Midrash su Ezechiele 3:22

R. Gidel in the name of Rab said (Fol. 8) "Whence do we infer that one may bind himself with an oath to perform a commandment? It is said (Ps. 119, 106) I have sworn, and I will perform, etc." Behold every one is bound by the Sinaic oath to perform the commandments? We must therefore say that he means it is proper to swear [to perform a religious act] in order to urge upon himself its fulfillment. R. Gidel in the name of Rab said further: "Whoever says to his associate, let us get up in the morning and study this chapter, the one that proposed it is supposed to get up first, as it is said (Ezek. 3, 22) And He said unto him, arise, go forth into the valley, etc. And I arose, and went forth into the valley; and, behold, there was the glory of the Lord standing."

{R. said:} [Another interpretation:] AND YOUR HUMILITY HAS MAGNIFIED ME: R. Simeon ben Zera said: Who is as humble as the Holy One? The student says to his master: Rabbi, teach me one chapter. Then he says to him: Go on ahead to such and such a place. But the Holy One said to Ezekiel (in Ezek. 3:22): GO OUT INTO THE PLAIN [AND I WILL SPEAK WITH YOU]. Then Ezekiel went out and found the Holy One, who had gone there ahead of him. It is so stated (in vs. 23): THEN I AROSE AND WENT OUT TO THE PLAIN; AND, LO, THERE WAS THE GLORY OF THE LORD. Ergo (in Ps. 18:36 = II Sam. 22:36): AND YOUR HUMILITY HAS MAGNIFIED ME.

Why did He speak to the prophets outside the land of Israel? Because of the merit of the patriarchs, as it is stated: A voice is heard in Ramah (Jer. 31:15). And after that it is written: Thus saith the Lord: “Refrain thy voice from weeping” (ibid., v. 16). Even outside the land (however), He spoke to the prophets only in places that were ritually clean, as in the case of Daniel: As I was by the side of the great river, which is Tigris (Dan. 10:4), and also: And I was by the stream Ulai (ibid. 8:3).⁶The rivers offered the opportunity to obtain ritual cleanliness. Ezekiel said to Him: As I was among the captives by the river Chebar (Ezek. 1:1). This was the Tigris. When did He speak to him? Outside the land only after he had previously spoken to him in the land, as it is said: Rise, go forth into the plain, and I will there speak with thee (ibid. 3:22).