Tammuz
Pagan Deity Mourned in Jerusalem
Även känd som: Dumuzi
Tammuz was a Mesopotamian fertility deity worshipped in the ancient Middle East. In the Bible, Tammuz is mentioned only in the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet sees a vision of women weeping over Tammuz at the entrance to the Lord's temple in Jerusalem. This served as an example of the idolatry that had infiltrated Israel's worship and was one of the reasons for God's judgment on the nation.
Nyckelhändelser
Women Weep Over Tammuz at the Temple
In a vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, God shows him women sitting at the north gate of the Lord's temple, weeping over the pagan god Tammuz. This was one of several abominable practices carried out in and around the temple.
14Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
וַיָּבֵ֣א אֹתִ֗י אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ שַׁ֣עַר בֵּית־יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֶל־הַצָּפ֑וֹנָה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁם֙ הַנָּשִׁ֣ים יֹֽשְׁב֔וֹת מְבַכּ֖וֹת אֶת־הַתַּמּֽוּז׃ ס
15And he said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? You will yet again see abominations greater than these."
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלַ֖י הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָ֑ם ע֣וֹד תָּשׁ֥וּב תִּרְאֶ֛ה תּוֹעֵב֥וֹת גְּדֹל֖וֹת מֵאֵֽלֶה׃
Ezekiel's Vision of Idolatry in the Temple
The worship of Tammuz was part of a larger vision in which God showed Ezekiel four forms of idolatry taking place in the temple, ranging from paintings of abominations to sun worship. Each abominable act was worse than the one before.
5He said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north." So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, stood this image of jealousy at the entrance.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם שָׂא־נָ֥א עֵינֶ֖יךָ דֶּ֣רֶךְ צָפ֑וֹנָה וָאֶשָּׂ֤א עֵינַי֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ צָפ֔וֹנָה וְהִנֵּ֤ה מִצָּפוֹן֙ לְשַׁ֣עַר הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ סֵ֛מֶל הַקִּנְאָ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה בַּבִּאָֽה׃
6And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing here, driving me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations."
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲרֹאֶ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה *מהם **מָ֣ה **הֵ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים תּוֹעֵב֨וֹת גְּדֹל֜וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל ׀ עֹשִׂ֣ים פֹּ֗ה לְרָֽחֳקָה֙ מֵעַ֣ל מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י וְעוֹד֙ תָּשׁ֣וּב תִּרְאֶ֔ה תּוֹעֵב֖וֹת גְּדֹלֽוֹת׃ ס
7Then he brought me to the entrance of the court, and I looked, and there was a hole in the wall.
וַיָּבֵ֥א אֹתִ֖י אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח הֶֽחָצֵ֑ר וָאֶרְאֶ֕ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה חֹר־אֶחָ֖ד בַּקִּֽיר׃
8He said to me, "Son of man, dig through the wall." So I dug through the wall, and there was a doorway.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֖ם חֲתָר־נָ֣א בַקִּ֑יר וָאֶחְתֹּ֣ר בַּקִּ֔יר וְהִנֵּ֖ה פֶּ֥תַח אֶחָֽד׃
9And he said to me, "Go in and see the vile abominations they are committing here."
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י בֹּ֤א וּרְאֵה֙ אֶת־הַתּוֹעֵב֣וֹת הָרָע֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר הֵ֥ם עֹשִׂ֖ים פֹּֽה׃
10So I went in and looked, and there on the wall all around were carved every kind of creeping thing and detestable beast, and all the idols of the house of Israel.
וָאָבוֹא֮ וָֽאֶרְאֶה֒ וְהִנֵּ֨ה כָל־תַּבְנִ֜ית רֶ֤מֶשׂ וּבְהֵמָה֙ שֶׁ֔קֶץ וְכָל־גִּלּוּלֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מְחֻקֶּ֥ה עַל־הַקִּ֖יר סָבִ֥יב ׀ סָבִֽיב׃
11Seventy of the elders of the house of Israel were standing before them, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them, each with his censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense was rising.
וְשִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֣ישׁ מִזִּקְנֵ֣י בֵֽית־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל וְיַאֲזַנְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־שָׁפָ֜ן עֹמֵ֤ד בְּתוֹכָם֙ עֹמְדִ֣ים לִפְנֵיהֶ֔ם וְאִ֥ישׁ מִקְטַרְתּ֖וֹ בְּיָד֑וֹ וַעֲתַ֥ר עֲנַֽן־הַקְּטֹ֖רֶת עֹלֶֽה׃
12Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his own carved images? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has abandoned the land.'"
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָם֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר זִקְנֵ֤י בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ אִ֖ישׁ בְּחַדְרֵ֣י מַשְׂכִּית֑וֹ כִּ֣י אֹמְרִ֗ים אֵ֤ין יְהוָה֙ רֹאֶ֣ה אֹתָ֔נוּ עָזַ֥ב יְהוָ֖ה אֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
13And he said to me, "You will see still greater abominations that they are committing."
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלָ֑י ע֣וֹד תָּשׁ֥וּב תִּרְאֶ֛ה תּוֹעֵב֥וֹת גְּדֹל֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥מָּה עֹשִֽׂים׃
14Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the LORD, and there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
וַיָּבֵ֣א אֹתִ֗י אֶל־פֶּ֙תַח֙ שַׁ֣עַר בֵּית־יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֶל־הַצָּפ֑וֹנָה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁם֙ הַנָּשִׁ֣ים יֹֽשְׁב֔וֹת מְבַכּ֖וֹת אֶת־הַתַּמּֽוּז׃ ס
15And he said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? You will yet again see abominations greater than these."
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלַ֖י הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָ֑ם ע֣וֹד תָּשׁ֥וּב תִּרְאֶ֛ה תּוֹעֵב֥וֹת גְּדֹל֖וֹת מֵאֵֽלֶה׃
16Then he brought me into the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance of the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east, bowing down to the sun in the east.
וַיָּבֵ֣א אֹתִ֗י אֶל־חֲצַ֣ר בֵּית־יְהוָה֮ הַפְּנִימִית֒ וְהִנֵּה־פֶ֜תַח הֵיכַ֣ל יְהוָ֗ה בֵּ֤ין הָֽאוּלָם֙ וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ כְּעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אִ֑ישׁ אֲחֹ֨רֵיהֶ֜ם אֶל־הֵיכַ֤ל יְהוָה֙ וּפְנֵיהֶ֣ם קֵ֔דְמָה וְהֵ֛מָּה מִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֥ם קֵ֖דְמָה לַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
17And he said to me, "Do you see, son of man? Is it too small a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are committing here, that they should also fill the land with violence and provoke me again and again? Look how they thrust the branch to their nose!" [Footnote: The meaning of this gesture is uncertain; it apparently refers to a ritual act of contempt or idolatrous worship. An ancient scribal tradition reads "to my nose."]
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָם֒ הֲנָקֵל֙ לְבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה מֵעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֶת־הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָֽשׂוּ־פֹ֑ה כִּֽי־מָלְא֨וּ אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ חָמָ֗ס וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי וְהִנָּ֛ם שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֶת־הַזְּמוֹרָ֖ה אֶל־אַפָּֽם׃
18So I too will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I show pity. Though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not listen to them.
וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה בְחֵמָ֔ה לֹֽא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֖י וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמֹ֑ל וְקָרְא֤וּ בְאָזְנַי֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְלֹ֥א אֶשְׁמַ֖ע אוֹתָֽם׃
God's Judgment on Idolatry
In response to these abominable acts, including the worship of Tammuz, God declares that He will act in wrath and show no mercy. This idolatry was a direct cause of God's judgment against Jerusalem.
17And he said to me, "Do you see, son of man? Is it too small a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are committing here, that they should also fill the land with violence and provoke me again and again? Look how they thrust the branch to their nose!" [Footnote: The meaning of this gesture is uncertain; it apparently refers to a ritual act of contempt or idolatrous worship. An ancient scribal tradition reads "to my nose."]
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַי֮ הֲרָאִ֣יתָ בֶן־אָדָם֒ הֲנָקֵל֙ לְבֵ֣ית יְהוּדָ֔ה מֵעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֶת־הַתּוֹעֵב֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָֽשׂוּ־פֹ֑ה כִּֽי־מָלְא֨וּ אֶת־הָאָ֜רֶץ חָמָ֗ס וַיָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙ לְהַכְעִיסֵ֔נִי וְהִנָּ֛ם שֹׁלְחִ֥ים אֶת־הַזְּמוֹרָ֖ה אֶל־אַפָּֽם׃
18So I too will act in wrath. My eye will not spare, nor will I show pity. Though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not listen to them.
וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה בְחֵמָ֔ה לֹֽא־תָח֥וֹס עֵינִ֖י וְלֹ֣א אֶחְמֹ֑ל וְקָרְא֤וּ בְאָזְנַי֙ ק֣וֹל גָּד֔וֹל וְלֹ֥א אֶשְׁמַ֖ע אוֹתָֽם׃
The Glory of God Leaves the Temple
As a consequence of the idolatry, including the cult of Tammuz, the glory of God gradually departs from the temple in Jerusalem. This was a dramatic sign that God was withdrawing Himself from His people because of their unfaithfulness.
4Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherub to the threshold of the temple. The temple was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the radiance of the glory of the LORD.
וַיָּ֤רָם כְּבוֹד־יְהוָה֙ מֵעַ֣ל הַכְּר֔וּב עַ֖ל מִפְתַּ֣ן הַבָּ֑יִת וַיִמָּלֵ֤א הַבַּ֙יִת֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָנָ֔ן וְהֶֽחָצֵר֙ מָֽלְאָ֔ה אֶת־נֹ֖גַהּ כְּב֥וֹד יְהוָֽה׃
18Then the glory of the LORD departed from the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.
וַיֵּצֵא֙ כְּב֣וֹד יְהוָ֔ה מֵעַ֖ל מִפְתַּ֣ן הַבָּ֑יִת וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד עַל־הַכְּרוּבִֽים׃
19While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ הַכְּרוּבִ֣ים אֶת־כַּ֠נְפֵיהֶם וַיֵּר֨וֹמּוּ מִן־הָאָ֤רֶץ לְעֵינַי֙ בְּצֵאתָ֔ם וְהָאֽוֹפַנִּ֖ים לְעֻמָּתָ֑ם וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֗ד פֶּ֣תַח שַׁ֤עַר בֵּית־יְהוָה֙ הַקַּדְמוֹנִ֔י וּכְב֧וֹד אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃
Prohibition Against Pagan Worship in the Mosaic Law
The worship of foreign gods like Tammuz was strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law. The people of Israel were repeatedly warned against following the religious practices of the surrounding nations.
29When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations you are going in to dispossess, and you drive them out and settle in their land,
כִּֽי־יַכְרִית֩ יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֶ֜יךָ אֶת־הַגּוֹיִ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתָּ֥ה בָא־שָׁ֛מָּה לָרֶ֥שֶׁת אוֹתָ֖ם מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֹתָ֔ם וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖ בְּאַרְצָֽם׃
30take care that you are not ensnared into following them after they have been destroyed before you. Do not inquire about their gods, asking, "How did these nations serve their gods? I will do the same."
הִשָּׁ֣מֶר לְךָ֗ פֶּן־תִּנָּקֵשׁ֙ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם אַחֲרֵ֖י הִשָּׁמְדָ֣ם מִפָּנֶ֑יךָ וּפֶן־תִּדְרֹ֨שׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר אֵיכָ֨ה יַעַבְד֜וּ הַגּוֹיִ֤ם הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֶת־אֱלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֶעֱשֶׂה־כֵּ֖ן גַּם־אָֽנִי׃
31You must not worship the LORD your God in that way, for in worshiping their gods they have done every abomination the LORD hates—they even burn their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.
לֹא־תַעֲשֶׂ֣ה כֵ֔ן לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ כִּי֩ כָּל־תּוֹעֲבַ֨ת יְהוָ֜ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֗א עָשׂוּ֙ לֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם כִּ֣י גַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם֙ וְאֶת־בְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔ם יִשְׂרְפ֥וּ בָאֵ֖שׁ לֵֽאלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃