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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadMatthew Poole Commentary - Ezekiel 8:11 - 8:11
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
There stood, offering incense before the idols.
Seventy men; either the sanhedrim, or council of seventy, who should have preserved religion pure and untainted, to which their office bound them; or else seventy of the more aged heads of the tribes or families, who should have been examples by their pure and constant affection to true religion; but these are ringleaders in this idolatry.
Ancients, by age or office, or both.
In the midst of them; either accompanying them in their idolatry, or rather as chief of the council or sanhedrim; in the chair, the seat of the chief, prefect, or principal next to the high priest.
Shaphan, mentioned 2Ki_22:9, as most likely; a person that seems forward in reforming under Josiah, and his son as forward now in corrupting the worship of God.
Every man; all were actors in this idolatry, and either priests to these idols, or very bigots in the service.
A thick cloud; or abundance of a cloud, or rich (as the word among rabbinical senses) cloud; or, since the word whence this comes signifies to pray or supplicate, a cloud of incense offered with the prayers of these deluded idolaters, who were used to put both together.
Incense; whether simple and uncompounded, or compound, it was always of sweets, and very costly too; indeed idolatry, as adultery, will be lavish.