Month: November 2018

⁴² Then I will rest from my fury against you, and I will stop being angry. I will be at peace. I will no longer be angry.

⁴³ “‘You didn’t remember the time when you were young, and you made me very angry with all these things. So I will pay you back for what you have done, declares Adonay Yahweh. Didn’t you make wicked plans in addition to all your disgusting practices?

⁴⁴ “‘Everyone who uses proverbs will speak the following saying against you: Like mother, like daughter. ⁴⁵ You are your mother’s daughter. She rejected her husband and her children. You are exactly like your sisters. They rejected their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.

⁴⁶ “‘Your older sister was Samaria. She and her daughters lived north of you. Your younger sister is Sodom. She lives south of you with her daughters. ⁴⁷ You didn’t follow their ways. You didn’t do the same disgusting things that they did. It only took you a little time to be more corrupt than they ever were. ⁴⁸ As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did what you and your daughters have done. ⁴⁹ This is what your sister Sodom has done wrong. She and her daughters were proud that they had plenty of food and had peace and security. They didn’t help the poor and the needy. ⁵⁰ They were arrogant and did disgusting things in front of me. So I did away with them when I saw this.

⁵¹ “‘Samaria didn’t commit half the sins you did. You have done many more disgusting things than they ever did. Because of all the disgusting things that you have done, you make your sisters look innocent. ⁵² You will have to suffer disgrace because you accused your sisters. Yet, your sins are more disgusting than theirs. They look like they are innocent compared to you. Be ashamed of yourself and suffer disgrace, because you have made your sisters look like they are innocent.

⁵³ “‘I will restore the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters, and Samaria and her daughters. I will also restore your fortune along with theirs. ⁵⁴ You will have to suffer disgrace and be ashamed of everything you have done, including comforting them. ⁵⁵ When Sodom and her daughters and Samaria and her daughters return to what they once were, you and your daughters will return to what you once were. ⁵⁶ You didn’t mention your sister Sodom when you were arrogant. ⁵⁷ You didn’t mention her before your wickedness was revealed. Now the daughters of Aram^[a] and their neighbors despise you. The daughters of the Philistines also despise you. Those around you hate you. ⁵⁸ You must suffer because of all the crude and disgusting things you have done, declares Yahweh.

⁵⁹ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will give you what you deserve. You despised your marriage vows and rejected my promise.^{[b] 60} I will remember the promise that I made with you when you were young, and I will make it a promise that will last forever. ⁶¹ Then you will remember what you have done. You will be ashamed when I return your older and younger sisters to you. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of my promise with you. ⁶² Then I will make my promise with you, and you will know that I am Yahweh. ⁶³ You will remember and be ashamed. You will never again open your mouth because of your disgrace when I forgive you for everything you did, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

Judah Is Compared to a Tree

17 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, tell this riddle. Give this illustration to the nation of Israel. ³ Say, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: A large eagle came to Lebanon. It had large wings with long, colorful feathers. It took hold of the top of a cedar tree. ⁴ It broke off the highest twig and carried it to a country of merchants. It planted the twig in a city of merchants.

⁵ “‘Then it took a seedling from that country and planted the seedling in fertile soil. The eagle planted the seedling like a willow where there was plenty of water. ⁶ The plant sprouted and grew into a low vine that spread over the ground. Its branches turned upward toward the eagle, but its roots grew downward. So it became a vine, producing branches and growing shoots.

⁷ “‘There was another large eagle with large wings and many feathers. Now, the vine stretched its roots toward this eagle and sent its branches toward the eagle so that the eagle could water it. The vine turned away from the garden where it was planted. ⁸ It was planted in good soil beside plenty of water so that it could grow branches, bear fruit, and become a wonderful vine.’

⁹ “Tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Will this vine live and grow? Won’t the first eagle uproot it and tear off its fruit? Then it will wither. All the leaves on its branches will wither. It won’t take much strength or many people to pull the vine up by its roots. ¹⁰ It might be planted again, but will it live and grow? It will wither completely when the east wind blows on it. It will certainly wither in the garden where it is growing.’”

¹¹ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ¹² “Ask these rebellious people, ‘Don’t you know what this means?’ Tell them, ‘The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and captured its king and its leaders. He brought them home with him to Babylon. ¹³ Then he took someone from the royal family, made a treaty with him, and made him promise to be loyal. He took away the leading citizens from Judah ¹⁴ so that it would remain a humiliated country and be unable to regain its power. The country could only survive by keeping the treaty. ¹⁵ But the king of Judah rebelled against the king of Babylon by sending his messengers to Egypt to get horses and many soldiers. Will the king of Judah succeed? Will anyone who does such things escape? He can’t break a treaty and go unpunished.

¹⁶ “‘As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh, the king of Judah will die in Babylonia. He will die in the country of the king who appointed him king of Judah. The king of Judah broke his promise and his treaty with the king of Babylon. ¹⁷ Even with a large army and many people, Pharaoh will not be able to help him in battle when the Babylonians put up dirt ramps and set up blockades to kill many people. ¹⁸ The king of Judah broke the promise and the treaty that he pledged to keep. He did all these things, and he can’t go unpunished.

¹⁹ “‘So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: As I live, I will certainly punish you for rejecting my promise and hating my treaty. ²⁰ I will spread my net over you to catch you in my trap. I will take you to Babylon and judge you there for rebelling against me. ²¹ The best of your troops will die in battle. Anyone who remains will be scattered in every direction that the wind blows. Then you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken.

²² “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I, too, will take hold of the top of a cedar tree. I will break off the highest twig and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ I will plant it on a high mountain in Israel. It will grow branches and produce fruit. It will become a magnificent cedar tree. Every kind of bird will nest in it and find a home in the shelter of its branches. ²⁴ Then all the trees in the field will know that I am Yahweh. I cut down tall trees, and I make small trees grow tall. I dry up green trees, and I make dry trees grow. I, Yahweh, have spoken, and I will do it.’”

Jesus’ Priestly Work Is Superior to Other Priests’ Work

8 The main point we want to make is this: We do have this kind of chief priest. This chief priest has received the highest position, the throne of majesty in heaven. ² He serves as priest of the holy place and of the true tent set up by the Lord and not by any human.

³ Every chief priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, this chief priest had to offer something. ⁴ If he were on earth, he would not even be a priest. On earth other priests offer gifts by following the instructions that Moses gave. ⁵ They serve at a place that is a pattern, a shadow, of what is in heaven. When Moses was about to make the tent, God warned him, “Be sure to make everything based on the plan I showed you on the mountain.”

⁶ Yeshua has been given a priestly work that is superior to the Levitical priests’ work. He also brings a better promise^[a] from God that is based on better guarantees. ⁷ If nothing had been wrong with the first promise, no one would look for another one. ⁸ But God found something wrong with his people and said to them,

¹³ God made this new promise and showed that the first promise was outdated. What is outdated and aging will soon disappear.

¹² Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ¹³ “Son of man, suppose a country sins against me by being unfaithful to me. I will use my power against it, cut off its food supply, send a famine to it, and destroy its people and animals. ¹⁴ Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in that country, they would, by their righteousness, rescue only themselves,” declares Adonay Yahweh.

¹⁵ “Suppose I send wild animals through that country and they make it childless and turn it into such a wasteland that no one travels through it because of the animals. ¹⁶ As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their own sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves. And the country would become a wasteland.

¹⁷ “Suppose I bring a war against that country by saying, ‘I will let a war go throughout this country.’ Suppose I destroy the people and the animals in it. ¹⁸ As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

¹⁹ “Suppose I send a plague into that country or pour out my fury on it by killing people and destroying animals. ²⁰ As I live, declares Adonay Yahweh, not even Noah, Daniel, and Job could, by their righteousness, rescue their sons or daughters. They could rescue only themselves.

²¹ “This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will surely send four terrible punishments against Jerusalem. I will send wars, famines, wild animals, and plagues. They will destroy people and animals. ²² But some people will survive. Some of your sons and daughters will be brought out. When they come out to you, you will see how they live. Then you will be comforted after the disasters that I will bring on Jerusalem, after every disaster that I will bring against it. ²³ You will be comforted when you see how they live. Then you will know that everything I have done was done for a reason,” declares Adonay Yahweh.

Jerusalem Is Compared to Wood from a Wild Vine

15 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, what good is the wood from a vine? Is it better than the wood from a tree in the forest? ³ Do people use it to make something? Do they make a peg from it to hang things on? ⁴ No! It is only thrown into the fire as fuel. The fire burns up both its ends and chars its middle. Then can it be used to make anything? ⁵ When the vine was in perfect condition, it couldn’t be made into anything. How can it be used to make anything after the fire has burned and charred it?

⁶ “So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: As a vine is taken from among the trees in the forest to be used to feed the fire, so I will take the people who live in Jerusalem to punish them. ⁷ I will turn against the people of Jerusalem. Even though they have escaped one fire, another fire will burn them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, because I will turn against them. ⁸ I will turn the country into a wasteland because they have been unfaithful,” declares Adonay Yahweh.

A Description of Jerusalem’s Sins

16 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, make known to the people of Jerusalem the disgusting things they have done. ³ Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says to the people of Jerusalem: Your birthplace and your ancestors were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite. ⁴ When you were born, your umbilical cord wasn’t cut. You weren’t washed with water to make you clean. You weren’t rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloth. ⁵ No one who saw you felt sorry enough for you to do any of these things. But you were thrown into an open field. You were rejected when you were born.

⁶ “‘Then I went by you and saw you kicking around in your own blood. I said to you, “Live.” ⁷ I made you grow like a plant in the field. You grew up, matured, and became a young woman. Your breasts developed, and your hair grew. Yet, you were naked and bare.

⁸ “‘I went by you again and looked at you. You were old enough to make love to. So I spread my robe over you, and covered your naked body. I promised to love you, and I exchanged marriage vows with you. You became mine, declares Adonay Yahweh.

⁹ “‘Then I bathed you with water, and I washed off your blood. I poured olive oil over you. ¹⁰ I put an embroidered dress on you and fine leather sandals on your feet. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ I gave you jewelry. I put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck. ¹² I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. ¹³ So you wore gold and silver jewelry. You were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes. Your food was flour, honey, and olive oil. You were very beautiful, and eventually you became a queen. ¹⁴ You became famous in every nation because of your beauty. Your beauty was perfect because I gave you my glory, declares Adonay Yahweh.

¹⁵ “‘But you trusted your beauty, and you used your fame to become a prostitute. You had sex with everyone who walked by. ¹⁶ You took some of your clothes and made your worship sites colorful. This is where you acted like a prostitute. Such things shouldn’t happen. They shouldn’t occur. ¹⁷ You took your beautiful gold and silver jewelry that I had given you and made male idols for yourself. Then you committed adultery with them. ¹⁸ You took off your embroidered clothes and covered the idols with them. You offered my olive oil and incense in their presence. ¹⁹ You also offered them sweet and fragrant sacrifices. You gave flour, olive oil, and honey—all the food that I gave you to eat. This is what happened, declares Adonay Yahweh.

²⁰ “‘You took your sons and daughters, who belonged to me, and you sacrificed them as food to idols. Wasn’t your prostitution enough? ²¹ You slaughtered my children and presented them as burnt offerings to idols. ²² With all the disgusting things that you did and all your acts of prostitution, you didn’t remember the time when you were young. You didn’t remember when you were naked and bare, kicking around in your own blood.

²³ “‘How horrible! How horrible it will be for you! declares Adonay Yahweh. After all your wickedness, ²⁴ you built yourself platforms and illegal worship sites in every city square. ²⁵ You also built worship sites at the head of every street. You used your beauty to seduce people there. You offered your body to everyone who passed by. You increased your acts of prostitution. ²⁶ You had sex with your lustful neighbors, the Egyptians. You used your prostitution to make me angry.

²⁷ “‘So I used my power against you. I took away some of your land, and I handed you over to your greedy enemies, the Philistines, who were ashamed of what you had done.

²⁸ “‘You had sex with the Assyrians because you weren’t satisfied. You still weren’t satisfied. ²⁹ So you increased your acts of prostitution to include the land of the merchants, the Babylonians. Even after that, you weren’t satisfied.

³⁰ “‘You have no will power! declares Adonay Yahweh. You do everything a shameless prostitute does. ³¹ You build your platforms at the head of every street and place your illegal worship sites in every square. Yet, you aren’t like other prostitutes, because you don’t want to be paid. ³² You are an adulterous wife who prefers strangers to her husband. ³³ All prostitutes get paid. But you give gifts to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all directions to have sex with you. ³⁴ You are a different kind of prostitute. No one goes after you for favors. You are the opposite. You pay them, and you don’t accept payment.

Jerusalem’s Punishment

³⁵ “‘Listen to the word of Yahweh, you prostitute. ³⁶ This is what Adonay Yahweh says: You exposed yourself and uncovered your naked body when you gave yourself to your lovers and to all your disgusting idols. You also killed your children and sacrificed their blood to these idols. ³⁷ That is why I will gather all your lovers with whom you found pleasure. I will have all those who love you and hate you gather around. I will uncover your body for them, and they will see you naked. ³⁸ I will punish you the same way that those who are guilty of prostitution and murder are punished. I will give you the death penalty in my fury and burning anger. ³⁹ I will hand you over to your lovers. They will destroy your platforms and tear down your illegal worship sites. They will tear off your clothes, take away your beautiful jewelry, and leave you naked and bare. ⁴⁰ They will also bring a mob against you. They will stone you and cut you into pieces with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn your houses and punish you in the presence of many women. I will put an end to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay others.

¹⁸ The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless. ¹⁹ Moses’ Teachings couldn’t accomplish everything that God required. But we have something else that gives us greater confidence and allows us to approach God.

²⁰ None of this happened without an oath. The men from the tribe of Levi may have become priests without an oath, ²¹ but Yeshua became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever.” ²² In this way Yeshua has become the guarantee of a better promise.^[a]

²³ There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve. ²⁴ But Yeshua lives forever, so he serves as a priest forever. ²⁵ That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them.

²⁶ We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who has the highest position in heaven. ²⁷ We need a priest who doesn’t have to bring daily sacrifices as those chief priests did. First they brought sacrifices for their own sins, and then they brought sacrifices for the sins of the people. Yeshua brought the sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all when he sacrificed himself. ²⁸ Moses’ Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came after Moses’ Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.

Psalm 106

Ezekiel Plays Out Israel’s Exile

12 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear because they are rebellious people.

³ “Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people. ⁴ Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile. ⁵ Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it. ⁶ Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won’t see the land. I’ve made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel.”

⁷ I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.

⁸ The next morning Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ⁹ “Son of man, didn’t the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?

¹⁰ “Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.’

¹¹ “Tell them, ‘I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity. ¹² The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. ¹³ I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that’s where he’ll die. ¹⁴ I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him—his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword. ¹⁵ Then they will know that I am Yahweh, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. ¹⁶ However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’”

¹⁷ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ¹⁸ “Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.

¹⁹ “Tell the people of this land, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent. ²⁰ The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’”

²¹ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?

²³ “Tell the people, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Instead, tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true. ²⁴ There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people. ²⁵ I, Yahweh, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

²⁶ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ²⁷ “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees won’t happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.’

²⁸ “Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

False Prophets Condemned

13 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Tell those who make up their prophecies, ‘Listen to the word of Yahweh.

³ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: How horrible it will be for the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas, and they have seen nothing. ⁴ Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins of a city. ⁵ They haven’t repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of Yahweh. ⁶ These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don’t come true. They say, “Yahweh said this.” But Yahweh hasn’t sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true. ⁷ Prophets of Israel, haven’t you seen false visions and predicted things that don’t come true? Don’t you say, “Yahweh said this,” even though I haven’t said anything?

⁸ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Your predictions are false, and your visions are lies. That is why I’m against you, declares Adonay Yahweh. ⁹ I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don’t come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won’t even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am Adonay Yahweh.

¹⁰ “‘They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it’s not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint. ¹¹ Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces. ¹² When the wall falls down, people will ask them, “Where’s the paint that you used to cover the wall?”

¹³ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: In my fury I’ll cause a storm to break out. In my anger rain will pour down, and hailstones will destroy the wall. ¹⁴ I will tear down the wall that the prophets covered up with paint. I will level it and expose its foundation. When the wall falls, they will be destroyed by it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. ¹⁵ I will unleash my fury on the wall and on those who covered it up with paint.

“‘Then I will say to you, “The wall is gone, and so are those who painted it. ¹⁶ The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was alright, when it wasn’t alright, are gone, declares Adonay Yahweh.” ’

¹⁷ “Son of man, look at the women among your people who make up prophecies, and prophesy against them.

¹⁸ “Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people’s wrists and make magic veils of every size for people’s heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit. ¹⁹ You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn’t die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn’t live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen.

²⁰ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I’m against the magic charms that you use to trap people like birds. I will tear them from your arms and free the people that you have trapped. ²¹ I will tear off your magic veils and rescue my people from your power so that they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. ²² You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn’t brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives. ²³ That is why you will no longer see false visions or make predictions. I will rescue my people from your power. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”

Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of Israel’s leaders came to me and sat down in front of me. ² Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ³ “Son of man, these people are devoted to their idols, and they are allowing themselves to fall into sin. Should they be allowed to ask me for help?

⁴ “So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet to ask for my help. I, Yahweh, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve. ⁵ I will do this to recapture the hearts of the nation of Israel. They have deserted me because of their disgusting idols.’

⁶ “So tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don’t return to any of your disgusting things. ⁷ Suppose an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel deserts me by devoting himself to idols and by allowing himself to fall into sin. If he goes to a prophet to ask for my help, I, Yahweh, will give him an answer. ⁸ I will reject him, and I will make an example of him. I will exclude him from my people. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

⁹ “‘If a prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is I, Yahweh, who tricked the prophet. I will use my power against you and destroy you from among my people Israel. ¹⁰ Both of you will suffer for your sins. The prophet will be as guilty as you are when you ask for his help. ¹¹ Then the people of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer dishonor me with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their Elohim, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

Christ Is Superior to Melchizedek

7 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings. ² Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured.

In the first place, Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace). ³ No one knows anything about Melchizedek’s father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.

⁴ You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people. ⁵ Moses’ Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham’s descendants. ⁶ Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God’s promises. ⁷ No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.

⁸ Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives. ⁹ We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything. ¹⁰ Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹ The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn’t need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.

¹² When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different. ¹³ The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar. ¹⁴ Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe. ¹⁵ The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared. ¹⁶ That person is a priest, not because he met human requirements, but because he has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed. ¹⁷ The Scriptures say the following about him: “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”

Ezekiel Plays Out Israel’s Exile

12 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, you are living among rebellious people. They have eyes, but they can’t see. They have ears, but they can’t hear because they are rebellious people.

³ “Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people. ⁴ Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile. ⁵ Dig a hole through the wall of your house, and leave through it. ⁶ Let them see you put your bags on your shoulders and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so that you won’t see the land. I’ve made you a sign to warn the nation of Israel.”

⁷ I did what I was ordered to do. During the day I brought out bags as if I were going into exile. In the evening I dug a hole through the wall. I brought out my bags in the dark. I let the people see me as I carried my bags on my shoulders.

⁸ The next morning Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ⁹ “Son of man, didn’t the rebellious nation of Israel ask you what you were doing?

¹⁰ “Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: This is the divine revelation about the prince from Jerusalem and about all the people of Israel who live there.’

¹¹ “Tell them, ‘I am your warning sign. What I have done will happen to you. You will go into exile and into captivity. ¹² The prince who is among you will put his bags on his shoulders in the dark and leave. People will dig holes in the wall to go through. The prince will cover his face so that he cannot see the land. ¹³ I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my net. I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, but he will not see it. And that’s where he’ll die. ¹⁴ I will scatter in every direction all those who are around him—his staff and all his troops. I will pursue them with my sword. ¹⁵ Then they will know that I am Yahweh, because I will scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries. ¹⁶ However, I will spare a few of them from wars, famines, and plagues. Wherever they go among the nations, they will realize that everything they did was disgusting. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’”

¹⁷ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ¹⁸ “Son of man, shake as you eat your food. Tremble and be worried as you drink your water.

¹⁹ “Tell the people of this land, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says about the people who live in Jerusalem and in the land of Israel: They will be worried as they eat their food and terrified as they drink their water. Their country will be stripped of everything because everyone who lives there is violent. ²⁰ The cities where people live will be destroyed, and the country will become a wasteland. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.’”

²¹ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ²² “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in Israel: ‘Days go by, and every vision comes to nothing’?

²³ “Tell the people, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will put a stop to the use of this proverb. You will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Instead, tell them, ‘The time is near when every vision will come true. ²⁴ There will no longer be any false visions or flattering fortunetelling to the people. ²⁵ I, Yahweh, will speak. Everything that I say will happen without any more delay. I will say something, and it will happen during your lifetime, you rebellious people, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

²⁶ Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ²⁷ “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘The vision that Ezekiel sees won’t happen for a long time. What he prophecies will happen in the distant future.’

²⁸ “Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Everything that I say will no longer be delayed. Whatever I say will happen, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

False Prophets Condemned

13 Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ² “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel. Tell those who make up their prophecies, ‘Listen to the word of Yahweh.

³ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: How horrible it will be for the foolish prophets. They follow their own ideas, and they have seen nothing. ⁴ Israel, your prophets are like foxes among the ruins of a city. ⁵ They haven’t repaired the gaps in the wall or rebuilt the wall for the nation of Israel. So Israel will not be protected in battle on the day of Yahweh. ⁶ These foolish prophets see false visions, and their predictions don’t come true. They say, “Yahweh said this.” But Yahweh hasn’t sent them. Then they hope that their message will come true. ⁷ Prophets of Israel, haven’t you seen false visions and predicted things that don’t come true? Don’t you say, “Yahweh said this,” even though I haven’t said anything?

⁸ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Your predictions are false, and your visions are lies. That is why I’m against you, declares Adonay Yahweh. ⁹ I will use my power against the prophets who see false visions and predict things that don’t come true. They will not help my people make decisions or be recorded in the records of the nation of Israel. They won’t even enter Israel. Then you will know that I am Adonay Yahweh.

¹⁰ “‘They have deceived my people by saying that everything is alright, but it’s not alright. When someone builds a flimsy wall, the prophets cover it up with paint. ¹¹ Tell those who cover up the wall with paint that their wall will fall down. Rain will pour down, hailstones will fall on it, and stormy winds will break it to pieces. ¹² When the wall falls down, people will ask them, “Where’s the paint that you used to cover the wall?”

¹³ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: In my fury I’ll cause a storm to break out. In my anger rain will pour down, and hailstones will destroy the wall. ¹⁴ I will tear down the wall that the prophets covered up with paint. I will level it and expose its foundation. When the wall falls, they will be destroyed by it. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. ¹⁵ I will unleash my fury on the wall and on those who covered it up with paint.

“‘Then I will say to you, “The wall is gone, and so are those who painted it. ¹⁶ The prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem are gone. Those who said that everything was alright, when it wasn’t alright, are gone, declares Adonay Yahweh.” ’

¹⁷ “Son of man, look at the women among your people who make up prophecies, and prophesy against them.

¹⁸ “Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: How horrible it will be for women who sew magic charms for people’s wrists and make magic veils of every size for people’s heads. You want to trap people. You want to control the lives of my people for your own profit. ¹⁹ You dishonor me in front of my people for a few handfuls of barley and a few pieces of bread. You kill people who shouldn’t die, and you spare the lives of people who shouldn’t live. You lie to my people who are willing to listen.

²⁰ “‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I’m against the magic charms that you use to trap people like birds. I will tear them from your arms and free the people that you have trapped. ²¹ I will tear off your magic veils and rescue my people from your power so that they will no longer be under your control. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. ²² You have discouraged righteous people with your lies, even though I hadn’t brought them any grief. You encouraged wicked people not to turn from their wicked ways to save their lives. ²³ That is why you will no longer see false visions or make predictions. I will rescue my people from your power. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’”

Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of Israel’s leaders came to me and sat down in front of me. ² Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ³ “Son of man, these people are devoted to their idols, and they are allowing themselves to fall into sin. Should they be allowed to ask me for help?

⁴ “So speak to them. Tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Suppose an Israelite is devoted to idols and allows himself to fall into sin. Suppose he goes to a prophet to ask for my help. I, Yahweh, will give that Israelite an answer, the answer that his many idols deserve. ⁵ I will do this to recapture the hearts of the nation of Israel. They have deserted me because of their disgusting idols.’

⁶ “So tell the nation of Israel, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Change the way you think and act! Turn away from your idols, and don’t return to any of your disgusting things. ⁷ Suppose an Israelite or a foreigner who lives in Israel deserts me by devoting himself to idols and by allowing himself to fall into sin. If he goes to a prophet to ask for my help, I, Yahweh, will give him an answer. ⁸ I will reject him, and I will make an example of him. I will exclude him from my people. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

⁹ “‘If a prophet is tricked into giving a prophecy, it is I, Yahweh, who tricked the prophet. I will use my power against you and destroy you from among my people Israel. ¹⁰ Both of you will suffer for your sins. The prophet will be as guilty as you are when you ask for his help. ¹¹ Then the people of Israel will no longer wander away from me. They will no longer dishonor me with all their sins. Then they will be my people, and I will be their Elohim, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

Christ Is Superior to Melchizedek

7 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings. ² Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured.

In the first place, Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace). ³ No one knows anything about Melchizedek’s father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.

⁴ You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people. ⁵ Moses’ Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham’s descendants. ⁶ Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God’s promises. ⁷ No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.

⁸ Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives. ⁹ We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything. ¹⁰ Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹ The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn’t need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.

¹² When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different. ¹³ The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar. ¹⁴ Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe. ¹⁵ The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared. ¹⁶ That person is a priest, not because he met human requirements, but because he has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed. ¹⁷ The Scriptures say the following about him: “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.”

The Glory of the Lord Leaves His Temple

10 As I looked at the dome over the heads of the angels,^[a] I saw something that looked like a throne made of sapphire. ² Yahweh said to the person dressed in linen, “Go between the wheels under the angels, and fill your hands with burning coals. Then scatter them over the city.” So he went between the wheels as I watched.

³ The angels were standing on the south side of the temple as the person went. A cloud filled the inner courtyard. ⁴ Yahweh’s glory rose from the angels to the entrance of the temple, the cloud filled the temple, and the brightness of Yahweh’s glory filled the courtyard. ⁵ The sound of the angels’ wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard. It was like the sound of El Shadday when he speaks.

⁶ After Yahweh had commanded the person dressed in linen to take burning coals from between the wheels beside the angels, the person went in and stood beside one of the wheels. ⁷ One of the angels reached into the fire that was between the angels and took out some coals. This angel put them in the hands of the person dressed in linen. The person took them and left.

⁸ The angels appeared to have what looked like human hands under their wings. ⁹ As I looked, I saw four wheels beside the angels, one wheel beside each of the angels. The wheels looked like beryl. ¹⁰ All four wheels looked the same. Each was like a wheel within a wheel. ¹¹ Whenever the angels moved, they moved in any of the four directions without turning as they moved. They always moved in the direction they faced without turning as they moved. ¹² Their entire bodies, their backs, hands, wings, and wheels were covered with eyes. Each of the angels had a wheel. ¹³ I heard that the wheels were called the whirling wheels. ¹⁴ Each of the angels had four faces. The first was the face of an angel, the second was the face of a human, the third was the face of a lion, and the fourth was the face of an eagle.

¹⁵ The angels rose. These were the living creatures that I saw at the Chebar River. ¹⁶ When the angels moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the angels lifted their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels didn’t leave their side. ¹⁷ When the angels stood still, the wheels stood still. When the angels rose, the wheels rose with them. The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. ¹⁸ Then the glory of Yahweh left the temple’s entrance and stood over the angels. ¹⁹ The angels lifted their wings and rose from the ground. I was watching them as they left with the wheels beside them. The angels stood at the door to the east gate of Yahweh’s temple, and the glory of the Elohim of Israel was above them.

²⁰ These are the living creatures that I saw under the Elohim of Israel at the Chebar River. I realized that they were angels. ²¹ Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings were what looked like human hands. ²² Their faces looked exactly like the faces that I saw by the Chebar River. Each one went straight ahead.

Judgment on the Rulers of Israel

11 Then the Ruach lifted me and took me to the east gate of Yahweh’s temple. (It’s the gate that faces east.) Twenty-five men were at the entrance of the gate. I saw among them Azzur’s son Jaazaniah and Benaiah’s son Pelatiah. They were leaders of the people.

² Then Yahweh said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plan evil and give bad advice in this city. ³ They say, ‘It’s almost time to rebuild homes. This city is a cooking pot, and we’re the meat.’ ⁴ So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”

⁵ The Ruach Yahweh came to me and told me to say, “This is what Yahweh says: You are saying these things, nation of Israel. But I know what’s going through your mind. ⁶ You have killed many people in this city and have filled its streets with corpses.

⁷ “So this is what Adonay Yahweh says: The corpses that you put in the middle of the city are the meat, and the city is the cooking pot. I will force you out of the city. ⁸ You are afraid of swords, so I will bring swords to attack you, declares Adonay Yahweh. ⁹ I will force you out of the city. I will hand you over to foreigners, and I will punish you. ¹⁰ You will die in battle. I will judge you at Israel’s borders. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. ¹¹ The city will not be your cooking pot, and you will not be the meat in it. I will judge you at Israel’s borders. ¹² Then you will know that I am Yahweh. You haven’t lived by my laws, and you haven’t obeyed my rules. You have followed the standards set by the nations around you.”

¹³ While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died.

I immediately bowed down and cried out, “Adonay Yahweh, will you completely destroy all the remaining people in Israel?”

The Lord’s Promise to Gather Israel from the Nations

¹⁴ Then Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, ¹⁵ “Son of man, the people who live in Jerusalem are talking about your own relatives and about the entire nation of Israel. The people who live in Jerusalem say, ‘They are far away from Yahweh. This land has been given to us as our own property.’

¹⁶ “So tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, I have been their sanctuary for a little while among the countries where they’ve gone.’

¹⁷ “So tell them, ‘This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will bring them together from the nations and gather them from the countries where I’ve scattered them. I will give them the land of Israel. ¹⁸ They will come and remove all the disgusting and detestable things that are there. ¹⁹ I will give them a single purpose and put a new spirit in them. I will remove their stubborn hearts and give them obedient hearts. ²⁰ Then they will live by my laws and obey my rules. They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim. ²¹ But as for those whose minds are set on following detestable and disgusting idols, I will pay them back for what they have done, declares Adonay Yahweh.’”

The Glory of the Lord Leaves Jerusalem

²² Then the angels^[b] raised their wings, with the wheels beside them. The glory of the Elohim of Israel was above them. ²³ Yahweh’s glory left the middle of the city and stopped above the mountain east of the city.

²⁴ In this vision from the Ruach Elohim, the Ruach lifted me and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia. Then the vision I saw left me.

²⁵ I told the exiles everything Yahweh had shown me.

6 With this in mind, we should stop going over the elementary truths about Christ and move on to topics for more mature people. We shouldn’t repeat the basics about turning away from the useless things we did and the basics about faith in God. ² We shouldn’t repeat the basic teachings about such things as baptisms, setting people apart for holy tasks, dead people coming back to life, and eternal judgment. ³ If God permits, we will do this.

⁴ Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit. ⁵ They experienced the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the world to come. ⁶ Yet, they have deserted Christ. They are crucifying the Son of God again and publicly disgracing him. Therefore, they cannot be led a second time to God.

⁷ God blesses the earth. So rain often falls on it, and it produces useful crops for farmers. ⁸ However, if the earth produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

God Will Not Forget You

⁹ Dear friends, even though we say these things, we are still convinced that better things are in store for you and that they will save you. ¹⁰ God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to prove that you’re working hard so that you will remain confident until the end. ¹² Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.

¹³ God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself. ¹⁴ He said, “I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ So Abraham received what God promised because he waited patiently for it.

¹⁶ When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments. ¹⁷ God wouldn’t change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear to those who would receive his promise, so he took an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. ¹⁹ We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives. This confidence goes into the holy place behind the curtain ²⁰ where Yeshua went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

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