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A Thesis Submitted to Middlesex University in Partial Fulfilment of The MX 7329917 0 ý1lot), Word. and Spirit in Ezekiel A thesis submittedto Middlesex University in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy JamesEdward Robson Oak Hill College Middlesex University July 2004 1 ABSTRACT Two fundamental experiencesof Yahweh in the Old Testament are an encounter with the `word' of Yahweh and an encounterwith the `spirit' or `wind' or `breath' (rüah) of Yahweh. This thesis explores `word', raah, and their relationship in the book of Ezekiel. It argues that the relationship between Yahweh's rüah and Yahweh's word is to be understood not so much in terms of the inspiration and authentication of the prophet but in terms of the transformation of the book's addressees. According to the dominant paradigm for explaining the emphasis on rfiab and its relation to Yahweh's word within the book of Ezekiel, the prophet Ezekiel is recovering from the pre-classical prophets, or even pioneering, an emphasis on rfiab in prophecy that is conspicuously absent from the classical, writing prophets. This reading interprets the emphasis on rfiab in Ezekiel in terms of the self-authentication of the ministry of the prophet. This thesis examines the relationship between rfiab and prophecy in Ezekiel and in the rest of the Old Testament, and shows that the dominant paradigm requires modification. The emphasis on Yahweh's rfiab in Ezekiel, even the `prophetic spirit', is best understood in relation to the book's concern for the transformation of its addressees. The prophet Ezekiel's experience of Yahweh's rfiab and his own obedience to Yahweh's call are clearly contrastedwith the disobedienceof the prophet's addressees in order to present Ezekiel as a model for the addresseesof the book. His experience illuminates for them how the dramatic vision of the future can become a reality in their experience.This provides a different perspective on the conundrum of the presencein the book of calls to repentancealongside declarations of Yahweh's unilateral salvific actions. Further, it provides an integrated account of the different occurrencesof rfiab in relation to the rhetorical function of the book. Yahweh's rfiab has a fundamental role in the envisagedobedient responseto Yahweh's word, both of Ezekiel and of the book's addressees. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract i .............................................................................................................................. Preface ............................................................................................................................. vi Abbreviations .................................................................................................................. vii Part I: Gathering the Data Chapter 1: Introduction I ..................................................................................................... A. Why the Book Ezekiel? 2 of ....................................................................................... B. Where Does This Study Fit? 4 .................................................................................... 1. Study book Ezekiel 4 of the of ................................................................................. 2. Study in Old Testament 11 of nl-i the ...................................................................... A brief 12 a) survey Of scholarship......................................................................... b) Some issues 17 .................................................................................................... C. What Is the Thesis? 21 ................................................................................................ Chapter 2: Exploring Word Spirit in Ezekiel 25 and ........................................................... A. Yahweh's Word in Ezekiel 25 .................................................................................... 1. Yahweh Ezekiel 26 addressing ................................................................................ The formula 26 a) word-event ................................................................................. b) Visions 32 ............................................................................................................ 2. Ezekiel his 37 addressing audience ......................................................................... The formula 40 a) citation ....................................................................................... b) The formula 50 signatory .................................................................................... The formula 52 c) call-to-attention ......................................................................... d) Verbatim 53 speech ............................................................................................. Summary 60 e) ........................................................................................................ 3. Yahweh's 60 ordinancesand statutes...................................................................... 4. The book Ezekiel itself 61 of ................................................................................... 5. The Yahweh's 65 recipients of word ....................................................................... 6. Summary 71 ............................................................................................................. B. Yahweh's in Ezekiel 72 mi ........................................................................................ 1. Accepted in Ezekiel 72 meanings of mit ................................................................. Meteorological 72 a) ............................................................................................... b) Anthropological 73 .............................................................................................. 2. Disagreements in Ezekiel 74 over the meaning of m' ............................................ Anthropological 75 a) .............................................................................................. 'y b) Theological / 75 anthropological......................................................................... Theological / 76 c) meteorological.......................................................................... d) Theological / / 77 anthropological meteorological ............................................. Theological 83 e) ..................................................................................................... 3. Conclusions 84 ......................................................................................................... C. Word Not Related to 85 mr? ...................................................................................... Part II: Word, Spirit and Inspiration Chapter 3: Inspiration Ezekiel 87 and ................................................................................. A. Exploring Inspiration 92 ............................................................................................. B. The Inspiration Ezekiel 95 of ...................................................................................... 1. Ezekiel's 95 visions and m7 .................................................................................... 2. Ezekiel being in `word' 102 addressed and rir ....................................................... Ezekiel 2:2 a) ....................................................................................................102 b) Ezekiel 3:24 ..................................................................................................106 Ezekiel 11:5 c) .................................................................................................. 107 3. Other instancesof links between r17 108 and prophecy ......................................... 4. Ezekiel communicating the mi 110 word and ........................................................ 5. Summary 111 and conclusions ................................................................................ Chapter 4: Diachronic Perspectives Prophetic Inspiration 113 on ...................................... A. Inspiration the Pre-Classical Prophets 114 and .......................................................... 1. `Potentiating' inspiration and the pre-classical prophets.................................. 114 Numbers 24:2 114 a) ............................................................................................... b) 1 Samuel 10:6,10-11 117 ................................................................................... Elijah Elisha 120 c) and ........................................................................................... 2. `Word-communicating' inspiration the 122 and pre-classical prophets .................. 2 Samuel 23: 2 122 a) ............................................................................................... b) 1 Kings 22 (= 2 Chron. 18) 125 .......................................................................... 3. The insignificance Min 129 relative of within pre-classical prophecy .................... B. Inspiration the Classical Prophets 130 and ................................................................. 1. `Potentiating' inspiration the 130 and classical prophets ........................................ Hosea 9:7 130 a) ...................................................................................................... b) Micah 3: 8 133 ...................................................................................................... Jeremiah5: 13 135
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