Ezekiel 16:40-43 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Bible Comments

They shall bring a company against thee A company shall come against thee, and beat down thy walls and houses, with stones slung out of battering-engines: see Jeremiah 33:4. The expression alludes, as in Ezekiel 16:38, to the punishment inflicted upon adulteresses, which was stoning. And they shall burn thy houses, &c. The punishment allotted to an idolatrous city, Deuteronomy 13:16. The word may likewise allude to the punishment of burning, anciently inflicted upon harlots: see Genesis 38:24. And execute judgment upon thee in the sight of many women Nations that shall triumph over thee; such as the Syrians, Philistines, &c. The judgment which I shall execute upon thee shall be for an instruction to other nations, deterring them from following thine evil practices. It is said, in the sight of women, because Jerusalem is spoken of and represented as a woman. So will I make my fury, &c., to rest I will fully satisfy my just anger, in inflicting these severe punishments upon thee. I also will recompense thy way upon thy head Thou hast despised me, I also will despise thee; thou hast forsaken me, I also will forsake thee. Thou shalt not commit this lewdness, &c. Thou shalt not add these manifold and shameless practices of idolatry to all thy other wickedness. The clause however may be rendered, Neither hast thou laid to heart all these thine abominations.

Ezekiel 16:40-43

40 They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

41 And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.

42 So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.