Consists mainly of three groups of prophecies. After an account of his call to the prophetical office #Eze 1:1-3:21 Ezekiel:

1. utters words of denunciation against the Jews #Eze 3:22-24 warning them of the certain destruction of Jerusalem, in opposition to the words of the false prophets #Eze 4:1-3 The symbolical acts, by which the extremities to which Jerusalem would be reduced are described in #Eze 4:1ff. show his intimate acquaintance with the Levitical legislation. #Ex 22:30 De 14:21 #Le 5:2 7:18,24 17:15 19:7 22:8 etc.

2. Prophecies against various surrounding nations: against:

a. the Ammonites #Eze 25:1-7
b. the Moabites #Eze 25:8-11
c. the Edomites #Eze 25:12-14
d. the Philistines #Eze 25:15-17
e. Tyre and Sidon #Eze 26:1-28:26
f. Egypt #Eze 29:1-32:32

3. Prophecies delivered after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar:

a. the triumphs of Israel and of the kingdom of God on earth #Eze 33:1-39:29

b. Messianic times, and the establishment and prosperity of the kingdom of God #Eze 40:1-48:35

The closing visions of this book are referred to in the book of Revelation #Eze 38:1ff. = #Re 20:8 #Eze 47:1-8 = #Re 22:1,2 Other references to this book are also found in the New Testament. #Ro 2:24 with #Eze 36:2 #Ro 10:5 Ga 3:12 with #Eze 20:11 #2Pe 3:4 with #Eze 12:22 It may be noted that Daniel, fourteen years after his deportation from Jerusalem, is mentioned by Ezekiel #Eze 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 #Eze 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" #Eze 4:1-4 #Eze 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.,) #Eze 27:1ff. #Eze 28:13 31:8 36:11,34 47:13 He shows also an acquaintance with the writings of Hosea #Eze 37:22 Isaiah #Eze 8:12 29:6 and especially with those of Jeremiah, his older contemporary #Jer 24:7,9 48:37

God will strengthen.

1. #1Ch 24:16 "Jehezekel."

2. One of the great prophets, the son of Buzi the priest #Eze 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 #Eze 1:2 #2Ki 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 #Eze 8:1 24:18 He held a prominent place among the exiles, and was frequently consulted by the elders #Eze 8:1 11:25 14:1 20:1 His ministry extended over twenty-three years #Eze 29:17 B.C. 595-573, during part of which he was contemporary with Daniel #Eze 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 - Outline:

I. Messages of doom (1:1-24:27)
   A. Ezekiel's call and commission (1:1-3:27)
       1. The living creatures and the glory of the Lord (1:1-28)
       2. Ezekiel's call (2:1-3:15)
       3. Warning to Israel (3:16-27)
   B. Visions of sin and judgment (4:1-11:25)
       1. Siege of Jerusalem symbolized (4:1-5:17)
       2. A prophecy against the mountains of Israel (6:1-14)
       3. The end has come (7:1-27)
       4. Idolatry in the temple (8:1-18)
       5. Idolaters killed (9:1-11)
       6. The glory departs from the temple (10:1-22)
       7. Judgment on Israel's leaders (11:1-15)
       8. Promised return of Israel (11:16-25)
   C. Punishment is certain (12:1-24:27)
       1. The exile symbolized (12:1-28)
       2. False prophets condemned (13:1-23)
       3. Idolaters condemned (14:1-11)
       4. Judgment inescapable (14:12-23)
       5. Jerusalem, a useless vine (15:1-8)
       6. An allegory of unfaithful Jerusalem (16:1-63)
       7. Two eagles and a vine (17:1-24)
       8. The soul who sins will die (18:1-32)
       9. A lament for Israel's princes (19:1-14)
       10. Rebellious Israel (20:1-29)
       11. Judgment and restoration (20:30-44)
       12. Prophecy against the south (20:45-49)
       13. Babylon, God's sword of judgment (21:1-32)
       14. Jerusalem's sins (22:1-31)
       15. Two adulterous sisters (23:1-49)
       16. The cooking pot (24:1-14)
       17. Ezekiel's wife dies (24:15-27)

II. Messages against foreign nations (25:1-32:32)
   A. A prophecy against Ammon (25:1-7)
   B. A prophecy against Moab (25:8-11)
   C. A prophecy against Edom (25:12-14)
   D. A prophecy against Philistia (25:15-17)
   E. A prophecy against Tyre (26:1-21)
   F. A lament for Tyre (27:1-36)
   G. A prophecy against the king of Tyre (28:1-19)
   H. A prophecy against Sidon (28:20-26)
   I. A prophecy against Egypt (29:1-21)
   J. A lament for Egypt (30:1-26)
   K. A cedar in Lebanon (31:1-18)
   L. A lament for Pharaoh (32:1-32)

III. Messages of hope (33:1-48:35)
   A. Restoring the people of God (33:1-39:29)
       1. Ezekiel a watchman (33:1-20)
       2. Jerusalem's fall explained (33:21-33)
       3. Shepherds and sheep (34:1-31)
       4. A prophecy against Edom (35:1-15)
       5. A prophecy to the mountains of Israel (36:1-38)
       6. The valley of dry bones (37:1-14)
       7. One nation under one king (37:15-28)
       8. A prophecy against Gog (38:1-39:29)
   B. Restoring the worship of God (40:1-48:35)
       1. The new temple area (40:1-4)
       2. The east gate to the outer court (40:5-16)
       3. The outer court (40:17-19)
       4. The north gate (40:20-23)
       5. The south gate (40:24-27)
       6. Gates to the inner court (40:28-37)
       7. The rooms for preparing sacrifices (40:38-43)
       8. Rooms for the priests (40:44-47)
       9. The temple (40:48-41:26)
       10. Rooms for the priests (42:1-20)
       11. The glory returns to the temple (43:1-12)
       12. The altar (43:13-27)
       13. The prince, the Levites, the priests (44:1-31)
       14. Division of the land (45:1-12)
       15. Offerings and holy days (45:13-46:24)
       16. The river from the temple (47:1-12)
       17. The boundaries of the land (47:13-23)
       18. The division of the land (48:1-29)
       19. The gates of the city (48:30-35)