Reading for February 16th

EZEKIEL'S VISION OF JERUSALEM'S DESTRUCTION
Chs. 8-11 Ezekiel portrays the destruction of Jerusalem as a priestly sacrifice
that cleanses the city from impurity.

Read Ezekiel 8.1-18 The impurity of the Temple.
In verses 1-4 the sixth year: 592 BCE.
Ezekiel returns to the imagery of his inaugural vision to describe a  human-like being.
The imagery of fire and brightness like gleaming amber describes a being that cannot be defines in earthly terms.
The entrance of the gateway of the inner court that faces north places the prophet at the entry of the most sacred areas of the Temple.
The glory of the God of Israel: the throne chariot of ch. 1 is present.
In verses 5-6 the image of jealousy: north of the altar was a pagan idol placed in the Temple precints.
In verses 7-13 mention of the seventy elders of the house of Israel and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan indicates that the highest leadership of the nation is involved in pagan worship inside the Temple.
Shaphan played a major role in Josiah's reform (2 Kings 22); his sons Ahikam, Elasah, and Gemariah, and grandson Micaiah supported Jeremiah (Jer 26; 29; 36).
The claim that the LORD has forsaken the land indicates the belief that God could not protect Jerusalem from Babylon.
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