While Ezekiel was prophesying, a man named Pelatiah died. In a vision Ezekiel is brought to the east gate of the LORD’s house, where he sees leaders who “devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city.” They say, “this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh,” and the LORD tells Ezekiel to speak against them. Then “Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died.” Ezekiel falls on his face and cries out for what remains of Israel. The passage is short, strange and sobering, and Ezekiel 11:1-13 holds all of it.
13 verses
Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.
Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.
Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.
Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.
And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.
Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:
And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
Matthew George Easton, 1897
Deliverance of the Lord. (1.) A son of Hananiah and grandson of Zerubbabel (1 Chr. 3:21).
(2.) A captain of “the sons of Simeon” (4:42).
(3.) Neh. 10:22.
(4.) One of the twenty-five princes of the people against whom Ezekiel prophesied on account of their wicked counsel (Ezek. 11:1-13).
William Smith, 1884
(delivered by Jehovah).
(1.) Son of Hananiah the son of Zerubbabel. (1 Chronicles 3:21) (B.C. after 536.)
(2.) One of the captains of the marauding band of Simeonites who in the reign of Hezekiah made an expedition to Mount Seir and smote the Amalekites. (1 Chronicles 4:42) (B.C. about 700.)
(3.) One of the heads of the people, and probably the name of a family who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 10:22) (B.C. about 440.)
(4.) The son of Benaiah. and one of the princes of the people against whom Ezekiel was directed to utter the words of doom recorded in (Ezekiel 11:5-12) (B.C. about 592.)