Ezekiel 23:36-44 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

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Bible Comments

The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;

A summing up of the sins of the two sisters, especially those of Judah. A summing up of the sins of the two sisters, especially those of Judah.

Verse 36. Wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? - that is, wilt thou not judge them (note, Ezekiel 20:4).

Verse 38. They have defiled my sanctuary in the same day - on the very day that they had burned their children to Moloch in the valley of Gehenna, they shamelessly and hypocritically presented themselves as worshippers in Yahweh's temple, thereby 'defiling' it (Jeremiah 7:9-10).

Verse 40. Ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent - namely, by Judah (Ezekiel 23:16; Isaiah 57:9).

Paintedst thine eyes - (2 Kings 9:30, margin, 'Jezebel put her eyes in painting;' Jeremiah 4:30, margin, 'thou rentest thy eyes with painting'). Black paint was spread on the eyelids of beauties to make the white of the eye more attractive by the contrast; so Judah left no seductive art untried.

Verse 41. Satest upon a stately bed - divan. While men reclined at table, women sat, as it seemed indelicate for them to lie down (Amos 6:4). (Grotius.)

And a table prepared before it - i:e., the idolatrous altar.

Whereupon thou hast set mine incense - which I had given thee, and which thou oughtest to have offered to me (Ezekiel 16:18-19; Hosea 2:8: cf. Proverbs 7:17).

Verse 42. With the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans - not content with the princely, handsome Assyrians, the sisters brought to themselves the rude robber hordes of Sabeans (Job 1:15). The Qeri', or Masoretic margin, reads as the English version; but the Kethibh, or text, reads 'drunkards' [cowbª'iym, instead of Caabaa'iym (H5436)].

Which put bracelets upon their hands - upon the hands of the sisters; i:e., they allured Samaria and Judah to worship their gods.

Verse 43. Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them? - Is it possible that paramours will desire any longer to commit whoredoms with so worn-out an "old" adulteress?

Related Commentaries of Ezekiel 23:36

Ezekiel 23:36-44

36 The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judgef Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;

37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.

38 Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.

39 For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

40 And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to comeg from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for whom thou didst wash thyself, paintedst thy eyes, and deckedst thyself with ornaments,

41 And satest upon a statelyh bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.

42 And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from the wilderness, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.

43 Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredomsi with her, and she with them?

44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.