Ezequiel 37
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
Ezequiel 37
Morris - After the great day of trouble (GREAT TRIBULATION), when Israel is finally saved and restored, the whole nation will have recognized and accepted Jesus as their Messiah, the son of David (Acts 15:16; Romans 1:3). But this Scripture, among others including Ezekiel 37:24, indicates that David in his resurrected body will actually reign over the earthly people of Israel during the millennial age. (Matthew 27:52,53 indicates that the believers of the Old Testament days were raised following Christ's resurrection.) Ezekiel 37:26 "I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. A covenant (See berit/berith/beriyth ) - In the Old Testament this describes a compact made by passing between pieces of flesh, the parties passing through the flesh saying in essence "Do so to me, just as has happened to the flesh of this animal if I do not keep this agreement." Covenant of peace - This is another name for the New Covenant (See New Covenant in the Old Testament), which alone brings peace between God and sinful men, in this context sinful Israel who have by grace believed in the New Covenant in Christ's blood. (God promises) I will make a covenant of peace with them and eliminate harmful beasts from the land so that they may live securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. .(Ezekiel 34:25, 34:22, 23, 24, 26 - describes the time of the Millennium) Covenant of peace - This phrase found 4x in OT - Num 25:12, Isa 54:10, Ezek 34:25, Ezek 37:26 Everlasting covenant - Praise God this is a description of the New Covenant. The writer of Hebrews says... Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord. (Hebrews 13:20-note) My sanctuary (04720)(miqdash) describes holy or sacred place, a sanctuary - that which has been sanctified or set apart as sacred and holy as opposed to the secular, common, or profane. Miqdas usually connotes a sanctuary or the physical place of worship. In the context of Ezekiel's prophecy of the physical and spiritual restoration of Israel, this sanctuary clearly refers to the Millennial Temple Christ in essence fulfilled of the OT Sanctuary (in both the Wilderness Tabernacle and Solomonic Temple), when He "tabernacled" with man in John 1:14-note. See Related Resource - CHRIST OUR SANCTUARY Miqdas/miqdash - 72v in the OT Note especially the uses of miqdash in Ezekiel 40-48 which describes the Temple of God in the Millennium - Ex 15:17; 25:8; Lev 12:4; 16:33; 19:30; Lev 20:3; 21:12, 23; 26:2, 31; Num 3:38; 10:21; 18:1, 29; 19:20; Josh 24:26; 1Chr 22:19; 28:10; 2Chr 20:8; 26:18; 29:21; 30:8; 36:17; Neh 10:39; Ps 68:35; 73:17; 74:7; 78:69; 96:6; Isa 8:14; 16:12; 60:13; 63:18; Jer 17:12; Jer 51:51; Lam 1:10; 2:7, 20; Ezekiel 5:11; 7:24; 8:6; 9:6; 11:16; 21:2; 23:38, 39; 24:21; 25:3; 28:18; 37:26, 28; Ezekiel 43:21; 44:1, 5, 7,8, 9, 11, 15, 16; 45:3, 4, 18; 47:12; 48:8, 10, 21 Dan 8:11; 9:17; 11:31; Amos 7:9, 13 In the Prophecy Knowledge Handbook John Walvoord comments on Ezekiel 37:26-28 As Jeremiah stated, God predicted here a covenant of peace with Israel which will be "an everlasting covenant" (Ezek 37:26). Though announced in the Old Testament (Jer 31:31-34), it will replace the Mosaic Covenant and will have its primary fulfillment for Israel at the time of the Second Coming when Israel is restored nationally and spiritually. Scholars have puzzled over the precise meaning of the New Covenant, earlier announced by Jeremiah (Jer. 31:31-34). Probably the simplest explanation is that in dying on the cross, God made possible a covenant of grace for those who would trust the Lord. This covenant of grace was the basis for the salvation of every individual, from the time of Adam to the last person who is saved. The New Covenant as applied here to Israel primarily has a prophetic meaning which was indicated here as being fulfilled in the peace, righteousness, and restoration which will characterize the millennial kingdom. At the time of the fulfillment of this covenant the numbers of Israelites in the land will increase greatly, especially during the millennial kingdom. A preliminary prophecy that God will provide a sanctuary (Ezek 37:28) referred to a millennial temple which will be described later in Ezekiel 40-48. Ezekiel 37:27 "My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people My dwelling place also will be with them - This is an amazing passage. The sinless, infinitely holy God, Immanuel, in love draws near to be God with us! Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! Can you sing these great words from your heart? Have you ever seen yourself as a wretched sinner in need of the Wonderful Savior? That is the true Gospel - the bad news and then the good news! Don't be deceived! In order to sing this song in His presence throughout the ages, you must be born again (John 3:7) by grace through faith in the New Covenant in (ratified by) Jesus' blood (Lk 22:20, 1Cor 11:25, Rev 5:9-note). Dwelling place (mishkan) means dwelling place, especially the dwelling place of Jehovah. Mishkan is used in Exodus to indicate the wilderness tabernacle, the temporary lodging of God and His "Shekinah" glory among His people, (Lev 26:11). May our hearts resonate with David's heart, for he was a man after God's own heart... O LORD, I love the habitation of Thy house, And the place where Thy glory dwells (mishkan). We see a parallel truth in the Revelation... And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them (Revelation 21:3-note) Comment: It is notable that God repeatedly emphasizes God's presence with men! Ezekiel 37:28 "And the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever."' And the nations will know that I am Jehovah - God is jealous for His glory and His restoration of Israel will give the proper opinion of Him. He is a covenant keeping God and that is worthy of a "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! Amen!" The LORD Who Sanctifies (Ezek 20:12) - In Hebrew this is the great name "Jehovah Meqaddesh" See study on The Lord Who Sanctifies Dr Walvoord comments that "The restoration of Israel will be a sign to the world so that the nations will know that it will be accomplished by the holy Lord who is able to cleanse Israel and make her holy."
Ezequiel 37
Morris explains it this way... The first part of this "dry-bones" prophesy (Ezekiel 37:8) was evidently fulfilled with the worldwide return of Jews to Israel and the official recognition of the nation in 1948. The true (spiritual) regeneration of the nation (Romans 11:26), however, when the Holy Spirit will be in them, awaits their acceptance of Christ when He returns (Zechariah 12:10). Comment: Israel's return to the land in 1948 was and still is to this day largely in unbelief in Messiah. But the when the Deliverer returns, one-third (Zech 13:8, 9, the "all" of Ro 11:26) of the individual souls will be regenerated by the Spirit of Christ. These are the Jews who in fact will enter into the Millennial Kingdom and populate the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Gaebelein adds that... When we read here in Ezekiel of graves, it must not be taken to mean literal graves; the graves are symbolical of the nation as being buried among the Gentiles. If these dry bones meant the physical dead of the nation, how could it be explained that they speak and say, “Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost?” The same figure of speech is used in the New Testament. Of the prodigal it is said, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again” (Luke 15:24). Yet he was not physically dead, nor was he made alive physically. Therefore, this vision has nothing whatever to do with a physical resurrection. The late Dr. Bullinger, whose erroneous suggestions have led astray some, also taught that the vision of the dry bones includes resurrection as well as restoration. Equally bad is that spiritualizing method (Ed: A very dangerous practice if one seeks to accurately interpret the Bible, especially the prophetic passages - See Allegorizing and Spiritualizing the Truth) which takes a vision like this, as well as the hundreds of promises of a coming restoration, and applies it all to the church, ignoring totally the claims of Israel and their promised future of glory. This is the general trend of commentators. (Ibid) Ezekiel 37:14 "I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken and done it," declares the LORD.'" I will put My Spirit within you - In the context of the previous chapter, this is clearly a reference to the Holy Spirit and the regeneration or new birth that only He can create (John 3:3, 5, 6 7). In Ezekiel 36:27 God promised... And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes (cp God's Provision = Php 2:13NLT-note), and you will be careful to observe My ordinances (cp Man's Responsibility = Php 2:12b-note). (Ezekiel 36:27) Comment: Do not miss the truth that you cannot keep God's laws in your own strength. You cannot obey His commands in your strength. We are spiritual beggars and God makes us supernaturally rich by giving us of the Spirit of Christ. Our job now is to learn to listen and yield to the Spirit in us and He will enable us to keep the law and obey the commands. Anything short of total, absolute dependence on the Spirit will indubitably lead you into legalism and bondage to the law, because the "fallen flesh" is actually stirred into action or aroused by the law! (See Ro 7:5, 6-note) Jesus spoke a similar truth to the Jews who were following Him some 500 years later... It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. (John 6:63) Comment: Most of the Jewish hearers refused to accept Jesus' words (John 6:55-58, 60-61, 64, 66) One wonders how many of the actual hearers of Ezekiel's words received those words and entered into the Kingdom of God by grace through faith? Then - What happens "then?" Two things will happen - (1) God promised a physical return of the Jews to the land of Israel (we have seen a partial fulfillment of this in our day, for the Jews do not yet occupy all the land which God promised to Abraham) and (2) God promised that Israel will know Jehovah (Jesus) intimately and personally. Why? Because the Spirit has given Israel new birth (cp Zech 12:10, Ro 11:26). In summary, in Ezekiel 37 God promises that Israel will one day experience both complete physical and spiritual renewal. Paul refers especially to this spiritual renewal in Romans 11 asking rhetorically... For if their rejection be the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15-note) Ezekiel 37:15 The word of the LORD came again to me saying, Ezekiel is not speculating or postulating but is proclaiming truth, performing the function of God's "mouth piece." Ezekiel 37:16 "And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.' THE PROPHETIC SIGN OF TWO STICKS Take for yourself one stick - God gives Ezekiel a picture of what He will do with the divided nation of Israel in the end times. Most commentators interpret the "Two Sticks" as a Prophetic Sign, which was a dynamic "visual aid" performed in public to increase the impact of the prophet's message and in a sense to help the hearers who witnessed the signs to "feel" the truth as much as to hear the truth. In short, the point of these "visual aids" was to cause the message to be embedded unforgettably into the people's hearts. Ezekiel was inspired by the Spirit to give 10 messages using signs. SUMMARY OF EZEKIEL'S 10 PROPHETIC SIGNS SIGN TEACHING PASSAGE 1. Sign of the Brick Jerusalem’s siege and fall Ezekiel 4:1-3 2. Sign of the Prophet’s Posture Discomforts of captivity Ezekiel 4:4-8 3. Sign of Famine Deprivations of captivity Ezekiel 4:9-17 4. Sign of the Knife and Razor Utter destruction of the city Ezekiel 5:1-17 5. Sign of House Moving Removal to another land Ezekiel 12:1-7, 17-20 6. Sign of the Sharpened Sword Judgment imminent Ezekiel 21:1-17 7. Sign of Nebuchadnezzar’s Sword Babylon the captor Ezekiel 21:18-23 8. Sign of the Smelting Furnace Judgment and purging Ezekiel 22:17-31 9. Sign of Ezekiel’s Wife’s Death Blessings forfeited Ezekiel 24:15-27 10. Sign of the Two Sticks Reunion of Israel and Judah Ezekiel 37:15-17 From: Jensen's Survey of the Old Testament Ezekiel 37:17 "Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. Then - Always be attentive to the conjunction then, an expression of time, which can be especially in prophetic writings as it gives the reader a clear sense of the sequential occurrence of events. Then means "soon after that", "next in order of time", "following next in order" or "next in a series." When you encounter a "then," try to interrogate this time sensitive word with the 5W/H'S. You can always ask what happens "then?" That they may become one - God uses figurative language to picture reunification of the nation of Israel. Ezekiel 37:18 "When the sons of your people speak to you saying, 'Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?' INTERPRETATION OF THE TWO STICKS Declare to us what you mean by these - (Scripture is the best "interpreter" of Scripture) The interpretation follows in Ezekiel 37:19-27. Ezekiel 37:19 say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand."' Behold- (hinneh) is repeated again (cp Ezek 37:2) to call the reader to give special attention to what follows. They will be one - The divided kingdom is reunited into one nation of Israel. In other words, God will restore union between Israel and Judah (Ezekiel 37:19, 21, 22). This prophecy will be fulfilled when Messiah returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom on earth. It is worth noting that God gave similar prophecies of reunion of Judah and Ephraim (the house of Israel in this context referring to the 10 northern tribes) in Isaiah 11:12, 13; Jeremiah 3:18 and Hosea 1:11. In My hand - Implies that God is in control and the unified nation finally allows Him to be their Lord and Master. Ezekiel 37:20 "The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. Before their eyes - Like the old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words!" Ezekiel 37:21 "Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; Behold- (hinneh) is repeated again (cp Ezek 37:2) to call the reader to give special attention to what follows. I will take...I will gather - The repetition of "I will" speaks of God's sovereign promise and power to perform. He is omnipotent! What He promises is as good as done! Here the Lord God promises the regathering of the nation of Israel. There has been some "regathering" of Jews to the land of Israel in the 20th century (especially since May, 1948 when the United Nations granted statehood to Israel), but the final regathering of Jews to their land will be at the end of this age when the Messiah, the Deliverer (Ro 11:26) returns and takes "away their sins." (Ro 11:27) Even in the first section of Ezekiel (see diagram at top of this page) that deals primarily with prophecy of divine judgment, we find the hope filled prediction of regathering of Israel... Thus says the Lord God, “When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples (Gentiles) among whom they are scattered, and will manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob (The promise of "the land" to Abraham is finally fully fulfilled). They will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards and live securely when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.” (Ezekiel 28:25-26) Comment: This prophetic promise will be fulfilled in the Messiah's Millennial Kingdom. Their own land - It is Israel's land not because they deserved it or earned it but because of God's unconditional promise to Abraham... Genesis 13:15 All the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. "Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you." Genesis 15:18 On that day the LORD made (cut) a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the Kenite and the Kenizzite and the Kadmonite 20 and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Rephaim 21 and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite." (See also Ex 23:31, 1Ki 4:21) Genesis 17:8 "And I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. (This is one of the major components of the covenant God cut with Abraham and then the New Covenant God promised to Israel. Cp Ezek 37:23)" Comment: The Jews’ ownership of the land depends solely on God’s gracious covenant with Abraham: God gave them the land. But their possession and enjoyment of the land depends on their faithfulness to obey the Lord. This was the theme of Moses’ messages in Deuteronomy. More than 60x in that book, Moses told the people they would inherit or possess the land; and at least 25x, Moses reminded them that the land was a gift from the Lord. God’s name was there (Dt 12:5, 11, 21), and He would watch over the land to bless it, IF His people walked in His ways. During the reigns of David and Solomon, the people enjoyed their inheritance and served the Lord faithfully. But after the kingdom divided, Israel and Judah both decayed spiritually (except for occasional interludes of revival) and ended up in bondage: Assyria defeated Israel, and Babylon conquered Judah. It was then that God disciplined His people outside their land. It was as though He were saying, “You have polluted My land with your idols, so I will put you in a land that is addicted to idols. Get your fill of it! After you have been away from your land for seventy years, maybe you will learn to appreciate what I gave you.” God permitted a remnant to return to the land, rebuild the city and the temple, and restore the nation; but it never became a great power again. However, whether Israel is faithful or faithless, the land belongs to her; and one day she will inherit it and enjoy it to the glory of God. Israel’s title deed to the land is a vi Ezekiel 37:22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. I will make them one nation - The kingdom of Israel which God divided in 931BC, He will one day (at the Second Coming) reunite into a single kingdom. One king will be king over all of them - Ezek 37:24 describes David as "king over them" and I interpret this as a reference to a literal David, resurrected from the dead. But see the notes for alternative interpretation by many commentators). Observe Jeremiah 30:9... (Context = Time of Jacob's distress [Great Tribulation] = Jer 30:7-note and Jer 30:8 describes the beginning of the Millennium) But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. (Jer 30:9-note). Comment: The question is this -- how many individuals do you see in this passage? Are there not two who Israel will "serve" - Jehovah-Jesus and David? And notice how David "gets on the scene" so to speak - God will raise him up! This certainly suggest two kings. Notice also that the Septuagint translates "I will raise up" with the Greek verb anistemi, the word which frequently refers to resurrection in the New Testament (eg, Mt 24:46, 28:6, 1Cor 6:14, Jn 6:39). The land - This specific phrase refers to the "the land" promised to Abraham in the God's covenant with him. Ezekiel 37:23 "They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. They will no longer defile themselves - They refers to the reunified nation of Israel, composed of reborn believers in Messiah. The prophet Daniel describes this future time when Israel will no longer defile themselves... Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people (Jews) and your holy city (Jerusalem), to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy place. (Daniel 9:24-note) Comment: When the 490 years are completed, Messiah will return (Second Coming) and Israel will be given a new heart and a new Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26, 27 ~ the New Covenant) and be enabled to "finish the transgression", their root sin of rebellion against the lordship of Jehovah, Who will rule over them in the Millennium. Idols (01544) (gillul/gillulim - latter is the plural form = all OT uses are plural) means logs, blocks, shapeless things. This word describes "an object (not necessarily three dimensional) which has been formed to resemble a person, god, animal." (Louw-Nida). Notably, the root galal also produced the Hebrew noun גֵּל (gel) or גֶּלֶל (gelel), meaning “dung” or excrement Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary -Of the main words for idol, this term always occurs in the plural form. Of the forty-seven occurrences, thirty-eight are in Ezekiel. The basic meaning of this word is "logs," "blocks" or "shapeless things." It is used to mock the pagan gods, and it always views idols as contemptuous things (1 Ki. 15:12; Deut. 29:17; Ezek. 6:4). Idols are always an abomination, and they pollute the people and the land. The word is often used by Ezekiel parallel to the noun tāmfi', "to be unclean," "to defile oneself", thus strengthening the etymological argument to associate the noun with dung. The prime indictment of Judah communicated by Ezekiel was idolatry (see ch. 16). This defilement forced the Spirit of Yahweh to depart from the Temple (chs. 9-11), as the Temple itself was defiled by idolatry (Ezek 8:9f). Idolatry was a serious offense for the individual, as Yahweh promises those who fall down before idols in worship will fall down before them dead (Ezek 6:4). The usages of the noun outside of Ezekiel also point out that idols defile the individual and society causing judgment to fall. Animal and human feces often form round lumps, so ancient Hebrews used the same “round” root to describe droppings. The term gillulim seems to deliberately echo this word for dung (gel/gelal) by sound – essentially a pun. Medieval commentators like Ibn Ezra (12th century) already noticed that gillulim sounds like gelal (dung) and considered the term an “outrageous and denigrating” nickname for idols as “dung pellets” Modern scholars likewise conclude that gillulim stems from a single root gll with two related meanings – “round, roll” and by extension “dung” – and that the biblical writers intentionally exploited the vulgar sense to mock idols HCSB Study Bible - Ezekiel's favorite word for idol (Hb gillulim) is based on the root gll, which means "to roll." Many believe the term is associated with round dung pellets, which would graphically express Ezekiel's disposition toward useless idols. NKJV Study Bible - The word gillulim may be related to a similar Hebrew expression meaning “dung pellets.” Later Jewish commentators mocked the gillulim as the “dung idols,” idols as worthless as dung. Mounce - Some scholars speculate that gillûlîm comes from the Heb. word for “dung, manure.” Thus, gillûlîm (“idols”) are as worthless as dung. Homan Treasury of Bible Words - The prophet Ezekiel, who followed his fellow Israelites in 597 B.C. into exile, warned the exiles of the danger of worshiping idols. The Hebrew word gillulim is first used in Ezekiel 6:4 in a threatening prophecy, in which God declares that He will slay the people of Jerusalem and Judah in the very presence of their “idols.” The word gillulim is used about forty times in Ezekiel. It is a derisive, almost lewd term. It comes from the root of galal, “to roll” or “to roll away,” and literally means “dung pellets,” or “dungy things.” The prophets wasted no time seeking words to express their disgust of idols. “Idols” is a rather euphemistic translation of this word, for the word expresses Ezekiel’s hatred and disgust for Israel’s idols. They were worth no more than dung—yet Israel was worshiping them instead of their living God. Webster's definition of an idol is interesting to ponder [Middle English, from Old French idole, from Late Latin idolum, from Greek eidōlon image, idol; akin to Greek eidos form] 1: a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a false god; a material object, esp a carved image, that is worshipped as a god. An image, form or representation, usually of a man or other animal, consecrated as an object of worship; a pagan deity. Idols are usually statues or images, carved out of wood or stone, or formed of metals, particularly silver or gold. 2a : a likeness of something 2b obsolete : PRETENDER, IMPOSTOR 3: a form or appearance visible but without substance <an enchanted phantom, a lifeless idol —P. B. Shelley〉4 : an object of extreme devotion; Any thing on which we set our affections; that to which we indulge an excessive and sinful attachment. 5 : a false conception : FALLACY Idols is translated in this verse in the LXX with the Greek word eidolon. What effect do idols have on our hands and heart? (God's solution = 2Cor 7:1-note). TWOT comments that... Ezekiel who has thirty-eight of the forty-seven occurrences of gillûlım denounces idolatry as infidelity and prostitution (Ezek 16:36; 37:23). Good Israelites have not “lifted up their eyes to idols,” while the wicked have done so (Ezek 18:6, 12, 15). Ezekiel reminds the people that God told them not to defile themselves “with the idols of Egypt.” Nevertheless “their heart went after” them (Ezek 20:7, 8, 16, 18, 24). They were not to “pollute themselves” with idols (Ezek 20:31). In dramatic irony the prophet says: “Go ye, serve ye everyone his idols” (Ezek 20:39). Again he declares that Israel works against herself by idolatry and defiles herself (Ezek 22:3, 4; 23:7). They are polluted with idols of Babylonia and Assyria (Ezek 23:30) and have followed heathen idolatry to the extent of killing their children in sacrifice to idols and so they will “bear the sins of their idols” (Ezek 23:39, 49), but the Lord will destroy the idols of Egypt (Ezek 30:13). When Ezekiel hears that Jerusalem is destroyed, he says that the people do not possess the land because of their idolatry (Ezek 33:25; 36:18, 25). Only twice more does Ezekiel refer to idols and in quite a different vein. He predicts that Judah and Israel will be united in their land and will not defile themselves any more with idols (Ezek 37:23). In the restoration the priests and Levites who went astray will be punished by a lowering of rank and given a less important activity in the new sanctuary. Only the Zadokite priests who remained true to the Lord will serve in the high office of priest (Ezek 44:10, 12). (Harris, R L, Archer, G L & Waltke, B K Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Moody Press) Other words for idols are: selem "image," which emphasizes its representational character (used seven times); semel of uncertain etymology (5x); terapim, apparently meaning a "thing of shame" used for Laban's household gods stolen by Rachel; mippeleset "thing of horror"; 'elil "empty or meaningless thing"; 'awen "sinful thing" BDB (KB suggests, a "thing of mystery" from a possible etymology, but BDB is better on the basis of the usage of 'awen). ashera, which are cult objects, perhaps sacred poles, but are more symbols of the goddess 'ashera rather than idols in the normal sense. DICTIONARY ARTICLES ON IDOL/IDOLATRY Idol, Idolatry - Baker Evangelical Dictionary Idolatry - Naves (Huge list) Idolatry - Torreys topic Idolatry - Holman Idolatry - Hastings NT Idolatry - Hastings Dictionary Idolatry - Fausset Bible Dictionary Idolatry - ISBE Idolatry - Encyclopedia Britannica Idolatry - Kittos Biblical Cyclopedia Idolatry and Idols - Jewish Encyclopedia What is the true meaning of the second commandment? What is the definition of idolatry? What is a graven image? What should we learn from the golden calf incident in Exodus 32? Why did people keep family idols in the Bible? What is the significance of high places in the Bible? NT WORDS RELATED TO IDOLATRY Idols (1497) eidolon Idolatry (1495) eidololatreia Idolater (1496) eidololatres Idols - gillul/gillulim 48v (see below) and all uses translated "Idols" in the plural. This makes one think it is hard to just have one idol to satisfy! How wonderful it is that all we need to be fully satisfied is One God! (cf Ps 16:11) As an interesting exercise consider making a list of what you learn about IDOLATRY just from observing these 48 uses of gillul/gillulim. For example: Truth about Idolatry from simple word study -- Lev 26:40 =God's soul abhors His people because of their idolatry (Application: What does He think about me when I place anything in front of Him). Idols are inanimate and are associated with abominations = Dt 29:17. Idols are associated with sexual perversion = 1Ki 15:12. Dumb idols are followed by foolish men = 1Ki 21:26. Idols do not serve those who worship them but those who worship them serve implying they are enslaved! = 2Ki 17:12. You get the idea! You can come up with an interesting "synopsis" of idolatry in the OT which can be readily applied to our lives. Lev 26:30 ‘I then will destroy your high places, and cut down your incense altars, and heap your remains on the remains of your idols; for My soul shall abhor you. Deut 29:17 “Moreover, you have seen their abominations and their idols [of] wood, stone, silver, and gold, which [they had] with them); 1Kgs 15:12 He also put away the male cult prostitutes from the land, and removed all the idols which his fathers had made. 1Kgs 21:26 And he acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel. 2Kgs 17:12 And they served idols, concerning which the LORD had said to them, “You shall not do this thing.” 2Kgs 21:11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who [were] before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols; 2Kgs 21:21 For he walked in all the way that his father had walked, and served the idols that his father had served and worshiped them. 2Kgs 23:24 Moreover, Josiah removed the mediums and the spiritists and the teraphim and the idols and all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. Jer 50:2 “Declare and proclaim among the nations. Proclaim it and lift up a standard. Do not conceal [it but] say, ‘Babylon has been captured, Bel has been put to shame, Marduk has been shattered; Her images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.’ Ezekiel 6:4 "So your altars will become desolate and your incense altars will be smashed; and I will make your slain fall in front of your idols. 5 "I will also lay the dead bodies of the sons of Israel in front of their idols; and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6 "In all your dwellings, cities will become waste and the high places will be desolate, that your altars may become waste and desolate, your idols may be broken and brought to an end, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be blotted out....9 "Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive, how I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me, and by their eyes which played the harlot after their idols; and they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed, for all their abominations.....13 "Then you will know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree and under every leafy oak-- the places where they offered soothing aroma to all their idols. Ezekiel 8:10 So I entered and looked, and behold, every form of creeping things and beasts and detestable things, with all the idols of the house of Israel, were carved on the wall all around. Ezekiel 14:3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all? 4 "Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the multitude of his idols, 5 in order to lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel who are estranged from Me through all their idols."' "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 "For anyone of the house of Israel or of the immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, I the LORD will be brought to answer him in My own person. Ezekiel 16:36 Thus says the Lord GOD, "Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because of the blood of your sons which you gave to idols, Ezekiel 18:6 and does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her menstrual period--....12 oppresses the poor and needy, commits robbery, does not restore a pledge, but lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits abomination,....15 "He does not eat at the mountain shrines or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, or defile his neighbor's wife, Ezekiel 20:7 "I said to them, 'Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.' 8 But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.....16 because they rejected My ordinances, and as for My statutes, they did not walk in them; they even profaned My Sabbaths, for their heart continually went after their idols....18 "I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.....24 because they had not observed My ordinances, but had rejected My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were on the idols of their fathers....31 "When you offer your gifts, when you cause your sons to pass through the fire, you are defiling yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you.....39 "As for you, O house of Israel," thus says the Lord GOD, "Go, serve everyone his idols; but later you will surely listen to Me, and My holy name you will profane no longer with your gifts and with your idols. Ezekiel 22:3 "You shall say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "A city shedding blood in her midst, so that her time will come, and that makes idols, contrary to her interest, for defilement! 4 "You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and defiled by your idols which you have made. Thus you have brought your day near and have come to your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the lands. Ezekiel 23:7 "She bestowed her harlotries on them, all of whom were the choicest men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she defiled herself....30 'These things will be done to you because you have played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols.....37 "For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. Thus they have committed adultery with their idols and even caused their sons, whom they bore to Me, to pass through the fire to them as food.....39 "For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary on the same day to profane it; and lo, thus they did within My house.....49 'Your lewdness will be requited upon you, and you will bear the penalty of worshiping your idols; thus you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'" Ezekiel 30:13 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "I will also destroy the idols And make the images cease from Memphis. And there will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt; And I will put fear in the land of Egypt. Ezekiel 33:25 "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "You eat meat with the blood in it, lift up your eyes to your idols as you shed blood. Should you then possess the land? Ezekiel 36:18 "Therefore I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land, because they had defiled it with their idols.....25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Ezekiel 37:23 "They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 44:10 "But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me (note the order - first leave God, then go) after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity....12 "Because they ministered to them before their idols and became a stumbling block of iniquity to the house of Israel, therefore I have sworn against them," declares the Lord GOD, "that they shall bear the punishment for their iniquity. NAVE'S TOPIC: IDOLATRY. Wicked Practices of Human sacrifices, Lev. 18:21; 20:2-5; Deut. 12:31; 18:10; 2 Kin. 3:26, 27; 16:3; 17:17, 18; 21:6; 23:10; 2 Chr. 28:3; 33:6; Psa. 106:37, 38; Isa. 57:5; Jer. 7:31; 19:4-7; 32:35; Ezek. 16:20, 21; 20:26, 31; 23:37, 39; Mic. 6:7; practices of, relating to the dead, Deut. 14:1; licentiousness of, Ex. 32:6, 25; Num. 25:1-3; 1 Kin. 14:24; 15:12; 2 Kin. 17:30 (Succoth-benoth in the text implies unmentionable licentiousness.); 2 Kin. 23:7; Ezek. 16:17; Ezek 23:1-44; Hos. 4:12-14; Amos 2:8; Mic. 1:7; Rom. 1:24, 26, 27; 1 Cor. 10:7, 8; 1 Pet. 4:3, 4; Rev. 2:14, 20-22; 9:20, 21; 14:8; 17:1-6. Other Customs of Offered burnt offerings, Ex. 32:6; 1 Kin. 18:26; Acts 14:13; libations, Isa. 57:6; 65:11; Jer. 7:18; 19:13; 32:29; 44:17, 19, 25; Ezek. 20:28; of wine, Deut. 32:38; of blood, Psa. 16:4; Zech. 9:7; grain offerings, Isa. 57:6; Jer. 7:18; 44:17; Ezek. 16:19; peace offerings, Ex. 32:6. Incense burned on altars, 1 Kin. 12:33; 2 Chr. 30:14; 34:25; Isa. 65:3; Jer. 1:16; 11:12, 17; 44:3; 48:35; Ezek. 16:18; 23:41; Hos. 11:2. Prayers to idols, Judg. 10:14; Isa. 44:17; 45:20; 46:7; Jonah 1:5. Praise, Judg. 16:24; Dan. 5:4. Singing and dancing, Ex. 32:18, 19. Music, Dan. 3:5-7. Cutting the flesh, 1 Kin. 18:28; Jer. 41:5. Kissing, 1 Kin. 19:18; Hos. 13:2; Job 31:27 Bowing, 1 Kin. 19:18; 2 Kin. 5:18. Tithes and gifts, 2 Kin. 23:11; Dan. 11:38; Amos 4:4, 5. Aual Feasts - 1 Kin. 12:32; Ezek. 18:6, 11, 12, 15; 22:9; Dan. 3:2, 3. Objects of Idolatry: Sun, moon, and stars, Deut. 4:19; 2 Kin. 17:16; 21:3, 5; 2 Chr. 33:3, 5; Job 31:26-28; Jer. 7:17-20; 8:2; Ezek. 8:15, 16; Zeph. 1:4, 5; Acts 7:42. Images of angels, Col. 2:18; animals, Rom. 1:23. Gods of Egypt, Ex. 12:12. Golden calf, Ex. 32:4. Brazen serpent, 2 Kin. 18:4. Net and drag, Hab. 1:16. Pictures, Num. 33:52; Isa. 2:16. Pictures on walls, Ezek. 8:10. Earrings, Gen. 35:4. Denunciations Against Gen. 35:2; Ex. 20:3-6, 23 Deut. 5:7-9. Ex. 23:13 1 Cor. 10:7. Lev. 19:4; Lev. 26:1, 30 Deut. 16:21, 22. Deut. 4:15, 16, 15-23; Deut. 4:25-28; 11:16-17, Deut 11:28; 28:15-68; 30:17, 18; 31:16-21, 29; 32:15-26; 1 Kin. 9:6-9. Deut 12:31; Deut. 27:15 Ex. 34:17. 1 Sam. 15:23; Job 31:26-28; Psa. 16:4; Psa 44:20, 21; Psa. 59:8; Psa. 79:6; Psa. 81:9; Psa. 97:7; Isa. 42:17 Isa 45:16. Joel 3:12; Jonah 2:8; Mic. 5:15; Hab. 1:16; Acts 15:29 v. 20;; 1 Cor. 8:1-13. Acts 17:16; Rom. 1:25; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; 1 Cor. 10:14, 20, 21,22.; 1John 5:21; Rev. 21:8 Rev. 22:15. Warnings Against, and Punishments of Deut. 17:2-5; 2 Chr. 28:23; Neh. 9:27-37; Psa. 78:58-64; 106:34-42; Isa. 1:29-31; 2:6-22; 30:22; 57:3-13; 65:3-7; Jer. 1:15, 16; 3:1-11; 5:1-17; 7; 8:1, 2, 19; 13:9-27; 16; 17:1-6; 18:13-15; 19; 22:9; 32:35; 44; 48:8; Ezek 6:1ff; Ezek 7:19; 8:5-18; Ezek 9:1ff; Ezek 14:1-14; Ezek 16:1ff; Ezek 20:1ff; 22:4; Ezek 23:1ff; 44:10-12; Hos. 1:2; 2:2-5; 4:12-19; 5:1-3; 8:5-14; 9:10; 10; 11:2; 12:11-14; 13:1-4; 14:8; Amos 3:14; 4:4, 5; 5:5; Mic. 1:1-9; 5:12-14; 6:16; Zeph 1:1ff; Mal. 2:11-13. Prophecies Relating to Ex. 12:12 Num. 33:4. Isa. 2:18, 20 Isa. 31:7. Isa. 17:7, 8; Isa. 19:1; Isa. 27:9; Jer. 10:11, 15; Jer. 51:44, 47, 52;; Isa. 21:9. Ezek. 43:7-9; Hos. 10:2; Mic. 5:13; Zeph. 2:11; Zech. 13:2 Folly of Deut. 4:28; 1 Kin. 18:27 Judg. 6:31; 1 Sam. 5:3, 4. 2 Chr. 25:15 1 Sam. 12:21; 2 Kin. 3:13; Isa. 16:12; 36:18. 2 Chr. 28:22, 23; Psa. 115:4, 5, 8 Psa. 96:5; 135:15-18; Isa. 2:8. Isa. 40:12-26; Isa. 41:23, 24, 26-29.; Isa. 44:19, 9-20.; Isa. 45:20; Isa. 46:1, 2, 6, 7; Isa. 47:13, 14, 12-15; 2 Kin. 19:18; Isa. 37:19; Zech. 10:2. Isa. 57:13; Jer. 2:28 Deut. 32:37, 38; Judg. 10:14. Jer. 10:5, 3-16;; Jer. 48:13; 51:17; Hab. 2:18, 19. Jer. 11:12; Jer. 14:22; Jer. 16:19, 20; Hos. 8:5, 6 Ex. 32:20; Psa. 106:20. Acts 14:15; Acts 17:22, 23, 29; Rom. 1:22, 23; 1 Cor. 8:4 with 1 Cor. 8:5; 10:19.1 Cor. 12:2; Gal. 4:8; Rev. 9:20 Deut. 4:28; Dan. 5:23 I will deliver them - This is a promise from the Lord God, a promise to Israel, a promise based on Jehovah's unconditional covenant given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. A promise to be fulfilled when Messiah comes the Second time. In Romans Paul describes this event... For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery (musterion), lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles has come in and thus all Israel will be saved (Ed: All elect, all who are part of the remnant, cp Zech 13:8, 9); just as it is written, "THE DELIVERER (The Messiah - rhuomai) WILL COME FROM ZION (Jerusalem), HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB (cp Da 9:24 above)" "AND THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM (Initially the Abrahamic Covenant culminating in the New Covenant in His blood), WHEN I TAKE AWAY (aphaireo) THEIR SINS (Ed: In other words = forgive their sins)." (Romans 11:25-27-note) Comment: Note that the Septuagint translates "I will deliver" with rhuomai, the same verb Paul uses for "Deliverer" in Romans 11:26. The idea of rhuomai is to draw or snatch one to oneself, invariably from danger, with an emphasis on the greatness of the peril from which deliverance is given by a mighty act of power. Rhuomai was used in secular Greek to describe a soldier’s going to a wounded comrade on the battlefield and carrying him to safety. I...will cleanse them - This is an allusion to the New Covenant promises (Jeremiah 31:31-34) John