Chapter 32:1-16 covers the period March, 584 b.c., one year and eight months after Jerusalem fell. In these verses there is also recorded a lamentation over Egypt, which was to be crushed at the hands of Babylon.
Ezekiel had been silent since the day the siege had begun. This covered a period of about three years. The visions of chapters 26-31, most of which came within that three-year period, and were directed against Tyre and Egypt, must have been written, not spoken. Ezekiel's first utterance, after receiving the news of the fall of Jerusalem, was that the wicked left in Judah would be exterminated. Five years later Nebuchadnezzar took 745 more captives.
Chapter 33:30-33 records Ezekiel's popularity with the exiles. He charmed them with his speech, but they continued unrepentant.
Chapter 34 records the indictment of the shepherds, or leaders, of Israel. The responsibility of the captivity of Israel is blamed directly on the greedy and cruel kings and priests who had led the people astray. Against this background Ezekiel sees a vision of the Future Shepherd of God's people in the coming Messiah, under whom they shall nevermore suffer and "there shall be showers of blessings.".
