nounced against Egypt, viz. two (eh. xxix. 1-16 and xxx. 1-19) proceer1- ing from the tenth year, the tenth month, and the twelfth day; a. third (eh. xxx. 20-26) from the seventh day of the first month of the eleventh year; a fourth (eh. xxxi. 1-18) from the eleventh year, the third month, and the first day; with a fifth (eh. xxxii. 1-16) from the first day ancl a sixth (eh. xxxii. 17-32) from the fifteenth day of the twelfth month of the twelfth year. Thus in this second part thirteen oracles are included, to which Kliefoth, in order to carry out his sevenfold division (14 = 2 x 7) adds the next oracle (eh. xxxiii. 1-20), which, however, rather serves as an introduction to the ensuing main division. The third part (eh. xxiii.-xlviii.), consisting of prophecies of restoration for the fallen people, has also been variously divided. Kliefoth makes as many subsections as there are separate oracles or words of God, viz. eight. Ewald distributes the whole into three, setting forth the prosperity of the future, (1) as to its conditions and basis (eh. xxxiii.-xxxvi.), (2) as to its progress from the beginning until its consummation ( eh. xxxvii.-xxxix. ), and (3) as to its arrangement and constitution in detail in connection with the restoration of the temple and kingdom ( eh. xl.-xlviii. ). Schroder constructs two groups, which he denominates the renewal of Ezekiel's mission (eh. xxxiii.), and the Divine promises (eh. xxxiv.-xlviii.). Perhaps as natural a mode of division as any is that of Bleek, Havernick, Hengsten- berg, Smend, and others, who combine Ewald's first and second subsections into one, and so reduce the number to two, of which the first ( eh. xxxiii.- xxxix.) was published in the twelfth year, tenth month, and fifth day, ancl the second (eh. xl.-xlviii.) in the twenty-fifth year, first month, and tenth day. If the introductory portion of Part I. ( eh. i.-iii. 21) be set apart as a distinct subsection, then the paragraph ( eh. xxxiii. 1-20) which intro- duces Part III. ought in the same fashion to be reckoned as a separate subsection, in which case the number of such subsections in Part III. would be three; but possibly in both cases it is better to include the opening verses in the first subsections. In the third part the number of separate oracles, or" words of Jehovah," as above noted, is seven ( eh. xxxiii. 1 ; xxxiii. 23; xxxi v. 1 ; xxxv. 1 ; xxxvi. 16 ; xxxvii. 15 ; xxxviii. 1), which har- monizes with Kliefoth's arithmetical scheme of making the number of tho oracles in the different parts of the book a multiple of seven, as without question the total number of "Divine words" in the book, 49, is divisible by 7; yet the scheme itself looks too artificial to have been delibBrately adopted by the prophBt as the ground-plan after which his literary material was arranged. (2) Contents. These, having been already frequently referred to, need not be further detailed than by appending.the following table, in which are set forth the several oracles uttered by the prophet, with the dates at which they were spoken, and the subjects to which they allude : -
EZEKIEL. 0 xviii INTRODUCTION '1'0
PART FmsT. Concerning Israel: prophecies of judgment. Ch. i.-xxiv. Section First. Ch. i.-vii. (Fifth year, fourth month, fifth day, n.c. 605.) I. The calling of the prophet: Introductory. 1. The sublime theophany, Ch. i. 2. Ezekiel's commission. Ch. ii. I-iii. 15. II. The prophet's first activity. I. Appointed a watchman. Ch. iii. 16-21. 2. Din•cted about bis work. Cb. iii. 22-27. 3. The siege of Jerusalem portrayed. Ch. iv. 1-v. 4, 4. The four signs interpreted. Ch. v. 5-17. III. The mountains of Israel denounced. Ch. vi. IV. The final overthrow of Israel. Ch. vii. Section Second. Cb. viii.-xix. (Sixth year, sixth month, fifth day, n.c. 594.) I. A series of visions. 1. The chambers of imagery, or Jerusalem's corruption. Ch. viii. 1-18. 2. The six executioners and the man with the ink-horn; or, the preservation of the righteous and destruction of the wicked in Jerusalem. Ch. ix. 1-11. 3. The coals of fire, or the burning of the city. Ch. x. 1-2. • 4. The whirling wheels, or the departure of Jehovah from the temple, Ch. x. 3-22. 5. The five and twenty princes; or the wickedness of the city leaders. Ch. :xi. 1-13. 6. The ascending cherubim; or Jehovah's withdrawal from the city. Ch. xi, 14-25. IL Two symbolic actions. 1. Ezekiel's removing; or Zedekiah's captivity. Ch. xii. 1-16. 2. Ezekiel's trembling; or the terrors of the siege, Ch. xii.17-20. 3. The certainty of their fulfilment. Ch. xii. 21-28. Ill. Two threatening discourses. I. Against false prophets and false prophetesses. Ch. xiii. 2. Against the elders of Israel. Ch. xiv. 1-11. 3. The inevitableness of Jehovah's judgments. Ch. xiv. 12-23. IV. Similitudes and parables. I. Parable of the vine tree; or the worthlessness of Judah. Ch. xv. 1-8. 2. Similitude of the outcast infant; or Jerusalem's abominations. Cb, xvi. 1-63. 3. The allegory of the two eagles and a vine ; or the fortunes of the royal how;e of Judah. Ch. xvii. 4. The proverb concerning sour grapes; or J ehovah's equity defended. Ch. xviii. 5. The lion's whelps and the vine-a lamentation for the princes of Judah, Ch. xix. Section Third. Ch. xx.-xxiii. (Seventh year, fifth month, tenth day, B.o. 593.) I. The story of Israel's rebellions. Cb. xx. II. A proclamation of approaching judgments. I. The sword against Israel. Cb. xxi. 1-7. 2. The song of the sword. Ch. xxi 8-17. 3. The advance of Nebuchadnezzar. Cb. xxi. 18-27. 4. The sword against Ammon. Ch. xxi. 28-32, III. The sins of Jerusalem. 1. The wickedness of the princes and people. Ch. xxii. 1-16. 2. Their fearful doom, to be cast into the furnace. Ch. :uii. 17-22, 3. No intercessor. Ch. xxii. 23-31. IV. The histories of Aholah and Aholibamah. Ch. xxiii. 'l'HE BOOK OF THE PROPHET EZl~KIEL. xix