REL 113: Old Testament Faith and History.  Selective Outline of Ezekiel.                 RJDKnauth 

1. Vision of Cherubim/Living Creatures (cart in temple?; cf. ch. 10).
2. Ezekiel’s “Call” Narrative.
3. Eat the Scroll; Ezekiel as “Watchman” (cf. ch. 33).
4. Model siege of Jerusalem; Lie on side bearing sin.
5. Shave head and beard w/ sword – burn, pursue, scatter.  Tied w/ ropes.
6. Prophecy against mountains (cf. ch. 36).

10. Glory departs from Temple (cf. ch. 43); Cherubim again.
12. Leave through Hole in Wall to symbolize Exile.
14. Noah, Daniel and Job.
15. Jerusalem as a burnt vine branch.
16. Jerusalem as a wayward foundling.
17. Kings allegorized; a new tree.
18. Father/Son Guilt.
21. Babylon as Sword of Judgment.
23. Two Adulterous Sisters (= Israel, Judah), vs. foreign alliances.
24. Parable of the Cooking Pot; Ezekiel’s wife dies (v. 15), forbidden to mourn.
[25-26. Prophecies against the nations: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre.
[27-28. Lament for Tyre – “gateway to the sea;” lists trade relations. Against Tyre & Sidon.
[29-30. Same for Egypt. A doomed monster.  “Say to Pharaoh…” (?!); vs. alliances.
31. Egypt/Assyria as Cedar in Lebanon (prideful), now cut down and gone.
[32. Lament for Pharaoh.
33. Ezekiel as watchman – responsible for sin of nation – must warn!
34. Shepherd Imagery (bad kings) – look after only themselves; use the sheep. -> Exile.
         Sheep – good and bad (cf. NT parables), fat and lean (selfishness).
         Good Shepherd David – Hope.
[35. Oracles against Edom.
36. To Mountains:  Judgment -> Hope of Return.
37. Valley of Dry Bones (hope for resurrection, re-unification).

[40-48. Priestly Appendix – resembles Leviticus, Exodus; elaborate description of temple.
      43. Glory returns to Temple.
      47. River of Life flowing from Temple.
      48 (end). Presence of YHWH. Name of city (New Jerusalem) will be: “The LORD is there.”

Small Group Exercise on Vivid Imagery in Ezekiel (for 8 groups, 3 chapters each):

Group 1:  Ch. 2, 3, 33 – Ezekiel’s call; Ezekiel as “Watchman.”

Group 2:  Ch. 1, 10, 43 – Visions of Cherubim, the presence of YHWH.

Group 3:  Ch. 4, 5, 12 – Prophetic Symbolism of destruction and exile.

Group 4:  Ch. 6, 31, 36 – Mountains and Cedars’ Pride.

Group 5:  Ch. 18, 21, 23 – Father/Son Guilt, Sword of Judgment, Adulterous Sisters.

Group 6:  Ch. 15, 16, 24 – Burnt Vine, Wayward Foundling, Cooking Pot.

Group 7:  Ch. 14, 17, 34 – Kings and Shepherds.

Group 8:  Ch. 37, 47, 48(end) – New Life: Dry Bones, River of Life, New Jerusalem.

Note:  Ezekiel's "call" comes in exile (on border of Babylon) w/ group of deportees in 597 BCE (i.e. prior to fall of temple).

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