Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. As it were a sapphire stone] See the note on chap. i. 22, 26. The chariot, here mentioned by the prophet, was precisely the same as that which he saw at the river Chebar, as himself tells us, ver. 15, of which see the description in chap. i.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The idolatries committed by the Jewish rulers. (Ezek. 8:1-6) The superstitions to which the Jews were then devoted, the Egyptian. (Ezek 8:7-12) The Phoenician. (Ezek. 8:13,14) The Persian. (Ezek. 8:15,16 The heinousness of their sin. (Ezek. 8:17,18)
Ezek. 8:1-6 The glorious personage Ezekiel beheld in vision, seemed to take hold upon him, and he was conveyed in spirit to Jerusalem. There in the inner court of the temple, was prepared a place for some bas idol. The whole was presented in vision to the prophet. If it shoul please God to give any man a clear view of his glory and majesty, an of all the abominations committing in any one city, he would then admi the justice of the severest punishments God should inflict thereon.
Ezek. 8:7-12 A secret place was, as it were, opened, where the prophe saw creatures painted on the walls, and a number of the elders of Israel worshipped before them. No superiority in worldly matters wil preserve men from lust, or idolatries, when they are left to their ow deceitful hearts; and those who are soon wearied in the service of God often grudge no toil nor expense when following their superstitions When hypocrites screen themselves behind the wall of an outwar profession, there is some hole or other left in the wall, somethin that betrays them to those who look diligently. There is a great dea of secret wickedness in the world. They think themselves out of God' sight. But those are ripe indeed for ruin, who lay the blame of their sins upon the Lord.
Ezek. 8:13-18 The yearly lamenting for Tammuz was attended with infamous practices; and the worshippers of the sun here described, ar supposed to have been priests. The Lord appeals to the prophe concerning the heinousness of the crime; "and lo, they put the branc to their nose," denoting some custom used by idolaters in honour of the idols they served. The more we examine human nature and our own hearts the more abominations we shall discover; and the longer the believe searches himself, the more he will humble himself before God, and the more will he value the fountain open for sin, and seek to wash therein _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew ואראה7200 והנה2009 אל413 הרקיע7549 אשׁר834 על5921 ראשׁ7218 הכרבים3742 כאבן68 ספיר5601 כמראה4758 דמות1823 כסא3678 נראה7200 עליהם׃5921