Faith & Reason Nexus

MEANING: “God Strengthens” or “Strengthened by God.”

AUTHOR: Ezekiel

TIME WRITTEN: Probably completed by 565 B.C.

POSITION IN THE BIBLE:

• 26th Book in the Bible
• 26th Book in the Old Testament
• 4th of 17 Books of Prophecy (Isaiah – Malachi)
• 4th of 5 Major Prophets (Isaiah – Daniel)

CHAPTERS: 48

VERSES: 1,273

WORDS: 39,407

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT EZEKIEL:

• Ezekiel prophesied during the seventy-year period of Babylonian Captivity and was taken to Babylon before its final assault on Jerusalem.
• To dramatize his message, Ezekiel used:
• Prophecies
• Parables
• Signs
• Symbols
• The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37) symbolizes God’s power to restore Judah.
• Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was a priest called to be a prophet.
• Chronology:
• Ezekiel was 25 years old when he was taken to Babylon and 30 when he began his prophetic ministry.
• He overlapped with Jeremiah’s ministry and began shortly before Daniel’s.
• Key Aspects of Ezekiel’s Prophecies:
• Judgment and Restoration: Ezekiel reminded those born during the Babylonian Captivity of the reasons for Judah’s destruction, prophesied about God’s judgment on surrounding nations, and spoke of restoration.
• Judgment on Nations: He describes a clockwise circuit of judgment upon Ammon, Moab, Sidon, Philistia, and Tyre.
• Vision of Reconstruction (Ezekiel 40-48): In 572 B.C., Ezekiel receives a vision with specific plans for the Temple, Jerusalem, and the land’s reconstruction after the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in stages:
  • 1st Stage (605 B.C.): Nebuchadnezzar defeated Jehoiakim and took key hostages, including Daniel.
  • 2nd Stage (597 B.C.): After further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar made Jerusalem submit again and took 10,000 more hostages, including Jehoiachin and Ezekiel.
  • 3rd Stage (586 B.C.): After a prolonged siege, Jerusalem was destroyed, and Judah faced severe devastation.