Editing Book of Ezekiel (section)

== Later interpretation and influence ==

=== Second Temple and rabbinic Judaism (c. 515 BC – 500 AD) ===
{{See also|Merkabah mysticism}}
Ezekiel's imagery provided much of the basis for the [[Second Temple]] mystical tradition in which the visionary ascended through the [[Seven Heavens]] in order to experience the presence of God and understand His actions and intentions.{{sfn|Sweeney|1998|p=88}} The book's literary influence can be seen in the later [[Apocalyptic literature|apocalyptic]] writings of Daniel and Zechariah. He is specifically mentioned by Ben Sirah (a writer of the Hellenistic period who listed the "great sages" of Israel) and 4 Maccabees (1st century). In the 1st century the historian [[Josephus]] said that the prophet wrote two books: he may have had in mind the [[Apocryphon of Ezekiel]], a 1st-century text that expands on the doctrine of resurrection. Ezekiel appears only briefly in the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], but his influence there was profound, most notably in the [[Temple Scroll]] with its temple plans, and the defence of the [[Zadok]]ite priesthood in the [[Damascus Document]].{{sfn|Block|1997|p=43}} There was apparently some question concerning the inclusion of Ezekiel in the canon of scripture, since it is frequently at odds with the [[Torah]] (the five "Books of Moses" which are foundational to Judaism).{{sfn|Sweeney|1998|p=88}}

=== Christianity ===
Ezekiel is referenced more in the [[Book of Revelation]] than in any other New Testament writing.{{sfn|Buitenwerf|2007|p=165}} To take just two well-known passages, the famous [[Gog and Magog]] prophecy in Revelation 20:8 refers back to Ezekiel 38–39,{{sfn|Buitenwerf|2007|pp=165 ff}} and in Revelation 21–22, as in the closing visions of Ezekiel, the prophet is transported to a high mountain where a heavenly messenger measures the symmetrical new Jerusalem, complete with high walls and twelve gates, the dwelling-place of God where His people will enjoy a state of perfect well-being.{{sfn|Block|1998|p=502}} Apart from Revelation, however, where Ezekiel is a major source, there is very little allusion to the prophet in the New Testament; the reasons for this are unclear, but it cannot be assumed that every Christian or [[Hellenistic Judaism|Hellenistic Jewish]] community in the 1st century would have had a complete set of (Hebrew) scripture scrolls, and in any case Ezekiel was under suspicion of encouraging dangerous mystical speculation, as well as being sometimes obscure, incoherent, and pornographic.{{sfn|Muddiman|2007|p=137}}

<gallery>
File:Secondtempleplan.jpg|The Visionary Ezekiel Temple plan drawn by the 19th-century French architect and Bible scholar [[Charles Chipiez]]
File:The Vision of The Valley of The Dry Bones.jpg|''The Vision of The Valley of The Dry Bones'' by [[Gustave Doré]], 1866
File:Marten de Vos 001.jpg|''Ezekiel's Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones'' by [[Maerten de Vos]], c. 1600
File:Quinten Massys Vision des Propheten Ezechiels.jpg|''Ezekiel's Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones'' by [[Quentin Metsys the Younger]], c. 1589
</gallery>