XXIII. This chapter closes the series of prophecies beginning with Ezekiel 20, and consists of an extended allegory. Its object, quite in connection with Ezekiel 21:22, is to set forth the sinfulness of Judah. The allegory is much like that of Ezekiel 16, but differs from it on the one side by omit... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EGYPT. — The idolatries of Israel in Egypt have already been spoken of in the Note to Ezekiel 20:8. (See also Ezekiel 23:19 below.)... [ Continue Reading ]
SAMARIA IS AHOLAH, AND JERUSALEM AHOLIBAH. — Samaria, as the capital, is put for the northern kingdom, and is called Aholah = _her own tabernacle,_ because she set up her own worship instead of resorting to the Temple; while the southern kingdom, represented by Jerusalem, is called Aholibah = _my ta... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ASSYRIANS HER NEIGHBOURS. — Or, _the Assyrians drawing near._ They are described in Ezekiel 23:40 as those who “come from far.” The nearness here spoken of is to be understood not locally, but spiritually, of sympathy in idolatry. Of the earlier connection between Israel and Assyria there is lit... [ Continue Reading ]
HORSEMEN. — The Assyrians, like the Egyptians, made large use of cavalry, as was necessary to a warlike nation; the multiplication of horses had on this account been forbidden to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 17:16).... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ALL THEIR IDOLS. — The reality breaks through the figure, and leaves no doubt of the meaning of the allegory.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE BECAME FAMOUS. — A better word would be _notorious._ The conquest of Samaria and the captivity of the northern tribes had now been accomplished more than 130 years, and had made them a byword among the nations.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE WAS MORE CORRUPT. — Enough having been said of Aholah to form the basis for a comparison, the prophet now turns to Aholibah. The idolatries of Judah not only comparatively but actually exceeded those of her sister kingdom. See, _e.g.,_ the account of Manaseeh’s reign (2 Kings 21:1; 2 Chronicles... [ Continue Reading ]
HER NEIGHBOURS. — See Note on Ezekiel 23:5. In both places the warriors of Assyria are described in the most attractive way to carry out the figure; they are also spoken of as very powerful, to explain the political attraction to them. Israel was both fascinated by their splendour and overawed by th... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN PORTRAYED UPON THE WALL. — Such portraitures, with evidence that they were once executed in brilliant colours, are characteristic both of Egypt and Assyria, where stone for sculpture abounded. From the close connection in race and customs between the Assyrians and Babylonians, it cannot be doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW THEM WITH HER EYES. — This is to be taken in a sense wide enough to include knowledge obtained in any way, as well as by actual sight. The intercourse between Judæa and Babylon was so close that many of the people had seen the Babylonians personally, while others knew of them through their repor... [ Continue Reading ]
HER MIND WAS ALIENATED. — The original implies the disgust of satiety. Josiah had been the devoted friend of Babylon, and perished in his zeal on its behalf. Judah was then made a dependency of Egypt, and turned for aid to Babylon. Then receiving in turn the yoke of Babylon, she became impatient, an... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR PARAMOURS. — The word is masculine, as indicating the abominable sins copied by the Israelites from the heathen, and asses and horses are introduced to show the intensity of lust. (Comp. Jeremiah 5:8.)... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BRING THEM AGAINST THEE. — Here, as everywhere, the fitness of the punishment to the sin, the correlation between them, is strongly brought out. Israel had chosen the idolatries of Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon, and these had drawn down upon her the vengeance of Him in whom alone was her refuge... [ Continue Reading ]
PEKOD, AND SHOA, AND KOA. — These words were taken as proper names by our translators, and are still considered by some as indicating small Chaldæan tribes; but it is better, with the Vulg. and most modern commentators, to understand them as the names of officers, “rulers, lords, and nobles.” Shoa i... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH CHARIOTS, WAGONS, AND WHEELS. — The word translated “chariots” occurs only here, and is thought to mean some weapon of war. It would be better to translate, _with weapons, chariots, and wheels._ The clause “I will set judgment before them,” is equivalent to _I will entrust to them the judgment... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE AWAY THY NOSE AND THINE EARS. — The barbarous custom of mutilating prisoners prevailed in the East from the earliest times; it is here mentioned with especial reference to the destruction of the attractiveness of the adulteress Aholibah, and the particulars of Ezekiel 23:26 have the same purpos... [ Continue Reading ]
IT CONTAINETH MUCH. — The cup of humiliation already drunk by Samaria was large, and filled with pain and sorrow, yet Jerusalem must drink it amid the derision of her neighbours.... [ Continue Reading ]
WILT THOU JUDGE? — Rather, _judge thou,_ as in Ezekiel 20:4; Ezekiel 22:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME DAY. — This is explained more fully in Ezekiel 23:39. Emphasis is laid upon the fact that they worshipped in the sanctuary of Jehovah in the same day that they offered their children to their idols, because the passing directly from the one to the other showed an utter disregard of the c... [ Continue Reading ]
PAINTEDST THINE EYES. — The figure is that of a lewd woman preparing herself for her paramour, and awaiting his arrival. Painting the eyes, or rather the lids and lashes, was an ancient custom, still preserved in the East. (Comp. 2 Kings 9:30.)... [ Continue Reading ]
A STATELY BED is rather the couch or divan used for reclining at a feast. “Mine incense and mine oil” (comp. Ezekiel 16:18) may be taken simply as the products of the land, the good gifts of God which Israel bestowed upon the heathen; but as both of these were especially used in sacrifices, it is be... [ Continue Reading ]
A VOICE OF A MULTITUDE BEING AT EASE WAS WITH HER. — The words “voice of a multitude,” wherever else they occur (1 Samuel 4:14; Isaiah 13:4; Isaiah 33:3; Daniel 10:6), mean _a loud tumult,_ and even the word here used for “multitude,” when alone, always means a boisterous multitude. Translate _The v... [ Continue Reading ]
WILL THEY NOW COMMIT? — This should not be made a question, nor should the opening of Ezekiel 23:44 be made adversative. The thought is that, after all means of reclamation had failed, God gave her up to her sins. Translate, _Now shall her whoredom be committed, even this. And they went in, &c. _... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO AHOLAH AND UNTO AHOLIBAH. — From Ezekiel 23:11 the discourse has been altogether of Aholibah, as the one now immediately concerned; but from Ezekiel 23:36, in the enumeration of their sins, both are included, though in the greater part of these verses the singular number is used, because Aholib... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS MEN. — That is, men to whom the judgment of righteousness is committed.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH STONES... WITH SWORDS. — The figure and the reality are here designedly mixed. Stoning was the legal punishment of adultery, but the actual overthrow of Jerusalem was by the sword.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CEASE. — By the removal of the sinners. “All women,” in accordance with the allegory, means _all nations._ The judgments upon Israel should be then, and for all time, a conspicuous monument of God’s righteous severity.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEAR THE SINS OF YOUR IDOLS — _i.e._, the punishment of the sins which you have committed in worshipping your idols.... [ Continue Reading ]