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Tel-abib. Tel, a hill or elevation. Abib, an ear of corn, or grain, which according to the season would have been barley. Eze. 3:15 A very interesting and significant name. It has the shades of remembering the goodness of their former life in Israel and their form of worship unto the Lord. All of which, while in their own country, they had forsaken and corrupted by mixing idol worship with worship unto the Lord. Now, in captivity they remember what they had once had and enjoyed in their own country. Too often, the good things of the Lord are disregarded until they are lost, and then we mourn for them and wish to possess them once more.
The month Abib is the month of new beginnings. It was first month of the Levitical year, it was also the new year for them. It was the month when they celebrated the feast of Passover. It was a remembrance of their deliverance form the bondage of Egypt. The month of new beginnings, freedom and release from captivity. Ex 12:1-2 It was a type of salvation through the sacrifice of a lamb. The Lord Jesus as the Lamb of God fulfilled perfectly every jot and tittle of its spiritual significance. 1 Cor. 5:7 Every time we partake of the Communion table we celebrate the feast of Passover, the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
The timing of the feast of Passover and the subsequent feast of unleavened bread is measured perfectly by the scriptures. The Jewish year was based on a lunar measurement which caused it to occur in the months of March-April. The feast of first fruit required the presentation of first ripened grain, which was then waved before the Lord. For there to be ripened grain, whether the month was March or April required the hand of the Lord in the growth and ripening of the barley. That in itself would be a miracle. Who can determine and assure the farmer that his crop will be ripe every year at the proper time to be able to wave the first ripe barley before Him, precisely on the appointed day. That would definitely be the handiwork of the Lord. Lev. 23:6-11
Sitting by the river Chebar and joining them Ezekiel found a group of captives to whom this seems to be common place. In the way of Jewish life at that time these would have been the elders who sat as judges in the gate. See Ruth 4:11 Also, the fact that Ezekiel was with them for the entire seven days of his silence would seem to verify their position. His experiences were so powerful and most unusual that the poor man sat in utter astonishment for one whole week. For certain, he had seen some terrific displays of the might and power of the Lord.