Ezekiel 3:22

A Further Vision (Ezekiel 3:22).

‘And the hand of Yahweh was there upon me, and he said to me, “Arise, go out into the valley, and I will talk with you there.'

This probably occurred after the passing of a short period of time in which Ezekiel had told the people what God had previously said. It could not be a very long period for the period from Ezekiel 1:2 - the fifth day of the fourth month of the fifth year- to Ezekiel 8:1 - the fifth day of the sixth month of the sixth year - was only about 442 actual days (assuming a thirteen month year, see on Ezekiel 4:5) and at least 390 (and possibly 430) of them were passed lying on his left and right sides for the punishment of Israel and Judah (Ezekiel 4:5). His message had been variously received, but from most it seemed that he received short shrift, they were not impressed. Indeed they may well have seen him as mad. So it was now time for the second stage in God's plan.

The ‘hand of Yahweh' upon him leads us to expect something special and once again he was to receive a glorious vision. But first God sent him somewhere alone, ‘into the valley (cleft)', where he could again meet God.