Verse 1 bones Having announced Ezekiel 36:24-38 the restoration of the nation, Jehovah now gives in vision and symbol the method of its accomplishment. Ezekiel 37:11 gives the clue. The "bones" are the whole house of Israel who shall then be living. The "graves" are the nations where they dwell. The order of procedure is: (1) the bringing of the people out Ezekiel 37:12-14,19-27 (2) the bringing of them in (Ezekiel 37:12); (3) their conversion (Ezekiel 37:13) (4) the filling with the Spirit (Ezekiel 37:14). The symbol follows. The two sticks are Judah and the ten tribes; united, they are one nation (Ezekiel 37:19-21). Then follows (Ezekiel 37:21-27) the plain declaration as to Jehovah's purpose, and Ezekiel 37:28 implies that then Jehovah will become known to the Gentiles in a marked way. This is also the order of Acts 15:16,17 and the two passages strongly indicate the time of full Gentile conversion. See also Isaiah 11:10.