Then said he unto me, hast thou seen this , O son of man ?.... This shocking piece of idolatry, women weeping for Tammuz: turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these ; or, "great abominations besides these" F6 תועבות גדלות מאלה "abominationes magnas praeter istas", Calvin. . read more
And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house ,.... The court of the priests, where they offered sacrifice, and into which none might come but themselves: and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar ; the porch that led into the temple, and the brasen altar, the altar of burnt offerings, which was a very sacred place, and reckoned more holy than the court of the priests F7 Bemidbar Rabba, sect. 7. fol. 184. 4. . were about... read more
Then he said unto me, hast thou seen this , O son of man ?.... Took notice of and considered this piece of idolatry, worshipping the sun toward the east: is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here ? could these things, which are such dreadful abominations, committed here in the temple, be reckoned light things by them, as surely they cannot? yet these are not all that they have done: for they have filled the land with violence ... read more
Therefore will I also deal in fury ,.... Being provoked by such abominable idolatries, and such horrid insolence, and most contemptuous treatment: mine eye shall not spare: neither will I have pity : see Ezekiel 5:11 ; and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice ; very pressingly and earnestly for help, being in great distress: yet will I not hear them ; as they turned their backs on him, he will turn a deaf ear to them, and not regard their cries. The Targum is, ... read more
Five and twenty men - These most probably represented the twenty-four courses of the priests, with the high priest for the twenty-fifth. This was the Persian worship, as their turning their faces to the east plainly shows they were worshipping the rising sun. read more
They put the branch to their nose - This is supposed to mean some branch or branches, which they carried in succession in honor of the idol, and with which they covered their faces, or from which they inhaled a pleasant smell, the branches being odoriferous. That the heathens carried branches of trees in their sacred ceremonies is well known to all persons acquainted with classic antiquity; and it is probable that the heathen borrowed those from the use of such branches in the Jewish feast... read more
Verse 15 Here the Prophet refers to another profanation of the temple, since the chief citizens of Jerusalem and those who ought to point out the way to others, prostituted themselves to impious worship, lie says, therefore, that he saw about five and twenty men, and it is probable, that there were as many as this among the first rank of citizens. But a certain number is put for an uncertain, and I think that the Prophet. was not so scrupulous on this point, or rather the Spirit of God, who... read more
Verse 17 God complains as formerly of the wickedness of the people, especially of their perfidious and wicked revolt, because they so defiled the temple which ought to be sacred to God alone. He adds besides another complaint, that they were not content in their wickedness, which tended to violate human society and common rights, and the pursuit of mutual equity, unless even religion should be weakened by them. For under the word חמס , chemes, is comprehended whatever is contrary to the second... read more
Verse 18 This seems to me a confirmation of the last clause. For he had said, that they sent forth their boughs or east them forth, but yet to their destruction. He now repeats the same thing in other words. Therefore I will also act in, my turn — that is, as they now boldly increase their superstitions, and so continually provoke me, at length I will act, says he. There is a tacit contrast, since God forsooth had ceased for a long time, because there is a certain form of rest when he ceases... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 8:13-18
Here we have, I. More and greater abominations discovered to the prophet. He thought that what he had seen was bad enough and yet (Ezek. 8:13): Turn thyself again, and thou shalt see yet greater abominations, and greater still, Ezek. 8:15; as before, Ezek. 8:6. There are those who live in retirement who do no think what wickedness there is in this world; and the more we converse with it, and the further we go abroad into it, the more corrupt we see it. When we have seen that which is bad we... read more