Friday after VaYakhel
Friday after VaYakhel
Weekday Readings
Ezekiel chapter 1 & 2
Eze 1:1 Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Kevar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of Elohim.
The date would be Tammuz the 5th. The year is in dispute since it is not clear whether Ezekiel is referring to his own 30th birthday, the 30th year of exile, or, as some have suggested, the 13th year of exile. If the last is true, it would be about 585 BCE.
Ezekiel, continued:
Eze 1:2 In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Yehoiakim’s captivity,
Eze 1:3 the word of YHWH came expressly to Yechezkel the Kohen, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Kasdim by the river Kevar; and the hand of YHWH was there on him.
The year is approximately 3598 years after the creation of Adam, about 593 or 592 BCE. The word “Day” does not appear in the original text, so it is unclear whether Ezekiel is referring to the month of Tammuz of the fifth day of some unnamed month. It is generally presumed he is talking about the same date as verse 1, but if that were the case there would be no need to repeat himself.
Ezekiel, continued:
Eze 1:4 I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness round about it, and out of the midst of it as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire.
Eze 1:5 Out of the midst of it came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
Eze 1:6 Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings.
Eze 1:7 Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass.
Eze 1:8 They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and they four had their faces and their wings [thus]:
Eze 1:9 their wings were joined one to another; they didn’t turn when they went; each one went straight forward.
Eze 1:10 As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and they four had the face of a lion on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four had also the face of an eagle.
Eze 1:11 Their faces and their wings were separate above; two [wings] of each one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.
Eze 1:12 Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn’t turn when they went.
Eze 1:13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.
Clearly there is a great deal of symbolism here, but that is not sufficient reason to allegorize away Ezekiel’s vision.
Ezekiel, continued:
Eze 1:14 The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
Eze 1:15 Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it.
Eze 1:16 The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a bareket: and they four had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel.
Eze 1:17 When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn’t turn when they went.
Eze 1:18 As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and they four had their rims full of eyes round about.
Eze 1:19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
Eze 1:20 Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:21 When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
Eze 1:22 Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above.
Eze 1:23 Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies.
Eze 1:24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings.
Eze 1:25 There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings.
Eze 1:26 Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sappir stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above.
Eze 1:27 I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it round about, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness round about him.
Eze 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of YHWH. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
Eze 2:1 He said to me, Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.
Eze 2:2 The Spirit entered into me when he spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard him who spoke to me.
Eze 2:3 He said to me, Son of man, I send you to the children of Yisra’el, to nations that are rebellious, which have rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me even to this very day.
Eze 2:4 The children are impudent and stiff-hearted: I am sending you to them; and you shall tell them, Thus says Adonai YHWH.
It is interesting that in Jeremiah, Elohim refers to Himself most frequently as YHWH Tzeva’ot, His “battle” title. But in Ezekiel He refers to Himself mostly as “Adonai YHWH.” His “tone of voice” toward Israel has changed now that they are in exile.
Ezekiel, continued:
Eze 2:5 They, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house), yet shall know that there has been a prophet among them.
Eze 2:6 You, son of man, don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you, and you do dwell among scorpions: don’t be afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
Eze 2:7 You shall speak my words to them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear; for they are most rebellious.
Eze 2:8 But you, son of man, hear what I tell you; don’t be you rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.
Eze 2:9 When I looked, behold, a hand was put forth to me; and, behold, a scroll of a book was therein;
Eze 2:10 He spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
It is their guilty verdict. Our guilty verdict has been nailed to the stake of Yeshua HaMashiach, otherwise our fate would be like theirs – deported from Eretz Israel. As it is, we stand to inherit in Eretz Israel because we are Torah Observant Believers. We will be granted a possession in the land at the time of the Ingathering, while others will be deported.
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