Ezekiel – 2:1-10
2:1 “He said to me” — The chapter divisions in Ezekiel are arti cial with medieval origin. Many of them correspond to the Masoretic (“traditional”) divisions in the Hebrew text. The last three verses of chapter 1 belong to 2:1. Chapters 1-3 are visionary but with transition from what is seen to what is heard. We also have postures of reverence, worship, and divine call “to stand.” “Son of man” ּבֶן־אָָדם- This is God’s consistent way of addressing Ezekiel, used ninety-three times. To make this title gender-neutral would pervert the Gospel itself. Biblical soteriology (“words about salvation”) depends on intact vocabulary. Adam is the head of sinful humanity, doomed to die, while Christ is the head of redeemed and justi ed humanity, whose members receive eternal life through faith in Him (Rom 5:12-21). 2:2 “Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me” – The Spirit works through God’s Word to kill and make alive, the same “Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead” (Rom 8:11). The Spirit “made me stand on my feet,” indicating an objective outside force. 2:3 “I am sending you to the sons of Israel” – “Sending” features prominently in other prophetic calls (Is 6:8; Jer 1:7). False prophets are denounced because God has not sent them (Jer 14:14-15; 29:9, 31). This is the Hebrew equivalent of “apostello” although not as technical. We will hear echoes of this verse throughout the book, as Ezekiel preaches to rebellious and apostate people. As with “son of man,” so with “sons of Israel” also corresponding to “fathers.” The theme of hereditary guilt or original sin is introduced. “Sons of Israel” is used only 11 times out of 636 in the OT, but Ezekiel prefers “house of Israel” (3:1; 83 times out of 147 in the OT). “Israel” is the covenant/“baptismal” name of God’s chosen people in the OT (Jacob in Gen 32:24-30). The ten northern tribes coopted the name for themselves (1 Ki 12:16). Thus, “Israel” is used for the now-lost northern kingdom, the exiles with him in Babylon, and for those still left in the “land of Israel” (Ezek 33:24) even after it’s destruction in 587 BC. Thus, “nations rebelling” might refer to all twelve tribes of Jacob/Israel; to the three tribes of the southern kingdom (Judah, Benjamin, and Simeon); or to the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah (“two nations”…
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