COMMENTARY

Ezekiel 33:1-11
The watchman saves his life by giving God's warning to the wicked in the hope that the wicked will repent and live. The setting for this pericope is the defense alarm system of Ezekiel's day. A watchman was posted on a hill to warn the city by blowing a trumpet when an enemy approached. This gave the people in the fields an opportunity to come into the walled city for protection. If the watchman failed to warn, he was responsible for the death of those killed by the invaders. On the other hand, if anyone ignored the warning, the watchman was not held responsible. Ezekiel applies this to a prophet who is Yahweh's watchman. If he announces to the sinner that he will die, he has discharged his duty; if the sinner fails to respond, the prophet is not held responsib…