CHAPTER XXIII _The idolatries of Samaria and Jerusalem are represented in this_ _chapter by the bad practices of two common harlots, for which_ _God denounces severe judgments against them_, 1-49. _See the_ sixteenth _chapter, where the same metaphor is enlarged_ _upon as here, it being the pro... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:2. _SON OF MAN, THERE WERE TWO WOMEN_] All the Hebrews were derived from _one source_, Abraham and Sarah; and, till the schism under Rehoboam, formed but one people: but as these ten tribes and a half separated from Judah and Benjamin, they became two distinct people under different... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:5. _AND AHOLAH PLAYED THE HARLOT_] Without entering into detail here, or following the _figures_, they both became idolatrous, and received the impure rites of the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, of which connexion the prophet speaks here as he did in Ezekiel 16:15 c., which se... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:6. _CLOTHED WITH BLUE_] The _purple_ dye was highly valued among the ancients, and at first was only used by kings, at last it was used among the military, particularly by officers of high rank in the country.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:14. _MEN POURTRAYED UPON THE WALL_] See on Ezekiel 8:10.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:20. _SHE DOTED UPON THEIR PARAMOURS_] פלגשיהם _pillagsheyhem_, their _harlots_ or _concubines_. Anciently _harlot_ meant in our language either the _male_ or _female_ prostitute. _WHOSE FLESH_ IS AS _THE FLESH OF ASSES_] See on Ezekiel 16:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:23. _PEKOD, AND SHOA, AND KOA_] פקוד ושוע וקוע. These names have been thought to designate certain people bordering on the Chaldeans; but no geographer has ever been able to find them out. In our old translations these names were considered _appellatives - rulers, mighty men_, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:25. _SHALL TAKE AWAY THY NOSE_] A punishment frequent among the Persians and Chaldeans, as ancient authors tell. Adulteries were punished in this way; and to this _Martial_ refers: - Quis tibi persuasit nares abscindere moecho? "Who has counselled thee to cut off the adulterer's n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:26. _THEY SHALL ALSO STRIP THEE_] See on Ezekiel 16:39.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:32. _THOU SHALT DRINK OF THY SISTER'S CUP_] Thou shalt be ruined and desolated as Samaria was.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:34. _THOU SHALT - PLUCK OFF THINE OWN BREASTS_] Thou shalt _tear them_; a frequent action in extreme sorrow and desolation. _Weeping, tearing the bosom, and beating the breasts_. Tunc vero rupique sinus, et pectora planxi. OVID'S Ep. 5.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:38. _THEY HAVE DEFILED MY SANCTUARY_] By placing idols there.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:40. _THOU DIDST WASH THYSELF, PAINTEDST THY EYES, AND_ _DECKEDST THYSELF WITH ORNAMENTS._] This is exactly the way in which a loose female in Bengal adorns herself to receive guests. She first bathes, then rubs black paint around her eyes, and then covers her body with ornaments.-WA... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:41. _AND SATEST UPON A STATELY BED_] Hast raised a stately altar to thy idols; probably alluding to that which Ahaz ordered to be made, after the similitude of that which he saw at Damascus. The bed here is in allusion to the _sofas_ on which the ancients were accustomed to recline... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:42. _AND A VOICE OF A MULTITUDE_] This seems to be an account of an idolatrous festival, where a riotous multitude was assembled, and fellows of the baser sort, with _bracelets_ on their arms and _chaplets_ on their heads, performed the religious rites.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:45. _AND THE RIGHTEOUS MEN_] אנשים צדיקים _anashim tsaddikim_. The Chaldeans, thus called because they are appointed by God to _execute judgment_ on these criminals.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:47. _SHALL STONE THEM WITH STONES_] As they did adulteresses under the law. See Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22, compared with John 8:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:48. _THUS WILL I CAUSE LEWDNESS TO CEASE_] _Idolatry_; and from that time to the present day the Jews never relapsed into idolatry.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ezekiel 23:49. _YE SHALL BEAR THE SINS OF YOUR IDOLS_] The punishment due to your adultery; your apostasy from God, and setting up idolatry in the land.... [ Continue Reading ]