10. You will be killed in your own country, but not before you realize that I, the Lord, have done these things.
11. You leaders claim to be meat in a cooking pot, but you won't be protected by this city. No, you will die at the border of Israel.
12. You will realize that while you were following the laws of nearby nations, you were disobeying my laws and teachings. And I am the Lord!
13. Before I finished speaking, Pelatiah dropped dead. I bowed down and cried out, “Please, Lord God, don't kill everyone left in Israel.”
14. The Lord replied:
15. Ezekiel, son of man, the people living in Jerusalem claim that you and the other Israelites who were taken to Babylonia are too far away to worship me. They also claim that the land of Israel now belongs only to them.
16. But here is what I want you to tell the Israelites in Babylonia:It's true that I, the Lord God, have forced you out of your own country and made you live among foreign nations. But for now, I will be with you wherever you are, so that you can worship me.
17. And some day, I will gather you from the nations where you are scattered and let you live in Israel again.
18. When that happens, I want you to clear the land of all disgusting idols.
19. Then I will take away your stubbornness and make you eager to be completely faithful to me. You will want to obey me
20. and all my laws and teachings. You will be my people, and I will be your God.