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An introduction to the book of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel was the son of a priest
and served as a prophet of Jehovah.
He lived in Judah until 617 B.C.E.
when Judean King Jehoiachin
was forced to surrender to Babylon.
Ezekiel was among the Jewish exiles
whom King Nebuchadnezzar took
to Babylon at that time.
In 613 B.C.E.,
Jehovah commissioned Ezekiel
to prophesy to the exiled Jews
living in Babylonian captivity.
Ezekiel faithfully fulfilled his assignment
for at least 22 years.
He completed his book in about 591 B.C.E.
Ezekiel’s prophetic work overlapped
that of Obadiah and Jeremiah, in Judah,
and of Daniel, in Babylon.
The sanctification of Jehovah’s name
is highlighted
throughout the book of Ezekiel.
The expression “Sovereign Lord Jehovah”
appears 217 times.
The book of Ezekiel has 48 chapters.
In chapters 1 to 3,
we read about the awe-inspiring visions
Ezekiel sees by the river Chebar.
During an intense windstorm,
Ezekiel beholds
four magnificent living creatures,
or cherubs.
Each one has four faces
—that of a man,
a lion,
a bull,
and an eagle.
These faces reflect attributes
that Jehovah possesses.
Ezekiel is awed by a vision
of the heavenly part
of Jehovah’s organization,
which is represented by a celestial chariot
directed by God’s spirit.
Chapters 4 to 24
contain Jehovah’s judgment against Jerusalem
and her rebellious, idolatrous people.
Ezekiel often communicated
Jehovah’s prophecies
by means of symbolic actions.
For example,
Jehovah had Ezekiel
engrave the city of Jerusalem on a brick
and stage a mock siege against it.
As a sign of the coming siege,
he lay on his side for 430 days.
In chapters 25 to 32,
Jehovah turns his attention
to the surrounding nations.
They receive an adverse judgment
because of their opposition to his people.
Through Ezekiel,
Jehovah foretells destruction
for the city of Tyre and her king.
Did you know?
The prophecy against Tyre
was fulfilled in two stages.
Years after Nebuchadnezzar
devastated the mainland city,
Alexander the Great
completed the destruction
by building a causeway
to the island city of Tyre,
using the rubble remaining
from Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest.
Chapters 33 to 48
contain a message of hope
and of the restoration of pure worship.
In chapters 40 to 48,
we read of Jehovah giving Ezekiel
a vision of a temple.
This vision of the temple underscores
Jehovah’s high standards for true worship.
As you study this prophetic book,
take note of Jehovah’s awe-inspiring qualities,
Ezekiel’s unswerving obedience to His instructions,
and Jehovah’s promise
to unite all mankind in pure worship
by means of the Kingdom.

Introduction to Ezekiel