Ezekiel 4:1-8

Common English Bible

Jerusalem’s siege

4 You, human one, take a brick. Put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it. ² Prepare the siege: Build a wall, construct ramps, set up army camps, and place battering rams all around. ³ Take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city. Face it directly. When it is under siege like this, press hard against it. This is a sign for the house of Israel.

⁴ Now, lie on your left side, and set the guilt of the house of Israel on it. For the length of time that you lie on your side, you will bear their punishment. ⁵ I appoint to you three hundred ninety days, one day for each year of their guilt. So you will bear the punishment of the house of Israel. ⁶ When you have completed these days, lie on your right side to bear the guilt of the house of Judah. I appoint forty days to you, one day for each year. ⁷ With your arm stretched out, face the siege of Jerusalem directly and prophesy against it. ⁸ I’ve now bound you with cords so that you can’t turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.