¹ tn Though some of the people have already been exiled (in 605 and 597 b.c.), some have not yet been exiled at the time this prophecy is given (see study note on v. 1 for the date).

¹ sn Those who are far away is probably a reference to later groups of returning exiles under Ezra, Nehemiah, and others.

² sn The “fold” from which the sheep/people break out is probably a reference to their place of exile.

¹ tn Heb “there,” referring to the foreign nations to which they were exiled. The translation makes the referent clear.

³ sn There he will die. This was fulfilled when King Zedekiah died in exile (Jer 52:11).

¹ sn The mountainous terrain of Israel would contrast with the exiles’ habitat in the river valley of Babylonia.

¹ sn Wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt. All these foods were common in Mesopotamia where Ezekiel was exiled.

³ tn The word “exiles” is not in the text. It is supplied in the translation to clarify the referent of “you.”

² sn What is being referred to is the exile of the people of the land. This passage could refer to the exiles of 605 b.c. or 597 b.c. but more probably anticipates the exile of 588 b.c., since the “tent,” (i.e., the city) is pictured as torn down. The picture of devastation and desolation here should be contrasted with that in Isa 54:2-3.

¹ sn Your house is forsaken. The language here is from Jer 12:7 and 22:5. It recalls exilic judgment.

² sn It is not certain if those who pray to me refers to the converted nations or to God’s exiled covenant people.

⁵ tn Heb “[group of] exiles.” A number of English translations take this as a collective singular and translate it with a plural (e.g., NAB, NIV, NRSV).

¹ sn The date would be August 14th, 591 b.c. The seventh year is the seventh year of Jehoiachin’s exile.

² sn This escape refers to the exile of Ezekiel and others in 597 b.c. (Ezek 1:2; 2 Kgs 24:10-16).

¹ sn This final chapter does not mention Jeremiah, but its description of the downfall of Jerusalem and exile of the people validates the prophet’s ministry.

¹ sn The picture is that of undisturbed complacency (cf. Zeph 1:12). Because Moab had never known the discipline of exile, she had remained as she always was.

² sn The picture of rounding up the population for destruction and exile is also seen in Amos 4:2 and Hab 1:14-17.

² sn As v. 12 indicates, the returning exiles are the Lord’s reward/prize. See also 40:10 and the note there.

³ sn Verses 9-10 may allude to the exiles’ criticism that the Lord does not appear to know what he is doing.

⁴ sn The Israelites will be freed from exile (likened to beating the olives off the tree) and then gathered (likened to collecting the olives).