Reading for April 8th

The reestablishment of the land and the people of Israel. In 47.13-48.35: The reconstruction of the Temple and the resulting renewal of creation provide the basis for the reestablishment of the land and people of Israel. Read Ezekiel 47.13-23 The boudaries of the land are an idealized portrayal of the greatest extent of David's kingdom and that of Jeroboam II (2 Sam 8.5-12; 2 Kings 14.25; compare Num 34). The northern border runs from the Mediterranean east to Hazar-enon, between Hamath (modern Hama) to the north and Damascus to the south (Num 34.7-9); the eastern border runs south through the Jordan valley to Tamar just south of the Dead Sea (Num 34.10-12); the sotuhern border runs through the Negeb to the Wadi of Egypt (modern Wadi el-Arish in the northeastern Sinai peninsula (see Num 34.3-5); the western border runs along the Mediterranean coast (Num 34.6). The aliens who reside among you (Hebrew "gerim" or "sojourners," later considered converts in post-biblical Hebrew) live according to the same laws as israelies (Lev 19.34; Num 15.29). Comments or Question..

Reading for April 7th

Read Ezekiel 47.1-12 Once the Temple is reestablished, water streams up from below the threshold of the Temple to the east to water the land of Israel. This indicates the role of the Temple as the center of creation (the Garden of Eden, Gen 2.10-14; Ps 46.4). The course of the water refelects that of the Gihon spring (compare the Edenic river, Gen 2.10, 13), and emerges eat of the city of David where its waters flow south into the Siloam pool (see 1 Kings 1.32-40; Isa 7.3; 2 Chr 34.4). The water flows into the Jordan Valley and eventually into the Arabah (the Jordan rift where the Dead Sea is located ) to transform the waters of the Dead Sea into fresh water that supports fish and fruit trees (see Gen 2.1-14). Comments or Questions..

Reading for April 6th

Read Ezekiel 46.19-24 Areas for the preparation of sacrifices for consumption by the priests are located in the northwest area of the inner court. Kitchens for the people are located at the four corners of the outer court. Comments or Questions..

Reading for April 5th

Read Ezekiel 46.11-18. In verses 11-15: The freewill and daily offerings of the prince are specified (Lev 22.18-23, vow or freewill offering; Num 28.3-8, daily offering). In verse 16-18: The prince may pass property on to his sons, but property passed to servants reverts to the prince at the Jubilee year (Lev 25.8-17). The prince may not pass property of the people to his own sons. Comments or Questions..

Reading for April 4th

Read Ezekiel 46.1-10 In 46.1-18: Regulations concerning offerings and property for the prince and the people. In verse 1-8: The west gate is opened on sabbaths and new moons so that the prince may enter to present his offerings. The prince shall take his stand by the post of the gate (see 2 kings 11.14) and bow down at the threshold of the gate. The people bow down at the same gate entrance. See Num 28.9-15 for sabbath and new moon sacrifices. In verses 9-10: The people enter by the north and south gates, but exit by the opposite gates for efficient crowd managment. Appointed festivals in v. 9 should read "appointed times." Comments or Questions..

Reading for April 3rd

Read Ezekiel 45.18-25 Observance of Passover and Sukkot (Booths). In verses 18-20: The blood of the sin offering purifies the Temple, altar, and inner court onthe first day of the first month. The animal blood atones for an individiual who has sinned inadvertently. Note the smearing of blood on the door posts at the Exodus (Ex 12.21-28). In verses 21-25: Many regard this as a festival calendar, but it merely specifies the obligation of the prince to provide offerings for Passover (Ex 23.15; Lev 23.4-8; Deut 18.1-6) and Sukkot (Ex 23.16; Lev 23.33-36; Deut 16.13-15). Comments or Questions..

Reading for April 2nd

Read Ezekiel 45.13-17 The people pay percentages of wheat (1.5%), oil (1%), and sheep (.5 %) as a tax for the grain offering (Lev 2); the burnt offerings (Lev 1); and the offerings of well-being (Lev 3). All the people of the land shall join with the prince in Israel in making this offering indicates that they pay their tax to the prince. The prince in turn is onligated to provide the sin offering (Lev 4.1-5.13), the grain offerings (Lev 2), the burnt offerings (Lev 1), and the offerings of well-being (Lev 3) on behalf of the people at all festivals, new moons, sabbaths, and appointed festivals. Comennets or Questions..

Reading for April 1st

Read Ezekiel 45.1-12 In verses 1-9: The size and distribution of the holy district in the land for the use of the preists, the Levites, Israel, and the prince. According to the Hebrew text of v. 1 ("ten thousand cubits wide"), the combined land area is 25,000-cubit square. The priesty portion includes the area for tha sanctuary. The Levites' portion equals that of the priests, but the portion for the rest of Israel is half of that. The portion of the prince is not included in the holy district or city: hedmay not evict Israel. In verses 10-12: Holiness in the Temple requires just, standardized measures (Lev 19.35-36; Duet 25.13-16; compare Am 8.5, Mic 6.10-11; Prov 11.1; 20.10). The homer equals 6.524 bushels, the ephah is a dry measure theat equals 20.878 quarts; the bath is a liquid measure that equals 6.073 gallons; the shekel is a measure of weight equivalent to 176,29 grains; 50 shekel consittue a mina equivalent to 20.148 ounces. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 31st

Read Ezekiel 44.15-31 The Levites of the Zadokite line (1 Kings 2.26-27) shall enter the sanctuary and serve at the altar. They shall wear only linen (Ex 28.39); they shall not wear holy garments outside of the inner court (42.14); they shall trim their hair, but not shave it (Lev 21.5); they shall not drink wine in the inner court (Lev 10.9); they shall marry only virgins or the widows of other priests (Lev 21.7, 13-14); they shall instruct the people concerning holiness and purity (Lev 10.10-11; Deut 33.8-10; Hag 2.10-13); they shall act as judges (Ex 22.9; Deut 17.8-9; 19.17; 21.1-5); they shall observe the festivals (Lev 23; Num 28-29; deut 16); they shall avoid contact with the dead and mourning, except for parents and siblings (Lev 21.1-3; Num 19); they shall reveive no inheritance other than a share of the first fruits and offerings at the Temple (Num 18; Lev 27.28-29); and they shall not eat meat that was not properly slaughtered (Lev 22.8) Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 30th

Read Ezekiel 44.1-14 In 44.1-46.24: Regulations concerning the Temple. In verses 1-3: The east gate remains closed because God enters the Temple through the east gate. The king eats here. In verses 4-14: Those who have engaged in idolatry or abominations are to be excluded from the Temple. Foreigners shall not enter (Lev 22.25; compare Isa 56.3-8). Deuteronomy 18.6-8 allows Levites to serve at the altar, but they are disenfranchised here for idolatrous behavior and allowed to perform only secondary service. The passage may presuppose the judgment leveled against the house of Eli (1 Sam 2) or inappropriate Levitical service at the high places mentioned throughout 1-2 Kings. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 29th

The Temple complex and its activities In 43.13-47.12: Instructions concerning structures associated with the Temple and regualations concerning Temple rituals and practice. Read Zekiel 43.13-27 The altar is a four-level stepped structure, like a Mesopotamian ziggurat (a tupe of pyramind). The base, literally "bosom of the earth" (signifying the placement of the altar at the center of the earth), is 18 cubits square. The lower edge is 16 cubits square. The upper ledge is 14 cubits square. The altar hearth ("ha-har'el" in Hebrew, "mountain of God" or "God appeared"; compare Ariel of Isa 29.1) has four hours (see Ex 27.2; 29.12; 1 Kings 1.50-51; Zech 2.1-4). The height of the structure is 10 cubits. Its steps face toward the east gate. The seven-day consecration of the altar is performed at Sukkot (Booths; 1 Kings 8.65-66; Ezra 3.1-7; but compare Num 7) and its analogous to the ordination of preists (Ex 29.1-37; Lev 8). The purfication of the altar with blood is analogous to the sprinkling of blood on the priests at their ordination (Ez=x 29.16), on the altar at Yom Kippur to make atonement for the people (Lev 16.18-19), and on the people to seal the covenant (Ex 24.11-8). Salt is also offered with grain offerings (Lev 2.13; Num 18.19). Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 28th

Read Ezekiel 43.1-12 The Divine Presence (chs. 1; 8-11) returns to the Temple complex through the east gate from which it had earlier departed (10.19). Ezekiel recalls his inaugural vision and reports that he is transported to the inner court where he sees the glory of the Lord filling the Temple (Ex 40.34-35; 1 Kings 8. 10-13). God informs him that this will be the place of my throne (see 1 Chr 28.2; Ps 132.7; Isa 60.13; Lam 2.1). The corpses of their kings refers to burials of kings near the Temple (1 Kings 2.10; 11.43; 2 Kings 21.18, 26). God instructs Ezekiel to teach the people the plan for the Temple. This is the law of the Temple: Law (hebrew "torah") is more properly translated "instruction": the statement summarizes God's instructions concerning the Temple. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 27th

Read Ez 42.15-20. The Temple complex is a 500 cubit square (861.63 feet). The outer wall marks the separation between the holy Temple and the profane world. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 26th

Read Ezekiel 42.1-14 Chambers are built in three stories along the walls that define the outer and inner courts. The priests use them to store and eat the grain offering (Lev 2.1-16), the sin offering (Lev 4.1-5.13), and the guilt offering (Lev 5.14-6.7). The priests must leave their holy vestments in these chambers before entering the outer court. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 25th

Read Ezekiel 41.12-26 In verses 12-15a: The unidentitied building is behind the Temple to the west. In verses 15b-26: The inerior decoration of the Temple. Paneled, Greek (compare v. 16 and 1 Kings 6.9; 7.3, 7). Hebrew reads "thresholds." The cherubim and palm tress carved into the paneling of the interior walls represent images from the garden of Eden (see 1 Kings 6.29). Unlike the cherubim who bear the throne chariot, these have only two faces, a human and a young lion. Something resembling an altar of wood: the table for the presentation of rows of "the bread of the Presence" (Ex 25.23-30; Lev 24.5-9; 1 Kings 7.48). Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 24th

Read Ezekiel 41.5-11 These stories of chambers with thirty chambers each line the walls of the Temple . They have an independent support structure so that they are not supported by the Temple itself. A stairway provides access to the upper stories. This supports and stairways occupy more space on the lower stories so that each story is progressively larger. Raised platform: The "foundations of the earth" (Mic 6.2; Isa 24.18; Jer 31.37; Ps 82.5). Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 23rd

Read Ezekiel 40.48-41.4 In 40.48-41.4: The Temple. In 40.48-41..4: The Temple is constructed according to a three-room pattern, like that of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6) and other examples of temples and royal palaces from Canaan and Syria. The three rooms are the vestibule (35 feet by 21 feet), an entry way or reception room; the nave (71 feet by 25 feet), the main hall where the Temple furishings are placed; and the inner room (35 feet by 35 feet ), also known as the mostholy place, god's throne room which houses the ark ofthe covenant. Ezekiel does not enter the inner room since this is restricted to the high priest on Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement (Lev 16). Pillars: like those of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 2.15-22). Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 22nd

Read Ezekiel 40.28-47 In verses 28-37: The south, east, and north gates to the inner court are similar to those of the outer court. In verses 38-43: Chambers were built by the vestibule of the gate to prepare sacrificial animals for the burnt offering (Lev 1.3-17), the sin offering (4.1-5.13); and the guilt offering (Lev 5.14--6.7). In verses 44-47: Chambers were placed by the sides of the north and east (LXX reads "south") for the priests who had charge of the Temple and the altar. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 21st

Read Ezekiel 40.17-27 In verses 17-19: The thirty chambers that line the outer court were used by the Levites for various actiivities (Jer 35.2-4; Neh 13.4-14). In verses 20-27: The gates for the outer court to the north and south are similar to the east gate. There is no west gate; the Temple occupies the westernside of the compound. Each of the three gates faces a corresponding gate to the inner court. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 20th

Read Ezekiel 40.5-16 In 40.5-47: The Temple walls, gates, and courtyards. In verse 5: Six long cubits: over ten feet or three meters. A long cubit is about 518 millmeters or 20.68 inches. In verses 5-16: The east gate is the main gate of the Temple complex, which faces east toward the sun. It is built according to the basic pattern of the fortified Solomonic gates at Gezer, Hazor, and Megiddo, with an initial threshold built into the wall, followed by three recessed chambers, an inner threshold, and the vestibule. Pilaster: A projecting column that may have served as a door jamb. Windows provide light for the recessed chambers and the vestibule. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 19th

The vision of the restored Temple in Jerusalem Chs. 40-48: See God's promises (37.24-38) to make a coveant of peace with Israel and to place the sanctuary among them forever. This vision provides a literary and conceptual envelope for the book that compliments the visions of God's departure and the Temple's destruction in chs 1-11 with one of the Temple's restorations and God's return. Ezekiel 40.1-43.12 relates instruction concerning the building of the Temple and the return of God's glory; 43.13-47.12 provides instruction concerning the associated structures and activities of the Temple complex; and 47.13-48.35 guides the reestablishment of the land and people of Israel around the Temple. Read 40.1-4 40.1-43.12: The Temple and the return of God's glory. In 40.1-4: The date in v. 1 is April 28, 573 BCE. Ezekiel's visions began at the age of 30 in the the fith year of the exile (1.1-3). After 20 years, Ezekiel would be ready to retire from priestly service at the age of 50 (Num 4.3; 8.23-25). Ezekiel is transported to Mt Zion, the site of the first Temple. The city of Jerusalem immediately to the south. Ezekiel's guide recalls the bronze-colored creatures that supported God's throne chariot (1.5-14; 8.2). The linen cord and the measuring reed enable the guide to instruct Ezekiel in the dimensions of the Temple structures. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 18th

Read Ezekiel 39.17-29 The feast of the birds and wild animals recalls the covenant curses (for example, Deut 28.16-44) in which Israel is fed to the brids and animals, but they now applied to Israel's enemies (Lev 26.22; Deut 28.26). The sacrifical feast reververs the imagery of the banquet on Zion (Isa 25.6-10). These actions enable God to display the divine glory to the nations. I hid my face from them raises the question of God's injustice. Restore the fortunes of Jacob recalls God's promise to remember the covenant with Jacob (Lev 26.40-45) if the people confess their iniquity. Comments or Quetions..

Reading for March 17th

Read Ezekiel 39.1-16 Unburied corpses on the mountains recall the imagery of the vision of dry bones (37.1-14), the death of the Babylonian king in the open (Isa 14.3-23), and the defeat of Assyria in the mountains of Israel (Isa 14.24-27). The victory fires that burn for seven years throughout the land recall the seven-years; the seven year sabbatical agricultural and economic cyle (Lev 25.1-7; Ex 23.10-11; 21.1-6; Deut 15.1-18). The burialof Gog constitues the final stag of the cleansing of the land of Israel prior for its restoration. The valley of the Travelers or the "Valley of those who passby" is apparently a wordplay on the Valley of Abarim east of the Dead Sea. Hebrew for "travelers, passersby" is "ha'abrim." The Valley of Hamon-gog, "the valley of the horde of Gog," is a wordplay on the Valley of Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem, which was known for idolatry, the burning of children, and dead bodies (2 King 23.10; Jer 7.30-34). The seven months of burial purity the land so that God's glory or presence may appear. Hamonah: "horde." Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 16th

Read Ezekiel 38.17-23 God portrays the defeat of Gog as a cosmic event that was announced by the prophets, On that day is a formula that appears throughout Isaiah 1-39 (Isa 4.2; 7.18, 20,21, 23). The cosmic dimension of the defeat appear in the quaking of the land, including the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the animals of the field, all creeping things, and all human beings, which alludes to the created order as described in Gen 1. Likewise, the defeat of Gog by the sword and natural elements, such as torrential rains, hailstones, fire, and sulphur, appeal to God's role as creator as well as to the tradition about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 18-19). Recognition by the nations, is the object of God's action. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 15th

The Gog and Magog oracles. In chs. 38-39: Ezekiel's oracles against God, ruler from the land of Magog, express an apocalytic drama of God's vistory over the nations that threaten Israel. The original identity of Gog is uncertain, although some have identified him with Gypes, a seventh-century BCE ruler of Lydia in Asia Minor. The land of Magog appears together with Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, (Cimmerians in central Asia Minor), and Togarmath (compare Beth-togarmah, in Armenia), apparently lands in Asia Minor and Greece. Ezekiel's oracles, however, draw upon Isaiah's prophecies concerning the downfall of a Mesopotamiah ruler (Isa 14) and Jeremiah's prophecies concerning a "foe from the north" (Jer 2-3). The orginal identitiy of Gog matters little as later interpreters have understood him to be a trans-national symbol of evil, much like Edom and Egypt (for example, Isa 34; 63.1-6; Mal 1.2-5, Ex 15) or chaos monsters such as Leviathian or Behemoth (Ps 74; 104; Job 38-41). Read Ezekiel 38.1-16. In verses 1-9: God's initial instructions to Ezekiel present Gog as the leader of a host of nations that threaten Israel, a well-known motif in the tradition about Zion as an invincible fortress (see Ps 2; 46-48). Persia, Ethopia, and Put (Libya) are dustant lands from throughout the ancient New East world. In verses 10-13: God portrays Gog's intentions to plunder nations. Sheba: Southern Araba. Dedan: rhodes. Tarshish: Tartesso in Spain. In verses 14-16: God's portrays Gog's advance with a mighty aramy against Israel. In the latter days normally refers to the futre, and many believe the expression to have eschatological meaning. The nations' knowledge of God draws upon earlier traditions (for example, Ex 15; Isa 2.1-4; Mic 4.1-5; ps 46-48) in which the nations recogbnize God's power and sovereignty. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 14th

Read Ezekiel 37.15-28 In 37.15-28: The two sticks. Ezekiel's symbolic action represents the unification of Israel and Judah under the rule of a Davidic king. See Isa 11, which also employs the image of a growing tree to symbolize the unification of Israel and Judah under a Davidic king. In verses 15-19: God instructs Ezekiel to write the names Judah and Joseph on two sticks (see Num 17.1-13). Judah is the southern kingdom, and Joseph is the father of Ephraim, the central tribe of the northern kingdom, Israel. Stick: Literally "tree" or "wood." In verse 20-27: Just as one gathers sticks for a fire (Isa 27.11), God will gather the exiles to establish them as one nation. Ezekiel draws upon the tradition of permanent Davidic rule (2 Sam 7: Ps 89; 132), the eternal covenant of peace granted to the preist Phineas the son of Eleaar and grandson of Aaron (Num 25 10-13; see also Ezek 34.25), and the role of the Temple as the center of both Israel and all creation (Ex 40: see also Gen 2.1-3). Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 13th

Read Ezekiel 37.1-14 In 37.1-14: The valley of dry bones. Ezekiel's vision of dry bones symbolizes the restoration of the people of Israel. Many assume that it is based upon his observationof a battlefield filled with the bones of dead soldiers. The vision plays upon priestly concepts of purity, in that a priest must have no contact with the dead (Lev 21.1-12; those who do have contact with a corpse are defiled for a period of seven days, Num 19.10b-22). Since such impurity is the epitome of defilement in priestly thought, this image of new life is a very powerful metaphor for the restoration and purification of Israel. In verses 1-10: God instructs him to prophesy. Valley, or "plain" is the location of his initial visions (1.22-27). Breath: Literally "wind." In verses 11-14: Resurrection symboliizes the restoration of Israel to it own land (see Isa 26.19: Dan 12.1-4). Comments or Questions...

Reading for March 12th

Read Ezekiel 36.16-38 In 36.16-36: The Purification of Israel. Ezekiel portrays the restoration of Israel as a process of purifying sacrifice (Chs. 8-11). In verses 16-21: The prophet initially employs the imagery of menstral blood to portray the impurity of the land. According to priestly thought, blood is the seat of life and holiness, and hence, requires special care (Gen 9.1-6; Lev 17). Like men who have bodily discharges (Lev 15.1-18), menstrating women are considered unclean (Lev 15.19-30) and require purification. The exile of the people profanes God's name. In verses 22-232: In order to reclaim God's name, Israel must be restored. God intends to purify Israel with clean water, which is the standard procedure for purification in such cases (Lev 15.7, 11-12; see also Lev 14.5-6, 50-52; Num 19.17). Once the land and people are cleansed, God will provide a new heart and a new spirit (11.19; 18.31; Jer 31.31-34) that will prompt the people to live a holy life in accordance with God's commandments. The covenant formula (v. 28) signifies the restoration of Israel's relationship with God and the fertility of the land. In verses 33-36: Replenishing of the land to resemble the garden of Eden (Gen 2-3) revels God to the nations (Ex 15.13-18). In verses 37-38: The imagery of restoration is related to that of the sacrifical sheep that fill Jerusalem during festivals. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 11th

Read Ezekiel 36.1-15 The oracle concerning the restoration of the mountains of Israel is a diliberate contrast with that against Mount Seir. In verse 2: God begins by citing Edom's intentions to take control of Israel. In verses 3-12: The oracle presupposes the depopulation and desolation of the entire land, which must now must be replenished. The rest of the nations: Edom elsewhere is a symbol for the nations that threaten Israel (Isa 34; 63.1-6). They shall increase and be fruitfull: See Gen 1.22, 28; 9.7. In verses 13-15: The prophet accuses the mountains of devouring people. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 10th

Read Ezekiel 35.1-15 In 35.1=36.15: Edom and Israel. Ezekiel delievers contrasting oracles concerning judgment against Edom (Isa 34; Jer 49.7-22) and restoration of Israel. The oracles presuppose Edom's actions against Jerusalem at the time of the Babylonian assult (Ob 11-14; Ps 137.7-9). In 35.1-15: The prophecy concerning Edom begins with an initial oracle in vv. 3-4, followed by "proof sayings" in vv. 5-9, 10-13 that establish the grounds for punishment. In verses 1-2aMount Seir: The moutnain range extending south from the Dead Sea and east of the Arabah that was Edom's homeland (Gen 36.8; Num 24.18; compare Gen 33.16). In verses 2b-4: The initial oracle calls for Edom's destruction. In verses 5-9: The first "proof saying" indicates Edom played a role in Israel's destruction. Ancient enemy may alluude to the fued between Esau and Jacob or the living history of conflict between Israel and Edom (Num 20.14-21). In verse 10-13: These two nations and these two countries: In additin to the conflict between Esau and Jacob, there is a tradition of God's self-revelation from Seir (Deut 33.2;Judg 5.4). In verses 14-15: Edom disappered following the sixth century when it was overrun by nomads who later became known as the Nabateans. Comments or Questions..

Reading for March 9th

Read Ezekiel 34.17-31 Ezekiel portrays the leaders as stronger sheep who trample the pasture and dirty the water that others. must use. God's rule will be manifested in the establishment of Davidic prince. A covenant of peace: The idylic situation for those who assert that "the inhabitants of the waste places" will take over the land (33.23-29), Ezekiel maintains that God will protect the people of Israel. The refereences to trees and animals, together with the threat of enemies (see Lev 26) recall God's role as creator of the natural world and protector of the human world. You are my sheep ... and I am your God: A variation of the covenant formula (11.20; 14.11). Comments or Questions..