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EZEKIEL – LESSON ONE

HISTORY AND OVERVIEW

I. Judah’ Last Kings:

 A. Manasseh (687-642 B.C.)

 B. Amon (642-640 B.C)

 C. Josiah (640-609 B.C.)

 D. Jehoahaz (608 B.C. – 3 months)

 E. Jehoiakim (Eliakim) (608-597 B.C.)

 F. Jehoiachin (Coniah, Jeconiah) (597 B.C. – 3 months)

 G. Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.)

II. Important Events:

 A. Three powers: Assyria, Egypt and the Chaldeans (Babylon)

 B. 612 B.C. Ninevah (capital of Assyria) falls

 C. 609 B.C. Josiah killed at Megiddo fighting against Pharaoh – Neco.

 D. 606 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar takes first captives from Jerusalem – Daniel

 E. 605 B.C. Egypt falls at Carchemish

 F. 597 B.C. Babylon takes Jerusalem captive – Jehoiakim

 G. 597 B.C. Babylon takes Jehoiachin captive – 10,000 nobles, Ezekiel

 H. 586 B.C. Babylon destroys Jerusalem

III. Author of the Book: Ezekiel

 A. Name:  “God strengthens”

 B. Priest (1:3) – a time of writing Ezekiel is 20 years of age (1:1)

 C. Among the 10,000 captives in 597 B.C. (40:1)

 D. Prophetic work: 592-570 B.C. (1:2, 29:17)

 E. Married, and had house (24:15, 8:1)

 F. Conveys message in signs (Chapters 4, 5, 12, 24), visions (Chapters 1, 8, 10), and parables (Chapters 15,18, 19)

IV. Current Need Facing Ezekiel

 A. Meet rebellious people (3:7-9)

 B. False prophets telling of immediate return to Jerusalem (13:16, Jeremiah 29:5-10; 24:5; 28:2-3).

 C. This information helps us understand the prophecies of doom for Jerusalem while in captivity (cf. 33:21).

V. Key Phrase: “They shall know that I am Jehovah” (6:10, 26:6, 29:16, 36:11).

COURSE OF STUDY

1. Lesson One: Introduction: history and overview

2.  Lesson Two: Vision and Commission (Chapters 1-3)

3. Lesson Three: Jerusalem Must Fall (Chapters 4-11)

4. Lesson Four:  Jerusalem Must Fall (Chapters 12-16)

5. Lesson Five: Jerusalem Must Fall (Chapters 17-24)  

6. Lesson Six: Nations Must Fall (Chapters 25-32)

7. Lesson Seven: Watchman’s Responsibility – government of future –  Edom (Chapters 33-35)

8. Lesson Eight: Land  blessed – people revived- and enemy conquered (Chapters 36-39)

9. Lesson Nine: Future Purity: temple, worship, land (Chapters 40-48)