Ezekiel 8

Ezekiel 8:1

SIxth yeer] Of the captivitie of Jeconiah, Ezekiel 1:2.

sixth moneth] Which containeth part of August and part of September.

hand of the Lord] As Chap. 1. 3.

Ezekiel 8:2

of fire] As Chap. 1. 27.

of amber] Chap. 1. 4.

Ezekiel 8:3

put forth] Daniel 5:5. All this was done in a mentall vision, and not really in body.

inner gate] That is, to the doore of the gate of the inner Court, See Chap. 10. 3. or Priests Court, namely, of Solomons Temple: and right over against, an other gate by which they went into the outward court, or the peoples court.

image of Jealousie] It is very uncertain what idol this was; but it is plain it was a very abominable one, as the idol of Baal was, to which the people bare great devotion: and it is called the image of Jealousie, because it was the principall object of the peoples spirituall adultery. See Jerem. 7. 30. & 23. 11. & 32. 34.

Ezekiel 8:4

saw] Chap. 1. 23. & 3. 23.

in the plain] Read Chap. 3. 22.

Ezekiel 8:5

of the altar] Namely, of burnt-offerings, which being in the middle of the inner court, the three doores of this court were by direct line opposite to the said altar in equall distance. And therefore it is not known why the Northern gate should be so called peculiarly, unlesse this name was given it, when Ahaz removed the Altar out of it place, and did set it neere to this gate, 2 Kings 16:14.

Ezekiel 8:6

from my sanctuary] For God will not be where idols are.

Ezekiel 8:7

of the court] Namely, the Priests court.

a hole] To signifie, as it seemeth, the Jews carelesnesse, in preserving, and repayring Gods Temple.

in the wall] He seemeth to meane the wall that was on the one side of this portall, where the door-keepers chambers were, Ezekiel 40:10.

Ezekiel 8:8

a doore] It is likely that this chambers ordinary doore was shut: and that this doore was on some other part of the chamber, by which the idolaters came secretly into this Chappell of idols.

Ezekiel 8:10

creeping things] A kinde of idolatry taken from the Egyptians.

abominable beasts] Which were forbidden in the Law, Leviticus 11:4.

Ezekiel 8:11

men of the ancients] Thus they that should have kept all the rest in the feare and true service of God, were the ring-leaders to all abominations, and by their example pulled others from God.

a thick cloud] It was in such abundance.

Ezekiel 8:12

do in the dark] For besides their common idolatry, they had particular service, which they had in secret chambers.

The LORD seeth us not] Chap. 9. 9. He takes no more care of us, he hath forsaken both us and the land, wherefore we will flie to the Gods of other nations which do relieve them, and since he hath renounced us, we will also renounce him. See 2 Chronicles 28:23. Jeremiah 44:17.

Ezekiel 8:13

greater abominations] Wicked idolaters proceed from evill to worse. 2 Tim. 3. 13.

Ezekiel 8:14

to the doore] Namely, the doore of this Northern portall, which was opposite to the Priests court.

Tammuz] The Jews write that this was a Prophet of the idols, who after his death was once a yeere mourned for in the night. Others have thought it to be the Egyptians Osiris, which according to some Authors, was the same as Adonis, lamented every yeere at certaine times by the women with very unseemly ceremonies.

Ezekiel 8:16

inner court] Into which it was lawfull for none but Priests to go. Whereby may be gathered that these were such idolaters as worshipped the Sunne, which is confirmed by Ezekiel 9. 6.

the porch] Which was in the frontispice or forepart of the Basilick of the Temple. 1 Kings 6:3.

five and twentie men] Chap. 11. 1.

backs toward the temple] For a signe that they had utterly renounced God and his service.

the sunne toward the east] Deuteronomy 4:19. 2 Kings 23:5. 11. Job 31:26. Jeremiah 44:17.

Ezekiel 8:17

Is it a light thing to the house of Juah, that they commit the abominations] Or, Is there any thing lighter then to commit. Or, Is it lighter. This question is a strong negation, See Genesis 18:17. The meaning is, that the Jews thought nothing lighter, although these abominations against the first table were the most grievous and fearefullest, yet there was no command so great, which the Jews thought not light of, to transgresse it.

for] Or, that.

with violence] By oppression of the innocent and of the poor; which is done either in common, by unrighteous judgement; or in particular, by all kinde of injustice.

to provoke] In profaning my Temple.

they put the branch to] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, is a branch of a tree, so is the Hebrew word taken, Numbers 13:24. & Chap. 15. 2. and here is set forth a practise of Heathenish idolaters, in worshipping the Sunne, which they call upon, because it quickneth the fruits, and makes them ripe, in token whereof they kisse the branch, or the hand, as Job 31:26-27. So did they to Bacchus, 2 Maccab. 6. 7. Some say it is a terme taken from travellers, who passing through thicke woods or hedge rowes have oftentimes boughes that hit them on the face. The meaning is, seeking to despight me, all the harme redounds to themselves, Jeremiah 7:19. Others, they bring the stinke to their noses: that is to say, they offend themselves by committing such abominations.

Ezekiel 8:18

eye shall not spare] Chap. 5. 11. & 7. 4.

cry in my eares with a loud voice] Proverbs 1:28. Isaiah 1:15. Jeremiah 11:11. Micah 3:4.