The Prophet’s Recommissioning (Ch. 33). 

        As Ezekiel waited for the certain fulfilment of his prophecy of doom on Jerusalem, God recommissioned him as watchman over the House of Israel (vers. 1-9; cf. 3:16-21). Though we are not so told, it is likely that it was accompanied by a vision of the chariot-throne of God. God’s charge is accompanied by a message (vers. 10-20) very reminiscent of ch. 18. In its setting, however, it seems to stress above all that the exiles were facing a new beginning, when each had to make his individual choice, whether he would do the will of God or not.

        Jerusalem fell on the ninth day of the fourth month in Zedekiah’s eleventh year (Jer. 39:2), and the temple was burnt on the seventh day of the following month (IIKings 25:8f). About six months later rumours in Tel-Abib were silenced by the arrival of one of the survivors (ver. 21). [The Hebrew text says that it was about eighteen months later, but this is intrinsically absurd. Some MSS. as well as the Syriac trans­lation have “in the eleventh year,” which is obviously correct.]

        Ezekiel had been prepared for the fugitive’s coming by the removal of his dumbness (ver. 22), which if our earlier ex­planation is correct, means that from now on he was able at all times to proclaim and explain the will of God. With his changed task came also the realization that the remnant in Judaea had not been changed even by the destruction of Jeru­salem (vers. 23-29, cf. Jer. 40-45); he was also reminded that his increasing popularity was no evidence that the majority of the people were willing to accept his message (vers. 30-33). No account is given us of the details of Ezekiel’s later work, and no indication is given as to when the following chapters were spoken, or to what extent they are a summary of years of teaching.