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Ezekiel's Merkavah Vision (Part 2)

By Toby Janicki | Comments (1) | Posted on June 21, 2007

Today is the 5th of Tammuz on the Hebrew calendar. It marks the day that Ezekiel received the vision of the chariot [merkavah]:

Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. (Ezekiel 1:1)

This strange vision is described in detail in the book of Ezekiel. Due to its abstract nature it has inspired commentators throughout history to muse on the vision’s meaning and implications. Although a mystical meaning was not the primary emphasis of the vision, nevertheless it was believed that one could ascend to heaven in this same chariot and peer into the divine things. We catch a glimpse of this concept in the Talmud:

Our Rabbis taught: Four men entered the ‘Garden (Pardes)’, namely, Ben ‘Azzai, and Ben Zoma, Aher, and R. Akiba. R. Akiba said to them: When ye arrive at the stones of pure marble, say not, water, water! For it is said: He that speaketh falsehood shall not be established before mine eyes. Ben ‘Azzai cast a look and died. Of him Scripture says: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Ben Zoma looked and became demented. Of him Scripture says: Hast thou found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it. Aher mutilated the shoots. R. Akiba departed unhurt. (b.Chagigah 14b)

As far out as these stories are we find a surprising parallel to this in Paul’s words where he too is took up into the heavens and sees things he cannot speak of.

I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows--was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)

At the very least we find here an intriguing parallel.

About the Author: Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer and speaker for FFOZ. He is also a writer for messiah magazine and the author of the Restoration Workbook and a new book on the Mezuzah.

Visitor Comments

I know a woman who in 1986 was cleaning her house and hear God call her. He said to her that he had something for her in her kitchen and she should come down from her working (as she was upstairs.) She was scared. That the Lord was calling her to tell her of some great sin of hers. So, she pretended she had not heard Him. And he called her again with the same thing. And again. Finally, she remembered there was no punishment her Dad had given her she had not been able to bear so she ran downstairs and walked into her kitchen (no one else was home) and threw her hands and arms up wide into the air to get it over with.

Adn the heavens opened up. And the Door, him who's image in which we, mankind, is made in, was there. Later, she would run and find a Bible quick. It would show her first the red letters in her New Testament. And then this passage in Ezekiel you are discussing. At once, when she saw Ezekial's discription she was relived. He'd seen him too. And likewise, she was overwhelmed for a long, long, time.
No one could stand to let her talk of it though. Even to this day. So she has learned to be very brief about it. Twenty years later, nothing and no one has been able to erase the memory of it out of her. It is not hearsay. I know it to be true.

God still moves. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomarrow. He can and does show Himself to humans. Doctrines that say He doesn't have no power to forbid Him anything. And it is a forever changing experience everytime He does. Not only on the one person he shows Himself to but usually to society also as a result. Such as God showing Himself to Ezekial, and Paul. Him revealing Himself to them, still impacts us, and will. Abraham is a perfect example of this.

Posted by: Angela Davis | June 23, 2007 6:55 AM

We Thank You offers a simple and innovative liturgy for disciples of Yeshua by weaving the ancient meal blessings of Judaism together with recently discovered prayers of the early believers.

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Ezekiel's Merkavah Vision (Part 2)

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