The two sticks in Ezekiel 37 represent the two divided houses of Israel—the southern kingdom of Judah and the northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim)—which God will reunite into one nation under one king.
God tells Ezekiel to write 'For Judah' on one stick and 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim' on the other. He then commands him to join the two sticks so they become one, symbolizing that Israel will no longer be two nations but will be gathered from among the Gentiles and made one nation in their own land, with David God's servant as king.
Ezekiel 37:16 — Names the two sticks: one for Judah and one for Joseph/Ephraim, identifying the two kingdoms.
Ezekiel 37:17 — Commands the two sticks to be joined into one stick, showing the end of the division.
Ezekiel 37:21-22 — God says He will gather Israel from among the heathen, bring them to their own land, and make them one nation with one king.
Ezekiel 37:16-17 records the symbolic action God instructed: "Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand." The passage identifies the two sticks as Judah and Joseph (Ephraim), representing the two houses of the divided nation. In Ezekiel 37:21-22 God explains the meaning: "Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all." The purpose is one nation, one land, and one king. Ezekiel 37:24 adds, "And David my servant shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd."
Les Feldick explains that the two sticks in Ezekiel 37 are the two halves of the divided nation of Israel. One stick stands for the southern kingdom, Judah and Benjamin; the other stands for the ten northern tribes, called Israel or Ephraim (Clip 1, Clip 4). He emphasizes that God had Ezekiel put the two sticks together end to end so that they became one stick, illustrating a miraculous reunification (Clip 1, Clip 3). Les ties this to the dry-bones vision earlier in the chapter, showing that God is bringing the whole house of Israel—not just Judah—back to their promised land and to life as a nation (Clip 6, Clip 2). He stresses that this is God's promise: Israel will be gathered from among the heathen (Gentiles) and brought into their own land, and they will become one nation with one king ruling over them (Clip 3, Clip 5, Clip 7).
God told Ezekiel to take one stick and write on it, 'For Judah,' and to take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim' (Ezekiel 37:16). Les Feldick explains that the stick 'For Judah' represents the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, while the stick for Ephraim represents the ten northern tribes called Israel or Ephraim (Clip 1, Clip 4).
God instructed Ezekiel to join the two sticks one to another so they become one stick in his hand (Ezekiel 37:17). Les describes this as taking two broken pieces of sticks and putting them together end to end so that one stick replaces the two (Clip 2, Clip 3). He calls the result a miracle, comparing it to Moses' rod in Exodus (Clip 1).
After the two sticks become one, God promises to take the children of Israel from among the heathen—the Gentiles—and bring them into their own land (Ezekiel 37:21; Clip 3, Clip 5). Les emphasizes that 'heathen' in Scripture simply means non-Jew, not pagan (Clip 5). He also teaches that this restoration is for the whole house of Israel, not just the two tribes of the southern kingdom (Clip 6).
God says the reunited nation will have one king, and they will no longer be two nations or two kingdoms (Ezekiel 37:22). David, God's servant, will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd (Ezekiel 37:24). Les connects this to the kingdom coming down from heaven, with Christ as King and Israel as the head of the nations (Clip 7).
Will God Restore the Kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6 Explained
child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government... What's the purpose of government? Well to control a people within a geographical area. Now of course they're trying to shove world government down our throat. It's coming whether we want it or not. But normally we think of government as being over a sovereign nation, over a geographical area. "...
The two sticks identify the two kingdoms
Les explains that one stick stands for the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin, and the other for the northern ten tribes, called Israel or Ephraim; joining them into one stick is a miracle.
The sticks are the two tribes and ten tribes
Les describes how the two broken pieces of sticks—one for the northern ten tribes and one for the southern two tribes—are put together and become one stick.
Put together end to end
Les says Ezekiel was told to put the two sticks end to end, and instead of two there would be one; God will gather Israel from the heathen to their own land.
Judah and Ephraim written on sticks
Les shows from verse 16 that one stick is 'For Judah' (the southern kingdom) and the other 'For Ephraim' (the northern kingdom).
Gathering from among the heathen
Les clarifies that 'heathen' simply means non-Jew, or Gentile, and that God will bring Israel from among them to their own land.
The whole house of Israel
Les emphasizes that the dry bones are the whole house of Israel—not just Judah and Benjamin—and that the ten tribes have not been lost.
One nation under one king
Les teaches that after the sticks are joined, God makes Israel one nation with one king, and this happens when the kingdom comes down from heaven with Christ as King.
Ezekiel 37:11: Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Identifies the vision as the whole house of Israel, encompassing more than the southern kingdom.
Ezekiel 37:16: Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Names the two sticks, showing they represent two groups of Israel.
Ezekiel 37:17: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
The two sticks are to become one, symbolizing the end of division.
Ezekiel 37:19: Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.
God Himself will take the stick of Joseph/Ephraim and unite it with the stick of Judah.
Ezekiel 37:21: And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
God will gather Israel from among the Gentiles and bring them back to their own land.
Ezekiel 37:22: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
One nation, one king, and no more division.
Ezekiel 37:24: And David my servant shall be king over them; and they shall all have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and do my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them.
David, God's servant, is the one king and shepherd over the reunited nation.
The two sticks symbolize the two divisions of Israel—Judah and Benjamin in the south, and the ten northern tribes called Israel or Ephraim. God tells Ezekiel to join them so they become one stick, showing the nation will be reunited.
One stick is for Judah, the southern kingdom, which included Benjamin. The other is for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, representing the northern ten tribes of Israel.
No. God says in Ezekiel 37 that He will gather Israel from among the heathen and bring them into their own land, making them one nation with one king, and they will no longer be divided into two kingdoms.
Watch the Teaching: Will God Restore the Kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6 Explained