יחזקאל, פרק י״א, פסוק א׳

A sudden prophetic shift transports the prophet to a strategic location within the Temple courtyard, exposing the faces of the nation's leaders in a moment of deep spiritual failure. This new vantage point allows him to personally identify the senior figures driving the corrupt leadership of Jerusalem.

Carried by the spirit of God within this vision [מצודת דוד], he is brought to the eastern gate of God's house. The specific focus on the eastern direction clarifies that this is not the western gate facing the Holy of Holies [מצודת דוד]. It also marks the exact location where the glory of God rested at that moment [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

At the entrance of this gate stand twenty-five men of great influence. The primary approach among commentators is that this group is not new. They are the same individuals from an earlier vision who had turned their backs to the sanctuary to bow down to the sun. The scene repeats now to reveal a critical piece of information previously hidden: the specific identities and high status of these men [רש״י, רד״ק, אברבנאל].

Previously, the prophet stood deeper inside the Temple and only saw the men from behind, making it impossible to recognize them. Now, the spirit moves him outward to the eastern gate, placing him directly in front of them as they exit the sanctuary to worship the sun. Standing face to face, he clearly identifies the men leading the group as Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, widely known officials and leaders of the people in Jerusalem [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].