Here God explains what is happening even before Ezekiel draws the map.

For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways means Nebuchadnezzar is already at the fork in the highway, where the two roads go in different directions (compare New International Version and Revised English Bible, which use the future), and he must decide which way to go. The Hebrew particle ki rendered For introduces why Ezekiel had to draw the map of the two roads and the signpost. It is because the moment of decision has come, when Nebuchadnezzar will decide whether to attack Ammon or Jerusalem. Some translations omit this connector for stylistic reasons (so Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation). Translators will have to decide how to express it naturally in their own languages.

To use divination …: Divination involves consulting the gods, either by magic or by a game of chance, such as rolling dice or casting lots (see 13.6). This practice is known in many societies, but in those where it is not, translators may say “he uses magic to make a decision” or “he consults the gods to learn what to do.” Three forms of divination are mentioned. First, he shakes the arrows (see the footnote in Good News Translation), which may be rendered “he throws the arrows on the ground.” In cultures where bows and arrows are unknown, it may be best to render arrows as “short spears” or “sticks.” Second, he consults the teraphim. Teraphim are “family idols” (New Century Version) or “household gods” (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible), which he consults for advice. Third, he looks at the liver. This practice, called hepatoscopy, was widespread in the ancient world. People looked at the liver of a recently-killed animal or bird and, from the marks on it, they believed it was possible to find out the will of the gods. Most cultures have some methods of using magic or supernatural means to foretell the future, to make decisions, or to find out the will of the gods. If these methods are close to the ancient methods described here, translators may use the indigenous forms. Otherwise, it may be necessary to explain why Nebuchadnezzar does these things; this may be done by including a known method as an example in a footnote.

A model for this verse is:

• For the king of Babylon is already at the place where the two roads begin. He is using magic [or, He is consulting gods] to decide which way to go. To learn what the gods tell him, he throws arrows on the ground to see how they point, he asks his idols for advice, and he studies the liver of an animal [or bird] he has sacrificed.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .