The first three verses form a superscription of the book, containing the identity of the prophet as well as the time and place that the prophecy was received and delivered. There are two distinct introductions: one in the first person and another in the third person.
Verse 1
The first verse of the book announces that the writer received 'visions of God' while he was among the exiles 'by the river Chebar' in 'the thirtieth year'. The Syriac text refers to "a vision". Rashi, a medieval French rabbi, suggests that the thirty years are counted "from the beginning of the jubilee cycle", the last of which was started "at the beginning of the eighteenth year of Josiah's reign; that is, the year that Hilkiah found the scroll" recounted in. This view is based on Seder Olam, and also based on : "In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth of the month," which the rabbis said denoted the jubilee year, and which the prophet uses for his reference of time counting. The date corresponds to July 24, 568 BCE, based on an analysis by German theologianBernhard Lang.
Verse 2
"In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year": Rashi wrote that this phrase, this verse and the next are not Ezekiel's words but an added interruption. The date is calculated to the year 593-592 BCE, based on Lang's analysis, Jehoiachin's captivity having commenced with Nebuchadnezzar's deportation of the exiles after his successful siege of Jerusalem in 597 BCE.
Verse [|3]
"Came expressly" : literally "is being", formed by the same word "hayah" twice; the wordhayah means to "be", "become", "came to pass", "exist."
Ezekiel's first vision comes when a stormy wind blew in from the north, bringing with it a shiny cloud that contains 'Yahweh's chariot borne by supernatural creatures'. These "four living creatures" are identified in as cherubim.
Verse 5
"Living creatures": New Oxford Annotated Bible identified these as "Cherubim", although "uncharacteristically … have four faces".
Verse 10
With four faces in different directions simultaneously the creatures can move in any direction and also 'guard the blazing substance around which they stand'.
Verse 16
This description becomes the inspiration for the construction of the "Ezekiel Airship".
"Beryl" or "topaz": some kind of "precious, gold-colored stone".
Verse 19
This description becomes the inspiration for the construction of the "Ezekiel Airship".
Verse 26
"Sapphire" : "a kind of gem"; "lapis lazuli". records "a pavement of sapphire" under the feet of God.
Verse 27
Ezekiel saw a human form that shines as if with "fire".
Verse 28
The brightness surrounding the human form in Ezekiel's vision looks like a rainbow, and as soon as he sees it, Ezekiel falls prostrate, because he recognizes it as 'the appearance of the likeness of the glory' of Yahweh. The whole report of the vision uses 'the unmistakable symbols of Yahweh's presence for an Israelite reader'.
