Ezekiel 23:24
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 helmet round about: and I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.
Original Language Analysis
וּבָ֣אוּ
And they shall come
H935
וּבָ֣אוּ
And they shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עָלַ֡יִךְ
H5921
עָלַ֡יִךְ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
רֶ֤כֶב
wagons
H7393
רֶ֤כֶב
wagons
Strong's:
H7393
Word #:
4 of 18
a vehicle; by implication, a team; by extension, cavalry; by analogy a rider, i.e., the upper millstone
וְגַלְגַּל֙
and wheels
H1534
וְגַלְגַּל֙
and wheels
Strong's:
H1534
Word #:
5 of 18
a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled)
עַמִּ֔ים
of people
H5971
עַמִּ֔ים
of people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
7 of 18
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
צִנָּ֤ה
against thee buckler
H6793
צִנָּ֤ה
against thee buckler
Strong's:
H6793
Word #:
8 of 18
a (large) shield (as if guarding by prickliness)
וּמָגֵן֙
and shield
H4043
וּמָגֵן֙
and shield
Strong's:
H4043
Word #:
9 of 18
a shield (i.e., the small one or buckler); figuratively, a protector; also the scaly hide of the crocodile
יָשִׂ֥ימוּ
which shall set
H7760
יָשִׂ֥ימוּ
which shall set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
11 of 18
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עָלַ֖יִךְ
H5921
עָלַ֖יִךְ
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
12 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
סָבִ֑יב
round about
H5439
סָבִ֑יב
round about
Strong's:
H5439
Word #:
13 of 18
(as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without preposition) around
וְנָתַתִּ֤י
and I will set
H5414
וְנָתַתִּ֤י
and I will set
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
14 of 18
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
לִפְנֵיהֶם֙
before
H6440
לִפְנֵיהֶם֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
15 of 18
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃
judgment
H4941
בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃
judgment
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
16 of 18
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
Cross References
Jeremiah 47:3At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;Ezekiel 23:45And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands.Ezekiel 26:10By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.Ezekiel 16:38And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.2 Samuel 24:14And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall into the hand of man.
Historical Context
Babylonian siege warfare was sophisticated: battering rams, siege towers, earthen ramps, and complete encirclement to starve cities into submission. Archaeological evidence from Lachish and other sites confirms devastating effectiveness of these methods. Jerusalem's walls were eventually breached after prolonged siege.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God use human agency to accomplish divine judgment?
- What does it mean that pagan judgments can fulfill God's justice?
- How should we understand divine sovereignty in historical catastrophes?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels describes siege engines and military technology of Babylonian warfare. And with an assembly of people indicates massive troop numbers. Which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about details complete military encirclement—defensive equipment becoming offensive as soldiers surround the city. And I will set judgment before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgments declares God delegates to Babylon execution of His judicial sentence. God's sovereignty extends over pagan kingdoms; He uses their judgments to accomplish His justice. This is compatibilism: human agency (Babylon judges) and divine sovereignty (God sets judgment before them) working simultaneously without contradiction.