the exilic community. The prophet returns to consciousness of his natural surroundings and of his mission. The elders heard in the telling of the vision the chilling message of Yahweh’s indictment and final judgment of the city to which they had been hoping to return and resume their normal lives. This vivid portrayal of sin and judgment conveys the enormity of both the sins committed in Jerusalem and the divine reprisals that must therefore befall it. “Eye-witnessing … here serves theodicy: