INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 16 In this chapter the Jewish nation is represented under the simile of a female infant, whose birth, breeding, marriage, grandeur, and conduct, are described, in order to show the wickedness and ingratitude of, his people; who, on account thereof, are threatened with judgme... [ Continue Reading ]
AGAIN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME, SAYING. The word of prophecy from the Lord, as the Targum; the following representation was made to him under a spirit of prophecy.... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, CAUSE JERUSALEM TO KNOW HER ABOMINATIONS. That is, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as the Targum; these are mentioned instead of the whole body of the people, because that Jerusalem was the metropolis of the nation, whose sins were very many and heinous: called "abominations", because abom... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAY, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD UNTO JERUSALEM,.... To the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as the Targum: THY BIRTH AND THY NATIVITY [IS] OF THE LAND OF CANAAN; here the Jewish ancestors for a time dwelt and sojourned, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and so the Targum, Jarchi, Kimchi, and Ben Melech, interpr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND [AS FOR] THY NATIVITY, IN THE DAY THOU WAST BORN,.... Which refers either to the time when Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldeans, who had before been an idolater; or rather to the time when the children of Israel were in Egypt, and there grew and multiplied, and became a numerous body of... [ Continue Reading ]
NONE EYE PITIED THEE, TO DO ANY OF THESE UNTO THEE, TO HAVE COMPASSION UPON THEE,.... Or, "one of these" k; not so much as one of them: sad must be the case of an infant, when it meets with no tender heart or kind hand from midwife, nurse, or mother, to do these things for it: this is expressive of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN I PASSED BY THEE,.... Alluding to a traveller passing by where an infant lies, exposed, and looks upon it, and takes it up; or it may be to Pharaoh's daughter walking by the river side, when she spied the ark in which Moses was, and ordered it to be taken up, and so saved his life: AND SAW... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE CAUSED THEE TO MULTIPLY AS THE BUD OF THE FIELD,.... Or, "made thee millions" m; like the spires of grass in the field. This refers to the multiplication of the children of Israel in Egypt, especially after the death of Joseph, and even while they were sorely afflicted, and likewise in later... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN I PASSED BY THEE, AND LOOKED UPON THEE,.... Which the Targum refers to the Lord's appearance to Moses in the bush; Ezekiel 16:6; BEHOLD, THY TIME [WAS] THE TIME OF LOVE; which the Targum explains of the time of redemption of the people of Israel out of Egypt, which was an instance of the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN WASHED I THEE WITH WATER,.... Brought the Israelites out of the mean, abject, servile, and sordid state in which they were, when among the mortar, bricks, and pots, into a state of liberty; so the Targum, "and I redeemed you from the servitude of the Egyptians; and I removed the strength of do... [ Continue Reading ]
I CLOTHED THEE ALSO, WITH BROIDERED WORK,.... Or, "with needle work" q; with garments of divers colours, like Joseph's coat; perhaps it may refer to the rich raiment borrowed of the Egyptians, when they came out from thence. So the Targum, "and I clothed you with various garments, the desirable thi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I DECKED THEE ALSO WITH ORNAMENTS,.... The Targum interprets this of the ornament of the words of the law; see Proverbs 1:8; but may be as well understood of good works done in obedience to them, from a right principle, and to right ends; which adorn professors of religion, their profession, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I PUT A JEWEL ON THY FOREHEAD,.... The same with the nose jewel, which was hung upon the forehead, and reached down to the nose and mouth; and, however disagreeable it may seem to us, was reckoned very ornamental in the eastern countries, Isaiah 3:21; and where now, as in Persia, as well as in a... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS WAST THOU DECKED WITH GOLD AND SILVER,.... The Targum interprets it of the tabernacle adorned with gold and silver, and linen curtains, of various dies and colours; but it refers to the ornaments, bracelets, chain, earrings, and crown before, mentioned; see Psalms 45:9; AND THY RAIMENT [WAS O... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THY RENOWN WENT FORTH AMONG THE HEATHEN FOR THY BEAUTY,.... Which consisted of the above things: with this compare Deuteronomy 6:4 Psalms 48:2; the church's beauty lies in the righteousness of Christ imputed, to her; in the holiness of Christ reckoned unto her; in the blood of Christ being upon... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THOU DIDST TRUST IN THINE OWN BEAUTY,.... As the Jews did in external gifts bestowed upon them; in their outward prosperity and grandeur; in their riches, wealth, and wisdom; and in the extent of their dominions, as in the days of David and Solomon; and in such things men are apt to; put their t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF THY GARMENTS THOU DIDST TAKE,.... Which were made of fine linen, silk, and broidered work; which God had given them, and they were richly clad with: AND DECKEDST THY HIGH PLACES WITH DIVERS COLOURS; that is, with garments of divers colours; either they erected tents on their high places, mad... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ALSO TAKEN THY FAIR JEWELS OF MY GOLD, AND OF MY SILVER, WHICH I HAD GIVEN THEE,.... Or "thy glorious vessels of gold and silver" h; meaning either the vessels of gold and silver in the temple, as Jerom thinks, which they converted to idolatrous uses; or rather their own household vessels... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TOOKEST THY BROIDERED GARMENTS, AND COVEREDST THEM,.... The images of men, the idols they worshipped; see Jeremiah 10:4; so the Papists at this day cover their idols, the images of the Virgin Mary, and other saints, with rich apparel, to draw the attention, admiration, and reverence of the peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
MY MEAT ALSO WHICH I GAVE THEE,.... Or "my bread" i; a general name for all eatables. The Targum renders it, "my good things.'' The Jews apply it to the manna, which, they say, descended the same day the molten calf was made, and they set it before it. This interpretation Jarchi and Kimchi make me... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER THOU HAST TAKEN THY SONS AND THY DAUGHTERS,.... Their own flesh and blood; which were more than to take their clothes, and cover their idols with them, and their food, and set it before them to part with them was much, but to part with these, and that in such a shocking manner as after ment... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU HAST SLAIN MY CHILDREN,.... By creation, as all born into the world are; and by national adoption, as all the Jewish children were; and particularly the firstborn were eminently his, and which are here designed, as Jarchi interprets it; for they were the children that were slain and sacrif... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN ALL THINE ABOMINATIONS AND THY WHOREDOMS,.... Or idolatries, which were abominable to God, and were many; of which that just mentioned was not one of the least: THOU HAST NOT REMEMBERED THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH; the destitute and forlorn condition then in, and what favours were then bestowed:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER ALL THY WICKEDNESS,.... This refers either to what goes before, so Kimchi; and the sense is, it shall be again as it was at first, after and because of all the above wickedness committed, thou shalt be left naked and bare, and destitute of all that is good: or rather to wha... [ Continue Reading ]
[THAT] THOU HAST ALSO BUILT UNTO THEE AN EMINENT PLACE,.... Or a "brothel" k; and so the Septuagint version, "a whoring house"; not content to commit idolatry privately, they built a public place for idolatrous worship. The Targum renders it, "altar", The word has the signification of a pit or ditch... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BUILT THY HIGH PLACE AT EVERY HEAD OF THE WAY,.... Where two or more ways, or two or more streets, met; and so was most conspicuous, and was seen from different parts; which shows the same as before: AND HAST MADE THY BEAUTY TO BE ABHORRED; by the Lord himself, Who otherwise greatly desir... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST ALSO COMMITTED FORNICATION WITH THE EGYPTIANS,.... By entering into leagues and alliances with them, and seeking to them for help and assistance against their enemies; from whose bondage they had formerly been delivered, and whose society they were cautioned against; and yet they forsook t... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEREFORE I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HAND OVER THEE,.... His chastising and correcting hand, to show his resentment at their sins, and bring them to a sense of them, and repentance for them: AND HAVE DIMINISHED THINE ORDINARY [FOOD]; their stated allowances, the common mercies and blessings of... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST PLAYED THE WHORE ALSO WITH THE ASSYRIANS,.... By entering into alliances with them, and worshipping their idols; which was done in the times of Ahaz, who sent to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria for help, and to Damascus for the fashion of the altar there, and built one according to it, 2 Ki... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST MOREOVER MULTIPLIED THY FORNICATION IN THE LAND OF CANAAN,.... Or, "with the land of Canaan" l; with the inhabitants of it, doing the same evils, committing the same idolatries, as the old inhabitants of Canaan did; and so the Targum, "and thou hast multiplied thine idols, that thou might... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW WEAK IS THINE HEART, SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Through sin; and being destitute of the grace of God, and so unable to resist any temptation, or oppose any corruption or lust, but carried away with everyone that offers; indulging every lust, and yet not satisfied; weak as water, unstable, fickle, a... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT THOU BUILDEST THINE EMINENT PLACE IN THE HEAD OF EVERY WAY,.... Or brothel house, as before; Ezekiel 16:24; which showed her to be a whore, and an imperious one: AND MAKEST THINE HIGH PLACE IN EVERY STREET; Ezekiel 16:24; AND HAST NOT BEEN AS AN HARLOT: a common one, or as a harlot usuall... [ Continue Reading ]
[BUT AS] A WIFE THAT COMMITTETH ADULTERY,.... Who has a husband, and is provided for with all the necessaries of life, with food and clothing; and so has no need to prostitute herself for a livelihood, as common strumpets do; but does it purely for the satiating of her lust: and such were the people... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GIVE GIFTS TO ALL WHORES,.... Gifts are usually given to whores, by those who commit whoredom with them; it is for the sake of these they prostitute their bodies, nor will they do this without gain; see Genesis 38:16; BUT THOU GIVEST THY GIFTS TO ALL THY LOVERS; the Jews gave the Egyptians and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CONTRARY IS IN THEE FROM [OTHER] WOMEN IN THY WHOREDOMS,.... Of which an instance is given before, and another is added, with the repetition of the former: WHEREAS NONE FOLLOWETH THEE TO COMMIT WHOREDOMS; the Jews followed the examples, customs, and practices of the Gentiles, in worshipping... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, O HARLOT, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. The sentence about to be pronounced; adjudging to be slain with the sword, to be stoned and burned; the crime for which is to be read in the name of harlot, justly given to an apostate people; as it often is to the church of Rome in the book of the Rev... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BECAUSE THY FILTHINESS WAS POURED OUT,.... Or, "thy brass" p. The word is used by the Rabbins q for the bottom of a thing; and is here accordingly, by Kimchi and Ben Melech, interpreted of a woman's lower part; the same with her nakedness next mentioned; and from whence, by... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THEREFORE I WILL GATHER ALL THY LOVERS, WITH WHOM THOU HAST TAKEN PLEASURE,.... Or, "with whom thou hast mixed" r; in unlawful embraces, joined in sinful alliances, or in idolatrous practices: AND ALL [THEM] THAT THOU HAST LOVED; the Egyptians and Assyrians, whose friendship and idolatrous... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL JUDGE THEE AS WOMEN THAT BREAK WEDLOCK,.... The marriage covenant, defile the marriage bed, and were adulteresses, who by the law of Moses were to be punished with death, Leviticus 20:10; AND SHED BLOOD ARE JUDGED; who also were punished with death according to the original law in Genesi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I ALSO WILL GIVE THEE INTO THEIR HAND,.... Into the hand of their lovers and enemies that should be gathered against them, the Assyrians and Chaldeans, with others that joined them, as in Ezekiel 16:37; AND THEY SHALL THROW DOWN THINE EMINENT PLACE, AND SHALL BREAK DOWN THINE HIGH PLACES; the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL ALSO BRING UP A COMPANY AGAINST THEE,.... An army, so the Targum; the Chaldean army: AND THEY SHALL STONE THEE WITH STONES: cast out of their engines and slings, by which they battered the walls, as well as killed the inhabitants; and so the Targum renders it, with sling stones; the allu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL BURN THINE HOUSES WITH FIRE,.... As the houses in Jerusalem were by Nebuchadnezzar's army, even the temple, the house of the Lord, and the king's house, and the houses of great men, even all the houses in the city, Jeremiah 52:13; and as was commanded to be done to idolatrous cities,... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WILL I MAKE MY FURY TOWARDS THEE TO REST,.... When the Jews should cease from their idolatries, and no more worship the gods of the nations, then the fury of the Lord, and the effects of it, should cease: God no longer contends with a people than while they are sinning; when a reformation is brou... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THOU HAST NOT REMEMBERED THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH,.... The low estate they were once in, and the great favours bestowed upon them, which laid them under great obligation to serve the Lord, and him only; but these they forgot, which highly provoked him, and caused him to do the things he did; se... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, EVERYONE THAT USETH PROVERBS,.... That affects a proverbial way of sneaking that is witty and facetious, and has a talent at satirizing and scoffing, as some have had; such were Lucian and others: SHALL USE [THIS] PROVERB AGAINST THEE; signifying that the sins of the Jews should be well kno... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU [ART] THY MOTHER'S DAUGHTER,.... Exactly like her; they that have known the one must know the other. The Targum is, "wherefore art thou become the daughter of the land of Canaan, to do according to the works of the people?'' THAT LOATHETH HER HUSBAND AND HER CHILDREN; a true character of an a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINE ELDER SISTER [IS] SAMARIA,.... The metropolis of the ten tribes; "sister" to the Jews, because of the same descent, having one and the same father; the "elder" or "greater" x, because more in number and power; the kingdom of Israel consisted of ten tribes, and the kingdom of Judah but of t... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HAST THOU NOT WALKED AFTER THEIR WAYS,.... But in ways more evil; were not content to keep pace with them, and do as they did; but outwent them, outstripped them in wickedness: NOR DONE AFTER THEIR ABOMINATIONS; but committed greater abominations than they did; sins of a more heinous nature, an... [ Continue Reading ]
[AS] I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... This is an oath, which the Lord God swore; who, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, by his life; and this he did to confirm what he had and was about to say, that the sins of Judah were greater than those of Samaria and Sodom; which might n... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THIS WAS THE INIQUITY OF THY SISTER SODOM,.... Namely, the first after mentioned, the source and spring of the rest; the causes and means of which are declared; and the same, as is suggested, was the sin of Jerusalem: namely, PRIDE; which was the sin of the devils, and the cause of their ru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE HAUGHTY,.... Sodom and her daughters, the inhabitants of that place, and the cities adjacent; they lifted up themselves above God and man; they were above regarding the poor and needy; and were elated and swelled with their plenty and prosperity, and behaved very insolently, both to fe... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER HATH SAMARIA COMMITTED HALF OF THY SINS,.... The sins of Samaria, or the ten tribes, of which Samaria was the metropolis, were the worshipping of the calves at Dan and Bethel; but the gods of Judah were according to the number of their cities, and they even set up their idols in the temple o... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ALSO WHICH HAST JUDGED THY SISTERS,.... Sodom and Samaria, by censuring and condemning them for their sins; see 2 Chronicles 13:8; in which sense Jarchi and Kimchi interpret the word; or by defending and patronizing them, acquitting and absolving them, by committing the same sins, and more hei... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I SHALL BRING AGAIN THEIR CAPTIVITY,.... The captivity of Sodom and Samaria, as after mentioned: THE CAPTIVITY OF SODOM AND HER DAUGHTERS, AND THE CAPTIVITY OF SAMARIA AND HER DAUGHTERS; which some understand as what never will be, as it never yet has been: Sodom remains to this day a dead sea... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MAYEST BEAR THINE OWN SHAME,.... So long as the captivity remains; even until Sodom and Samaria, the Gentiles, and the ten tribes, are called and converted: AND MAYEST BE CONFOUNDED IN ALL THAT THOU HAST DONE; or, "for all that thou hast done" e; for and because of all the abominable sins... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THY SISTERS, SODOM, AND HER DAUGHTERS, SHALL RETURN TO THEIR FORMER ESTATE,.... The Jews, as Jerom says, are of opinion, that in the days of their vainly expected Messiah Sodom will be restored to its ancient state, and be as the garden of God, and as the land of Egypt; and Jarchi interprets th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THY SISTER SODOM WAS NOT MENTIONED BY THY MOUTH,.... Or, "was not for a hearing", or "a report, in thy mouth" g; the destruction of Sodom, though it was such an awful judgment of God, so flagrant and notorious, was visible and just at hand; yet it was not taken notice of, nor talked of; it was n... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THY WICKEDNESS WAS DISCOVERED,.... By the punishment of it, by the judgments of God brought upon them; then they were humbled, who before were proud and haughty; and might speak and think of the vengeance of God on Sodom, which before they made no mention of. It is a sad thing only to know si... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BORNE THY LEWDNESS AND THINE ABOMINATIONS,.... Openly and publicly; their abominable iniquities were written as it were upon their foreheads, and were to be seen of all men; their sin was to be read in their punishment, which is meant by bearing their lewdness and abominations; namely, the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... And what he says may be depended upon as truth, and what will certainly come to pass: I WILL EVEN DEAL WITH THEE AS THOU HAST DONE; reward them according to their works; or execute the law of retaliation upon them; and reject them, as they had rejected him; and cast... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS I WILL REMEMBER MY COVENANT WITH THEE IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH,.... The covenant made with them at Sinai, quickly after they came out of Egypt, when they were, both as a body politic and ecclesiastical, in their infant state; for, as Kimchi says, all the while they were in Egypt, and un... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THOU SHALT REMEMBER THY WAYS, AND BE ASHAMED,.... When covenant grace is manifested and applied, it brings persons to a sense of their sins, and to an ingenuous acknowledgment of them, with shame and blushing; they remember their evil ways in which they have walked, and blush at the thoughts of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL ESTABLISH MY COVENANT WITH THEE,.... Ezekiel 16:60; and which is repeated for the comfort of the Lord's people, being ashamed upon the remembrance of their evil ways; and to show the certainty of it, as well as because it is a matter of the greatest importance: AND THOU SHALT KNOW THAT... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THOU MAYEST REMEMBER, AND BE CONFOUNDED,.... The more souls are led into the covenant of grace, and the more they know of God in Christ, and of him as their covenant God and Father, the more they remember of their former evil ways, and reflect upon them with shame and confusion: AND NEVER OPEN... [ Continue Reading ]