Dict: easton - Ezekiel

easton:

Ezekiel @ God will strengthen.

(1.) kjv@1Chronicles:24:16, "Jehezekel."

(2.) One of the great prophets, the son of Buzi the priest kjv@Ezekiel:1:3). He was one of the Jewish exiles who settled at Tel
- Abib, on the banks of the Chebar, "in the land of the Chaldeans." He was probably carried away captive with Jehoiachin (1:2; kjv@2Kings:24:14-16) about B.C. 597. His prophetic call came to him "in the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity" (B.C. 594). He had a house in the place of his exile, where he lost his wife, in the ninth year of his exile, by some sudden and unforeseen stroke kjv@Ezekiel:8:1 kjv@Ezekiel:24:18). He held a prominent place among the exiles, and was frequently consulted by the elders (8:1; 11:25; 14:1; 20:1). His ministry extended over twenty-three years (29:17), B.C. 595-573, during part of which he was contemporary with Daniel (14:14; 28:3) and Jeremiah, and probably also with Obadiah. The time and manner of his death are unknown. His reputed tomb is pointed out in the neighbourhood of Bagdad, at a place called Keffil.

Ezekiel, Book of @ consists mainly of three groups of prophecies. After an account of his call to the prophetical office (1-3:21), Ezekiel

(1) utters words of denunciation against the Jews (3:22-24), warning them of the certain destruction of Jerusalem, in opposition to the words of the false prophets (4:1-3). The symbolical acts, by which the extremities to which Jerusalem would be reduced are described in ch. 4-5, show his intimate acquaintance with the Levitical legislation. (
See kjv@Exodus:22:30; kjv@Deuteronomy:14:21; kjv@Leviticus:5:2 kjv@Leviticus:7:18 kjv@Leviticus:7:24 kjv@Leviticus:17:15 ; 19:7; 22:8, etc.)

(2.) Prophecies against various surrounding nations: against the Ammonites kjv@Ezekiel:25:1-7), the Moabites (8-11), the Edomites (12-14), the Philistines (15-17), Tyre and Sidon (26-28), and against Egypt (29-32).

(3.) Prophecies delivered after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar: the triumphs of Israel and of the kingdom of God on earth Ezekiel:33-39); Messianic times, and the establishment and prosperity of the kingdom of God (40;48). The closing visions of this book are referred to in the book of Revelation Ezekiel:38 kjv@Revelation:20:8; kjv@Ezekiel:47:1-8 kjv@Revelation:22:1-2). Other references to this book are also found in the New Testament. (Comp. kjv@Romans:2:24 with kjv@Ezekiel:36:2; kjv@Romans:10:5, kjv@Galatians:3:12 with kjv@Ezekiel:20:11; kjv@2Peter:3:4 with kjv@Ezekiel:12:22.) It may be noted that Daniel, fourteen years after his deportation from Jerusalem, is mentioned by Ezekiel (14:14) along with Noah and Job as distinguished for his righteousness, and some five years later he is spoken of as pre-eminent for his wisdom (28:3). Ezekiel's prophecies are characterized by symbolical and allegorical representations, "unfolding a rich series of majestic visions and of colossal symbols." There are a great many also of "symbolcal actions embodying vivid conceptions on the part of the prophet" (4:1-4; kjv@5:1-4; 12:3-6; 24:3-5; 37:16, etc.) "The mode of representation, in which symbols and allegories occupy a prominent place, gives a dark, mysterious character to the prophecies of Ezekiel. They are obscure and enigmatical. A cloudy mystery overhangs them which it is almost impossible to penetrate. Jerome calls the book 'a labyrith of the mysteries of God.' It was because of this obscurity that the Jews forbade any one to read it till he had attained the age of thirty." Ezekiel is singular in the frequency with which he refers to the Pentateuch (e.g., kjv@Ezekiel:27; 28:13; 31:8; 36:11-34; 47:13, etc.). He shows also an acquaintance with the writings of Hosea kjv@Ezekiel:37:22), Isaiah kjv@Ezekiel:8:12 kjv@Ezekiel:29:6), and especially with those of Jeremiah, his older contemporary kjv@Jeremiah:24:7-9 kjv@Jeremiah:48:37).