Ezekiel 24:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The inhabitants of the tabernacle symbolize Jerusalem, while its foes are represented by fire.

Through the conob He names the city; through the water poured out He signifies various disasters; through the cuts, shins, and rams of the selected cattle, He refers to the rulers, elders, and priests who thrived in abundance, prosperity, and authority but were swiftly consumed by misfortunes. By the bones used to kindle fire, He speaks of those who lived in poverty and faced starvation before others. And by fire, He indicates the king of Babylon and his army. Moreover, God declares: It shall rise, thrive, and its bones shall be scorched in its midst; in other words, through the fire therein, the bones that caused a plague will be consumed as the inhabitants fall victim to famine, and those who evade starvation are plunged into extreme distress, besieged by their foes.