Ezekiel 37:15–28 and Elements of God’s Future Promises to Israel

Keith Kobelia

The prophet Ezekiel was called to an unusual but important ministry to the captives of Judah in Babylon. Despite his unusual methods (e.g., symbolic acts) and extraordinary visions (e.g., Ezek. 40–48), his overall message is clear and provides insight into God’s plan for Israel.

THE CONTEXT OF EZEKIEL’S PROPHECY OF THE TWO STICKS

Ezekiel was taken captive in the second wave of the Babylonian Captivity when King Jehoiachin was taken captive in 597 BC (Ezek. 1:2). Ezekiel then spent the remainder of his life in exile in Babylon, ministering to the captives that lived by the river Chebar (1:1, 3). While the elders of Israel came to Ezekiel for counsel (e.g., 14:1–3), they were largely unresponsive to his message.

Ezekiel’s book is laid out primarily in chronological order.[1] The first part of Ezekiel’s book primarily contains prophecies of judgment upon Judah (4:1–24:27) with a brief section containing oracles of judgment against the foreign nations (chaps. 25–32). A major turning point occurs, however, with the fall of Jerusalem (33:21). After this point, Ezekiel’s ministry turns to providing hope of restoration for the captives of Judah (chaps. 33–48).

Among the notable prophecies in the second half of Ezekiel’s book are the vision of the valley of dry bones (37:1–14) and the prophecy about Gog of the land of Magog (chaps. 38–39). Sandwiched between these sections is a symbolic act that Ezekiel performed and a corresponding oracle explaining the symbolic act: the prophecy of the two sticks (37:15–23).