Two Signs of Judgment: A Boiling Pot of Scum and Ezekiel’s Wife’s Death (Ezekiel 24)

Scripture reading – Ezekiel 23; Ezekiel 24

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* Please note that words and phrases in brackets are the author’s amplification. 

Ezekiel 24

An Introduction (Ezekiel 24:1-2)

In Ezekiel 24, the LORD commanded Ezekiel to proclaim His Word and reveal to the captives in Babylon the events unfolding in Judah and Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:1-2). We read that on the day the LORD came to Ezekiel with another parable (Ezekiel 24:1), Nebuchadnezzar began his final siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:2).

The Parable of a Boiling Caldron (Ezekiel 24:3-14)

Ezekiel 24 records a parable that the LORD commanded Ezekiel to teach to those living in Babylon, described as “the rebellious house” (a reference to the “rebellious house of Israel,” Ezekiel 24:3). With dramatic flair meant to provoke questions, the prophet was told to “Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it” (Ezekiel 24:3). Ezekiel was then told to “gather the pieces” of meat, “even every good piece,” and fill the pot “with the choice bones” (Ezekiel 24:4), and to bring it to a boil (Ezekiel 24:5).

In this parable, the boiling pot represented Jerusalem, described as “the blood city” (Ezekiel 24:6a). The fire symbolized the wrath of God’s judgment, and the scum that rose in the pot represented the sin and wickedness of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:6-11). The parable reflected the imminent judgment of Jerusalem and its people, as the LORD declared, “I will even make the pile for fire great. Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh…let the bones be burned” (Ezekiel 24:9-10). 

The sinful people of Jerusalem had become like the scum that rose from the meat in the boiling pot (Ezekiel 24:11-13). Thus, the LORD declared that His judgment would not cease until His justice was satisfied (Ezekiel 23:14).

The Sign from Ezekiel’s Wife’s Death (Ezekiel 24:15-27)

Today’s study concludes with a sad yet powerful sign of God’s judgment. Ezekiel’s final message before Jerusalem’s destruction was a revelation of his own heartbreaking tragedy… the death of his wife. The LORD declared, “Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire [Ezekiel’s wife] of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down” (Ezekiel 24:15-16). Ezekiel had endured many hardships in Babylon, and his burdens were compounded by the prophecy of his wife’s death. What an unexpected sorrow.

The LORD then commanded Ezekiel not to “mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down. ¹⁷Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men” (Ezekiel 24:16-17).

Although Ezekiel knew his wife’s death was imminent, he did as the LORD commanded, saying, “So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.”(Ezekiel 24:18). The people asked why he did not mourn as was customary that day, for the ancients were to bury their dead within the day (Ezekiel 24:19).

Ezekiel then explained that his refusal to mourn his wife’s death was a sign for the people to refrain from mourning when the news of Jerusalem’s fall reached them in Babylon (Ezekiel 24:20-23). They were not to mourn the destruction of the Temple and the city. Instead, they were to mourn the sins and wickedness that necessitated its ruin (Ezekiel 24:24-25). To that end, the LORD desired that His people, amid their sorrows, would come to hear and know Him as LORD (Ezekiel 24:27).

Closing thoughts

Our study concludes with the announcement that a messenger would escape Jerusalem’s fall to deliver news of its destruction (Ezekiel 24:26-27; note Ezekiel 33:21-22). Although numerous prophets predicted Jerusalem’s downfall, the report of that tragic event confirmed that none of the LORD’s promises had failed. Despite the LORD’s long-suffering nature, His judgment was inevitable because He is just and holy. 

I close by being reminded that, without exception, the LORD has declared, “all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)