The Valley of Dry Bones

The hand of the LORD was upon Ezekiel and brought him by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley which was full of bones (Ezekiel 37:1). The text does not say the specific geographic location of this valley. Ezekiel was led around these bones, noting they were very dry and numerous. The LORD asked if the bones could live, to which Ezekiel replied that the Lord GOD knew (Ezekiel 37:3). The LORD then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy over the bones, stating that He would cause breath to enter them and they would live.

Ezekiel prophesied as he was commanded, and as he did so, there was a noise and a rattling as the bones came together, bone to its bone (Ezekiel 37:7). While Ezekiel watched, sinews and flesh grew upon the bones and skin covered them, but the text does not say how long this process took, and there was no breath in them at that point. The LORD then told Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, calling it from the four winds to breathe upon these slain individuals so they might live.

Ezekiel followed these instructions, and breath entered the bodies. They lived and stood up on their feet, forming an exceedingly great army (Ezekiel 37:10). The LORD explained that these bones represented the whole house of Israel, who believed their hope was lost and they were cut off. Ezekiel was instructed to tell the people that the LORD would open their graves and bring them back into the land of Israel (Ezekiel 37:12). The passage concludes with the promise that the LORD would put His Spirit in them and place them in their own land.