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Book of Ezekiel – Survey of the Holy Scriptures Study: YouTube
Messianic Apologetics editor John McKee surveys the Book of Ezekiel from a Messianic perspective.
reproduced from A Survey of the Holy Scriptures for the Practical Messianic
Approximate date: 593-573 B.C.E. (Right, some conservative-moderate); 500s B.C.E. (some conservative-moderate); 500s-300s B.C.E. (Left)
Time period: hopeless Judah in exile
Author(s): Ezekiel (Right; some conservative-moderate); Ezekiel and/or additional editors (some conservative-moderate); Ezekiel and/or anonymous writers and editors (Left)
Location of prophet/author(s): Land of Israel, Jerusalem, and/or Babylon (Right, conservative-moderate); Babylon and/or Land of Israel (Left)
Target audience and their location: Southern Kingdom Israelites at the beginning of the Babylonian exile (Right, some conservative-moderate, Left); Southern Kingdom Israelites during the Babylonian exile (some conservative-moderate, some Left); Southern Kingdom Israelites after the Babylonian exile (some Left)
The Book of Ezekiel (Heb. Yechezkel) can be one of the most difficult to interpret among the prophetic texts of the Tanach. Ezekiel is one of the most involved Biblical books in regard to ancient history, as Ezekiel’s prophecies were given against the backdrop of the Southern Kingdom’s judgment and exile to Babylon. Ezekiel himself, from a priestly family (Ezekiel 1:1), was an exile to Babylon taken there along with King Jehoiachin (cf. 2 Kings 24:8-17), and while in Babylon was commissioned to be a prophet (Ezekiel 1:1-3). Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry overlapped that of Jeremiah. Being from a priestly line, his prophecies included an emphasis on the Temple and its rituals (Ezekiel chs. 8-11; 40-48). Deeply entwined in Ezekiel’s words were an innate knowledge, on his part, of the affairs of his contemporary world.[1] Ezekiel was a person who directly involved himself in the importance of his prophecies, sometimes speaking as though his audience was right there, as was the case when he addressed God’s judgment on foreign powers.[2] While in Babylon, Ezekiel had a large degree of freedom.
Many of Ezekiel’s prophecies included stated dates as to when they were delivered, allowing interpreters to approximate the time that Ezekiel served as a prophet. Some commentators have devised elaborate tables attempting to calculate the exact dates when certain prophecies were delivered.[3] Ezekiel prophesied both before and after the exiles were taken to Babylon, over a period of about 25 years. The principal audience of Ezekiel was exilic.
Ezekiel was very clearly named in the text as the one who delivered the prophecies (Ezekiel 1:3). Whether Ezekiel actually wrote down these prophecies, or had a scribe or a group surrounding him write them down, is another issue.[4] Jewish tradition in the Talmud holds that the figures of the Great Synagogue composed the Book of Ezekiel in the early post-exilic period (b.Bava Batra 15a).[5]
The Book of Ezekiel is very autobiographical,[6] and most conservatives lean toward some form of literary unity. Literary unity does not mean that Ezekiel could not have edited his own prophecies, or for that matter have had a disciple of his edit and compile them.[7] “[T]he book of Ezekiel is not a collection of oracles strung together by an editor, but manifests all the signs of having a thorough plan behind its composition” (ABD).[8] It is also not impossible that some additional editing of Ezekiel took place after the exile, to add historical statements giving the book some context.[9]
Severe criticism of the Book of Ezekiel did not begin until the second quarter of the Twentieth Century,[10] as liberal scholarship had actually held to some form of unity for the text.[11] Liberals who make note of Ezekiel’s priestly status, will place significant importance on Ezekiel being influenced by the so-called Priestly materials or P source of the Pentateuch.[12] Liberals generally argue that Ezekiel is an edited book, based on perceived inconsistencies in chronology, perhaps indicating multiple sources for its composition.[13] Some of the first liberal positions regarding Ezekiel afforded no more than one-seventh of the Ezekiel material to Ezekiel himself.[14] Most liberals have become more moderate in their criticism, holding that Ezekiel prophesied in multiple locations, Jerusalem and Babylon,[15] a position also held by many conservatives.[16]
Past liberal scholarship thought that the Book of Ezekiel was a post-exilic work, perhaps composed as late as the Third Century B.C.E.[17] C.C. Torrey perhaps held to the most extreme view: “the prophecy was a literary creation, and Ezekiel was not an historical individual” (Dillard and Longman).[18] While other liberals considered Ezekiel historical, they nevertheless considered the Prophet himself to be a mentally disturbed individual.[19]
The Book of Ezekiel does contain some Aramaisms, which would be expected considering a likely Babylonian location for its composition.[20] Ezekiel does demonstrate some words which are difficult to translate into English, which may be on account of copyist errors.[21] Conservatives such as Harrison feel “The text of Ezekiel has been poorly preserved, due partly to the fact that obscurities in the language, as well as technical expressions…led copyists into frequent error.”[22] Some have noted that the Hebrew Masoretic Text of Ezekiel is corrupt in places, and needs to be amended by its Septuagint and Syriac translations.[23] There are other conservatives who think that Ezekiel in the MT as it stands is relatively intact, with no significant need to augment one’s study with ancient sources.[24]
Ezekiel’s prophecies begin with him delivering some stern words of God’s judgment against his fellow Jews regarding the fall of Jerusalem (Ezekiel chs. 1-24). Most consider that these prophecies were delivered while in Babylon, re-examining why the Jewish exiles were there—whereas a few think that some of these prophecies may have been first delivered in Jerusalem,[25] with the remainder of his prophecies being delivered while in Babylon. The circumstances of the exile were not easy for the Jews in Babylon. The exiles needed to live at peace with themselves in their new environment, because God’s punishment was not going to be shortened or lifted. Much of Ezekiel’s prophecies were judgments levied against Ancient Israel’s neighbors of Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt (Ezekiel chs. 25-32). The remainder of Ezekiel’s prophecies concern the restoration and revival of Israel and its prominence (Ezekiel chs. 33-48).
A major theme seen in the Book of Ezekiel is God’s sovereignty over the affairs of history. God reveals Himself through His direct interjection into human events, and uses various powers to accomplish His tasks. God is able to respond to His people without Jerusalem standing, and can respond to their needs while in exile. Ezekiel followed a basic pattern of delivering his prophecies, pronouncing (1) judgment against Israel, (2) judgment against the world, and (3) consolation of Israel. Ezekiel balanced words of judgment with the promise of restoration. In chs. 8-11 Ezekiel prophesied the destruction of Solomon’s Temple, but promised a restored and renewed temple in chs. 40-48. “The Lord has determined, for the sake of the divine reputation in the world, to restore and to transform Israel so that all might come to recognize the Lord as the only God” (New Interpreter’s Study Bible).[26]
There is a great amount of debate among interpreters, as to how much or how little of Ezekiel is futuristic.[27] It is very safe to say that much of Ezekiel uses bizarre imagery,[28] which is widely given a great deal of significance in the Jewish mystical tradition,[29] particularly as it concerned God’s throne (Ezekiel ch. 1). Many Jewish interpreters today tend to see Ezekiel’s Messianic Age as fulfilled somewhat in the return of the exiles and the reconstruction of Jerusalem. The Book of Ezekiel certainly does give a reader a picture of the transition which took place before and after the exile.[30]
Christian interpreters tend to see much future fulfillment ahead to be accomplished via the Second Coming of Yeshua the Messiah. In this framework, however, it is easy to see that too many prophecy teachers make things out of Ezekiel which are not probably implied by the original context of various passages,[31] mostly to force current events to fit some kind of sensational teaching. Likewise, there is a great deal of Christian variance on how to interpret Ezekiel’s Temple vision (chs. 40-48), with some opting for a literal fulfillment and others for a symbolic fulfillment.[32]
The Book of Revelation in the Apostolic Scriptures is profoundly affected by the imagery and words of Ezekiel.[33] The concepts of the holy city of New Jerusalem and the redeemed Earth are seen significantly in Ezekiel.[34] Some have even suggested some continuity between Ezekiel and themes seen in the Gospel of John.[35]
It does need to be noted that while Ezekiel was accepted into the Jewish canon of Scripture, “It was only after certain safeguards had been established” (IDB),[36] so as to avoid some gross misinterpretation.[37] Some Messianic examiners have attempted to study Ezekiel in detail, mostly as it concerns Ezekiel’s emphasis on Israel’s restoration. It is certainly good that Messianics today see the importance to examine the prophecies of Israel’s restoration. However, much Messianic examination of Ezekiel is often devoid of any historical setting for his prophecies, and could likewise at times be too influenced by mystical Jewish views. These are certainly things to remedy in the future, as a more comprehensive view of Ezekiel emerges.
Bibliography
Alexander, Ralph H. “Ezekiel,” in EXP, 6:737-996.
Beasley-Murray, G.R. “Ezekiel,” in NBCR, pp 664-687.
Boadt, Lawrence, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in ABD, 2:711-722.
Brownlee, W.H., and W.S. LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:250-263.
Dillard, Raymond B., and Tremper Longman III. “Ezekiel,” in An Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 313-327.
Gates, John F. “Ezekiel, Book of,” in NIDB, pp 336-337.
Goldingay, John A. “Ezekiel,” in ECB, pp 623-664.
Harrison, R.K. “The Book of Ezekiel,” in Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 822-855.
Howie, C.G. “Ezekiel,” in IDB, 2:203-213.
Klein, Ralph W. “Ezekiel, Book of,” in EDB, pp 446-448.
Matties, Gordon. “Ezekiel,” in New Interpreter’s Study Bible, pp 1153-1229.
Sweeney, Marvin A. “Ezekiel,” in Jewish Study Bible, pp 1042-1138.
Zimmerli, W. “Ezekiel,” in IDBSup, pp 314-317.
NOTES
[1] Ralph H. Alexander, “Ezekiel,” in Frank E. Gaebelein, ed. et. al., Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986), 6:737-739; Lawrence Boadt, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in David Noel Freedman, ed., Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vols. (New York: Doubleday, 1992), 2:713-714.
[2] G.R. Beasley-Murray, “Ezekiel,” in D. Guthrie and J.A. Motyer, eds., The New Bible Commentary Revised (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1970), 665.
[3] Alexander, in EXP, 6:740-741; Boadt, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in ABD, 2:713; Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman III, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994), 315.
[4] R.K. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1969), 839.
[5] “The Men of the Great Assembly wrote Ezekiel, the Twelve Minor Prophets, Daniel, and the scroll of Esther” (b.Bava Batra 15a; The Babylonian Talmud: A Translation and Commentary. MS Windows XP. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2005. CD-ROM).
Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 823.
[6] John F. Gates, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in Merrill C. Tenney, ed., The New International Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987), 336.
[7] W.H. Brownlee and W.S. LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in Geoffrey Bromiley, ed., International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 4 vols. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1988), 2:258.
[8] Boadt, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in ABD, 2:719.
[9] Brownlee and LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:258-259.
[10] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 823-832; Alexander, in EXP, 6:739.
[11] Dillard and Longman, 316.
[12] Boadt, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in ABD, 2:717.
[13] C.G. Howie, “Ezekiel,” in George Buttrick, ed., et. al., The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, 4 vols. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1962), 2:206-207; Boadt, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in ABD, 2:715-716.
[14] Beasley-Murray, in NBCR, 664; Brownlee and LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:251.
[15] Beasley-Murray, in NBCR, 664.
[16] Brownlee and LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:252.
[17] Ibid., 2:251.
[18] Dillard and Longman, 317.
[19] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 849-852; Dillard and Longman, 319.
[20] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 847.
[21] Boadt, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in ABD, 2:716.
[22] Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 854.
[23] Howie, “Ezekiel,” in IDB, 2:213; Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, pp 854-855; Dillard and Longman, 320.
[24] Alexander, in EXP, 6:746.
[25] Gates, “Ezekiel, Book of,” in NIDB, 336.
[26] Gordon Matties, “Ezekiel,” in Walter J. Harrelson, ed., et. al., New Interpreter’s Study Bible, NRSV (Nashville: Abingdon, 2003), 1153.
[27] Brownlee and LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:262-263.
[28] Marvin A. Sweeney, “Ezekiel,” in Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 1042.
[29] Brownlee and LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:260; Sweeney, in Jewish Study Bible, 1043.
[30] Howie, “Ezekiel,” in IDB, 2:211.
[31] Dillard and Longman, 322.
[32] Ibid., 323.
[33] Beasley-Murray, in NBCR, 665; Dillard and Longman, 326.
[34] Howie, “Ezekiel,” in IDB, 2:211.
[35] Ibid., 2:212.
[36] Howie, “Ezekiel,” in IDB, 2:212; cf. Harrison, Introduction to the Old Testament, 823.
[37] Brownlee and LaSor, “Ezekiel,” in ISBE, 2:260.