and behold at the entrance of the gate [twenty-five men] They are the very same ones that he mentioned above (ad loc.): “their backs to the Temple of the Lord” except that he did not explain there who they were, and here he delineates the names of two of them.

Who say, ‘It is not near’ that the words of the prophets will come upon us.

build houses We need not be concerned with them; rather build houses in which to dwell, for we shall not be exiled from this city until we die.

it is the pot, and we are the meat Just as the meat is not taken out of the pot until it has been completely cooked, neither shall we leave it until we die.

So have you said I know that you have said this, that Jerusalem is the pot and you are the meat, but I say to you that for the slain whom you have laid in it, it becomes a pot, for they are finished in it; but for you, it will not become a pot to retain you until the day of death, for you I shall take out of it.

and what enters your mind [lit. what goes up in your spirit.] What goes up on your thoughts, votre talant in Old French, your mind [intentions].

take out Heb. הוֹצִיא, like לְהוֹצִיא to take out. In vain have you built the houses, for you will go into exile, both the fathers and the sons, and no one will inherit the houses.

You feared the sword when you turned for aid to the king of Egypt, as it is said regarding Zedekiah (17:15): “And he rebelled against him (the king of Babylon) by sending his emissaries to Egypt.”

by the border of Israel At the end of the boundary; that is Riblah, the land of Hamath, which is Antioch. There Zedekiah was judged by Nebuchadnezzar, as is stated in the Book of (II) Kings (25: 6f.). There he slaughtered his sons, there he put out his eyes. And it is the end of the boundary, as is said concerning the spies and in many places (Num. 13:21): “until... coming to Hamath.”

It will not become a pot for you [A pot,] which retains its pieces until they are completely cooked.

but you will become in its midst as meat for you will be melted in its midst, and you will be broken in its midst as meat in a pot and in a cauldron.

by the border of Israel I will judge you and not in its midst will you die.

Your brethren, your brethren The exile of Samaria and the exile of Jeconiah.

and the entire house of Israel who have gone into exile.

to whom...said About whom theythe dwellers of Jerusalem who have not been exiled with Jeconiah, over whom Nebuchadnezzar enthroned Zedekiahsaid. Now they ridicule their brethren who have been exiled, and say about them, “They have distanced themselves from the Lord.”

a minor sanctuary Synagogues, which are in a position second to the Temple.

a heart of flesh A heart that is soft and easily submissive.

But to the heart of their detestations, etc. And as for those whose hearts go to every detestation and abomination, who remained in Jerusalem, who were not exiled, and who go astray after idolatry and detestations.

I have placed their way upon their heads for I will draw the sword upon them, and [place them in] captivity, and they will go into exile.

Then the cherubim lifted After He finished His words to me, He left.

on the mountain that was on the east of the city That is the Mount of Olives, which is east of the city, and this is the third stage [of the Shechinah’s departure].

in the vision, with the spirit of God It seemed to me as though He now was taking me back from Jerusalem to Babylon.