The Book of

EZEKIEL

Chapters 25–48

Daniel I. Block

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan / Cambridge, U.K.

Publisher’s Note

This commentary was planned and written as a single volume, but its length dictated the need to publish it in two volumes. The reader should note that the Introduction to the entire book of Ezekiel is presented in volume 1; this second volume comprises only commentary on chapters 25–48 of Ezekiel.

For the reader’s convenience, each volume has its own table of contents, abbreviation list, and indexes.

© 1998 Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49505 /
P.O. Box 163, Cambridge CB3 9PU U.K.
All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Block, Daniel Isaac, 1943-
The Book of Ezekiel: chapters 25–48 / Daniel I. Block.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN-ISBN 978-0-8028-2536-0 (cloth: alk. paper)
1. Bible. O.T. Ezekiel XXV–XLVIII—Commentaries. I. Title.
BS1545.3.B575 1998
224´.4077—dc2196-49758
CIP

www.eerdmans.com

In gratitude to

HENRY J. HARDER
WALTER C. KAISER
ALAN R. MILLARD

CONTENTS

General Editor’s Preface

Author’s Preface

Abbreviations

TEXT AND COMMENTARY

Part 2: Messages of Hope and Restoration for Judah/Israel (25:1–48:35)

i. Negative Messages of Hope: The Oracles Against Foreign Nations (25:1–32:32)

A. ORACLES OF JUDGMENT CONCERNING THE FIVE NATIONS (25:1–28:23)

1. Short Oracles Against Israel’s Neighbors (25:1–17)

2. The Oracles Against Tyre (26:1–28:19)

B. YAHWEH’S AGENDA FOR THE NATIONS (28:20–26)

1. Yahweh’s Theological Goal (28:20–23)

2. Yahweh’s Design for Israel (28:24–26)

C. ORACLES OF JUDGMENT CONCERNING EGYPT (29:1–32:32)

1. The Oracle Against Pharaoh, the Crocodile of the Nile (29:1–16)

2. The Land of Egypt: Nebuchadrezzar’s Consolation Prize (29:17–21)

3. The Day of Yahweh in Egypt (30:1–19)

4. Breaking the Arms of Pharaoh (30:20–26)

5. The Doom of the Pharaonic Tree (31:1–18)

6. The Doom of the Pharaonic Monster (32:1–16)

7. Egypt’s Descent into Sheol (32:17–32)

ii. The End of an Era (33:1–33)

A. THE FINAL SUMMONS (33:1–20)

1. The Charge for the Prophetic Watchman (33:1–9)

2. The Appeal of the Prophetic Watchman (33:10–20)

B. THE FINAL WORD (33:21–22)

C. THE FINAL DISPUTATION: STAKING OUR CLAIMS (33:23–29)

1. The Popular Quotation (33:23–24)

2. The Prophet’s Response (33:25–29)

D. THE FINAL VINDICATION (33:30–33)

iii. Positive Messages of Hope for Israel: The Gospel according to Ezekiel (34:1–48:35)

A. PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS: ‘ ‘STAND BY AND SEE THE SALVATION OF YAHWEH!’ ’ (34:1–39:29)

1. The Salvation of Yahweh’s Flock (34:1–31)

2. The Restoration of Yahweh’s Land (35:1–36:15)

3. The Restoration of Yahweh’s Honor (36:16–38)

4. The Resurrection of Yahweh’s People (37:1–14)

5. Yahweh’s Eternal Covenant with Israel (37:15–28)

6. The Guarantee of Yahweh’s Protection over Israel (38:1–39:29)

B. ENVISIONING THE GOOD NEWS: ‘ ‘STAND BY AND SEE THE RETURN OF YAHWEH!’ ’ (40:1–48:35)

1. The New ...