The Book of Ezekiel

Ezekiel was taken to Babylon in about 597 B.C. when King Jehoiachin was deposed by Nebuchadnezzar and carried into captivity (see 2 Kings 24:6–16). It was there Ezekiel received his call to be a prophet and labored among the captives (see Ezekiel 1:1–3). In 587 B.C. the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and took most of its inhabitants to Babylon (see Ezekiel 24:21–27; 2 Kings 25). Ezekiel continued to prophesy among the exiles for at least eleven years after that time (see Ezekiel 29:17).

Through Ezekiel the Lord gave Israel a message of warning, of judgment, and of mercy that left no doubt of His anger nor of His desire that they repent. The book of Ezekiel teaches that God is in control and wants all His children to come unto Him. It includes at least sixty-five references (with some slight variations) to the phrase “then will they know that I am the Lord.” The following is an overview of the book of Ezekiel:

1. Introduction: Ezekiel’s call and commission (see Ezekiel 1–3).

2. Prophecies against Judah and Jerusalem, culminating in the fall and capture of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (see Ezekiel 4–24).

3. Prophecies against the surrounding nations of Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt (see Ezekiel 25–32).

4. Prophecies of the restoration of Israel before the Savior’s return to the earth (see Ezekiel 33–39).

5. Visions of a future temple in Jerusalem and the manner of worship in it (see Ezekiel 40–48).

• Ezekiel 1–3

• Exekiel 4–32

• Exekiel 33–48