Of all the prophetic books, Ezekiel is arranged with the most skill and purpose. To some extent, the structure is the message. Chapter 1 through 24 are oracles against Judah; 25 through 32 are oracles against foreign nations; and 33 through 48 are oracles of restoration for Judah and Jerusalem. Since the oracles against the foreign nations are by that fact for Judah, they can be viewed under restoration. The whole book falls into two equal parts, doom (1--24) and restoratiion (25-48). Like a good sentinel (3, 16-21; 33, 1-6). Ezekiel preached doom and warning right up to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. After that great event, his task was to preach restoration. The two halves of the book are closely connected.
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