The opening words And the Lord answered me apply to the whole of the rest of verses 2–5 (RSV) or 2–4 (TEV). However, verses 2 and 3 contain only instructions on how to handle the message. The content of the message comes only in verse 4. The first instruction is that the prophet should write the vision; make it plain upon tablets. It is not often that the Old Testament records a direct command to a prophet to write his message (compare Isa 8:1; 30:8; Jer 30:2; Ezek 37:16). For notes on the word translated