A note of reminder would probably be in place here. Red text are Bible portions; Deep blue are quotes from other writers; Pink text is when I put words into the mouths of those talking; Black text is simply the things that I write.
Not literally, but in a vision, Ezekiel is taken to Jerusalem and placed inside the city wall but outside the walls of the temple. There, right at the entrance to the temple of Jehovah, Ezekiel saw what many commentators think was an idol of Baal.
1. It was the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 8:3. This is exactly what Moses had warned against: You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, ... You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God. Exodus 20:5.
They had also been warned what would happen to them if they did, They have moved Me to jealousy with a no-god. They have provoked Me to anger with their vanities. And I will move them to jealousy with a no-people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. Deuteronomy 32:21.
2. But turn again, and you shall see greater abominations. Ezekiel 8:3. First, he saw a hole in the wall. 8:7, no doubt this had been made by the invading Babylonian army. There, in the rubble and dirt he saw every kind of creeping thing, As beetles and others, worshipped for gods: and hateful beast, unclean ones; not only oxen, but dogs and cats, and other impure creatures; for such were the gods of the Egyptians, from whom the Jews took their deities: Gill. and all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 8:10
And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, (representative of the whole nation). Jehovah asks Ezekiel: have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each man in his image (idol) room? For they are saying, Jehovah does not see us; Jehovah has forsaken the earth. 8:12. They were worshipping idols in the dark so that Jehovah would not notice.
3. You turn again, and you shall see greater evils that they are doing ... behold, women were sitting there, weeping for Tammuz. 8:13-14. That doesn't sound so wicked, does it? These were the "women of the court" who should have been inside the sanctuary worshipping Jehovah, but they were at the northern gate In this part of the temple were the sacrifices offered; and therefore it was the greater abomination to commit idolatry where the Lord was more solemnly worshipped: near the place of sacrifice; and they were sitting there, where none but the kings of the house of Judah, and of the family of David, were allowed.
This is an interesting statement with a variety of meanings being expressed: And lo, they put the branch to their nose. 8:17.
Idols in the Temple
Not literally, but in a vision, Ezekiel is taken to Jerusalem and placed inside the city wall but outside the walls of the temple. There, right at the entrance to the temple of Jehovah, Ezekiel saw what many commentators think was an idol of Baal.
1. It was the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 8:3. This is exactly what Moses had warned against: You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, ... You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I Jehovah your God am a jealous God. Exodus 20:5.
They had also been warned what would happen to them if they did, They have moved Me to jealousy with a no-god. They have provoked Me to anger with their vanities. And I will move them to jealousy with a no-people. I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation. Deuteronomy 32:21.
2. But turn again, and you shall see greater abominations. Ezekiel 8:3. First, he saw a hole in the wall. 8:7, no doubt this had been made by the invading Babylonian army. There, in the rubble and dirt he saw every kind of creeping thing, As beetles and others, worshipped for gods: and hateful beast, unclean ones; not only oxen, but dogs and cats, and other impure creatures; for such were the gods of the Egyptians, from whom the Jews took their deities: Gill. and all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. 8:10
And seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, (representative of the whole nation). Jehovah asks Ezekiel: have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each man in his image (idol) room? For they are saying, Jehovah does not see us; Jehovah has forsaken the earth. 8:12. They were worshipping idols in the dark so that Jehovah would not notice.
3. You turn again, and you shall see greater evils that they are doing ... behold, women were sitting there, weeping for Tammuz. 8:13-14. That doesn't sound so wicked, does it? These were the "women of the court" who should have been inside the sanctuary worshipping Jehovah, but they were at the northern gate In this part of the temple were the sacrifices offered; and therefore it was the greater abomination to commit idolatry where the Lord was more solemnly worshipped: near the place of sacrifice; and they were sitting there, where none but the kings of the house of Judah, and of the family of David, were allowed.
but, what was the greatest abomination, they were weeping for Tammuz. They were not weeping because so many Jewish soldiers had been slaughtered by the Babylonians. They were not weeping because some mothers, in order to survive, were forced to eat their own offspring. they were weeping for Tammuz ... this was an image, which they heated inwardly, and its eyes were of lead; and these being melted with the heat, it seemed to weep; wherefore (the women) said, it asks for an offering: but not the idol, but the women, wept. Gill. They wept because they had nothing left to bring as offerings to their god.
4. Turn yet again, and you shall see greater evils than these. And He brought me into the inner court of Jehovah's house, ... there were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of Jehovah (they had turned their backs on Jehovah so that they could worship other gods) and their faces toward the east; and they bowed themselves eastward to the sun. (Heathens turn East to worship, the Jews were to face West to worship; the temple was so situated that West was the default.)
And He said to me, Have you seen, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they do the hateful things which they do here?
- For they have filled the land with violence and
- have turned to provoke Me to anger.
- And lo, they put the branch to their nose. 8:15-17.
- proverbial, for “they turn up the nose in scorn,” expressing their insolent security. Jamieson, Fausset, Brown. As if, since they are living in Jerusalem nothing can harm them there, after all, it is Jehovah's chosen city.
- the words are differently interpreted by the Jewish commentators; who, ... think an ill smell is meant; arising either from their posteriors, their back being towards the temple;
- or from the incense which they offered up to their idols;
- or a laurel, or olive, or vine branch, which idolaters carried in their hands, and put to their nose, in honour of the idol they worshipped;
- in like manner as they kissed their hand at the sight of the sun, ... and which the Jews did in imitation of the Heathen. Gill
I will also deal with fury; My eye shall not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them. 8:18
No comments:
Post a Comment