The Lord instructed Ezekiel to make the detestable practices of the people of Jerusalem known to them. He prophesied to the exiles, but his message presented the people of Jerusalem as the primary object of his attention. read more
The birth of Jerusalem 16:1-5 read more
Yahweh personified Jerusalem as a woman (cf. Isaiah 1:21), and he related her history as a parable (allegory). In this parable Jerusalem represents the people of Jerusalem (a metonymy), but it is the people of Jerusalem throughout Israel’s history that are particularly in view. Some interpreters take Jerusalem as representing Israel as a nation. [Note: E.g., Cooper, p. 167; Feinberg, p. 86; and Taylor, p. 133.] Others believe Jerusalem identifies the city that is only similar to the nation in... read more
No one had compassion on Jerusalem but abandoned her because she was an unwanted child. A common method of disposing of unwanted children in the ancient Near East, especially girls, was to abandon them to the elements. [Note: See Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near . . ., p. 119; Zimmerli, p. 338; Wevers, p. 121; and Greenberg, p. 275.] When the Israelites entered the land in Joshua’s day, they did not take Jerusalem (Joshua 15:63). read more
The Lord had compassion on Jerusalem in her helpless and undesirable condition and took care of her so she survived. [Note: See Block, The Book . . ., p. 472, for the chiastic structure of Ezekiel 16:6-22.] The city remained as an unwanted child until, at the Lord’s direction, David captured it from the Jebusites and made it the capital of his kingdom (2 Samuel 5:6-10). read more
The youth of Jerusalem 16:6-14 read more
The Lord enabled Jerusalem to thrive. Her inhabitants became numerous. She eventually developed into a fine city even though she had gotten a bad start in life. During the reigns of David and Solomon, Jerusalem was one of the most highly respected cities in the ancient Near East. read more
When she was mature enough, the Lord made a commitment to take care of her forever (cf. Psalms 132:13-17). Spreading a skirt over someone was a customary way of committing to marry and to provide for someone in that culture (Ruth 3:9). [Note: See P. A. Kruger, "The Hem of the Garment in Marriage: The Meaning of the Symbolic Gesture in Ruth 3:9 and Ezekiel 16:8," Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages 12 (1984):84-85.] read more
The Lord also prepared her for a special relationship with Himself. He cleansed and anointed her and clothed her with beautiful, expensive clothing including fine shoes. He also gave her jewelry to make her even more beautiful with bracelets, a necklace, a ring, earrings, and a crown (cf. Genesis 24:53; Psalms 45:13-15; Isaiah 61:10). These were Jerusalem’s glory days under Solomon’s rule (cf. 1 Kings 10:4-5). read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 16:55
55. (See on :-). read more