Ezekiel 21:21

For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made [his] arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver.

For the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} stood {H5975} at the parting {H517} of the way {H1870}, at the head {H7218} of the two {H8147} ways {H1870}, to use {H7080} divination {H7081}: he made his arrows {H2671} bright {H7043}, he consulted {H7592} with images {H8655}, he looked {H7200} in the liver {H3516}.

For the king of Bavel is standing at the fork in the road, where the two roads separate, about to use divination - he is shaking the arrows, consulting the household gods, examining the liver.

For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver.

For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he shook the arrows to and fro, he consulted the teraphim, he looked in the liver.

Commentary on Ezekiel 21:21

Ezekiel 21:21 describes the intricate and pagan methods King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon employed to decide his military campaign. This verse is part of a larger prophecy in which God reveals His plan to use Babylon as an instrument of judgment against Judah and surrounding nations.

Context

This verse immediately follows God's declaration that Nebuchadnezzar, the "king of Babylon," would come to a crucial juncture where he had to choose between attacking Jerusalem or Rabbah of Ammon. The previous verse, Ezekiel 21:20, explicitly mentions these "two ways" (or paths) leading to the respective capitals. Despite Nebuchadnezzar's reliance on various forms of divination, the overarching message of Ezekiel's prophecy is that God is sovereignly directing the king's path and actions to fulfill His divine purpose of judgment upon a sinful Judah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty Over Human Plans: The primary theme is God's ultimate control over history and even the decisions of pagan rulers. Although Nebuchadnezzar uses divination, it is God who ultimately leads him to Jerusalem, as confirmed in the subsequent verses (Ezekiel 21:22). This highlights that human plans, even those based on superstition, are subject to God's will (compare with Proverbs 16:33).
  • Pagan Divination Practices: The verse vividly details three common ancient Near Eastern methods of divination:
    • Belomancy (Arrow Divination): "he made his arrows bright" – This likely refers to the practice of marking arrows, placing them in a quiver, and then drawing one out to indicate a decision. The 'brightness' could refer to polishing them for a ritual, or shaking them to mix them.
    • Teraphim Consultation: "he consulted with images" – Teraphim were household idols or cultic images, sometimes associated with divination or communication with spirits, forbidden in Israel (1 Samuel 15:23).
    • Hepatoscopy (Liver Divination): "he looked in the liver" – This was a widespread and highly regarded form of divination, especially in Mesopotamia. Priests would sacrifice an animal and examine its liver for abnormalities, markings, or shapes, which were interpreted as omens.
  • God's Judgment: The purpose of Nebuchadnezzar's advance, determined by God, was to bring severe judgment upon Jerusalem for its idolatry and rebellion against Him.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "divination" is qesem (קֶסֶם), a general term for seeking supernatural knowledge, often associated with forbidden practices in Israel.
  • "Made his arrows bright" (חִצִּים קִלְקַל) suggests a ritualistic shaking or polishing of arrows used for drawing lots or discerning direction.
  • "Images" refers to teraphim (תְּרָפִים), which were often small idols used for household religious practices, sometimes including divination.
  • "Looked in the liver" uses the Hebrew word kabed (כָּבֵד) for liver, emphasizing the specific practice of hepatoscopy, which was a significant part of Babylonian religious rituals.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 21:21 serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute sovereignty. Even when human leaders employ superstitious or pagan practices to make decisions, God's ultimate plan prevails. For believers today, this verse underscores the futility of relying on anything other than God's revealed will. Instead of seeking guidance through omens, astrology, or other forms of divination, we are called to seek God's wisdom through His Word, prayer, and the leading of the Holy Spirit. It also highlights the seriousness of God's judgment and His ability to use any means, even unexpected ones, to fulfill His purposes.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Proverbs 16:33

    ¶ The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.

  • Judges 17:5

    And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim, and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

  • Judges 18:20

    And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

  • Genesis 31:30

    And now, [though] thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, [yet] wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

  • Genesis 31:19

    And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that [were] her father's.

  • Judges 18:14

    ¶ Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish, and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do.

  • Numbers 22:7

    And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.

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