Ezekiel and the World of Deuteronomy

Jason Gile argues that the ideas of Deuteronomy influenced Ezekiels response to the crisis surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile in significant ways, shaping how he saw Israels past history of rebellion against Yahweh, present situation of divine judgment, and future hope of restoration. By examining Ezekiels use of Deuteronomys language and concepts, Gile stresses that the prophet not only accepted distinctive elements of Deuteronomic theology but in some cases drew from specific texts. The main body of this volume describes Deuteronomys influence on Ezekiel under five main categories: Ezekiels language and conception of idolatry, the rise and fall of Israel in chapter 16, Ezekiels view of Israels history in chapter 20, the scattering of Israel as an image for exile, and the related motif of gathering as an image for return to the land. Gile concludes that Ezekiels use of its language for his messages of indictment, judgment, and hope shows that the prophet regarded Deuteronomy, along with the Holiness Code, as Yahwehs torah given to Israel in the wilderness.