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Commentary on Ezekiel 6 verses 1–7
Here, I. The prophecy is directed to the mountains of Israel (Eze 6:1, Eze 6:2); the prophet must set his face towards them. If he could see so far off as the land of Israel, the mountains of that land would be first and furthest seen; towards them therefore he must look, and look boldly and stedfastly, as the judge looks at the prisoner, and directs his speech to him, when he passes sentence upon him. Though the mountains of Israel be ever so high and ever so strong, he must set his face against them, as having judgments to denounce that should shake their foundation. The mountains of Israel had been holy mountains, but now that they had polluted them with their high places God set his face against them and therefore the prophet must. Israel is here put, not, as sometimes, for the ten tribes, but for the whole land. The mountains are called upon to hear the word of the Lord, to shame the inhabitants that would not hear. The prophets might as soon gain attention from the mountains as from that rebellious and gainsaying people, to whom they all day long stretched out their hands in vain. Hear, O mountains! the Lord's controversy (Mic 6:1, Mic 6:2), for God's cause will have a hearing, whether we hear it or no. But from the mountains the word of the Lord echoes to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; for to them also the Lord God speaks, intimating that the whole land is concerned in what is now to be delivered and shall be witnesses against this people that they had fair warning given them of the judgments coming, but they would not take it; nay, they contradicted the message and persecuted the messengers, so that God's prophets might more safely and comfortably speak to the hills and mountains than to them.
II. That which is threatened in this prophecy is the utter destruction of the idols and the idolaters, and both by the sword of war. God himself is commander-in-chief of this expedition against the mountains of Israel. It is he that says, Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you (Eze 6:3); the sword of the Chaldeans is at God's command, goes where he sends it, comes where he brings it, and lights as he directs it. In the desolations of that war,
1.The idols and all their appurtenances should be destroyed. The high places, which were on the tops of mountains (Eze 6:3), shall be levelled and made desolate (Eze 6:6); they shall not be beautified, shall not be frequented as they had been. The altars, on which they offered sacrifice and burnt incense to strange gods, shall be broken to pieces and laid waste; the images and idols shall be defaced, shall be broken and cease, and be cut down, and all the fine costly works about them shall be abolished, Eze 6:4, Eze 6:6. Observe here, (1.) That war makes woeful desolations, which those persons, places, and things that were esteemed most sacred cannot escape; for the sword devours one as well as another. (2.) That God sometimes ruins idolatries even by the hands of idolaters, for such the Chaldeans themselves were; but, as if the deity were a local thing, the greatest admirers of the gods of their own country were the greatest despisers of the gods of other countries. (3.) It is just with God to make that a desolation which we make an idol of; for he is a jealous God and will not bear a rival. (4.) If men do not, as they ought, destroy idolatry, God will, first or last, find out a way to do it. When Josiah had destroyed the high places, altars, and images, with the sword of justice, they set them up again; but God will now destroy them with the sword of war, and let us see who dares re-establish them.
2.The worshippers of idols and all their adherents should be destroyed likewise. As all their high places shall be laid waste, so shall all their dwelling-places too, even all their cities, Eze 6:6. Those that profane God's dwelling-place as they had done can expect no other than that he should abandon theirs, Eze 5:11. If any man defile the temple of God, him will God destroy, Co1 3:17. It is here threatened that their slain shall fall in the midst of them (Eze 6:7); there shall be abundance slain, even in those places which were thought most safe; but it is added as a remarkable circumstance that they shall fall before their idols (Eze 6:4), that their dead carcases should be laid, and their bones scattered, about their altars, Eze 6:5. (1.) Thus their idols should be polluted, and those places profaned by the dead bodies which they had had in veneration. If they will not defile the covering of their graven images, God will, Isa 30:22. The throwing of the carcases among them, as upon the dunghill, intimates that they were but dunghill-deities. (2.) Thus it was intimated that they were but dead things, unfit to be rivals with the living God; for the carcases of dead men, that, like them, have eyes and see not, ears and hear not, were the fittest company for them. (3.) Thus the idols were upbraided with their inability to help their worshippers, and idolaters were upbraided with the folly of trusting in them; for, it should seem, they fell by the sword of the enemy when they were actually before their idols imploring their aid and putting themselves under their protection. Sennacherib was slain by his sons when he was worshipping in the house of his god. (4.) The sin might be read in this circumstance of the punishment; the slain men are cast before the idols, to show that therefore they are slain, because they worshipped those idols; see Jer 8:1, Jer 8:2. let the survivors observe it, and take warning not to worship images; let them see it, and know that God is the Lord, that the Lord he is God and he alone.
(Verse 6, 7.) The cities shall be deserted, and the lofty places shall be demolished; and your altars shall be scattered and your idols shall cease, and your temples shall be broken down and your works shall be destroyed. And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord. The clear cause why the cities of the mountains are to be deserted: namely, that the lofty places may be demolished, and the altars and idols may be destroyed, and the temples may perish, and all worship of the idols may cease; and the slain may fall in the midst of the mountains; and they may know that he himself is the Lord. For this reason, we are given the opportunity to follow the spiritual intelligence more, so that the cities of heretics, which are interpreted as Churches, and the high pride of their teachings, and the altars of their perverse doctrines, are shattered, and the idols perish, which they simulated in their own hearts, and the shrines are destroyed, not the temples, which rose up against the temple of the Lord, and are called 'temples' in Greek, that is, shrines and all the works of mountains are crushed, which are not the works of God, but of false masters of knowledge. And when the slain shall fall in the midst of the mountains, either those whom the mountains themselves have slain, or the ecclesiastical men who have slain them wickedly to their own safety: then shall be the end of the proud mountains, that they may know that he is the Lord. But it may happen that from one people of the mountains of Israel, others being slain, others may know. For when a pestilent scourge is slain, the foolish will be wiser.
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SUMMARY
Ezekiel 6:6 powerfully declares God's comprehensive and devastating judgment upon the land of Israel due to its pervasive idolatry. This prophetic oracle foretells the utter desolation of their inhabited places and cities, specifically targeting the "high places," altars, idols, and images that formed the core of their pagan worship. This divinely ordained destruction is presented not merely as punitive, but as a thorough act of purification, meticulously designed to eradicate every vestige of false worship and ultimately compel Israel to acknowledge the Lord's supreme authority and unique identity.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Ezekiel 6 initiates a new prophetic oracle, shifting from the personal call and symbolic actions of the prophet in earlier chapters to a direct indictment of the land of Israel itself. The divine address to "the mountains of Israel" in Ezekiel 6:2 signifies a broadening of judgment from Jerusalem's immediate fate, as detailed in Ezekiel 5, to encompass the entire nation's spiritual apostasy. This chapter is marked by a recurring refrain, "and ye shall know that I am the Lord," found in Ezekiel 6:7 and throughout the book, emphasizing that the ultimate purpose of this severe judgment is theological: to reveal God's unchallenged sovereignty and identity to His people and the nations. The oracle systematically details the destruction of every element associated with their idolatry, preparing the way for a future, albeit distant, restoration.
Historical & Cultural Context: Ezekiel delivered his prophecies during the Babylonian exile, a critical period for Judah (circa 593-571 BC), with the final destruction of Jerusalem looming. Idolatry was a deeply entrenched and persistent sin in Israel, representing a fundamental breach of the Mosaic covenant, particularly the first commandment against having other gods. The "high places" (Hebrew: bâmôt) were elevated cultic sites, often on hilltops, which, despite sometimes being used for legitimate Yahwistic worship, were predominantly corrupted by Canaanite practices. These included the worship of Baal and Asherah, cultic prostitution, and even horrific child sacrifice, as evidenced in historical accounts like 2 Kings 23:13 and Jeremiah 19:5. "Images" (Hebrew: chammânîm) specifically refer to sun-pillars or incense altars, highlighting the syncretistic nature of Israel's worship, which blended devotion to Yahweh with pagan solar deities. The pervasive nature of these pagan symbols in the cultural landscape necessitated their thorough eradication for spiritual cleansing.
Key Themes: The overarching theme in Ezekiel 6 is Divine Judgment for Idolatry. God's absolute intolerance for the worship of false gods is starkly portrayed; the destruction of cities and "high places" is presented as the direct and inevitable consequence of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. This judgment is not arbitrary but a righteous response to their spiritual apostasy and defilement of the land. A crucial secondary theme is Desolation as Purification. The widespread "laying waste" and "desolation" described in the verse serve a dual purpose: punitive and purificatory. The land, defiled by idolatry, must be cleansed and purged, preparing it, through severe means, for a future, albeit painful, restoration. Finally, the passage underscores the Abolition of False Worship, as the ultimate aim of God's judgment is to utterly dismantle and eradicate the physical manifestations and practices of paganism, ensuring that only the Lord is acknowledged and worshipped as the one true God.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Ezekiel 6:6 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the severity and purpose of God's judgment. Repetition is prominent, with terms like "laid waste" and "desolate" appearing multiple times, underscoring the comprehensive and irreversible nature of the destruction. This anaphora emphasizes the totality of the divine wrath against idolatry. Parallelism is also evident in the systematic listing of various objects of destruction—cities, high places, altars, idols, images, and works—each paired with a verb of destruction (laid waste, desolate, broken, cease, cut down, abolished). This creates a rhythmic, cumulative effect, highlighting the systematic dismantling of Israel's pagan infrastructure. The verse also utilizes symbolism, where "dwellingplaces," "cities," and "high places" symbolize the entire nation and its pervasive sin, while "altars," "idols," and "images" represent the specific, tangible manifestations of their spiritual rebellion. The vivid imagery of breaking, cutting down, and abolishing evokes a sense of irreversible destruction and divine cleansing, leaving no doubt about the finality of God's judgment.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 6:6 profoundly articulates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant and His absolute intolerance for idolatry. It reveals a God who is not merely offended by false worship but actively intervenes to dismantle it, demonstrating His sovereignty, holiness, and righteous jealousy. The judgment described is a severe, yet necessary, act of divine surgery, designed to excise the cancerous growth of paganism from His people and His land. This passage underscores that true worship demands exclusive devotion, and any deviation into syncretism or the veneration of created things invites swift and comprehensive divine wrath. Ultimately, the purpose of this judgment, though devastating, is redemptive: to purify a people and a land that had become utterly defiled, compelling them to acknowledge the one true God and to turn back to Him in genuine worship.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 6:6, while rooted in ancient Israel's specific historical context, serves as a timeless and potent warning for believers today. It compels us to rigorously examine our own hearts and lives for any "high places" or "idols" that might subtly compete for the exclusive devotion due to God. These modern idols may not be carved images but could manifest as an inordinate pursuit of wealth, career, relationships, comfort, self-reliance, or even spiritual practices divorced from true worship and obedience. The verse reminds us that God is a jealous God, zealous for His glory and for the purity of His people. Sometimes, the "desolation" or "breaking" we experience in our lives—whether through loss, hardship, disappointment, or the collapse of our perceived securities—can be God's loving, though painful, hand working to expose and dismantle these hidden allegiances, drawing us back to sole reliance on Him. It is a profound call to radical spiritual honesty, a commitment to worship Him in spirit and truth, and a continuous process of allowing Him to purify our hearts, ensuring that our "works" are truly for His glory and not for self-aggrandizement or false security.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What were "high places" and why were they so problematic?
Answer: "High places" (Hebrew: bâmôt) were elevated sites, often natural hilltops or constructed platforms, that served as places of worship in ancient Israel. While some may have initially been used for legitimate worship of Yahweh, they became deeply problematic because they were overwhelmingly corrupted by Canaanite religious practices. These practices included the worship of pagan deities like Baal and Asherah, often involving rituals such as cultic prostitution and even horrific child sacrifice, as tragically recounted in Jeremiah 19:5. God explicitly commanded Israel to destroy these sites upon entering the Promised Land (Numbers 33:52), yet they persisted throughout Israel's history, symbolizing their persistent disobedience, syncretism, and spiritual adultery. Their continued existence represented a direct affront to God's command for exclusive worship and His holiness.
Why is God's judgment against idolatry so severe in Ezekiel 6:6?
Answer: God's severe judgment against idolatry, as depicted in Ezekiel 6:6, stems from several profound theological reasons. Firstly, idolatry is a direct and egregious violation of the first two commandments of the Mosaic covenant, which establish God's exclusive claim on Israel's worship and forbid the creation or veneration of images. Secondly, it represents a profound act of spiritual adultery, as Israel, God's chosen bride, turned away from Him to pursue false lovers and defiling practices, as vividly portrayed in Ezekiel 16. Thirdly, idolatry was inherently defiling, introducing abominable practices into the land and among the people, corrupting their moral and spiritual fabric. The severity of the judgment reflects the gravity of breaking covenant with the holy God and the necessity of thoroughly cleansing the land to restore true worship and demonstrate God's unchallengeable sovereignty and justice.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 6:6, with its vivid portrayal of the comprehensive destruction of physical idols and places of false worship, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not merely in the demolition of stone and wood, but in the spiritual dismantling of idolatry within the human heart through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament judgment targeted external manifestations of sin, Christ's coming inaugurated a new covenant where the true battle against idolatry is waged internally. Through His perfect life, atoning death on the cross, and victorious resurrection, Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice who cleanses us from the defilement of sin, including the sin of idolatry, purifying our consciences from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). He breaks the power of sin and false gods that once enslaved humanity, offering freedom to worship God "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). The "abolishing of works" in Ezekiel 6:6 foreshadows Christ's abolition of the old covenant's ceremonial laws and the futility of human efforts to earn salvation, establishing a new way of grace and faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). In Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to tear down the "strongholds" of false belief and "every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), making their hearts true temples for the living God where only He is enthroned and worshipped. The desolation of the old, idolatrous system gives way to the new creation in Christ, where genuine, unadulterated devotion flourishes, and God's people are truly His alone (Revelation 21:3).