Ezekiel

I-zee´kee-uhl

The book of, an OT book of prophecies attributed to the sixth-century prophet Ezekiel (Heb., “God strengthens”). This prophet was taken hostage to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BCE and, there, among the exiles, he continued to deliver prophetic oracles and relate ecstatic visions until 571 BCE.

Outline of Contents

Ezekiel

I. Oracles of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem (Ezek 1:1-24:27)

A. Vision of God’s glory and call of Ezekiel (Ezek 1:1-3:21)

B. Symbolic acts: the coming siege of Jerusalem (Ezek 3:22-5:17)

C. Oracles of judgment and announcement of its imminence (Ezek 6:1-7:27)

D. Abominations in the Temple: God’s glory departs (Ezek 8:1-11:25)

E. Symbolic acts describing the exile and sayings against unresponsive people and false prophets (Ezek 12:1-14:23)

F. Historical allegories and sermons: against the people, their kings, and individual wickedness (Ezek 15:1-20:49)

G. Further oracles of judgment (Ezek 21:1-23:49)

H. Symbolic acts: the siege begins (Ezek 24:1-27)

II. Oracles against foreign nations (Ezek 25:1-32:32)

A. Judah’s immediate neighbors: Ammon, Moab, Edom, the Philistines (Ezek 25:1-17)

B. Tyre (Ezek 26:1-28:26)

C. Egypt (Ezek 29:1-32:32)

III. Prophecies of future restoration (Ezek 33:1-39:29)

A. Announcement of Jerusalem’s fall: Ezekiel’s role as watchman and importance of individual responsibility (Ezek 33:1-33)

B. Promises of deliverance from exile and restoration in the land (Ezek 34:1-37:28)

C. God and Magog: the enemy’s ultimate defeat (Ezek 38:1-39:29)

IV. Program for reorganization of the restored community (Ezek 40:1-48:35)

A. Plans for new Temple: God’s glory returns (Ezek 40:1-43:12)

B. Temple regulations and personnel (Ezek 43:13-46:24)

C. The healing waters of the Temple spring (Ezek 47:1-12)

D. Division of the land (Ezek 47:13-48:35)