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I have determined that the number of the years of their iniquity are to be the number of days[a] for you—390 days.[b] So bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.[c]

“When you have completed these days, then lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah 40 days[d]—I have assigned one day for each year. You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared and prophesy against it.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 4:5 tn Heb “I have assigned for you that the years of their iniquity be the number of days.” Num 14:33-34 is an example of the reverse, where the days were converted into years, the number of days spying out the land becoming the number of years of the wilderness wanderings.
  2. Ezekiel 4:5 tc The LXX reads “190 days.” sn The significance of the number 390 is not clear. The best explanation is that “days” are used figuratively for years and the number refers to the years of the sinfulness of Israel during the period of the First Temple. Some understand the number to refer to the length of the division of the northern and southern kingdoms down to the fall of Jerusalem (931-586 b.c.), but this adds up to only 345 years.
  3. Ezekiel 4:5 tn Or “When you have carried the iniquity of the house of Israel,” and continuing on to the next verse.
  4. Ezekiel 4:6 sn The number 40 may refer in general to the period of Judah’s exile, indicating the number of years Israel was punished in the wilderness. In this case, however, one would need to translate, “you will bear the punishment of the house of Judah.”

I have assigned you the same number of days as the years of their sin. So for 390 days you will bear the sin of the people of Israel.

“After you have finished this, lie down again, this time on your right side, and bear the sin(A) of the people of Judah. I have assigned you 40 days, a day for each year.(B) Turn your face(C) toward the siege of Jerusalem and with bared arm prophesy against her.

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