Ezekiel Outline n 1-24 Vs. Judah and Jerusalem n Oracles against foreign nations, especially Egypt n Words of Hope n 3:22-27 Prophet unable to speak n 24:26-27 When Jerusalem falls, your mouth will be opened n 33:21-32 City falls; Ezekiel speaks

Tensions with the Torah n Lev 21:13-14 The (high) priest may only marry a virgin. A widow or a divorced woman, or a raped woman, or a prostitute--these the (high) priest shall not marry n Ezek 44:22 The priests (in general) shall not marry a widow, or a divorced woman, but only a virgin of the stock of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.

The Dates in the book of Ezekiel n Ezekiel’s Ministry –Jeremiah ( s) Second Isaiah ( ) n 26:1 (587/586) vs. 29:17 (571) –So I didn’t give you Tyre... –O thou who changest too, abide with me! n 593 call--cf. Jeremiah 28 n 8 dates in the years n 8 dates in oracles against the nations n 40:1 25th year--halfway to the new day of Jubilee!

Characteristic themes in Ezekiel n So that you may know that I am Yahweh –used with words of judgment against land (7:2-4) –used with oracles against foreign nations (25:3-5) –used with words of salvation (37:6, 13-14) n The faithfulness and freedom of Yahweh

The Prophet’s Call (1) n God’s presence came from “north” eyes on wheels winged animals (cherubim) face of man, lion, ox, eagle throne on firmament earthquake, “many waters,” storm, lightning, wind glory of Yahweh one “like” a man; bronze above and fire below

The Prophet’s Call (2) n God’s presence in Babylon. Note emphasis on God’s mobility wheels wings legs faces go anywhere without turning spirit

The Prophet’s Call (3) n Closest parallels with Isaiah (ch. 6)and Micaiah ben Imlah (1 Kings 22) n “Son of Man”; “mortal” (not Ezekiel) n Eat scroll that is written on both sides-- full of lamentation, mourning, and woe n Yet, it is sweeter than honey n called to be a watchman (only has to warn; Yahweh sends watchman against Yahweh’s self!)

Symbolic actions n 4:1-3 A mock attack on Jerusalem n 4: days lying on left side; 40 days lying on right side n 4:12-15 cooking with human dung n 5:1-3 the prophet’s hair (burn, sword, scatter) n 12:1-16 going into exile n 24:15-28 wife dies n 37:15-28 two sticks become one

The Second Great Vision 8-11 (1) n statue of passion which provokes to passion n idolatrous figures on a wall (Osiris?): “Yahweh does not see us; Yahweh has abandoned the land” n women weeping for Tammuz n 25 men worshipping the sun; they have put the “branch” to their (or my) nose

The Second Great Vision 8-11 (2) n chap 9: marks put on those who sigh and groan over abominations in city n 10:19 and 11:23 the chariot-throne’s great pauses n Pelatiah the son of Benaiah dies during Ezekiel’s sermon “Yahweh delivers” (Pelatiah), the son of “Yahweh builds up” (Benaiah) Who can escape judgment?

Ezekiel’s Unique History of Israel 20:1-26 n Sequence: a. grace, b. laws, c. rebellion, d. God acted for the sake of the Name n in Egypt n in the first generation in wilderness n in the second generation in the wilderness –exile decided already in the wilderness –Yahweh gave them laws that were not good n vv life in the land n As I live, I will not be consulted by you !

The History that is to come 20:32-44 n Let’s be like the nations and worship wood and stone n New Exodus: escape--wilderness/sorting out--procession to the temple n I swear I will be king! n God as king, judge, and shepherd…in Ezekiel and Second Isaiah n God acts for his name’s sake, not according to your evil ways

The Possibility of repentance n 18:2 “The parents have eaten sour grapes and the children’s teeth are set on edge” n repentance not prevented by the behavior of previous generations n repentance not prevented by one’s own earlier lifestyle n Yahweh has no delight in death of the wicked; Yahweh wants them to turn and live n Life is offered to the house of Israel, which is with Ezekiel in Babylon…but to them only on the basis of repentance.