1:1 In the thirtieth year, 1 on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles 2 at the Kebar River, 3 the heavens opened 4 and I saw a divine vision. 5
4:6 “When you have completed these days, then lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the iniquity of the house of Judah 40 days 6 – I have assigned one day for each year.
8:1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month, 7 as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand 8 of the sovereign Lord seized me. 9
20:1 In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, 10 some of the elders 11 of Israel came to seek 12 the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.
33:21 In the twelfth year of our exile, in the tenth month, on the fifth of the month, 13 a refugee came to me from Jerusalem 14 saying, “The city has been defeated!” 15
1 sn The meaning of the thirtieth year is problematic. Some take it to mean the age of Ezekiel when he prophesied (e.g., Origen). The Aramaic Targum explains the thirtieth year as the thirtieth year dated from the recovery of the book of the Torah in the temple in Jerusalem (2 Kgs 22:3-9). The number seems somehow to be equated with the fifth year of Jehoiachin’s exile in 1:2, i.e., 593
2 sn The Assyrians started the tactic of deportation, the large-scale forced displacement of conquered populations, in order to stifle rebellions. The task of uniting groups of deportees, gaining freedom from one’s overlords and returning to retake one’s own country would be considerably more complicated than living in one’s homeland and waiting for an opportune moment to drive out the enemy’s soldiers. The Babylonians adopted this practice also, after defeating the Assyrians. The Babylonians deported Judeans on three occasions. The practice of deportation was reversed by the Persian conquerors of Babylon, who gained favor from their subjects for allowing them to return to their homeland and, as polytheists, sought the favor of the gods of the various countries which had come under their control.
3 sn The Kebar River is mentioned in Babylonian texts from the city of Nippur in the fifth century
4 sn For the concept of the heavens opened in later literature, see 3 Macc 6:18; 2 Bar. 22:1; T. Levi 5:1; Matt 3:16; Acts 7:56; Rev 19:11.
5 tn Or “saw visions from God.” References to divine visions occur also in Ezek 8:3; 40:2
6 sn The number 40 may refer in general to the period of Judah’s exile using the number of years Israel was punished in the wilderness. In this case, however, one would need to translate, “you will bear the punishment of the house of Judah.”
7 tc The LXX reads “In the sixth year, in the fifth month, on the fifth of the month.”
sn In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month would be September 17, 592
8 tn Or “power.”
sn Hand in the OT can refer metaphorically to power, authority, or influence. In Ezekiel God’s hand being on the prophet is regularly associated with communication or a vision from God (3:14, 22; 8:1; 37:1; 40:1).
9 tn Heb “fell upon me there,” that is, God’s influence came over him.
10 sn The date would be August 14th, 591
11 tn Heb “men from the elders.”
12 tn See the note at 14:3.
13 tn January 19, 585
14 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
15 tn Heb “smitten.”
16 sn That is, the year of Jubilee (Lev 25:8-15).