14 And He bringeth me in unto the opening of the gate of the house of Jehovah that 'is' at the north, and lo, there the women are sitting weeping for Tammuz. 15 And He saith unto me, 'Hast thou seen, son of man? again thou dost turn, thou dost see greater abominations than these.' 16 And He bringeth me in unto the inner court of the house of Jehovah, and lo, at the opening of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, about twenty-five men, their backs toward the temple of Jehovah, and their faces eastward, and they are bowing themselves eastward to the sun. 17 And He saith unto me, 'Hast thou seen, son of man? hath it been a light thing to the house of Judah to do the abomination that they have done here, that they have filled the land with violence, and turn back to provoke Me to anger? and lo, they are putting forth the branch unto their nose! 18 And I also deal in fury, Mine eye doth not pity, nor do I spare, and they have cried in Mine ears—a loud voice—and I do not hear them.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 8:14-18
Commentary on Ezekiel 8:13-18
(Read Ezekiel 8:13-18)
The yearly lamenting for Tammuz was attended with infamous practices; and the worshippers of the sun here described, are supposed to have been priests. The Lord appeals to the prophet concerning the heinousness of the crime; "and lo, they put the branch to their nose," denoting some custom used by idolaters in honour of the idols they served. The more we examine human nature and our own hearts, the more abominations we shall discover; and the longer the believer searches himself, the more he will humble himself before God, and the more will he value the fountain open for sin, and seek to wash therein.