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 1-7 35 (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. 1,1 17 74 17 Preface: Time and place of Ezekiel s visions of God 2 Ezk. 1,2 8 38 25 1,1 Ezekiel say this in his own words: 17 words. 3 Ezk. 1,3 19 64 1-2 44/44 [] 1,2-3 The historical context (3 rd person form). 4 Ezk. 1,4 9 73 63 1 A stormy wind, clouds and lightning 5 Ezk. 1,5 9 38 72 6 Ezk. 1,6 7 31 79 7 Ezk. 1,7 12 49 91 The paragraph is in its entirety highlighted by 8 Ezk. 1,8 10 50 101 its 136 (8x17) words. 9 Ezk. 1,9 13 136 8x17) 47 114 10 Ezk. 1,10 16 73 130 11 Ezk. 1,11 12 60 142 12 Ezk. 1,12 15 52 157 13 Ezk. 1,13 18 76 175 14 Ezk. 1,14 5 23 180/136 [] 15 Ezk. 1,15 10 42 190 2 The living creatures and the wheels 16 Ezk. 1,16 15 78 205 33 17 Ezk. 1,17 8 85 33 213 The paragraph is in its entirety highlighted by its 18 Ezk. 1,18 10 (5x17) 46 223 85 (5x17) words. 19 Ezk. 1,19 11 52 (2x26) 55 234 1,18-21 52 (2x26) words. 20 Ezk. 1,20 17 68 251 21 Ezk. 1,21 14 67 265/85 (5x17) [] 22 Ezk. 1,22 12 50 277 3 A firmament, a voice and a throne 23 Ezk. 1,23 17 74 294 24 Ezk. 1,24 17 71 311 1,23-24 The wings of the creatures: 17+17 words. 25 Ezk. 1,25 10 41 321 26 Ezk. 1,26 18 71 339 1,4-28 ( 2-4) have 136+85+117= 338 (13x26) words, 27 Ezk. 1,27 20 82 359 dealing with the appearance of the the glory of YHWH. 28 Ezk. 1,28 23 87 3 382/117 S 1,4-28 has altogether 338 (13x26) words. 29 Ezk. 2,1 9+ 31 391 4 YHWH speaks to Ezekiel and commissions him 30 Ezk. 2,2 13+ 46 404/22 P 31 Ezk. 2,3 24+ 83 428 These P s mark the various stages of YHWH s speech. 32 Ezk. 2,4 15 + 59 4 443 33 Ezk. 2,5 14+ 49 457/53 P The paragraph is in its entirety highlighted by its 34 Ezk. 2,6 27+ 102 484 156 (6x26) words. 35 Ezk. 2,7 11+ 39 495/38 P
2 36 Ezk. 2,8 22+ 69 517 37 Ezk. 2,9 9+ 32 526 38 Ezk. 2,10 12/ 156 6x26) 51 538/43 S 1,4-2,10 ( 1-4) has altogether 494 (19x26) words. 39 Ezk. 3,1 17 57 555 5 God orders Ezekiel to eat the scroll and to set out 40 Ezk. 3,2 7 27 562 3,1 Eat the scroll, go, and speak to Israel! : 17 words. 41 Ezk. 3,3 20 75 582/44 P Compare Jeremiah 15,16! 42 Ezk. 3,4 12 42 594 6 Ezekiel must speak to Israel but they will not listen 43 Ezk. 3,5 13 41 607 44 Ezk. 3,6 19 52 (2x26) 70 626 3,5-7 Foreign nations would listen to Ezekiel, but the 45 Ezk. 3,7 20 68 646 Israelites will not listen: 52 (2x26) words. 46 Ezk. 3,8 12 45 658 47 Ezk. 3,9 15 52 673/91 P 48 Ezk. 3,10 14 49 687 7 Speak whether they hear or refuse to hear! 49 Ezk. 3,11 19 68 5 706 [] 49 1,1-3,11 706 2768 5x 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. 3,12 11 46 6 717 1 Ezekiel is overwhelmed; he sits among them 7 days 51 Ezk. 3,13 13 56 730 52 Ezk. 3,14 11+ 44 7 741 53 Ezk. 3,15 19+ 71 760 3,14-16a The Spirit brings him there and the hand of 54a Ezk. 3,16a 4/34 4 16 764/58 P YHWH was strong on him: 34 (2x17) words. 54b Ezk. 3,16b 5+ 5 18 8 769 2 YHWH appoints Ezekiel his watchman to warn Israel 55 Ezk. 3,17 12/17 12 47 781 3,16b-17 Ezekiel appointed to warn the Israelites: 17 w. 56 Ezk. 3,18 20 20 83 801 3,16-19 The 57 words represent the numerical value 57 Ezk. 3,19 16 16/57 61 817 S of Ezekiel s name: 10+8=7+19+1+12=57, and may symbo- 58 Ezk. 3,20 23 94 840 lize his signature. For the signature, see 59 Ezk. 3,21 18 64 858/94 S General Introduction, pp. 13-14. 10 3,12-21 152 600 3x 152 59 1,1-3,21 858 (33x26) 3368 8x 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. 3,22 14 46 9 872 1 Ezekiel sees the glory of God in the plain 61 Ezk. 3,23 18 63 10 890 62 Ezk. 3,24 14 52 904 63 Ezk. 3,25 12+ 46 916 3,25-26 Ezekiel will be bound with cords; his tongue will 64 Ezk. 3,26 14/26 52 930 cleave to his palate: 26 words. 65 Ezk. 3,27 19 70 11 949/91 S 6 3,22-27 91 (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. 4,1 14 51 963 1 YHWH orders Ezekiel to portray the city of Jersalem 67 Ezk. 4,2 16 68 979 68 Ezk. 4,3 24 94 1003/54 S 69 Ezk. 4,4 19 68 1022 2 The sign act signifying the siege of the city 70 Ezk. 4,5 16 60 1038 4,4-8 Ezekiel must lie on his left side with his face towards 71 Ezk. 4,6 21 78 1059 the picture of the city, for 390 + 40 = 430 days, to bear the 72 Ezk. 4,7 9 40 1068 punishment of the people, and to prophesy against them: 73 Ezk. 4,8 13 136 (8x17) 49 1081/78 78 (3x26) words. 74 Ezk. 4,9 29 115 1110 4,9-12 The sign act of the bread baked on human dung: 75 Ezk. 4,10 11 46 1121 58 words. 76 Ezk. 4,11 9 33 1130 The paragraph is highlighted by 136 (8x17) words. 77 Ezk. 4,12 9 43 1139/58 S 78 Ezk. 4,13 13 49 12 1152 3 YHWH explains the sign of the bread 4 Ezk. 4,14 20 73 13 1172/33 S 4 Ezekiel says: I have never defiled myself 80 Ezk. 4,15 15 55 1187/15 S 5 YHWH allows him to use cow s dung 81 Ezk. 4,16 17+ 73 1204 6 YHWH will break the staff of bread 82 Ezk. 4,17 9/26 39 1213/26 P The paragraph is highlighted by 17+9=26 words.
3 17 4,1-17 264 1034 2x 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. 5,1 21 76 1234 1 YHWH orders him to use a sharp sword as razor 84 Ezk. 5,2 20 92 1254 85 Ezk. 5,3 7 30 1261 86 Ezk. 5,4 18 60 1279/66 P 87 Ezk. 5,5 11 50 14 1290 2 Jerusalem is a rebellious city 88 Ezk. 5,6 19 77 1309/30 S 89 Ezk. 5,7 24 102 15 1333 3 YHWH will judge Jerusalem s inhabitants 90 Ezk. 5,8 14 56 16 1347 91 Ezk. 5,9 15 51 1362/53 S 92 Ezk. 5,10 17 71 1379 4 YHWH will cut them down by the sword 93 Ezk. 5,11 26 91 17 1405 5,10-12 They will become canibals and because of their 94 Ezk. 5,12 17 84 1422 abominations they will fall by the sword: 17+26+17 words. 95 Ezk. 5,13 15 64 18 1437 5,13-17 God will spend his fury on them and make them a 96 Ezk. 5,14 9 43 1446 desolation and a horror: 78 (3x26) words. 97 Ezk. 5,15 18 78 (3x26) 83 19 1464 5,5-17 YHWH s judgement has 221 (13x17) words. 98 Ezk. 5,16 20 78 1484 2,1-5,17 has altogether 1118 (43x26) words. 99 Ezk. 5,17 16 63 20 1500/138 P 1,4-5,17 has altogether 1456 (56x26) words. 17 5,1-17 287 (41x7) 2534 7x 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. 6,1 5 18 21 1505 1 YHWH will punish the people; some will escape 101 Ezk. 6,2 9 32 1514 102 Ezk. 6,3 22 98 22-23 1536 6,2-5 YHWH will bring a sword upon them and destroy 103 Ezk. 6,4 8 51 (3x17) 49 1544 their high places and altars: 51 (3x17) words. 104 Ezk. 6,5 12 61 1556 105 Ezk. 6,6 17 101 1573 6,6 Cities will be laid waste; cult objects wiped out: 17 w. 106 Ezk. 6,7 7 28 24 1580 107 Ezk. 6,8 8 43 1588 108 Ezk. 6,9 28 118 1616 109 Ezk. 6,10 12 42 25 1628/128 P 110 Ezk. 6,11 21+ 77 26 1649 2 The house of Israel will fall by many disasters 111 Ezk. 6,12 13/34 (2x17) 59 1662 6,11-12 Because of all the evil, God will spend his fury 112 Ezk. 6,13 33 130 27 1695 upon them: 34 (2x17) words. 113 Ezk. 6,14 17 72 28 1712/84 P 6,14 The desolation will let them realize YHWH is God: 17. 14 6,1-14 212 928 8x 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. 7,1 5 18 29 1717 1 YHWH will punish the people for their idols 115 Ezk. 7,2 16 55 30 1733 The entire paragraph is highlighted by 51 words. 116 Ezk. 7,3 13 51 (3x17) 54 1746 117 Ezk. 7,4 17 71 31 1763/51 P 118 Ezk. 7,5 9 28 32 1772 2 Disaster after disaster and ultimately the end! 119 Ezk. 7,6 8 23 1780 120 Ezk. 7,7 13 48 1793 7,6-9 Doom has come: punishment for all their evil ways 121 Ezk. 7,8 15 52 (2x26) 66 1808 and they will know that it is YHWH who smites: 52 words. 122 Ezk. 7,9 16 69 33 1824 123 Ezk. 7,10 10 36 1834 124 Ezk. 7,11 13 43 1847 125 Ezk. 7,12 15 52 1862 126 Ezk. 7,13 21 75 1883 127 Ezk. 7,14 12+ 46 1895 7,14-15 YHWH s wrath, pestilence, famine, and the sword 128 Ezk. 7,15 14/26 58 1909 will devour them: 26 words. 129 Ezk. 7,16 11+ 49 1920 130 Ezk. 7,17 7+ 29 1927 131 Ezk. 7,18 12+ 50 1939 7,16-20 If any survivors escape, they will be weak, clothed 132 Ezk. 7,19 24+ 100 34 1963 in sackcloth, with shame upon their faces, while their silver
4 133 Ezk. 7,20 14/68 (4x17) 56 1977 and gold cannot deliver them in the day of wrath: 68 w. 134 Ezk. 7,21 8 36 1985 135 Ezk. 7,22 10 43 1995/232 P 136 Ezk. 7,23 10 38 2005 3 They will be robbed their holy places profaned 137 Ezk. 7,24 11 26 51 2016 138 Ezk. 7,25 5 19 2021 The entire paragraph is highlighted by its 60=26+34 words. 139 Ezk. 7,26 16+ 65 2037 140 Ezk. 7,27 18/34 (2x17) 79 35 2055/60 P 7,2-27 God s speech has 26 verses and 338 (13x26) words. 27 7,1-27 343 (7x7x7) 1357 7x 343 (7x7x7) Note the use of 7 in Chapter 7: 7x7x7 words; 7x YHWH. 41 6,1-7,27 555 2285 15x 555 Part 1 (1-7) is finalized and sealed by 140 (20x7) verses and 140 1,1-7,27 2055 8187 35(5x7) 2055 35 (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 26 + 34 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 26 1. 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): 17+17 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): 17+26+17 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) : 17+26+17 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 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! 2 7 9 2A 2,3-5 A voice : Go, speak my words! 2 51 (3x17) 53 2B 2,6-8 A voice : Speak resolutely! 0 60 60 3 3,1 A voice : Eat this scroll! 2 15 17 4 3,3a A voice : Fill your stomach with it! 2 13 15 5 3,4-9 A voice : Speak to the Israelites! 2 89 91 156 (6x26) 6 3,10-11 A voice : Let your ears hear my words! 2 31 33 7 3,16-21 YHWH : Be my watchman for Israel! 9 89 98 8 3,22 YHWH : I will speak to you in the plain! 7 7 936 14 9A 3,24-27 A Spirit re: the first sign act. 4 49 (36x26) 53 9B 4,1-3 A Spirit re: the second sign act. 0 54 54 9C 4,4-8 A Spirit re: the third sign act. 0 78+ 78 9D 4,9-12 A Spirit re: the fourth sign act. 0 58/136 (8x17) 58 10 4,13 YHWH re: God s explains this sign act. 2 11 13 11 4,15 YHWH re: God gives in to the prophet. 2 13 15 12A 4,16-17 YHWH re: Breaking the staff of bread. 2 24 26 12B 5,1-4 YHWH re: the fifth sign act. 0 66 66 12C 5,5-17 YHWH re: God announces his judgment. 0 221 (13x17) 221 (13x17) 13A 6,1-10 YHWH re: Prophecy against mountains. 5 123 128 13B 6,11-14 YHWH re: The desolation of the land. 0 84 84 14A 7,1-4 YHWH re: The end has come. 5 46 51 (3x17) 14B 7,5-22 YHWH re: Disaster after disaster. 0 232 338 (13x26) 232 14C 7,23-27 YHWH re: Make a desolation! 0 60 60 14 Part 1 48 1481 1529 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 Observation 4 In Part 1: Ezekiel 1-7 1481 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 2,3-5 2+51=53 2B 2,6-8 0+60=60 Ezekiel 3 3 3,1 2+15=17 4 3,3a 2+13=15 5 3,4-9 2+89=91
7 6 3,10-11 2+31=33 7 3,16b-21 5+89=94 8 3,22b 2+7=9 9A 3,24b-27 4+49=53 Ezekiel 4 9B 4,1-3 0+54=54 9C 4,4-8 0+78=78 78=3x26 136 (8x17) words 9D 4,9-12 0+58=58
8 12B 5,1-4 0+66=66 10 4,13 2+11=13 11 4,15 2+13=15 12A 4,16-17 2+24=26 Ezekiel 5 12C 5,5-17 0+221=221 221=13x17
9 Ezekiel 6 13A 6,1-10 5+123=128 13B 6,11-14 0+84=84 Ezekiel 7 14A 7,1-4 5+46=51 (3x17) 14B 7,5-22 0+232=232
10 14C 7,23-27 0+60=60 Continue to Part 2: Ezekiel 8-13