What’s your interpretation of Ezekiel’s “Valley of Dry Bones” prophecy?
Answer:
Much has been written concerning this prophecy. The general message, however, is a message of hope.
I will quote only the words of the Gemara (Sanhedrin 92b), which cites a number of opinions as to who the dry bones belonged to. According to one opinion, they belonged to members of the tribe of Ephraim, who left Egypt before the time was ripe, and were killed. According to another, it belonged not to those who anticiplated the redemption ahead of its time, but to those who had given up hope of redemption. A third opinion states that they belonged to the wicked among the Jews, who were dry of any Torah and mitzvos. A fourth opinion states that they belonged to Jews who were killed by Nebuchadnezzar.
The picture that we receive from the combined opinions is that there nobody is beyond redemption and hope. Even the dry bones, of those who rush to meet redemption before its time, those who have given up, those who feel they are wicked beyond hope, and those who are under the dominion of others — all will be brought together with Hashem in Days to Come.
The tribe of Ephraim or the tribe of Simeon?
When the Israelites left Egypt the tribe of Simeon was the third largest (Num. 1:23) After the 40 years in the wilderness Simeon was the smallest tribe (Num. 26:14) 63% of the tribe of Simeon disappeared and at the same time the tribe of Manasseh increased by 20,500, a 64% rise. Simeon’s numbers dropped 37,100.
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