(1.) Chap. i. to vii.—In the fifth year of the exile of Joiachin,
Ezekiel, in the vision of the chariot, representing the rule of God
over the universe, is appointed a Divine messenger, to warn the people
and tell them of the impending danger, that they might not be ignorant
of the fate awaiting them, whether they listened or forbore to listen.
The message with which he is inspired is represented as a scroll which
he swallows. The threatened danger he indicates by symbolic acts,
followed by their explanation. The siege of Jerusalem is illustrated by
the prophet besieging a brick representing Jerusalem, and the ruin of
the nation by cutting and scattering the hair of his head and beard.
(2.) viii. to xi.—In the sixth year, on the sixth day of the fifth
month, in the presence of the elders of Judah, Ezekiel is carried in a
prophetic vision to Jerusalem, is shown there the sins committed by the
Israelites in the very Temple, and the consequent departure of the
Divine Presence from the Temple. Israel will suffer for his sins, but
will at last repent and improve. God promises, “I will give them one
heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the
stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;
that they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do
them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (xi. 19,
20).
(3.) xii. and xiii.—The prophet indicates the coming captivity by the
symbolic act of preparing the things necessary for going into exile.
The false prophets and prophetesses, who tell the people to have no
dread of any coming exile, will be disappointed and punished. The
falsehood of the proverb, “In the length of time every vision faileth,”
will then be evident.
(4.) xiv. to xix.—Ezekiel describes the sinfulness of Israel, and
exhorts them to return to God, or else the threatened calamity will
overcome them. He illustrates the approaching calamity by the figure of
a cedar-tree and the eagle. Although the fathers have sinned, if the
sons abstain from sinning they may prevent the catastrophe; for the
proverb, “The fathers have eaten the sour grapes, and the teeth of the
children are set on edge,” will prove untrue. If they do not improve,
the catastrophe must take place which the prophet depicts in the
parables of the lioness caught and of the vine consumed by fire.
(5.) xx.—In the seventh year, the Elders of Israel came to Ezekiel “to
inquire of the Lord,” לדרש את ה. Ezekiel describes the wickedness of
Israel, and the punishment they deserved.
(6.) xxi. to xxiii.—Comparing Jerusalem and Samaria to two sisters,
Oholibah and Oholah, he complains that the former, having witnessed the
punishment of the latter, has not profited by it.
(7.) xxiv.—On the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year
Ezekiel prophesies the siege and fall of Jerusalem on the very day on
which the siege commenced. The greatness of the calamity, to express
which the usual outward signs of grief would be inadequate, is
indicated by the Divine command that the prophet on the death of his
wife should exhibit no signs of mourning.
(8.) xxv. to xxxii.—Like Isaiah and Jeremiah, he foretells the fate of
the neighbouring nations, Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Philistines,
Tyrians, and Egyptians. The last-named are promised recovery after
forty years’ desolation of their country.
(9.) xxxiii. and xxxiv.—The prophet describes the duties and
responsibilities of watchmen and shepherds, and blames those of his own
time as not fulfilling their duties: “But I will save my flock, and
they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and
cattle. And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed
them, even my servant David: he shall feed them, and he shall be their
shepherd. And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David prince
among them” (xxxiv. 22–24).
(10.) xxxv.—He prophesies against Seir, for their enmity against
Israel.
(11.) xxxvi. and xxxvii.—Ezekiel foretells the restoration of Israel in
the parable of the dry bones. The union of Israel and Judah is
symbolically shown by the union of two staves.
(12.) xxxviii. and xxxix.—Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal,
will make the last efforts for the destruction of Israel. All his
preparations will be in vain. He and his army will fall in the land of
Israel. And the Divine promise is given: “They shall know that I am the
Lord their God, in that I caused them to go into captivity among the
nations, and have gathered them into their own land, and I will leave
none of them any more there: neither will I hide my face any more from
them; for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith
the Lord God” (xxxix. 28, 29).
(13.) xl. to xlviii.—In the fourteenth year after the fall of
Jerusalem, in the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month,
Ezekiel is carried in a vision to the land of Israel, and is shown
there the rebuilding of the future Temple, and the division of the land
among the twelve tribes, the Levites and the priests.