Ezekiel 21:21
Arabic KEH Ketab El Hayat (كتاب الحياة)
لأَنَّ مَلِكَ بَابِلَ قَدْ تَوَقَّفَ عِنْدَ مَفْرَقِ الطَّرِيقَيْنِ عَلَى النَّاصِيَةِ، يَلْتَمِسُ عِرَافَةً، فَضَرَبَ بِالسِّهَامِ، وَطَلَبَ مَشُورَةَ أَصْنَامِ أَسْلاَفِهِ، وَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْكَبِدِ.
What Does This Mean?
This verse describes how the king of Babylon used divination to decide his path. He consulted different methods like bright arrows, images, and liver inspection to make decisions about his military strategy.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing a game where you have to choose between two paths. The king of Babylon was like that, but he used some strange ways to help him decide, like looking at arrows and even the liver of animals to figure out which way to go.
Historical Background
Ezekiel, a prophet, wrote this verse around 590 BC. He was addressing the Babylonian king and his methods of divination. The Babylonians were a powerful kingdom at the time, and their practices were common in the ancient Near East.
Living It Out Today
In modern times, this can remind us to carefully consider our decisions rather than relying on superstition or fortune-telling. Good decision-making involves gathering reliable information and sometimes seeking wise counsel.
Topics
decision-makingsuperstitionBabylonprophecydivinationwisdom
Related Verses
Deuteronomy 18:10-12Isaiah 47:13-15Jeremiah 10:2-52 Kings 17:171 Samuel 28:3-14
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Babylonian king use divination?
Divination was a common practice in ancient times, used to seek guidance from the gods or supernatural forces before making important decisions, especially in matters of war and leadership.
What does it mean to 'make arrows bright'?
This likely refers to a method of divination where arrows were cast or thrown, and the way they landed or pointed would be interpreted as a sign or guidance.
How did 'consulting with images' work?
This could involve the use of idols or images believed to possess divine power, where the king would seek omens or messages through these objects to guide his decisions.
What does 'looking in the liver' refer to?
Hepatoscopy, the practice of examining the liver of sacrificed animals for signs, was a method of divination used to predict the future or divine the will of the gods.