Ezekiel 8

Chap. VIII. Ver. 1—18. Ezekiel shown the image of jealousy—the chambers of imagery, &c.—Here begins a section of prophecy extending to (Ezekiel 11)In this chapter the Prophet is conveyed by the spirit to Jerusalem, and there shown the idolatries committed by the rulers of the Jews, even within the temple. In the beginning of the vision, Idolatry itself is personified as an idol, the resemblance probably of Baal or Moloch, and the image sublimely called, from the provocation it gave to the God of Israel, the Image of Jealousy. (ver. 5.) The Prophet then proceeds to describe the three chief idolatries of the times: the Egyptian, the Phoenician, and the Persian; giving the principal features of each; and concluding with declaring the governence with which they were all viewed by the eye of God.

The sacred rites, or mysteries of the Egyptian idolatry, above referred to, were performed by the most ancient and honourable of the people, who alone were admitted to be present; and who offered incense in a mystic cell or subterraneous vault, called by the Prophet a hole or chamber in the wall, on which were portrayed the creeping things and abominable beasts they worshipped: such as serpents, dogs, cats, &c. with Apis, (the sacred bull,) and as Faber thinks, a variety of monstrous forms borrowed from the symbols of astronomy: such as have been described by M. Belzoni, and other modern travellers. Bp. Warburton understands the description from ver. 6 to 13, as relating to the rites of Isis and Osiris, under the form of a male and female calf, which rites were celebrated and attended only by princes and persons of the first rank and consequence.

2. Among the Phoenicians, the god whom they supposed to preside over the fruits of the earth, was believed to suffer when those fruits were cut down; and therefore, in sympathy with

Notes on the verses

Chap. VIII. Ver. 2. As the appearance of fire.—For ash, “fire,” the LXX. read ish (or aish) “a man,” which makes this verse nearly synonymous with (Ezekiel 1:26-27). Secker, Newcome, Boothroyd, &c. consider this the true reading, and it seems implied in the following sentence, “From the appearance of his loins,” &c.—Colour of amber.—Amber is a hard, inflammable, bituminous substance of a beautiful yellow colour, very transparent, and susceptible of an exquisite polish. When rubbed, it is highly endowed with electricity, a name which the moderns have formed from its Greek name Elektron. But, as amber becomes dim as soon as it feels the fire, and of a consumed it is