The Agony of Exile: A Social-Scientific Reading of Ezekiel 37:1–14
Date
2025-03
Authors
Lonu, Victor Budha
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Transform Journal
Abstract
The vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37:1–14 is an analogy about the suffering of the Jewish people in Babylon and their restoration by YHWH. While their situation was deplorable and hopeless, the text indicates the divine power to reestablish them in their ancient homeland. The context of the text is that of suffering and desperation. Exile had an impact on the social and religious life of the Judeans. The experience of the hardship of the Jewish people in the land of exile gives ground to the context of the suffering of people in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Reading Ezekiel’s text from a social-scientific lens brings insight into understanding and applying the text in the context of Ituri and North Kivu provinces that have experienced internal and external exile. Like the exiles in Babylon, the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ituri and North Kivu go through the same experience. Their internal exile has impacted them negatively. But, like for the exiles in Babylon, there is hope of restoration for them.