This dissertation provides a rhetorical analysis of the motif of Yahweh's kingship in the Book of Ezekiel. Drawing upon Aristotle's The Art of Rhetoric and more recent adaptations and elaborations of classical rhetorical theory, the focus is placed upon the role of Yahweh's kingship in the argumentative strategies and argumentative purposes of the Ezekiel corpus. The dissertation performs the following tasks: Chapter 1 explains the classical rhetorical method to be employed throughout the project; Chapter 2 provides a basic survey of the rhetorical arrangement, genre, and purpose of Ezekiel; Chapter 3 explores the rhetorical situation or crisis for which Ezekiel serves as a rhetorical response; Chapter 4 examines the role of divine kingship in the visions of Ezek 1-3, 8-11, and 40-48, and discusses its relationship to the motif of divine abandonment and return; Chapters 5-7 examine the motif of Yahweh's kingship in Ezek 20, in the oracles against the nations (specifically Ezek 28:11-19 and Ezek 31), and in Ezek 34, respectively, and explain the relationship of these units to the transitional material in Ezek 33; Chapter 8 is a summary and conclusion.

The dissertation argues that a major concern of the Book of Ezekiel is rebuilding the ethos of Yahweh among the Israelite exilic community in Babylon. This is especially evident in those sections that implicitly and explicitly employ the motif of Yahweh's kingship. Ezekiel argues that Yahweh is the Great King (a central tenet of the Zion tradition) by emphasizing Yahweh's universal sovereignty and his universal exercise of justice. The text also encourages covenant faithfulness among the exiles in an effort to preserve their unique identity as Yahweh's patrons. The rhetorical foundation for accomplishing this is the clarification of Yahweh's character, which seeks to build the deity's reputation as honorable and trustworthy, in spite of the disasters of the Babylonian exile and the destruction of Jerusalem.