11:22-23 Ezekiel then saw in his vision the glory of God depart from the temple gate and from the city of Jerusalem. He saw the cherubim under Yahweh's throne-chariot bear the Lord east from the entrance of the temple to the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. The removal of God's blessing signaled the end of His longsuffering with His sinful people, and it opened the way for His judgment to fall on them (cf. Rom. 1:18-32). From this point on in Ezekiel--until 43:1-4, in which the prophet saw in another vision the glory of God returning to the city--the prophet saw the Lord's presence and glory removed from Jerusalem.
"There is an interesting Midrash (commentary) which reads: Rabbi Jonathan said, Three years and a half the Shekinah stayed upon the Mount of Olives, in the hope that Israel would do penance; but they did none.'184All readers of the New Testament know this was the length of the earthly ministry of our Lord to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Sadly enough, they did not repent and He did depart from them (cf. Hosea 5:15 with Matt. 23:37-39). . . . From this very place the Lord Jesus Christ left the earth (Acts 1) and to it He will return (Zech. 14; cf. also Luke 21:20 with Matt. 24:3; Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:11-12)."185
Perhaps the Lord's presence stood over the Mount of Olives, rather than departing from it (v. 23), because the Lord was waiting to execute His judgment on the city (cf. Zech. 14:4; Luke 19:41).186
11:24-25 The Spirit then returned Ezekiel in his vision to Babylon. The vision was over, and the prophet related all that God had shown him to his fellow exiles.
