{"id":73282,"date":"2020-04-13T16:28:07","date_gmt":"2020-04-13T13:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=73282"},"modified":"2020-04-13T16:28:07","modified_gmt":"2020-04-13T13:28:07","slug":"ezekiels-heavenly-ascent-to-confront-hiram-king-of-tyre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/ezekiels-heavenly-ascent-to-confront-hiram-king-of-tyre\/","title":{"rendered":"Ezekiel\u2019s Heavenly Ascent to Confront Hiram, King of Tyre"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"73282","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":33877,"related_cahpter":"460","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"The high price of pride\r\n\r\n","content":"

Our Chapter begins with Ezekiel\u2019s second vision (Ezekiel 8:1-11:25). While sitting in his own house with the elders of Judah, \u201cthe hand of God\u201d suddenly falls upon Ezekiel. In his prophetic vision, Ezekiel sees a human-like figure shining \u201clike electrum\u2014ke-eyn ha-hashmalah\u201d (Ezekiel 8:2). This figure stretches out \u201cthe form of a hand \u2013 tavnit yad\u201d which takes the prophet by the hair of his head (be-tzitzit roshi). Then, we are told, a spirit lifts Ezekiel up between heaven and earth, to Jerusalem, where he has visions of God (verse 3).<\/span><\/p>\n

This remarkable heavenly ascent of Ezekiel (compare Ezekiel, Chapters 40-48), is cited in a midrashic text devoted entirely to Hiram, King of Tyre, against whom Ezekiel prophecies in Chapter 28. It may be recalled that King Hiram supplied King Solomon with precious building materials needed for the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem (see I Kings 9:11).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In our midrashic composition (Yalqut Shimoni II 367), Hiram is described as being overly proud. He constructed in the Sea a celestial palace set on four enormous pillars, upon which he raised seven jewel encrusted firmaments. After Hiram had completed the seventh magnificent firmament, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Ezekiel: O Son of Man, go and say to Hiram, what are you so proud of?! Ezekiel replied: How can I go to him, for he is hovering in the air? So, the Holy One, blessed be He, sent a spirit who took Ezekiel by the hair of his head (see Ezekiel 8:3) and brought him to Hiram. When Hiram saw Ezekiel approaching, he began quaking in his boots.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ezekiel challenged him: What are you so proud of? Hiram answered: Though I am \u201cborn of woman\u201d (i.e. I was born a mortal man), nevertheless I will live forever. Just as God\u2019s dwelling place is in the heart of the seas, so is mine. Just as God\u2019s dwelling is above seven firmaments, so is mine. And not only that, but how many other kings have died, but I will live forever. David, king of Israel, reigned for forty years and died, but I live on. Solomon reigned forty years and died, but I live on! Indeed, I have buried twenty-one kings of Israel, but I am still alive and well! Behold! I am a god and my dwelling place is a divine dwelling! Ezekiel said to Hiram: But have there not been kings greater than you though they have not done what you have done? Hiram was so proud because he had supplied the cedars for the Temple in Jerusalem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the end, the Holy One, blessed be He, had Hiram conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, and condemned him to die a strange death. But what then became of Hiram\u2019s celestial palace? The Holy One, blessed be He, tore open the earth and hid it away for the Righteous in the World to Come.<\/span><\/p>\n

Image: Mural in the Cryptic Room of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, depicting King Hiram (detail), painted by Allyn Cox (mid 20th C.) wikipedia<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":73283,"id":73283,"title":"ez8-hiram","filename":"ez8-hiram.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/ez8-hiram.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/ezekiels-heavenly-ascent-to-confront-hiram-king-of-tyre\/ez8-hiram\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"ez8-hiram","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":73282,"date":"2020-04-13 13:27:42","modified":"2021-12-20 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