The book of Ezekiel reflects a degree of literary coherence unmatched in the canon of biblical prophets. Organized around three major visions of God, Ezekiel tells the story of God's final attempt as their only legitimate king to claim the loyalty of his subjects, the rebellious and recalcitrant house of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel plays a key role in this campaign. In both vision and symbolic act, Ezekiel is so closely identified with divine judgment that his life becomes a mirror of the judgment itself. His first vision gives him a glimpse of the cosmos under the rule of God and inaugurates him into his role as a prophet, a visible sign of the power of God. As the book unfolds, the prophet will see visions, the people will see the prophet, and both spectacles will demonstrate without a doubt that Yahweh is the God of Israel. Margaret S. Odell has been described by Walter Brueggemann as "among the most important members of the new wave of Ezekiel scholars who take full account of the peculiarity of the book of Ezekiel." As with each volume in the Smyth & Helwys Bible Commentary series, Odell's groundbreaking new commentary on the prophetic book of Ezekiel connects the insights of biblical scholarship to the larger world of faith.Written by accomplished scholars with all students of Scripture in mind, this innovative new commentary series is designed to make quality Bible study more accessible. Pastors, professors and students of Scripture are discovering that this commentary is a wonderful new tool for enhancing interpretation.