Ezekiel 12:5-7

12:5 While they are watching, dig a hole in the wall and carry your belongings out through it. 12:6 While they are watching, raise your baggage onto your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. ¹  You must cover your face so that you cannot see the ground ²  because I have made you an object lesson ³  to the house of Israel.”

12:7 So I did just as I was commanded. I carried out my belongings packed for exile during the day, and at evening I dug myself a hole through the wall with my hands. I went out in the darkness, carrying my baggage ⁴  on my shoulder while they watched.

Ezekiel 12:12

12:12 “The prince ⁵  who is among them will raise his belongings ⁶  onto his shoulder in darkness, and will go out. He ⁷  will dig a hole in the wall to leave through. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes.

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¹ tn Apart from this context the Hebrew term occurs only in Gen 15:17 in reference to the darkness after sunset. It may mean twilight.

² tn Or “land” (ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

³ sn See also Ezek 12:11, 24:24, 27.

⁴ tn The words “my baggage” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied from the context.

⁵ sn The prince is a reference to Zedekiah.

⁶ tn The words “his belongings” are not in the Hebrew text but are implied.

⁷ tc The MT reads “they”; the LXX and Syriac read “he.”