Gregory the Dialogist : Ezekiel indicates the time, adding: "On the fifth of the month, this is the fifth year of the captivity of King Joachin." And so that he might properly indicate the person, he also relates his lineage. — Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 1, Homily 2 Jerome : The Holy Spirit descended on Christ and remained; he descends on people, assuredly, but does not remain. Furthermore, in the scroll of Ezekiel, who is properly a type of the Savior—no other prophet, I mean of the major prophets, is called, "Son of man"; the title is given strictly to Ezekiel. — HOMILIES ON Mark 75 (Mark 1:1-12) Jerome : To both Daniel and Ezekiel who were in Babylon by the river, the sacraments of the future were unfolded, I mean in the purest of waters, so that the power of baptism could be shown. — COMMENTARY ON Ezekiel 1:1.3 Jerome : So that we can discern and understand the visions of God, it is necessary for us to have the hand and strength of God on us. — COMMENTARY ON Ezekiel 1:1.3 Jerome : (Verse 2) While I was among the captives by the river Chebar, the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God in the fifth month: it was the fifth year of the exile of King Joachin. As the captive people sat by the rivers of Babylon, David prophesied in the spirit: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept (Psalms 137). Now, Chebar, either it is the name of the river, or certainly, according to its interpretation, which is translated as "grave," it signifies the Tigris and Euphrates, as well as all the great and weighty rivers that are said to be in the land of the Chaldeans. And understand that the heavens are open not by the division of the firmament, but by the faith of the believer, because the celestial mysteries are revealed to them. Hence, in the baptism of the Savior, when the Holy Spirit descended upon him in the form of a dove, we read of the heavens being opened (Matthew 3), and through their opening, the visions of God are revealed. Not just one vision, but multiple visions, as the Lord says through the Prophet: 'I will multiply visions and as a likeness, I have been made in the hands of the prophets' (Hosea 12:10). These are the visions that the entire prophecy of Ezekiel weaves together. According to the Hebrews and other interpreters, the migration is called Joachin and not captivity, as the LXX translated. For he was not captured when the city was conquered, but by his own will, he was taken to Babylon. Therefore, let the first migration be called Joachin, that is, Jechoniah: but let the second or final captivity be called Zedekiah. — Commentary on Ezekiel John Chrysostom : Whenever God is going to reveal some sight beyond all expectation to his servants, he leads them out of the cities to a place free from tumult. — AGAINST THE ANOMOEANS 3:25