Ezekiel 8:3–11

3 He stretched out what appeared to be a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of Godo to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner gate that faces north, where the offensive statue that provokes jealousyp was located. 4 I saw the glory of the God of Israelq there, like the vision I had seen in the plain.r

PAGAN PRACTICES IN THE TEMPLE

5 The Lord said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” I looked to the north, and there was this offensive statue north of the Altar Gate, at the entrance. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing here—more detestable acts that the house of Israel is committings —so that I must depart from my sanctuary? You will see even more detestable acts.”

7 Then he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked there was a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, “Son of man, dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway. 9 He said to me, “Go in and see the detestable, wicked acts they are committing here.”

10 I went in and looked, and there engraved all around the wall was every kind of abhorrent thing—crawling creatures and beasts—as well as all the idols of the house of Israel.t 11 Seventy elders from the house of Israel were standing before them, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphanu standing among them. Each had a firepan in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising up.