Ezekiel, the Man
Ezekiel is one of four major prophets in the Bible. The other three are Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel.
The Book of Ezekiel begins with Ezekiel in captivity in Babylon along with his wife and most of the people from Judah. Ezekiel began his ministry when he was thirty years old, in the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin. Ezekiel was the son of Buzi a priest, and Ezekiel was a 25-year-old priest when he was taken in captivity. After being in captivity for five years, God called Ezekiel to become a prophet for Him in a foreign land.
You will read about Ezekiel's personal experiences as you complete this study. In the meantime, here are some of the unusual things God commanded the prophet to do.
--Ezekiel shut himself in his home and bound himself.
--The Lord made him dumb.
--God told Ezekiel to lie on his right side and then on his left side for 430 days.
--God put a limit on Ezekiel’s food and drink during that period.
--God commanded Ezekiel to cook his food over cow dung.
--Ezekiel had to shave his head and his beard.
--God did not permit Ezekiel to shed a tear at his wife's funeral.
--Ezekiel lost his speech for a second time.
Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was born into a priestly family and was a priest before God called him to be a prophet. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel did not want the assignment, but both men accepted the task anyway.
Both prophets lived at the same time. Ezekiel was in Babylon with the captives while Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem with the remnants who had been left behind.
Ezekiel's name means "God Strengthens."
Throughout the book, God addressed Ezekiel as "Son of Man" about 93 times. In some versions of the Bible, he is addressed as "Mortal." Both addresses mean "human."
Ezekiel prophesied for about 22 years.
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