Ezekiel 11:13
Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, "Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?"
Now as I was prophesying
Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile, is actively delivering God's message. This moment underscores the immediacy and power of prophetic words, as events unfold in real-time. Prophecy in the Old Testament often served as both a warning and a revelation of God's will, emphasizing the seriousness of the message being delivered.

Pelatiah son of Benaiah died
Pelatiah was a leader among the people, possibly one of the elders mentioned earlier in Ezekiel. His sudden death serves as a divine sign, illustrating the judgment of God upon those who lead the people astray. This event echoes the fate of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, where immediate judgment follows deceit and rebellion against God.

Then I fell facedown
Ezekiel's reaction is one of deep humility and reverence, a common response to divine encounters in Scripture. Falling facedown signifies submission and recognition of God's sovereignty. Similar responses are seen in Daniel 10:9 and Revelation 1:17, where individuals are overwhelmed by the presence and power of God.

and cried out in a loud voice
The loud cry indicates urgency and desperation. Ezekiel's intercession reflects the role of prophets as mediators between God and the people. This mirrors Moses' intercession for Israel in Exodus 32:11-14, highlighting the compassionate heart of a true prophet.

“Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?”
Ezekiel's plea reveals his concern for the survival of Israel. The concept of a remnant is significant throughout Scripture, representing those who remain faithful to God amidst widespread apostasy. Isaiah 10:20-22 and Romans 11:5 discuss the remnant as a testament to God's mercy and faithfulness. Ezekiel's question underscores the tension between divine judgment and the hope for restoration, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who secures the remnant through His redemptive work.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the one receiving and delivering God's messages to the Israelites.

2. Pelatiah son of Benaiah
A leader among the people, whose sudden death during Ezekiel's prophecy serves as a divine sign and a catalyst for Ezekiel's intercession.

3. The Remnant of Israel
Refers to the remaining Israelites who have survived previous judgments and are in exile, representing hope for future restoration.

4. Babylonian Exile
The period when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon, a significant context for Ezekiel's prophecies.

5. Jerusalem
The city central to Ezekiel's prophecies, representing both the physical location and the spiritual state of the people.
Teaching Points
The Role of Prophets
Prophets are not only messengers but also intercessors. Ezekiel's reaction shows the deep compassion and responsibility he feels for his people.

Divine Judgment and Mercy
God's judgments are severe, yet they are always accompanied by the possibility of mercy and restoration for those who repent.

The Importance of Intercession
Ezekiel's prayer for the remnant highlights the power and necessity of intercessory prayer in seeking God's mercy and intervention.

Understanding God's Sovereignty
The sudden death of Pelatiah serves as a reminder of God's control over life and death, urging believers to trust in His sovereign plans.

Hope for Restoration
Despite the immediate judgment, the concept of a remnant assures believers of God's faithfulness to His promises and the hope of future restoration.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Ezekiel's reaction to Pelatiah's death reflect the heart of a true prophet, and how can we apply this attitude in our own prayer lives?

2. In what ways does the concept of a remnant provide hope for believers today, especially in times of widespread moral decline?

3. How can we balance the understanding of God's judgment with His mercy in our personal lives and in our interactions with others?

4. What role does intercessory prayer play in your spiritual life, and how can you be more intentional about praying for others?

5. How does the theme of God's sovereignty in Ezekiel 11:13 encourage you to trust Him in uncertain circumstances? Consider other biblical examples of God's sovereignty in your response.
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 24
This chapter discusses the vision of the good and bad figs, symbolizing the fate of those in exile and those remaining in Jerusalem, paralleling the themes of judgment and hope in Ezekiel.

Isaiah 6
Isaiah's vision and his intercession for the people echo Ezekiel's response to God's judgment, highlighting the role of prophets as intercessors.

Romans 11
Paul speaks of the remnant of Israel, connecting the Old Testament concept of a faithful remnant to the New Testament understanding of God's ongoing plan for Israel.
Remonstrance and IntercessionJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 11:13
The Presumptuous Security of Sinners Exhibited and CondemnedW. Jones Ezekiel 11:1-13
The Summary Punishment of Official GuiltJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 11:1-13
People
Azur, Azzur, Benaiah, Ezekiel, Jaazaniah, Pelatiah
Places
Chaldea, Chebar, Jerusalem
Topics
Ah, Alas, Benaiah, Benai'ah, Bring, Complete, Completely, Cried, Cry, Crying, Death, Destroy, Died, Dying, Face, Facedown, Fall, Falling, Fell, Full, Loud, Making, Pass, Pelatiah, Pelati'ah, Prophesied, Prophesying, Remnant, Rest, Saying, Sovereign, Voice, Wilt
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 11:13

     7145   remnant

Library
A Little Sanctuary
The Lord hears the unkind speeches of the prosperous when they speak bitterly of those who are plunged in adversity. Read the context--"Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession." This unbrotherly language moved the Lord to send the prophet Ezekiel with good and profitable words to the children of the captivity.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 34: 1888

A Mystery! Saints Sorrowing and Jesus Glad!
Jesus is talking of the death of His friend, let us listen to His words; perhaps we may find the key to His actions in the words of His lips. How surprising! He does not say, "I regret that I have tarried so long." He does not say, "I ought to have hastened, but even now it is not too late." Hear, and marvel! Wonder of wonders, He says, "I am glad that I was not there." Glad! the word is out of place? Lazarus, by this time, stinketh in his tomb,and here is the Saviour glad! Martha and Mary are weeping
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 10: 1864

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
"The Holy Spirit was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified."--John vii. 39. We have come to the most difficult part in the discussion of the work of the Holy Spirit, viz., the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the tenth day after the ascension. In the treatment of this subject it is not our aim to create a new interest in the celebration of Pentecost. We consider this almost impossible. Man's nature is too unspiritual for this. But we shall reverently endeavor to give a clearer insight
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a covenant people, various signs were in sovereignty vouchsafed. The lights in the firmament of heaven were appointed to be for signs, affording direction to the mariner, the husbandman, and others. Miracles wrought on memorable occasions, were constituted signs or tokens of God's universal government. The gracious grant of covenant signs was made in order to proclaim the truth of the existence of God's covenant with his people, to urge the performance
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

An Appendix to the Beatitudes
His commandments are not grievous 1 John 5:3 You have seen what Christ calls for poverty of spirit, pureness of heart, meekness, mercifulness, cheerfulness in suffering persecution, etc. Now that none may hesitate or be troubled at these commands of Christ, I thought good (as a closure to the former discourse) to take off the surmises and prejudices in men's spirits by this sweet, mollifying Scripture, His commandments are not grievous.' The censuring world objects against religion that it is difficult
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
(Galilee.) ^A Matt. XII. 22-37; ^B Mark III. 19-30; ^C Luke XI. 14-23. ^b 19 And he cometh into a house. [Whose house is not stated.] 20 And the multitude cometh together again [as on a previous occasion--Mark ii. 1], so that they could not so much as eat bread. [They could not sit down to a regular meal. A wonderful picture of the intense importunity of people and the corresponding eagerness of Jesus, who was as willing to do as they were to have done.] 21 And when his friends heard it, they went
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Ezekiel 11:13 NIV
Ezekiel 11:13 NLT
Ezekiel 11:13 ESV
Ezekiel 11:13 NASB
Ezekiel 11:13 KJV

Ezekiel 11:13 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Ezekiel 11:12
Top of Page
Top of Page