Judah and Benjamin have shown such unfaithfulness that, as detailed in Ezekiel and the Fourth Book of Kings, they erected an image of Baal within the temple of the Lord, an abomination referred to by the Lord as the "image of Zelah." In this very sanctuary, equal reverence was given to both the Lord and various idols (Ezekiel 8:3-5, Ezekiel 8:10-11). Consequently, it is significant that those serving false gods are described not as priests, but as temple attendants, or servants, derogatorily termed by the Greek as τομενίτας, which conveys a sense of dishonor (4 Kings 10:19), and represented in Hebrew as ‘acchumarim’ (חכמרים).
Moreover, the keepers of the temple, along with former priests of the Lord, those who venerated celestial bodies on their rooftops, and those who swore by both the name of the Lord and Melchom—a foreign deity known to the Ammonites (translated as "king" in the Septuagint)—will be removed from Jerusalem. This denotes a broader purging from the community, stating: “I will remove from this place the remnant of Baal, and I will destroy the names of the temple officials with the priests, and I will eliminate those who worship the hosts of heaven on their rooftops, and those who both worship and swear by the Lord and Melchom, and I will destroy those who turn away from the paths of the Lord and do not seek Him,” or fail to hold fast to Him.
Those who stray from the ways of the Lord of Israel are identified as those who abandon His worship, swear in the name of Melchom, and pay homage to Baal, the idol of the Sidonians. With this understanding laid out, we may delve into the allegorical significance concerning the Lord, who originated from the tribe of Judah, and to Jerusalem, the realm of His kingship; it becomes evident that when iniquity flourishes, and love grows cold, faith will become exceedingly rare at the time of the Lord's return (Matt. 24:24; Luke 21:28-34). Consequently, to chastise the sinners, the Lord will reach out His hand against those in Judah who falsely proclaim His name, and against Jerusalem—the Church, which carries the meaning of peace—removing the names connected to the worship of Baal found upon high places.
The Lord will eradicate the titles and empty honors that circulate within the Church, where, as noted by the Apostle James, the man adorned with a gold ring receives admiration while the poor are overlooked (James 2:2-3). At the sight of judges, senators, and all affluent individuals, the masses rise, yet the humble saint remains without a place among the powerful. Likewise, the titles of those ministers who elevate themselves with ecclesiastical titles but lack corresponding actions will also be brought to ruin. It is revealing that the text emphasizes the names of those who prefer hollow titles while dishonoring them through wicked deeds.
Furthermore, those who venerate celestial hosts from their rooftops, who rebel against divine knowledge, engage in misplaced astronomical worship, and perish through ignorance, will also face the Lord's judgment. Additionally, those who attempt to serve both God and worldly pursuits—rooted in a dual allegiance to God and wealth—will be caught in enmity toward Christ, entangled in earthly endeavors, offering equal homage to both God and worldly rulers, while proclaiming themselves priests of Christ yet consecrating their offspring to Melchom, their earthly king (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
It is clear that anyone severed from the Lord's Sovereignty, who turns away through sinful deeds and does not seek Him, replaces divine authority with human rulers. Should one opt to see Judah and Jerusalem not merely as places but as representations of each soul, they remain accurate, for the Lord will enact His destruction at the end of times or upon the departure of individual souls, when each person may hear, “Fool, this night your soul is required of you” (Luke 12:20). He will reach out His hand against those who do not confess Him and against those who falsely claim peace, seeking to eliminate from such Jerusalem all pride, pretense of piety, and confusion brought about by mixed doctrines, serving both God and worldly interests while neglecting Him through daily transgressions.
THEOSIS