A Reconsideration of the ‘Thirtieth Year’ in Ezekiel 1:1

Abstract

The precise meaning of the 'thirtieth year' in Ezekiel 1:1 has long puzzled students of the prophecy; as there is no clear indication in the text as it stands, we must look elsewhere for evidence that wills lead to a satisfactory interpretation of ‫ׁנה‬ ‫ׁים ש‬ ‫ׁלש‬ ‫.בש‬ 1 Apart from those scholars 2 who have proposed textual emendation, the majority have been drawn towards one of the following interpretations. It has been suggested that the 'thirtieth year' may refer to a time some thirty years after the Josianic Reforms, dated 621 BC, thus making the Inaugural Vision of Ezekiel occur in 591 BC. Even if the chronology could be made more coincident, there have not been found other examples of such a mode of reckoning. 3 Again, W. F. Albright 4 has advanced the view that it may refer to the thirtieth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, the year in which the prophet edited or published this oracle, but the flow of the introduction tells against this, and as C. F. Whitley point out verses 2 and 3 seem to disprove it. 5 This leaves us with the third and traditional view, namely, that this refers to the age of the prophet himself. 6 No attempt is made here to examine the vocational significance of the age 1. H. H Rowley, Men of God, Nelson, London (1963) 202. 2. C. F. Whitley, 'The "Thirtieth" Year in Ezekiel 1:1', VT 9 (1959) 326-30. 3. In Ezekiel 1:2, the moment of the prophet's vision is closely linked to the Royal Chronology, on which basis of reckoning the vision occurred in 593 BC. 4 W. F Albright is (followed by C. G. Howie, The Date and Composition of Ezekiel, JBL Monograph IV (195o). 5. Loc. cit. 6. A vie held by Origen and many others.