Ezekiel
Verse 3. Fornication. That is, idolatry. Challoner.—Down. Virgins used the stomacher, or ( Bible.) fascia pectoralis. Isaiah 3:24. This chapter resembles the 16th. Calmet.
EXPLANATIONS
Ezekiel 23
Historical chapter commentary
Ezekiel
Verse 4. Oolla and Ooliba. God calls the kingdom of Israel Oolla, which signifies their own habitation, because they separated themselves from his temple; and the kingdom of Juda Ooliba, which signifies his habitation in her, because of his temple among them in Jerusalem. Challoner.—The ten tribes first gave way to idolatry, and were more numerous. Calmet.—In Egypt the people were united, yet abandoned to idolatry in their youth, when they were only beginning to increase. Afterwards the ten tribes set up altars for themselves, at Dan and Bethel. Worthington.
Ezekiel
Verse 5. Assyrians. That is, the idols of the Assyrians: for all that is said in this chapter of the fornications of Israel and Juda, is to be understood in a spiritual sense of their disloyalty to the Lord, by worshipping strange gods. Challoner. Worthington.—The Assyrians taught the worship of Baal, the high places, and so forth The Egyptians also promoted their abominations. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 6. Blue, or purple. This was reserved for the principal nobility.
Ezekiel
Verse 8. Egypt. They always retained an affection for those idols, the calf, Adonis, and so forth
Ezekiel
Verse 10. Disgrace: satisfying their passions. verse 29. Calmet.—Women. Having once lost all sense of decorum, they became more abandoned. Bible.
Ezekiel
Verse 11. This; not chastisement, but dissolution.
Ezekiel
Verse 14. Colours. She was enamoured at the account or picture of these people, without ever having seen them.
Ezekiel
Verse 16. Messengers. Achaz invited the Assyrians, and imitated their altars, &chapter 4 Kennicott. 16:2. and so forth Calmet.—The Chaldeans afterwards possessed the country. Bible.
Ezekiel
Verse 17. Love. Lit. “of breasts,” as Hebrew also signifies. Here it denotes the temples. Menochius.
Ezekiel
Verse 19. Remembering, or “causing to be remembered” by God, who seemed to have forgotten those ancient scenes of wickedness. Calmet. 21:24.
Ezekiel
Verse 20. Asses. He means the Egyptians, (Calmet. 16:26) in whom the kings of Juda trusted. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 22. About. The Philistines, Ammonites, and so forth shall join the Chaldees, ( Bible.) and Egypt shall desert the Jews in their greatest need. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 23. Nobles. Prot. “Pekod, and Shoah, and Roa:” ( Bible.) which Junius takes to be the three great divisions of the empire. Others suppose they denote the dignities, though they occur not in Daniel.—Captains. Hebrew “Phachat, and Saganim, (verse 6, 12) and Schalischim:” officers mentioned Exodus 14:7 and 2 Kennicott. 23:8.—Renowned, called to the assemblies and councils of the princes. Numbers 1:16. Calmet.—Horsemen. Prot. “all of them riding upon horses.” Bible.
Ezekiel
Verse 24. Judgments, at Reblatha. 4 Kennicott. 25:6.
Ezekiel
Verse 25. Jealousy, the most violent of passions. Calmet.—So the Chaldees are styled, as Assur is the rod. Isaiah 10:5. Worthington.—Ears, the punishment of adulteresses: both king and priests suffer. Saint Jerome—Thus the captives were probably treated. Calmet. See Sen. Ira. iii. 20.—Fire, by Ismahel. Calmet. 19:14.
Ezekiel
Verse 26. Glory; vanity, or of the temple. Calmet. 16:17. Osee 2:4.
Ezekiel
Verse 31. Cup. Thou shalt be punished like Samaria, dreadfully. 4 Kennicott. 17:4. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 34. Fragments, as drunkards sometimes bite ( Bible.) the cup in their rage.—Rend. What had been the occasion of thy fall: ( Calmet.) pectori planxi. Ovid ep. 5.
Ezekiel
Verse 36. Deeds. He is thus admonished to condemn them; (Calmet. 20:4) as times and places tended to aggravate their crimes, verse 39. Worthington.
Ezekiel
Verse 40. Paint, with antimony. Septuagint See 4 Kennicott. 9:3.
Ezekiel
Verse 41. Bed: it seems at table. Amos 2:8. Tobit 2:3.—Ointment; using them for thyself, or presenting them to idols. Exodus 30:23 and 33. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 42. And that. Prot. “Sabeans (marg. and Septuagint drunkards) from,” and so forth Any were admitted ( Bible.) to the priesthood and to her favours, even the most rustic and deformed. 3 Kennicott. 12:32.
Ezekiel
Verse 45. Just, compared with the Jews, whom they shall chastise. Calmet.
Ezekiel
Verse 47. Stones, like adulteresses. Calmet. 16:38. Leviticus 20:10. Bible.—Let the walls be demolished. Calmet.