Ezechiela 21:2 Komentarz: Rashi & Malbim

southward The land of Israel is south of Babylon.

set your face southward – Setting one’s face indicates that the prophet is preparing himself towards whichever side he will prophecy. This verse is referring to the prophecy which he spoke concerning the siege of Jerusalem from verse thirteen and on. There he described how Nevuchadnezzar used divinations to determine if he should go left toward Rabbat Bnei Amon or right toward Jerusalem. The lot fell on the southern path, meaning that he should go to the right, as it says “At his right was the divination to Jerusalem…” (Ezekiel 21:27):

to the forest of the field in the south To My Temple, which is destined to be like a forest and like a field, to be plowed in order to be overrun by foxes.