I. Ezekiel's calling and commission chs. 1--3

Four elements that mark the commission narratives in the prophets are all present in this account of Ezekiel's calling. These include a divine confrontation, an explanation of the prophet's task and its importance, objections that the prophet might offer, and divine reassurance answering these objections and assuring the prophet of the Lord's enabling presence.⁴³The record of God's commissioning of Ezekiel constitutes the longest prophetic call in the Bible (cf. Isa. 6; Jer. 1).

The passage has a chiastic structure that focuses attention on the importance of Ezekiel receiving revelations from the Lord (2:8b-3:3).⁴⁴

ACircumstances of the vision (1:1-3)

BDivine confrontation: the chariot's approach (1:4-28)

CIntroductory word (2:1-2)

DFirst commission and reassurance (2:3-8a)

EConfirmatory sign (2:8b-3:3)

D'Second commission (3:4-11)

C'Introductory word (3:12)

B'Divine confrontation: the chariot's departure (3:13)

A'Circumstances of the vision (3:14-15)

 A. The vision of God's glory ch. 1

"In chapter 1 God has brought together in one vision the essence of all that was to occupy Ezekiel, just as is found in the initial vision of the Apostle John in Revelation."⁴⁵

It is important to bear four principles of normal historical-grammatical hermeneutics in mind when interpreting visionary literature such as what we have in this chapter.

"1. Seek to understand the major idea presented through the vision and do not dwell on minutiae. This guideline is underscored in the second principle.

"2. Follow the divine interpretations normally accompanying the visions. These divine interpretations concentrate on the overall concept rather than on details.⁴⁶

"3. Be keenly aware of parallel passages and the harmony of Scripture, since the prophets normally sought to apply past revelations of God to their contemporary situations. The general prophetic message among the prophets is essentially the same.

"4. Use the same approach with the symbols and imagery of visionary literature as used with figurative language. Thus symbols and imagery are properly understood as figures and are not to be taken literally."⁴⁷

 B. The Lord's charge to Ezekiel chs. 2-3

Having seen a vision of God's glory, Ezekiel was now ready to receive his commission as the Lord's servant.