Daily Tanach – Yechezkal Chapter 5: Judgment on Jerusalem: Symbolic Acts and Severe Consequences (Sunday, 15th Teves)

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Chapter 5: Judgment on Jerusalem: Symbolic Acts and Severe Consequences

  1. The Sword and Hair Symbolism (Verses 1–4)

Yechezkal is commanded to shave his head and beard with a sword, weigh the hair, and divide it into thirds:

  • One-third burned in the city after the siege.
  • One-third struck with the sword around the city.
  • One-third scattered to the wind, with a sword pursuing them. A few hairs are preserved, then some burned—symbolizing a remnant and further judgment.

  1. Jerusalem’s Guilt (Verses 5–7)

G-d declares Jerusalem’s unique position among nations but condemns it for surpassing them in wickedness and rejecting His laws.

  1. Unprecedented Punishment (Verses 8–10)

Because of abominations, G-d will bring judgments never seen before:

  • Fathers will eat children, and children will eat fathers—a shocking sign of famine and desperation.

  1. The Threefold Judgment (Verse 12)
  • One-third will die by famine and pestilence.
  • One-third will fall by the sword.
  • One-third will be scattered, pursued by the sword.

  1. Wrath and Its Purpose (Verses 13–15)

G-d’s fury will be spent, and the nations will see Jerusalem as a ruin, reproach, and warning—a testimony of divine justice.

  1. Instruments of Judgment (Verses 16–17)

G-d will send famine, wild beasts, pestilence, bloodshed, and the sword upon the people, breaking their “staff of bread” and leaving them desolate.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.