it might well be asked why Ezekiel let his failed “prophecies” regarding Tyre and Egypt stand. it is possible that he was not prophesying but, rather, was praising or encouraging Nebucchadnezzar by predicting his victories on several ventures Ezekiel knew were favorite projects–and that, by so doing, was buying Nebucchadnezzar’s favor for himself and for his fellow exiles.

As for Ezekiel’s opening vision, it is likely that what he was describing was one of the sandstorms that occur every July, even to this day. The sand is very fine and glitters and it is possible that one could see mirages in them.

It is further possible that Ezekiel’s detailed knowledge of Tyre’s international trading partners was gained from the House of Murashu whose headquarters were on the Chebar Canal.

It is difficult to imagine that Yahweh thought that he was communicating effectively using the means which Ezekiel describes. If Yahweh intended for the Bible to inform humans, chosen or otherwise, as to which courses of action He desired them to take, the means of communication He chose seem peculiarly poorly suited to the task–not to mention His often abysmal choice of representatives to relay His messages.

It would be absurd to say that an omnipotent and omniscient God could have been “too busy” to speak directly to those whose behavior he wished to direct.

Neh. 8 - it may be that Yom Kippur was “important” enough that it was not forgotten, unlike Sukkot which had to be “reinstituted”. There is a precedent, so to speak, in the observance patterns of many modern Jews…