080. II. The Vision Or The Sin Of Jerusalem And Its Consequences (8:1-12:20)
II THE VISION OR THE SIN OF JERUSALEM AND ITS CONSEQUENCES (Ezekiel 8:1toEzekiel 12:20) 1. The Shameless Idolatry of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8) The prophet carried in a vision to Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8:1-4). More than a year had passed away after my summons to the prophetic work, and I was receiving in my own house certain rulers of the Jewish community who had come to inquire concerning Jehovah’s word regarding Israel, when I suddenly fell into a trance and seemed to see before me a human[13] form, radiant as fire or glistening brass. He took me in a moment’s time to Jerusalem and set me down by the northern gate of the inner temple court and, lo! I was once more in the presence of Jehovah’s glory.
[13] For the first word “fire” in verse 2 the Septuagint substitutes “a man,” improving the sense. The image insulting to Jehovah within his temple (Ezekiel 8:5-6). My guide exhibited to me the various idolatries and abominations which were being practised in the very temple itself, the supposed abode of Jehovah. At the entrance I saw an image of Astarte, so defiling his sanctuary that Jehovah could no longer dwell therein.
Idolatrous rites practised in secret by leading citizens (Ezekiel 8:7-13). Passing through the gateway of the court, I found a secret door which opened into a chamber whose walls were covered with symbolic pictures of every kind of creature. Within the room were the principal men of the nation offering incense to these pictures, as if they thought that Jehovah, the true God of their race, had abandoned the land. Women bewailing Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14-15).At one of the outer gateways were women celebrating the rites of the Syrian god, Tammuz. Sun worshippers (Ezekiel 8:16). I even saw in the inner court, near the great altar itself, a company of men, their faces turned eastward, adoring the rising sun. The certain penalty (Ezekiel 8:17-18). “Mortal one,” demanded my divine guide,” can I overlook such abominations as these which flourish unrestrained throughout the land? My people are but mocking me.[14] I must unsparingly chastise them.”
[14] A possible meaning of “they put the branch to their nose.” The text and interpretation of the passage are very uncertain.
2. Its Inevitable Consequences: Destruction of the People by Sword and Fire and the Departure of Jehovah (Ezekiel 9-11) (1) A Slaughter of the Idolatrous Inhabitants Decreed (Ezekiel 9:1-1)
Executioners summoned to the presence of Jehovah (Ezekiel 9:1-3). While I was listening he uttered a summons, and six heavenly beings in human form appeared, equipped for the work of slaughter. With them was an officer, who carried in his girdle materials for writing. An officer ordered to mark true worshippers on the forehead (Ezekiel 9:4). All others to be slain (Ezekiel 9:5-7).They halted by the brazen altar, and a voice from the cloud which surrounded Jehovah’s glory ordered the officer to pass through the city and mark the foreheads of all who grieved over its idolatries and bade the others to follow him, and slay without mercy all who failed to receive the mark. All appeals for pardon in vain (Ezekiel 9:8-11). They began in my very presence by slaying the idolatrous citizens whom I had seen, but soon passed out into the city, leaving the heaps of corpses to defile the sacred courts. Appalled by the terrible judgment, I cried out, “O Jehovah, surely the nation will not be completely destroyed;” but I received the answer, “The people are given over to violence and wrong-doing, because they think I cannot punish them. I will be inexorable.”
(2) The City to Be Set on Fire (Ezekiel 10:1-7) The officer also ordered to burn the city (Ezekiel 10:1-7). This announcement was followed by one no less startling. The officer, who had completed his former task, was commanded to scatter throughout the city glowing coals, taken from the fire within the chariot of God. When he advanced to obey, the whole court seemed aglow with a radiance from Jehovah’s presence.[15] A cherub handed him some of the coals and he departed on his mission.
[15] Verses 1 and 5 are purposely left without paraphrase because of their uncertainty.
(3) The Identification of the Cherubim with the Living Creatures (Ezekiel 10:8-22) The wheels, symbolic of activity and insight (Ezekiel 10:8-13). Meanwhile I observed more carefully the supernatural glory before me. I noted the wheels of topaz color, symbolizing the constant activity of God, covered with eyes significant of his all-seeing power. The living creatures seen to be cherubim (Ezekiel 10:14-22). While I was gazing the glory departed from the temple and hovered over the eastern gate. The living creatures, which I had formerly seen supporting Jehovah’s throne, I now perceived to be the cherubim which guard the very presence of God and uphold his throne.[16] I realized with increased certainty that Jehovah himself had uttered the message of doom and was about to depart from his polluted sanctuary.
(4) The Departure of Jehovah from the Deluded City (11) The band of conspirators at the eastern gate (Ezekiel 11:1-3). At the eastern gateway of the temple I saw a throng of men, among whom were two well-known princes, busily plotting revolt against Nebuchadrezzar and discouraging peaceful occupations, urging that the city was still strong enough to protect its inhabitants against all invaders. Obeying a prophetic impulse from Jehovah, I said, “O men of Judah, your reliance upon Jehovah’s protection and upon the strength of your defences is futile. The certain consequences of their folly (Ezekiel 11:4-13). Your plots only result in filling the city with corpses. But you who hope to escape the consequences of your folly will bear them to the uttermost in the camp of the great king whom you defy.” While I was speaking one of the princes died. Jehovah’s purposes hold good wherever his people are dwelling (Ezekiel 11:14-21). Horror-stricken by the earnest of what was to be, I humbly prayed that my nation might not be completely destroyed, and I received a message of comfort and hope. “These men of Jerusalem consider that your fellow exiles,[17] scattered far and wide among foreign peoples, are out of reach of my power and cut off from their own land and sanctuary. Great is their mistake, for the faithful exiles can still worship me in their new homes and their punishment shall not always continue. I will gather them and bring them back to Judah. They shall cleanse the land of all abominations, draw close to me and become a docile, obedient people. But those who have given themselves up to idolatry shall receive their just deserts.”
[17] “The men of thy kindred” (R. V. margin “redemption”) probably should be read “thy fellow exiles.”
Jehovah compelled to abandon the once holy city (Ezekiel 11:22-25). With this mingled threat and promise the divine presence seemed to move away from his temple until it rested on the Mount of Olives. Jehovah had abandoned his beloved city to its doom. My vision ended, and I related what I had seen to the elders.
3. The Certain Exile of King and People (Ezekiel 12:1-20) The need of renewed symbolic preaching (Ezekiel 12:1-2). Despite these plain declarations of Jehovah’s purposes, the members of the exiled community stubbornly refused to give them credence. I therefore felt impelled to impress my message regarding Jerusalem upon their minds in a more striking way. The pantomime of escaping through the wall by night (Ezekiel 12:3-7). Arousing the attention of all by publicly packing such articles as I would need in a hasty flight, I placed the bundle near the city wall. In the night I dug through the wall, and then, in the presence of the wondering bystanders, having blinded my eyes with a bandage, I groped my way through the tunnel, bearing the bundle on my back. Its explanation (Ezekiel 12:8-16). When my neighbors inquired the meaning of these strange actions I replied, “Jehovah has appointed me to represent symbolically the certain exile of prince and people. King Zedekiah will prepare for secret flight, but he shall be captured, blinded, and brought in triumph to a city which his eyes shall never behold. His supporters shall be scattered and slain. The few whom Jehovah spares will be an evidence to the world of his righteous character and of the horrible guilt of his people.” The pantomime of constant fear (Ezekiel 12:17-20). Again I manifested every sign of terror as I ate my food, in token of the feelings of dread soon to be experienced by the men of Judah during the coming siege and the subsequent desolation.