CHAP. VIII. _EZEKIEL, IN A VISION OF GOD AT JERUSALEM, IS SHEWED THE IMAGE OF JEALOUSY, THE CHAMBERS OF IMAGERY, THE MOURNERS FOR TAMMUZ, AND THE WORSHIPPERS TOWARDS THE SUN. GOD'S WRATH FOR THEIR IDOLATRY._ _Before Christ 594._... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SIXTH YEAR, IN THE SIXTH MONTH— That is, one month after the first vision, which Ezekiel had in the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity. See ch. Ezekiel 1:2. This chapter, and the three following, make but one vision, whereof it is proper to give a general idea, that we may not too much divi... [ Continue Reading ]
APPEARANCE OF FIRE— _Of a man._ Houbigant. See Ezekiel 1:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK ME BY A LOCK, &C.— By that time the sins of this rebellious people were ripe for the punishment of their approaching captivity: they had polluted themselves with all kinds of Egyptian abominations, as appears from this famous vision of the prophet, wherein their three capital idolatries are so... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE GLORY OF THE GOD OF ISRAEL WAS THERE— To shew that this was the place of his proper and peculiar residence: though images and idols were set up in the precincts of the temple, to provoke him to jealousy. See chap. Ezekiel 5:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_EZEKIEL 8:7_.— _He brought me to the door_] The first inference which may be drawn from these words is, that the superstition here described was Egyptian. This appears from its objects being the gods peculiar to Egypt: _every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts,_ Ezekiel 8:10 which in an... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DARK— Hence Milton says of Ezekiel with great propriety, By the vision led, His eye survey'd the dark idolatries of alienated Judah. PARADISE LOST, i. 455.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THERE SAT WOMEN WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ— The prophet here refers to the Phoenician or Syrian superstition. _Tammuz_ was an idol of Chaldee extraction, as is plain from his name; which also is used for the _tenth month,_ reckoning from the autumnal equinox, that is to say, the month of June; and _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WORSHIPPED THE SUN TOWARD THE EAST— This is a description of the Persian superstition. It is to be observed, that when the prophet is bid to turn from the Egyptian to the Phoenician rites, he is then said to look towards the north, the situation of Phoenicia with regard to Jerusalem; conseq... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY HAVE FILLED, &C.— The last clause of this verse seems evidently misunderstood; the _therefore_ in the following verse plainly pointing out that sense which the LXX, and other versions, give it. _They are those who mock me,_ or _publicly affront me._ Those commentators, however, who defend t... [ Continue Reading ]