Ezekiel 11:22-23

Ezekiel 11:22-23

[22] Then did the cherubims  lift up  their wings,  and the wheels  beside  them; and the glory  of the God  of Israel  was over them above.  [23] And the glory  of the LORD  went up  from the midst  of the city,  and stood  upon the mountain  which is on the east side  of the city. 

What does Ezekiel 11:22-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Ezekiel then saw in his vision the glory of God depart from the temple gate and from the city of Jerusalem. He saw the cherubim under Yahweh"s throne-chariot bear the Lord east from the entrance of the temple to the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem. This was the eastern horizon from the perspective of someone in Jerusalem. The removal of God"s blessing signaled the end of His longsuffering with His sinful people, and it opened the way for His judgment to fall on them (cf. Romans 1:18-32). From this point on in Ezekiel -until Ezekiel 43:1-4, in which the prophet saw in another vision the glory of God returning to the city-the prophet saw the Lord"s presence and glory removed from Jerusalem.
"The departure of the divine glory (the visible symbol of God"s presence) from the Temple, marks the end of the theocratic kingdom in O.T. history. On the mount of transfiguration the glory of God was manifested to our Lord"s disciples ( Matthew 17:1-5; cp. also Acts 1:11-12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; James 2:1; 2 Peter 1:16-18). The visible glory will return when the kingdom is restored to Israel ( Ezekiel 43:1-7; Revelation 21:22-24)." [1]
"There is an interesting Midrash (commentary) which reads: "Rabbi Jonathan said, Three years and a half the Shekinah stayed upon the Mount of Olives, in the hope that Israel would do penance; but they did none." All readers of the New Testament know this was the length of the earthly ministry of our Lord to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Sadly enough, they did not repent and He did depart from them (cf. Hosea 5:15 with Matthew 23:37-39).... From this very place the Lord Jesus Christ left the earth ( Acts 1) and to it He will return ( Zechariah 14; cf. also Luke 21:20 with Matthew 24:3; Luke 24:50-51; John 1:14)." [2]
Perhaps the Lord"s presence stood over the Mount of Olives, rather than departing from it ( Ezekiel 11:23), because the Lord was waiting to execute His judgment on the city (cf. Zechariah 14:4; Luke 19:41). [3]