Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ezekiel 8

Eze 8:1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

sixth month

i.e. September.

Eze 8:3 And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

spirit

Holy Spirit. Eze 10:17. (Gen 1:2; Mal 2:15.)

lifted me up

Act 8:39.

visions

Visions, that is, of former profanations of the temple, and of the wickedness because of which Israel was then in Babylon, shown the prophet that he might justify to the new generation born in Assyria and Babylonia during the captivity, the righteousness of God in the present national chastening. The visions are retrospective; Israel had done these things, hence the captivities. This strain continues to Eze 33:20. It is the divine view of the national sinfulness and apostasy, revealed to Ezekiel in a series of visions so vivid that though the prophet was by the river Chebar (Eze 1:1, 3; 3:23; 10:15, 20, 22; 43:3) it was as if he were transported back to Jerusalem, and to the time when these things were occurring. These visions of the sinfulness of Israel are interspersed with promises of restoration and blessing which are yet to be fulfilled. See "Israel" (Scofield Genesis 12:2, 3; Romans 11:26). Also "Kingdom, (O.T.)" (Scofield Genesis 1:26-28; Zechariah 12:8).

the seat of the image of jealousy

Eze 5:11; Jer 7:30; 32:34.

provoketh to jealousy

Deu 32:16, 21

Eze 8:4 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

the vision that I saw in the plain

Eze 1:28; 3:22, 23.

Eze 8:5 Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.

Son of man

The combined purport of the four visions of profanation in Chapter 8, is idolatry set up in the entire temple, even in the holy of holies (Eze 8:10, 11); women given over to phallic cults (Eze 8:14); and nature-worship (Exo 8:16).

Eze 8:14 Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD'S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Tammuz

i.e. the Greek Adonis.

Eze 8:16 And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

between the porch and the altar

Joe 2:17.

they worshipped the sun

Deu 4:19; 2Ki 23:5, 11; Job 31:26; Jer 44:17.

Eze 8:18 Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

yet will I not hear them

Pro 1:28; Isa 1:15; Jer 11:11; 14:12; Mic 3:4; Zec 7:13.