Ezekiel 21:23
And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken. And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.
Ezekiel 21:23 belongs to Ezekiel's recital to the exiles in Babylon of the steps that led to their dispersion, showing they were reaping the harvest of their own sowing, with idolatry mingled with Sabbath desecration bringing upon them the trouble of captivity. In Ezekiel 21-22 it stands as part of a twenty-two-year repetition of Jehovah's instruction and pleading for the people to turn to God, holding up the kingdoms on every side of Israel to show how God brought down their pride and will bring down remaining pride.
The false divination is the king of Babylon's use of divination to choose his course, which appeared false in the sight of those who had sworn allegiance, yet God guided events so that the king's action served God's purpose in calling iniquity to remembrance that they might be taken. The verse belongs to the destruction of the kingdom of Judah and the change in human dominion, with Israel already overturned by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar. After Judah three more overturnings of ruling power were to take place through Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome, and then Christ would come and the kingdom would be His. Ezekiel 21 refers to Israel being without a king during the days of their dispersion.