Ezekiel

The Context Of Ezekiel's Prophecies

1. Historical and Political Context:

• Time period: Late 7th to early 6th century BC (circa 593-571 BC) (Ezek. 1:1-2, 29:17)

• Babylonian dominance: Judah was under Babylonian control (Ezek. 17:12-14)

• Deportations:

  • First deportation (605 BC): Daniel and others taken to Babylon (Dan. 1:1-6)

  • Second deportation (597 BC): Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin exiled (Ezek. 1:2-3, 33:21, 2 Kings 24:10-16)

    • In the first part of his book, Ezekiel prophesied from Babylon to the exiles but about the people remaining in Jerusalem prior to the final fall of the city.

  • Third deportation (586 BC): Fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple (Ezek. 33:21, 2 Kings 25:1-21)

• Location: Ezekiel prophesied from Babylon to the exiles (Ezek. 1:1-3, 3:15)

2. Social Context:

• Exilic community: Ezekiel ministered to Jewish exiles in Babylon (Ezek. 3:11, 11:24-25)

• Mixed reactions among exiles:

  • Some hoped for quick return to Jerusalem (Ezek. 13:10-16)

  • Others were adapting to life in Babylon (Jer. 29:4-7)

  • Many were disillusioned and questioning God's faithfulness (Ezek. 18:2, 37:11)

• Challenges of maintaining Jewish identity in a foreign land (Ezek. 20:32)

3. Religious Context:

• Crisis of faith: Many questioned God's power and faithfulness (Ezek. 8:12, 9:9)

• False prophets: Spread optimistic but misleading messages (Ezek. 13:1-23)

• Idolatry: Continued to be a problem among the exiles (Ezek. 14:1-11, 20:30-31)

• Temple-centered worship disrupted by exile (Ezek. 11:16)

4. Ezekiel's Personal Context:

• Priestly background: Influenced his focus on holiness and temple (Ezek. 1:3)

• Married, but wife died as a sign (Ezek. 24:15-24)

• Lived among the exiles by the Chebar canal (Ezek. 1:1-3, 3:15)

• Experienced unusual prophetic calls and visions (Ezek. 1:4-28, 2:1-10, 3:1-15)

5. Literary Context:

• Contemporary with Jeremiah (in Jerusalem) and Daniel (in Babylon) (Jer. 1:1-3, Dan. 1:1-6)

• Part of the "Latter Prophets" in the Hebrew Bible

• Combines prophetic oracles with apocalyptic visions (Ezek. 1:1-28, 40-48)

6. Thematic Context:

• Judgment on Judah and Jerusalem for covenant unfaithfulness (Ezek. 4-24)

• God's holiness and the need for Israel's purification (Ezek. 36:16-38)

• Hope for future restoration and renewal (Ezek. 34:11-31, 36:22-38, 37:1-28)

• God's sovereignty over all nations (Ezek. 25-32)

7. Audience:

• Primary: Jewish exiles in Babylon (Ezek. 3:11, 11:24-25)

• Secondary: Those still in Judah (through messengers) (Ezek. 33:21-22)

• Future generations of readers (Ezek. 43:10-11)

8. Symbolic Actions:

• Ezekiel often used dramatic symbolic actions to convey his message (Ezek. 4:1-3, 5:1-4, 12:1-7)

• These actions were tailored to the exilic context and mindset

9. Prophetic Perspective:

• Pre-fall of Jerusalem: Warnings of impending judgment (Ezek. 4-24)

• Post-fall of Jerusalem: Messages of hope and future restoration (Ezek. 33-48)

A Summary Of The Book Of Ezekiel

I. Ezekiel's Call and Initial Prophecies (Chapters 1-3)

Theme: God's glory and Ezekiel's commission

• Vision of God's throne (1:1-28)

• Ezekiel's call to be a prophet (2:1-3:27)

II. Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah (Chapters 4-24)

Theme: God's judgment on His unfaithful people

A. Symbolic Acts of Judgment (4-5)

• Siege of Jerusalem illustrated (4:1-17)

• Hair cut and divided, symbolizing destruction (5:1-17)

B. Prophecies of Destruction (6-7)

• Judgment on idolatry (6:1-14)

• The end has come (7:1-27)

C. Temple Visions and Abominations (8-11)

• Vision of idolatry in the temple (8:1-18)

• Execution of judgment (9:1-11)

• God's glory departs from the temple (10:1-22, 11:22-25)

D. Symbolic Actions and Messages (12-24)

• Exile illustrated (12:1-28)

• False prophets condemned (13:1-23)

• Idolatry rebuked (14:1-23)

• Allegories of Israel's unfaithfulness (15-17)

• Individual responsibility (18:1-32)

• Lament for Israel's princes (19:1-14)

• Israel's history of rebellion and God's restraint for the sake of His name (20:1-49)

• The sword of judgment (21:1-32)

• Jerusalem's sins (22:1-31)

• Allegory of two sisters (Oholah and Ohilibah representing Israel and Judah) (23:1-49)

• Parable of the cooking pot (24:1-14)

• Ezekiel's' wife dies but he does not mourn (24:15-27)

III. Oracles Against Foreign Nations (Chapters 25-32)

Theme: God's sovereignty over all nations

• Prophecies against Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia (25:1-17)

• Prophecies against Tyre and Sidon (26:1-28:26)

• Prophecies against Egypt (29:1-32:32)

IV. Hope for Restoration (Chapters 33-39)

Theme: God's faithfulness and Israel's future restoration

A. Ezekiel as Watchman (33:1-33)

• Responsibility to warn (33:1-20)

• News of Jerusalem's fall (33:21-33)

B. True Shepherds and God's Care (34:1-31)

• Condemnation of false shepherds (34:1-10)

• God as the good shepherd (34:11-31)

C. Judgment on Edom and Hope for Israel (35:1-36:38)

• Prophecy against Edom (35:1-15)

• Restoration of Israel's land (36:1-38)

D. Vision of Dry Bones and Two Sticks (37:1-28)

• Valley of dry bones (37:1-14)

• Unification of Israel and Judah (37:15-28)

E. Prophecy Against Gog (38:1-39:29)

• Gog's invasion (38:1-23)

• Gog's defeat and Israel's restoration (39:1-29)

V. Vision of the New Temple and Land (Chapters 40-48)

Theme: God's holiness and future dwelling with His people

• Detailed description of the new temple (40:1-42:20)

• Return of God's glory to the temple (43:1-27)

• Regulations for worship and leadership (44:1-46:24)

• The river of life and land allotments (47:1-48:35)

This outline covers the major sections and themes of Ezekiel, highlighting the prophet's visions, symbolic actions, and messages of judgment and hope. The book moves from judgment to restoration, emphasizing God's holiness, sovereignty, and ultimate plan for His people.

Key People, Places And Events

Key People:

1. Ezekiel

   1.    • Son of Buzi, a priest (Ezek. 1:3)

   2.    • Called to be a prophet at age 30 (Ezek. 1:1-3)

   3.    • His wife (unnamed) dies as a sign (Ezek. 24:15-18)

2. King Jehoiachin: Exiled king of Judah (Ezek. 1:2, 33:21)

3. King Zedekiah (referred to as "the prince"): Last king of Judah before the fall of Jerusalem (Ezek. 12:10-14, 17:11-21)

4. Nebuchadnezzar: King of Babylon, conqueror of Jerusalem (Ezek. 26:7, 29:18-19)

5. Daniel: Contemporary prophet in Babylon (Ezek. 14:14, 20; 28:3)

Key Places:

1. Jerusalem: Focus of many prophecies (Ezek. 4:1-3, 5:5, 16:1-3)

2. Babylon: Place of Ezekiel's exile (Ezek. 1:1-3, 3:15)

3. Chebar Canal: Location where Ezekiel received visions (Ezek. 1:1, 3:15, 10:15)

4. Tel-abib: Exilic community where Ezekiel lived (Ezek. 3:15)

5. The Temple: Central in Ezekiel's visions and prophecies (Ezek. 8-11, 40-48)

6. Various nations: Targets of oracles: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, Egypt (Ezek. 25-32)

Key Events:

1. Ezekiel's call and commissioning

   1. Vision of God's throne-chariot (Ezek. 1:1-28)

   2. Eating the scroll (Ezek. 2:8-3:3)

2. Symbolic actions predicting Jerusalem's fall

   1. Model siege of Jerusalem (Ezek. 4:1-3)

   2. Lying on his side for 390 and 40 days (Ezek. 4:4-8)

   3. Shaving his head and beard (Ezek. 5:1-4)

3. Visions of abominations in the Temple

   1. Tour of Temple idolatry (Ezek. 8:1-18)

   2. God's glory departing the Temple (Ezek. 10:18-22, 11:22-25)

4. Prophecy of Jerusalem's fall

   1. Ezekiel's wife dies as a sign (Ezek. 24:15-27)

5. News of Jerusalem's fall reaches Babylon

   1. Ezekiel's muteness ends (Ezek. 33:21-22)

6. Vision of dry bones

   1. Symbolizing Israel's restoration (Ezek. 37:1-14)

7. Prophecies against Gog

   1. Future battle and God's intervention (Ezek. 38-39)

8. Vision of the new Temple and restored land

   1. Detailed description of a future Temple (Ezek. 40-48)

   2. River of life flowing from the Temple (Ezek. 47:1-12)

These key people, places, and events form the framework of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry and the content of his book. They reflect the historical context of the Babylonian exile and Ezekiel's unique role in communicating God's messages of judgment and hope to the exiles.