Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Three thousand Judeans were taken captive to Tel Abib in Babylon. This included Ezekiel and his wife Ahav, who were given a house. Here the exiles met to receive the word of God from the prophet. While walking along the river Chebar the heavens opened and Ezekiel saw visions of the living creatures and glory of Yahweh. Instead of taking up official duties in the temple in Jerusalem, the 30-year-old Ezekiel became a watchman for the house of Israel. He portrays the siege of Jerusalem and fall of Israel by lying on his side for 360 days, has visions of idolatry in the temple of Yahweh, the glory of God departing the temple, judgment on the leaders of Israel, and promise of return for scattered Israel. After not prophesying tor 13 years, he is given plans for the New Jerusalem and temple in his twenty-fifth year of exile.
