1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
2 Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
7 And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
8 Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
9 And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
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.
11 And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
12 Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
13 He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
15 Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
17 Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
The eighth chapter of the Book of Ezekiel in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a narrative that describes Ezekiel's divine vision of the abominations occurring within the temple of Jerusalem. This chapter is a critical part of Ezekiel's prophecies, as it sets the stage for the impending judgment of God against the people of Israel due to their idolatrous and sinful practices.
The chapter begins with Ezekiel, who is among the exiles in Babylon, being visited by the hand of the Lord God. In a vision, Ezekiel is transported to Jerusalem and brought to the entrance of the inner gate of the temple where he sees an idol that provokes jealousy (Ezekiel 8:3-5). This idol is a clear representation of the idolatrous practices that have infiltrated the temple of God, the very place that should be devoted to the worship of Yahweh alone.
God then instructs Ezekiel to turn his gaze towards the north, where he sees a greater abomination - the image of jealousy at the gate of the altar. This second idol is symbolic of the Israelites' blatant idolatry, a grave sin in the eyes of God, a direct violation of the First Commandment (Exodus 20:3, Deuteronomy 5:7).
God then reveals to Ezekiel the abominations committed by the elders of Israel. They were worshipping idols in the dark, believing that God could not see them. This action represents the leaders' intentional and willful sin, their belief that they could hide their actions from God. It signifies not only their idolatry but also their arrogance and self-deception, a disregard for God's omniscience.
The next abomination that Ezekiel is shown is a group of women sitting at the temple entrance, weeping for the Babylonian deity Tammuz. This act of mourning for a foreign god within the sacred grounds of the temple demonstrates the extent to which idolatrous practices had been accepted among the Israelites. It is a direct affront to God, showing that the people have forsaken their devotion to Him.
The final abomination that God shows Ezekiel is twenty-five men with their backs to the temple, worshipping the sun. This act of sun worship, a common practice in many pagan religions, is the ultimate insult to God. It signifies that the people had turned their backs on God, both literally and figuratively, to worship the creation rather than the Creator.
After showing Ezekiel these abominations, God declares that He will act in wrath and will not spare or have pity. The severity of the Israelites’ idolatry has provoked God's wrath to such an extent that He is ready to execute judgment without mercy (Ezekiel 8:18). This impending judgment is a warning to the Israelites and serves as a sobering reminder of the severe consequences of abandoning God and His commandments.
This chapter is a powerful indictment of the Israelites' idolatry and unfaithfulness. It serves as a warning to all believers about the dangers of turning away from God and embracing idolatrous practices. The vision of the abominations in the temple is also a stark reminder of the holiness of God, His hatred for sin, and His readiness to judge and punish those who persist in their wicked ways.
Moreover, Ezekiel 8 illustrates the gravity of spiritual leadership. The elders, who were supposed to guide the people in the ways of God, were instead leading them into idolatry. This highlights the destructive influence of corrupt spiritual leadership and the devastating consequences it can have on the people.
In a broader sense, the chapter is also a commentary on the human condition. It underscores the propensity of humanity to stray from God, to fashion idols, and to worship the creation rather than the Creator. It reminds us of our need for constant vigilance against the subtle temptations of idolatry and the importance of maintaining a pure and undivided devotion to God.
In conclusion, Chapter 8 of the Book of Ezekiel is a powerful passage that underscores the dangers of idolatry, the consequences of unfaithfulness, and the holiness of God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the severe consequences of sin and the importance of maintaining a faithful relationship with God.
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