Ezekiel

By Mary Jane Chaignot

Ezekiel was born into a world that was changing. As a priest of the Jerusalem temple, he was included in the deportation of leading citizens (and priests) to Babylon that occurred in 597BCE. After four years in exile, he received a prophetic call to minister to those in Babylon, a ministry that lasted until 571BCE. Ezekiel, then, was a prophet to the exiles, though he often spoke (harshly) about those remaining in Jerusalem, at least until its fall in 587BCE. Scholars do not think that life in exile was all that difficult socially and economically. It appears that many individuals were able to acclimate quickly into a new economy and some were even able to rise to the top in the Babylonian court (see Daniel). Indeed, in 539BCE when Cyrus (the king of Persia) gave them leave to return, many preferred not to go. Theologically speaking, however, things were a different state. In the decades prior to the fall, most of the populace had become spiritually bankrupt. Despite the prophetic warnings about the coming judgment, the people had been confident that Yahweh would rescue them. So even though they were actually in exile, they believed it would only be a short time before things were made right. They believed the covenant with God was irrevocable. The land was to be theirs in perpetuity, and Yahweh would always be with them (in the Temple). As the political situation deteriorated, people clung to those promises, oftentimes without any change in behavior. When the fall finally came, people were in theological shock. Ezekiel's audience, then, was disillusioned, bitter, and angry. They thought that God had abandoned them, or worse, had been impotent against the might of the Babylonian god, Marduk.

Ezekiel knew differently. He understood that God was still in control; indeed, sending them into exile had been God's idea, his way of bringing them back to the covenant he had initiated with them. Ezekiel, then, had to draw on every aspect of his life to get his message across. And he did it in a way that was both colorful and confusing. Commentators have variously labeled him as a creative genius or a complete psychotic. There is no other prophet who recounted as many unusual visions or exhibited as many bizarre features in proclaiming God's message. Rendered mute for seven and a half years, he relied on antics to get people's attention. Though there are no accounts of his being harmed because of his message, he was regularly mocked and he performed many humiliating acts – for which he was routinely scorned. Unlike Jeremiah, he does not devote much time to musing about the people's lack of receptivity. He simply continues forward with his next assignment, oracle of judgment, or breathtaking vision. Perhaps it was his training as a priest that kept him so focused.

He was a member of the priesthood, a member of the same group Jeremiah typically addressed and railed against. We have no information about Ezekiel apart from this very book, so some scholars have speculated that perhaps he wasn't much different from the priests that Jeremiah typically addressed. We already know that their spiritual commitment left much to be desired. No matter what he was like before the deportation, his life radically changed in 593BCE, when he was called to be a prophet. The repetition of his call and Yahweh's dealings with him throughout his ministry suggest that he might have been quite reluctant to enter the profession. Nonetheless, he did -- and he was well-suited to deal with the obstinacy of the people, the hardness of their hearts, and how they stood in opposition to Yahweh's agenda for them.

As a prophet, Ezekiel's commission was to transform the people's concept of God, to move them from disobedience and disinterest to a vital, ongoing communion with their covenant Lord. His intent was to shake them out of their stupor. In order to accomplish his mission, he spared no imagery or illustration. All was fair game. So it is that some people find his concept of God offensive, even wrathful and his tactics bizarre. His use of sexual imagery in chapters 16 and 23 has been particularly difficult for modern readers. One has to struggle to get past the bloodthirstiness and see the passion behind the metaphor. Ezekiel portrays a God who loves so deeply and is so committed, that he must act vigorously to defend and restore a relationship with his people that was being threatened, even violated, by their own actions as well as others. Despite his rhetoric, his oracles of doom immediately staunched the day Jerusalem fell, only to be replaced by messages of hope. And it is rare to find a more exalted passage about the millennium than can be found in the final chapters of this book.

There are five main divisions: The call of Ezekiel -- chs. 1-3; Oracles of Judgment against Judah and Jerusalem -- chs. 4-24; Oracles Against Foreign Nations – chs. 25-32; Oracles of Hope for Those in Exile – chs. 33-39; A Vision of the Renewed Temple and Distribution of the Tribes Upon Their Return After Exile – chs. 40-48.

I – The call of Ezekiel 1:1-3:27

1:1-3

Introduction to Ezekiel

1:4-14

A vision of the glory of God
Living creatures in a storm

1:15-21

Wheels beside the creatures
The spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels

1:22-28

The appearance of God's glory
The expanse above the creatures was awesome
Then a voice called to him; he saw a creature on a throne

2:1-5

Ezekiel's commission was to speak to a rebellious people (Israel)

2:6-7

Ezekiel was encouraged to speak regardless of their response

2:8-3:11

Ezekiel was instructed to eat the scroll
Nature of message was on the scroll – woes and laments
Scroll tasted as sweet as honey
Ezekiel was to understand the word before he could share it with the people

3:12-15

Ezekiel was raised up by the spirit
Taken to exiles in Babylon (he was angry and anguished)
Mourned for seven days; he was overwhelmed by his task

3:16-21

After seven days, Ezekiel was told to be a watchman for Israel
He would be responsible for warning people – but not for the choice they were free to make

3:22-27

Ezekiel was bound in his house and rendered mute (for 7 ½ years until the fall of Jerusalem)
He was only allowed to speak when the Lord opened his mouth

II -- Oracles of Judgment against Judah and Jerusalem 4:1-24:27

4:1-7:27

Dramatic prophetic actions re: the siege of Jerusalem

4:1-17

He drew Jerusalem on brick, simulated a siege against it
Lay on his side for 390 days to commemorate the years of Israel's sins
Then lay on his other side for 40 days to commemorate the years of Judah's sins
Ezekiel was mute this whole time

5:1-4

He was told to shave his head and beard -- Sign of humiliation and disgrace
Burn 1/3; strike 1/3 with sword; scatter 1/3 to wind
Symbolic of fate of inhabitants of Jerusalem

5:5-17

Full explanation of what Ezekiel's actions meant

6:1-14

A judgment oracle against Judah
All the high places, shrines would be destroyed
Only way to escape would be to turn to the Lord (a small remnant would)
Ezekiel exhibited joy in knowing that the end of wickedness was near

7:1-13

The coming judgment was imminent

7:14-27

Response to judgment
People will experience famine, disease, despair
People will run to the prophets, priests, but they will have no answers

8:1-11:25

A vision of the exodus of God's glory

8:1-18

The idolatry of the House of Israel

8:1-4

The spirit (in a vision) lifted him up and took him to Jerusalem

8:5-18

Abominations in the temple
A statue of jealousy stood in the entryway of the temple
Saw the 70 elders worshiping various idols in the temple
Another 25 men were worshiping the sun

9:1-8

Guards and the man with the writing kit
Man was to place a mark on the forehead of each one who grieved over detestable things done in the temple
Guards were to kill all those who did not grieve
Ezekiel thought all would be lost

9:9-11

Explanation of God's judgment

10:1-7

Man was to take fire from coals of cherubim, pour it out over city

10:8-22

Living beings (ch 1) are cherubim here
God's glory departed from the temple and went to the cherubim's throne-chariot
Departure of God's glory due to corruption in Jerusalem and Judah

11:1-13

Judgment against the leaders of Jerusalem
Leaders had given false counsel, rejected the prophets
Image of pot and meat: Jerusalem was the pot, they would be outside
The death of one of the elders caused Ezekiel to fear the Lord would destroy all

11:14-21

Remnant will be gathered from the nations
They will be kept by God through the captivity, then will be brought back

11:22-25

The chariot of the cherubim carried God's glory out of Jerusalem
Ezekiel reported all to the people

12:1-19:14

A word to those in exile

12:1-16

Ezekiel was to act out deportation scene
Pack a few belongings, dig through the wall, go to another place
People were supposed to ask what he was doing
Then he would explain in detail – their despicable acts would result in deportation
More detainees would be brought to Babylon

12:17-20

Ezekiel was to shiver and quiver while he ate and drank
Symbolic of the fear and horror that would come upon the people

12:21-28

The days were near when this vision would be fulfilled

13:1-16

Oracle against the prophets who were prophesying falsely
Those in exile were being told that judgment was not imminent; hope was on the way

13:17-23

Judgment against the prophetesses
Many of them were involved in divination and sorcery
Had led many righteous astray

14:1-11

Some came to inquire of Ezekiel, but held idols in their hearts
The Lord would not tolerate such hypocrisy, but would give them over to the idols
Urged the false prophets to condemn themselves

14:12-23

Can Jerusalem be saved by a few righteous men? NO!
Righteous men can only deliver themselves

15:1-8

A parable about a useless vine
The vine was useless while alive, how much less value after it has been burned
Symbolic of the people of Jerusalem

16:1-63

The history of Jerusalem symbolized by a prostitute
- 16:1-5
- 16:6-14
- 16:15-34
- 16:35-43
- 16:44-58
- 16:59-63

17:1-24

Riddle and parable about eagles
First eagle (Babylon) took king and leaders to Babylon
Planted them there in good soil
Second eagle (Egypt) – Jerusalem turned toward him
Rebelled against Babylon, cannot prosper
King (Zedekiah) will be brought to Babylon, all will be lost
After judgment comes restoration "so that you will know I am the Lord"

18:1-31

Issue of individual responsibility

18:1-4

Proverb of "fathers eat sour grapes…" kids suffer
"As surely as I live, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel"

18:5-18

Three generations illustrate proverb
Righteous father will live; unrighteous son will not; righteous grandson will live

18:19-32

Explanation of the proverb
Each one will be judged according to his ways

19:1-14

A lament for the princes of Israel
The leaders are not worthy to lead the people back to the Lord
Illustrated with imagery of lioness and her cubs
First cub: Jehoahaz – died in Egypt
Second cub: Jehoiakim – brought to Babylon
Imagery of a vine: Jerusalem – will be plucked up, cast to the ground
Taken into captivity

20:1-23:49

Judgment against leadership in Israel

20:1-9

Remembrance of God's saving acts in the exodus
They grumbled against God

20:10-26

Remembrance of God's tender care in the wilderness
They rebelled against God

20:27-29

Remembrance of God's giving them the land of Canaan
They turned to other gods

20:30-44

Rebellion continues to the present time (of Ezekiel)

21:1-7

Description of the judgment that was about to come
Parable of a fire of southern forest (southern kingdom of Judah)

21:8-17

Ezekiel sang a poem about a sharp sword, ready for use
The slayer (Babylon) was poised to use it
Again Ezekiel clapped his hands in joy; evil will come to an end

21:18-27

Judgment by Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar would come to a fork in the road Jerusalem or Ammon? Divination would lead to Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar would be God's instrument of wrath

21:28-32

Judgment against the Ammonites would be postponed

22:1-16

Judgment for systematically violated Mosaic covenant
Contemporary Jerusalem had become a city of abominations

22:17-22

Like dross they will be gathered for purification through fire

22:23-31

Utter failure of priests and princes to provide good leadership

23:1-49

Allegory of Israel's political prostitution
Two sisters (Oholah and Oholibah) gave birth to sons and daughters
(Samaria and Jerusalem, respectively)
Oholah (northern kingdom) gave herself to the Assyrians
The Lord handed her to her lovers; she was annihilated (722BCE)
Oholibah saw this, yet was worse than her sister
Went after Babylonians, Assyrians, and Egyptians
The Lord was about to hand her over to her enemies
Spoke of a "cup of wrath" she must drink
Ezekiel was to judge both women, to prosecute them
They must bear the consequences of their abominations

24:1-27

The beginning of the siege of Jerusalem

24:1-14

Parable of the cooking pot
Boiling meat in pot represented inhabitants of
Jerusalem who would boil in siege
Contents would boil away, remaining contents would be removed
Pot itself would remain on the fire until it would melt

24:15-24

Death of Ezekiel's wife
The Lord forbad him to mourn – time for mourning had past
Unnatural response to death caught eye of contemporaries
Just as Ezekiel lost his wife, so the inhabitants would lose the temple

24:25-27

When the siege of Jerusalem was complete, Ezekiel would no longer be mute

III -- Oracles Against Foreign Nations 25:1-32:32

25:1-7

Judgment against Ammon
For gloating, Ammon would be given as a plunder to the nations

25:8-11

Judgment against Moab
For cursing the people of Israel, Moab would be given to the East

25:12-14

Judgment against Edom
Edom would be laid waste for taking revenge against Judah

25:15-17

Judgment against Philistia
For ancient hostility, the Lord would take vengeance against them

26:1-21

Judgment against Tyre by Babylon

26:1-14

Oracle of judgment against Tyre

26:15-18

Those who rely on Tyre will tremble after its fall and lament

26:19-21

Once fallen, Tyre would never regain its prominence

27:1-36

Lament for Tyre

27:1-11

Uses imagery of the wreck of a magnificent ship
(Appropriate since Tyre's merchant marine activity was legendary)

27:12-24

Success and magnitude of Tyre's commercial relations

27:25-36

Imagery of a sinking ship – all will weep; Tyre is no more

28:1-10

Judgment against the leader of Tyre
His haughty pride will be brought down; he will die a horrible death

28:11-19

A funeral lament for the king of Tyre

28:20-24

Judgment against Sidon

28:25-26

The people of Israel will be restored from the nations
Those who have been scattered, will be gathered to live in safety

29:1-32:32

Judgment against Egypt

29:1-16

Prophecy against Egypt
Imagery of crocodile used to represent Pharaoh
Crocodile will be pulled from Nile and destroyed
As a nation, Egypt was never a true support of Israel

29:17-21

Egypt will be reward for Babylon for looting of Tyre

30:1-19

Babylon's invasion of Egypt
A day of Egypt – would result in destruction of Egypt
(Babylon never really invaded Egypt, so this prophecy was not fulfilled)

30:20-26

Egypt tried to interrupt Babylon's siege of Jerusalem
For that, Egypt's "arm" would be broken (indicates the waning of its strength)

31:1-18

Egypt's fall likened to the fall of Assyria
Assyria had become filled with pride in its greatness – still fell
Egypt's splendor would be brought low as well

32:1-16

Dirge for Egypt
Portrayed Egypt as dead; the "daughters of the nations" would sing over it

32:17-32

A summary of the lament over Egypt
Ezekiel wailed for Egyptians for they would descend into the pit of Sheol
Like all the nations, God would bring his terror on Egypt because Egypt brought terror on many nations (including Israel)

IV -- Oracles of Hope for Those in Exile 33:1-39:29 (After the fall)

33:1-20

A warning for the exiles
Echoes Ezekiel's commission as a watchman and the role of individual responsibility
Thus far, the people had not heeded Ezekiel's warnings
This is his final shot – "Why die, Turn to the Lord"
People accept that their own sins were causing judgment
The Lord delights in those who turn from sin
Each will be judged according to his own ways

33:21-33

The fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy – Jerusalem has fallen
Ezekiel was no longer mute
Now the people were questioning the outcome of the land promised to Abraham
Prior to the fall, they had looked upon Ezekiel with mockery
Now the people realized that a true prophet was among them

34:1-6

Oracle against the shepherds (leaders)
They had not cared for the flock, but only cared for themselves
A true leader cares for those he leads
Now the sheep had been scattered

34:7-31

Accountability of the shepherds
The Lord will rescue his own sheep, and bring them back to their land
Renewal of the Davidic covenant
Established a new covenant of peace with them
God would provide new and perfect leadership for them

35:1-15

Oppressors would be removed
As a representative nation, Edom was singled out for retribution
Edom would become desolate for her sins against Judah
The result would be that Edomites would know the Lord

36:16-37:14

Restoration to the land

36:16-21

Justification for the scattering of Israel among the nations
They defiled the land with their idols; they had to leave

36:22-32

Detailed plan for restoring Israel to the land
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you"

36:33-38

The effective results of that return
Towns will be resettled; buildings will be rebuilt
Desolate land will become fruitful
The people will be numerous as sheep

37:1-14

A vision of bones and restoration
Ezekiel prophesied to dry bones in a valley
As he prophesied, the Lord caused them to regenerate
When they were fully formed, they had no breath
He prophesied again, and the breath came from the four winds
The army of bones was alive!
Symbolizes the restoration of a people who had been dead for a long time

37:15-28

The joining of two sticks to symbolize unity of the two nations
Ezekiel wrote Judah on one stick, Ephraim on the other
Joined them together to indicate the two nations would be one
People would be cleansed from their former sins
One king (Davidic) would rule over them
The Lord will make an everlasting covenant of peace with them
Then the nations will know the Lord

38:1-39:29

Foreign possession and the Promised Land

38:1-23

Oracle against Gog (Uncertain if this is a person or a place)
After the restoration, Israel was peaceful – until invasion by Gog
Gog devised an evil plan – to attack unsuspecting Israel
Gathered many other nations to join him
God was using Gog to show the nations he was the God of Israel
He would cause an enormous earthquake, rain, hailstones
Gog would be defeated
God's holy name would be vindicated

39:1-8

Summary of Gog's defeat

39:9-20

After this there will be peace, total disarmament
People will burn their weapons for fuel – it would take seven years
It would take seven months to bury all the dead from Gog's army
Thereafter, people would walk the land looking for remnant bodies

39:21-29

Six messages of encouragement
Israel would know the Lord was her God
The nations would know the Lord was Israel's God
He was not weak, but strong in sending Israel into exile
The nations would know the Lord brought Israel back to her land
The Lord would be holy in the eyes of the nations
The Lord would never turn his face from Israel agai

V -- A Vision of the Renewed Temple and Distribution of the Tribes Upon Their Return After Exile 40:1-48:35

40:1-4

An apocalyptic vision
Fifteen years after the fall, Ezekiel was taken to a high mountain
Divine messenger of bronze spoke to him

40:5-42:20

Vision of the temple

40:5-27

The outer court
Description of the gates and measurement of the outer court

40:28-47

The inner court
Description of the gates, the rooms for preparation and the priests

40:48-41:26

The House of God
Description of the temple structure, outer and inner sanctuaries

42:1-14

The priests' buildings
Two buildings (north and south) provided a place for the administering priests, a place to change garments, eat the holy offerings

42:15-20

The temple area
The messenger measured all sides: they were 500 cubits square
(A cubit is roughly 18-20 inches)
This area provided a space between the holy (the Temple) and unholy space

43:1-12

The return of the glory of God to the temple
Then the messenger took Ezekiel to the gate facing east
There he saw the glory of God returning, and filling the temple with his glory
This would have been very heartening for the Israelites
It was a great promise that God would return after they had been cleansed and after the temple had been reconstructed

43:13-46:24

Directives for maintaining holiness at the temple

43:13-27

Description and dedication of the altar

44:1-3

Directive that the east gate remain shut in honor of God's glory

44:4-16

Temple regulations involving entrances and exits
Priests would function as leaders, teaching holiness by their lives
Duties of Levites would be distinct from duties of priests

44:17-31

Regulations and functions of the priests

45:1-8

Designating land to be sacred

45:9-12

Exhortation for leaders to be fair re: weights and measures

45:13-20

Duty of Prince (new leader) would be to make atonement for people

45:21-46:15

Details on how Prince should lead in observance of Passover and Feast of Tabernacles

46:16-18

Inheritance laws re: the Prince

46:19-24

A visit to the priests' kitchens

47:1-48:35

A description of the land in the Millennium

47:1-12

A vision of water streaming out of the temple
Purpose of divine river was to bring life

47:13-23

Boundaries of the land and rules for distribution

48:1-7

Tribal apportionments

48:8-22

The special portion dedicated to the Lord

48:23-29

Tribal allotments in the south

48:30-35

Designation and description of the gates of the city
The name of the city from that time on would be:
"The Lord is there"

Ezekiel ends his prophetic work with the solemn promise that never again would God depart from his people. Giving the city a new name was tantamount to giving it a new identity. Forever after, Israel would live as God's people and He would be their God. The vision of the last few chapters brings together the sacred and the secular, the temple and the city, the people and their God. It is a vision that has remained largely unfulfilled. This has caused no little amount of embarrassment for readers and commentators who require a literal fulfillment. Yet within its original setting these words provided comfort and encouragement to a people who were in a disoriented state. These words became symbols of hope for a people who were struggling with their national identity and who yearned for full fellowship with God. They were reassured to hear that the pre-exilic failures would be corrected, and that through worship and daily life they would, once again, be holy just as "he who calls you is holy."

Bibliography

Allen, Leslie. "Ezekiel, 1-19, 20-48." Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas, TX: Word Books.

Blenkinsopp, Joseph. "Ezekiel." Interpretation. Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1990.

Block, Daniel. "The Book of Ezekiel, Chapters 1-24." The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm B Eerdmans, 1997.

Carley, Keith W. "The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel." The Cambridge Bible Commentary. Great Britain: Cambridge University Press, 1974.

Gaebelein, Frank. "Ezekiel." The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 1986.

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