Exposition of Ezekiel 14-19, Commentary on Ezechiel · Chapter 16 · Verses 20-21
VERS 20, 21.
Moreover, thou haſt taken thy Sonnes, and thy Daughters whom thou haſt borne unto me, and theſe haſt thou ſacrificed unto them to be devoured: is this of thy whoredomes a ſmall matter?
That thou haſt ſlaine my Chilrden, and delivered them, to cauſe them to paſſe through the fire for them.
THeſe words doe ſet out the ingratitude of this woman, yet more fully, viz. from her unnaturalneſſe, God gave her Children, and ſhe ſlew and ſacrificed them unto falſe gods.
Whom thou haſt borne unto me.
Not brought forth, that they ſhould be the Lords, but they were his, for in the 21 verſe he cals them his Children: though this Iſraelitiſh woman had forſaken God, and was become a notorious Idolatreſſe, yet the Children ſhee brought forth were the Lords.
1. Jure Domini, he is the God of nature, having ſoveraigne authority over all creatures, and ſo both the Parents and Children were the Lords, as well as other creatures, he cals it his gold, his ſilver, his Oyle, his incenſe, &c.
2. Jure faederis, God had made a Covenant with them, and promiſed to be their God, and the God of their ſeed, Gen. 17.7. he ſpeakes of his being in covenant with his people, verſe 8. of this Chapter, he tooke this Iſraelitiſh woman to be his, and though ſhe playd'd the whore, yet the Children ſhe bare were the Lords, becauſe God had not given her a Bill of Divorce, but her Children had circumciſion, which was a token of the Covenant between God and them, Gen. 17.11. and it is cald the Covenant of circumciſion, Acts 7.8. in themſelves conſidered, they were worthy rather the name of Baſtards, then to be honoured with the title of ſonnes.
Theſe haſt thou ſacrificed.
The Hebrew word foreign is to kill, ſlay, as you doe Beaſts, either for eating or ſacrificing. Septu: is, foreign. Vulg. Immolaſti. Piſc. Pol. &c. mactaſti, thou haſt ſlaine, ſo you have it in the next verſe, Thou haſt ſlaine my Children foreign from foreign to kill or extend, becauſe when the beaſt was kil'd, they extended the parts of it: here they kild their Children, either before they put them into the fire and ſacrific'd them to Idols, or by caſting them alive into the fire, Jer. 7.31. there is motion made of Topheth in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and it was to burne their Sonnes and Daughters in the fire: Expoſitors ſay, this Tophet was a Chappell or Altar where Molech was, and here they offered their Chidren to that Idol. This Idol Molech, the Hebrews tell us, was made of braſſe, hollow and capacious in the concave of it, they put their Children either in it, or under it, there being a great fire, they burnt them in honour to the Idol. Others thinke they were put in the armes of the Idol, being red hot and ſo roſted to death, and becauſe the lamentable ſhriekes and cryes of the Children in the fire ſhould not be heard, they played upon Tabrets, beate on drumms or pans, whence it was cal'd Tophet for foreign is Tympanum, A Tabret, Drum, or Pann.
This inhumane practiſe was frequent among the Jewes, as you may obſerve from 2 Kings 16.3: Chap. 17.17: & 21.6. Jer. 19.5: 32.35. Ahaz walked in the way of the Kings of Iſrael; and made his Sons to paſſe through the fire (that was their ordinarie practiſe) according to the abhominations of the Heathen, and Chap. 17.31. The Sepharvites burnt their Children in the fire to Adrammelech, and Ammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
This cuſtome of ſacrificing their Children, is judg'd by the learned, that the Heathens took up from the example of Abraham, who would have offered his Sonne in ſacrifice to God, they thought (though this was not done) ſurely ſuch ſacrifices were acceptable to God; if God tooke it well at Abrahams hands, who did but attempt it, he would much more take it well at their hands, who ſhould doe it, their Children were deare to them, and when they ſhould thus part with them for the honour of their God, as they conceiv'd, how could it be but he ſhould take it well at their hands, they conſidered not that Abraham did it upon ſpeciall command. Beſides its probable that the Heathens had learn'd the meaning of their ſacrifices, which typed out Chriſt, who ſhould take mans nature upon them, and be a ſacrifice to pacifie the wrath of God: they thought hereupon, that the ſacrificing of Children and men, would doe the like with their gods, and make them acceptable to them, Mich. 6.7. Shall I give my firſt borne for my tranſgreſſion, the fruit of my bodie, for the ſinne of my ſoule. Theſe words import, that both the Heathens and idolatrous Jewes did imagine, that the ſacrificing of their Children, did make attonement for their ſinnes, which the Prophet confutes and condemnes.
To be devoured
Hebrew is, ad comedendum to eate or to be eaten, they put their Children into the fire, which did eate them up, and conſume them, in Iſai. 5.24. you have the ſame word, As the fire devoureth. Orig. is, eateth the ſtubble, and the word fire in the Hebrew is, foreign the Tongue of the fire, the Tongue licks in the meat and eates it: ſo the flame catches hold of combuſtible matter, and conſumes it.
To paſſe through the fire.
Hebrew is, in cauſing them to paſſe through: ſome Children they burnt wholly in the fire, others as its uſually conceiv'd, they caus'd to paſſe through the fire, which was a purging of them from the filth and defilements, as alſo a conſecrating of them to the Idol, and his Service: they placed much efficacie in fire, for the hallowing of thoſe paſſed through it.
The Tartars, ſaith Abutenſiis, thinke all ſtrangers, ſuch as are not of their owne race, uncleane, and before they can ſee or ſpeake with their King, they muſt paſſe betweene two fires, by which being purged, they are deem'd worthie of his preſence, wee muſt paſſe through the fire of the Law and Goſpell, before we come to the ſight of the Lord.
Whither Authors have not miſtaken in this, thinking that ſome Children only were drawne through the fire, and not burnt, I deſire one thing may be taken into conſideration, and that is what the Scripture cals paſſing through the fire, in one place it cals burning, in another 2 Kings 16.3. it is ſaid, Ahaz made his Sonnes to paſſe through the fire. 2 Chron. 28.3. its ſaid, He burnt his Children in the fire: ſo here in our Prophet that is cal'd devouring in the 20. verſe is tearmed Paſſing through the fire; in the 21. not under correction, that they paſſed through the fire and ſo liv'd, but paſſed through it to the honour of the Idol.
Obſer. 1.
When men leave God and his word, they fall into wicked practiſes, and proceed further and further dayly, this Jewiſh eſtate left God and his word, fell to Idolatrie, the Idolatrie of all the Nations, yea more then that, to the ſacrificing of her Children, Moreover thou haſt taken thy ſonnes, &c. Jehoram ſlew his Brethren, divers Princes of Iſrael wrought evill in the eyes of the Lord 2 Chron. 21.4. Chap. 6. Verſe 11. Moreover he made high places in the mountaines of Judah, and cauſed the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem, to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto; ſo Ahaz beſides his walking in the wayes of the Kings of Iſrael, and making molten Images for Baalim, it is ſaid, Moreover he burnt incenſe in the valley of the Sonne of Hinnom, ſee Chap. 36.14. this 16. of Ezek. 29. ſinners have their moreovers, they add ſinne to ſinne. Herod had done much evill, yet he added more to it, Luke. 3.19, 20. he ſhut up John in priſon: As ſinners have their moreovers, ſo God hath his moreovers, Deut. 28.4. after the Lord had threatned them with judgements and curſes from 15. verſe to the 45. there he ſaith, Moreover all theſe curſes ſhall come upon thee, and ſhall perſue thee, and over…ake thee, till thou be deſtroyed, ſo Ezek. 5.14. Moreover, I will make thee waſt, and a reproach among the Nations that are round about thee.
Obſer 2
Sinners may come to ſuch a height of ſinning, as to violate all bonds and bounds of reſtraint, Thou haſt taken thy ſonnes, and thy Daughters which thou haſt born unto me, and theſe thou haſt ſacrificed unto them to be deuovred: is this of thy whoredoms a ſmall matter?
There were many bonds and conſiderations to have kept them off from this bloodie work.
1. It was againſt the light of nature, which is, quaedam impreſſio divini luminis in anima rationali, the light which is in the ſoules of men, naturally tels them they ſhould not murther, eſpecially innocents, ſuch as Children, they ſhould doe as they would be done by, it was an unreaſonable act.
2. It was againſt the Law of nature, which Ʋlpian thus defines. Jus naturale eſt quod natura omnia animalia docuit, It is that which nature hath taught all creatures living; you know nature hath put a law or inſtinct into al creatures to preſerve their young, and if they be indangered by any, they will contend and venture much for them, even timerous creatures, as birds for their young, hens for their chicken, and all creatures more or leſſe. The law and impulſe of nature is ſtrong in them, but here the Law of nature had no force, Thou haſt taken thy ſonnes, &c. they came out of their loynes, were parts and peices of themſelves, and nature ſhould have mov'd, wrought ſtrongly in …hem, for the preſervation of their little ones, but they were unnaturall, beneath the bruit creatures in this act, they are ſo farre from deſtroying their young, that they hazard themſelves to preſerve them.
3. Thoſe were Children conſecrated unto the Lord, yet being circumciſed, and having the token of the Covenant, were the Lords, therefore it is ſaid, Which thou haſt borne unto me, this ſhould have reſtrain'd them from ſo ſacrilegious an act, as to take them from God, and ſacrifice them unto Devils, for Pſal. 106.37. They ſacrificed their ſonnes and daughters unto Devils; to take them from an infinite, gratious, bleſſed, holy God, and give them unto Idols and Devils, what an accurſed and horrible thing was this? As if a Mother ſhould take the Child out of the Fathers armes, who is loving, tender over it, and throw it to Lyons, Beares, or any other ravenous creatures.
4. They had a full command to the contrary, Levit. 18.21. Thou ſhalt not let any of thy ſeed paſſe through the fire to Molech, yea this was backed with no leſſe penaltie then death, Levit. 20.2. Whoſoever he be of the Children of Iſrael, or of the ſtrangers that ſojourne in Iſrael, that giveth any of his ſeed to Molech, he ſhall ſurely be put to death: the people of the Land ſhall ſtone him with ſtones. I will ſet my face againſt that man, and againſt his familie, and will cut him off. v. 3. and 5.
5. The manner of the death ſhould have prevail'd with them, not to have yeilded to it, it was the moſt terrible death of all deaths, to be burnt in the fire, O the ſhriekes cryes, and lamentations of poore innocents! but ſee the hand of God upon them for it, Lamen. 4.10. They ſod their owne Children.
Obſer. 3.
A whoriſh idolatrous Church may bring forth Children unto God; this Jewiſh Church was fallen to as groſſe Idolatrie and practiſes, as were to be found among heathen, and yet the Children ſhe brought forth are termed to be the Lords, in what ſenſe, I ſhew'd you in opening of the words, a Church may have Ordinances which may intitle its Children to be the Lords, and yet not prove it ſelfe to be a true Church, the Jewes had circumciſion, which the Chidren partaking of, were counted the Lords, but themſelves were ſo corrupt, whoriſh, idolatrous, bloodie in offering their Children to Idols, that the Lord did not owne them for a lawfull Spouſe, and true Church, as you may ſee, verſe 38. I will judge thee as women that breake wedlock, and ſhed blood are judged: ſo the Tribes brought forth Children unto God, but the Lord ſaid of them, Loammi, Hoſ. 1.9. Yee are not my people. The Romiſh Church may bring forth ſome Children unto God, becauſe ſhe hath baptiſme, and other Ordinances in her, yet ſhe is ſo corrupt, idolatrous, bloodie in perſecuting the Saints, that ſhe is rather the whore of Anti-Chriſt, the Synogogue of Satan, then the true Spouſe of Chriſt.
Obſer. 4.
In matters of worſhip, it is not mens zeale and good intentions, will juſtifie their actions, they ſacrifice their Children with zeale as hot as fire, they thought to pacifie and pleaſe their Idol-gods, that they did acceptable Service in parting with their deareſt comforts, their tender babes for the honor of their God, but this was ſo far from acceptation, that it fearefully provoked God, Is this of thy whoredomes a ſmall matter? the more zealous thou art in this, the worſe; thy good intentions are abhominations, who required this at thy hands? Gideon in making an Ephod; Jeroboam in ſetting up the golden Calves; the Galathians in obſerving of dayes; the Coloſſians in ſubjecting to Ordinances, had their zeale and good intentions, but not one of them were juſtifiable by the word of God, will-worſhip hath no acceptance in divine worſhip, mens inventions are nothing the better for their good intentions; the Papiſts pretend good intentions for all their additions to baptiſme, and other parts of the worſhip of God, but notwithſtanding their intentions, they are no better then ſuperſtitious.
Obſer. 5.
In pretended wayes of worſhip, men grow cruell and bloodie, Thou haſt ſlaine my Children, and delivered them to cauſe them to paſſe through the fire for them, they pretended this was a right and good way of worſhip, and in honour of their falſe gods and wayes, they become cruell and murther their owne Children: falſe wayes of worſhip, have this grand evill intrinſecall unto them, they have crueltie and bloodineſſe attending them, whereas true Religion only, and the wayes of it, hath this honour to be mild and mercifull, bearing and forbearing, James 3.17. The Phariſees pretended they knew the Law, were only in the right way; but they were deceiv'd, and how bitter, bloodie, and perſecuting were they againſt Chriſts Apoſtles, and thoſe imbrac'd the truths they delivered, John 16.2, & 3. Chriſt tels them what would be the practice of men in falſe wayes, they would kill them, and thinke they did God good ſervice in it, and why? they knew not the Father nor Chriſt, they were ſtrangers unto their wayes, which were full of love, meeknes, kindnes, and had wayes of their owne which made them zealous, bitter, plot, and to breake out into open violence, ſee Rev. 16.5.6. the Babyloniſh whore ſlew the Children of the Lord, and was drunk with the blood of Saints and Martyrs, in her was found the blood of all the ſlaine upon the earth, al that ſuffered for the truth; ſhe ſucceeded the former, juſtified their wayes, fil'd up what was wanting in them.