INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 23 In this chapter the idolatries of Israel and Judah are represented under the metaphor of two harlots, and their lewdness. These harlots are described by their descent; by the place and time in which they committed their whoredoms; by their names, and which are explained,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME UNTO ME,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; another prophecy, one upon the same subject, as in Ezekiel 16:1, SAYING; as follows:... [ Continue Reading ]
SON OF MAN, THERE WERE TWO WOMEN,.... Or two nations and kingdoms, the kingdom of Israel or the ten tribes, and the kingdom of Judah or the two tribes. So the Targum, "son of man, prophesy concerning two provinces, which are as two women:'' THE DAUGHTERS OF ONE MOTHER; either Sarah the wife of Abr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY COMMITTED WHOREDOMS IN EGYPT,.... When they were but one body, one nation; and while they sojourned as strangers in that land they learned and practised the idolatries of it, Joshua 24:14, and so the Targum, "and they erred in Egypt, after the worship of their idols they erred, and there t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE NAMES OF THEM WERE AHOLAH THE ELDER,.... Or, "the greater" m meaning the ten tribes of Israel, which were more in number than Judah, and greater in power and riches; their name, Aholah, signifies "her tent or tabernacle", which was entirely their own, and not the Lord's: their worship, and p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AHOLAH PLAYED THE HARLOT WHEN SHE WAS MINE,.... His married wife, and so ought to have cleaved to him alone: or, under me o; under his cover, power, and protection, and therefore it was their interest to serve him only: or, "instead of me" p; or, as the Syriac version, "besides me": they worship... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WERE CLOTHED WITH BLUE,.... A colour the Assyrians were fond of, and clothed their soldiers in, and was taking to the eye; and is mentioned, because that men, finely clothed find beautifully arrayed, are more engaging to women, who are fond of dress: CAPTAINS AND RULERS; men of power and auth... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SHE COMMITTED HER WHOREDOMS WITH THEM,.... Entered into alliance with them, and joined them in their idolatrous worship: WITH ALL THEM THAT WERE THE CHOSEN MEN OF ASSYRIA; before described by their habit, office, and age: AND WITH ALL ON WHOM SHE DOTED; had an insatiable desire and lust after... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER LEFT SHE HER IDOLS BROUGHT FROM EGYPT,.... Though the Israelites took in the gods of the Assyrians into their worship, they did not relinquish the golden calves set up at Dan and Bethel, in imitation of the Egyptian deities; the idolatrous worship of which they learned in Egypt, and brought... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE I HAVE DELIVERED HER INTO THE HAND OF HER LOVERS,.... To destruction; their persons, families, riches, and kingdom itself: INTO THE HAND OF THE ASSYRIANS, ON WHOM SHE DOTED; first into the hands of Pul, then Tiglathpileser, then Shalmaneser, all kings of Assyria, by whom they were spoiled... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE DISCOVERED HER WICKEDNESS,.... That is, stripped them of all their substance: THEY TOOK HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS; and carried them captive: AND SLEW HER WITH THE SWORD; put an end to the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes, and which was never recovered to this day: AND SHE BECAME FAMOUS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HER SISTER AHOLIBAH SAW THIS,.... The two tribes of Judah and Benjamin, when, they saw the idolatries the ten tribes fell into, and the destruction which came upon them for the same; instead of receiving instruction, and taking caution by all this, SHE WAS MORE CORRUPT IN HER INORDINATE LO... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE DOTED UPON THE ASSYRIANS HER NEIGHBOURS,.... As in the times of Ahaz, who sent to Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, for help; and from whence he took the pattern of an altar, and had one built like it at Jerusalem, and offered upon it, 2 Kings 16:7, CAPTAINS AND RULERS CLOTHED MOST GORGEOUSLY; o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I SAW THAT SHE WAS DEFILED,.... With idols, and the worship of them, Ezekiel 23:7: THAT THEY TOOK BOTH ONE WAY; the same way of idolatry; worshipped the same idols, lived the same course of life, were guilty of the same sin, both Israel and Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT SHE INCREASED HER WHOREDOMS,.... Added to the number of her idols, increased her idols, and even was guilty of more than her sister: FOR WHEN SHE SAW MEN PORTRAYED ON THE WALL; of the temple, as idols were, Ezekiel 8:10 or upon the wall of a private house, where they were worshipped as hou... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRDED WITH GIRDLES UPON THEIR LOINS,.... As a token of dignity and authority; see Isaiah 11:5, which was the peculiar custom of the Babylonians, as Kimchi, from the Talmudists, observes: "exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads"; having turbans of various colours upon their heads, after the manne... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS SOON AS SHE SAW THEM WITH HER EYES, SHE DOTED UPON THEM,.... As lustful women, on the sight of the pictures of men, fall in love with them, and are mad after them; such a vehement desire after the idols of the Chaldeans prevailed, upon seeing their images: AND SENT MESSENGERS UNTO THEM IN CH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE BABYLONIANS CAME TO HER IN THE BED OF LOVE,.... Entered into alliance with the Jews, and worshipped together in the same idols' temple. Jarchi thinks this refers to the messengers of the king of Babylon to Hezekiah; who were gladly received by him, and to whom he showed all the treasures of... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SHE DISCOVERED HER WHOREDOMS, AND DISCOVERED HER NAKEDNESS,.... The Jews did not cease from their idolatries when they broke with the Babylonians; but were rather more frequent and impudent in them, and courted the friendship and alliance of other Heathen nations, and their worship; even as a lew... [ Continue Reading ]
YET SHE MULTIPLIED HER WHOREDOMS,.... Though the Lord frowned upon the Jews in the times of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, yet still they went on, and increased their alliances and idolatries with the Heathen nations: IN CALLING TO REMEMBRANCE THE DAYS OF HER YOUTH, WHEREIN SHE HAD PLAYED THE HARLOT IN TH... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SHE DOTED UPON THEIR PARAMOURS,.... Or "concubines" z; the neighbouring nations and allies of the Egyptians, whose friendship the Jews courted, and whose idols they served: the Septuagint and Arabic versions wrongly read the Chaldeans: WHOSE FLESH IS AS THE FLESH OF ASSES, AND WHOSE ISSUE IS LI... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS THOU CALLEDST TO REMEMBRANCE THE LEWDNESS OF THY YOUTH,.... By committing the same; the same idolatries their fathers committed in Egypt they now committed, being in alliance with the same people: or, THOU CAUSEST TO BE VISITED THE LEWDNESS OF THY YOUTH a; by the Lord, who remembered their sin... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE, O AHOLIBAH, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD,.... Or, ye two tribes of Benjamin and Judah, hear what the Lord says unto you: BEHOLD, I WILL RAISE UP THY LOVERS AGAINST THEE; the Chaldeans, whom they had formerly loved, and in whose alliance they were, and whose idols they worshipped: FROM WHOM T... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BABYLONIANS, AND ALL THE CHALDEANS,.... Both the inhabitants of the city of Babylon, called in the Hebrew text the children of Babylon, and all the inhabitants of the several parts of the country of Chaldean, of which Babylon was the metropolis: PEKOD, AND SHOA, AND KOA; the Vulgate Latin versi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL COME AGAINST THEE WITH CHARIOTS, WAGONS, AND WHEELS,.... With "chariots", in which were their princes and great men, their chief commanders, generals, and captains, and in which they fought, as was usual in those times; and with "wagons", to carry their provisions and warlike stores;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL SET MY JEALOUSY AGAINST THEE, AND THEY SHALL DEAL FURIOUSLY WITH THEE,.... As a jealous husband, enraged against his adulterous wife, falls upon her in his fury, and uses her with great severity; so the Jews having committed spiritual fornication, that is, idolatry, and departed from the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL ALSO STRIP THEE OUT OF THY CLOTHES,.... As such who are taken captives are usually served: AND TAKE AWAY, THY FAIR JEWELS; their ornaments of every kind: or "the vessels of thy glory" c; Kimchi observes this may be meant either of the garments of the priests, and the vessels of the sanct... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS WILL I MAKE THY LEWDNESS TO CEASE FROM THEE,.... That is, their idolatry; for, after this captivity, the Jews never were guilty of idolatry any more: AND THY WHOREDOM BROUGHT FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT; the idolatry which they learned there, and brought from thence; so the Targum, "the worship of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, I WILL DELIVER THEE INTO THE HAND OF THEM WHOM THOU HATEST,.... The Chaldeans and Babylonians, before loved by her, and doted upon, but now hated and rebelled against; and to fall into such hands must be a sore judgment; and this the Lord threatens to bring upon the Jews... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL DEAL WITH THEE HATEFULLY,.... The Chaldeans should hate the Jews as much as before they loved them, when they came into the bed of love to them, Ezekiel 23:17 and as much as the Jews hated them; which they showed by their severe and rigorous usage of them, putting some to the sword, c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL DO THESE THINGS UNTO THEE,.... What the Chaldeans did God is said to do, because he suffered them to do these things, as a punishment for their sins; yea, it was according to his will, and by his orders. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it, "they have done these things unt... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST WALKED IN THE WAY OF THY SISTER,.... Samaria, or the ten tribes of Israel; followed them in their idolatrous practices, were guilty of the same: THEREFORE WILL I GIVE HER CUP INTO THINE HAND; the cup of her vengeance, as the Targum; inflict the same punishment on the two tribes as on the... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, THOU SHALL DRINK OF THY SISTER'S CUP DEEP AND LARGE,.... That is, partake of the same punishment, which was very great, signified by a deep and large cup, which holds much: THOU SHALL BE LAUGHED TO SCORN, AND HAD IN DERISION; by the nations round about, who, instead of pity... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT BE FILLED WITH DRUNKENNESS AND SORROW,.... Sorrow is the effect of drunkenness; these two generally go together; when a man is filled with the one, he is with the other; this expresses the greatness of the sorrow and distress of the Jews in captivity: WITH THE CUP OF ASTONISHMENT AND DES... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT EVEN DRINK IT, AND SUCK IT OUT,.... The very dregs of it, that which lies at the bottom, which is the most nauseous and the most pernicious; not through love to it, but through force, shall be obliged to it; see Psalms 75:8: AND THOU SHALL BREAK THE SHERDS THEREOF; and suck them, so that... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, BECAUSE THOU HAST FORGOTTEN ME,.... His word, worship, and ordinances, and did not attend unto them, but worshipped strange gods: so the Targum, "because thou hast left my worship:'' and cast me behind thy back; or, as the same paraphrase, "hast cast the fear of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD SAID MOREOVER UNTO ME, SON OF MAN, WILT THOU JUDGE AHOLAH AND AHOLIBAH?.... Plead the cause of Israel and Judah? say any thing in their defence, and in excuse of them? or intercede and pray for them, that threatened judgments may not come upon them? no, do nothing of this kind; if thou wilt... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED ADULTERY,.... Either literally, adultery with their neighbours' wives, which was a prevailing sin with this people; or figuratively, spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry: AND BLOOD IS IN THEIR HANDS; the Targum is, "they have shed the blood of innocents with their hands;'... [ Continue Reading ]
MOREOVER THIS THEY HAVE DONE UNTO ME,..... The following piece of wickedness, which was very provoking to the Lord: THEY HAVE DEFILED MY SANCTUARY IN THE SAME DAY; as they caused their children to pass through the tire to their idols, by entering into the sanctuary when they had so done, and were t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN THEY HAD SLAIN THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR IDOLS,.... This explains more clearly what is before said, that by causing their children to pass through the fire was a slaying them; and that their passing through it "for them" was for their idols, and unto them; see Ezekiel 23:37, and how when the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FURTHERMORE, THAT YE HAVE SENT FOR MEN TO COME FROM FAR,.... From Egypt, Assyria, and Chaldea, to treat with them, and enter into alliances and confederacies with them, and to join them in their idolatrous practices; these Heathen nations did not send to the Jews, but the Jews to them; they did... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SATEST UPON A STATELY BED,.... Or honourable g, a bed of state: either a throne, a royal seat under a canopy, on which the king of Judah sat to receive foreign ambassadors; or a stately bed at a feast, made for the entertainment of them; it being usual in the eastern nations to sit on beds at ea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A VOICE OF A MULTITUDE BEING AT EASE WAS WITH HER,.... With Aholibah, with the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin: or, "in her", in Jerusalem; or "in it", or "about it" h; the bed, or table, or both: these were either the people of the many nations that came in great numbers with the ambassadors,... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID I UNTO HER THAT WAS OLD IN ADULTERIES,.... That had been an old adulterer or idolater; meaning either Aholah the ten tribes, who from Jeroboam's time had been guilty of idolatry; or Aholibah the two tribes, who had remained longer in their own country, and had been long given to idolatry;... [ Continue Reading ]
YET THEY WENT IN UNTO HER,.... Made a league with one another, and joined in idolatrous worship: AS THEY GO IN UNTO A WOMAN THAT PLAYETH THE HARLOT; with the same heat of lust, with the same greediness and eager desire as young men do when they go into a brothel house where a beautiful harlot lives... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE RIGHTEOUS MEN,.... Some understand this of the prophets, who were really righteous men; and foretold the righteous judgments of God that should come upon the idolatrous Jews, which was a judging them: others, of righteous men in general, who will one and all agree that persons guilty of such... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, I WILL BRING UP A COMPANY UPON THEM,.... Or, "do thou bring up a company upon them" m, or "against them". The Targum represents it as spoken to the prophet, thus, "prophesy that armies shall come up against them.'' Kimchi interprets it as we do, "I will bring up", c. a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE COMPANY SHALL STONE THEM WITH STONES,.... Which was the punishment of adulterers and idolaters, Deuteronomy 13:10, this seems to refer to the Chaldean army casting out stones from their slings and engines into the city of Jerusalem, when they besieged it, by which they killed some, and beat... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS WILL I CAUSE TO CEASE LEWDNESS OUT OF THE LAND,.... There being no opportunity for it, nor any to commit it; what were not destroyed by famine, sword, and pestilence, during the siege, were carried captive; and, when they returned, were never more given to idolatry; see Ezekiel 23:27: THAT ALL... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL RECOMPENSE YOUR LEWDNESS UPON YOU,.... Or, "give your lewdness" q; the punishment of it; the just recompence of reward for their idolatry: AND YE SHALL BEAR THE SINS OF YOUR IDOLS; the shame, and guilt, and punishment of their sins committed in worshipping idols: AND YE SHALL KNOW T... [ Continue Reading ]