Ezekiel

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Subpages:  Chapters 1-3a  •  3b-24  •  25-32  •  33-48

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Summary[edit]

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Relationship to Old Testament. The relationship of Ezekiel to the Old Testament as a whole is discussed at Old Testament: Organization.

Story. Ezekiel consist of four major sections:

Message. Themes, symbols, and doctrinal points emphasized in Ezekiel include:

  • They shall know that I am the Lord. Many of the prophecies in Ezekiel end with this phrase.

Historical setting[edit]

This section should be brief and explain facts about the historical setting that will help a reader to understand the book. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Background setting for Ezekiel (to 594 BC)

The reference in Ezek 1:1-2 to "the thirtieth year" is most often understood as a statement of Ezekiel's age.[1] If this is correct, then Ezekiel was born during 623-622 BC, a few years after king Josiah began to purge idolatry out of Judah, and about the same time that Josiah began to renovate the temple.[2] During the temple renovation, a copy of the Torah was discovered, which triggered further religious reforms such as reinstituting the celebration of Passover.[3] Josiah died in battle against the Egyptians in 612 BC[4] when Ezekiel was likely about about ten years old.

Josiah was briefly succeeded by one of his sons, but three months later that son was deposed by the Egyptians and replaced with another son, Jehoiakim. King Jehoiakim ruled Judah in wickedness, in sharp contrast to Josiah, for 11 years during 609-598 BC.[5]

In 605 BC, during the reign of king Jehoiakim over Judah, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated the combined armies of Assyria and Egypt and then succeeded his father as king of Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar then invaded Judah three times during 605-587 BC.

In late 605 BC Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah for the first time and besieged Jerusalem. The Jewish king Jehoiakim submitted. (2 Kgs. 24:1). In February 604 BC Nebuchadnezzar returned home to Babylon with Jewish captives, including Daniel and his friends. (Dan. 1:1-3, 6; 2:1).[6]

Jehoiakim soon rebelled against Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar invaded a second time, conquering Jerusalem on 2 Adar (Month 12 of the Jewish calendar) or on 16 March 597 BC. Jehoiakim died during the siege and was succeeded by his son Jehoiachin. Upon conquering Jerusalem, the Babylonians deposed Jehoiachin and replaced him with his uncle Zedekiah.[7] The Babylonians did not kill Jehoiachin, but instead carried him captive back to Babylon. The captivity of king Jehoiachin thus began on 16 March 597 BC during the last month of the Jewish calendar year. The Babylonians also carried off many other Jewish captives, including Ezekiel (Ezek 1:1) who was then likely about 25-26 years old, and resettled them on the Chebar River about 50 miles southeast of the capital Babylon.[8]

By August 594 BC king Zedekiah of Judah was plotting in league with Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon to rebel against Babylon. (2 Kgs. 24:20).[9]

A broader treatment of the history of ancient Israel, including Ezekiel, is found at Historical Overview of the Old Testament.

Events in Ezekiel before the third invasion (593-590 BC)

The book of Ezekiel begins another year later when Ezekiel received his call as a prophet ate about age 30 while among the Jewish exiles on the Chebar River in Babylon. The account in Chapters 1-3a of Ezekiel's commission occurred during the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity on Month 4, Day 5 (Ezek 1:1-3), or on 31 July 593 BC.[10]

The account in Chapters 3b-5 of Ezekiel's first prophetic acts occurred six days later on 6 August 593 BC "at the end of seven days" (Ezek 3:15-16), meaning at the end of the seventh day, counting the day of Ezekiel's call as the first day.

Nothing suggests that the prophecies in Chapters 6-7 are placed out of chronological order, in which case they were given during the next thirteen months between 6 August 593 BC and 17 September 592 BC.

Ezekiel's vision of the temple in Chapters 8-11 occurred on Year 6, Month 6, Day 5 (Ezek 8:1; 11:24-25), or on 17 September 592 BC,[11] thirteen and a half months after Ezekiel received his call.

There is, again, no reason to think that the prophecies in Chapters 12-19 are placed out of chronological order, in which case they were given during during the next eleven months between 17 September 592 BC and 14 August 591 BC. Many scholars take the position that all of Chapters 8-19 were likely given on 17 September 592 BC.[12]

The next chronological marker in Ezekiel occurs when the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel on Year 7, Month 5, Day 10 (Ezek 20:1), or on 14 August 591 BC,[13] eleven months after Ezekiel's vision of the temple in Chapters 8-11. Many scholars treat all of Chapters 20-23 as though given on that same day of 14 August 591 BC. In any event, nothing suggests that any of the material in these chapters is placed out of chronological order, in which case it was all received within the next year and a half between 14 August 591 BC and 27 January 589 BC.

Events in Ezekiel during the third invasion (589-587 BC)

Eight years after Babylon put Zedekiah on the throne of Judah following the rebellion of his brother Jehoiakim, and five years after Zedekiah began plotting to likewise rebel, Babylon invaded Judah for the third time and on January 27, 589 BC again laid siege to Jerusalem. (2 Kgs. 24:20).[14]

On Year 9, Month 10, Day 10 (Ezek 24:1), or on 27 January 589 BC, the same day that the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem began down south in Judah, Ezekiel received the prophecy in Chapter 24a while up north on the Chebar River.[15] Scholars lack any information to improve upon the assumption that the following prophecy in Chapter 24b and the four prophecies in Chapter 25 against Ammon, Moab, Edom, and the Philistines were also received either on the same day or soon thereafter.

Ezekiel's first oracle against Egypt in Chapter 29a is dated Year 10, Month 10, Day 12, or 17 January 588 BC. (Ezek 29:1).[16]

Ezekiel's first oracle against Tyre is dated Year 11, Month [not specified], Day 1. (Ezek 26:1). Based on historical circumstances, scholars often conclude that the month was Elul, the sixth month of the Jewish calendar. This would mean the oracle dates to 18 September 587 BC.[17] For lack of any better information, scholars typically assume that all of the six oracles against Tyre and Sidon in Chapters 26-28 were given on that same day.

The seven oracles against Egypt were given on various occasions. In the book of Ezekiel, these oracles are collected together as a group, out of chronological order, in Chapters 29-32.

In October 588 BC, Egypt temporarily lifted the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem.[18] Six months later on April 29, 587 BC, the Babylonians defeated the Egyptians, and the siege of Jerusalem resumed. Ezekiel's second oracle against Egypt (counting chronologically) in Chapter 30b is dated Year 11, Month 1, Day 7, or that same day of 29 April 587 BC on which the Egyptians were defeated by the Babylonians. (Ezek 30:20).[19]

The third oracle against Egypt (counting chronologically) in Chapter 31 is dated Year 11, Month 3, Day 1, or 21 June 587 BC. (Ezek 29:1).[20]

After a brutal two and a half year siege, the city wall of Jerusalem was breached and the city fell on 29 July 587 BC.[21] A month later the Temple of Solomon was destroyed on 28 August 587 BC.[22] Many of the inhabitants of the city were then carried away captive. (2 Kgs 25:1-17).

A date for the material in Chapter 33a is not provided, but it appears that the material dates from the three years of siege between the prophecy in Chapter 24a on 27 January 589 BC, the day the Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem (Ezek 24:1), and the announcement to Ezekiel three years later on 19 January 586 BC that Jerusalem had fallen six months earlier. (Ezek 33:21).

Events in Ezekiel after the third invasion (586-571 BC)

Ezekiel and the other exiles on the Chebar River near Babylon learned of the fall of Jerusalem on Year 12, Month 10, Day 5 (Ezek 33:21), or on 19 January 586 BC, six months after it occurred.[23] At least the material from Chapter 33b was given at this time.

Ezekiel's fourth oracle against Egypt (counting chronologically) in Chapter 32a is dated Year 12, Month 12, Day 1, or 15 March 586 BC. (Ezek 29:1).[24] His fifth oracle against Egypt (counting chronologically) in Chapter 32b is dated two weeks later on Year 12, Month 12, Day 15, or 29 March 586 BC. (Ezek 29:1).[25]

Dates for the material in Chapters 34-39 are not provided, but many scholars believe that these chapters most likely also date from early 586 BC.[26]

Most of Ezekiel's recorded acts and statements as a prophet occurred at a fairly rapid pace over the seven years between 31 July 593 BC and 29 March 586 BC. Ezekiel's last two prophetic acts date from more than 10 years later.

Ezekiel received his vision of the restored city of Jerusalem, recorded in Chapters 40-48, on Year 25, Month [not specified], Day 10 (Ezek 40:1), or likely during September-October 574 BC (need to explain this month calculation),[27] about twenty years after Ezekiel began his ministry. (Ezek 1:1-2). Ezekiel was of the priestly line (Ezek 1:3), which was a subgroup of the tribe of Levi (Num 18:1-7). If the reference at the beginning of Ezekiel to "the thirtieth year" referred to Ezekiel's age, then his prophetic career from his initial call to his vision of the restored city would have lasted from age 30 to age 50 (Ezek 1:1-2; 40:1), the years of religious service for Levites. (Num 4:2-3, 22-23, 29-47).

Ezekiel's last two recorded oracles against Egypt (counting chronologically) in Chapter 29b-30a are dated even later to Year 27, Month 1, Day 1 (Ezek 29:17), or to 26 April 571 BC.[28] No date is given for the oracle in Chapter 30a. There is no consensus whether the oracle in Chapter 30a is part of the same oracle as Chapter 29b, is a separate oracle given about the same time as Chapter 29b, or is a separate oracle given during or soon after the siege of Jerusalem. CITE.

Still need to add bibliography cites

Discussion[edit]

This section is for detailed discussion such as the meaning of a symbol, how a doctrinal point is developed throughout a passage, or insights that can be further developed in the future. Contributions may range from polished paragraphs down to a single bullet point. The focus, however, should always be on understanding the scriptural text consistent with LDS doctrine. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Outline and page map[edit]

This section contains an outline for the entire book. Items in blue or purple text indicate hyperlinked pages that address specific portions of the book. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

I. The war chariot (1-3a)

  • Vision of God in the war chariot (1-3a)

II. Victory: Defeat of the Lord's enemies (3b-33)

A. Ezekiel as the sentinel (3b)
B. Defeat of proud Israel (4-24)
B. Defeat of seven proud foreign nations (25-32)
A. Ezekiel as the sentinel and the fall of Jerusalem (33)

III. Victory: Reconstruction of righteous Israel (34-48)

A. A new community in a renewed land (34-37)
B. Ultimate defeat of the world - Gog and Magog (Chapter 38-39)
A. Vision: the eternal sanctuary (Chapters 40-48)

Unanswered questions[edit]

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Prompts for life application[edit]

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Prompts for further study[edit]

This section is for prompts that invite us to think about a passage more deeply or in a new way. These are not necessarily questions that beg for answers, but rather prompts along the lines of "Have you ever thought about ..." Prompts are most helpful when they are developed individually, thoughtfully, and with enough background information to clearly indicate a particular direction for further study or thought. Click the link above and to the right to edit or add content to this heading. →

Resources[edit]

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Translations and Lexicons.

Related passages that interpret or shed light on Ezekiel

The Joseph Smith Translation made changes to the following verses in Ezekiel. This list is complete:[29]

  • Ezek 14:9
  • Ezek 18:32
  • Ezek 19:10
  • Ezek 20:30
  • Ezek 23:17, 22, 28
  • Ezek 35:6
  • Ezek 36:36
  • Ezek 48:35

References cited on this page.'

  • Wayment, Thomas A., ed. The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the Old Testament, p. 210-12. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 2009. (ISBN 1606411314) BX8630.A2 2009

Other resources.

Notes[edit]

Footnotes are not required but are encouraged for factual assertions that average readers cannot easily evaluate for themselves (such as the date of King Solomon’s death or the nuanced definition of a Greek word). In contrast, insights rarely benefit from footnoting, and the focus of this page should always remain on the scriptures themselves rather than what someone has said about them. Links are actively encouraged on all sections of this page, and links to authoritative sources (such as Strong's Bible Concordance or the Joseph Smith Papers) are preferable to footnotes.

  1. ↑ Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 163.
  2. ↑ Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 141, 157-58, following Young, Tables of Reign Lengths from the Hebrew Court Recorders, 246.
  3. ↑ Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 157-58.
  4. ↑ Coogan, The Oxford History of the Biblical World, 346-47.
  5. ↑ Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 141, 157-58, following Young, Tables of Reign Lengths from the Hebrew Court Recorders, 246.
  6. ↑ Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 141, 158-59.
  7. ↑ Finegan, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 257-58, 264; Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 162-63, 167.
  8. ↑ 2 Kgs 24:1-14; Coogan, The Oxford History of the Biblical World, 371; Pasachoff & Littleman, A Concise History of the Jewish People, 43; Finegan, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 264.
  9. ↑ Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 161.
  10. ↑ Steinmann, p. 163, 167; Finegan, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 264. The first year of Jehoiachin's captivity only included the single month of Adar, the last month of the Jewish calendar, in 597 BC. The second year extended from the first month Nisan in 597 BC to Adar in 596 BC. The third year extended from the first month Nisan in 596 BC to Adar in 595 BC. The fourth year extended from the first month Nisan in 595 BC to Adar in 594 BC. The fifth year began in the first month Nisan in 594 BC, and Ezekiel then received his call in the fourth month of that year.
  11. ↑ Steinmann, p. 163-64, 167.
  12. ↑ Steinmann, p. 163-64, 167.
  13. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164, 167.
  14. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164.
  15. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164, 167.
  16. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164, 167.
  17. ↑ Steinmann, p. 167-68.
  18. ↑ Steinmann, p. 169.
  19. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164, 167.
  20. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164, 167.
  21. ↑ Steinmann, p. 165.
  22. ↑ The consensus date for the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple has been 17 August 586 BC. Finegan, Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 258-59. Steinmann builds upon that earlier work to propose a date one year earlier, 28 August 587 BC, relying especially Ezek 26:1-2. Steinmann, From Abraham to Paul, 136-38, 159-69, 174.
  23. ↑ Steinmann, p. 172.
  24. ↑ Steinmann, p. 172.
  25. ↑ Steinmann, p. 164, 167.
  26. ↑ Steinmann, p. 172.
  27. ↑ Steinmann, p. 16, 172.
  28. ↑ Steinmann, p. 172.
  29. ↑ Wayment, The Complete Joseph Smith Translation of the Old Testament, p. 210-12.

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