6th Century BC (During the Babylonian Exile)
The Israelites were in exile in Babylon, having been taken from their homeland after the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. This period was marked by a crisis of identity and faith for the Jewish people.
Babylon was the dominant empire, having conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem. The Jewish people were living under Babylonian rule, far from their homeland.
The vision in Ezekiel 37 takes place in a valley, which is symbolic rather than a specific geographical location. The actual setting for the exiled Israelites was Babylon, located in modern-day Iraq.
The Jewish people were grappling with maintaining their religious identity and practices in a foreign land. The vision of the dry bones symbolized the restoration of Israel, both physically and spiritually.
Ezekiel