Ezekiel 21:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Like a wise individual, they had a sage present among them. The Babylonians were misled in their forecast of triumph, which remained far off; they anticipated that Jerusalem would fall within mere days. Instead, they endured the winter encamped outside its walls, only taking the city nineteen months later when the residents had been weakened by famine.

The wise man performed wonders in their sight, granting them wisdom and orchestrating the cycles of blessings, as though the wise had arranged favorable outcomes for them. He communicated this through his words, suggesting that it was as if they celebrated the cycles of divine completeness, recognizing it as one of their major feasts. However, the Almighty declares that occurrences will not align with their expectations. It is written, "And that one that remembereth their unrighteousness, let them be taken." The recollection of their transgressions will be the reason for their captivity.