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<noinclude><pagequality level="1" user="" /></noinclude>MAy 1, 1949 
mieWATCHTOWER 
143 
he was thirty years of age. He continued to prophesy for at 
least twenty·two years, or until 591 B.C. (Ezek. 29: 17) 
The prophecies he was inspired to speak he was also inspired 
to write down for a permanent record; and it is in that 
record that Ezekiel stresses over and over again Jehovah's 
vindication. This is true regardless of which of the three 
sections of his prophecy is considered: the first, which con- 
centrates on the fall and desolation of Jerusalem; the 
second, which pronounces woes upon foreign nations; or 
the third, which thrills to the glorious restoration that is 
to come to Israel. 
The first section is comprised of chapters 1 to 24. At the 
outset Ezekiel has a glorious vision of Jehovah's chariot· 
like organization, attended by cherubim, and out from the 
throne of which comes a voice commissioning Ezekiel as 
prophet and watchman unto the house of Israel.· He is to 
hear the words from Jeho.... ah's mouth, repeat them to Israel 
as a warning from God, and this whether the peoples hear 
or forbear to hear. In many pictorial ways, by symbolic 
parables and pantomime, the "prophet portrayed the siege 
and fall of Jerusalem and the toll of sword and famine and 
pestilence that would ra nge it. But the justness of the 
destruction is clear when isions disclose the flagrant prac- 
tices of demon-worship carried on at the temple in J eru- 
salem, to the defamation of God's name. llIercy, too, is 
evidenced by a man in linen preceding the men with slaugh- 
ter weapons, marking those of good-will that are saddened 
by the abominations committed against Jehovah's name. 
And Ezekiel took pains to show that the king and princes 
and prophets and people that broke covenant with Babylon 
and looked to Egypt for help did wrong, that those who 
sought to sa.... e their skin and nation at the cost of breaking 
covenant with God would be brought low. 
But the part in this first section that puts the important 
matter in so many words is Ezekiel's review of the history 
of Israel, showing it to be one of rebellions against God, 
yet at the same time showing why Jehovah continually 
wrought salvation for them: "They rebelled against me, 
and would not hearken unto me; ... Then I said I would 
pour out m~' wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger 
against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I 
wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be profaned 
in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose 
sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them 
forth out of the land of Egypt.... But the house of Israel 
rebelled against me in the wilderness: ... Then I said I 
would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to 
consume them. But I wrought for my name's sake, that it 
should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose 
sight I brought them out.... The children rebelled against 
me; ... ~eYertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for 
my name's sake, ... And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, 
when I ha'e dealt with )'ou for my name's sake, not aecord- 
ing to your edl ways, nor according to ~'our corrupt doings, 
o ye house of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah."-Ezek. 
20: 8-44, Am. Stan. Ver. 
The second section, chapters 25 to 32, was delivered 
during the time of the siege and fall of Jerusalem, and 
directed against several heathen nations, such as Ammon, 
Moab, Edom, Philistia, T;yrus, Zidon and Egypt. Some of 
these nations were particularly rebuked for rejoicing and 
• See front cover page of The Watchtower. 
clapping their hands at the fall of Jerusalem, for reproach. 
ing the Israelites upon whom Jehovah had seen fit to put 
his name. Their self-exaltation and their railing against 
Jehovah's name-people were slurs against the Almighty 
One, and destruction of the blasphemers would contribute 
to the vindication of the name of the Most High. 
Chapter 33 reviews Ezekiel's duties as a watchman, mak· 
ing clear his obligation to warn the wicked that they might 
turn from their evil or die in their iniquit:r. It is during 
this review of duty that a messenger arrives from Jerusa· 
lem, telling Ezekiel and the captives in Babylon of the fall 
of the city. (Ezek. 33: 21, An Amer. Trans.) Ezekiel's 
prophecies of desolation 'were fulfilled, but he wastes no 
time with taunts of "I told you so". Rather, in this elosing 
section of sixteen chapters, he continues to look to the future 
as he paints a series of glorious pictures of restoration. 
False shepherds that fed and clothed themselves at the 
expense and to the neglect of the flock are cast from favor· 
able consideration, and in contrast Jehovah the Great Shep· 
herd is pictured as gathering his people like a flock and 
herding them into lush pastures of peace and safety. The 
faithful Jewish displaced persons Jehovah will resettle m 
their homeland, breaking the oppressor's yoke and the 
enslaver's chains, making possible the rebuilding of the 
waste places and repopulating of desolated eities. ,Yhy, 
even a heart of flesh will he give to replace the stony hearts 
of one-time rebels! And for what purpose is all this glorious 
restoration of Israel? Read it for ~'ourself, just as Ezekiel 
wrote it: 
"Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I do not this for your 
sake, 0 house of Israel, but for my holy name, which ye 
have profaned among the nations, whither ye went. And I 
will sanctify my great name, which hath been profaned 
among the nations, which ye have profaned in the midst of 
them; and the nations shall know that I am Jehovah, saith 
the Lord Jehovah, when I shall be sanctified in you before 
their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, 
and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you 
into your own land. And they shall say, This land that was 
desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste 
and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. 
Then the nations that are left round about you shall know 
that I, Jehovah, have builded the ruined places, and planted 
that which was desolate: I, Jehovah, have spoken it, ar.d 
I will do it.... And they shall know that I am Jehovah." 
-Ezek. 36: 22-24, 35, 36,38, Am. Stan. Ver. 
By additional parables and pictures J ehovuh through 
Ezekiel sounds a message of courage to the captives in 
Babylon, greatly increased now by the thousands brought 
in after Jerusalem's fall in 607 B.C. Outstanding is the 
aecount of Gog's malicious assault on restored, peaceful 
Israel and the final defeat inflicted on that wicked tool of 
Satan, and the cleansing activities of the remnant of Israel 
after that furious fight. The closing chapters relate Ezekiel's 
vision of Jehovah's restored temple in the Holy Land, 
wherein true worship will be practiced in praise of God 
and further vindication of his name. 
"Ezekiel is unto you a sign." (Ezek. 24: 24) Ilis word" 
and visions, parables and pantomimes were a sign to the 
people. They were both warning and instruction. They u:d 
not point to nations as sources of salvation; they dill not 
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