Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 23

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 .

Verse 2

Son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

two women. Two sisters, representing respectively Samaria and Jerusalem.

Verse 3

whoredoms = idolatries.

Egypt. Compare Ezekiel 20:7 , Ezekiel 20:8 . pressed = handled, as in verses: Ezekiel 23:8 , Ezekiel 23:21 .

bruised = squeezed (in natural use).

Verse 4

Aholah. Hebrew. 'ahalah = [She has] her own tent. So named probably because Israel set up her own worship as distinct from Jehovah's.

elder. Refers not to age, but to extent.

Aholibah . Hebrew. 'ahalibah = My tent [is] in her.

Verse 7

the chosen , &c. = the choice of Asshur's sons. So. verses: Ezekiel 23:9 , Ezekiel 23:12 .

Verse 10

famous = a name: i.e. infamous.

Verse 14

men . Hebrew, plural 'enosh . App-14 .

Verse 17

mind = Hebrew. nephesh. App-18 ,

Verse 18

My mind. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .

like as = according as.

Verse 19

calling to remembrance. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause), App-6 , for the desiring of her former idolatries.

harlot. Put for idolatress.

in. Some codices read "from", as in Ezekiel 23:8 and Ezekiel 23:27 .

Verse 21

bruising . Aram, and Syriac read "handling", as in Ezekiel 23:3 .

Verse 22

the Lord GOD. Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 23

Pekod . . . Shea . . . Roo. These Eastern peoples are all named in the inscriptions,

Verse 24

wagons = chariots.

an assembly = a gathered host.

people = peoples.

Verse 29

labour. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause), App-6 , for the product of the labour.

Verse 30

heathen = nations,

idols = manufactured gods.

Verse 31

cup. Compare Isaiah 51:17 . Revelation 14:9 , Revelation 14:10 .

Verse 34

break : or, gnaw, lest a drop should be lost.

pluck off = tear out: i.e. destroy the occasions of their idolatry.

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle.

Verse 35

lewdness . . . whoredoms. Put here by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Cause), App-8 , for the punishment due to the idolatry.

Verse 37

adultery. Put (like whoredom) for all idolatry, as being unfaithfulness to Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 16:15 .

caused = set apart.

to pass, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:21 ; Leviticus 20:2-4 ),

them . "Them" is masculine, and refers to the idols, in the first clause; and so, many codices, with six earlypriated editions (one Rabbinic). But some codices read feminine = themselves.

Verse 38

defiled . . . profaned. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:31 ). App-92 . Compare Ezekiel 22:8 .

Verse 39

children = sons.

lo . Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 40

men. Plural of 'mush. App-14 .

wash thyself. Compare Ruth 3:3 .

paintedst, he. Compare 2 Kings 9:30 . Jeremiah 4:30 .

Verse 41

a stately bed. Compare Proverbs 7:16-18 . Isa 67:8 , Isa 67:9 ,

Verse 42

multitude , &c. = a careless throng.

with her : or, in her: i.e. in Jerusalem.

men of the common sort = men out of the mass of mankind.

men . Hebrew, plural of 'enosh, App-14 .

the common sort. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Sabeans . Hebrew text reads "drunkards", But margin, and some codices, with three early printed editions, read "Sebeans".

Verse 43

and she = even hers. Ginsburg thinks it should read so it was". Compare Ezekiel 16:15 , Ezekiel 16:19 .

Verse 44

they went. Hebrew text reads "came he". A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), with some codices, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "came they".

Verse 45

the righteous . . . shall judge. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 20:10 ). App-92 .

Verse 46

company = a gathered host.

Verse 49

sins. Hebrew. chata. App-44 .

ye shall know, &c. Occurs only here, Ezekiel 13:9 ; and Ezekiel 24:24 . Compare note on Ezekiel 6:7 .