Ezekiel Introduction - KJV (King James Version)
Synopsis:
Ezekiel, a prophet and priest, was exiled to Babylon in 597 b.c. His ministry extended over at least twenty-three years. The book opens with his first dramatic vision of the "likeness" of the Lord himself. Ezekiel was keenly aware of God's presence and power in human affairs. He addressed both the exiles and the people left in Judah with messages of warning and judgment, predicting the fall of Jerusalem. After Jerusalem's fall (in 586), Ezekiel prophesied hope and reassurance for the people of Judah, who had then lost the focus of God's covenant, the temple in Jerusalem. His vision of the valley of dry bones (ch. 37) is a classic picture of God's ability to renew his people.
Authorship: Ezekiel
- Hebrew name means “God Strengthens or Strengthened by God”
- Exiled prophet
Date: 592-570 BC
Simple Outline:
1. Judah's Coming Destruction (Ezk 1-24)
A. Ezekiel's Visions (Ch 1-4)
B. Ezekiel Commissioned (Ch 2-3)
C. Jugment Messages (Ch 4-24)
2. Judah's Enemies (Ezk 25-32)
A. Judgment on Surrounding Nations (Ch 25-32)
3. Judah's Future (Ezk 33-48)
A. Israel Returns to the Lord (Ch 33-49)
B. Retoration of Israel (Ch 40-48)
Ezekiel as a Type:
- “son of man” occurs 90x
- “Spirit of the Lord fell” upon him (Ezk 11:5)
- Proclaims Messianic Age to Come
- Vision of God as the Divine Shepherd (Ezk 34:11-16)
- Future Santuary with A Kingly-Priest (Ezk 37:22-28)
Ezekiel’s Parables:
1) The Wood of the Vine (Ezk 15:1-8)
2) The Founding (Ezk 16)
3) The Eagles and the Cedar (Ezk 17)
4) The Fiery Furnace (Ezk 22:17-22)
5) The Two Harlots (Ezk 23)
6) The Cooking Pot (Ezk 24:1-14)
7) The Shipwreck (Ezk 27)
8) The Irresponsible Shepherds (Ezk 34)
9) The Dry Bones (Ezk 37)
Gog of Magog: (Ezk 38-39)
- Aggressive foreign ruler (currently no historical match)
- From the land of Magog
- Prince of Rosh, Meshech, & Tubal
- Potentially modern day Turkey
- Tubal & Meshech are well attested by Greek & Assyrian records to this area.
Prior Chapter
Next Chapter