Course Catalog > Arts & Culture > Liberal Arts

Bible: The Book of Ezekiel's Middle Chapters

This class will study the Book of Ezekiel's middle chapters (16-24), which include lengthy metaphors—of fire, vines, wood, cauldrons, an unfaithful wife/city/nation, meat, silver, dross, lofty cedar tree, eagles—to convey Ezekiel's theological, ethical and political ideas. We'll discuss his arguments about whether children inherit guilt for wrong-doings or credit for righteousness from their parents, the power of repentance, and who will survive and who not. We'll see that his lists of proper ethical behavior resemble the ten commandments; and his strenuous opposition to bloodshed and murderous violence may be linked to his understanding that the metaphor of "the image of God" refers to humans, not idols. We'll conclude with another extended metaphor when God tells Ezekiel that the "delight of your eyes" is about to die. Please bring a copy of the Bible to class (any translation).

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