40:1 In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city 1 was struck down, on this very day, 2 the hand 3 of the Lord was on me, and he brought me there. 4 40:2 By means of divine visions 5 he brought me to the land of Israel and placed me on a very high mountain, 6 and on it was a structure like a city, to the south.
1 sn That is, Jerusalem.
2 tn April 19, 573
3 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).
4 sn That is, to the land of Israel (see v. 2).
5 tn The expression introduces the three major visions of Ezekiel (1:1; 8:3; 40:2).
6 tn The reference to a very high mountain is harmonious with Isa 2:2.