And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
And there were seventy of Israel's respected leaders standing there, with Jaazaniah (Shaphan's son) right in the middle of them. Each one had their own incense burner, and thick clouds of incense were rising up everywhere.
Even the people who were supposed to lead God's people the right way were doing their own thing in secret.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet receives a vision from God while in Babylonian exile, revealing the widespread idolatry and corruption in the Temple in Jerusalem. Ezekiel witnesses 70 elders of Israel, including Jaazaniah, secretly burning incense to pagan idols, which directly violated God's covenant and laws as outlined in the Torah. This scene underscores the spiritual decline of Israel's leaders during a time of impending judgment around 593 BC.
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