THEOSISEphraem the Syrian
From the same land shall emerge two paths, representing two distinct ways. The selected hand signifies the commencement of the pathway leading to the chosen city, which refers to the current Antioch.
Ezekiel 21:19Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And thou son of man, set thee two ways, for the sword of the king of Babylon to come: both shall come forth out of one land: and with his hand he shall draw lots, he shall consult at the head of the way of the city.
וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם הִנָּבֵ֕א וְהַ֖ךְ כַּ֣ף אֶל־כָּ֑ף וְתִכָּפֵ֞ל חֶ֤רֶב שְׁלִישִׁ֙תָה֙ חֶ֣רֶב חֲלָלִ֔ים הִ֗יא חֶ֚רֶב חָלָ֣ל הַגָּד֔וֹל הַחֹדֶ֖רֶת לָהֶֽם׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
The message of the Lord was conveyed to me, declaring: You, son of man, are to establish two routes for yourself, enabling your approach to the sword of the king of Babylon. From one location, the beginning of these two paths shall emerge, so that you might prepare for the hand that strikes at the initial point leading to the city, which assaults from its outset. The sword will descend upon Rabbah, the descendants of Ammon, and upon Judah in Jerusalem. Picture a scene where one path branches into two: one heading directly to Jerusalem, the other stretching toward Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. As Nebuchadnezzar advanced from Babylon, he confronted both Judah and the Ammonites; these events were forewarned by the prophet.
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He referred to Rabbah of the children of Ammon to distinguish it from another city bearing the same name, or Rabbah of Ammon. Furthermore, some suggest that this latter location, Ammon, corresponds to what is now known as Philadelphia, still recognized in Arabic as the city of Ammon. To this, God adds:
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Ezek 4:1And thou, O son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee: and draw upon it the plan of the city of Jerusalem.
- Ezek 4:3And take unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face resolutely against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it: it is a sign to the house of Israel.
- Jer 1:10Lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over kingdoms, to root up, and to pull down, and to waste, and to destroy, and to build, and to plant.
- Ezek 5:1And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take thee a balance to weigh in, and divide the hair.
- Ezek 5:17And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass through thee, and I will bring in the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it.