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Heading of Ezekiel In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the exiles by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month (it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin), the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was on him there. (Ezek 1:1-3 NRSV)   Ezekiel means may God strengthen.   Ezekiel is a Zadokite priest (1:3; 44:15-16). Zadok served as priest at the time of king David (2 Sam 8:15-17; 15:24; 1 Chron 16:39-42), and his descendants apparently retained the high priesthood until the exile. This begins to explain Ezekiel’s attention to the temple and the holiness of God. The teachings of Ezekiel have much affinity with the priestly themes of the “holiness code” (Lev 17-26). Copyright © 2010 ScriptureWorkshop.com