Ezekiel 16

Ezekiel 16:2

CAuse Jerusalem to know] Namely, the remnant of the Jews which are in Jerusalem, which represent the whole body of the Nation and State.

Ezekiel 16:3

Thy birth] Heb. cutting out, or habitation. Though you be of Abrahams race, yet you are so degenerate, that you deserve rather to be called Ammorites and Hittites, which were two accursed and execrable Nations: see Isaiah 1:10. Hosea 12:8. John 8:33. 37. 40. Romans 2:28. & Romans 9:7-8.

Ezekiel 16:4

nativitie in the day thou was born] Hosea 2:3. An Allegorie continued in all this Chapter: wherein the peoples estate temporall and spirituall is represented by a wretched maide, married, exalted, and enriched through meer grace: when I called Abraham, of whom thou wast born, from Ur of the Chaldees, his father Terah was an idolater, Joshua 24:2. If the peoples birth be referred to the time when it came to some forme and perfection of a Nation, and was brought from Egypt, the multitude of Israel forsook not the idols of Egypt, Ezekiel 20:8.

thy navel was not cut] Termes taken from that which useth to be done to little children newly born, to shew that the people had no humane help nor assistance, but were utterly forsaken in their miserie.

to supple thee] Or, when I looked upon thee.

thou wast not salted at all] Salt being used about these little creatures, to bathe and rub them, to drie up, cleanse and strengthen the body of the childe.

Ezekiel 16:6

when I passed by thee] Hereby seems to be shewen that God did not deliver his people presently, but let them lie a long time in miserie in Egypt, amidst sundry bloudy persecutions, preserving them still alive, and not suffering them to be destroyed: which is signified by these reiterated words, Live, in thy bloud.

polluted in thine own bloud] Or, trodden under foot. Being thus in thy filthinesse and forsaken of all men, I took thee and gave thee life; whereby is meant, that before God wash his Church, and give it life, there is nothing but filthinesse and death.

Ezekiel 16:7

I have caused thee to multiply] Heb. made thee a million. Exodus 1:7.

excellent ornaments] Heb. ornament of ornaments.

thy breasts are fashioned] He continueth the same figure of a maid, that is now come to age to have a husband: to signifie the time appointed by God to set his people at libertie, and honour them with the title of being his Church, and to make his Covenant with them in Horeb: as Son 8:8. See Hosea 2:15.

naked and bare] Without any honour, or defence, being yet in miserie and captivitie in Egypt.

Ezekiel 16:8

I spread my skirt over thee] An ancient ceremonie, wherein the husband in signe of the right of propertie which he obtained in his wife, and for a pledge of his duty of protection, and love, did when he married her, cover her with the skirt of his garment, Deuteronomy 22:30. Ruth 3:9. Which was a figure of the righteousnesse, innocencie, and merit of Christ, which hideth all the blemishes of his Church from Gods sight, and protects her; and hereby shews himself to be her head, lord, and husband: which hath at all times been the foundation and summe of the Covenant of grace.

and covered thy nakednesse] These words, as bloud, pollution, nakednesse, and filthinesse, are oft times repeated to beat down their pride, and to cause them to consider what they were before God received them to mercy, favoured them, and covered their shame.

I sware unto thee] I made a solemne Covenant with thee, that I would take thee to be my people. See concerning the time of the peoples marriage, Jeremiah 2:2.

Ezekiel 16:9

Then washed I thee with water] Corporally I took away from thee all signes and tokens of miserie, and of thy former oppression, and enriched thee with my gifts and benefits: and spiritually I purged thee from thy sinnes, which are the uncleannesse of thy soule, in which man is born; and endued thee with the graces of my Spirit, signified by the anointing which was commonly done after that they had washed, Ruth 3:3. Luke 7:44.

bloud] Heb. blouds.

Ezekiel 16:10

badgers skin] Which were some way neatly dressed for to make handsome shooes.

I covered thee with silk] With a curious veile, which maidens bore over thy head.

Ezekiel 16:12

thy forchead] Heb. thy nose. See touching this kind of ornament, Genesis 24:47. Isaiah 3:21.

crown upon thine head] Hereby he sheweth how he saved his Church, enriched it, and gave it power and dominion to reign.

Ezekiel 16:13

prosper into a kingdome] That is, didst grow up so high, that thou becamest a great and glorious kingdome.

Ezekiel 16:14

comelinesse which I put upon thee] He declareth wherein the dignitie of Jerusalem stood, to wit, in that that the Lord gave them of his beautie and excellencie.

Ezekiel 16:15

thou didst trust] Thou art become presumptuous and bold, by reason of the gifts received from me, and wouldest be no longer subject to me, nor contain thy self within the chastitie of my service and obedience, but didst chuse to live a loose life.

playedst the harlot] Isaiah 57:8. Jeremiah 2:20. & 3. 2, 6, 20. Ezekiel 23:3; Ezekiel 23:12. Thou hast joyned thy self by unlawfull covenants, and by imitation of idolatry to profane people, which thou hast drawn to thee, by the greatnesse of thy state, and the preheminency which thou hadst above other Nations.

pouredst out] Thou hast indifferently, and impudently prostituted thy self. See Chap. 16. 36. Jeremiah 3:13.

his it was] He might satisfie his lust as he would, for thou gavest him free liberty to do it.

Ezekiel 16:16

high places] Namely, the altars, Chappels, and Temples of thine idols, garnished with ornaments and rich tapestry, which I had bestowed upon thee for thine own use. Hosea 2:8.

Ezekiel 16:17

of mon] Heb. of a male. Namely, of idols, which were as adulterers to the idolatrous souls; though there were many female idols also.

Ezekiel 16:19

a sweet savour] Heb. a savour of rest. Burning those offerings, as it were, to appease the idols, as God had appointed they should do to him.

thus it was] All these things were notoriously known and verified, and they are not to be denyed nor excused.

Ezekiel 16:20

whom thou] Who at their birth were mine, by virtue of my covenant, whereby the whole body of the Nation was as a wife to me, and the particular persons as children; wherefore thou shouldest have consecrated them to me.

and these hast thou sacrificed] 2 Kings 16:3. Psalms 106:37. Isaiah 57:5. Chap. 20. 26.

to be devoured] Heb. to devour. Meaning by fire, read Leviticus 18:21. 2 Kings 23:10. Jeremiah 7:31.

Ezekiel 16:21

for them] Namely, for the images of the aforesaid idols.

Ezekiel 16:22

in all thine abominations] Thine unbridled idolatry hath been accompanied with an infamous ingratitude and presumptuous confidence, that thou couldest no more fall into thy former misery.

Ezekiel 16:24

thou hast also] Like to an unchaste woman, who after she hath used dishonesty privately with some particular men, doth also prostitute her self publikely in a brothell house; whereby is meant idolatry that is commonly practised, and allowed by publike authority. See Isaiah 3:9.

eminent place] Or, brothell house.

and hast made thee an high place] Isaiah 57:5; Isaiah 57:7. Jer. 2. 20, 23. & 3. 2, 6. & 13. 27.

Ezekiel 16:26

the Egyptians] He noteth the great impietie of this people, who first falling from God to seek help of strange nations, did also at length imbrace their idolatry, thinking thereby to make their amity more strong. See Chap. 8, 10, 14. and 23. 19.

great of flesh] A figurative terme taken from the shamelesse desires of lascivious unchaste women, Chap. 23. 20. to signifie that the power and wealth of Egypt did entice the people to desire to adhere, and to be linked unto them.

Ezekiel 16:27

have diminished thine ordinary food] I have weakned thy estate, and taken away the abundance of my blessings from thee.

the daughters] Or, the cities. Namely, to the cities and people. See 2 Chronicles 28:18.

are ashamed] They detest and abhorre thine unconstant and wavering idolatry, they holding themselves constant to their ancient idolatry, which was first established. See Jeremiah 2:10-11; Jeremiah 2:33.

Ezekiel 16:28

Thou hast played the whore] 2 King. 16. 7, 10. 2 Chro. 28. 23. Jer. 2. 18, 36. Ezekiel 23:12.

Ezekiel 16:29

unto Chaldea] Chap. 23. 14, 15.

Ezekiel 16:30

weak is thine heart] Weakned and melted in spirituall lust, which worketh the same effect in the souls, as bodily lust doth in the bodies, extinguishing all manner of true vertue in them, and effeminating them to a base and sensuall esteem of God and his service, and weakning the true worship of him in spirit and truth.

an imperious whorish woman] That is to say, licentious, unbridled, and uncorrigible; that taketh liberty to do what she pleaseth.

Ezekiel 16:31

In that thou buildest thine] Or, in thy daughters is thine, &c.

thou scornest hire] As much as to say, thou hast not beene sought after, nor sollicited, nor rewarded, nor payed; but thou thy self hast sollicited and paid thine adulterers, which in a woman is the extreme of impudency. See 2 King. 16. 7, 8. 2 Chronicles 28:21. Isaiah 30:6. Hosea 8:9.

Ezekiel 16:33

irest] Heb. bribest.

Ezekiel 16:34

and in that thou givest] No body hath desired nor sollicited thee: so is the sinne of the people aggravated, who without any bodies inducement, of their own proper motion were runne into idolatrie. See Jeremiah 31:32.

Ezekiel 16:36

thy filthinesse] Heb. thy poison. The meaning is, thou hast sinned without shame, and I will punish thee with infamy and disgrace, even by them with whom thou hast sinned.

Ezekiel 16:37

thy lovers] Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, whom thou tookest to be thy lovers, shall come and destroy thee, Chap. 23. 9. 22, 28.

I will even gather] Jeremiah 13:22; Jeremiah 13:26. Lamentations 1:8. Ezekiel 23:22; Ezekiel 23:29. Hosea 2:10.

Ezekiel 16:38

as, &c.] Heb. with judgments of.

break wedlock] I will judge thee to death, as adulteresses, Leviticus 20:10. Deuteronomy 22:22. and murtherers, Genesis 9:6. deserve.

shed bloud] That do murther the children which they do bring forth. Vers 36.

I will give thee bloud] Or, I will make thee all bloud.

Ezekiel 16:39

eminent place] Namely, the Citie Jerusalem it self, or the whole state where idolatry had been publikely practised, and without controll. Vers. 24, 31.

thy fair jewels] Heb. instruments of thine ornaments.

Ezekiel 16:40

stone thee] He hath relation to the punishment appointed for adulteresses by the Law, Deuteronomy 22:24.

Ezekiel 16:41

they shall burn thine houses with fire] 2 Kings 25. 9. Jeremiah 52:13.

women] Namely, of many kinde of people, and nations, whereof the Chaldean Army shall be composed.

Ezekiel 16:42

my jealousie] I will utterly destroy thee; and so my jealousie shall cease.

Ezekiel 16:44

so is her daughter] As were the Canaanites, and the Hitties (who were taxed with serving of devills, and sacrificing their children to them, Deut. 18. 9, 10.) & others your predecessors, so are you their successors.

her husband] Namely, God the Creatour of all, and law. giver to all, whose knowledge and service those Nations utterly forsook, to worship devils.

thy sisters] That is, of Samaria and Sodome.

Ezekiel 16:46

elder sister] That is, thou Jewish Nation, and Samaria, that is, the ten tribes, and Sodom are like one another in sinning, even as if ye were one and the self-same mothers daughters. Deuteronomy 32:32. Isaiah 1:10. Jeremiah 3:8.

left hand] That is, Northward; for the Hebrews call the forepart the East, and the hinder part the West, the left side the North, and the right side the South.

thy younger sister] Heb. losser then thou.

Ezekiel 16:47

nor done after their abominations] Thou hast not been contented with imitating and equalling them, but hast gone beyond them.

as if that were a very little thing] Or, that was leathed as a small thing.

Ezekiel 16:48

Sodom thy sister] Matthew 10:15. & Matthew 11:24.

Ezekiel 16:49

Pride] She had gotten none but temporall excellencies from me, and not the spirituall ones of my Word and Covenant, as thou hadst. And besides, her greatest sinne was but against the second Table, and not against the first, as thine is in violating my service.

Ezekiel 16:50

I took them] Genesis 19:24.

as I saw] Or, after I had seen: to wit, their abominations. Genesis 18:21.

Ezekiel 16:51

Samaria] Which worshipped the Calves in Bathel and Dan.

half of thy sinnes] Because thou receivedst more favours at my hands, and hast been longer suffered, exhorted, corrected; and hast seen my judgements upon the other; therefore thy ingratitude rebellion, and obstinacy cannot be equalized.

hast justified thy sisters] Made their sinnes to seem but little ones, and excusable by the excesse of thine; and them innocent in comparison of thee. Jeremiah 3:11. Matthew 1:41. 42.

Ezekiel 16:52

judged thy sisters] Condemned them without any pitie as wicked, and not deserving any mercy.

Ezekiel 16:53

When I shall bring] That is as I will never re-establish those Cities and Nations into their former estate; so shall the Jewish nation never be perfectly restored, after the ruine which shall come upon them by the Chaldeans; in respect of the glory of the Temple, and the state of the Kingdom, and other advantages: but as concerning the spirituall good, the people had alwaies a remainder of grace, and hope of restorement to salvation, Vers. 60. which the other nations had not, Isaiah 1:9.

the captivity] This word is taken for all kindes of extreme miserie, Job 42:10.

the captivity of thy captives] Namely, free them from thy servitude, and other continued and successive calamities? See 2 Chron. 33. 11. and 36. 6, 10. Jeremiah 52:28-30.

Ezekiel 16:54

a comfort] A common kinde of speech; as if those other nations had any way been eased, by seeing the Jewes as much, or more punished then they were. Lamentations 4:6.

Ezekiel 16:55

then thou and thy daughters] Meaning that it should never come to passe.

Ezekiel 16:56

mentioned] Heb. for a report, or, hearing.

by thy mouth] Thou wouldest not call her punishment to minde when thou wast aloft, to learn by her example to fear my judgements.

pride] Heb. prides, or excellencies.

Ezekiel 16:57

discovered] That is, till thou wast brought under by the Syrians and Philistines, 2 Chron. 28. 18, 19.

Syria] Heb. Aram.

about her] Which joyned with the Syrians, or compassed about Jerusalem.

despise] Or, spoil.

Ezekiel 16:58

born thy lewdnesse, and thine abominations] Heb. born them.

Ezekiel 16:59

the oath] By which thou hadst bound thy self to me, as a people to their King, and a wife to her husband; as vers. 8. See Deuteronomy 27:15.

Ezekiel 16:60

remember my covenant] That is, of mercy and love I will pitie thee, and so stand to my covenant, though thou hast deserved the contrary.

I will establish] Jeremiah 31:31-32. Hosea 2:19.

everlasting Covenant] Namely, a spirituall covenant, made with the true Israel in spirit.

Ezekiel 16:61

Then thou shalt remember] Chap. 20. 43. Thou shalt be touched with true compunction and repentance.

when thou shalt receive] Namely, when I shall convert the Gentiles, and make them members of the Church, (and perform that great promise, Genesis 9:27) whose body was represented by the old Jewish nation, which was also first imployed in the preaching of the Gospel.

elder and thy younger] More or lesse ancient, powerfull, or noble then thy self.

for daughters] Galatians 4:26.

but not by thy Covenant] Not by vertue of the old, externall and outward Covenant, in which the naturall Jews onely had part, or such as joyned themselves to their religion and ceremonies, Jeremiah 31:32. but by vertue of the new, spirituall, and eternall one, grounded upon the Messias, and upon his righteousnesse, redemption and Spirit, which is made with the whole Israel, according to faith, Galatians 4:24-25.

Ezekiel 16:63

That thou mayest remember] These things are here written and set down, to the end that after thy re-establishment, especially in the time of the Gospell, thou mayest give God all the glory for thy deliverance, by a sincere acknowledgement, and confession of thy sinnes, approving of, and adoring in silence those judgements which had formerly been inflicted upon thee, Romans 3:19.