יחזקאל, פרק ח׳, פסוק י״ז

The breakdown of society and religion often intertwine, ultimately culminating in a peak of blatant defiance against God. A harsh reality unfolds where crimes against fellow humans and sins against God merge into an open rebellion right inside the Temple itself. A profound sense of astonishment arises over the people's actions. It is as if their previous wrongdoings were considered so minor and insignificant in their own eyes that they felt no hesitation in committing even greater abominations directly within God's house [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because they viewed their sins so lightly, they acted without any restraint [מצודת ציון].

This moral decay happens in two distinct stages. First, the people filled the land with violence, committing crimes against one another. Once they grew accustomed to treating human suffering lightly, they took their corruption a step further, returning to the Temple to deliberately anger God through idol worship [רש״י, מלבי״ם].

The ultimate expression of this defiance is captured through a striking image that commentators understand in two distinctly different ways. The primary approach among commentators views this as a euphemism for a highly degrading act. The people are depicted as turning their backs to the Sanctuary, and the foul smell of their idolatrous incense is compared to human waste. By doing this, they bring absolute disgrace and shame upon their own faces [רש״י, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד]. A deeper layer to this interpretation reveals an ancient scribal adjustment made out of respect for God. The original tradition indicated that the people were directing this foul stench and burning insult directly at God Himself [מצודת דוד, מנחת שי, רד״ק].

In contrast, another perspective connects this final act of defiance directly to the social violence mentioned earlier. Rather than a metaphor for a foul smell, the imagery represents a short, sharp knife used for pruning. In this view, the action describes the drawing of a weapon, and the physical reference to a face or nose actually symbolizes burning anger. This paints a dark picture of a society where, driven by rage and hatred, people secretly draw knives to stab one another [מלבי״ם].