A. Siege of Jerusalem Depicted (4:1-3)

Since Babylonia had little stone, from the beginnings of history in that region clay bricks were used for building purposes (see Ge 11). These bricks were often somewhat larger than the bricks we use today, and it was typical to put inscriptions on bricks used for government and religious buildings while the clay was still wet. Apparently Ezekiel was to use either a wet or airdried brick on which to scratch a map of the city of Jerusalem. This he was well able to do since he probably was very familiar with that city. After building model siege-works around the city, he was to act as the besieging enemy, representing God who ordained the siege as part of his judgment. The siege literally took place in 588-586 B.C.E. (see Jer 39:1-2).