This chapter contains a vision the prophet had of the idolatry of the Jews, which was the cause of their destruction. The time when, place, where, and persons with whom he was, when the hand of the Lord came upon him, are mentioned, Ezek.

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month This was the sixth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin; the sixth month was the month Elul, which answers to part of August, and part of September.

And then one beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, “behold the likeness of a man”; reading (איש) , “a man”, for (אש) , “fire”; but without supposing such a reading, for which there is no foundation, this likeness may very well be…

And he put forth the form of an hand That is, he that appeared in the likeness of a man, and with so much glory and splendour, out of the midst of the fire and brightness which were about him, put forth the form of a hand, that looked like a man’s hand; for this appearance was not real, only…

And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there In the temple, between the cherubim, where the Shechinah or the glory of the divine Majesty dwelt; for as yet he had not removed, though provoked to it, and as he afterwards did; or he was here to destroy the idols, and both city and temple, for…

Then said he unto me, son of man That is, the glorious Person described above in this vision, the glorious God of Israel, seen by the prophet in the temple, he spoke unto him, calling him son of man; a name by which he often goes in this prophecy: lift up thine eyes now toward the north; of the…

He said furthermore unto me, son of man He continued his speech to the prophet, saying seest thou what they do? the idolatrous Jews, who had set up a graven image at the northern gate of the court, where the altar was, and were sacrificing to it: even the great abominations that the house of Israel…

And he brought me to the door of the court Of the inner court, the court of the priests and Levites. Dr. Lightfoot [[22]] says this was the east gate, and most common way of entrance; and in that gate the sanhedrim used to sit in these times; and there the prophet sees their council chamber painted…

Then said he unto me, son of man, dig now in the wall And so make the hole larger; that he might have a fuller view of what was to be seen within the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door; an opening, by which he could go into the cell or chamber, and take a full view of what was…

And he said unto me, go in Into the room or chamber the door opened into: and behold the wicked abominations they do here; the idolatries there committed, wicked in themselves, and abominable to God.

So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things As beetles and others, worshipped for gods: and abominable beasts; unclean ones; not only oxen, but dogs and cats, and other impure creatures; for such were the gods of the Egyptians, from whom the Jews took their deities: and all the…

And there stood before them Before the pictures, as the Vulgate Latin version expresses it, praying, sacrificing, and offering incense unto them: seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel; the whole sanhedrim, or great court of judicature among the Jews, as Kimchi; or at least there is an…

Then said he unto me, son of man, hast thou seen Here should be a stop, as the accent “segolta” shows; hast thou taken notice of, hast thou considered, what thou hast seen, the amazing shocking abominations committed by these men? it follows, and the question is to be repeated, “hast thou seen”…

He said also unto me, turn thee yet again Towards the north, as before; (See Gill on Ezek. 8:6); and thou shall see greater abominations that they do; or: “the great abominations”; for so the words may be strictly rendered; nor does it appear that what follows, though great abominations, were…

Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord’s house, which was towards the north By “the Lord’s house” no doubt is meant the temple, which the Targum here calls the house of the sanctuary of the Lord; that gate of the temple (for the temple had several gates) which was to the north was…

Then said he unto me, hast thou seen this, O son of man? &c.] 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” [[5]].

And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house, &c.] 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…

Then he said unto me, hast thou seen this, O son of man? &c.] 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…

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 (Ezek. 7:4, Ezek.