Ezekiel’s vision, detailed in the first chapter of the Book of Ezekiel, has long been a source of fascination and scholarly debate. In his paper “Ezekiel’s Vision: The Astrological Hypothesis of the Living Creatures and Wheels Intersecting Wheels Full of Eyes,” Christopher Friesen offers a compelling interpretation that places Ezekiel’s vision within the context of Babylonian history and astrology. This perspective not only aligns the vision with zodiacal constellations but also connects it to the religious and cultural symbolism of ancient Mesopotamia.

The Vision Described

Ezekiel, a prophet during the 6th century BCE, experienced his vision while among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, by the Kebar River. He describes a stormy wind coming from the north, a great cloud with fire flashing forth, and a bright light surrounding it. From within this radiance emerged four living creatures, each with four faces and distinct features.

“As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal.” (Ezekiel 1:4)

The Four Living Creatures

In Friesen’s astrological interpretation, the four living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision correspond to the four cardinal signs of the zodiac.

1. Astrological Correspondence:
   • Man (Aquarius): Represents humanity and the water-bearer sign of Aquarius.
   • Lion (Leo): Symbolizes strength and aligns with the zodiac sign Leo.
   • Ox (Taurus): Denotes domestic animals and the agricultural life represented by Taurus.
   • Eagle (Scorpio): Stands for birds and the transformative nature of Scorpio, traditionally symbolized by an eagle.
2. Movement and Symbolism:
   • These creatures had wings and moved in perfect synchronization, signifying the harmonious movement of celestial bodies.
   • They had straight legs and feet like those of a calf, gleaming like burnished bronze, reminiscent of Babylonian protective deities.

“As for the likeness of their faces, each had a human face. The four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle.” (Ezekiel 1:10)

Babylonian Statues and Deities

Friesen’s hypothesis also incorporates the rich iconography of Babylonian mythology, drawing parallels between Ezekiel’s vision and Babylonian statues.

1. Four-Faced Statues:
   • In Babylonian culture, statues depicting a “god of the four winds and a goddess of rainstorms” often had four faces pointing to the cardinal compass points. These correspond to the same four cardinal signs represented in Ezekiel’s vision.
2. Lamassu Statues:
   • The Lamassu, protective deities often depicted with a human head, the body of a lion or bull, wings, and feet like those of a calf, share striking similarities with the cherubim in Ezekiel’s vision. These statues embody strength, protection, and divine guardianship.

The Wheels

Beside each living creature was a wheel, an essential component of the vision’s complexity.

1. Appearance and Structure:
   • The wheels appeared like beryl and intersected within one another, allowing movement in any direction without turning.
   • The rims of the wheels were full of eyes, symbolizing the stars and celestial bodies, aligning with Babylonian astrological symbolism.
2. Function and Symbolism:
   • These wheels represented the cosmic order and the interconnectedness of the divine and earthly realms.
   • Their movement in sync with the living creatures reflects the ordered motion of the planets and stars.

“The appearance of the wheels and their construction, their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl. And the four had the same likeness, their appearance and construction being as it were a wheel within a wheel.” (Ezekiel 1:16)

The Expansive Firmament

Above the heads of the living creatures was a firmament, an expanse like the color of awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.

1. Crystal Firmament:
   • This firmament separated the earthly from the heavenly, resembling the glittering dome of the sky in Babylonian cosmology.
   • It signified the boundary between the mortal and the divine.

“And over the heads of the living creatures there was the likeness of an expanse, shining like awe-inspiring crystal, spread out above their heads.” (Ezekiel 1:22)

The Throne and the Divine Presence

Above the firmament was a throne, and on this throne sat a figure resembling a human, surrounded by radiant splendor.

1. Throne and Figure:
   • The throne appeared to be made of sapphire, indicating divine authority and royal status.
   • The figure on the throne had a human likeness, from the waist up appearing like glowing metal and from the waist down like fire, radiating brilliant light.
2. Radiance and Rainbow:
   • The surrounding light was like a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, symbolizing divine covenant and mercy, paralleling Babylonian depictions of divine radiance.

“And above the expanse over their heads there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance.” (Ezekiel 1:26)

Conclusion

Christopher Friesen’s astrological hypothesis, enriched by connections to Babylonian statues and deities, offers a compelling and insightful reinterpretation of Ezekiel’s vision. By aligning Ezekiel’s descriptions with ancient astrological and cultural concepts, Friesen provides a framework that deciphers the symbolic language of the vision and illuminates the historical and cultural influences on Ezekiel’s prophetic experience.

This approach invites scholars and believers alike to consider how ancient peoples perceived the cosmos and sought to understand their place within it. Whether viewed as a spiritual revelation, a celestial allegory, or influenced by Babylonian mythology, Ezekiel’s vision remains a powerful testament to the enduring quest for meaning in the movements of the stars and the mysteries of the divine.