Commentary on Ezekiel Chapters 1-20 John Calvin
Ezekiel 1
CHAPTER 1
Lecture First
Ezekiel himself explains at the very beginning of his Book, at what period he discharged the prophetic office; and on this depends the knowledge of his argument.
For unless we understand how God stirred him up, we can with difficulty enter into his spirit, and shall be unable to receive any just fruit from his instruction. It is necessary, therefore, to begin from this point: namely, the time of his Prophecy: for he says: Ezekiel 1:1-2
1. Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God.
1. Et fuit tricesimo anno, quarto meuse quinta mensis, et ego 22 in medio Captivitatis, 23 super fluvium Chebar aperti sunt coeli, et vidi visiones Dei.
2. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity.
2. In quinta mensis, ipse est annus quintus captivitatis regis Joiakim.
We see that the Prophet was called to the office of a Teacher in the fifth year after Jehoiachin had voluntarily surrendered himself to the king of Babylon, (2 Kings
24:15); and had been dragged into exile, together with his mother: for it was, says he, ``in the thirtieth year.'' The greater part of the Commentators follow the Chaldee
Paraphrast, and understand him to date from the finding of the Book of the Law. It is quite clear, flint this year was the eighteenth of king Josiah; but in my computation, I do not subscribe to the opinion of those who adopt this date. For this phrase ---
thirtieth year,'' would then appear too obscure and 'forced. We nowhere read
22That is, when I was. — Calvin. 23Among the Captives. — Calvin.