Wow, this Bible 911 on Ezekiel reminds me of why I started this series. To study things that I may not be familiar with. I have done other studies in and around Ezekiel, but this one has stretched me. Since I just did Jeremiah 911, I noticed some similar features. One is the pronouncements of the judgment of other nations as well as Israel. But in the middle of some very heavy words, God gives promises of hope and restoration. Ezekiel and Jeremiah are priests and many of their words were against their own tribe members. Jeremiah could have been selected as the high priest because he was the “son of Hilkiah”.

390 + 40

An important feature of Ezekiel is the timestamps. For this post, the two in Chapters 1 and 8 are the important ones. They start again in Chapter 20 and stop at Chapter 40; I will highlight some of these as they date Ezekiel’s visions and the destruction of Judah. The first two timestamps correspond to the number of days that Ezekiel was to lay on his side and “bear the sin” of Israel and Judah (4:5+6).

The 390 days is a thirteen-month year that could be called by the High Priest to adjust the calendar to match the seasons. The forty-day component is for the sins of Judah. I am sure there are many factors that God used to select this number of days. For me, it is a bit of a mystery, I would think it has to do with King Manasseh, but that will be another study. God’s counting is perfect, and we may not be told all of the facts as to start and end times. To impress upon Ezekiel the importance of the message, God used heavenly messengers at the beginning and end of this period.

Back to the first two timestamps. The amount of time between Chapter 1 and Chapter 8 could mean that Ezekiel had his heavenly visions while lying on his side. This set of visions ends with Chapter 11; so, it could be grouped 1-7 and 8-11. From previous studies, I know it is very easy to focus on the angels and cherubim of the visions. God gave these to Ezekiel to inform him of what was going to happen to Jerusalem and Judah. These prophetic visions and acts were started four years before the siege of Jerusalem began (24:1). You have to know that word of this got back to the land of Israel, which was the point. God was adding another witness with Jeremiah and Daniel for the people to repent.

Ezekiel 9:11 And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me. (KJV)

Imagine the turmoil for this prophet and priest of God Most High as he watched people he knew be marked for death. This was his Temple, city, and people that he now had to speak against. All of these centuries later, I fear, we tend to remove the personal aspect that Ezekiel and the other prophets lived with as they spoke the thoughts of their God to the Family. 9:11 is in the middle of a vision that if it had been spoken in Jerusalem would have gotten Ezekiel stoned to death. God’s loving nature and mercy are seen in the last part of Chapter 11 where He promises restoration.

Kings, Prophets, and High Use Words

I love God and I love how He works in His time. Josiah was the last godly king of Israel and his work and life produced the prophets and kings that would play out the prophecies of Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and others. This WordPress post was written several years ago and will help make sense of the backstory of Ezekiel and the punishment of Jerusalem.
ificouldteachthebible.com/2017/10/28/josiahs-children/

Below are a collection of thought, facts, and observations.

Jehoiachin ruled for 100 days before being removed and taken to Babylon. For Jehoiachin that is a number of mercy, his life was spared. He was 55 years old when he was released by Awel-Marduk after 37 years as a prisoner.

Ezekiel was alive, a teenager, during the reign of Josiah. (It was at the end of his rule.)

IF Jeremiah was born when Josiah started ruling, he would be in his 50s when Jerusalem fell. He would have been a prophet for over 40 years.

Like Jeremiah, in the middle of words of judgment, God gives words of hope and restoration through Ezekiel.

There are sections of announcements of judgment on other nations. Jeremiah 24 and 25 may help in understanding this.

There is a section on Egypt, where the survivors ran to after leaving Jerusalem. Timestamps are out of order here, so it is apparent that there was some editing to produce the final book.

There is a section about Tyre. Much of that is a shadow of Satan. (26:1)

The “prince of____” is mentioned several times. Depending on the translation it is used the most in Ezekiel, not all are about Israel.

“Son of man” is mentioned more often here than in other books. Most are directed to Ezekiel, but the connection to Jesus should not be ignored.

Son and daughter are also used many times.

Land and day are used repeatedly, not always about “the day” or “the land”. Outside the Torah, it is a leader in the use of these words. NASB is my reference.

NIV has many “year and day” combinations in the Book of Ezekiel, most are part of the timeline of his life and the messages he was given.

Next to Revelations. Ezekiel uses cherubim or living being or living creature many times. It is a main reference if you are studying these heavenly messengers.

Ezekiel 26:1 is also the time when Jerusalem fell to the siege. Since Ezekiel is a priest, I believe he used the religious calendar. That means that references to the first month are just before Passover. A third-month reference is around the time of Pentecost.

Other posts I have written where Ezekiel was important.

• God and Two
• Holy Spirit in the Old Testament-Ezekiel
• Cherubim
• Trees and Garden in Ezekiel

Going Further –

Find and list the thirteen timestamps that refer to Jehoiachin in exile and write a statement about them. OR Read the ending chapters of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles and imagine how Ezekiel, Daniel, and Jeremiah fit into those stories.