Ezekiel 23:17-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 23:11-21

The prophet Hosea, in his time, observed that the two tribes retained their integrity, in a great measure, when the ten tribes had apostatized (Hos. 11:12; Ephraim indeed compasses me about with lies, but Judah yet rules with God and is faithful with the saints; and this was justly expected from them: Hos. 4:15; Though thou Israel play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend); but this lasted not long. By some unhappy matches made between the house of David and the house of Ahab the worship of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:17

And the Babylonians came to her in the bed of love ,.... Entered into alliance with the Jews, and worshipped together in the same idols' temple. Jarchi thinks this refers to the messengers of the king of Babylon to Hezekiah; who were gladly received by him, and to whom he showed all the treasures of his house: and they defiled her with their whoredom ; or with their idols, as the Targum; they drew them into their idolatrous practices; which were defiling them, and by which they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:18

So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness ,.... The Jews did not cease from their idolatries when they broke with the Babylonians; but were rather more frequent and impudent in them, and courted the friendship and alliance of other Heathen nations, and their worship; even as a lewd woman, when she has cast off her former lovers, does not leave her lewdness, but seeks after others; and by her impudence in discovering her whoredoms, and her nakedness, and by all the signs... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:19

Yet she multiplied her whoredoms ,.... Though the Lord frowned upon the Jews in the times of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, yet still they went on, and increased their alliances and idolatries with the Heathen nations: in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt ; they called to mind with pleasure the idolatries of their fathers in Egypt, and committed the same themselves; they sent ambassadors to Egypt, in the times of Zedekiah, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:20

For she doted upon their paramours ,.... Or "concubines" F26 פלגשיהם "equecubinas eorum", Vatablus, so Junius & Tremellius, Polanus; "concubitores", Munster, Tigurine version; "cinaedos", Castalio; and, as Ben Melech observes, these were men, and not women. ; the neighbouring nations and allies of the Egyptians, whose friendship the Jews courted, and whose idols they served: the Septuagint and Arabic versions wrongly read the Chaldeans: whose flesh is as the flesh of asses,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 23:20

She doted upon their paramours - פלגשיהם pillagsheyhem , their harlots or concubines. Anciently harlot meant in our language either the male or female prostitute. Whose flesh is as the flesh of asses - See on Ezekiel 16:25 ; (note). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:1-49

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:1-49

Inexcusable infidelity. What it must have cost the patriotic prophet to write this chapter passes our power to imagine. The Jew was naturally and pardonably proud of his country and of its history. No thoughtful Jew could, indeed, be insensible to imperfections and flaws in the national character, to stains upon the nation's annals. But in this passage of his prophecies the dark shading is relieved by no gleam of light. Israel is depicted as bad from the days of Egyptian bondage down to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:17

The words paint the intimate alliance, the political prostitution, as it were, involved in the alliance with Babylon. Her mind was alienated from them. Interpreted by the history, the words point to the fact that Judah soon found out how hollow was the help gained by the alliance with Babylon, and turned, after Josiah's death, to Egypt as a counterpoise. As in the history of Amnon ( 2 Samuel 13:15 ), lust, when it had wrought its will, passed into loathing and disgust. Jehoiakim and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:19

Yet she multiplied her whoredoms . The disappointment and failure, however, did not lead to repentance. Foreign alliances, and with them foreign idolatries, were courted more eagerly than ever, though in a different direction. The lovers were changed, but the harlotry went on. read more

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