A careful reading of the Book of Ezekiel shows, in the first place, that
the Prophet received messages and saw visions before the final
destruction of Jerusalem, and after that catastrophe had taken place in
fulfillment of his inspired predictions he received other prophecies.
The predictions preceding the fall of Jerusalem are the predictions of
the judgment to fall upon the city and upon Gentile nations, the enemies
of Israel. The predictions Ezekiel received after the city had been
destroyed are the predictions of blessing and glory for Israel and
Jerusalem in the future. The first part of the book has found a
fulfillment in the destruction of the city by Nebuchadnezzar. The second
part is awaiting its fulfillment at the close of the times of the
Gentiles, when Israel will be regathered, restored and the glory of the
Lord returns to another temple, which Ezekiel beheld in a magnificent
vision. All will be accomplished when the Lord returns to dwell in the
midst of His people, so that the name of the city will be
"Jehovah-Shammah"--"the Lord is there" (chapter xlviii:35). These two
main divisions are clearly marked in the book itself. In chapter
xxxiii:21, after the Prophet had received a renewed call as watchman. We
read: "And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the
tenth month, in the fifth day of the month, that one that had escaped
out of Jerusalem came unto me, saying, The city is smitten." This
determines the two parts.
=Part I. Predictions before the Destruction of Jerusalem.= (Chapters
i-xxxii.)
=Part II. Predictions after the Destruction of Jerusalem.= (Chapters
xxxiii-xlviii).
To show the perfect and orderly arrangement of the whole Book of Ezekiel
we shall give a complete analysis.
=Part I. Predictions before the Destruction of Jerusalem. Chapters
i-xxxii.=
=Section A. Judgment Predictions concerning Jerusalem. Chapters i-xxiv.=
_1. The Vision of the Glory of the Lord and the Call of the Prophet_
(i-iii:14).
_2. The Judgment announced. Four signs and their meaning. The two
messages. ("The Word of the Lord came unto me," chapters vi and vii;
chapters iii:15-vii:27)._
_3. Visions in relation to Jerusalem (chapters viii-xi)._
a. The vision of abomination in the Temple. Chapter viii.
b. The vision of the man clothed in linen with the inkhorn. Chapter
ix.
c. The vision of the coals of fire. Chapter x.
d. The vision concerning the leaders. The Glory departs. Chapter
xi.
_4. Signs, Messages and Parables (chapters xii-xix)._
a. Signs given through the Prophet. Chapter xii:1-20.
b. The Message concerning a speedy judgment. Chapter xii:21-28.
c. The Message against false prophets and prophetesses. Chapter
xiii.
d. The Message against the idolatrous elders. Chapter xiv.
e. The Parable of the Vine given to the fire. Chapter xv.
f. The Parable of abandoned child and Jerusalem's harlotry.
Chapter xvi.
g. The Parable and Riddle of the two eagles and the vine. Chapter
xvii.
h. The Message concerning the righteous judgments of God. Chapter
xviii.
i. The Lamentations for the Princes of Israel. Chapter xix.
_5. Further and Final Predictions concerning the Judgment of Jerusalem
(chapter xx-xxiv)._
a. Jehovah rehearses His mercies bestowed upon Israel. Chapter xx.
b. The impending Judgment announced. Chapter xxi.
c. Jerusalem's sins and whoredoms. Chapter xxii-xxiii.
d. The Parable of the boiling pot. The last word. Chapter xxiv.
=Section B. Predictions of Judgments against the Nations. Chapters
xxv-xxxii.=
_1. Against Ammon, Moab, Edom and the Philistines (chapter xxv)._
_2. Against Tyrus and Zidon (chapters xxvi-xxviii)._
_3. Against Egypt (chapters xxix-xxxii)._
=Part II. Predictions after the Destruction of Jerusalem. Chapters
xxxiii-xlviii.=
=Section A. The Watchman and the Shepherds. Chapters xxxiii-xxxiv.=
_1. The renewed call of Ezekiel as Watchman (chapter xxxiii:1-20)._
_2. Ezekiel's mouth opened after Jerusalem's fall (chapter
xxxiii:21-33)._
_3. Message against the Shepherds of Israel (chapter xxxiv:1-19)._
_4. The true Shepherd and Restoration promised (chapter xxxiv:20-26)._
=Section B. Judgment announced against Mount Seir and Israel's final
Restoration promised. Chapters xxxv-xxxvi.=
_1. The Message against Seir and Idumea (chapter xxxv)._
_2. The Message of Comfort for Israel (chapter xxxvi)._
=Section C. The Future Blessings of Israel. The Nation regathered. Their
enemies overthrown. The Millennial Temple. Chapters xxxvii-xlviii.=
_1. The Vision of the Dry Bones. Judah and Israel reunited (chapter
xxxvii)._
_2. The last enemies Gog and Magog and their destruction (chapters
xxxviii-xxxix)._
_3. The Millennial Temple and its Worship (chapter xl-xlvii:12)._
_4. The Division of the Land (chapter xlvii:13-xlviii)._
To this Analysis of the entire Book of Ezekiel we add a brief table,
giving the different dates mentioned in the Book.
Year of
the Captivity
Month Day of Jehoiakin Chapter
------+-----+-------------+--------------------
4 5 5 Chapt. i-vii
6 5 6 " viii-xix
5 10 7 " xx-xxiii
10 10 9 " xxiv-xxv
10 12 10 " xxix-xxx
11 1 11 " xxvi-xxviii
1 7 11 " xxx
3 1 11 " xxxi
10 5 12 " xxxiii
12 1 12 " xxxii:1-16
12 15 12 " xxxii:17-32
1 10 25 " xl-xlviii
1 1 27 " xxix:17-21