Introduction to Ezekiel

Ezekiel prophesied while living in Babylon. He explained that God’s people had experienced Yahweh’s judgment—seen in their Babylonian exile—because they had worshiped idols and turned away from Yahweh. Ezekiel sees God’s glory depart from Jerusalem but also envisions the hope of its return. There is judgment and mercy throughout the book; there is pain and new life.

Background

Since Ezekiel’s prophecies were directed not just toward Judah, but also toward nations including Babylon, Egypt, and Tyre, many can be linked with historical events and placed on a timeline. Ezekiel was probably a young man when King Josiah reigned and implemented religious reforms (640–609 bc), so while he saw a glimmer of what Judah could be, he would live to see the most tragic of its days.

Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry (593–571 bc) took place during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. In 597 bc, Nebuchadnezzar had besieged Jerusalem, plundering the temple and taking more than 10,000 captives to Babylon, including officials, craftsmen, and nobles. This deportation included the priest Ezekiel (2 Kgs 24:10–16; Ezek 1:2). Ezekiel lived far from his home country of Judah, which was subservient to Babylon.

A few years after the beginning of Ezekiel’s ministry, Judah’s King Zedekiah rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar, who retaliated by destroying Jerusalem after two more years of brutal attack (2 Kgs 25; Jer 39:1–10). By 586 bc, both the city and the temple were in shambles. Some months later, the Jews living in Babylon heard the news (Ezek 33:21–22).

The exiled Jews were assimilated into Babylonian life (Dan 1:1–9). Some bought homes (Ezek 33:30), and many eventually chose not to return to their homeland, but to remain in Babylon instead (compare Ezra 2:64–65). Ezekiel’s last recorded oracle, dated April of 571 bc (Ezek 29:17), describes Nebuchadnezzar attacking Egypt after his siege of Tyre.

Structure

The book of Ezekiel can be divided into four main sections. The first 24 chapters describe the beginning of the prophet’s ministry and include his oracles against Judah and Jerusalem. After receiving his first vision (Ezek 1–3), Ezekiel prophesies the destruction of Jerusalem by using symbolic actions (Ezek 4–7). Other visions reveal the abominations taking place at the temple of Yahweh and the departure of His glory (Ezek 8–11). The people’s sins against Yahweh led to prophecies of judgment against Jerusalem (Ezek 12–24).

In chs. 25–32, Ezekiel prophesies judgment against other nations. Chapters 33–39 focus on the theme of Israel’s restoration, including the famous vision of the valley of dry bones coming to life (Ezek 37). In the final section (Ezek 40–48) the prophet’s elaborate vision reveals a new temple that is cleansed so that Yahweh’s glory may return.

Outline

• Oracles against Judah and Jerusalem (Ezek 1:1–24:27)

• Oracles against foreign nations (Ezek 25:1–32:32)

• Prophecies of restoration (Ezek 33:1–39:29)

• A restored temple (Ezek 40:1–48:35)

Themes

In Ezekiel, we see the large-scale ramifications of disobedience to Yahweh. The people of Judah had turned their backs on God. After abundant pleas and warnings, Yahweh eventually allowed the Babylonians to inflict pain on His people—an act meant to cause the people to acknowledge their sin and turn to Yahweh.

Ezekiel also portrays the gravity of sin and the severity of the judgment that it warranted. In the sins of Judah, we see our own sins reflected—we, too, lose the power of God’s presence in our lives when we turn away from Him.

Ezekiel also shows the people that restoration and reconciliation can follow judgment; they can return to Yahweh. Once Jerusalem was destroyed, Ezekiel changed his tone from one of warning to one of hope. Yahweh brings resurrection and new life: He can even raise dry bones in a desert and offer them new life, a prophecy the New Testament implicitly connects with the resurrection of the dead that Jesus’ own death and resurrection makes possible (Ezek 37; John 5:25–29; compare Rom 6:1–13; 1 Cor 15:12–34). Ezekiel’s language of a good shepherd—of Yahweh Himself seeking His people and strengthening them—is picked up in the New Testament when Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd” (Ezek 34:11–16; John 10:11).

Further Reading

The Major Prophets

Ezekiel, Book of CLBD

Ezekiel the Prophet CLBD