12-25-2009, 07:50 AM
Just where was the Prophet Ezekiel when he received his many visions and words from God? He says that he was along the ChoBar (pronounced kuh-bar) River, in the land of Babylon, and many assume that he was living in Babylon along its Grand Canal. However, note that living in the land of Babylon isn’t necessarily the same as living in the City of Babylon, for the land of Babylon covered a vast empire. And although the kings of Babylon did deport and resettle nations that they captured, it is likely that only the royalty were taken to their capital city. So the Jews may have been deported to some other location in that land, which would explain why Ezekiel speaks in awe of faithful Daniel, but provides no record of speaking or dealing with him directly, which you would expect if they lived nearby.
However, even Daniel doesn’t appear to have lived in Babylon after it was destroyed, but in Persian Susa, where he was likely taken by King Darius, shortly before his death, for what is thought to be Daniel’s tomb is found there (see the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susa).
A likely location for their resettlement is west of Babylon (and Susa), and directly north of Palestine, on the eastern side of the land of Syria. For, there we find a river with a name that is similar to ChoBar, the Khabour, and many Bible scholars now accept this as the site of that relocation, and as the place where Ezekiel did his writing.
This location seems far more likely, for Ezekiel’s prophecies were primarily against Judah and Jerusalem, and it was there that they were to be written or heard. Yet, this would be difficult if Ezekiel did his prophesying and writing in Babylon, which was a three-month journey away.
However, even Daniel doesn’t appear to have lived in Babylon after it was destroyed, but in Persian Susa, where he was likely taken by King Darius, shortly before his death, for what is thought to be Daniel’s tomb is found there (see the link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susa).
A likely location for their resettlement is west of Babylon (and Susa), and directly north of Palestine, on the eastern side of the land of Syria. For, there we find a river with a name that is similar to ChoBar, the Khabour, and many Bible scholars now accept this as the site of that relocation, and as the place where Ezekiel did his writing.
This location seems far more likely, for Ezekiel’s prophecies were primarily against Judah and Jerusalem, and it was there that they were to be written or heard. Yet, this would be difficult if Ezekiel did his prophesying and writing in Babylon, which was a three-month journey away.