In | Blood on Their Own Heads, Part 2

Son of man, speak to your people and say to them: “When I bring the sword against a land, and the people of the land choose one of their men and make him their watchman, and he sees the sword coming against the land and blows the trumpet to warn the people, then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head. Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves. But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.”

This passage follows the indictments against Tyre and Egypt in chapters 26–32. Both of these nations will be destroyed for their wickedness. The warning it gives is indicative of Ezekiel’s responsibility as a watchman. 

Israel’s previous association with these nations is in the background. In the past, they regularly adopted practices of their neighbors. But the temptation to adopt the pagan practices of foreign nations is relevant in a new way for the exiles living in Babylon. Ezekiel warns them against religious assimilation in their temporary home.