THE BIBLE. EZEKIEL 8

THE BIBLE. Ezekiel 8
New International Version

EXPLANATION. One chapter per week is nothing therefore insignificant brentwood mambo will increase the speed of his writing letting GOD guide him what is plenty.

Ezekiel 8

Idolatry in the Temple

1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign Lord came on me there.

2 I looked, and I saw a figure like that of a man.[a] From what appeared to be his waist down he was like fire, and from there up his appearance was as bright as glowing metal.

3 He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood.

4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

6 And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.”

7 Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall.

8 He said to me, “Son of man, now dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and saw a doorway there.

9 And he said to me, “Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here.”

10 So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel.

11 In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

12 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The Lord does not see us; the Lord has forsaken the land.’”

13 Again, he said, “You will see them doing things that are even more detestable.”

14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz.

15 He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this.”

16 He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.

17 He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose!

18 Therefore I will deal with them in anger; I will not look on them with pity or spare them. Although they shout in my ears, I will not listen to them.”

Footnotes

Ezekiel 8:2 Or saw a fiery figure

Explanation of "Look at them putting the branch to their nose."

The phrase "Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose!" from Ezekiel 8:17 is a vivid expression within a vision describing the abominations committed by the people of Judah, particularly in the temple context. The exact meaning of this phrase is debated among scholars, as it refers to a practice that was familiar in ancient times but is now obscure. Several interpretations have been proposed:
Idolatrous Ritual: The act may have been part of a specific idolatrous ritual. Some suggest it involved holding a branch of a sacred tree—such as tamarisk, palm, or pomegranate—before the mouth or nose during worship, possibly as an offering or to inhale a pleasant scent associated with the deity. This practice is linked to ancient Near Eastern customs, including those of the Parsees mentioned by Strabo.
Symbol of Contempt: Another interpretation views the gesture as an act of open defiance or mockery towards God. By placing a branch to the nose instead of the mouth, the action could symbolize scorn, contempt, or a deliberate affront to God, emphasizing their spiritual rebellion.

Connection to Sun Worship: The phrase is often associated with the worship of the sun or the Tammuz cult, where the branch might have been used in ceremonies related to the rising sun, such as holding a branch to the nose at daybreak while singing hymns.
Alternative Interpretations: Some Jewish commentators suggest the original text might have read "my nose" instead of "their nose," implying the people were turning their backs on God in the temple, thus putting a stick to His face as a sign of mockery. Others interpret the phrase as referring to an offensive smell, possibly from the idolaters' own bodies or from incense offered to idols, symbolizing an open insult.

Overall, the phrase underscores the depth of Judah's spiritual apostasy, representing a profound act of defiance against God that combined idolatry with moral corruption and contempt, provoking divine anger.

Seems like Israel is paying the price for some of them being defiant against GOD who loves them deeply.

PICTURE. The hand of OUR SOVEREIGN LORD GOD when HE IS PAINTING to the world to bring hope, love, goodness, true beauty, and perfection. It is a call to all of us on earth so that we can get closer to DEAR GOD. AMEN.

CELERATING THE SABAATH, DECEMBER 6, 2025