4Ezekiel 4

Ezekiel Acts Out an Attack on Jerusalem / The said:

1Ezekiel, son of man, find a brick and sketch a picture of Jerusalem on it.Select Ezekiel 4:1

2Then prepare to attack the brick as if it were a real city. Build a dirt mound and a ramp up to the top and surround the brick with enemy camps. On every side put large wooden poles as though you were going to break down the gate to the city.Select Ezekiel 4:2

3Set up an iron pan like a wall between you and the brick. All this will be a warning for the people of Israel.Select Ezekiel 4:3

5After that, lie down on your left side and stay there for 390 days as a sign of Israel's punishment—one day for each year of its suffering.Select Ezekiel 4:5

6Then turn over and lie on your right side 40 more days. That will be a sign of Judah's punishment—one day for each year of its suffering.Select Ezekiel 4:6

7The brick stands for Jerusalem, so attack it! Stare at it and shout angry warnings.Select Ezekiel 4:7

8I will tie you up, so you can't leave until your attack has ended.Select Ezekiel 4:8

9Get a large bowl. Then mix together wheat, barley, beans, lentils, and millet, and make some bread. This is what you will eat for the 390 days you are lying down.Select Ezekiel 4:9

10Eat only a small loaf of bread each daySelect Ezekiel 4:10

11and drink only two large cups of water.Select Ezekiel 4:11

12Use dried human waste to start a fire, then bake the bread on the coals where everyone can watch you.Select Ezekiel 4:12

13When I scatter the people of Israel among the nations, they will also have to eat food that is unclean, just as you must do.Select Ezekiel 4:13

14I said, “Lord God, please don't make me do that! Never in my life have I eaten food that would make me unacceptable to you. I've never eaten anything that died a natural death or was killed by a wild animal or that you said was unclean.”Select Ezekiel 4:14

15The Lord replied, “Instead of human waste, I will let you bake your bread on a fire made from cow manure.Select Ezekiel 4:15

16Ezekiel, the people of Jerusalem will starve. They will have so little food and water that they will be afraid and hopeless.Select Ezekiel 4:16

17Everyone will be shocked at what is happening, and, because of their sins, they will die a slow death.”Select Ezekiel 4:17