Ezekiel 23
PATThe idolatries of Samaria and Jerusalem are here represented under the metaphor of the lewd practices of two common harlots: for which crimes God. denounces severe judgments against them both. The same metaphor is here made use of, which was pursued at large in the sixteenth chapter. (See the Argument there.) reads, She became a name among women: as she had been formerly renowned among the heathen for her beauty) (xvi. 14.) so now she was everywhere talked of asaremarkablo instance of God’s vengeance, and set forth for an cxamplo to other cities and nations, to deter them from the like abominations. (Sco vcr. 48. and xvi. 41.) For they had executed judgment upon her.] See vcr. 24. Vcr. 11. And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she.] Jerusalem was so far from taking warning by the judgments inflicted upon Samaria, that she advanced to greater degrees of idolatry. (Secver.14, xvi.47. 51. Jer. iii. 8. and the notes upon those places.) husbands, in that case, render those women deformed, whose beauty hath been too pleasing to strangers; so shall the Chaldeans deface all the glories and ornaments of Jerusalem, and after they have slain and carried captive its inhabitants, shall set the city on fire, and reduce it to a heap of ashes. (Compare xvi. 41.)
Ezekiel 23:2
JL HERE were two women, the daughters of one mo« ther. Countries are commonly represented as mothers of their people, and the inhabitants as their children: so the daughters of Syria signify the inhabitants of that country, (xvi. 57.) Thus Samaria and Jerusalem are described in this chapter as sisters, the offspring of the same land or country. (Compare xvi. 4G. Jer. iii. 7, 8. 10.)
Ezekiel 23:3
And they committed whoredoms in Egypt. They learned to commit idolatry there. (See xx. 7, 8.) It has been already observed, that idolatry is often represented as spiritual adultery. (See xvi. 15, &c. and see the note upon xx. 8.) • They committed whoredoms in their youth.] The time when the Israelites were in Egypt, or were lately departed out of it, is called their youth in the prophets, because that was the time when God first owned them for his people. (See ver. 8. 10. xvi. 8. 22. 60. Jer. ii. 2. Hos. ii. 15.) There were their breasts pressed, &c] There they served idols, and there they corrupted their ways, as tho Chaldee paraphrase expresses the sense. The Scripture commonly calls idolatrous churches and nations by the name of har r lots; and, in like manner, honours those who preserve their allegiance to God pure and undefiled, with the title of chaste ivives or virgins. (See 2 Cor. xi. 2. Rev. xiv. 4. xix. 7. xxi. 2.)
Ezekiel 23:4
And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister — Sa^naria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. The word Aholah signifies, Her tent or tabernacle; Aholibah denotes, My tent ox tabernacle is in her* These two different appellations^ imply, that Samaria had indeed a tabernacle or place for public worship, but of her own devising, viz. the cities of Dan and Beth-el, where the golden calves were set up; whereas God’s tabernacle first, and afterward his temple, was placed in Jerusalem. He placed his name there, or chose it for the place’of his peculiar residence, (1 Kings viii. 29.) “Why Aholah is called the elder sister, see the note on xvi. 46.
Ezekiel 23:5
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine. After she had lived in covenant with me, and attended upon my service and worship all the time of the judges, and of David and Solomon, she fell off from my service, and was the first that established idolatry by.a law, and consented to Jeroboam’s wicked device of setting up the golden calves. < And she doted on her lovers.] i.,e. Her foreign allies, whose idolatries she was fond of, and hoped by that means to procure their friendship and assistance. (See the note on xvi. 33. 37.) On the Assyrians her neighbours.] The king of Assyria was a very potent prince, and thereupon his alliance was courted both by the kings of Israel and Judah. (See 2 Kings xv. 29. xvi. 7. and ver. 12. of this chapter.),
Ezekiel 23:6
Which were clothed tvith blue, captains andrulers. As women are apt to fall in love with comely young men well mounted and richly clothed; so the Israelites were enamoured with the state and bravery of the Assyrians, and thought themselves” secure if they could but procure their alliance and friendship; and in order to it embraced their idolatries. Horsemen riding upon horses.] Horses were scarce in Judea, which made the Jews apply themselves to the neighbouring countries for troops of horse in the time of any hostile invasion. (See Isa. xxx. 16. xxxi. 2. xxxvi. 8.)
Ezekiel 23:7
Thus she committed Iter whoredoms with them. She defiled herself with her idols, as the sense is more plainly expressed at the end of the verse.
Ezekiel 23:8
Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt. She added new idolatries to those she had formerly committed. (See ver. 3.)
Ezekiel 23:9
Wherefore I delivered her into tht hdnd of her lovers. God made these very Assyrians the executioners of his judgments upon the ten tribes: many of them being carried away captive by Pul, king of Assyria, (IChron. v. 25, 26.) afterward by Tiglath-pileser, (2 Kings xv. 29.) and at length the whole country was subdued and depopulated by Shalmaneser, (2 Kings.xvii. 6.) The kings of Babylon were likewise styled kings of Assyria. (See 2 Kings xxii.29. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11.) Lovers mean the same with allies, those whose friendship and assistance the Jews courted, by complying with them in tlieir idolatries. (See xvi. 37.) <
Ezekiel 23:10
These discovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters. They carried her and her children away captive, stripped and bare. (Compare ver. 29. and xvi. 37. 39.) And slew her with the sword.*) Compare ver. 47. and xvi. 40. Those that were not led captive were slain in the field of battle, or in the siege of Samaria, 2 Kings xvii. 5. And she became famous among women.] The Hebrew
Ezekiel 23:12
She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, &c. Compare ver. 1. The king of Judah, Ahaz, entered into a confederacy with the king of Assyria, hoping for relief from his power and the bravery of his army, and serving his idols to that end. * (See 2 Kings xvi. 7. 11. 2 Chron. xxviii. 1G. 23.) •Ver. 13. They took both one ivay.] Both of them were like common harlots, impudent in their idolatries, and irreclaimable. (Compare Jer. iii. 13.)
Ezekiel 23:14
When she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldearts, &c. These were probably the pictures of those deified heroes whom the Chaldeans worshipped as gods: such were* Bel, Ncbo, and Mcrodach, mentioned Isa. xlvi. 1. Jer. 1.2.
Ezekiel 23:15
Girded ivitlr girdles upon their loins. A girdle was a mark of dignity, and worn as such by princes and men in authority. (See 1 Sam. xviii. 4. Isa. xxii. 21.) In died attire upon their heads.] The Chaldeans, and afterward the Persians, wore a sort of turbans upon their heads, with different “degrees of ornaments’, according to their different qualities. * i
Ezekiel 23:16
And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto theminto Chaldea. These images pleased her so’much, that she sent to Babylon to learn the manner how their idols were to be worshipped. (Sccvcr.40,41.andxvi.l7.) This probably relates to those times when a correspondence was maintained between the cities of Babylon* and Jerusalem, after that Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judea, and made it a tributary kingdom, in the beginning of t the fourth year of Jchoiakim. (Sce2Kingsxxiv.l. Dan. i. 1,2. and the notes upon Jer!xxii.l9.) •.
Ezekiel 23:17
And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, tic. The metaphor of representing idolatry by the inordinate lust of adultery is still carried on. And her mind was’ alienated from them.] She quickly grew weary of these too, as lewd women are of their former gallants, and look out for new ones. She broke her league and covenant with them, as St. Jerome very well expresses the sense; meaning that covenant which Jchoiakim made with Nebuchadnezzar, to be his tributary: (compare ver. 16”. 22. 28.) and was afterward renewed by Zedckiah. (Sec xvii. 15.) Vcr. 18. So she discovered her whoredoms, &c.] The sense might better be expressed, After she had discovered, &c. the sense being still continued with the foregoing verse. Tlien my mind was alienated from her, Sec] As she, by her idolatries, had broken all the bonds of duty and allegiance whereby shewas engaged to me, a sin often compared to a wife’s disloyally towards her husband: so I withdrew my love and affection from her, and resolved to give her a bill of divorce, as the prophet Jeremy expresses it, and not own her any more as mine, as I had cast off her sister Samaria. (Comparo Jer. iii. 8. vi. 8. Hos. ii. 2.)
Ezekiel 23:19
Yet she multiplied her, whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, &c. Though she was fond of new idolatries, she did not forget her old ones, even those which she had learned in Egypt. (Sec vcr. 3.)
Ezekiel 23:20
For she doted upon their paramours, &c. Upon tho idols of Egypt, and the impure rites which accompany their idolatrous worship. (See the notes upon xvi. 26.) This may relate to the time when Zedckiah entered.into a new confederacy with Egypt; (see vcr. 21. and xvii. 15.) which made tho people fond of admitting the Egyptian idolatries. Vcr. 22. 1 will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind is alienated.] I will execute my judgments upon thee by those very Babylonians, whose alliance and idolatries thou hast been so fond of: (see ver. 9.) but since hast broken the league thou madest with them, contracting a new one with Egypt, and’ thereby hast provoked them to revenge thy perfidiousness. (Sec vcr. 17.)
Ezekiel 23:23
The Babtjlonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them. The inhabitants of the several provinces of the Babylonish monarchy. Pekod is mentioned as a province of Babylon, Jer. 1. 21. St. Jerome upon the place understands these three words, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, in an appellative sense, to denote so many titles or degrees of honour, as much as to say, governors, princes,.and great men. In which sense the two former words, Pekod (or Pakud) and Shoa, are confessedly taken in Scripture; and Koa is supposed to be derived from the verb kadng, which signifies printing marks in the flesh, (Lev. xix. 28.) and it was the custom of great men to distinguish themselves from their inferiors by such marks or prints. (See Dr. Spencer> de Lcgib. Hebr. lib. ii. cap, 14. sect. 1.) All of them desirable young men, &c] As their riches and bravery made them appear amiable in your eyes, when you first courted their alliance, (ver. 12.) so they shall appear in the same splendid equipage, when they come to invade your country, and to besiege your city; but then their gallant appearance shall strike a terror and consternation into you.. I,
Ezekiel 23:24
And they shall come against thee with chariots, waggons, and wheels, &c. A like description of warlike preparations may be seen xxvi. 10. Jer. xlvii. 3. Nalium iii. 2, 3. Chariots are mentioned, both in sacred and profane writers, as of principal use in the ancient way of fighting. And I will set judgment before them; and they shall judge thee according to their judgments.] I will deliver thee into their power, as the ministers of my justice, who shall make thy punishments bear a correspondence with thy guilt. (See ver. 45.) \ j j
Ezekiel 23:25
And J vnll set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee. They shall punish thee with, that fury, with which a mail in the rage of jealousy shall treat a wife that hath been unfaithful to him. (Comr pare xvi. 38.) They shall take away thy nose, and thine, ears,,&c] As
Ezekiel 23:26
They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, &c. See.ibid. ver. 37.39.. Ver. 27; Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee.’] These severe judgments shall effectually deter thee from idolatry, and make thee abhor the least approaches towards it. (See xxii. 15.) Accordingly we find, that, after the captivity, the Jews never returned to their former idolatrous practices. And thy whoredoms brought from the land of Egypt*] Where thou didst first learn idolatry, and ever since hast had an inclination towards it. (See ver. 3. 19.) So that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them.] See xviii.- 6.
Ezekiel 23:28
I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, &c. The Chaldeans, that were thy lovers formerly; (ver. 22.) but since thou hast broken thy league and friendship with them, thy love is turned to hatred. m (See ver. 17.)
Ezekiel 23:29
And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour. As thou hast requited their love with hatred, so shall they deal with thee; their hatred against thee shall be greater than their former love towards thee, which was the conclusion of Amnon’s unlawful love to his sister, (2 Sam. xiii. 15.) This shall prompt them to take a full revenge upon thy perfidiousness, to consume all.the fruits of thy labours, and to take away all the wealth thou hast gathered by thine industry. And shall leave thee naked and bare*] See the note on xvi. 37.
Ezekiel 23:31
Tlierefore will I give her cup into thine hand — thou shalt be laughed to scorn, and had in derision. Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, &c. God’s judgments arc often compared to a cup of intoxicating liquors, because they astonish men, and bereave them of common judgment and discretion, and likewise expose them to the scorn and contempt of their enemies. (See Jer. xxv. 15, &c. xlviii. 26. Habak. ii. 16.)
Ezekiel 23:34
Thou shalt even drink it, and suck it out. The sorest and heaviest of God’s judgments shall fall to thy share; like those that drink a potion off to the bottom, where the most nauseous paTt of it is settled. (Sec Psal. lxxv. 8; Jer. Ii. 17.) Thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts.] Thou shalt behave thyself as drunken people do, who first throw away, or break in pieces, the cup, and then are angry with themselves as the cause of their own misfortunes. The text mentions her breasts, as the parts which had a principal sharcin her guilt, according to the allegorical description here given of hcT idolatries. (Seo ver. 3. 21.)
Ezekiel 23:35
Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back. Because thou hast not only forsaken my worship, but hast shewed the utmost contempt and aversion towards me, (see the note upon viii. 16.) thou shalt deservedly bear the punishment* due to thine idolatries. (Compare ver. 17. 19. 30. 49.)
Ezekiel 23:36
Wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah?. See the note on xx. 4.,
Ezekiel 23:37
That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, &c. They have committed adultery with their idols, as it follows, and have slain their. children in sacrifice to them. (See xvi. 20, 21.) •
Ezekiel 23:38
They have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, &c. By coming within the precincts of it polluted with idolatry. (See the following verse, and xxii. 8.)
Ezekiel 23:39
And, lo, thus have they done in the midst, of mine house. The words may be expounded of their setting up idols in the very temple, and worshipping them there. (See 2 Kings xxi. 4.).
Ezekiel 23:40
And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, to whom a messenger was sent, &c. ,See ver. 16. Their courting the alliances of foreign nations, by complying with their idolatries, is set forth underthe representation of the several arts which harlots use to, recommend themselves to new lovers. (Compare Isa. Ivii. 7.9. Hos. ii. 13.) For whom thou didst wash thyself] A custom, generally practised by women before the time of their nuptials. (See. Ruthiii. 3.).’,’, And paintedst thy eyes.] Or thy face, as the. phrase is translated 2 Kings ix. 30. (See the note upon Jer. iv. 30.).
Ezekiel 23:41
And sattest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it. The expressions denote their sitting down with idolaters, and partaking of their sacrifices: the words altar and table are used promiscuously in the prophets, (see Mai. i. 7.) because all sacrifices were feasts made ofofferings dedicated to God’s service; so that he was properly the entertainer, and those that did partake of the sacrifices were his guests, that did eat at his table, in token of their being in covenant and friendship with him. What was consumed upon the altar was God’s mess or portion, and is therefore called the bread of God, (see xliv. 7. Lev* xxi. 6.) and the food of the Lord, (Lev. iii. 11.) The remainder of the sacrifices his guests were entertained with, either by themselves, as in peace-offerings, or else by their proxies the priests, as in sin-offerings. (See Mr. Mede’s Discourse of the Christian Sacrifice, chap. 7.) The Jews, as well as the Romans, lying upon beds or couches at their meals. (See Isa. Ivii. 7.) So did other eastern nations. (See Esther i. 6.) Wliereupon thou hast set mine incense, and mine oil.] See xvi. 18.
Ezekiel 23:42
And the voice of a multitude being at ease was with her. All sorts of expressions of joy were heard at these her. meetings: such as music and dancing, which usually, accompanied idolatrous festivals.,. (See Exod. xxxii, 6.’ 18; 19.) V. And with the men of the common sort ivere brought the Sabeans from the wilderness.] The Sabeans. The word is translated drunkards in the margin: the word saba in the Hebrew, signifies to drink to excess, from whence comes the participle sebaim, drunkards, which comes very near in* sound to the word Sabaim in the text. Strabo, in his tenth book of Geography, p. 471. speaking of the rites of Bacchus, mentions the word 2aj3ot as used among others in the Bacchanal processions: which he supposes may have been derived, as well as several of their musical instruments, from the Barbarians, by which the Greeks denote the