“Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
The prophet must set his face against those mountains as a judge pronounces sentence on a prisoner. The mountains of Israel once were holy, but now polluted with idolatry; God's controversy will have a hearing whether men listen or refuse. Better to speak to the hills than to a people who stretch out their hands in vain and contradict the Lord's own messengers.
AI summary
Commenting on Ezekiel 6:1-7
And say, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God,.... Since the people of the Jews would not hear the word of the Lord, the mountains are called upon to hear it; unless the inhabitants of the mountains are meant: thus saith the Lord God to the mountains and to the hills, to the rivers and to the valleys: these are addressed...
Set thy face toward the mountains of Israel - This is a new prophecy, and was most probably given after the four hundred and thirty days of his lying on his left and right side were accomplished. By Israel here, Judea is simply meant; not the ten tribes, who had long before been carried into captivity. Ezekiel uses this term in reference to the Jews only.