יחזקאל, פרק כ״א, פסוק א׳

A divine communication sets the stage for a dramatic and comprehensive series of doom prophecies announcing an approaching destruction. Although the opening sounds like a standard prophetic call, commentators agree that it actually serves as a main heading for a collection of consecutive messages bound by a shared theme. While there is a consensus that multiple prophecies are grouped under this single introduction, opinions differ on how these messages are internally divided.

One perspective divides the upcoming events into three central prophecies. The first foretells a massive loss of life within the Land of Israel. The second offers a brief warning about the destruction of the Temple. The third provides a detailed account of the siege of Jerusalem, featuring a vivid scene of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, standing at a crossroads and using divination to decide whether to attack Jerusalem or Ammon [מלבי״ם].

A broader approach views this entire section as the ninth major prophecy in the book, which can be broken down into twelve distinct parts. According to this view, the sheer number of messages stems from the use of many different parables, yet they all revolve around one central axis. The overarching purpose of this communication is to instruct the prophet to perform symbolic actions and share parables that illustrate the total ruin of Jerusalem. This devastating outcome is a severe punishment for the grave sins committed by the city's residents. Because of their involvement in bloodshed, idolatry, the desecration of the Sabbath, and the oppression of the weak, the people will face a harsh judgment, described as being melted down like impurities inside a blazing furnace [אברבנאל].