# Ezekiel 08 š: Abominations in the Temple
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> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#š Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#š Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#š§ Chapter Summary]]
> [[#āļø Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#š Key Principles / š Life Application]]
> [[#š¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#āļø Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#š Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#š Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#š Internal Notes]]
## š Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
### A Desecrated Temple
[[#Verse 01.]]Ā In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month,Ā as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the handĀ of the SovereignĀ LordĀ seized me.
[[#Verse 02.]]Ā As I watched, I noticedĀ a form that appeared to be a man.Ā From his waist downward was something like fire,Ā and from his waist upward something like a brightness,Ā like an amber glow.Ā
[[#Verse 03.]]Ā He stretched out the formĀ of a hand and grabbed me by a lock of hair on my head. Then a windĀ lifted me up between the earth and sky and brought me to Jerusalem by divine visions, to the door of the inner gate that faces north where the statueĀ that provokes to jealousy was located.Ā
[[#Verse 04.]]Ā Then I perceived that the glory of the God of Israel was there, as in the vision I had seen earlier in the valley.
[[#Verse 05.]]Ā He said to me, āSon of man, look up towardĀ the north.ā So I looked up toward the north, and I noticed to the north of the altar gate was this statue of jealousy at the entrance.
[[#Verse 06.]]Ā He said to me, āSon of man, do you see what they are doingāthe great abominations that the peopleĀ of Israel are practicing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see greater abominations than these!ā
[[#Verse 07.]]Ā He brought me to the entrance of the court, and as I watched, I noticed a hole in the wall.Ā
[[#Verse 08.]]Ā He said to me, āSon of man, dig into the wall.ā So I dug into the wall and discovered a doorway.
[[#Verse 09.]]Ā He said to me, āGo in and see the evil abominations they are practicing here.āĀ
[[#Verse 10.]]Ā So I went in and looked. I noticed every figureĀ of creeping thing and beastādetestable imagesāand every idol of the house of Israel, engraved on the wall all around.Ā
[[#Verse 11.]]Ā Seventy men from the elders of the house of IsraelĀ (with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them) were standing in front of them, each with a censer in his hand, and fragrant vaporsĀ from a cloud of incense were swirling upward.
[[#Verse 12.]]Ā He said to me, āDo you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images?Ā For they think, āTheĀ LordĀ does not see us! TheĀ LordĀ has abandoned the land!āāĀ
[[#Verse 13.]]Ā He said to me, āYou will see them practicing even greater abominations!ā
[[#Verse 14.]]Ā Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of theĀ Lordās house. I noticedĀ women sitting there weeping for Tammuz.Ā
[[#Verse 15.]]Ā He said to me, āDo you see this, son of man? You will see even greater abominations than these!ā
[[#Verse 16.]]Ā Then he brought me to the inner court of theĀ Lordās house. Right thereĀ at the entrance to theĀ Lordās temple, between the porch and the altar,Ā were about twenty-fiveĀ men with their backs to theĀ Lordās temple,Ā facing eastāthey were worshiping the sunĀ toward the east!
[[#Verse 17.]]Ā He said to me, āDo you see, son of man? Is it a trivial thing that the house of Judah commits these abominations they are practicing here? For they have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger still further. Look, they are putting the branch to their nose!Ā
[[#Verse 18.]]Ā Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spareĀ them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.ā
## š Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
## š¤ Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. The vision is dated to the sixth year of Jehoiachin's exile (8:1), around 592 BC, about a year after Ezekiel's call.
2. Ezekiel was lifted by a lock of his hair and carried in visions to Jerusalem (8:3).
3. The "image that provokes to jealousy" at the north gate (8:3, 5) may have been an Asherah pole like the one King Manasseh set up in the temple (2 Kings 21:7).
4. Seventy elders offering incense (8:11) recalls the seventy elders who once saw the God of Israel at Sinai (Exodus 24:9-10).
5. Jaazaniah son of Shaphan (8:11) came from a family otherwise known for faithfulness. Shaphan's family helped King Josiah and protected Jeremiah (2 Kings 22:8-10; Jeremiah 26:24).
6. Tammuz (8:14) was a Mesopotamian god whose death was mourned each year by worshipers.
7. A month in the Jewish calendar is still called Tammuz.
8. The twenty-five men faced east toward the sun with their backs to the temple (8:16), a direct insult to the Lord.
9. King Josiah had removed horses dedicated to the sun from the temple a generation earlier (2 Kings 23:11).
10. The meaning of "putting the branch to their nose" (8:17) is uncertain. It was likely some pagan ritual gesture.
## š§ Chapter Summary
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## āļø Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the true temple who cleanses God's house. Ezekiel saw idolatry practiced inside the temple courts (8:5-16), and Jesus drove out those who had turned His Father's house into a marketplace (John 2:13-17).
## š Key Principles / š Life Application
> [!note] š± Still growing. This section is on its way.
## š¬ Discussion Questions
1. The elders said, "The Lord does not see us" (8:12). How does believing God does not see change the way people live?
2. Each scene was worse than the last (8:6, 13, 15). How does sin tend to grow when it is left unchecked?
3. If someone could see what happens in the hidden rooms of your life, what would they find (8:12)?
## āļø Key Verses to Remember
- š verse 6: God shows Ezekiel the great abominations that drive Him far from His sanctuary.
- š verse 12: The elders worship in the dark, thinking the Lord does not see them.
- š verse 16: Twenty-five men turn their backs on the temple and bow to the sun.
## š Related Passages/Cross Reference
- š [[John 02#Verse 13.|John 2:13-17]] - Jesus cleanses the temple.
- š [[2 Kings 21#Verse 04.|2 Kings 21:4-7]] - Manasseh brings idols into the temple.
- š [[2 Kings 23#Verse 11.|2 Kings 23:11]] - Josiah removes the horses dedicated to the sun.
- š [[Deuteronomy 04#Verse 19.|Deuteronomy 4:19]] - Do not bow down to the sun, moon, and stars.
- š [[Psalm 139#Verse 11.|Psalm 139:11-12]] - Even the darkness is not dark to God.
## š Devotional Reflection
š SOAP: [[Ezekiel 08 - SOAP|A Fly On The Wall]]
## š Internal Notes