Ezekiel 37:1

bones

Having announced (Ezekiel 36:24) the restoration of the nation, Jehovah now gives in vision and symbol the method of its accomplishment. (Ezekiel 37:11) gives the clue. The "bones" are the whole house of Israel who shall then be living. The "graves" are the nations where they dwell. The order of procedure is:

(1) the bringing of the people out (Ezekiel 37:12); (Ezekiel 37:19).

(2) the bringing of them in (Ezekiel 37:12);

(3) their conversion (Ezekiel 37:13)

(4) the filling with the Spirit (Ezekiel 37:14).

The symbol follows. The two sticks are Judah and the ten tribes; united, they are one nation (Ezekiel 37:19). Then follows (Ezekiel 37:21) the plain declaration as to Jehovah's purpose, and (Ezekiel 37:28) implies that then Jehovah will become known to the Gentiles in a marked way. This is also the order of (Acts 15:16); (Acts 15:17) and the two passages strongly indicate the time of full Gentile conversion. See also (Isaiah 11:10).