The Bible King James version Book 26: Ezekiel

The Book of Ezekiel is a prophetic text attributed to the prophet Ezekiel who was among the Israelites exiled to Babylon in the 6th century BCE. The book opens with Ezekiel’s dramatic vision of the glory of God featuring surreal imagery of divine beings wheels within wheels and a throne surrounded by fire symbolizing God’s omnipresence and power. Ezekiel is commissioned by God to deliver messages of judgment to Israel condemning their idolatry social injustice and moral corruption which led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The first half of Ezekiel focuses on warnings of impending judgment using vivid and often shocking symbolic acts and allegories to communicate the severity of Israel’s sins. These include prophetic gestures such as lying on his side for extended periods and cooking food over dung representing the hardships of the siege and exile. Ezekiel’s warnings extend beyond Israel as he also prophesies against surrounding nations declaring God’s judgment upon them for their own transgressions.