The book of ezekiel features one of the eeriest scenes in the bible, a vision of god raising an army of dead mens bones from their graves and bringing them back to life ezekiel 37. Therefore, external evidence is almost unanimously in favor of the prophet ezekiel as the books author. Ezekiel, prophetpriest of ancient israel and the subject and in part the author of an old testament book that bears his name. In no other book is this pattern clearer than in ezekiel see outline. Ezekiel lived during the last years of the kingdom of judah. Most of ezekiel, however, is prose, perhaps due to his priestly background. The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named buzi. The jewish scriptures were translated into greek in the two centuries prior to the common era. Background ezekiel prophesied during a time of great confusion following israels exile to babylon in 597 b. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 b. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face.
The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. The literary history of the book is much debated, but its final form exhibits a threefold theme. Ezekiel is introduced in the first chapter as the priest, the son of buzi. Ezekiel prophesied during a time of great confusion following israels exile to babylon in 597 b. Studying ezekiel can strengthen students faith in the lords power to transform individuals and nations. Ezekiel yechezkel was a prophet who lived in babylonia at the time of the destruction of the first temple. Dry bones and the resurrection of the dead ezekiel 37. Introduction to ezekiel and the end times the book of ezekiel is one of the major prophets of the bible along with jeremiah and isaiah. Ezekiel in the picture study bible the book of ezekiel with. Ezekiel lived during a time of international upheaval. Intro to ezekiel biblica the international bible society. Johns book of revelation borrows many images from ezekiel 1. Kjv bible is a public domain works that i have uploaded primarily for myself to be able to play and listen to in the background but also to pass along.
Introduction to the book of ezekiel historical background ezekiels life spanned a period of significant political upheaval in the world. Ezekiel received his prophetic commission when he was 30 ezekiel overlapped the end of jeremiahs ministry and the beginning of daniels ministry. He can be found on the biblical timeline at the end of 600 bc. Historical background of ezekiel the book of ezekiel is part of the larger collection of israels prophecies that include jeremiah and isaiah. It was when others asked what he was doing that ezekiel would explain the meaning of the display c.
This simply means human and is meant to contrast ezekiel to god. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book of ezekiel. The three major prophets isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel and zephaniah all have the same basic sequence of messages. After the fall of jerusalem ezekiel was recommissioned to show the necessity and inevitability of judahs restoration to fellowship by god chaps. The book of ezekiel begins with a bang as the prophet reveals the heavens opening to unveil a vision of god.
His repetitions have an unforgettable hammering effect, and his priestly orientation is also reflected in a caselaw type of sentence compare 3. Ezekiel went in into exile with jehoiachin in 597 b. In the new testament, it takes on a messianic tone under the influence of daniel 7. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables.
The book of ezekiel begins with a bang as the prophet reveals the. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. Ezekiel was considered to be the author of this book until the twentieth century when in 1924 gustav hoelscher first questioned authorship based upon questionable internal evidence 4 2. A part of ezekiels work was to remind the generation born. Apr 27, 2016 the complete book of ezekiel read along. It will surely take place, declares the sovereign lord. Like daniel a few years earlier, ezekiel was a godly young man who followed the law of moses, including the dietary laws.
The book of ezekiel, written by the prophetpriest ezekiel, who lived both in jerusalem the literary history of the book is much debated, but its final form exhibits a. In the first half of the book of ezekiel ezekiel 3 judah is accused of breaking all of gods commandments, and they are warned by god that they will be destroyed if they persist in their sins. Son of the priest buzi, and a prophet in the babylonian exile. Kjv bible is a public domain works that i have uploaded primarily for myself to be able to play and listen to in. The call of ezekiel followed the very next year after the communication of jeremiahs predictions to babylon jeremiah 51. Ezekiel was a biblical prophet and priest of ancient israel who was the subject and in part the author of an old testament book that bears his. Ezekiel introduction commentary commentary critical and.
The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book ezekiel 1. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. All three prophets deal with a disobedient people who have turned away from god, who are judged but promised restoration. Ezekiel intro to ezekiel biblica the international bible society. This vision took place while israel was in babylonian captivity so sometime between 586 b. Yahweh brought ezekiel out in his spirit to a valley of dry bones 37. Ezekiel was 25 years old when he was taken to babylon. According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth year of the first deportation to babylonia 592 bc and was active until about 570 bc. Dyer, notes on the book of ezekiel, unpublished class notes in 304 preexlic and exilic prophets, dallas theological seminary, fall 1993, 4. The major divisions within the book of ezekiel reveal the purpose of this ministry. Sabbath school study hour helping you get the most out of your sabbath school quarterly every week. Ezekiel shares a kindred theme with isaiah and jeremiah. Josiah brought about the final spiritual revival for judah when he came to the throne in 622 b.
Jan 02, 2020 ezekiel has shown all christians that we are to be obedient to gods call on our lives. A former judean king was among the exiles the 18yearold jehoiachin, and the babylonians had appointed a puppet king to the throne in jerusalem jehoiachins uncle, zedekiah. Besides clarity of structure, the book of ezekiel reveals symmetry. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. The prophet wastes no time dropping his readers right into the thick of the life and times of judah immediately following the fall of jerusalem. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very words of the prophet. God eventually promises that hell be a kind shepherd who will lead his people out of darkness. Ezekiel 37 is a famous passage that records ezekiels vision of the valley of dry bones. Unlike other prophetic books, ezekiel unfolds in basic chronological order.
Amazing facts 247 television station featuring the best in bible study streamed lived and ondemand. The ministry of ezekiel took place in one of the great critical periods of history. Introduction to ezekiel and the end times truthnet. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. The glory of god may well be viewed as the theme of the book, because ezekiels ministry begins with a vision of gods glory and emphasizes it throughout the book 1. May 10, 2016 background ezekiel, whose name means god strengthens, was born in jerusalem during a time of great upheavals caused by the invading babylonian army. Upwards of 75 times god expresses his own concerns in the book as for my names sake or that ye shall know that i am the lord. Ezekiel was a biblical prophet and priest of ancient israel who was the subject and in part the author of an old testament book that bears his name. In ezekiels call, he is referred to as son of man, which is a phrase used throughout the book. Although ezekiel is a pretty wrathintensive book, it also has compassion and forgiveness in evidence.
The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly. He was among the jews exiled to babylon by nebuchadnezzar in 597 b. What is known of ezekiel is derived solely from the book that bears his name. This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel, one of the major prophetical books of the old testament. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. Important dates are listed below dates are often approx. The book of ezekiel, written by the prophetpriest ezekiel, who lived both in jerusalem prior to the babylonian exile 586 bce and in babylon after the exile, and also by an editor or editors, who belongs to a school of the prophet similar to that. Students can learn that all who repent of their iniquities will receive gods mercy, love, and forgiveness. Oct 17, 2014 the third major prophet of scripture is ezekiel. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Apr 22, 2018 nowhere is that more true than in ezekiel. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel.
Ezekiels priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. In 597 bc 2nd stage, nebuchadnezzar carried ezekiel, along with king jehoiachin, away into babylonian captivity. The visions, and the book, are structured around three themes. By the rivers of babylon, there we sat down and wept when we. The primary purpose of ezekiels message was to restore gods glory before israel, who had rejected him in front of the watching nations. Among his more famous prophecies, which were compiled in the book of ezekiel, are his visions of the divine chariot, the valley of the dry bones and the third temple. Ezekiel 11 background information with maps and images. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
Nine years after daniel was taken and eleven years before jerusalem fell. So unless youre one of those people that are into figuring out arcane prophecy, why study the book of ezekiel. He was 17 when daniel was taken to babylon in 605 b. God told ezekiel to groan with a broken heart and bitter grief for the coming judgment, and through his dramatic book, ezekiel is telling us the very same thing. The book of ezekiel was written during ezekiels captivity in babylon.