Ezekiel

God will strengthen. (1.) 1 Chr. 24:16, “Jehezekel.” (2.) One of the great prophets, the son of Buzi the priest (Ezek. 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 (1:2; 2 Kings 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 (Ezek. 8:1; 24:18). He held a prominent place among the exiles, and was frequently consulted by the elders (8:1; 11:25; 14:1; 20:1). His ministry extended over twenty-three years (29:17), B.C. 595-573, during part of which he was contemporary with Daniel (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.

(the strength of God), one of the four greater prophets, was the son of a priest named Buzi, and was taken captive in the captivity of Jehoiachin, eleven years before the destruction of Jerusalem. He was a member of a community of Jewish exiles who settled on the banks of the Chebar, a “river’ or stream of Babylonia. He began prophesying B.C. 595, and continued until B.C. 573, a period of more than twenty-two years. We learn from an incidental allusion, (Ezekiel 24:18) that he was married, and had a house, (Ezekiel 8:1) in his place of exile, and lost his wife by a sudden and unforeseen stroke. He lived in the highest consideration among his companions in exile, and their elders consulted him on all occasions. He is said to have been buried on the banks of the Euphrates. The tomb, said to have been built by Jehoiachin, is shown, a few days journey from Bagdad. Ezekiel was distinguished by his stern and inflexible energy of will and character and his devoted adherence to the rites and ceremonies of his national religion. The depth of his matter and the marvellous nature of his visions make him occasionally obscure. Prophecy of Ezekiel .—The book is divided into two great parts, of which the destruction of Jerusalem is the turning-point. Chapters 1-24 contain predictions delivered before that event, and chs. 25-48 after it, as we see from ch. (Ezekiel 26:2) Again, chs. 1-32 are mainly occupied with correction, denunciation and reproof, while the remainder deal chiefly in consolation and promise. A parenthetical section in the middle of the book, chs. 25-32, contains a group of prophecies against seven foreign nations, the septenary arrangement being apparently intentional. There are no direct quotations from Ezekiel in the New Testament, but in the Apocalypse there are…

the strength of God

EZE'KIEL (God will strengthen, or the strength of God), the son of a priest named Buzi, was born and spent his earlier years in Judaea. He was carefully educated, but carried by Nebuchadnezzar into captivity with Jehoiachin, king of Judah, b.c. 598, 11 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, and placed with a Jewish community by the river Chebar, in Chaldaea. See Chebar. He prophesied over 22 years, b.c. 595-573, till the fourteenth year after the final captivity of Jerusalem. From incidental allusions we learn that he had a house, Eze 8:1, and had lost his wife very suddenly, Eze 24:16-18. He was held in great esteem and frequently consulted by the elders, Neh 8:1; Eze 11:25; Eze 14:1; Eze 20:1. It is said that he kept up an intimate friendship with Jeremiah, and even that they exchanged prophecies. At all events, they echo one another's grief and lament over the ruined city, and both pierce through the gloom of the present distress and see the light of a new dispensation when the Law shall be written in the heart. Eze 11:19;Eze 18:31; cf. Jer 31:33. We do not know how or when his death occurred. Tradition states he was murdered. His reputed tomb is shown near Bagdad. Ezekiel was stern, inflexible, an earnest Jewish patriot, devoted to the rites and ceremonies of his religion, and uncompromisingly opposed to all forms of evil. He no doubt contributed much to the formation of the intense nationality of the Jews during that period. Prof. J. T. Hyde says: "He is not so much of a counsellor and seer as Isaiah, nor so much of a reformer and intercessor as Jeremiah, nor so much of a prince and statesman as Daniel, but more of a priest in his general spirit and bearing. More than a hundred times is he called 'son of man,' a title given to no other prophet except Daniel…

EZE'KIEL (God will strengthen, or the strength of God), the son of a priest named Buzi, was born and spent his earlier years in Judaea. He was carefully educated, but carried by Nebuchadnezzar into captivity with Jehoiachin, king of Judah, b.c. 598, 11 years before the destruction of Jerusalem, and placed with a Jewish community by the river Chebar, in Chaldaea. See Chebar. He prophesied over 22 years, b.c. 595-573, till the fourteenth year after the final captivity of Jerusalem. From incidental allusions we learn that he had a house, Eze 8:1, and had lost his wife very suddenly, Eze 24:16-18. He was held in great esteem and frequently consulted by the elders, Neh 8:1; Eze 11:25; Eze 14:1; Eze 20:1. It is said that he kept up an intimate friendship with Jeremiah, and even that they exchanged prophecies. At all events, they echo one another's grief and lament over the ruined city, and both pierce through the gloom of the present distress and see the light of a new dispensation when the Law shall be written in the heart. Eze 11:19;Eze 18:31; cf. Jer 31:33. We do not know how or when his death occurred. Tradition states he was murdered. His reputed tomb is shown near Bagdad. Ezekiel was stern, inflexible, an earnest Jewish patriot, devoted to the rites and ceremonies of his religion, and uncompromisingly opposed to all forms of evil. He no doubt contributed much to the formation of the intense nationality of the Jews during that period. Prof. J. T. Hyde says: "He is not so much of a counsellor and seer as Isaiah, nor so much of a reformer and intercessor as Jeremiah, nor so much of a prince and statesman as Daniel, but more of a priest in his general spirit and bearing. More than a hundred times is he called 'son of man,' a title given to no other prophet except Daniel…