(ot3) Exegetical Template Ezekiel 10

Ezekiel 10 The theme of this chapter is Yahweh’s departure from the temple and the consequent judgement poured out upon Jerusalem.

Context This chapter (along with the next) continues the vision unfolded in chs 8–9. The primary focus of this entire vision is the (re)location of God’s glorious presence and the ramifications this has for both the fate of Jerusalem and the identity of the remnant. The city is now effectively doomed, and (contrary to popular opinion) hope lies not with its inhabitants, but with those in exile. Note the relationship between chs 9 and 10. In ch. 9 the population of the city is destroyed; in ch.10 the city itself. Note also the new role of the man in linen. In chapter 10 the man in linen no longer has a writing kit. His role changes from scribe to incendiary (Allen).

Structure The repetition of ‘I looked’ (lit. ‘I looked and behold ...’) in vv.1 and 9 divides the chapter into its two main sections (1-8, 9-22). vv. 1-8 The LORD orders the man in linen to go and destroy the city. (In this section the glory of Yahweh is over the threshold of the temple and the waiting throne chariot is empty.) See v.4. vv. 9-22 The LORD mounts the throne chariot and leaves the temple. the throne-chariot travels and then stops again.) See v.19.

(In this section

In vv. 1-8 the description of the divine glory (vv. 3-5) is central, and is framed by references to the man in linen (vv. 2, 6-7). In vv. 9-22 the description of Yahweh’s departure from the temple (vv. 18-19) is central, and is framed by descriptions of the cherubim (vv. 9-15, 20-22). The prophet is clearly fascinated by the throne-chariot and dwells on it at great length in this chapter, repeating much of the detail already given in ch. 1.

Ezek. 10:1

Then I looked, and behold, on the

expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim

there

appeared

above

them

something like a sapphire, in appearance like a throne.

2 And he said to the man clothed in

linen, “Go in among

the whirling wheels

underneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city.” And he went in before my eyes. 3 Now the cherubim were standing on the south side of the house, when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner court. 4 And the glory of the LORD

went up from the cherub to the

threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD. 5 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. Ezek. 10:6

And when he commanded the man

clothed in linen, “Take fire from between the whirling wheels, from between the cherubim,” he went in and stood beside a wheel. 7 And a cherub stretched out his hand from between the cherubim to the fire that was between the cherubim, and took some of it and put it into the hands of the man clothed in linen, who took it and went out. 8 The cherubim appeared to have the form of a human hand under their wings.

Ezek. 10:9

And I looked, and behold, there

were four wheels beside the cherubim, one beside each cherub, and the appearance of the wheels was like sparkling beryl. 10 And as for their

appearance,

the

four

had

the

same

likeness, as if a wheel were within a wheel. 11 When they went, they went in any of their four directions

without turning as they went, but in

whatever direction the front wheel

faced, the

others followed without turning as they went. 12 And their whole body, their rims, and their spokes, their wings, and the wheels were full of eyes all around—the wheels that the four of them had.

13 As for the wheels, they were

called in my hearing “the whirling wheels.” 14 And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. Ezek. 10:15

And the cherubim mounted up.

These were the living creatures that I saw by the Chebar canal. 16 And when the cherubim went, the wheels went beside them. And when the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the wheels did not turn from beside them. 17 When they stood still, these stood still, and when they mounted up, these mounted up with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in them. Ezek. 10:18

Then the glory of the LORD went

out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19 And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. Ezek. 10:20

These were the living creatures

that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were cherubim.

21 Each had four faces, and each

four wings, and underneath their wings likeness of human hands.

22

the

And as for the

likeness of their faces, they were the same faces whose appearance I had seen by the Chebar canal. Each one of them went straight forward.

Chariot Throne in the ANE and OT throne chariot of Ezekiel’s vision is a very complex structure which seems to draw on a

wide range of religious symbolism from both within and outside the OT. In the Ugaritic Texts (Canaanite) Baal is the rider of the clouds (ANET 3 :153). That is, he rides a heavenly chariot, associated with wind and storm. This seems to be reflected in Ps 18:10 and Ezekiel 1. The use of winged creatures as throne animals was probably associated with this mythology of the heavenly chariot. The king on his winged throne was a semi-divine figure. The chariot of Ezekiel’s visions seems to be: partly a throne—associated (via the cherubim) with the ark of the covenant partly an altar (hence the coals; cf. Isa 6:6) partly a mobile laver (cf. 1 Kgs 7:27-39) Theological concepts suggested by the chariot include the following: • covenant (he who rides the chariot is the God of the ark—the God of the covenant) • judgement (the burning coals recalling the altar where victims were slain and consumed) • cleansing (the laver was for the ritual cleansing of the priests). So the LORD who rides the chariot brings purifying judgement (cf. Isa 4:4). the chariot-throne idea is also present in Dan 7:9.125

Notice how

Ezekiel 10 and Isaiah 6 Many elements of Ezekiel 10 recall Isaiah 6—the throne, the heavenly beings with their wings and hands, the burning coals, the threshold of the temple, the overpowering glory. In Isa 6 judgement is foreshadowed, in Ezekiel 10 it is exercised. Divine kingship is the fundamental and controlling theological concept in both cases (Isa 6:1-5; Ezek 20:33). The judgement executed in Ezekiel 10 is symbolised by the departure of Yahweh’s throne from the temple, and by the scattering of the altar coals over the city. In Isa 6 the altar coals represent substitutionary atonement (the judgement takes place on the altar and the worshipper is cleansed). In Ezekiel 10 the judgement is taken off the altar and applied directly to the city. Jerusalem now suffers (symbolically) a fate similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.