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| PentecostalTheology.com
Ezekiel 37 presents a dramatic picture of a valley of bones being resurrected. The natural Christian interpretation is that it is an image of the day of the Lord when the righteous will be brought physically back to life. But it isn’t clear that people in Ezekiel’s time would have heard the prophecy that way. In fact, the Lord says that it is a picture of the people of Israel being returned from captivity. Ezekiel 37:11-14 (ESV):
Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”
It seems like the prophecy was intended to be a rather grisly metaphor. But was it also taken literally by Jews after they returned from Babylon?
