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Judah’s Captivity Portrayed:
Ezekiel played the role of a captive being led away to exile, portraying what was about to happen to King Zedekiah and the people remaining in Jerusalem (vv. 1-6). The exiles knew exactly what he was doing because only six years earlier they had made similar preparations as they left Jerusalem for Babylonia. This was to show the people that they should not trust the king or the capital city to save them from the Babylonian army and only God could do that. Ezekiel’s graphic demonstration was proven correct to the last detail. But when he warned them they refused to listen.
Ezekiel performed the actions as he was commanded (v. 7). Next morning God spoke to him again, this time asking him if the exiles inquired what he was doing (v. 8). Evidently the people’s curiosity was aroused (v. 9). Once Ezekiel had their attention he could deliver God’s message. God explained that this message concerned King Zedekiah) and the whole house of Israel who were there, in Jerusalem, v. 10). This first part of Ezekiel’s sign pictured how they will go into exile as captives (v. 11). Those at ease in Jerusalem would soon be exiles whose only possessions could be held in small sacks flung over their backs."
The second part of Ezekiel’s sign pictured Zedekiah’s vain escape attempt (vv. 12-16). He would try to escape at dusk from Jerusalem through a breach in the city wall. However, he would be caught in God’s snare. Zedekiah’s escape attempt would fail because God would make sure he was captured. The final destiny of Zedekiah was grim. I will bring him to Babylonia, and there he will die. His troops, who would try to escape with him, would be pursued and killed by the sword.
"And in the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said to you, ‘What are you doing?’ Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “This burden concerns the prince in Jerusalem and all the house of Israel who are among them.”’ Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so shall it be done to them; they shall be carried away into captivity.’ And the prince who is among them shall bear his belongings on his shoulder at twilight and go out. They shall dig through the wall to carry them out through it. He shall cover his face, so that he cannot see the ground with his eyes. I will also spread My net over him, and he shall be caught in My snare. I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the Chaldeans; yet he shall not see it, though he shall die there. I will scatter to every wind all who are around him to help him, and all his troops; and I will draw out the sword after them" Ezekiel 12:8-14 (NKJV).
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