When they question why god has allowed them to suffer this way, ezekiel speaks gods answer. He was among the jews exiled to babylon by nebuchadnezzar in 597 b. One day the lords faithful ones will experience an everlasting world of righteousness. The book of the prophet ezekiel the prophet ezekiel is one of four major prophets along with isaiah, jeremiah, and daniel in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible. Ezekiel s complex character makes him one of the most interesting figures in israelite prophecy. It is named after its chief spokesman, the prophet and priest from zadok, ezekiel. The book of ezekiel is categorized with the writings of the major prophets. Answer to the question in the book of ezekiel, what kind of heart does god say he will give his people.
Intro to ezekiel biblica the international bible society. It was during the elevenyear reign of jehoiakim that the first deportation took place when daniel was taken captive. The three major prophets isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel and zephaniah all have the same basic sequence of messages. God would send someone from davids family to be their leader ezekiel 37. Introduction to ezekiel bible commentary theology of work. The name ezekiel means whom god will strengthen gesenius. Bible gateway this site is a great resourcecontaining pretty much every translation of the bible you might desire and in numerous languages, in case you want to read ezekiel in tagalog. And as he spoke to me, the spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and i heard him speaking to me. 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.
Holy and eternal lord, throughout salvation history, you have sent godly men and women to encourage your people and to keep them on the narrow pathway to salvation. Ezekiel introduction united states conference of catholic bishops. The prophet foresaw the devastating consequences of gods judgment on corruption and wickedness but also announced the lords gracious plan to restore judah. Study the bible online using commentary on ezekiel introduction and more. Ezekiels prophecies seem to be dated around the exile. After he condemned some of the leaders of the israelites for not caring for the people as they should, jehovah compared himself to a good shepherd who loves and protects his flock.
The book of ezekiel contains the visions and prophecies of ezekiel, whom the lord called to minister to the jewish captives in babylon. This book had difficulty being accepted into the jewish yearly cycles of liturgy. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. A commentary on the book of ezekiel southside christian. 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. An introduction to the old testament prophetic books. To engage in such is to tap into the forethought, foreknowledge, foreshadows, and foresight of the eternal god whom we serve. In chapters 40 through 43 god shows ezekiel in a vision the new temple area and how the temple will look. According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth. Key personalities include ezekiel, israels leaders, ezekiel s wife. Introduction to the book of ezekiel the bible journey. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book of ezekiel.
The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. Additionally, ezekiel 4048 contains a description of a temple that will be built in jerusalem in the latter days. He warns of the impending fall of judah, then offers hope of a brighter future with the eventual return of the exiles and the restoration of the temple in jerusalem ezekiel. Like jeremiah and zechariah, ezekiel, a priest and respected prophet, lived about 600 bc. Many of his insights came in the form of visions, and many of his messages were expressed in vivid symbolic actions. It is placed between the book of lamentations and the book of daniel in the old testament canon of scripture. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. 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. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of ezekiel. As a priest, ezekiel was deeply concerned with restoring gods people to holiness. Introduction to the book of the prophet ezekiel ezekiel the prophet was the son of buzi. God also showed ezekiel a picture of a new temple in the future ezekiel chapters 4048.
The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book ezekiel 1. Here are seven lessons from my latest study of this important book. The book of ezekiel contains so much more than we can cover here. The latest dated oracle is 22 years later, in april 571 b. Video video download options bible book introduction videos share. Ezekiel shares a kindred theme with isaiah and jeremiah. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major. His name bdb 306 meant god strengthens, may god make strong, or even possibly, god is strong. Answer in the book of ezekiel, what kind of heart does. In chapter 44 god gives instructions to ezekiel about the levites who may serve as priests in the temple. In response to the rebellion of jehoiakim of judah in 601 b. The prophet ezekiel was born around 622 bc and preached for about 22 years.
Ezekiel introduction commentary commentary critical. Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. Bible blender january 26, 2017 introduction to the book of ezekiel 20170126t14. Writing from a firstperson perspective, ezekiel recorded the visions and revelations he received from the lord. All three prophets deal with a disobedient people who have turned away from god, who are judged but promised restoration. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. And he said to me, son of man, stand on your feet, and i will speak with you. Ezekiel was a man of deep faith and great imagination. David pawson unlocking the bible ezekiel part 1 on 25th oct, 2014.
The book of ezekiel includes a prophecy of a great battle that will precede the second coming of jesus christ see ezekiel 3839. If ezekiel was 30 years old when his ministry began 1. The day of the lord is coming, says the book of zephaniah, because gods patience has a limit when it comes to sin. The glory of god may well be viewed as the theme of the book, because ezekiel s ministry begins with a vision of gods glory and emphasizes it throughout the book 1. Ezekiel was a priest who was among the jewish captives carried away to babylon by king nebuchadnezzar in approximately 597 b. Doughty southside christian church december 2014 introduction. Introduction to the question in the book of ezekiel, what kind of heart does god say he will give his people1.
Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Besides clarity of structure, the book of ezekiel reveals symmetry. The book of ezekiel gives a compelling account of how the jewish people suffer a severely diminished life of deprivation and oppression and even death as captives in the conquering empire of babylon. The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book.
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. Through ezekiel, jehovah warned the jews in babylon of the consequences of continuing in their sins. The book of ezekiel describes what its like to suddenly encounter someone or something completely strange and different from everything youve known and experienced up until that point. His understanding of the depth of israels sin is clear in. A commentary on the book of ezekiel by pastor galen l. Ezekiel introduction, good news bible gnb the bible app.
David pawson unlocking the bible ezekiel part 1 on. The book of ezekiel was written by the prophet ezekiel between 593 and 573bc while in exile in babylonia before and after the final fall of jerusalem in 587bc. Video series bible book introduction videos english bible book introduction videos. All we know about the prophet ezekiel is from his book. Ezekiel s first vision bibliography ezekiel lessons list next.
Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. And while there are certainly sections in this book more odd than this one of a. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. 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. In zekes case, the encounter is with the glory of god, which appears above that fourfaced chariot wheel thing. Ezekiel emphasized the need for inner renewal of the heart and spirit, and the responsibility of. He sees the glory of the lord enter the temple and fill it 43. Block, new international commentary on the old testament nicot, eerdmans, 19971998, 1,757 pp. What is known of ezekiel is derived solely from the book that bears his name. Introduction and overview of ezekiel andy brewer introduction a study of the sacred old testament scriptures is an invaluable asset to any and all students of the bible, new testament christians or not. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 b. The prophet ezekiel is one of four major prophets along with isaiah, jeremiah, and daniel in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible.
God himself would return to this temple ezekiel 43. He was carried captive by nebuchadnezzar into babylon, with jeconiah king of. Thats just one of many symbolic visions and performances of this ancient prophet, who predicted the destruction of israel and the idolatrous nations around it. Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel.
Best commentaries and books on ezekiel logos bible software. In many ways he resembles the more primitive type of prophet represented by elijah and elisha. When jehoiakims successor, jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, nebuchadnezzar appointed zedekiah king and deported to babylon jehoiachin and the royal family, along with members of the upper class, including ezekiel. Ezekiel introduction commentary commentary critical and. Ezekiel intro to ezekiel biblica the international bible society. The book of ezekiel is in the old testament section of the bible. An extensive introduction helps to orient readers of ezekiel s prophecies to the times, methods, and message of the prophet and to the special literary features of the book.