One is prepared for the concentration on Egypt by the lengthy oracles against Tyre (26-28). The placement of the oracles in this part of the book contributes to the meaning of the prophet's message in at least three ways: (1) since the Lord of all the world has judged Judah and Jerusalem, surrounding nations are affected by that judgment; (2) the punishment of the nations that persecuted Judah is the first step in the restoration of Judah, which will be announced in more positive form in chapters 33-37; (3) chapters 25 through 32 prepare for chapters 38 and 39: just as the defeat of the nations makes possible the restoration of Judah upon its land, so the defeat of all human and cosmic evil in chapters 38 and 39 makes possible the definitive kingdom in chapters 40 through 48.
Posted via email from ezekiel1-48's posterous
No comments:
Post a Comment