EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:1 This vision is one of the most famous passages in Ezekiel. While it stands on its own as a statement of God’s power to re-create his people, the context is significant. The promised gift of a new heart and spirit (Ezekiel 36:26) left questions (such as, how can this be?... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:3 The question CAN THESE BONES LIVE? anticipates the exiles’ view of their own situation (v. Ezekiel 37:11): total hopelessness. It also introduces one of the key words in the passage: the verb “to live” appears in vv. Ezekiel 37:3, Ezekiel 37:5, Ezekiel 37:6, Ezekiel 37:9... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:4 God commands Ezekiel to do what seems pointless (PROPHESY OVER THESE BONES). God promises that he will perform the impossible: bring the bones back to life with his BREATH. This is the same Hebrew word used for “the Spirit” in v. Ezekiel 37:1 (see note on 1:12). It appea... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:9 The second phase of prophesying is addressed to the BREATH (or wind or spirit/Spirit; see note on 1:12). The coming of the wind/breath/spirit that gives life is a powerful reminder of God’s creative work in Genesis 2:7. God creates, and God re-creates. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:12 I WILL OPEN YOUR GRAVES AND RAISE YOU FROM YOUR GRAVES, O MY PEOPLE. The vision of national revival changes into the metaphor of a cemetery, which seems to be related to the experience of exile (v. Ezekiel 37:12). By using this language, Ezekiel also contributes to OT t... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:14 The fundamental lesson of the vision is repeated: when the SPIRIT is present, God’s people are enabled to LIVE. This is the only basis on which hope can be offered to the despairing community. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=i... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:15 The idea of homecoming in the “dry bones” vision (vv. Ezekiel 37:1) provides a link to this oracle (see vv. Ezekiel 37:21, Ezekiel 37:25). This dramatized prophecy prompts questions from the onlookers (v. Ezekiel 37:18), which leads to two oracles: vv. Ezekiel 37:19 ann... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:16 JOSEPH, as father of EPHRAIM (see Genesis 48:5, Genesis 48:8), represents the northern kingdom of Israel. JUDAH represents the southern kingdom. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); f [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:19 MAKE THEM ONE STICK. Israel first went into exile a century earlier. Judah was now scattered as well. But God will reunite them. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:21 This renewed national unity requires a secure national home. The reunion takes concrete political shape under the rule of ONE KING, which is not Ezekiel’s usual title for the messianic figure (compare “prince,” v. Ezekiel 37:25). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElements... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:24 The assignment of David as shepherd-KING and PRINCE recalls Ezekiel 34:23 as well as several passages in Jeremiah 1:1 (e.g., Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 30:9). Divine enabling to live rightly (Ezekiel 37:23) strengthens the people’s moral awareness. [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:26 The COVENANT OF PEACE (see Ezekiel 34:25) and EVERLASTING COVENANT (see Ezekiel 16:60) appeared individually earlier in Ezekiel. Here they come together to provide the foundation for the renewed nation. The joining of these covenants also combines political life and the... [ Continue Reading ]
EZEKIEL—NOTE ON EZEKIEL 37:27 MY DWELLING PLACE SHALL BE WITH THEM. The oracle’s conclusion emphasizes the importance of God’s presence to the renewed people. The “dwelling place” recalls the wilderness tabernacle. The SANCTUARY (see v. Ezekiel 37:26) points to the temple, in particular the renewed... [ Continue Reading ]