Definition: At his right hand was the divination for Jerusalem, to appoint captains, to open the mouth in the slaughter, to lift up the voice with shouting, to appoint [battering] rams against the gates, to cast a mount, [and] to build a fort.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 21:22. It’s a really serious and dramatic description of a terrible future event in biblical prophecy. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse describes a horrific plan to utterly destroy Jerusalem – the city where Jesus was born – and devastate the entire region around it. Let's unpack each part: “At his right hand…” : This tells us this is happening later , in the future, after a long period of trouble. It’s a looming event, not something that will happen immediately. “…was the divination for Jerusalem…” : Divination means looking into the future or predicting things. This verse describes a focused effort to predict and plan what will happen to Jerusalem. “To appoint captains…” : This suggests a military leadership structure is being established specifically for Jerusalem – a strong army to defend it. “…to open the mouth in the slaughter…” : This is a frightening image. It means the leaders are planning to attack Jerusalem with violence and destruction. They’re setting up an opportunity to kill and ruin the city. “To lift up the voice with shouting…” : This refers to a coordinated, loud, aggressive attack – a massive military assault. “…to appoint [battering] rams against the gates…” : This is a specific type of siege weapon – rams – that would be used to try and breach the city walls. They’re trying to overwhelm the defenses with these large, immovable barriers. “To cast a mount…” : This suggests a huge, destructive fire or explosion would be launched towards Jerusalem. “…to build a fort…” : This indicates a massive defensive structure is being constructed – a fortified city – to protect Jerusalem from further attacks. Overall Interpretation: The verse paints a picture of a deliberate and calculated plan for widespread destruction. It’s a prophecy of a period of intense conflict, violence, and ultimately, utter ruin for Jerusalem. It suggests a significant and devastating event that will befall the city. Important Note: This is a very difficult passage to interpret, and it's often used to highlight God's judgment on sin and disobedience. It’s important to remember this is a prophecy – a prediction of what will happen, not necessarily a guaranteed outcome. --- Would you like me to: Explain any of these parts in more detail? Discuss the context of this verse within the larger biblical narrative? Connect it to other biblical prophecies?