Ezekiel 6:2-3

6:2 “Son of man, turn toward 1  the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them: 6:3 Say, ‘Mountains of Israel, 2  Hear the word of the sovereign Lord! 3  This is what the sovereign Lord says to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: I am bringing 4  a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. 5 

1 tn Heb “set your face against.” The expression occurs at the beginning of Ezekiel’s prophetic oracles in Ezek 13:17; 20:46; 21:2; 25:2; 28:21; 29:2; 35:2; 38:2.

sn Based on comparison to a similar expression in Ugaritic, the phrase may imply that Ezekiel was to actually go to these locations to deliver his message.

2 tn The phrase “mountains of Israel” occurs only in the book of Ezekiel (6:2, 3; 19:9; 33:28; 34:13, 14; 35:12; 36:1, 4, 8; 37:22; 38:8; 39:2, 4, 17). The expression refers to the whole land of Israel.

sn The mountainous terrain of Israel would contrast with the exiles’ habitat in the river valley of Babylonia.

3 tn The introductory formula “Hear the word of the sovereign Lord” parallels a pronouncement delivered by the herald of a king (2 Kgs 18:28).

4 tn Heb “Look I, I am bringing.” The repetition of the pronoun draws attention to the speaker. The construction also indicates that the action is soon to come; the Lord is “about to bring a sword against” them.

5 tn The Hebrew term refers to elevated platforms where pagan sacrifices were performed.