§ 1. Ezekiel's Call and Consecration as a Prophet (Ezekiel 1-3)
Date, June-July, 592 b.c.
Ezekiel's call and consecration to his prophetic work took place by means of a vision of God's glory (Ezekiel 1), and of a divine commission, or rather series of commissions, conveyed partly in speech and partly in symbol (Ezekiel 2:3).
Ezekiel's Commission to be a Prophet
Ezekiel's commission came to him by three stages, and on three distinct occasions. The first and principal occasion was the immediate sequel of the vision described in Ezekiel 1. The account of it occupies the whole of Ezekiel 2, and Ezekiel 3:1-13. The second was seven days later, among the exiles at Tel-abib (Ezekiel 3:14-21). The third was connected with a repetition of the vision, apparently in the neighbourhood of Tel-abib (Ezekiel 3:22-27).
The First Commission (Ezekiel 2:1 to Ezekiel 3:13)
This consisted of two series of instructions (Ezekiel 2:1-7 and Ezekiel 3:4-11) separated by a visionary symbol of prophetic inspiration (Ezekiel 2:8 to Ezekiel 3:3), and was followed by the withdrawal of the vision for a time (Ezekiel 3:12-13). As Ezekiel's opening vision recalls that of Isaiah, so his first commission has much in common with that of Jeremiah, and indeed the contents of the two are closely parallel in order as well as in substance.
(a) First Instructions (Ezekiel 2:1-7)
The voice which addresses Ezekiel bids him stand on his feet, and when he has been raised from the ground by an unseen force he is told that God has given him a mission as a prophet to the children of Israel. He is warned of their rebelliousness and hardness of heart, and encouraged to deliver his message fearlessly no matter how they receive it. This exhortation corresponds to that in Jeremiah 1:8.