2. Biographical Data Ezekiel =“God Strengthens” From Judah Priest Ministry during and after Babylonian exile Married, but she died during his ministry (24:2; 15-34) Grows up during reforms of Josiah Begins ministry around 593 (age 30) and concludes ministry around 20 yrs later. Prophesies mostly under reign of Nebuchadnezzar Roughly contemporaneous with Jeremiah and Daniel Exiled to Babylon is 2nd deportation * 10 to 20 thousant Israelites were deported in total
3. Emphasis Remind Judah of the sins that had resulted the exile (1-24) God will judge the gentile nations (25-32) Encourage and strengthen the faith of the people by prophesying of future restoration and glory (33-48)
4. God’s Glory Running theme in the book Glory = God’s power over and ability to judge the whole world Determines God’s conduct through history and revelation (Cf. 20:9;14;22;39;44 and 36:20-23)
5. Visions Appear as dreams Commonplace among prophets in the 7th and 6th C. 2 main parts Setting: Time, place, and general circumstances surrounding it Description of the event just as it was seen – always first person Attempt to communicate truths that cannot be perceived by the senses alone Cf. 1:4-28 – God is clearly removed from earthly perception – God’s transcendence
6. Ezekiel’s Particular Vocabulary “Son of Man” or “Mortal” Man is weak; he needs God. There is a great divide between God and man House of Israel Ezekiel’s phrase of choice to describe the people of Israel
7. Call of Ezekiel 3:1-10 - He said to me: Son of man, eat what is before you; eat this scroll, then go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth and he gave me the scroll to eat. Son of man, he then said to me, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you. I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. He said: Son of man, go now to the house of Israel, and speak my words to them. Not to a people with difficult speech and barbarous language am I sending you, nor to the many peoples (with difficult speech and barbarous language) whose words you cannot understand. If I were to send you to these, they would listen to you; but the house of Israel will refuse to listen to you, since they will not listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart. But I will make your face as hard as theirs, and your brow as stubborn as theirs, like diamond, harder than flint. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. Son of man, he said to me, take into your heart all my words that I speak to you; hear them well.
