EZEKIEL CHAPTER 23 The whoredoms of Aholah and Ahollbah, EZEKIEL 23:1.
Aholibah shall be punished by her own lovers, EZEKIEL 23:22. Their
adulteries reproved, EZEKIEL 23:36, and their judgments declared,
EZEKIEL 23:45. No text from Poole on this verse.... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO WOMEN; Judah and Israel, the two kingdoms. DAUGHTERS OF ONE
MOTHER; sprung from Sarah; or, as some, daughters of the synagogue.
They rose from one family; these two were daughters, that is parts,
and the mother is the whole posterity of the twelve tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY COMMITTED WHOREDOMS IN EGYPT; when they came down into Egypt, and
sojourned there: possibly they might commit bodily whoredoms, but
spiritual whoredoms, i.e. idolatry, they did certainly commit, as
appears JOSHUA 24:14 EZEKIEL 20:7,8, which see; in a low condition, by
converse with the idolatro... [ Continue Reading ]
That we might know them, they are described. AHOLAH; which, rendered
in English, is, His own tabernacle; for Israel, falling off from the
house of David, also fell off from the tabernacle or temple of God, so
that all the temple and worship they had amongst them was of their own
making. THE ELDER; g... [ Continue Reading ]
AHOLAH, the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, PLAYED THE HARLOT;
united in confederacy in civil concerns, and in idolatry as to
religious concerns, with the Assyrians. WHEN SHE WAS MINE; when under
my government and protection, or in my presence, or before I had
abdicated and cast her off. DOTED... [ Continue Reading ]
CLOTHED WITH BLUE; richly apparelled, and, as the humour of that
nation, in rich and beautiful blue, very magnificent to the eye.
CAPTAINS; daring, valiant men, and fit for wars, who might defend the
Jews in time of danger. RULERS; worthy of authority, and fit to govern
in times of peace. DESIRABLE... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS, by the eye and familiar converse, she fell to idolatry.
Committed her whoredoms: see EZEKIEL 23:3. WITH ALL THEM; she embraced
the friendship and religion of all of them, and relied on the
Assyrian's idols for deliverance and peace. AND WITH ALL, i.e. other
nations with whom she had commerce a... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER LEFT SHE HER WHOREDOMS BROUGHT FROM EGYPT; though she took in
so many gods of the Assyrians, yet she did not renounce or cast off
the gods of Egypt, but kept them too. It is plain the Israelites
learnt idolatry in Egypt, carried it with them out of Egypt, and
retained it to the last. IN HER... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, for this boundless idolatry and lewdness I HAVE DELIVERED
HER; long ago I have delivered the ten tribes: first, Pul put them
under tribute, 2 KINGS 15:19,20, about two hundred years before our
prophet's time; then Tiglath-pileser, 2 KINGS 15:29; and finally into
Shalmaneser's hand, who de... [ Continue Reading ]
These used her as lewd women deserve, stripped her naked, and exposed
her to shame, as EZEKIEL 23:26. God her Husband had clothed her, and
covered her nakedness, but she lightly esteemed her God, doted on
idols, and idolaters strip her. THEY TOOK HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS;
made them captives, and c... [ Continue Reading ]
AHOLIBAH; Judah, yet two tribes. SAW THIS; both the sins and
punishments of the kingdom of Israel, which should have been her
admonition. SHE WAS MORE CORRUPT, ran more violently into both
friendship, confederacies, and idolatries with the Assyrians, THAN HER
SISTER, SAMARIA; Jerusalem had more idol... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is the same with EZEKIEL 23:6, which see; only the clothing
of blue there is here clothing of beauty; i.e. most beautiful.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN; when she took not warning, neither feared. SHE WAS DEFILED; her
heart was already on her idols. Both Samaria and Jerusalem took one
way; chose the same idols and idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
INCREASED HER WHOREDOMS; added to the number of her idolatries. WHEN
SHE SAW MEN PORTRAYED UPON THE WALL: wherever it was the Jews saw,
there it was they doted on their persons and habits: it is probable
enough they might see them in the idol temples, or in the house of the
king of Judah, or of the... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH GIRDLES UPON THEIR LOINS; with soldiers belts about their loins,
which includes the rest of the garb, dress, or habit of soldiers.
EXCEEDING IN DYED ATTIRE; both rich, comely, large, and of divers
colours, and those of the choicest that art or money could prepare.
PRINCES TO LOOK TO; of princel... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW THEM; the portraits of them. SHE DOTED UPON THEM; like an
unsatiable and most impudent adulteress, she fell into most inordinate
affection for their persons on sight of their pictures. SENT
MESSENGERS UNTO THEM; courted the love of those strangers, and wooed
their embraces, sent to make alliance... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BABYLONIANS CAME: the prophet prosecuteth the allegory; the
adulteress sent, and invited, and here the Chaldeans comply with it,
they came, ambassadors no doubt first to make a confederacy, and then
free intercourse in trade, and religion too. THE BED OF LOVE; so the
impudently lascivious call t... [ Continue Reading ]
So, by this unsatiableness and change of lovers, SHE DISCOVERED HER
WHOREDOMS; made it appear to all, far and near, that she was a most
notorious and infamous strumpet. HER NAKEDNESS; her weakness, and her
shame. THEN, when I saw the lewdness, impudence, and boundlessness of
her adulteries, MY MIND... [ Continue Reading ]
YET, Heb. _And._ MULTIPLIED; added more and greater to her former sins
of idolatry and whoredoms, and persisted in them. IN CALLING TO
REMEMBRANCE: this may refer either to the Jewish nation remembering
their idolatries in Egypt, their alliances with and reliance upon it
in days past, which she now... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTED: see EZEKIEL 23:5. UPON THEIR PARAMOURS; Egyptians, and the
nations that were confederate with the Egyptians; looking on them as
able to defend by their power, enrich by their trade, and make
prosperous by their friendship. WHOSE FLESH, & c.: in these terms the
prophet expresseth the vehement... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLEDST TO REMEMBRANCE: see EZEKIEL 23:19. THE LEWDNESS OF THY YOUTH:
EZEKIEL 23:3. THE PAPS OF THY YOUTH; the beauty and loveliness of
them, when God had formed them, allured the Egyptians: this may be
understood both politically, of the growing state of the Jewish
commonwealth, or literally, of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THY LOVERS; thy confederates. FROM WHOM THY MIND IS ALIENATED; whom
thou hast first loathed and forsaken, and thereby enraged them against
thee. BRING THEM AGAINST THEE; be not only an exciter to stir them up
against thee, but I will be a guide and conducter of them. ON EVERY
SIDE; so no way left fo... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBHeb;
THE BABYLONIANS AND CHALDEANS; these are known. PEKOD, & c.: some
reckon these the titles of some of the great commanders in this army,
which come against Jerusalem, but they are names of distinct countries
or provinces under the Babylonish government; and so Pekod is the
province between Ti... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY, mentioned before, EZEKIEL 23:23, SHALL COME AGAINST THEE, or
upon thee, surprise thee with a speedy march, for they were swift in
their course. WITH CHARIOTS; the Hebrew is of larger sense, and more
properly speaks all kind of arms for the war, a thorough furniture; so
the Chaldee paraphrase,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SET MY JEALOUSY AGAINST THEE; as a jealous provoked husband, I
will be as much against thee as they are, their fury shall avenge my
quarrel. THEY SHALL DEAL FURIOUSLY WITH THEE; their disposition
naturally is to furious wrath, my jealousy shall enkindle it more.
THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY THY NOSE... [ Continue Reading ]
STRIP THEE OUT OF THY CLOTHES; both as lewd, disgraced harlots and as
captives are used: see EZEKIEL 16:39. THY FAIR JEWELS; all thy rich,
beautiful ornaments: see EZEKIEL 16:17. They shall be prey and plunder
to the enemy.... [ Continue Reading ]
By these destroying judgments, which shall make thee cease to be a
people, I will put an end to the lewdness thou wouldst never have put
end to, thou shalt never have opportunity, if thou hadst heart, to do
the like. THY WHOREDOM, idolatries, BROUGHT FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT,
when thou camest out unde... [ Continue Reading ]
DELIVER THEE, give thee up, INTO THE HAND, to the power and will, OF
THEM WHOM THOU HATEST: those shall be the masters, and domineer over
thee, whom of all men thou didst most desire might not. It is doubled
for certainty of the thing, and to make deeper impression; they shall
certainly lord it over... [ Continue Reading ]
DEAL WITH THEE, use thee, and ever demean themselves toward thee,
HATEFULLY; in hatred; whatever drudgery hardship, base and vile
employment, their spite and hatred can invent, they shall cast on
thee. TAKE AWAY ALL THINE LABOUR; spoil thee of all thou hadst got in
Judea, as they did when they conqu... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse gives the same reason which hath been often given, why the
Lord proceeds in this severity, because, as an obstinate, lewd,
untractable adulteress abuseth the best husband, till none can
forbear, so had the Jews dealt with God, and God will deal with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU, O Jerusalem and Judah, HAST WALKED; hast run into the same
sinful enormities. THY SISTER; Samaria and the ten tribes, both great
idolatresses. HER CUP of judgments and sorrow, expressed frequently by
a cup, PSALMS 75:8 JEREMIAH 25:15: I will punish thee with punishments
like hers, since thou h... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT DRINK; thou shalt not put it by, and shift it off. DEEP;
towards the dregs, where the bitterest poison of it lieth. AND LARGE;
in great quantity; thy punishment shall be most grievous who must
drink so deep of this cup of astonishment. THOU SHALT BE LAUGHED TO
SCORN; when sick as heart ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Thy afflictions shall be as great as thou canst hold, as a vessel
filled with liquor. Thou shalt stagger with sorrows, that shall
intoxicate and astonish. In the verse each part explains the other,
sorrow explains drunkenness, astonishment explains sorrow, desolation
explains astonishment, and the c... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT EVEN DRINK IT; nothing shall divert the punishment. AND
SUCK IT OUT; the dregs shalt thou drink, and multiply thine own
sorrows. BREAK THE SHERDS; either out of indignation, or to suck out
what was imbibed. PLUCK OFF THINE OWN BREASTS; which tempted others,
and undid thyself, for which ca... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST FORGOTTEN ME, EZEKIEL 22:12, which is here explained by what
follows; it was a wilful forgetting of God, and voluntary despising
his law, ordinances, worship, favour, and presence; so God is cast
behind a sinner's back. BEAR THOU the guilt, I will impute it; the
punishment, I will not pard... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU JUDGE, excuse or plead for such adultresses. so EZEKIEL
22:2. DECLARE UNTO THEM plainly, fully tell them, what they have been,
and what they must expect for all their abominations.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE COMMITTED ADULTERY: this seems to refer to corporal
uncleannesses. BLOOD IS IN THEIR HANDS; innocent blood of the murdered
prophets and just men. COMMITTED ADULTERY; spiritual adultery, i.e.
idolatry. CAUSED THEIR SONS TO PASS THROUGH THE FIRE; most unheard of
cruelty, and unnatural murder... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS; which is declared in the following words, it was some great
injury or affront done to God. DEFILED MY SANCTUARY; my holy things,
house, altar, sacrifices, and oblations; one part of the temple put
for all parts of the holy things of God. IN THE SAME DAY; when they
had newly polluted themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
SLAIN THEIR CHILDREN: see EZEKIEL 16:20. TO PROFANE IT; using my holy
temple as if it were a common and unclean place. THUS HAVE THEY DONE
IN THE MIDST OF MY HOUSE; nay, these things have been done in my
house, they have offered to their idols in the house where my name
alone should be called upon.... [ Continue Reading ]
SENT FOR MEN: see EZEKIEL 23:16. FROM FAR; from Chaldea. A MESSENGER
WAS SENT; an embassy from the king of Judah, with advice of his
princes, no doubt. THEY CAME: see EZEKIEL 23:17. WASH THYSELF; after
the manner of harlots, gottest all fine, clean, and delicate against
thy paramours came; so idol t... [ Continue Reading ]
SAFEST; it is a table gesture, as appears, she was prepared to feast
them. UPON A STATELY BED; a magnificent, rich bed, on which women sat
to feast, when men leant on their sides, which would not have been a
comely posture to a woman. TABLE PREPARED; table furnished with
choicest provision, such as... [ Continue Reading ]
A VOICE OF A MULTITUDE; a shout for joy, that there was a treaty of
peace between the Jews and the Chaldeans, or songs of gladness for the
peace made, and confirmed, not in God's name, but in the name of the
idols. BEING AT EASE; free now from the fears of any wars to disquiet
them. WAS WITH HER; ab... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID I; after the manner of man God seems to stand musing, or
saying to himself, or it may be supposed that God speaks to the
prophet, asking him. UNTO HER; or rather, of her, concerning her. OLD
IN ADULTERIES, such usually are out of request with adulterers; and
now Samaria and Jerusalem had b... [ Continue Reading ]
This resolves the doubt of the former verse. In this metaphor the
prophet expresseth the confederacy of the Jews, against God's express
command, with the nations round about them. The Jews enter league with
these robbers, and admit their idols, and so commit whoredom with
them; and these Sabeans pro... [ Continue Reading ]
RIGHTEOUS MEN; men that kept the law of their God, for some such there
were about Aholibah herself; or prophets, such as Jeremiah and
Ezekiel, and some few more: or else the Babylonians, who in the
present controversy between Jerusalem and its king on the one part,
and Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylon... [ Continue Reading ]
A COMPANY; the Babylonian army. UPON THEM; against the Jews, the
children of this Aholibah. GIVE THEM; the inhabitants of Judea, the
citizens of Jerusalem, with princes and royal family. TO BE REMOVED;
to be carried away captive into the land of Chaldea. AND SPOILED, by
the rapine of the soldiers in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE COMPANY, Heb. _congregation_, the Babylonian army. STONE THEM; the
punishment of an adulteress; and this was in a manner done when the
engines, which cast mighty stones into the besieged city, dashed out
the brains of some, and when chimneys, or walls, or towers, beat down
by those stones cast o... [ Continue Reading ]
CAUSE LEWDNESS TO CEASE: see EZEKIEL 23:27. Hereafter in this land
such-like abominations shall never be committed more, as indeed we do
not read of any such after their return out of this captivity. THAT
ALL WOMEN, countries, kingdoms, and cities, may be warned by your
examples of sorrows and destr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY; the Babylonians, and their confederates. SHALL RECOMPENSE; as
God's ministers of just vengeance, shall judge you worthy, and execute
on you what you are worthy of, all that may make you desolate, a
derision, and scorn. SHALL BEAR THE SINS OF YOUR IDOLS; the guilt of
the sins you committed in w... [ Continue Reading ]