 bdwelt in cOphel, 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 dhorse 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 eeast 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 fgoing 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.
[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.

a
Genesis 13:10; 19:17; 2 b
[h]~ OR, which dwelt in Ophel, d
2 Chronicles 23:15
Samuel 18:23, see 12:28. repaired unto e
Jeremiah 18:2
c
[h]~ the tower f
[h]~ corner chamber
239
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.
4. d
Hear, O our God; for we are edespised: and fturn their reproach upon their own head, and
give them for a prey in the land of captivity.
5. And gcover 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 hboomerang
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 iArabians, and the Ammonites, and
the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem jwere 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.

a
2:10 g
Psalm 69:27-28; 109:14-15 know, as an Egyptian warrior
b
[h]~ leave to themselves h
Isn’t it interesting that the word holding a boomerang was found
c
Lamentations 5:18 “boomerang” associated with in the tombs of the Valley of the
d
Psalm 123:3-4 Australian Aborigines, was Kings in 1922.
e
[h]~ despite already mentioned in the Bible. i
2:19
f
Psalm 79:12 That is because it was already j
[h]~ ascended
240
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 aten
times; bfrom 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].
13. Therefore, set I, cin 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 dspears, the shields, and the bows, and the
e
habergeons; 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 fby 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 gI 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; hour
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, isaving that everyone put them off for washing.

a
Genesis 31;7 e
Habergeon, [ha-bėr′je-un], A f
[h]~ on his loins
b
[h]~ that from all places you piece of armour, to defend the g
See verse 14; 5:7; 7:5
must return to us. neck and breast. Every free h
Exodus 14:14
c
[h]~ from the lower parts of the layman having ten marks in i
[h]~ OR, everyone went with his
place chattels shall have a weapon for water.
d
2 Chronicles 26:14 habergeon, iron cap, and lance.
241
“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.

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, hbecause
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 kemptied. 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
242
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. Maybe we should
get the church leadership to make our future politicians make the same vow ~ with the
same curses, if they fail to keep them.
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.

CHAPTER SIX: SANBALLAT’S CRAFTINESS

1. Now it came to pass, when fSanballat, 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;
(galthough 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 hOno. But they thought to do me mischief.

a
2:1 d
1 Kings 4:22 h
1 Chronicles 8:12
b
13:6 e
13: 14,32,41; 2 Kings 20:3
c
See verse 18; 2 Thessalonians f
2:10
3:8 g
3:3
243
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 aGashmu 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 bshut 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. cMy 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 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 dElul, in fifty-two days.

a
[h]~ Or, Geshem c
13:29
b
Jeremiah 36:5 d
1 Maccabees 14:27
244
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 the work had been done with the help of our God.
17. Moreover, in those days, the nobles of Judah asent 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 bMeshullam
the son of Berechiah.
19. Also, they reported his good deeds before me; and uttered my cwords (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 dset up the doors, and the porters,
and the singers, and the Levites were appointed.
2. That I gave my brother eHanani 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 watches of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone is to be over against his
house.
4. Now the city was flarge 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, and the people,
that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them
which came gat the first, and found written therein.
6. h
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.

a
[h]~ multiplied their letters c
[h]~ matters f
[h]~ broad in spaces
passing to Tobiah d
6:1 g
Ezra 1:11
b
Ezra 8:16 e
1:2 h
Verse 73;Ezra 2:1-70
245
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 aJorah, one hundred & twelve.
25. The children of, two hundred & twenty-three.
26. The children of bGibbar, 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 cBethazmaveth, (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.
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, dHadid, 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 eNethinim’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 fNephusim;
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.

a
[h]~ Or, Hariph; Nehemiah c
[h]~ or, Azmaveth; Ezra 2:24 e
[h]~ “those who are given”
7:24 d
[h]~ Or. Harid, in some f
[h]~ Or, Nephishesim
b
[h]~ Or, Gibeon; Nehemiah copies.
7:25
246
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, aAddan, and Immer:
but they could not show their father’s house, and their bseed, whether they were of Israel.
64. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred & cforty-
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, dthey were as polluted, and put from the priesthood.
67. And the eTirshatha said unto them that they fshould not eat of the most holy things, until
there stood up a priest with gUrim 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 hsome 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 also different.]

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

1. And all-of the people igathered themselves together as one man into the streets that was
before the jWater Gate; and they spoke unto Ezra the kscribe 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.

a
[h]~ Or, Addon e
[h]~ Or, Governor j
3:26
b
[h]~ Or, pedigree f
Leviticus 22:2, 10,15-16 k
Ezra 7:6
c
Ezra 2:60 g
Exodus 28:30
d
[h]~ They were polluted from h
[h]~ part
the priesthood. i
Ezra 3:1
247
3. And he read therein before the street that was before the Water Gate afrom 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 bpulpit 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 csight of all-of the people; (for he was above all-of the
people); and when he opened it, all-of the people stood up:
6. And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all-of the people answered; dAmen, 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, ecaused 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 fTirshatha (the Governor), and Ezra the priest and scribe, and
the Levites, gthat 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.

a
[h]~ from the light d
[h]~ 5:13 g
See verses 7,8,12
b
[h]~ a tower of wood e
2 Chronicles 35:3
c
[h]~ eyes f
[h]~ the Governor
248
11. So, the Levites stilled all-of the people, saying; Hold your peace, for the day is holy; Neither
be you grieved.
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,
(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 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!

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
249
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:
9. And odid 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 pget
thee a name, as it is this day.
11. And qthou 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 rlead 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. sThou came down also upon Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them
right judgements, and ttrue laws, good statutes, and commandments:
14. And you made known unto them thy uholy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts,
statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant:

a
8:2 i
Genesis 11:31; 12:1 p
Exodus 9:16
b
1 Kings 20:31 j
Genesis 17:5 q
Exodus 14:21-22,27-28
c
Joshua 7:6 k
Genesis 15:6 r
Exodus 13:21-22
d
Ezra 10:11; chapter 13: 3:30 l
Genesis 12:7; 15:18; 17:7-9; s
Exodus 19:20; 20:1
e
[h]~ strange children Leviticus 23:36 t
[h]~ laws of truth
f
[h]~ scaffold m
Exodus 13:5 u
Exodus 20:8-11
g
8:7 n
Joshua 23:14
h
2 Kings 19:15 o
Exodus 3:7
250
15. And agave them bread from heaven for their (physical) hunger, and bbrought forth water
for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should cgo into possess
the land dwhich 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 ewere mindful of thy wonders that thou did amongst them;
but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion fappointed a captain to return to their
bondage; but thou art ga God ready to pardon, hgracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
of great kindness, and forsakes them not.
18. Yes, iwhen 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 jgood 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, kforty years did you sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing; ltheir
clothes waxed not old; and their feet swelled not.
22. Moreover, you gave them kingdoms and nations, and did divide them into mcorners: So,
they possessed the land of nSihon, and the land of the king of oHeshbon, and the land of
p
Og, king of Bashan.
23. Their children also multiplied thou, as qthe 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 ras they would.
25. And they took strong cities, and a sfat land, and possessed thouses full of goods, uwells
already dug, vineyards, and olive-yards, and vfruit 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 wcast thy law behind
their backs, and xslew thy prophets which testified against them, to turn back to thee, and
they wrought great provocations.
27. y
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
z
saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.
28. But after they had rest, aathey 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,
(bbwhich if a man does, he shall live in them); and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened
their neck, and would not hear.

a
Exodus 16:14-15 j
Numbers 11:17; Isaiah 63:11 s
Numbers 13:27
b
Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:9 k
Deuteronomy 2:7 t
Deuteronomy 6:11
c
Deuteronomy 1:8 l
Deuteronomy 8:4; 29:5 u
[h]~ Or, cisterns
d
[h]~ which thou had lifted up m
Numbers 24:17; Jeremiah v
[h]~ tree of food
thine hand to give them 48:45 w
1 Kings 14:9
e
Psalm 78:11,42-43 n
Numbers 21:21 x
1 Kings 18:4; 19:10
f
Numbers 14:4 o
Numbers 32:37 y
Judges 2:14, 3:8-9
g
[h]~ God of pardons p
Numbers 21:33,35 z
Judges 3:9
h
Exodus 34:6; Joel 2:13 q
Genesis 15:5 aa
[h]~ they returned to do evil
i
Exodus 32:4 r
[h]~ according to their will bb
Leviticus 18:5
251
30. Yet many years did thou aforbear them, and testified against them by the Spirit bin thy
prophets: yet would they not give ear: ctherefore, gave thou them into the hands of the
people of the lands.
31. Nevertheless, for thy great mercies’ sake, dthou did not utterly consume them, nor forsake
them: for thou art a egracious and merciful God.
32. Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, fwho keeps covenant
and mercy, let not all-of the gtrouble seem little before thee, hthat 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, isince the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.
33. Howbeit, jthou 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, kwe 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, lwe make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites,
and priests, mseal unto it.
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
tind 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

a
[h]~ protract over them e
See verse 17 j
Ezra 9:15
b
[h]~ in the hand of thy f
Deuteronomy 7:9 k
Ezra 9:9
prophets g
[h]~ weariness; Malachi 1:13 l
2 Kings 23:3; Ezra 10:3;
c
Ezra 9:7 h
[h]~ that has found us chapter 10:29
d
Jeremiah 4:27 i
2 Kings 17:3 m
[h]~ at the sealing of
252
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 out 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, b

the Tirshatha (the Governor), c
the son of
Hachaliah, and Zedekiah,
2. d
Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,
3. Pashur, Amariah, Malchijah,

a
[h]~ at the sealings c
1:1
b
[h]~ the Governor (see 8:9) d
11:11
253
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,
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
g
seventh 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 ptimes 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 first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits 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.

a
Ezra 2:36-43 g
Exodus 23:10-11; Leviticus o
See 13:31
b
Ezra 6:21 25:4 p
Ezra 10:14
c
[h]~ by the hand of h
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 q
Leviticus 6:12
d
Deuteronomy 33:1 i
[h]~ every hand r
Exodus 23:19; 34:26;
e
Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy j
Leviticus 24:5-6 Deuteronomy 26:2
7:3; Ezra 9:12,14 k
Numbers chapters 28 & 29
f
Exodus 20:10; Leviticus 23:3; l
Numbers 29:39
Deuteronomy 5:12; chapter m
Leviticus 1:4
13:15-22 n
See 11:1
254
37. And that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our offerings, and the fruit of
a

all manner of trees, of wine and of oil, unto the priests, to the bchambers of the house of
our God; and the ctithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have
the tithes in all-of the cities of our tillage.
38. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites, dwhen 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.

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.

a
Leviticus 23:17; Numbers b
See verses 38-39 d
Numbers 18:26
15:19; Deuteronomy 18:4 c
Leviticus 27:30
255
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 valour, 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.
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.

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
256
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, aeveryone
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 Mesh Zabeel, 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 fKirjatharba,
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,
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 gfrom 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, hthe 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 Mesh Zabel, 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:
Kirjatharba, 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.

a
See verse 3 d
[h]~ a sure ordinance g
[h]~ of
b
1Chronicles 9:2 e
Genesis 38:30 (Zarah) h
1 Chronicles 4:14
c
Ezra 6:8-9 f
Joshua 21:11
257
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 aPriests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel, the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2. (Verses 2-6 INCLUSIVE) Amariah, bMalluch, Hattush, cShechaniah, dRehum, eMeremoth,
Iddo, fGinnetho, Abijah, gMiamin, hMaadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7. i
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 jover kthe 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.

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.
13. 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.
14. The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the chronicles, even
unto the days of lJohanan, the son of Eliashib.
15. And the chiefs of the Levites: Hasbabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with
their brethren mover against them nto praise and oto give thanks, paccording to the
commandment of David, qthe man of God, rward over against ward.
16. Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were porters, keeping
the ward at the thresholds of the gates.
17. 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;

a
Ezra 2:1-2 h
[h]~ Or, Moadiah n
2 Chronicles 5:13
b
[h]~ or Melicu i
[h]~ Sallai (verse 20) o
11:17, see verse 8
c
[h]~ Or, Shebaniah j
Compare chapt. 11:17, with p
1 Chronicles 25
d
[h]~ or Harim (verse 15) verses 24,25 q
2 Chronicles 8:14
e
[h]~ Or, Meraioth k
[h]~ the psalms of thanksgiving r
Ezra 3:11
f
[h]~ Or, Ginnethon l
Ezra 10:6
g
[h]~ Or, Miniamin m
See verse 9
258
 • 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 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
18. 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.
19. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of dthe plain country
round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi;
20. Also, from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba, and Azmaveth; for the singers
had built them villages about Jerusalem.
21. And the Priests and the Levites epurified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates
and the wall.
22. 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;
23. And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah.
24. And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam,
25. Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah.
26. 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:
27. 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.
28. 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.

a
11:36 d
3:22 j
2:14
b
1 Chronicles 15:16; 2 e
13:22,30 k
3:15
Chronicles 5:13; 7:6 f
See verse 38 l
3:26
c
A box covered with strings, g
2:13: 3:13-14
plucked, or played with a h
1 Chronicles 15:24
plectrum. i
1 Chronicles 23:5
259
29. And athe 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 btower of the furnaces
even unto the cbroad wall;
30. And from above the dGate of Ephraim, and above the eOld Gate, and above the fFish Gate,
and the gTower of Hananeel, and the hTower of Meah, even unto the iSheep Gate: and they
stood still in the jPrison Gate.
31. So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and half
of the rulers with me:
32. And the Priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elihoenai, Zechariah and Hananiah,
with trumpets:
33. And Maaseiah and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and
Elam, and Ezer. And the singers ksang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
34. Also, that day, they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: lfor 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!
35. mAnd at that time, were some appointed over the nchambers 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 oof the law for the Priests and the Levites: pfor Judah rejoiced for the
Priests and for the Levites that qwaited.
36. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the
purification, raccording to the commandment of King David, and of King Solomon, his son.
37. For in the days of David, and sAsaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of
praise and thanksgiving unto God.

a
See verse 31 h
3:1 n
3:30
b
3:11 i
3:1 o
[h]~ appointed by the Law
c
3:8 j
3:25 p
[h]~ for the joy of Judah
d
8:16 k
[h]~ made their voices to be q
[h]~ stood
e
3:6 herd r
1 Chronicles chapters 25 &26
f
2 Chronicles 33:14 l
2 Chronicles 20:27 s
1 Chronicles 25:1, 2 Chronicles
g
3:1 m
13:5,12-13 29:30
260
38. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portion of
the singers and the porters, aevery day his portion: and bthey csanctified 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, dthey read on the Book of Moses in the eaudience of the people; and therein
was found written, fthat 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 ghired Balaam against
them, that he should curse them: hhowbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, ithat they separated from Israel all jthe
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, kEliashib the priest, lhaving the oversight of the chamber of the house of
our God, was allied unto mTobiah (the Ammonite).
5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, nwhere afore-time, they laid the meat
offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and
the oil, owhich 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 pthirty second year of the reign of
Artaxerxes, qking of Babylon came I unto the king and rafter certain days, sobtained 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.
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 tcleansed 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.

a
11:13 i
9:2 p
5:14
b
Numbers 18:21,24 j
Exodus 12:38 q
Ezra 6:22
c
[h]~ that is: set apart k
3:1 r
[[h]~ at the end of days
d
[h]~ there was read l
[h]~ being set over s
[h]~ I earnestly requested
e
[h]~ ears m
2:10 t
2Chronicles 29:15-16,18
f
Deuteronomy 23:3-5 n
12:44
g
Numbers 22:5 o
[h]~ the commandment of the
h
Numbers 23:11; 24:10 Levites.
261
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 athe 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 bhis fields.
11. Then ccontended I with the rulers, and said: “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I
gathered them together, and set them in their dplace.
12. Then brought all-of Judah ethe tithe of the corn and the new wine, and the olive oil unto
the ftreasuries.
13. And gI made treasurers of the htreasuries. Shelemiah, the priest, and Zadok, the scribe,
and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and inext to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of
Mattaniah: for they were counted jfaithful, and ktheir office was to distribute unto their
brethren.
14. lRemember me, O God, concerning this, and wipe not out my mgood deeds that I have done
for the house of my God, and for the noffices 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 oon the Sabbath, and bringing in
sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, pwhich
they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day: and I testified against them in the day
wherein they sold victuals.
16. There dwelt men of qTyre 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 rI contended with the nobles, asnd said unto them; “What evil thing is this that you
do, and profane the Sabbath Day?”
18. sDid 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 tbegan 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 uabout 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.

a
2 Chronicles 31:4; Malachi 3:8 h
[h]~ storehouses o
Exodus 20:10
b
12:28-29 i
[h]~ at their hand p
10:31
c
See verses 17,25 j
7:2; 1 Corinthians 4:2 q
Joshua 19:29; Amos 1:9
d
[h]~ in their standing k
[h]~ it was upon them r
See verses 11,25
e
10:38; 12:44 l
Verse 22,31; See 5:19 s
Jeremiah 17:21-23
f
[h]~ storehouses m
[h]~ kindnesses t
Leviticus 23:32
g
2 Chronicles 31:12-13 n
[h]~ observations u
[h]~ before
262
22. And I commanded that the Levites should acleanse 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 bgreatness 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 chad married wives of dAshdod, of eAmmon, and of fMoab.
24. And their children spoke half of the speech of Ashdod, and gcould not speak in the Jew’s
language, but according to the language hof each people.
25. And I contended with them, and icursed them and smote certain of them, and plucked off
their hair, and jmade them swear by God saying; You shall not give your daughters unto
their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.
26. kDid not Solomon, king of Israel sin by (doing) these things? Yet among many nations was
there no king like him, lwho 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 mtransgress against our God in
marrying strange wives (from outside the clans of Israel)?
28. And one of the sons nof Joiada, the son of oEliashib, the high priest, was the son in law to
p
Sanballat the Horonite: therefore, I chased him from me.
29. qRemember them, O my God, rbecause they have defiled the priesthood, and sthe covenant
of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30. Thus tcleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the Priests and the
Levites, everyone in his business;
31. And for uthe wood offering, vat times appointed, and for the first-fruits. wRemember 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?”

a
12:30 h
[h]~ of people and people q
6:14
b
[h]~ multitude i
[h]~ reviled r
[h]~ for the defilings
c
[h]~ Had made dwell with j
Ezra 10:5; chapter 10:29-30 s
Malachi 2:4
them; Ezra 10:10 k
1 Kings 11:1-8 t
10:30
d
4:7 l
2 Samuel 12:24 u
10:34
e
See verse 1; Ezra 9:1 m
Ezra 10:2 v
Ezra 10:14
f
See verse 1; Ezra 9:1 n
12:10: 11:22 w
See verse 14.
g
[h]~ and they discerned not to o
3:1
speak p
2:10
263
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.
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.

264
265
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.
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!

a
This is an excerpt from an
article by David Wilkerson, July
25, 1994
266
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.
267
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).

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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 spoke 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
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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 is wrong, and what is right, 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,
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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.

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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 70 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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

276
BIBLE COLLEGE NOTES & TEACHING VIDEOS

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