Ezekiel – 1:1-28
1:1 Superscription — “Thirtieth year” of Elijah’s life, a priest deported by Jehoiachin in 597, now having reached maturity to serve in the Temple, c.f. Jesus in Luke 3:23. “The fourth month” is Tammuz (roughly June/July). The “River” Chebar is more accurately a canal with an unknown precise location. Testi ed in external records of a Jewish banking family in the Babylonian city of Nippur. Ezekiel is standing by a stream of living ( owing water) for his inaugural vision, like Daniel by Ulai (Daniel 8) and by “the great river, the Tigris” (Daniel 10:4). Water is used for puri cation rites (Lev 14:5-6, 50-52; 15:13; Num 19:17). The Triune God is the source of “living water” for His people (jer 2:13; 17:13; Zech 14:8; Song 4:15). Israel was saved through water (Ex 14–15; Joshua 3–4; Gen 6–9). Typological of Baptism (1 Peter 3:18-22), is also used in the eschatological vision (Ezek 47:1-12) and echoed by John’s apocalypse (Rev 22:1-12). “The heavens were opened” echoed in other theophanies (θεοφάνεια) such as Isaiah 64:1; 2 Sam 22:10; Ps 18:9. Also, connected to the heavens and waters of judgment (Gen 7:11) and blessing (2 Ki 7:2; Mal 3:10). And the heavens are opened by God to reveal His salvation in Jesus Christ: at His baptism (Mk 3:16-17; Lk 3:21-22); for angels to do His bidding (Jn 1:51); to reveal to Peter that the Gospel is for the Gentiles, too (Acts 10:11); and to show the apostle his revelation (Rev 4:11; 19:11). 1:2 “King Jehoiachin’s captivity” — The true son of David was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Evil-Merodach (597 BC). Israel’s political and messianic hopes rely on Jehoiachin (Gen 3:15; Gen 12:1-3; esp. 2 Sam 7; Is 9:6-7). God has executed judgment on unfaithful Israel, yet the king in exile lives as God will ful ll His promise. The next two-thirds of Ezekiel will be devoted to demolishing the hope of a brief exile and the immediate ful llment of the messianic line and kingdom. Such false hopes will be dashed, and the people are driven to repent and learn to depend solely on God’s promise of salvation by grace alone (Gal 4:4). 1:3 “…the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest…and the hand of the Lord was upon him there” — The terms word, vision, and hand will occur frequently in the book. What the prophet…
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