The Structural Design of Part 1: Ezekiel 1-7. Ezekiel s Visions Dating from the 5 th Year of the Exile

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1 1 The Structural Design of Part 1: Ezekiel 1-7 For the structural design of the book as a whole, see the Introduction to the book. Ezekiel s Visions Dating from the 5 th Year of the Exile The sections marked blue are governed by 17 and 26 in their verses and/or words. Section 1: 1,1-3,11 Ezekiel s call and commissioning as YHWH s watchman: [] 49 (7x7) vs; 706+ Section 2: 3,12-21 The Spirit brings Ezekiel to the exiles at Telabib: S 10 vs; 152/858 (33x26) words. Section 3: 3,22-27 YHWH gives Ezekiel instructions about his task: S 6 vs; 91 (13x7) words. Section 4: 4,1-17 The sign act of the clay tablet portraying Jerusalem: P 17 vs; 264 words. Section 5: 5,1-17 The sign act of the razor over Ezekiel s head and beard: P 17 vs; 287 words. Section 6: 6,1-14 The prophecy against the mountains of Israel: P 14 (2x7) vs; 212 words. Section 7: 7,1-27 The end has come over the four corners of the land: P 27 vs; 343 (7x7x7) words. Part 1: Sections 1-7 Ezekiel (5x7) instances of the name YHWH 140 (20x7) vs; 2055 words. Structural design based on layout markers, content and numerical considerations The paragraphs marked blue in Columns 1-3 are in their entirety highlighted by multiples of 17 and 26. It cannot be excluded that some multiples are due to coincidence. Who can tell? Vs Text Words Letters hwhy Sum words S/P Structural Design Section 1 1,1-3,11 Ezekiel s call and commissioning as watchman 1 Ezk. 1, Preface: Time and place of Ezekiel s visions of God 2 Ezk. 1, ,1 Ezekiel say this in his own words: 17 words. 3 Ezk. 1, /44 [] 1,2-3 The historical context (3 rd person form). 4 Ezk. 1, A stormy wind, clouds and lightning 5 Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, The paragraph is in its entirety highlighted by 8 Ezk. 1, its 136 (8x17) words. 9 Ezk. 1, x17) Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, /136 [] 15 Ezk. 1, The living creatures and the wheels 16 Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, The paragraph is in its entirety highlighted by its 18 Ezk. 1,18 10 (5x17) (5x17) words. 19 Ezk. 1, (2x26) , (2x26) words. 20 Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, /85 (5x17) [] 22 Ezk. 1, A firmament, a voice and a throne 23 Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, ,23-24 The wings of the creatures: words. 25 Ezk. 1, Ezk. 1, ,4-28 ( 2-4) have = 338 (13x26) words, 27 Ezk. 1, dealing with the appearance of the the glory of YHWH. 28 Ezk. 1, /117 S 1,4-28 has altogether 338 (13x26) words. 29 Ezk. 2, YHWH speaks to Ezekiel and commissions him 30 Ezk. 2, /22 P 31 Ezk. 2, These P s mark the various stages of YHWH s speech. 32 Ezk. 2, Ezk. 2, /53 P The paragraph is in its entirety highlighted by its 34 Ezk. 2, (6x26) words. 35 Ezk. 2, /38 P

2 2 36 Ezk. 2, Ezk. 2, Ezk. 2,10 12/ 156 6x26) /43 S 1,4-2,10 ( 1-4) has altogether 494 (19x26) words. 39 Ezk. 3, God orders Ezekiel to eat the scroll and to set out 40 Ezk. 3, ,1 Eat the scroll, go, and speak to Israel! : 17 words. 41 Ezk. 3, /44 P Compare Jeremiah 15,16! 42 Ezk. 3, Ezekiel must speak to Israel but they will not listen 43 Ezk. 3, Ezk. 3, (2x26) ,5-7 Foreign nations would listen to Ezekiel, but the 45 Ezk. 3, Israelites will not listen: 52 (2x26) words. 46 Ezk. 3, Ezk. 3, /91 P 48 Ezk. 3, Speak whether they hear or refuse to hear! 49 Ezk. 3, [] 49 1,1-3, x 706 Finalized and sealed by 49 (7x7) verses and 7 paragraphs. Section 2 3,12-21 The Spirit brings Ezekiel to the exiles at Telabib 50 Ezk. 3, Ezekiel is overwhelmed; he sits among them 7 days 51 Ezk. 3, Ezk. 3, Ezk. 3, ,14-16a The Spirit brings him there and the hand of 54a Ezk. 3,16a 4/ /58 P YHWH was strong on him: 34 (2x17) words. 54b Ezk. 3,16b YHWH appoints Ezekiel his watchman to warn Israel 55 Ezk. 3,17 12/ ,16b-17 Ezekiel appointed to warn the Israelites: 17 w. 56 Ezk. 3, ,16-19 The 57 words represent the numerical value 57 Ezk. 3, / S of Ezekiel s name: 10+8= =57, and may symbo- 58 Ezk. 3, lize his signature. For the signature, see 59 Ezk. 3, /94 S General Introduction, pp , x ,1-3, (33x26) x 858 (33x26) Sections 1-2 are finalized and sealed by 858 (33x26) w. Section 3 3,22-27 YHWH gives Ezekiel instructions about his task 60 Ezk. 3, Ezekiel sees the glory of God in the plain 61 Ezk. 3, Ezk. 3, Ezk. 3, ,25-26 Ezekiel will be bound with cords; his tongue will 64 Ezk. 3,26 14/ cleave to his palate: 26 words. 65 Ezk. 3, /91 S 6 3, (13x7) 329 3x 91 (13x7) Section 3 is sealed by 91 (13x7) words. Section 4 4,1-17 The sign act of the clay tablet portraying Jerusalem 66 Ezk. 4, YHWH orders Ezekiel to portray the city of Jersalem 67 Ezk. 4, Ezk. 4, /54 S 69 Ezk. 4, The sign act signifying the siege of the city 70 Ezk. 4, ,4-8 Ezekiel must lie on his left side with his face towards 71 Ezk. 4, the picture of the city, for = 430 days, to bear the 72 Ezk. 4, punishment of the people, and to prophesy against them: 73 Ezk. 4, (8x17) /78 78 (3x26) words. 74 Ezk. 4, ,9-12 The sign act of the bread baked on human dung: 75 Ezk. 4, words. 76 Ezk. 4, The paragraph is highlighted by 136 (8x17) words. 77 Ezk. 4, /58 S 78 Ezk. 4, YHWH explains the sign of the bread 4 Ezk. 4, /33 S 4 Ezekiel says: I have never defiled myself 80 Ezk. 4, /15 S 5 YHWH allows him to use cow s dung 81 Ezk. 4, YHWH will break the staff of bread 82 Ezk. 4,17 9/ /26 P The paragraph is highlighted by 17+9=26 words.

3 3 17 4, x 264 Section 4 is finalized and sealed by 17 verses. Section 5 5,1-17 The sign of the razor over Ezekiel s head and beard 83 Ezk. 5, YHWH orders him to use a sharp sword as razor 84 Ezk. 5, Ezk. 5, Ezk. 5, /66 P 87 Ezk. 5, Jerusalem is a rebellious city 88 Ezk. 5, /30 S 89 Ezk. 5, YHWH will judge Jerusalem s inhabitants 90 Ezk. 5, Ezk. 5, /53 S 92 Ezk. 5, YHWH will cut them down by the sword 93 Ezk. 5, ,10-12 They will become canibals and because of their 94 Ezk. 5, abominations they will fall by the sword: words. 95 Ezk. 5, ,13-17 God will spend his fury on them and make them a 96 Ezk. 5, desolation and a horror: 78 (3x26) words. 97 Ezk. 5, (3x26) ,5-17 YHWH s judgement has 221 (13x17) words. 98 Ezk. 5, ,1-5,17 has altogether 1118 (43x26) words. 99 Ezk. 5, /138 P 1,4-5,17 has altogether 1456 (56x26) words. 17 5, (41x7) x 287 (41x7) Section 5 is finalized and sealed by 17 vs. and 7x YHWH. Section 6 6,1-14 The prophecy against the mountains of Israel 100 Ezk. 6, YHWH will punish the people; some will escape 101 Ezk. 6, Ezk. 6, ,2-5 YHWH will bring a sword upon them and destroy 103 Ezk. 6, (3x17) their high places and altars: 51 (3x17) words. 104 Ezk. 6, Ezk. 6, ,6 Cities will be laid waste; cult objects wiped out: 17 w. 106 Ezk. 6, Ezk. 6, Ezk. 6, Ezk. 6, /128 P 110 Ezk. 6, The house of Israel will fall by many disasters 111 Ezk. 6,12 13/34 (2x17) ,11-12 Because of all the evil, God will spend his fury 112 Ezk. 6, upon them: 34 (2x17) words. 113 Ezk. 6, /84 P 6,14 The desolation will let them realize YHWH is God: , x 212 Section 6 is sealed by 14 (2x7) verses. Section 7 7,1-27 The end has come over the four corners of the land 114 Ezk. 7, YHWH will punish the people for their idols 115 Ezk. 7, The entire paragraph is highlighted by 51 words. 116 Ezk. 7, (3x17) Ezk. 7, /51 P 118 Ezk. 7, Disaster after disaster and ultimately the end! 119 Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, ,6-9 Doom has come: punishment for all their evil ways 121 Ezk. 7, (2x26) and they will know that it is YHWH who smites: 52 words. 122 Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, ,14-15 YHWH s wrath, pestilence, famine, and the sword 128 Ezk. 7,15 14/ will devour them: 26 words. 129 Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, ,16-20 If any survivors escape, they will be weak, clothed 132 Ezk. 7, in sackcloth, with shame upon their faces, while their silver

4 4 133 Ezk. 7,20 14/68 (4x17) and gold cannot deliver them in the day of wrath: 68 w. 134 Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, /232 P 136 Ezk. 7, They will be robbed their holy places profaned 137 Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7, The entire paragraph is highlighted by its 60=26+34 words. 139 Ezk. 7, Ezk. 7,27 18/34 (2x17) /60 P 7,2-27 God s speech has 26 verses and 338 (13x26) words. 27 7, (7x7x7) x 343 (7x7x7) Note the use of 7 in Chapter 7: 7x7x7 words; 7x YHWH. 41 6,1-7, x 555 Part 1 (1-7) is finalized and sealed by 140 (20x7) verses and 140 1,1-7, (5x7) (5x7) instances of the name YHWH. Observation 1 In Part 1 (1-7) 131 of the 140 verses (94%) and 1641 of the 2055 words (80%) are highlighted by 17 and 26. Moreover, it is finalized and sealed by 140 (20x7) verses and 35 (5x7) instances of the name YHWH. In terms of number, Part 1 ends in the same way as the book of Exodus (40,34-38), with words. One of the most astounding features of the book is the numerical structural design of the passage 2,1-5,17, in which Gods begins to speak to Ezekiel until the end of his 12 th speech ending with I, YHWH, have spoken. The passage is made up of 1118 (43x26) words, which is underscored by the fact that the 12 divine speeches in 2,1-5,17 are made up of altogether 936 (36x26) words. See the Table and Observation 4 below. I owe this insight to Klaas Eikelenboom. Crucial passages in Part 1: Ezk. 1,1-7,27 highlighted by 17 and The time and place of Ezekiel s visions, in his own words (1,1): 17 words. 2. The vision of a stormy wind, clouds and lightning (1,4-14): 136 (8x17) words. 3. The vision of the living creatures and the wheels (1,15-21): 85 (5x17) words. 4. The movements of the creatures and the wheels (1,18-21): 52 (2x26) words. 5. The creatures under the firmament (1,23-24): words. 6. The appearance of the likeness of YHWH s glory (1,4-28): 338 (13x26) words. 7. YHWH speaks to Ezekiel and commissions him (2,1-10): 156 (6x26) words. 8. Eat the scroll, go, and speak to Israel! (3,1): 17 words. 9. Foreign nations would listen to him, but the Israelites will not listen (3,5-7): 52 (2x26) words. 10. The Spirit brings Ezekiel to Telabib by the river Chebar (3,14-16a ): 34 (2x17) words. 11. Ezekiel is appointed watchman to warn the Israelites (3,16b-17): 17 words. 12. Sections 1-2 (1,1-3,21) stand out as being finalized and sealed by 858 (33x26) words. 13. Ezekiel will be bound with cords and unable to speak (3,25-26): 26 words. 14. The sign act of Ezekiel lying on his side and the unclean bread (4,4-12): 136 (8x17) words. 15. Ezekiel must perform a sign act signifying the siege of the city (4,4-8): 78 (3x26) words. 16. YHWH will break the staff of bread (4,16-17): 17+9=26 words. 17. YHWH will cut them down by the sword (5,10-12): words. 18. YHWH will spend his fury on the inhabitants of Jerusalem (5,13-17): 78 (3x26) words. 19. Because of their abominations they will fall by the sword (5,10-12) : words. 20. YHWH will make them a horror by means of all sorts of plagues (5,13-17): 78 (3x26) words. 21. YHWH s total judgement (5,5-17) is made up of 221 (13x17) words. 22. YHWH will destroy their high places and altars (6,2-5 ): 51 (3x17) words. 23. Cities will be laid waste; cult objects wiped out (6,6): 17 words. 24. Because of all the evil, YHWH will spend his fury upon them (6,11-12): 34 (2x17) words. 25. The desolate land will let them realize that YHWH is God (6,14): 17 words. 26. Doom has come and they will know that it is YHWH who smites (7,6-9 ): 52 (2x26) words. 27. YHWH s wrath, pestilence, famine, and the sword will devour them (7,14-15 ): 26 words. 28. Survivors will be feeble and clothed in sackcloth in the day of wrath (7,16-20 ): 68 (4x17) words. 29. Nobody can help them; all of them are clothed with terror (7,23-27): 60=26+34 words.

5 5 Words attributed to God in Part 1: Ezekiel 1-7 The introductory formulae such as and, are evidently Ezekiel s own words. However, the formulae (122x) and (3x), to be found altogether 125 times in the book, are at first sight problematic. In no less than 53 instances these formulae are clearly part of the words Ezekiel hears in his visions as coming from God: in 24 cases they occur in the words God explicitly orders the prophet to speak, and in 26 instances they are clearly part and parcel of the divine speech in question preceded by or. This also applies to the 25 introductory formulae occurring at the beginning of a verse. Accordingly, contrary to what we found in Isaiah and Jeremiah, where the formulae and are used to introduce the words the prophet ascribes to God, in the book of Ezekiel they are in all instances integral parts of what Ezekiel hears in his visions as coming from God. Their function is to underline the divine status of these words, in the same way as (14x), (81x), (4x: 13,6.7; 16,58; 37,14), and (123x). And if they have an introductory function, it is not Ezekiel, but God himself who introduces what he has to say. Seeing the autobiographical character of the book, it is totally unthinkable that the author would regard such referring formulae as out of place. In the table below, Column 1 shows the numbering of the divine speeches (Nr), Column 2 the texts in which they are to be found (Text), Column 3 the Speaker and the subject matter, Column 4, the number of words in the introductions (Introduction), Column 5 the number of words ascribed to God (W.A.G.), and Column 6 the total number of words devoted to God s speaking (Total). Nr Text Speaker / Subject matter Introduction W.A.G. Total 1 2,1 A voice : Stand up, I will speak to you! A 2,3-5 A voice : Go, speak my words! 2 51 (3x17) 53 2B 2,6-8 A voice : Speak resolutely! ,1 A voice : Eat this scroll! ,3a A voice : Fill your stomach with it! ,4-9 A voice : Speak to the Israelites! (6x26) 6 3,10-11 A voice : Let your ears hear my words! ,16-21 YHWH : Be my watchman for Israel! ,22 YHWH : I will speak to you in the plain! A 3,24-27 A Spirit re: the first sign act (36x26) 53 9B 4,1-3 A Spirit re: the second sign act C 4,4-8 A Spirit re: the third sign act D 4,9-12 A Spirit re: the fourth sign act. 0 58/136 (8x17) ,13 YHWH re: God s explains this sign act ,15 YHWH re: God gives in to the prophet A 4,16-17 YHWH re: Breaking the staff of bread B 5,1-4 YHWH re: the fifth sign act C 5,5-17 YHWH re: God announces his judgment (13x17) 221 (13x17) 13A 6,1-10 YHWH re: Prophecy against mountains B 6,11-14 YHWH re: The desolation of the land A 7,1-4 YHWH re: The end has come (3x17) 14B 7,5-22 YHWH re: Disaster after disaster (13x26) C 7,23-27 YHWH re: Make a desolation! Part Observation 3 In 3,12 the direct speech, Blessed be the glory of YHWH from this (his) place, should not be taken as a divine speech in the normal sense, because the speaking subject is clearly a fierce rushing sound. Neither is there any need to amend the text, reading instead of (see ap. crit. BHS, followed by some commentators and translators, among others Zimmerli and the REB): as the glory of YHWH rose from his place. All ancient translations support the MT reading.

6 6 Observation 4 In Part 1: Ezekiel of the 2055 words are ascribed to God: 72%. DSS 1-12: 2,1-5,17 have altogether 936 (36x26) words. See Observation 1 above. DS 2A: 2,3-5 is made up of 51 (3x17) words. DS 3: 3,1, including its introduction, has 17 words. DSS 3-6: 3,1-11, including their introductions, have 156 (6x26) words. DS 9C: 4,4-8 is made up of 78 (3x26) words. DSS 9C-9D: 4,4-12 have altogether 136 (8x17) words. DS 12C: 5,5-17 is made up of 221 (13x17) words. DS 14A: 7,1-4, including its introduction, has 51 (3x17) words. DSS 14A-14C: have altogether 338 (13x26) words. Ezekiel 2 1 2,1 2+7=9 2A 2, =53 2B 2, =60 Ezekiel 3 3 3,1 2+15=17 4 3,3a 2+13=15 5 3, =91

7 7 6 3, =33 7 3,16b =94 8 3,22b 2+7=9 9A 3,24b =53 Ezekiel 4 9B 4, =54 9C 4, =78 78=3x (8x17) words 9D 4, =58

8 8 12B 5, = , = , =15 12A 4, =26 Ezekiel 5 12C 5, = =13x17

9 9 Ezekiel 6 13A 6, =128 13B 6, =84 Ezekiel 7 14A 7, =51 (3x17) 14B 7, =232

10 10 14C 7, =60 Continue to Part 2: Ezekiel 8-13

The Structural Design of Part 4: Ezekiel 20-24

1 The Structural Design of Part 4: Ezekiel 20-24 For the structural design of the book as a whole, see the Introduction to the book. Ezekiel s Visions During the 7 th -9 th Year of the Exile The sections