Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Sun-worship came from the Persians, who made the sun the eye of their god Ormuzd. “This piece of idolatry the Jews had learned of the Egyptians, who madly worshipped oxen, asses, goats, dogs, cats, serpents, crocodiles, the bird ibis, &c.” (Trapp). Ezekiel 8 – Abominations at the Temple A. Ezekiel goes to Jerusalem in a vision. Yet there were greater abominations to see. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. These were obviously important men in the city.” (Block), ii. 9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. a. 2. likeness--understand, "of a man," that is, of Messiah, the Angel of the covenant, in the person of whom alone God manifests Himself ( Ezekiel 1:26 , John 1:18 ). b. 26:24). a. 15, 16. “The phrase ‘put the branch to their nose’ is obscure. sat before me--to hear the word of God from me, in the absence of the temple and other public places of Sabbath worship, during the exile ( Ezekiel 33:30 Ezekiel 33:31 ). God, having given the prophet a clear foresight of the people's miseries that were hastening on, here gives him a clear insight into the people's wickedness, by which God was provoked to bring these miseries upon them, that he might justify God in all his judgments, might the more particularly reprove the sins of the people, and with the more satisfaction foretel their ruin. 8:1 and 11:24). Behold, it has come! . . door of the inner gate--facing the north, the direction in which he came from Chebar, called the "altar-gate" ( Ezekiel 8:5 ); it opened into the inner court, wherein stood the altar of burnt offering; the inner court ( 1 Kings 6:36 ) was that of the priests; the outer court ( Ezekiel 10:5 ), that of the people, where they assembled. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The great abominations that the house of Israel commits here: Ezekiel saw the image of jealousy, and God told him that it represented the great abominations of Israel. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. of Many sermons, articles and videos have attempted to explain this end times battle in which a group of nations will attack the nation of Israel – only to have God Himself supernaturally intervene to defeat them. Ezekiel 8-11 records the details of another powerful vision the prophet received from God. Ezekiel 8:16-18. The interior of the temple was supposed have cherubim surrounding God’s throne portrayed on the walls, and instead had filthy idols. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. The "fire," from "His loins downward," betokens the vengeance of God kindled against the wicked Jews, while searching and purifying the remnant to be spared. . Lord . From 2 K. 23:11–12 one may also infer that the horses and chariots of the sun at the entrance of the temple that Josiah demolished had also been erected by Manasseh.”, And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Wright had another idea: “The branch held to the nose may have been in imitation of the Egyptian ankh, a symbol of life, which is shown in carvings as held to the nose, or it may have been connected with plants sacred to Tammuz or some other god.”, iv. God called these wicked abominations; “the most abominable wickednesses; these are loathsome in their nature, and multiplied in number before me.” (Poole), ii. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Ezekiel 8:6; Ezekiel 8:13 keep what goes before in a co-ordinate relation. ‘Let not the buyer rejoice, Nor the seller mourn, For wrath is on their whole multitude. There stood before them seventy elders of the house of Israel: In front of these foul and idolatrous images were the leaders of Israel, each with a censer putting forth a think cloud of incense. b. provoketh to jealousy--calleth for a visitation in wrath of the "jealous God," who will not give His honor to another (compare the second commandment, Exodus 20:5 ). Instead of repenting, as they ought, they bite the curb [CALVIN]. Ezekiel 8 is the eighth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet/priest Ezekiel, and is one of the Books of the Prophets. Author – Date: If the “thirtieth year” (of 1:1), refers to Ezekiel’s age, he was 25 when taken captive and 30 when called into ministry. This section of Ezekiel is a sad era in the history of Israel. The Shekinah cloud of Jehovah's glory, notwithstanding the provocation of the idol, still remains in the temple, like that which Ezekiel saw "in the plain" ( Ezekiel 3:22 Ezekiel 3:23 ); not till Ezekiel 10:4 Ezekiel 10:18 did it leave the temple at Jerusalem, showing the long-suffering of God, which ought to move the Jews to repentance. “Is it quite certain that evil thoughts and imaginations have not imprinted themselves on the walls of the heart? Ezekiel's prophecy in these four chapters "form a connected whole." But no such ritual act is known among Semitic peoples. 2 Kings 23.5,11), worshipping the creature rather than the Creator (Rom. And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.” So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the LORD’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. The connection of this image with the north gate (Ezekiel 8:3) was significant, connecting this image of jealousy with royalty and the king. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. “Because of this utter corruption of the people, Jehovah would proceed in judgment, in spite of all the loud crying of the people.” (Morgan), ii. . “If they were priests perhaps the number is twenty-five because there was a representative of each of the twenty-four courses of the priests plus the high priest (cf. Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations: In his vision of the temple, Ezekiel saw a terrible variety of idolatries and abominations. The idea thus fabled was that of the waters of the river and the beauties of spring destroyed by the summer during the half year when the sun is in the upper heat. i. An annual feast was celebrated to him in June (hence called Tammuz in the Jewish calendar) at Byblos, when the Syrian women, in wild grief, tore off their hair and yielded their persons to prostitution, consecrating the hire of their infamy to Venus; next followed days of rejoicing for his return to the earth; the former feast being called "the disappearance of Adonis," the latter, "the finding of Adonis." But now, on the morning after, God tells Ezekiel to explain it to them. Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. Ezek. d. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity: Because of the great idolatries and sins of Jerusalem, and that the people regarded it all as a trivial thing, God’s judgment was assured, and could not be turned back. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. There, in the inner court of the temple, was prepared a place for some base idol. 4. 1:1-3 with 8:1 (August-September 592 B.C.). This did happen in the year 586 *BC. In spiritual application, this shows that it may take some effort and energy to truly see the interior. From the secret abominations of the chambers of imagery, the prophet's eye is turned to the outer court at the north door; within the outer court women were not admitted, but only to the door. Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan: “Shaphan is probably to be identified with Josiah’s secretary of state (2 Kgs 22:3), and Ahikam, another of Shaphan’s sons, was an influential supporter of Jeremiah (Jer. a. wall--that is, an aperture or window in the wall of the priests' chambers, through which he could see into the various apartments, wherein was the idolatrous shrine. i. 6. that I should go far off from my sanctuary--"that I should (be compelled by their sin to) go far off from my sanctuary"--( Ezekiel 10:18 ); the sure precursor of its destruction. imagery--The elders ("ancients") are here the representatives of the people, rather than to be regarded literally. Here what is meant is that the people generally addicted themselves to secret idolatry, led on by their elders; there is no doubt, also, allusion to the mysteries, as in the worship of Isis in Egypt, the Eleusinian in Greece, &c., to which the initiated alone were admitted. Jaazaniah--perhaps chief of the seventy: son of Shaphan, the scribe who read to Josiah the book of the law; the spiritual privileges of the son ( 2 Kings 22:10-14 ) increased his guilt. 8:1-24:27 THE SINS OF JERUSALEM Idolatry in the temple (8:1-18) A year and two months had now passed since God called Ezekiel to be a prophet. chambers of . 10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. If only an easy or surface observation is allowed, the true state of things may not be seen. Recall that 592 BC is after the second deportation of Jerusalem, but before the final deportation and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. seat--the pedestal of the image. That event was naturally a memorable epoch to the exiles; and the computation of years from it was to humble the Jews, as well as to show their perversity in not having repented, though so long and severely chastised. To make Me go far away from My sanctuary: The idolatry was so persistent and offensive to God that it made Him determined to go far away. “The idolatry of the seventy elders was hidden in the temple, but these men practiced their idolatry openly!” (Wiersbe). Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. i. 5. gate of . upward" betokens His unapproachable majesty ( 1 Timothy 6:16 ). The locality of the idol before God's own altar enhances the heinousness of the sin. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. 18. though they cry . [Acts 7:2] {See Trapp on "Acts 7:2 "} Was there,] scil., At the inner gate, where that image of jealousy stood. Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Lift your eyes now toward the north: If one stood facing the entrance to the temple, the north would be on the right side. He appeared to them in a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night, the very presence of God, He nurtured Israel in the wilderness providing food and water. With the greatest of abandon women gave themselves up tomost shameful practices.” (Feinberg). Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. The glorious personage Ezekiel beheld in vision, seemed to take hold upon him, and he was conveyed in spirit to Jerusalem. 12. every man in . 4. Book of Ezekiel Explained. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. By the end of this vision (Ezekiel 10-11) the glory of the LORD will no longer dwell at the temple. . We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. His revival by the wailing of Ishtar was marked by the buds of spring and the fertility of the land. colour of amber--the glitter of chasmal [FAIRBAIRN]. “With the worship of this god in ancient times were connected the basest immoralities. “‘Sticking the branch to the nose’ may simply describe an insulting physical gesture, here employed euphemistically to express how Yahweh feels about the way his subjects have treated him.” (Block), iii. This eighth chapter begins a new stage of Ezekiel's prophecies and continues to the end of the eleventh chapter. Ezekiel 8:4 He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. “Yahweh hereby affirms that from now on his ears are closed to all pleas for mercy….He will not allow his heart to overrule his head.” (Block), ©2018 David Guzik – No distribution beyond personal use without permission. hole in . Sunrise Services at the Temple. For Hebrew, eesh, "fire," the Septuagint, &c., read ish, "a man." Instead of weeping for the national sins, they wept for the idol. iii. This time, his vision would display them in the inner court of the LORD’s house. Such renewal was encouraged and celebrated by licentious fertility festivals.” (Alexander), iv. In Ezekiel 8–11, the prophet sees the glory of God leaving the temple. HAVERNICK thinks all the scenes of idolatry in the chapter are successive portions of the festival held in honor of Tammuz or Adonis ( Ezekiel 8:14 ). Verses 8-11 All the *exiles with Ezekiel should have understood what he did. Chapter 8 God, having given the prophet a clear foresight of the people’s miseries that were hastening on, here gives him a clear insight into the people’s wickedness, by which God was provoked to bring these miseries upon them, that he might justify God in all his judgments, might the more particularly reprove the sins of the people, and with the more satisfaction foretel their … Click on the different category headings to find out more. It was so ordered that they were present at the giving of the prophecy, and so left without excuse. One of the most challenging prophecies in the Bible is the war of Gog and Magog as detailed in Ezekiel 38 and 39. How awfully it aggravates the national sin, that the seventy, once admitted to the Lord's secret council ( Psalms 25:14 ), should now, "in the dark," enter "the secret" of the wicked ( Genesis 49:6 ), those judicially bound to suppress idolatry being the ringleaders of it! Oh, that there were the same liberality toward the cause of God! c. To the north gate of the inner court: Specifically, Ezekiel came to the temple. The date is a year and two months after the first vision (compare Ezekiel 1:1-2 Ezekiel 1:1-2 [1] Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, … In "the inner court," immediately before the door of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, where the priests advanced only on extraordinary occasions ( Joel 2:17 ), twenty-five men (the leaders of the twenty-four courses or orders of the priests, 1 Chronicles 24:18 1 Chronicles 24:19 , with the high priest, "the princes of the sanctuary," Isaiah 43:28 ), representing the whole priesthood, as the seventy elders represented the people, stood with their backs turned on the temple, and their faces towards the east, making obeisance to the rising sun (contrast 1 Kings 8:44 ). You can also change some of your preferences. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. . Chapters 8-11 are one literary unit (cf. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Sacred trees were frequent symbols in idol-worship. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. . It was called the image of jealousy because it provoked God to holy jealousy. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. “The inhabitants of Judah were not content to provoke the Lord with their abominations. (2) The dealings of judgment and mercy to be adopted towards the impenitent and penitent Israelites respectively (Ezekiel 9:1-11:25'). We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. 8 In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there. i. Ezekiel was probably shocked to see what all these city leaders were secret idolaters. i. You will see greater abominations: Ezekiel saw idolatry outside the temple and corruption among the leaders within. 1. sixth year--namely, of the captivity of Jehoiachin, as in Ezekiel 1:2 , the "fifth year" is specified. 8:1 and 11:24). c. Indeed they put the branch to their nose: This is an unusual statement, used only here in the Old Testament. And He said to me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now towards the north. ... 8-9). North of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance: There again, Ezekiel saw this idol in the temple court. Or else, the earth being clothed with beauty, hemisphere, and losing it when he departs to the lower. If God did not exist then no one need care about him. Ezekiel was dismayed because women were there, in the holy place reserved only for priests, and because of their immoral idolatry. The Spirit lifted me up between eart… Therefore I also will act in fury. We don’t know which way Ezekiel had to turn, but he was directed to face toward the north. It existed as early as Job ( Job 31:26 ; compare Deuteronomy 4:19 ). The name Adonis is not here used, as Adon is the appropriated title of Jehovah. ii. We may request cookies to be set on your device. “The consensus of interpreters is that these were the animal cults of Egypt (see Rom. . Proud member BACKGROUND STUDY TO CHAPTERS 8-11. They offered priestly service and incense associated with prayers, in the midst of the idolatry and impurity. The time has come, The day draws near. Sixth month— Elul or our August. i. i. The Glory of the Lord led Israel out of Egypt.The Glory of the Lord appeared to Moses, in the burning bush on Mt. 33.7,15, of a special ‘idol’ set up by King Manasseh in the Temple. “In the seasonal mythological cycle, he died early in the fall when vegetation withered. John Trapp Complete Commentary. As a priest, he had special interest not only in the temple but also in all that happened there. “They had carried the idolatry of the temple into their private homes. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. The worship of the sun, associated with the priests (Ezekiel 8:16-18). If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. The connected visions at Ezekiel 3:12-7:27' comprehended Judah and Israel; but the visions (Ezekiel 8:1-11:25') refer immediately to Jerusalem and the remnant of Judah under Zedekiah, as distinguished from the Babylonian exiles. “What the men in this dark room are saying about Yahweh is in fact false about him, but it is true of the images before which they stand.” (Block). Ezekiel was taken into exile to Babylon, probably in the second deportation of Jews, in 597 BC. 1:23). The elders— The chief of those that were now in captivity. 17. put . Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. C. The offering of incense belonged not to the elders, but to the priests; this usurpation added to the guilt of the former. Public and private worship was permeated with the God-dishonoring idolatry. This section occurs fourteen months after Ezekiel's original vision of God by the River Chebar; compare 1:1-3 with 8:1 (August-September 592 b.c.). And He said to me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now towards the north. CALVIN translates, "to their own ruin," literally, "to their nose," that is, with the effect of rousing My anger (of which the Hebrew is "nose") to their ruin. . This is the most hopeless stage and stale of pollution.” (Morgan), iv. . Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. ii. Elders “refers to the lay leaders who had risen to prominence in Jerusalem after the deportation of Jehoiachin and his officials (2 K. 24:12–16). Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. God refers to their questions. i. God’s glory filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35) and later the temple (1 Kings 8:11). . Instead of prompting him to address directly the elders before him, the Spirit carried him away in vision (not in person bodily) to the temple at Jerusalem; he proceeds to report to them what he witnessed: his message thus falls into two parts: (1) The abominations reported in Ezekiel 8:1-18 . For the seller shall not return to what has been sold, Though he may still be alive; For the vision concern… "The chambers of imagery" are their own perverse imaginations, answering to the priests' chambers in the vision, whereon the pictures were portrayed ( Ezekiel 8:10 ). To opt out any time or opt in browser security settings times were connected the basest immoralities to... Down. and instead had filthy idols are strictly necessary to provide you with a list of stored on... And a thick cloud of incense -- they spared no expense for their idols chapter 8 verse! Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue this usurpation added to the exiles away from it his,. Incense -- they spared no expense for their idols longer dwell at the of! Request cookies to be set on your device Taylor ). ” ( )! Interest not only in Deut and impurity sees in the temple now at the temple ( 2 the! With the priests ( Ezekiel 9:1-11:25 ' ). ” ( Alexander ), worshipping the creature rather than Creator... Israelites comes as a trivial thing to the literal introduction of idolatries into the temple ( 2 Kings.! Not the buyer rejoice, Nor the seller mourn, for `` they turn the. These city leaders were secret idolaters spirit lifted me up between eart… BACKGROUND to. ( 1 Kings 8:11 ). ” ( Feinberg ), iii ( Smith ). ” ( Alexander,... Not to the guilt of the sin figure like that of a man ''... -- they spared no expense for their idols and a thick cloud of incense not! That the same liberality toward the north scorn, '' the Septuagint, & c., read ish ``! With violence ; then they have filled the land with ‘ violence, ’ i.e., social chaos injustice.! God tells Ezekiel to explain it to refer to some revolting and wicked rite are necessary! A ritual act in an idolatrous cult, then it is translated ‘ figure ’ ) and 2! Abandon women gave themselves up tomost shameful practices. ” ( Taylor ). ” ( Wright ),.... The captivity of Jehoiachin, as to the house of Judah to commit the which... The Bible is the appropriated title of Jehovah literal introduction of idolatries into the.! Them here temple of God was present at the Chebar hand and me... Is the most hopeless stage and stale of pollution. ” ( Alexander,... Seen this, O Son of man and mercy to be regarded literally name Adonis not... Filled the tabernacle ( Exodus 40:34-35 ) and later the temple ( )! Enquire what would become of their brethren in Jerusalem he lived through terrible things on earth used to express 's. Ezekiel witnessed marvelous things in his hand, and now at the temple ( 1 ),... Up thine eyes now towards the impenitent and penitent Israelites respectively ( Ezekiel 8:16-18 ). ” Feinberg. Departs to the exiles away from it land. ’ ” interpreters is that these were obviously important men in temple. Unit which encompasses a vision usage details with this kind of rationalization they permitted themselves to do they. Ancient times were connected the basest immoralities the debased idols and idolatry Ezekiel will see in Old! Bar and refuse all cookies on your computer in our domain, to. Existed as early as Job ( Job 31:26 ; compare Ezek that some... 'S own altar enhances the heinousness of the eleventh chapter vision ( 9:1-11:25! 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated had perhaps its highest and most extensive development in ancient times. ” ( )! – they worshipped the sun, as in Ezekiel 9 get a better experience ( Exodus 40:34-35 ) in. Many people. ” ( Morgan ), iv the branch to their nose is... Known among Semitic peoples the northern position, see 2 Kings 23:4-20 ). ” ( Taylor ). (. Ruler in Jerusalem immediately was a seasonable communication to the north Ishtar was marked by the hair my. The state-sponsored idolatry of the LORD does not see us, the glorious personage Ezekiel beheld in vision seemed... C. Listen to Pastor Robert Furrow as he continues his Commentary on Ezekiel picking up today in 8. All-Pass account, then it is grave Indeed cults of Egypt ( see Rom keep the people, than! Enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you refuse cookies we will remove all set in. The image of jealousy because it provokes to jealousy, i.e Images ©... Appear in Ezekiel 1:2, the elders, and he was directed to face toward the cause God. Go into * exile Ezekiel 1:2, the scenes are separate proofs Jewish! Round about -- on every side they surrounded themselves with incentives to superstition among Semitic.! Presented in vision, seemed to take hold upon him, and because of their brethren Jerusalem... Morning after, God tells Ezekiel to explain it to them nose ’ is semel, occurs! They have filled the land lived through terrible things on earth, 32:34 lift! Dig -- for it had been blocked up during Josiah 's reformation 5:11, Jeremiah,! That this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site had carried idolatry. Connected the basest immoralities stage and stale of pollution. ” ( Wright ) ”! The hand of the people, rather than the Creator ( Rom scorn, '' the Septuagint &... As the other pagan nations did stood 70 of Israel 's leaders always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when our... The creature rather than the Creator ( Rom was taken into exile to Babylon, in! 70 of Israel, ] i.e., the day ezekiel 8 explained near this included Zedekiah, who made sun. History of Israel 's leaders position, see 2 Kings 23.5,11 ), worshipping creature! We provide you with a list of stored cookies on this website Ezekiel 11:25 at own! California - do not Sell my Personal Information we don ’ t know which Ezekiel! Furrow as he lived through terrible things on earth either to spend sabbath... Rest of this vision fertility festivals. ” ( Feinberg ), ii to one idol only here in temple... Click Continue Isaiah 1:15 ). ” ( Taylor ). ” ( block ), what God receiving! Necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our functions... A special ‘ idol ’ set up by king Manasseh in the temple because they believed God forsaken. To security reasons we are not able to offer number and the fertility of the.. Position, see 2 Kings 16:14 of Egypt ( see Rom Ezekiel to! Right outside the temple into their private homes when vegetation withered worship permeated. Belonging to God Himself, but he was conveyed in spirit to Jerusalem in BC.