יחזקאל, פרק ח׳, פסוק ז׳

Ezekiel's prophetic journey through Jerusalem grants him a supernatural perspective, revealing sights that are impossible for the ordinary human eye to perceive [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He is guided to the entrance of the courtyard, a location understood as either the gateway to the Temple Mount [מלבי״ם, אברבנאל] or the inner gate mentioned earlier in his vision [רש״י, רד״ק]. Following the latter view, the prophet is moved from the outer area directly into the inner space of the entrance itself [מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

At this spot, a hole appears in a wall [מצודת ציון]. This structure is identified as either the wall surrounding the Temple courtyard [רש״י, מצודת דוד] or the wall of a chamber located right next to the gate [רד״ק].

Beyond its physical appearance, this sight carries a deep symbolic meaning. One approach views the hole as a representation of the hidden sins committed by the people. According to this perspective, there was no actual hole in the Temple, nor did the people carve idols into the Temple walls. Instead, the scene serves as a prophetic metaphor. After God showed the prophet the public acts of idolatry, He now wishes to expose the terrible acts being done in secret. The wall and the hole represent the private homes of the people. This vision illustrates the idol worship that individuals practice in closed rooms, far from public view, prompting the prophet to investigate and uncover their hidden secrets [אברבנאל].

In contrast, another approach views the vision as a warning of national punishment and future destruction. The hole in the wall symbolizes the upcoming siege of Jerusalem and the military equipment the enemies will build around it. The act of digging through the wall, which follows in the prophetic vision, represents the enemy forces eventually breaching the city walls. This violent invasion serves as a direct punishment for the widespread idol worship that has infected the city [רד״ק].