Open Side Menu Search Icon
    pdf View PDF
    The content displayed below is for educational and archival purposes only.
    Unless stated otherwise, content is © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania

    You may be able to find the original on wol.jw.org

    TEACHING BOX 2B

    Ezekiel​—His Life and Times

    Ezekiel means “God Strengthens.” While the prophecies he relates contain many warnings, the overall message is in harmony with the meaning of his name and strengthens the faith of those who want to give God pure worship.

    Ezekiel.

    CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS

    • Jeremiah.

      JEREMIAH,

      from a priestly family, served mostly in Jerusalem (647-580 B.C.E.)

    • Huldah.

      HULDAH

      served when the book of the Law was discovered in the temple about 642 B.C.E.

    • Daniel.

      DANIEL,

      part of the royal tribe of Judah, was taken to Babylon in 617 B.C.E.

    • Habakkuk.

      HABAKKUK

      likely served in Judah early in Jehoiakim’s reign

    • Obadiah.

      OBADIAH

      prophesied against Edom, likely at the time of Jerusalem’s destruction

    WHEN DID THEY PROPHESY? (ALL DATES B.C.E.)

    Time line showing contemporary prophets at the time of Ezekiel (all dates are B.C.E.). Jeremiah: from 647 to about 580; Huldah: about 642; Daniel: from about 617 to about 537; Habakkuk: about 625; Ezekiel: from 613 to about 591; Obadiah: about 607.

    KEY EVENTS SURROUNDING EZEKIEL’S LIFETIME (ALL DATES B.C.E.)

    1. c.643: Born

    2. 617: Taken captive to Babylon

    3. 613: Begins prophesying; sees vision of Jehovah

    4. 612: Sees vision of apostasy at the temple

    5. 611: Begins to denounce Jerusalem

    6. 609: Wife dies and the final siege of Jerusalem begins

    7. 607: Receives confirmation that Jerusalem has been destroyed

    8. 593: Sees vision of the temple

    9. 591: Foretells Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion of Egypt; completes writing

    KINGS OF JUDAH AND BABYLON

    1. 659-629: Josiah promotes pure worship but dies in battle against Pharaoh Nechoh

    2. 628: Jehoahaz rules badly for three months and is captured by Pharaoh Nechoh

    3. 628-618: Jehoiakim is a bad king and is made a vassal by Pharaoh Nechoh

    4. 625: Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Egyptian army

    5. 620: Nebuchadnezzar invades Judah for the first time and makes Jehoiakim a vassal in Jerusalem

    6. 618: Jehoiakim rebels against Nebuchadnezzar but likely dies during the Babylonians’ second invasion of the Promised Land

    7. 617: Jehoiachin, also known as Jeconiah, is a bad king who rules for three months and then surrenders to Nebuchadnezzar

    8. 617-607: Zedekiah, a wicked, weak-willed king, is made a vassal by Nebuchadnezzar

    9. 609: Zedekiah rebels against Nebuchadnezzar, who then invades Judah for a third time

    10. 607: Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem, captures Zedekiah, blinds him, and takes him to Babylon