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The final section of Ezekiel's prophecy describes the rebuilding of the Temple, its operation, and the re-division of the Land of Israel among the people. These chapters contain the prophet's hopes for his people, and represent the closing of a circle that began in chapter one of the Book of Ezekiel. Decades earlier, Ezekiel envisioned the Divine Presence leaving the Land of Israel and the Temple before its destruction.
Now, perched on the high mountain, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, Ezekiel can foresee the return of the People of Israel to the Land of Israel, and the holiness of God returning to His city. According to the sages, this vision comes to Ezekiel at the beginning of the Jubilee year. Rabbi David Kimchi emphasizes how appropriate the timing of this vision is, since during the Jubilee year, all are freed and returned to their ancestral homes. In their groundbreaking new book on Jewish phenomena, "Israel FIRST!", educational online resource Root Source explores the meaning and relevance of the Jubilee year to Israel today.
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