Six men holding weapons of slaughter arrive from the north. One is there to document proceedings. The detailed and graphic description, including the garb of the scribe and the exact location of the group, alongside the bronze altar, is meant to convey the message that this is not a theoretical depiction. And as the men appear, the glory of the God of Israel begins its journey out of the Temple.

Even in this generation, even when the decree of Destruction is irreversible –Divine justice is evident.  The righteous person will live in his righteousness; only the wicked will die for their sins. But at the same time, it is emphasized that all sinners will indeed be slain.

The description of old men being slain in the courts of the Temple is horrifying. Yehezkel presents a situation where the defilement of the Temple is caused by a Divine command that people be killed in its courtyards. However, we must recall that the Temple is already defiled because of the deeds of the nation. This slaughter demonstrates that God’s glory is no longer present, and the responsibility for this situation rests principally with the officials of the people.

Not only does the defilement of the city have its source inside the Temple, but also a fire that originates in the Temple causes the burning of the city. This fire is brought out by the man through whom we see that there is no one in the city worthy of rescue from the impending disaster.

Defiling the Beit HaMikdash
Divine Presence Leaving the Beit HaMikdash
Courtesy of the Virtual Beit Midrash, Yeshivat Har Etzion