Ezekiel 8
A Desecrated Temple
8:1 In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month,1 as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand2 of the sovereign
8:5 He said to me, “Son of man, look up toward13 the north.” So I looked up toward the north, and I noticed to the north of the altar gate was this statue of jealousy at the entrance.
8:6 He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing – the great abominations that the people14 of Israel are practicing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see greater abominations than these!”
8:7 He brought me to the entrance of the court, and as I watched, I noticed a hole in the wall. 8:8 He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall.” So I dug into the wall and discovered a doorway.
8:9 He said to me, “Go in and see the evil abominations they are practicing here.” 8:10 So I went in and looked. I noticed every figure15 of creeping thing and beast – detestable images16 – and every idol of the house of Israel, engraved on the wall all around.17 8:11 Seventy men from the elders of the house of Israel18 (with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them) were standing in front of them, each with a censer in his hand, and fragrant19 vapors from a cloud of incense were swirling upward.
8:12 He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images?20 For they think, ‘The
8:14 Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the
8:16 Then he brought me to the inner court of the
8:17 He said to me, “Do you see, son of man? Is it a trivial thing that the house of Judah commits these abominations they are practicing here? For they have filled the land with violence and provoked me to anger still further. Look, they are putting the branch to their nose!28 8:18 Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare29 them. When they have shouted in my ears, I will not listen to them.”