occupy a prominent place, gives a dark, mysterious character to the
prophecies of Ezekiel. They are obscure and enigmatical. A cloudy
mystery overhangs them which it is almost impossible to penetrate.
Jerome calls the book ‘a labyrith of the mysteries of God.’ It was because
of this obscurity that the Jews forbade any one to read it till he had
attained the age of thirty.”
Ezekiel is singular in the frequency with which he refers to the Pentateuch
(e.g., Ezekiel 27; 28:13; 31:8; 36:11, 34; 47:13, etc.). He shows also an
acquaintance with the writings of Hosea (Ezekiel 37:22), Isaiah (Ezekiel
8:12; 29:6), and especially with those of Jeremiah, his older contemporary
(Jeremiah 24:7, 9; 48:37).
- EZEL a separation, (1 Samuel 20:19), a stone, or heap of stones, in the
neighbourhood of Saul’s residence, the scene of the parting of David and
Jonathan (42). The margin of the Authorized Version reads, “The stone
that sheweth the way,” in this rendering following the Targum. - EZER treasure. (1.) One of the sons of Seir, the native princes, “dukes,”
of Mount Hor (Genesis 36:21, 27). (2.) 1 Chronicles 7:21; (3.) 4:4. (4.)
One of the Gadite champions who repaired to David at Ziklag (12:9). (5.)
A Levite (Nehemiah 3:19). (6.) A priest (12:42). - EZION-GEBER the giant’s backbone (so called from the head of a
mountain which runs out into the sea), an ancient city and harbour at the
north-east end of the Elanitic branch of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Akabah,
near Elath or Eloth (Numbers 33:35; Deuteronomy 2:8). Here Solomon
built ships, “Tarshish ships,” like those trading from Tyre to Tarshish and
the west, which traded with Ophir (1 Kings 9:26; 2 Chronicles 8:17); and
here also Jehoshaphat’s fleet was shipwrecked (1 Kings 22:48; 2
Chronicles 20:36). It became a populous town, many of the Jews settling
in it (2 Kings 16:6, “Elath”). It is supposed that anciently the north end of
the gulf flowed further into the country than now, as far as ‘Ain
el-Ghudyan, which is 10 miles up the dry bed of the Arabah, and that
Ezion-geber may have been there. - EZRA help. (1.) A priest among those that returned to Jerusalem under
Zerubabel (Nehemiah 12:1).
(2.) The “scribe” who led the second body of exiles that returned from
Babylon to Jerusalem B.C. 459, and author of the book of Scripture which