The Image of Jealousy - Ezekiel 8:3 INTRODUCTION. Ezekiel 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. Ezekiel's prophecy in these four chapters "form a connected whole." Ezekiel 8:3 He stretched out the form of a hand and caught me by a lock of my head and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where * the seat of the idol of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy, was located. Asherah is the Canaanite goddess of love and was considered to the mistress or consort of El, the highest god in the Canaanite pantheon. 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. Hence it was the image of him who fell a victim to jealousy. ... where there was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provokes to jealousy. The Lord permits no rivals. The hand of the Sovereign LORD came upon him, and he is given a vision of wickedness in the temple. Image of Jealousy Scripture reading: Ezekiel 8:2-6 Ezekiel 8:2 says, "Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber." EZEKIEL'S ` JOURNEY' TO JERUSALEM (Ezekiel 8-11). Ezek. the form of a hand. They were bowing to the east in worship of the sun. The image of jealousy - סמל הקנאה semel hakkinah. Now Tammuz, all agree, signifies Adonis; it was that therefore which was called the image of jealousy. Verse 1. [1] (1) There is presented in chapter 8 a detail on the horrible defilement of God's temple by apostate Israel, which God forewarns will cause the removal of his presence from it (Ezekiel 8:6). The elders of Judah came to visit Ezekiel in his house. Ezekiel 8:3. eze 8:3. A New Heart and Spirit The prophet being returned towards the northern gate, where he had seen the image of jealousy, Ezekiel 8:14, there saw the women lamenting for Tammuz. “This was the most honourable of the three gateways because, the royal palace being on the north side of the temple, the king would have used it whenever he went in to worship.” (Taylor) Some say it was the image of Baal, which was placed in the temple by Manasses; others, that it was the image of Mars; and others, that it was the image of Tammuz or Adonis. The connection of this image with the north gate (Ezekiel 8:3) was significant, connecting this image of jealousy with royalty and the king. Ezekiel chapter 8. In Isaiah 43:11, He said, “I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” Yet, there is a battle on the horizon that will bring all matters to a head. 3. Ezekiel 8:16-18. (2) The supernatural ministers of instruments of Israel's … We do not know certainly of what form this image was, nor what god it represented. 8:16 So he brought me to the inner court of the LORD’s house, and there were about twenty-five men at the entrance of the LORD’s temple, between the portico and the altar, with their backs to the LORD’s temple and their faces turned to the east. “This was the most honourable of the three gateways because, the royal palace being on the north side of the temple, the king would have used it whenever he went in to worship.” (Taylor) 2. Ezekiel is first transported to the north gate and he sees what is called the “image of jealousy.” It is clear this is an idol of some kind, and many scholars believe it is an Asherah pole. The connection of this image with the north gate (Ezekiel 8:3) was significant, connecting this image of jealousy with royalty and the king. Ezekiel does not say the LORD God has a human hand.