Ezekiel 21:2 (in other versions 20:46)

> 
> "Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south
> and prophesy against the forest of the southland."
> 
> 
> 

As is evident from v. 6 (in other versions 21:2), Ezekiel here is prophesying against Jerusalem and its upcoming destruction:

> 
> Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the
> sanctuary. Prophesy against the land of Israel
> 
> 
> 

However it's not clear where Ezekiel is standing. Some have suggested that Ezekiel is standing in Babylon. However this doesn't help much, since we know Babylon is almost directly east of Jerusalem (see map below), so Jerusalem would be west, not south of it. Jeremiah 1:14 also seems to associate Babylon with the north, but Jeremiah might be more concerned with the evil associated with the north than true geographical north, see discussion [here](https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/66315/in-jeremiah-is-evil-always-associated-with-the-north-regardless-of-geographical/66322#66322). So why would Ezekiel describe Jerusalem as laying to the south? More importantly, where is Ezekiel standing during this oracle, and does it matter?

---

Also note that Ezekiel is said to set his face towards the south. This is very important. Because it's not enough to say that the Chaldeans took a northern route, as some would posit, since the text makes it clear that the prophet himself is standing north of Jerusalem, and is turning his face in a southern direction towards the city.

[![Babylonian empire of Nebuchadnezzar](https://i.stack.imgur.com/XZXBh.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/XZXBh.png)