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Ezekiel – An Introduction
EZEKIEL – “God Strengthens/Hardens”
Ezek.3:8-9a
INTRODUCTION
*Personal – “Because of recorded vision, his strange behavior in acting out certain prophecies, the record of being transported from Babylon to Jerusalem and back (8:3; 11:24), and other details, Ezekiel has been called ecstatic, visionary, neurotic, psychotic, and schizophrenic. Indeed, his behavior was `abnormal’ – but what is `normal’ with regard to a prophet on whom the Spirit of God has fallen?[1]
*”Canonicity – Obviously, Ezekiel was included in the canon, but proof of the book’s canonicity lies mainly in a second fact, a lengthy discussion over whether it should be removed (or `hidden’). This is often presented in just the opposite form, suggesting that the debate concerned whether to admit Ezekiel into the canon. G.F. Moore states clearly: `The question was not, is this book sacred, or inspired, Scripture? (sic.) but, assuming its prophetic authorship and inspiration, is it expedient to withdraw the book from public use lest the unlearned or half-learned be stumbled by the apparent discrepancies between it and the Law? Hananiah ben Hezekiah[2] of the school of Shammai burned three hundred jars of oil in his study while harmonizing the seeming conflicts between Ezekiel and the Pentateuch. Then, even though the prophecy was retained s canonical, reading of ch.1 was not permitted in the synagogue, and private reading of the prophecy was forbidden to anyone under thirty.[3]
PECULIAR SAYINGS
*Son of Man – This title/description is used some ninety times in Ezekiel, always by God in addressing Ezekiel. As a form of address it appears elsewhere in the Old Testament only in Dan.8:17. Jesus used the term frequently to describe Himself, although possibly not for the same reason.
*Set Your Face Against – Nine times this expression is found
*I Am Yahweh – This expression, which occurs many times in Ezekiel, may be considered a hallmark of the book. It is reminiscent of use of the same expression in Leviticus. The purpose or result intended in messages to Ezekiel is often expressed in the `recognition’ formula: `that you/they shall know that I am Yahweh.’ The meaning of this truth to Jews in exile and its significance as a testimony to pagan neighbors is obvious.”[4]
PECULIAR ALLEGORIES AND ACTIONS
*”Ezekiel includes a number of allegories: the vine (ch.15), Yahweh’s wife (16:1-43), eagles (17:1-21), lioness (19:1-9), vineyard (vv.10-14), sword (21:1-17), Oholah and Oholibah (23:1-35), caldron (24:1-14). The prophecy also includes a number of prophetic actions: the brick with a map of Jerusalem (4:1-3), representing the coming siege of the city; the prophecy lying on his left side 390 days and on his right for 40 (vv.4-8), eating exiles rations (vv.9-17), representing the years of punishment for Israel and Judah, respectively (a day for a year, v.6), and the starvation diet Jerusalem will be forced to endure; shaving his head with a sword, weighing and diving the hair (5:1:12) representing the smallness of the remnant that shall escape, and only through fire; digging through the wall with an exile’s baggage (12:1-12), so Ezekiel might tell the people of the coming exile; marking the route for the sword of the king of Babylon (21:18-23 [MT 23-28), symbolizing the possible conclusions, either that he was led by false divination, or it was the doing of Yahweh. To these might be added the sign of the death of Ezekiel’s wife (24:15-24), symbolizing how the delight of Yahweh’s eyes also would be taken.:[5]
A MAIN THOUGHT
Glory of God – The God who withdrawals (9:3; 10:18-19; 11:23), returns (43:1-5).
[1]William Sanford La Sor, David Allan Hubbard, Frederic William Bush, Old Testament Survey, The Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament, p.462.
[2]”The school of Shammai thought that the teaching of the book was not in harmony with the Mosaic law and that the first ten chapters exhibited a tendency towards Gnosticism. Hence, they regarded it as apocryphal. Rabbi Hananyah ben Hezekiah, however, defended the book, and so it was retained as canonical.”
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