He broke down the houses of the male shrine prostitutes that were in the LORD’s house, where the women wove hangings for the Asherah.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 7. Effeminate. Hebrew “consecrated” ( Calmet.) or “initiated” (Mont.) in the obscene mysteries of idols. See Deuteronomy 23:18 and 3 Kennicott. 15:12 and 2 Maccabees 6:4. These men prostituted themselves ( Menochius.) even in that sacred place. Calmet.—Prot. “he broke down the houses of the Sodomites, that were by the house of the Lord, where the women wove hangings for the grove.” These hangings, tents, or dwellings, ( Bible.) were destined for the idol; (Syr. and so forth) or they were intended to hid the abominations which were committed. They were called “tents of the daughters,” Calmet. 17:30. Calmet.—For. Lit. “of the grove:” luci. But the other translation is conformable to the Septuagint Vatable, and so forth Bible.