In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and behold, a form that had the appearance of a man. Below what appeared to be his waist was fire, and above his waist was something like the appearance of brightness, like gleaming metal. 3 He put out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my head, and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north, where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the valley.
5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. 6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”
7 And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then he said to me, “Son of man, dig in the wall.” So I dug in the wall, and behold, there was an entrance. 9 And he said to me, “Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here.” 10 So I went in and saw. And there, engraved on the wall all around, was every form of creeping things and loathsome beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel. 11 And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’” 13 He said also to me, “You will see still greater abominations that they commit.”
14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz. 15 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these.”
16 And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord. And behold, at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men, with their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east, worshiping the sun toward the east. 17 Then he said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity. And though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.” Ezekiel 8 ESV
Ezekiel 8: 1-4 Vision
With the elders of Judah sitting before me - This is in Babylon, and these are elders that were taken during the captivity. Ezekiel was in line to be a priest back home in Jerusalem, but God has made him a prophet here. There are still false prophets in both Babylon and Judah, that claim destruction of Jerusalem and the temple is not coming, but these elders seem willing to listen to Ezekiel. Some of the false prophets had sent word back to Jerusalem, asking that Jeremiah be shut up, but this prophet is in Babylon saying the same things as Jeremiah. The other, false prophets, were saying that the captivity would only be two years, but Jeremiah was telling them to settle in for the long haul, it would be 70 years.
…27So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28For he has sent to us in Babylon, claiming: Since the exile will be lengthy, build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat their produce.’” 29(Zephaniah the priest, however, had read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet.)… Jeremiah 29: 27-29
The hand of the Lord fell upon me there - This starts a long vision that runs from chapters 8-11.
A form that had the appearance of a man - This is similar to the figure in Ezekiel 1. Note that he is in a vision, and in there he uses the terms form and appearance, as he did before with the word like, as it is not the glory of God, but the likeness of that glory. God has chosen to manifest the likeness of His glory in the image of a man.
14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.… Colossians 1: 14-16
He put out the form of a hand - His language is so careful; we would do well to take such care. I believe this to be a Theophany, yet look at the tenderness he treats it with, not a hand, but the "form" of a hand.
And the Spirit lifted me between earth and heaven - Physically he is sitting before the elders in Babylon, but spiritually he is going to take a journey in this vision which will carry him to Jerusalem.
"Brought me" describes a supernatural "flight" which touched down not in Tel Aviv Airport like El Al arrivals do today, but in the Temple Mount itself! I would call this a "first class" ticket! The details of Ezekiel's visions recorded in chapters 8-11 were seen only by the prophet, not the elders (cf Ezek 11:24-25). Note also that Ezekiel's visions are not a description of Judah's past sins but are representative of her spiritual condition that existed at that time - Precepts Austin
Where was the seat of the image of jealousy - There is an image, probably right outside the temple, that is provoking God's anger. Now some think this to be an image of the Queen of Heaven, which is quite likely, since Jeremiah, Ezekiel's contemporary, dealt quite extensively with this in his book, pointing out this heresy which continues today in Roman Catholicism.
“The word ‘image’ is semel, which occurs elsewhere only in Deut. 4.16 (where it is translated ‘figure’) and in 2 Chron. 33.7,15, of a special ‘idol’ set up by King Manasseh in the Temple. Although this idol was later removed, Ezekiel’s use of the word may mean that a replica, if not the original, was put back. The word also occurs in Phoenician writings.” (Wright)
…17Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18The sons gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the Queen of Heaven; they pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. 19But am I the One they are provoking? declares the LORD. Is it not themselves they spite, to their own shame?… Jeremiah 7: 17-19
1Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and offer raisin cakes to idols.” 2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.… Hosea 3: 1-2
…13Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles. 14For you must not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. 15Do not make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you, and you will eat their sacrifices.… Exodus 34: 13-15
And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there - God's glory was in the temple, but sadly we will see that glory depart as the vision progresses, but we will also see why.
…7to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. 8I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. 9Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”… Isaiah 42: 7-9
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