(5) Arrangement. Th arrangement, by whomsoever made, is very evidently designed, and it seems on many accounts most probable that it was made by Ezekiel himself. This is maintained by Havernick on the following grounds: (I) The arrangement proceeds throughout on a plan cor responding with the subjects of the predictions. In those against foreign nations chronological is united with material order, whilst in those which relate to Israel the order of time is strictly fol lowed. (2) The predictions stand in such con nection with each other that every part has ref erence to what has preceded it. Historical notices are occasionally appended to the predictions, which would scarcely be done by a transcriber ; for ex ample, the notice respecting himself in chaps. xi, xxiv, xxv, and the close of chap. xix, which Havernick translates 'This is a lamentation and was for a lamentation.' (6) Divisions. The whole book is divided by Havernick into nine sections, as follows: 1. Ezekiel's call to the prophetic office (chap. i-iii:I5)• 2. Series of symbolical representations and par ticular predictions foretelling the approaching de struction of Judah and Jerusalem (chap. iii : 16; vii).
3. Series of visions presented to the prophet a year and two months later than the former, in which he is shown the Temple polluted by the wor ship of Adonis—the consequent judgment on the inhabitants of Jerusalem and on the priests—and closing with promises of happier times and a purer worship (chap. viii-xi).
4. A series of reproofs and warnings directed especially against the particular errors and preju dices then prevalent amongst his contemporaries (chap. xii-xix).
5. Another series of warnings delivered about a year later, announcing the coming judgments to be yet nearer (chap. xx-xxiii).
6. Predictions uttered two years and five months later, when Jerusalem was besieged, an nouncing to the captives that very day as the com mencement of the siege (comp. 2 Kings xxv :1),
and assuring them of its complete overthrow (chap. xxiv).
7. Predictions against foreign nations (chap. xxv-xxxii).
8. After the destruction of Jerusalem a pro phetic representation of the triumph of Israel and of the kingdom of God on earth (chap. xxxiii xxxix).
9. Symbolic representation of Messianic times and of the establishment and prosperity of the kingdom of God (chap. xl-xlviii).
(7) Obscurity. The latter part of the book has always been regarded as very obscure. It will be seen by the brief notices of the contents of the section which we have given above that Haver nick considers the whole to relate to Messianic times. The predictions respecting Gog (chap. xxxviii-xxxix) have been referred by some to An tiochus Epiphanes; by others to Cambyses, to the Chaldwans, the Scythians, the Turks, etc. Mr. Granville Penn has interpreted them of Napoleon and the French (77te Prophecy of Ezekiel con cerning Gogue, etc., 18t5). The description of the temple (chap. xl-xliii) has been thought by many to contain an account of what Solomon's temple was ; by others of what the second temple should be. The difficulties of all these hypotheses seem to be insuperable.
(8) Style. Michaelis remarks truly that Eze kiel lived at a period when the Hebrew language was declining in purity, when the silver age was succeeding to the golden one. It is, indeed, to the matter rather than the language of Ezekiel that we are to look for evidence of poetic genius. H;s style is often simply didactic. and he abounds in peculiarities of expression, Aramaisms, and grammatical anomalies, which, while they give in dividuality to his writings, plainly evince the de cline of the language in which he wrote.
F. W. G.
EZEL (e.'zel), (Heti. %X, eh's:el, separation, de parture), a stone near Saul's residence which was the scene of the parting of David and Jonathan (I Sam. xx:19).