decide the message he would deliver, or to choose any other audience (to them … a rebellious house … to your countrymen in exile, 3:4, 9, 11), or to make his obedience conditional on how they responded to him (whether they listen or fail to listen, 2:5, 7; 3:11). His task would be totally focused on one thing only—delivery of the words of Yahweh. While the expression ‘my words in your mouth’ was already well established as the characteristic prophetic claim, Ezekiel, as is very typical of him, experiences
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