EZE'KIEL (Heb.. TrehezVl, God makes strong). One of the four 'greater' prophets. He was the son of the priest Buzi, a member of the Zadokite elan, which toward the close of the seventh century B.C. began to obtain complete con trol of the Yahweh cult in Jerusalem. He prob ably spent his youth in the temple at Jerusalem until the year B.C. 597, when, with Jehoiachin, King of Judah, and a large number of the people, he was carried captive to Babylonia by order of Nebuchadnezzar. There the Jews formed a sepa rate community under the government of elders and engaged in agriculture. They probably paid a tax to the Government, but in other ways were left unmolested. Ezekiel settled at Tel-Abib on the banks of the river Chebar, and probably ap peared as a prophet about the year B.C. 592, when he was apparently about 32 years of age. 11 is prophetic career extended over a period of about IlAenty years. The date, of his death is not recorded.
Ezekiel's life was short, as is evidenced by his book; but he spent his days in comforting and en couraging his people, while endeavoring to open their eyes to the real signilieanee of current events, and particularly of the national catastro phe with the resultant captivity of the people.
Ifespected by the people, his influence was pro found, though his task was a difficult one in rousing the masses, who were indifferent to the religious aspects of the situation. Ezekiel was essentially a priest. his interest is largely in matters connected with the ritual, hut he also possesses the traits of a prophet. Ilis imagina tion is impetuous, and features of his discourses are the visions, parables, and allegories with which they are filled. His style, while vigorous, lacks simplicity, and, on the whole, his moral tone, while strong, is also severe. lle is a par ticularly interesting figure as representing the transition from the prophetic to the priestly' period. His elaborate programme for the cult foreshadows the post-exilic history of Judaism which centres around the observance of the minu of religious ceremonialism. See EZEKIEL, BOOK OF.