The Structural Design of Part 7: Ezekiel Ezekiel s Visions of a New Temple and a New Land

Transcription

1 1 The Structural Design of Part 7: Ezekiel For the structural design of the book as a whole, see the Introduction to the book. Ezekiel s Visions of a New Temple and a New Land The sections marked blue are governed by 17 and 26 in terms of verses and/or words. Section 1: 40,1-42,20 Ezekiel s vision of the temple and the land: [] 95 vs; 1379 w Section 2: 43,1-9 The arrival of the glory of YHWH: S vs; 134 w. (89x17) Section 3: 43,10-44,31 The ordinances of the temple: P (9x17) 49 vs; 782 (46x17) w. Section 4: 45,1-12 The allotment of sacred land: [] 12 vs; 209 w. Section 5: 45,13-46,24 The ordinances of the temple: [] 37 vs; 568 w. Section 6: 47,1-12 The river flowing to the east: [] 12 vs; 202 w. Section 7: 47,13-48,35 The boundaries and division of the land: Colophon 46 vs; 691 w. Part 7: Ezekiel instances of the name YHWH 260 vs; 3965 w. Structural design based on content and numerical considerations A distinctive characteristic of Part 7 is the scarcity of layout markers; the first occurs after 43,9. 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 Sum w. S/P Structural Design Section 1 40,1-42,20 Ezekiel s vision of the temple and land Section 1a 40,1-4 He sees a Man who will show him around 1 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 3 Ezk 40, its 85 (5x17) words. 4 Ezk 40, [] 4 Section 1a 85 (5x17) 330 1x 85 (5x17) Section 1b 40,5-27 The Man measures everything at the gate 5 Ezk 40, The wall around the temple 6 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, ,11-14 The Man measures the gateway 12 Ezk 40, (2x26) and the vestibule: 52 (2x26) words. 13 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40,16 19/181 86/ /181 [] 17 Ezk 40, Ezekiel is brought into the outer court 18 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, /37 [] 20 Ezk 40, They go to the north gateway 21 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, /56 [] 24 Ezk 40, They go to the south gateway 25 Ezk 40,25 14/ Ezk 40, The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 27 Ezk 40,27 13/26 51/ /52 [] its words. 23 Section 1b

2 2 Section 1c 40,28-34 They go to the southern inner court 28 Ezk 40, The man measures the gateway 29 Ezk 40, ,29 The side rooms and the vestibule on 30 Ezk 40, the south: 17 words. 31 Ezk 40,31 10/49 43/ /49 [] 32 Ezk 40, They go to the eastern inner court 33 Ezk 40, ,33 The side rooms and the vestibule on 34 Ezk 40,34 11/39 48/ /39 [] The east: 17 words. 7 Section 1c (22x17) 88 Section 1d 40,35-43 They go to the north gateway 35 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40, The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 39 Ezk 40, its 119 (7x17) words. 40 Ezk 40, ,40 The four tables in the vestibule: Ezk 40, Ezk 40, ,42 The four tables for the offerings: Ezk 40, [] 9 Section 1d 119 (7x17) Section 1e 40,44-41,26 They go to the inner court: two chambers 44 Ezk 40, The chambers are for the priests 45 Ezk 40, Ezk 40, Ezk 40,47 13/66 48/ /66 [] 48 Ezk 40, They go to the vestibule of the temple 49 Ezk 40,49 19/40 75/ /40 [] 50 Ezk 41, They go into the sanctuary 51 Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, ,5-6 The wall of the temple and the side 55 Ezk 41,6 21/34 (2x17) arcades with their rebatements: 34 words. 56 Ezk 41, Ezk 41, ,8-11 The raised pavement all around 58 Ezk 41, the temple: 52 (2x26) words. 59 Ezk 41, (2x26) Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, ,15-20 The measurement of the temple 67 Ezk 41, (5x17) is followed by a description of the inner 68 Ezk 41, shrine and the vestibule: 85 (5x17) words. 69 Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, Ezk 41, / /370 [] 32 Section 1e

3 3 Section 1f 42,1-20 They go to the outer court by the north 76 Ezk 42, Description of various rooms 77 Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, ,3-12 Description of the corridors facing 81 Ezk 42, the pavement and the other rooms inside 82 Ezk 42, (5x26) and outside the wall: 130 (5x26) words. 83 Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42,14 24/214 96/ /214 [] 90 Ezk 42, They go out through the gateway 91 Ezk 42,16 11/ ,15-16 The man measures the whole 92 Ezk 42, area, to begin with, the east side: 26 w. 93 Ezk 42, Ezk 42, Ezk 42, / /71 [] 42,20 The measurements of the wall: 17 w. 95 Section x 1379 Section 2 43,1-9 They go to the inner court of the temple 96 Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, /134 S 9 Section x Sections (89x17) x 1513 (89x17) Sealed in terms of verses and words. Section 3 43,10-44,31 The ordinances of the temple Section 3a 43,10-27 Ezekiel must tell Israel about the temple 105 Ezk 43, He must describe its appearance 106 Ezk 43, Ezk 43,12 16/62 55/ /62 [] 108 Ezk 43, The ordinances of the altar 109 Ezk 43, Ezk 43,15 7/ ,14-15 Measurements of the altar: 26 w. 111 Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, Ezk 43, ,19-20 The Zadokite priests must be 115 Ezk 43,20 16/34 (2x17) provided with a bull and the altar must be 116 Ezk 43, cleansed: 34 (2x17) words. 117 Ezk 43, Ezk 43, ,22-27 Instructions regarding specific 119 Ezk 43, offerings: 78 (3x26) words. 120 Ezk 43, (3x26) Ezk 43, a Ezk 43,27a S 122b Ezk 43,27b (69x26) S 40,1-43,27 Altogether 1794 (69x26) words. 18 Section 3a x 219

4 4 Section 3b 44,1-14 They go to the outer gate facing east 123 Ezk 44, This gate shall always remain shut 124 Ezk 44, Ezk 44,3 16/47 59/ /47 [] 126 Ezk 44, At the temple: the Glory of God fills it 127 Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, ,6-10 Foreigners may not enter YHWH s 130 Ezk 44, (5x17) sanctuary; Levites who went astray shall 131 Ezk 44, bear their punishment: 85 (5x17) words. 132 Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, ,13 Such Levites may not serve as priest 136 Ezk 44,14 11/203 43/ /203 P or come near to YHWH: 17 words. Section 3c 44,15-31 Instructions for the Levitical priests 137 Ezk 44, Prescriptions regarding garments, etc. 138 Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, Ezk 44, ,24 They shall be teachers and judges 147 Ezk 44, and shall keep God s ordinances: 17 words. 148 Ezk 44, Ezk 44, /200 [] 150 Ezk 44, Concerning holdings and dietary laws 151 Ezk 44, The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 152 Ezk 44, (3x17) its 51 (3x17) words. 153 Ezk 44, / /51 P 49 Section (46x17) 3120(120x26) 17x 782 (46x17) Sealed by words, letters, and 17x YHWH. 153 Sections (135x17) x 2295 (135x17) Sealed in terms of verses and words. Section 4 45,1-12 The allotment of sacred land 154 Ezk 45, Portions for God, priests and rulers 155 Ezk 45, Ezk 45, ,1-6 YHWH is to have a holy district for 157 Ezk 45, (4x26) the sanctuary and for the houses for the 158 Ezk 45, priests who minister in the sanctuary, and 159 Ezk 45, alongside it a district for all Israel: 104 w. 160 Ezk 45, Ezk 45,8 16/ /150 S 162 Ezk 45, Instructions for the rulers 163 Ezk 45, Ezk 45, Ezk 45,12 14/ /59 [] 12 Section x 209 Section 5 45,13-46,24 The ordinances of the temple Section 5a 45,13-25 Duties of officials regarding offerings 166 Ezk 45, The duty of the ruler in this respect 167 Ezk 45, Ezk 45, Ezk 45, Ezk 45, /79 S

5 5 171 Ezk 45, Obligations regarding the feasts 172 Ezk 45, Ezk 45, Ezk 45, Ezk 45, ,22-25 The duties of the ruler with 176 Ezk 45, regard to the offerings on the first and 177 Ezk 45, seventh month: 52 (2x26) words. 178 Ezk 45,25 14/187 14/ /108 S 43,13-25 ( 1-2) Sealed by 187(11x17) w. 13 Section 5a 187 (11x17) 763 3x 187 (11x17) Section 5b 46,1-15 Obligations for the ruler and the people 179 Ezk 46, Obligations concerning the sabbath 180 Ezk 46, Ezk 46, (3x26) The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 182 Ezk 46, its 78 (3x26) words. 183 Ezk 46, /78 [] 184 Ezk 46, Obligations re the appointed feasts 185 Ezk 46, Ezk 46, The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 187 Ezk 46, its 85 (5x17) words. 188 Ezk 46, Ezk 46, /85 S 190 Ezk 46, (6x26) Obligations re different offerings 191 Ezk 46, Ezk 46, Ezk 46, /71 P =234 (9x26) words. 15 Section 5b 234 (9x26) 932 7x 234 (9x26) Sealed as a distinct literary unit. Section 5c 45,16-24 Obligations re gifts and inheritance 194 Ezk 46, Ezk 46, ,16 A gift to a son is inheritance: 17 w. 196 Ezk 46, [] 3 Section 5c (8x26) 53 Section 5d 45,19-20 They go to the rooms of the priests 197 Ezk 46, S 1 Ezekiel sees the western end 198 Ezk 46, /42 [] 199 Ezk 46, He is led to the corners of the court 200 Ezk 46, Ezk 46, (2x26) The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 202 Ezk 46, /52 [] its 52 (2x26) words. 6 Section 5d Section x 568 Section 6 47,1-12 The river flowing to the east 203 Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, ,8-12 The Man stresses the fact that 211 Ezk 47, everything will live where the river flows: 212 Ezk 47, (6x17) (6x17) words. 213 Ezk 47, Ezk 47, /202 S 12 Section Sections x 3274

6 6 Section 7 47,13-48,35 The boundaries and division of land 215 Ezk 47, Boundaries determining the portions 216 Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, Ezk 47, / /164 S 226 Ezk 48, Division of the land among the tribes 227 Ezk 48, ,1 It starts with Dan s portion: 26 words. 228 Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, ,10 The holy portion for the priests: Ezk 48, / /166 S 237 Ezk 48, The portion of the Levites and the city 238 Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, ,15 Land for ordinary use for the city: 241 Ezk 48, (5x17) words. 242 Ezk 48, (5x17) Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, ,21-22 What is lying between the portion 247 Ezk 48,22 16/51 (3x17) /193 [] of Judah and Benjamin is for the ruler: Ezk 48, Portions for the rest of the tribes 249 Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, The paragraph is finalized and sealed by 252 Ezk 48, its 78 (3x26) words. 253 Ezk 48, Ezk 48,29 12/78 (3x26) 52/ /78 P 255 Ezk 48, The four ways out of the city 256 Ezk 48, Ezk 48, Ezk 48, ,1-48,35 Altogether 1274 (49x26) words. 259 Ezk 48, ,1-35 Division of land: 527(31x17) words. 260 Ezk 48,35 9/26/90 32/ /90 P 48,34-35 End of the book: 26 words. 46 Section x 691 See my article on the beginning and end. 260 Part 7: x 3965 Part 7: Finalized and sealed by 260 verses. Observation 1 In Part 7 all 260 verses (100%) and 3527 of the 3965 words (89%) are highlighted by 17 and 26. Crucial passages in Part 7: Ezekiel highlighted by 17 and Ezekiel meets a Man on a high mountain in Israel: (40,1-4): 85 (5x17) words. 2. The Man measures the gateway and the vestibule (40,11-14): 52 (2x26) words. 3. The Man brings him to the south gateway (40,24-27): words. 4. The side rooms and the vestibule on the south gate (40,33): 17 words. 5. The side rooms and the vestibule on the east gate (40,33): 17 words.

7 7 6. They go to the north gateway (40,35-43): 119 (7x17) words. 7. The wall of the temple and the side arcades with their rebatements (41,5-6): 34 (2x17) words. 8. The raised pavement all around the temple (41,8-11): 52 (2x26) words. 9. The temple and a description of the inner shrine and the vestibule (41,15-20): 85 (5x17) words. 10. Description of the corridors and the other rooms inside and outside the wall (42,3-12): 130 (5x26) words. 11. The man measures the whole area, to begin with, the east side (42,15-16): 26 words. 12. The measurements of the wall (42,20): 17 words. 13. Measurements of the altar (43,14-15): 26 words. 14. The Zadokite priests must be given a bull and the altar must be cleansed (43,19-20): 34 (2x17) words. 15. Instructions regarding specific offerings (43,22-27): 78 (3x26) words. 16. Foreigners may not enter the sanctuary; disloyal Levites shall be punished (44,6-10): 85 (5x17) words. 17. Such Levites may not serve as priest or come near to YHWH (44,13): 17 words. 18. The Levitical priests shall be teachers and judges and shall keep God s laws (44,24): 17 words. 19. Rules for the Levites concerning holdings and dietary laws its (44,28-31): 51 (3x17) words. 20. Ezekiel s vision of the temple complex (Sections 1-2: 40,1-43,9): 104 (4x26) verses and 1513 (89x17) words. 21. The vision of the temple and its rules (Sections 1-3: 40,1-44,31): 153 (9x17) verses and 2295 (135x17) words. 22. YHWH is to have a holy district; alongside it is a district for all Israel (45,1-6): 104 (4x26) words. 23. Duties of officials regarding offerings (45,13-25): 187 (11x17) words. 24. Obligations concerning the sabbath (46,1-5): 78 (3x26) words. 25. Obligations re the appointed feasts (46,6-11): 85 (5x17) words. 26. Obligations for the officials and the people (Section 5b: 46,1-15): 234 (9x26) words. 27. A gift to a son is an inheritance (46,16): 17 words. 28. Ezekiel is led to the corners of the court (46,21-24): 52 (2x26) words. 29. The Man stresses the fact that everything will live where the river flows (47,8-12): 102 (6x17) words. 30. The division of the land starts with Dan s portion (48,1): 26 words. 31. The holy portion for the priests (48,10): 26 words. 32. Land destined for ordinary use for the city (48,15-19): 85 (5x17) words. 33. Land lying between the portion of Judah and Benjamin is for the ruler (48,21-22): 51 (3x17) words. 34. Portions for the rest of the tribes (48,23-29): 78 (3x26) words. 35. End of the book (48,34-35): 26 words. 36. To crown it all, Part 7 is in its entirety highlighted by its 260 verses. Words ascribed to the Man and God in Part 4: Ezekiel 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 locations in which they are to be found (Location), Column 3 the Speaker and the subject matter, Column 4, the words in the narrative sections (Narrative), Column 5 the words ascribed to God and the texts in which they are to be found (W.A.G.), and Column 6 the total number of words devoted to God s speaking (Total).

8 8 Nr Location Speaker / Subject matter Narrative W.A.G. Total 1 40,1-4 The Man: Look and hear: I will show you around , (5x17) 2 40,5-46 The Man: he shows Ezekiel the temple area , ,47-41,4 The Man: he shows him the most holy place ,4b ,5-22 The Man: he shows him the nave and the table ,22b ,23-42,14 The Man: the nave and inner court described , A 42,15-43,9 S A Voice speaking out of the temple: the east side , B 43,10-12 A Voice speaking out of the temple: the temple. 0 43, C 43,13-17 A Voice speaking out of the temple: the altar. 0 43, A 43,18-21 The Man: re the burnt offerings , (13x26) 62 7B 43,22-27a S The Man: offering of a bull, a ram, and a goat. 0 43,22-27a C 43,27b S The Man: re the burnt- and peace offerings. 0 43,27b ,1-3 YHWH?: instructions concerning the east gate , (2x17) 47 9A 44,4-14 P YHWH: a message to the house of Israel , (7x26) 203 9B 44,15-31 YHWH: rules for the Levitical priests. 0 44, C 45,1-8 YHWH: allotment of sacred land for YHWH. 0 45, D 45,9-17 YHWH: instructions for the rulers. 0 45, E 45,18-25 S YHWH: obligations regarding the feasts. 0 45, F 46,1-11 S YHWH: obligations regarding appointed feasts. 0 46, G 46,12-15 P YHWH: obligations re different offerings. 0 46, H 46,16-18 YHWH: obligations re gifts and inheritance. 0 46, ,19-20 The Man: he shows Ezekiel the western end , ,21-24 The Man: he shows him the corners of the court , (2x26) 12 47,1-6a The Man: the river flowing to the east ,6a 3 (8x17) 86 13A 47,6b-12 S The Man: he shows him the bank of the river , B 47,13-23 S The Man: description of the boundaries. 0 47, C 48,1-11 S The Man: the tribes and the holy portions. 0 48, D 48,12-29 P The Man: the allotment of the Levites. 0 48, E 48,30-35 Col. The Man: the four ways out of the city. 0 48, ,1-48,35 Ezekiel s vision of the temple and the land Total: 2431 (143x17) 3965 Observation 2 The narrative sections preceding the WAGs: altogether =1534 (59x26) words. The words ascribed to God have altogether 2431 (143x17) words. This means that the Chapters are for 100% governed by the divine name numbers 26 and 17. WAG 1 (in 40,1-4), Ezekiel s meeting with the Man of God, who will show him around: 26 words. WAG 4 (in 41,5-22): the narrative section preceding it has 255 (15x17) words. WAG 6A (in 42,15-43,9): the narrative section preceding it has 136 (8x17) words. WAGs 6-7 (in 42,15-43,27), a Voice and the Man speak: the vision of the temple: 338 (13x26) words. WAG 7C (43,27b), the instruction regarding the burnt- and peace offerings: 17 words. WAG 8 (in 44,1-3), the gate facing east shall remain shut: 34 (2x17) words. WAG 9A (in 44,4-14), rules re admission to the temple filled with God s glory: 182 (7x26) words. WAGs 10-13A (in 46,19-47,12), concerning the rooms of the priests: 136 (8x17) words. WAG 11 including the preceding narrative (46,21-24), vision of the outer court: 52 (2x26) words. Continue to the Hebrew text below

9 9 Ezekiel , =85(5x17) 2 40, =586

10 ,47-41, =118 Ezekiel , (15x17)+2+5=262

11 ,23-42, =257 Ezekiel 42

12 12 6A 42,15-43,9 136(8x17)+10+59=205 Ezekiel 43 6B 43, =62 6C 43, =79 7A 43, =62 7B 43,22-27a 0+61=61

13 13 7C 43,27b 0+17=17 a 27b Ezekiel , (2x17)=47 9A 44, (7x26)=203 9B 44, =251

14 14 9C 45, =251 Ezekiel 45 9D 45, =138

15 15 9E 45, =251 9F 46, =163 9G 46, =71 9H 46, =53 Ezekiel , =42

16 , =52(2x26) Ezekiel ,1-6a = 13A 47,6b =116 6b 13B 47, =164

17 17 13C 48, =166 Ezekiel 48 13D 48, =271

18 18 13E 48, =90 Continue to the Introduction