Ezekiel's Hierarchical World: Wrestling with a Tiered Reality

Can we live with the God of Ezekiel? Can we relate to a God who has established a multilayered hierarchy that separates the divine from the human, who creates boundaries that segregate people from the temple, the priesthood, and the glory of the Lord? In contrast to those who suggest that Ezekiel should no longer be read as an authoritative part of the canon, the essays in this volume engage Ezekiel's hierarchical world directly, neither dismissing it out of hand nor accepting it uncritically. By wedding theological interest and reflection with serious biblical exegesis and criticism, this work helps readers to understand Ezekiel's hierarchical theology -- especially the book's views on creation, priesthood, and land. It thus equips readers to form their own evaluations of the relevance of Ezekiel's theology for today. Contributors include Daniel I. Block, Keith Carley, Stephen L. Cook, Katheryn Pfisterer Darr, Iain M. Duguid, Friedrich Fechter, Julie Galambush, Norman Habel, Risa Levitt Kohn, Corrine L. Patton, David L. Petersen, Baruch J. Schwartz, Daniel L. Smith-Christopher, and Steven Shawn Tuell. Paperback edition is available from the Society of Biblical Literature (www.sbl-site.org)