12. So prophesy to my people Israel and tell them that I, the Sovereign Lord, am going to open their graves. I am going to take them out and bring them back to the land of Israel.
13. When I open the graves where my people are buried and bring them out, they will know that I am the Lord.
14. I will put my breath in them, bring them back to life, and let them live in their own land. Then they will know that I am the Lord. I have promised that I would do this — and I will. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
15. The Lord spoke to me again.
16. “Mortal man,” he said, “take a wooden stick and write on it the words, ‘The kingdom of Judah’. Then take another stick and write on it the words, ‘The kingdom of Israel’.
17. Then hold the two sticks end to end in your hand so that they look like one stick.