First section: Ezekiel begins his ministry
Ezekiel, one of those taken hostage to Babylonia when Jerusalem surrendered to Nebuchadrezzar, is called five years later to prophecy about the judgment of Israel1:1-28 The Lord appears in glory
2:1-3:21 Ezekiel’s call
3:22-5:17 Ezekiel to act out the destruction of Jerusalem
6:1-7:27 The Lord pronounces inescapable doom upon Israel
Second section: A series of visions over the next year
The leaders of the people back in Judah remain both corrupt and convinced that they can connive their way out of their difficulties8 Ezekiel sees the hidden evil of the leaders of Israel
9 The Lord summons executioners to carry out judgment – and a scribe
10 The vision of glory
11 The Spirit brings Ezekiel to the elders, who do not repent
Third section: The Judgment of Israel
The Lord reveals that Israel shall go into exile, and the nation as it now is shall not survive12:1-20 Ezekiel to act out what it means to be an exile
12:21-28 The time is now!
13 Prophecy against the prophets
14:1-11 Don’t inquire of the Lord with evil in your hearts
14:12-23 A hint that some may survive the exile
15 Jerusalem will be as firewood
16 The abominations of Jerusalem
17 The Riddle of the Eagle
18 The denial of the Proverb about Sour Grapes
Fourth section: Interlude
In which grief for the loss of Israel is shared19 A lamentation over the princes of Israel
Fifth section: The Lord summons the King of Babylon
Jerusalem will be destroyed like Samaria20:1-44 The idolatry of Israel
20:45-49 Prophecy against Negeb
21:1-22:16 Babylon will be brought against Israel
22:17-22 Israel is dross to be melted down
22:23-31 No righteous man to be found
23 The Two Harlots
24 Babylon besieges Jerusalem, and Ezekiel mourns his wife
Sixth section: The Fate of Nations
The neighbors of Israel will be conquered, too. In the second half of this section, Ezekiel prophesies the restoration of Israel; his vision seems to include both near elements and far-future, apocalyptic elements25 Israel’s enemies will not enjoy her downfall
26:1-28:19 The Doom of Tyre
28:20-26 Sidon lamented
29-32 The Doom of Egypt
33:1-20 Ezekiel the watchman
33:21-33 Jerusalem is conquered
34 Prophecy against the shepherds of Israel
35 Prophecy against Mt. Seir
36:1-15 The Lord will bring his people home
36:16-37:6 For the sake of his name, the Lord will make the desolation like Eden
37:7-14 The Valley of Dry Bones
37:15-28 Rejoining Israel and Judah under David for ever
38-39 God summons Gog to destruction
Seventh section: The restored temple and nation
This vision is given some years after the destruction of Jerusalem. The Temple is measured and the life of the restored people is set out. How much of this was intended to be actually carried out and how much is, like the vision of the City of God in Revelation, an encoded message about the ultimate restoration of Israel, is a matter for debate; certainly, when Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the Temple – or when the Maccabees refounded the kingdom – no such plan was carried out.40-42 The Temple is measured
43:1-45:8 The glory of God comes to the temple
45:9-47:12 The ordering of the people’s activity
47:13-48:35 The boundaries of the land
