Our God is a God who speaks. His messages of love and concern for us never stand in isolation. Whether it be joyful declarations of the coming Messiah through the Old Testament, stern warnings of the evils of sin, or the careful explanations of how salvation works, God repeats Himself over and over so we can hear and know His heart. So it is with biblical symbols and metaphors.
Ezekiel 37:15-17 is a passage often claimed by the LDS church to foretell the coming Book of Mormon. In this passage, God instructs Ezekiel to take two sticks, write upon them for the two nations of Israel and Judah, and then join them together. LDS claim this prophetically refers to the future joining of the Bible and the Book of Mormon into a single book. One example of this claim is presented by President/Prophet Boyd Packer.
Eze 37:15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 37:16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Eze 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
This essential claim is fundamental to the LDS defense of the extra biblical scriptures. In this article, I will examine the claim (to see if these things are true), and hopefully clearly explain my understanding of the passage and its proper interpretation.
One of the most thorough defenses of the LDS interpretation of Ezekiel 37 was written by Keith Meservy, who was, at the time of his writing in 1987, an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. I would like to express by deep respect for Prof. Meservy's writing. One of my primary issues with LDS missionaries has been the overly emotional component of their explanations of their faith. Logical and rational thought processes almost seems absent. Prof. Meservy has displayed a much welcome discussion of rationality and research.
However, despite my respect for Prof. Meservy's work, I must disagree with his conclusions and interpretation of scripture. I will begin by examining his explanation and explaining my reasons for why I believe He is wrong. I will then endeavor to explain and defend what I believe is the proper interpretation.
http://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/02/ezekiels-sticks-and-the-gathering-of-israel?lang=eng&query=ezekiel+sticks
Prof. Meservy - Sticks as Books
"A correct interpretation of this prophecy depends primarily on the meaning of the Hebrew word ’ets, translated stick in the King James Version. Hebrew words, like words in any language, tend to have a general meaning as well as a variety of specific meanings, depending on their use."
This is an accurate observation. Sometimes a word will even have several meanings which will not be immediately obvious. Contextual clues and cultural background will often need to be consulted to discern the proper meaning. For a prime example for just such a discussion, I refer readers to my Count 1 Part 2 article in which I examine the word "day" in response to an e-mail from now Returned Missionary Elizabeth Felsted.
An additional issue complicating proper interpretation is biblical symbols. Often the Bible will use terms in a non-literal way. Often this will take the form of symbols, similes, and poetry. So discerning the proper interpretation can be somewhat involving.
Prof. Meservy begins by explaining the cultural use of planks as a writing surface in ancient times. They are called Babylonian Wax writing boards (is leu).
" Wooden tablets filled with wax represent the “earliest known form of ancient book” and help us understand an important prophecy of Ezekiel foretelling the uniting of the Bible and Book of Mormon."
He claims that it was these writing boards that Ezekiel
used in the prophecy. While Prof. Meservy offers an excellent explanation of the cultural background of the Babylonian captivity, I do not accept his attempt to say the word refers to a writing board. I do not dispute that these boards were used by the Diaspora. However, I do dispute that the prophetic act was in fact using one of these boards.
"But, one still might object, if Ezekiel were writing on wax boards, why didn’t he call them wax boards? If he had, he would have done something even the Mesopotamian scribes didn’t do.
They didn’t call their tablets “writing boards” but used instead the nondescript phrase wooden tablet (is leu). This usage was so firmly fixed in Mesopotamia that even when such boards were made of ivory, they were still called wooden tablets!"
The problem with this argument is that Ezekiel was not writing in the Babylonian language but in Hebrew. He grew up in Israel and the customs of Babylonian scribes would be foreign.
Finally:
"It makes no difference how Ezekiel used ’ets elsewhere or how other writers in the Bible used it. We must look at Ezekiel’s use of his wood (’ets) in chapter 37 [Ezek. 37] to determine its meaning."
This statement is the core of my disagreement with Prof. Meservy. God never speaks in isolation or expects His people to trust a single witness (2 Corinthians 13:1, Deuteronomy 17:6). This statement fundamentally violates how exegesis is to be practiced.
Context is King. True exegesis asks God what He is saying. You never take a single verse in isolation. When dealing with prophetic symbols, God will use words and terms consistently. For example, the prophetic symbol of a shepherd represents Jesus. This symbol is the same throughout the Bible and does not change. If a group reading the Bible read one of the passages using the good shepherd symbol, took it in isolation and out of context, then argued that the symbol represented something else, they would be wrong. This process does not seek out meaning. Rather, it takes a term used in a prophetic way, and inflicts a meaning on the term.
This is what the LDS are doing. In desperation for a Bible verse to support their claims, they take a SINGLE verse, and removed it from both the context and normal symbolic use ("It makes no difference how Ezekiel used ’ets elsewhere"), and thus refuse to allow the Bible to define the Bible. They inflict a meaning onto the passage which simply is not there without their mangled treatment.
The final and most important reason why this interpretation is wrong is the connection between the tablets and the book of Mormon.
"Thus, Ezekiel’s symbolism consisted of identifying two writing boards with Judah’s and Joseph’s records, which, in the context of the gathering of Israel, are joined together."
At the end of the day, these sticks/tablets are not literal (I will explain why I still believe these are actually sticks in a little bit), they are symbols. They are objects used by God, speaking through Ezekiel, to serve as a picture of something else. Prof. Meservy claims that the tablets are symbolic of the writings of Israel and Judah and thus the Bible and Book of Mormon. However, this is where the isolation of an out-of-context verse is clearly the wrong way to handle the scripture.
God never uses symbols in isolation nor does he demand His followers to blindly guess them. He uses symbols, particularly prophetic ones consistently. If you wish to learn what a symbol means, then you allow the Bible to define the Bible, and look at how it is used in other places in scripture. Context is King.
Searching out the Meaning
It is now time to seek out the word of the Lord and request His presence and opinion on the matter. When seeking out the meaning of a text, instead of isolating the verse, we must look to the rest of scripture for insight. Prophetic symbols, themes, and important ideas remain consistent throughout the Bible. The reason for this, as I have mentioned before, is that the Bible is not an isolated collection of writing from different people. This is a singular book written by God using the voices and pens of His people (Acts 1:16 the Holy Spirit by the mouth of David spoke). Therefore, it will remain consistent with itself throughout. We can trust God to remain true to Himself and not bow to the mortal conventions of the day.
So, we must practice proper exegesis. The definition from Wikipedia: "Exegesis (from the Greek ἐξήγησις from ἐξηγεῖσθαι 'to lead out')." We are to look at the passages and ask what is there, not: "what evidence is there to be used to insert what I want it to say?" Let's begin.
Eze 37:15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 37:16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Eze 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
So what is the proper way to interpret this scripture? The first is to ask, what is the nature of the passage? It is an account or recording of a prophetic act of a prophet directed by God. So what happens? Ezekiel is instructed to take two sticks and write on them. Ezekiel is not actually writing an actual account. This is symbolic. This means that the act does not automatically follow conventions or normalcy. The next step is to understand what is going on before atempting to understand the symbolism. So, what did God command Ezekiel to pick up and write on?
Epistemology of êts
So what was the physical item that it translated as "stick"? The word use is H6086: עץ ‛êts: From H6095; a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (plural sticks): - + carpenter, gallows, helve, + pine, plank, staff, stalk, stick, stock, timber, tree, wood.
The word means wood. It typically is used to refer to a tree or a large amount of wood. The Prof argues that this was a normal writing tablet. Does the word fit? To answer that question we have to look at how the Hebrew (not the Babylonian) word is used.
If this term is normally used to refer to a writing board then the term will consistently appear in the context of writing. It does not. I did a search on the Hebrew word and reviewed every single occurrence in the Bible. Not once does this word appear in the context of writing outside of Ezekiel 37. Not once. (For those who would would like to see for themselves: http://www.newjerusalem.org/Strongs/H6086)
If God, speaking through Ezekiel, wished to convey the image of a tablet then that word was available. The language was fully capable of clearly expressing the idea of a physical tablet.
H3871 ( לח לוּח) lûach: From a primitive root; probably meaning to glisten; a tablet (as polished), of stone, wood or metal: - board, plate, table.
In fact this word is used consistently in relation to writing and record keeping. For the sake of brevity I will list only a few occurrences (Exo_31:18, Exo_32:15, Exo_34:1, Deu_4:13). For those who would like an exhaustive list and do a search for the Stong's Number in the website given above.
Another Hebrew word Ezekiel could have used is in Joshua 23:6:
Jos 23:6 And be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the Law of Moses, so that you do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left
Book: H5612 (ספרה ספר) sêpher siphrâh, say'-fer, sif-raw': From H5608; properly writing (the art or a document); by implication a book: - bill, book, evidence, X learn [-ed] (-ing), letter, register, scroll.
Here is a couple more occurrences of this word: 1Ki 14:29, 1Ki 21:8.
It should be very clear by this point that the Hebrew language is absolutely capable of clearly communicating the idea of a wooden tablet or record. But the words that would be used for this idea are not in the passage. It is like someone wanting to say they were writing a book and saying: I am writing everything down on lumber. The language just does not fit the meaning that Prof. Meservy is inflicting upon it. We need to pull the meaning out by looking at the language that is there and then allowing its meaning in other, clearer passages to inform its meaning in this difficult passage.
The word occurs many times in the old testament. Based on my quick survey, I would say that 80% or more of the occurrences are either trees or lumber. There are a handful of other uses which I will review. In the book of Ester the wood is consistently used to refer to a gallows. This meaning occurs only in the book of Ester. The word is "stick(s)" in the following verses: Numbers 15:32, 2Sa 21:19, 1Ki 17:10, 2Ki 6:6. I am pretty sure that the word does not refer to a rod or scepter. The occurrence of rod/scepter in Numbers 17:2 is a different Hebrew word. This means we are left with the following meanings based on the actual meaning of the word: tree, lumber, stick, gallows. So left's leave the translation at sticks.
The Symbol's Meaning
So what do we do with this? The sticks are a symbol. The disagreement between Prof. Meservy and myself is the meaning of the symbol. He claims it is referring to a record or book. Again, I said that proper interpretation only comes from seeking out the meaning within the context of the Bible. God uses His prophetic symbols consistently. So does the symbol of a stick/tree appear on other prophetic utterances? Yes:
Eze 15:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 15:2 Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?
Eze 15:3 Shall wood be taken thereof to do any work? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon?
Eze 15:4 Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel; the fire devoureth both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned. Is it meet for any work?
Eze 15:5 Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?
Eze 15:6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
This is another prophecy uttered through Ezekiel. Here, the trees/sticks are used to represent people. This is the same Hebrew word as in chapter 37. Just as the trees are thrown into the fire so to shall the PEOPLE of Jerusalem. God uses the tree/stick as a symbol for people. Let's look at another example:
Eze 31:3 Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs.
Eze 31:4 The waters made him great, the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants, and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field.
Eze 31:5 Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth.
Here the symbol is used consistently again. The tree represents the nation of Assyria. It is a different Hebrew word. But the image and symbol are used constantly. Tree/stick represents a group of people. Here is another one:
Zec 12:5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
Zec 12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
Here the symbol is used consistently again. Wood is a symbol for people. God is using the symbol prophetically in a constant way. Now let's look at how God uses the symbol in the New testament:
Joh 15:1 I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
Joh 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away. And every one that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bring forth more fruit.
Joh 15:3 Now you are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you.
There is one author writing the Bible. This symbol remains consistent throughout the Bible. The sticks in the Old Testament and the branches in the new both remain consistent with each other. There is complete agreement and harmony. One more:
Rom 11:15 For if their casting away is the reconciling of the world, what is the reception except life from the dead?
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, also the branches.
Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and became a sharer of the root and the fatness of the olive tree with them,
Rom 11:18 do not boast against the branches. But if you boast, it is not you that bears the root, but the root bears you.
Rom 11:19 You will say then, The branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.
Rom 11:20 Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be high-minded, but fear.
Rom 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, fear lest He also may not spare you either!
Again, the symbol is used in consistency with the full context of the Bible. God does not contradict Himself and is using the symbol consistently. Now that we have the context of the totality of the Bible, let's reexamine Ezekiel 37.
Conclusion: Exegesis Results
Eze 37:15 The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
Eze 37:16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Eze 37:17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
So what is the prophecy? God speaks to Ezekiel and commands him to take two ‛êts and write on them. To think these are normal writing tables does not work. To think that we would have to believe that Ezekiel, who is a trained priest and very knowledgeable of the Hebrew language, deliberately turned down several appropriate terms in favor of a word that has never been used in the context of writing and has only ever meant a tree, natural stick or a large amount of lumber. So we go with the meaning that the writing is trying to convey, sticks. Not tablets. So what of the interpretation? Sticks are constantly used as symbols for groups of people throughout the entirety of scripture without fail. So instead of forcing a meaning into the passage, we allow the pattern God has established to rule. After all (This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established - 2 Corinthians 13:1). Does this interpretation fit the context of the passage? Yes:
Eze 37:18 And when the sons of your people shall speak to you, saying, Will you not declare to us what these mean to you?
Eze 37:19 Say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions, and I will put them with him, with the stick of Judah, and will make them one stick, and they shall be one in My hand.
Eze 37:20 And the sticks on which you write shall be in your hand before their eyes.
Eze 37:21 And say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and will gather them on every side, and will bring them into their own land.
Eze 37:22 And I will make them one nation in the land on the mountains of Israel, and one King shall be king to them all. And they shall not still be two nations, nor shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
Eze 37:23 Nor shall they be defiled with their idols, even with their filthy idols, nor with all of their transgressions. But I will save them out of all their dwelling places, in them where they sinned, and will cleanse them. And they shall be to Me for a people, and I will be to them for God.
Eze 37:24 And David My servant shall be King over them. And there shall be one Shepherd to all of them. And they shall walk in My judgments, and obey My Laws, and do them.
Eze 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, the land in which your fathers have lived. And they shall dwell in it, even they and their sons, and the sons of their sons for ever. And My servant David shall be their ruler forever.
Eze 37:26 And I will cut a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever.
Eze 37:27 And My tabernacle shall be with them. Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Eze 37:28 And the nations shall know that I Jehovah sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in their midst forever.
As we can see, this interpretation is consistent with the passage and the overall symbology of scripture. Knowing what we do now, we realize that the sticks of Ezekiel are symbolic of the people. This is a prophecy of the future messianic kingdom. This is predicting the future rule of Jesus.
The LDS interpretation of the sticks referring to records or books is completely off base. It deliberately and desperately rewrites the very language of the passage. It can only exist with the reader's ignorance of the context ("It makes no difference how Ezekiel used ’ets elsewhere or how other writers in the Bible used it"). It goes completely against the context of the passage. It takes a symbol and demands its meaning be interpreted completely counter to the established meaning of the Bible. This leaves a consistent pattern of half a dozen occurrences with this passage mauled into violating the pattern for the sake of serving the LDS's desired, self-serving interpretation.
If instead we seek the proper meaning with honesty and openness, not seeking to inflict an outside meaning, we come to an understanding that is consistent with the language (the consistent and proper usage of ‛êts), constant with the overall passage (which says nothing of a coming record), and is consistent with a now unbroken pattern of the symbol's meaning through the entirety of the Bible.
The LDS interpretation completely brutalizes the scripture into submitting to their desired meaning. This is why I call this: Exegesis Fail.
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