Ezekiel 30:20

“And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”

This verse is part of the larger context of the Book of Ezekiel, which contains prophecies given by the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites during the time of their exile in Babylon. The book addresses the impending judgment upon Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple, and the hope of restoration.

In Ezekiel 30:20, the prophet specifies a precise date when he received the word of the Lord. This emphasis on the timeline signifies the authenticity and divine origin of the message. It provides a historical anchor, establishing the context for the prophecy that follows.

The date mentioned here is “the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month.” This date refers to the eleventh year of King Zedekiah’s reign as the last king of Judah, which corresponds to the year 587 or 586 BCE. Ezekiel, who was among the exiles in Babylon, received this message from the Lord on that specific day.

The verse itself does not contain the content of the prophecy; it merely sets the stage for what is to come in the subsequent verses. The following verses in Ezekiel 30 describe a prophecy against Egypt and its impending judgment by the hand of Babylon. The Lord speaks through Ezekiel, warning Egypt of the devastation that will befall them, brought about by the king of Babylon and his army.

By providing a precise date, the verse highlights the divine nature of Ezekiel’s message and emphasizes that it is a word from the Lord. It also serves as a reminder that God’s timing is significant and that His judgments are just.