The MAJOR & MINOR Prophets - The 16 Writing Prophets Of The Hebrew Canon

Moshe Greenberg in The Anchor Bible VD\V ´7KH FUHDWXUHV GLVSRVHG perhaps in a square, were joined at their wing tips to one another. They gave the impression of a unity as they moved, and, facing in every direction, always went in the direction they faced, without needing to turn (vss. 8b 12). Amidst them was a flashing, torch-like apparition (vs. 13). The prophet noted that below and alongside each creature was a high, complex wheel, rimmed with eyes that moved in unison with the creatures (vss. 14-21). 18 The grand, super-climax of the vision (quoting The Message, 1:22-28 ) . ´2YHU WKH KHDGV RI WKH OLYLQJ FUHDWXUHV ZDV VRPHWKLQJ OLNH D GRPH VKLPPHULQJ OLNH D VN\ IXOO RI FXW JODVV YDXOWHG over their heads. Under the dome one set of wings was extended toward the others, with another set of wings covering their bodies. When they moved I heard their wings ² it was like the roar of a great waterfall, like the voice of The Strong God, like the noise of a battlefield. When they stopped, they folded their wings. ´ And then, as they stood with folded wings, there was a voice from above the dome over their heads. Above the dome there was something that looked like a throne, sky-blue like a sapphire, with a humanlike figure towering above the throne. From what I could see, from the waist up he looked like burnished bronze and from the waist down like blazing fire. Brightness everywhere! The way a rainbow springs out of the sky on a rainy day ² WKDW·V what it was like. It turned out to be the Glory of GOD! When I saw all this, I fell to my knees, my face to the ground. 7KHQ , KHDUG D YRLFH µ The purpose in this super-climax is as clear as that in the other parts of the vision. If the cherubim and their wheels express the fact that behind the events of earth are the operations of heaven, this super climax of the throne expresses the fact that both behind all events on earth and above all supernatural powers in heaven is the sovereign throne and will and purpose of the infinite Jehovah Himself. 19

Duties of a Watchman

In Ezekiel 3:17, God sharpened the focus of what Ezekiel the prophet was to do:

´6RQ RI PDQ , KDYH PDGH \RX a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from 0H« µ While UHDGLQJ (]HNLHO QRWLFH WKDW ´ The word of the LORD came to 0H µ 20 occurs close to fifty times. This ties in closely with the concep W RI EHLQJ ´D ZDWFKPDQ µ Greenberg in his translation and commentary uses ´ORRNRXW µ although the words seem to have the same definition: 17. A lookout. In order to give timely warning of approaching danger, lookouts were posted on high places (roofs of gatehouse, II Sam 18:24; WRZHUV ,, .LQJV WKDW WKH\ PLJKW VHH DIDU 7KH SURSKHW·V

18 Greenberg, pp. 51-52. 19 Baxter, p. 24. 20 This is also said of Samuel (1 Sam 15:10), Nathan (2 Sam 7:4), Gad (24:11), the Bethel prophet (1 Kings 13:20), Jehu (16:1), Elijah (17:2, 8: 18:1; 2117, 28) and the postexilic Haggai and Zechariah.

136