IV.

Influence on Judaism

The apocalyptic nature of certain parts of the book (for example, the final defeat of Gog described in chap. 38-39, and the new Jerusalem described in the final nine chapters) and the often-repeated expression “son of man” have had a strong influence on Christianity and on certain New Testament books (see Apocalyptic Writings; Messiah; Revelation). Several major themes in the book have also profoundly influenced the development of Judaism. The conception of Israel as a sacred and exclusive nation is attributed to Ezekiel. He is also responsible for instilling a profound belief in the coming of a Messiah. Ezekiel was the first of the major Hebrew prophets to consider the ultimate consequences of the withdrawal of God's spirit from his chosen people. He sees exile and the destruction of the Temple as inevitable punishments for those who disobey God; therefore he stresses the importance of obedience to God. Another of his major themes is that of God as the ruler of history. To emphasize this idea, he frequently uses the phrase (or variants of it) “then they will know that I am the Lord,” coupled with a dire prophecy against Judah or an enemy of Judah. The vision of the valley of the dry bones illustrates yet another significant theme: that of the spirit of God as an animating force creating life in the midst of death.

Ezekiel was an extraordinarily expressive and richly inventive stylist, and his book is a masterpiece of Old Testament writing. The principal significance of the book lies, however, in its place in the development of Judaism. Ezekiel undertook to explain the religious basis for the historical experience of the Jews, that is, for their exile. In so doing, the prophet helped the exiles retain their religious heritage and offered them hope for a restored nationhood and Temple. He is also credited with being the primary influence behind the development of the Levitical Code, the legal and moral standard of Judaism.