1 The pressure towards a centralised Temple cult in Jerusalem should not be seen as a rapid process, taking effect almost instantaneously after the “finding of the law book” in 622 BCE. As with all such reforms, a long process of change is implied, together with a persisting unwillingness amongst many to accept the consequences.

2 This is compelling evidence for the ex post facto nature of Ezekiel’s prophecies.

3 The same idea is expressed by Paul, e.g. in II Cor.

4 Some commentators see in those meetings the exilic origins of the synagogue.

5 God’s reputation is of course his “name” and Ezekiel presents Yahweh as repeatedly acting in order to preserve his “name”.

6 Ezekial’s suffering has long been taken as an example of vicarious suffering, and a fore-shadowing therefore of Jesus’ sacrifice in the N.T.

7 Though this question is clearly occurring to the people.

8 We have no means of determining whether Ezekiel’s warnings were given before the fall of Jerusalem. Certain passages clearly describe events after the fall of the city.

9 There are many textual difficulties here: e.g. RSV reads “a likeness to the appearance of fire”; while NEB translates this as “what looked like a man”

10 Sapphire being the colour of the sky, and thus of the heavens, was the accepted colour of the heavenly scene, as seen occasionally by favoured mortals from below: cf. Exod. 24:10)

11 Reminiscent of Acts 5:5, when Ananias suddenly drops dead.