JERUSALEM, Israel - Speaking on the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland last week, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu proclaimed the fulfillment of the prophet Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones.
"The Jewish people rose from ashes and destruction, from a terrible pain that can never be healed," Netanyahu said at the ceremony.
"Armed with the Jewish spirit, the justice of man, and the vision of the prophets, we sprouted new branches and grew deep roots. Dry bones became covered with flesh, a spirit filled them, and they lived and stood on their own feet, as Ezekiel prophesized:
"Then He said to me, 'Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, 'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!' Therefore prophesy and say to them, thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves."
Click here to see Netanyahu's speech on YouTube.
Netanyahu often quotes scripture in his speeches. From his youth, he has been a student of the Tenach, the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament, which records the history of Israel and its people.
Experts say archaeological excavations in Jerusalem and throughout the country continually verify the authenticity of the Bible, which all Israeli children study as part of their school curriculum.
In related news, the youngest Netanyahu, 15-year-old Avner, scored 98 in the final round of the Jerusalem Public School District's Bible Quiz on Tuesday.
The prime minister, his wife, Sarah, and Avner's older brother, Yair, were on hand at the Bible Lands Museum in Givat Ram to congratulate him.
Like many Israelis, both Bibi and Sarah Netanyahu come from families who made Bible study a priority in the home.
Later this year, Avner will represent his district in the national Bible quiz.