III. Ezekiel’s Dates

More than any other OT prophet, Ezekiel frequently dated events, his particular visions, and prophecies. Now that archaeology has made available to modern scholars various Babylonian annals written in cuneiform on clay tablets and other materials, it is possible to calculate precise equivalents in terms of our calendar. The thirteen separate events or times Ezekiel cites have been calculated as follows:

1. His vision call (1:1, 5; 3:16)—July 31, 593 B.C.E.

2. His vision visit to Jerusalem (8:1)—Sept. 17, 592 B.C.E.

3. God’s heartbreak over Judah’s sin (20:1-2)—Aug. 14, 591 B.C.E.

4. Start of siege of Jerusalem (24:1)—Jan. 15, 588 B.C.E.

5. Judgment against Tyre (26:1)—Apr. 23, 587, to Apr. 13, 586 B.C.E.

6. Judgment against Egypt (29:1)—Jan. 7, 587 B.C.E.

7. Egypt given to Babylon for Tyre (29:17)—Apr. 26, 571 B.C.E.

8. Judgment against Pharaoh (30:20)—Apr. 29, 587 B.C.E.

9. Judgment against Pharaoh (31:1)—June 21, 587 B.C.E.

10. Dirge concerning Pharaoh (32:1)—Mar. 3, 585 B.C.E.

11. Demise of Egypt (32:17)—Apr. 13, 586, to Apr. 1, 585 B.C.E.

12. Arrival of Jerusalem escapee 33:21)—Jan. 8, 585 B.C.E.

13. Vision of the New Jerusalem (40:1)—Apr. 28, 573 B.C.E.

Additional information concerning dating of events in Ezekiel may be found in the following resources: Greenberg, Ezekiel, 1-20, 8-11); Zimmerli, Ezekiel 1, 9-16.