Ezekiel, Book of, is a book of the Bible named for a Jewish prophet. Ezekiel’s ministry lasted from 593 to 572 or 571 B.C. With the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah, he was one of the major interpreters of the Babylonian Exile. The exile was a period that followed the Babylonian conquest of the kingdom of Judah and its capital of Jerusalem in 587 or 586 B.C.
Chapters 1-24 of the book present Ezekiel’s prophecies that calamities will strike the people of Jerusalem and Judah as God’s punishment for their sins. Chapters 25-32 consist of Ezekiel’s prophecies against neighboring nations for defying God’s will and rejoicing over the misfortunes of the Israelites. In chapters 33-48, Ezekiel prophesies Israel’s restoration and salvation.
Ezekiel was a priest as well as a prophet. He stressed the importance of following religious law and strictly obeying religious forms and ceremonies. In the book, Ezekiel describes many strange visions. For example, chapter 1 includes a vision of God’s dazzling throne chariot in the sky. In chapter 37, Ezekiel describes the valley of dry bones. In this vision, the prophet portrays the exiled Israelites as bones coming to life and being transported back to Judah.
See also Bible (The Prophets).
