יחזקאל, פרק י״ב, פסוק כ״ג

A popular saying had taken root among the people, serving as an excuse to dismiss and delay the fulfillment of the prophecies of wrath. God commands the prophet to completely uproot this common proverb and replace it with a sharp, clear warning. The era of waiting and doubting is over, and reality is about to change immediately. God declares an absolute end to the use of this saying [מצודת ציון], ensuring the people will no longer repeat it [רש״י].

There is a specific reason this proverb must be abolished among the Israelites. Unlike other nations, who might be subject to the movements of the stars and blind fate, the people of Israel are not bound by such forces. Therefore, any popular saying rooted in the idea of an unguided destiny simply does not apply to them [מלבי״ם].

Instead of clinging to their old proverb, the people are given the exact opposite message [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The prophet announces that the days of disaster are fast approaching and will occur in the very near future [מצודת דוד]. As a result, every prophetic vision will soon become reality and will not be forgotten [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This approaching reality is not just a matter of time running out. The natural causes necessary for these events have fully ripened, ensuring that the promised events will happen with absolute certainty and cannot be canceled in any way [מלבי״ם].