NOTES ON EZEKIEL AND DANIEL

Ezekiel 1 The “eagle” is probably a type of vulture. Images of the four creatures may have come from 

Babylonian deities, which are now merely decorations on Yahweh's chariot.

Ezekiel 4:9 It was against Jewish law to mix seeds. Even priests like Ezekiel will be forced to eat 

unclean food. This may be the first step of God turning Ezekiel from a priest to a prophet. Another later

defiling action included going into the valley of the dry bones.

Ezekiel 8 This was written before the Temple was destroyed. There was still a remnant in the land, 

who had polluted the Temple by their actions.

Ezek. 8:8-9 The temple looks good on the outside but inwardly is filled with vileness. This is similar to 

Jesus calling the Pharisees whitewashed tombs.

Ezekiel 9:4,6 The "mark" was the last Hebrew letter tav. In paleo-Hebrew script it is written as X.

Ezekiel 11:1, 13 In the 1970's, a seal dating from this era was excavated at Ketef Hinnom having the 

name Palta, which is short for Pelatyahu.

Ezekiel 22:30-31 can be read as a job description for a prophet, i.e. one who intercedes for the people 

before God. (see Psalm 106:23)

Ezekiel 27:50 A recently discovered bronze South Arabian tablet lists Dedan in northern Arabia as a 

destination of foreign trade circa 600 BC.

Ezekiel 28:15 There are possible implications here regarding original sin or the age of accountability.

Ezekiel 34:2-3 sins of commission

Ezek. 34:4 sins of omission

Ezekiel 43:1,4 Large number of house doorways have been excavated in Iron Age Israel facing east 

(not the expected direction). This has been interpreted to identify east as the direction God resides 

(the rising sun?). (BAR Nov/Dec 2017, p. 29)

Ezekiel 44:6-16 The story of Korah's rebellion in Numbers 16-18 may be the background for these 

verses.

Daniel 1 lessons:

1. You will never rise so high in life that pressure ceases (vv. 3-4).

2. You are never a mere pawn without choices (v. 8).

3. God is at work in your Babylon (vv. 2,9,17).

4. There is no such thing as an insignificant compromise if it dishonors God.

Dan 1:2-3 There is a parallel between the vessels and the young men.

Dan. 1:7 There is discernment between major (diet) and minor (name) issues.

Daniel 3:1 There is significance to the number 6 as falling short of the perfect number 7. The idol is 

associated with the king. (See the gold head of the statue in Daniel 2:38). All that he had learned from 

ch. 2 events.

Dan. 3:16 The address to the king is not the usual "O King." This stresses the fact that he is just a man.

Daniel 9 In the prayer Daniel identifies himself with all Israel even though he himself is blameless.

Daniel 10:11 This phrase applied to Daniel only appears elsewhere in the Bible as a description of 

John the Baptist.