Exposition of Ezekiel 20-29, Exposition · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII.
1 The word of the Lord came again unto me, ſaying,
2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
3 And they committed whoredomes in Egypt, they committed whoredomes in their youth: there were their breaſts preſſed, and there they bruiſed the teats of their virginity.
4 And the names of them were Aholah the Elder, and Aholibah her ſister: and they were mine, and they bare ſonnes and daughters: thus were their names: Samaria is Aholah, and Jeruſalam Aholibah.
IN this chapter are contained theſe generals.
1 A Complaint of, or propheſy againſt the idolatry and wickedneſſe of the whole body of the Jews, under the names of Aholah and Aholibah, ſhewing their ſeveral ſinnes, and the greatneſſe of Aholibahs above Aholahs.
2 Denunciation of judgement againſt them, and their deſtruction.
1 The Word of the Lord came, &c.
This verſe ſhews our Prophet ſpake not out of his own heart or ſpirit, as the falſe Prophets did, it was the ſpirit of the Lord brought the word of the Lord unto him, and hee ſpake as he was moved by the Spirit, which ſhews the divine authority of this propheſy.
2 There were two women, the daughters of one Mother.
The Jews were at firſt one people, till the days of Rhehoboam, and then they were divided. Ten Tribes fell off to Jeroboam, which frequently after were called Ephraim, and Iſrael, or the children of Iſrael, the houſe of Iſrael. The other two Tribes were called Judah, and the houſe of Judah. One was the Kingdome of Iſrael, the other the kingdome of Judah. Theſe two are the two women here mentioned.
The word for Women is, foreign which is from foreign to forget, they are ſo called, from their forgetfulneſſe, and theſe metaphorical women, Iſrael and Judah, forgat their God greatly and thereupon are called Naſhim, women, or forgetters.
The Daughters of one Mother.
In the Scripture language, the whole of things is tearmed the Mother, and the parts thereof Daughters, Ezek. 21.21. The King of Babylon ſtood at the mother of the way, ſo is the Hebrew, while the way was intire, and one, it was called the Mother, and when it divided into parts, thoſe parts were as the daughters of that mother. The whole body of the Jews was as the one Mother, and when that body divided into two Kingdomes, thoſe Kingdomes were as the Daughters of that Mother. When they were in Egypt, and a long time after, they were as one woman, but in Rhehoboams daies this woman grew big, brought forth Twins, and ſo became one mother of two daughters, 1 King. 12.
Verſ. 3 They committed whoredomes in Egypt.
They being in the loins of their mother, forſook the God of Abraham, Iſaac, and Jacob, and fell in love with the Egyptian gods, Joſh. 24.14. Ezek. 20.7, 8.
They committed whoredomes in their youth.
This Jewiſh Nation at her firſt beginning, while young and little, plaied the Harlot, and defiled her ſelf with the Egyptian idolatry; what ſhe did is ſet out by way of aggravation, ſhee ſinned in her youth, or theſe ſiſters ſinned betimes, their ſpirits were carried out that way early, and that in Egypt, or houſe of bondage and ſuffering.
There were their breaſts preſſed, and there they bruiſed the teats of their virginity.
In this Metaphorical whoredome,Puellae dum vi…gines ſunt ubera ſolida & turgentia habent, quae ſimul atque virginitatem amittunt, comprimuntur & quodammodo franguntur. Maldon. hee alludes to the corporal. When Virgins are defiled, their breaſts ſuffer alſo, they are more looſe and hanging, whereas before they were erecta, integra, & virginali pudore ſtantia, and ſo natural ſignes of chaſtity. The Septuagint is, foreign, There their breaſts fell, there they were unvirgined, the meaning is this, that quickly after the Jews came into Egypt, the Egyptians prevailed with them by Flatteries, or threats, to imbrace their Idolatrous worſhip, whereby they loſt their chaſtity, and became like the nations.
4 The names of them were Aholah, the Elder.
Here hee comes to the Names of theſe women, and ſhews you who they were. The name of the one was Aholah, and this Aholah was Samaria, the chief City of the Ten Tribes, where the Kings of Iſrael had their chief reſidency. Aholah is from foreign a Tent, or Tabernacle, and Aholah is Tabernaculum ſuum, his own, or their own Tabernacle, that is, Samaria, or the ten Tribes, have not mee, or my worſhip amongſt them, they have deviſed a worſhip of their own, ſet up Golden Calves at Dan and Bethel, they have forſaken my Temple, and ſet up their own Tabernacle, and dwell by themſelves, ſeparate from me.
The Elder.
The Hebrew is not Elder, but the greater, This woman Aholah, had ten Tribes, the other, onelyonly two; this wee had ch. 16.46. where its ſaid, Thine Elder ſiſter is Samaria.
Aholibah her ſiſter.
Thus is the name of the other woman, Aholahs ſiſter was Aholibah, which ſignifies my Tabernacle, or dwelling in her, and this was Jeruſalem where the Temple and worſhip of the Lord were, what was done there the Lord himſelf appointed, and that was the place he choſe, Pſa. 132.13, 14.
They were mine.
I tyed them unto mee by a Covenant, Ezek. 16.8. I became their God, and they became my people, the Hebr. is, They were for mee, that is, for mee alone, for no other God, no other way of worſhip than what I ſhould preſcribe them.
And they bare Sons and Daughters.
God bleſſed them, ſo that they multiplyed greatly, they had many Sonnes, and many Daughters, Ezek. 16.7. I cauſed thee to multiply as the bud of the field.
Obſ. 1 That going after falſe waies of worſhip, is in Gods account whoredome, they committed whoredomes: when they bowed to any of the falſe Gods in Egypt, they did as baſely and vilely, as ſhe that commits filthineſs with another.
Obſ. 2 The Lord takes notice where and when thoſe are in relation to him do ſinne: They committed whoredomes in Egypt and in their youth, they ſinned amidſt the grand and bitter enemies of God, among Egyptians, and then when they were but growing up to bee a people. They ſhould have conſidered what enemies the Egyptians were to their God, and to his worſhip, how odious their waies and worſhip were to him, that ſo they might have kept at a great diſtance from them, they ſhould have walked circumſpectly, that ſo they might have kept his name from being polluted, and likewiſe they being in their youth under bondage, ſhould have minded Gods kindneſſe in preſerving them, and making them to proſper, but they did not, they ſinned in Egypt; and in their youth, two great aggravations of their ſinne. When God is beginning to ſhew kindneſſe to a people in miſery, and raiſing them up to ſome height and greatneſſe, and then for them to turn aſide to lewdneſſe, to ſuperſtitious, idolatrous and heatheniſh practices, this God obſerves in a ſpecial manner, and it provokes him greatly. See how it affected the Lord, that they ſinned preſently after he had ſhewed them kindneſſe, in bringing them out of Egypt, Pſal. 106.7. They provoked him at the Sea, even at the red Sea, I put forth my mighty power to bring them out to the Sea-ſide, & was ready to divide the Sea to carry them through, but even then and there they provoked mee. When States, Cities, Families, degenerate in their youth, it ſorely diſpleaſes God.
Note 3 Whereſoever a deviſed worſhip is brought in, there mans Tabernacle is ſet up; where true worſhip is advanced there is Gods Tabernacle. The ten Tribes had a worſhip of Jeroboams deviſing, like unto the worſhip of Jeruſalem in many things, but this was Aholah, Their own Tabernacle, God owned it not, hee was not in their Aſſemblies, hee accepted not their ſacrifices, their incenſe was a ſtink in his noſtrils; but Jeruſalem was Aholibah, there Gods own worſhip was ſet up, and ſo long as his worſhip was there, hee acknowledged his Tabernacle to bee in her. Where his worſhip is, there hee dwells, Pſalm 68.16. and is to be ſeen and inquired of, Pſal. 27.4.
Verſ. 5 And Aholah plaied the Harlot when ſhee was mine, and ſhee doted on her lovers, on the Aſſyrians her neighbours.
6 Which were cloathed with blue, Captains and Rulers, all of them deſirable young men, horſe-men riding upon horſes.
7 Thus ſhee committed her whoredomes with them, with all them that were the choſen men of Aſſyria, and with all on whom ſhee doted, with all their Idols ſhee defiled her ſelf.
8 Neither left ſhee her whoredomes brought from Egypt, for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruiſed the breaſts of her virginity, and poured her whoredomes upon her.
9 Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Aſſyrians, upon whom ſhe doted.
10 Theſe diſcovered her nakedneſſe, they took her ſons and her daughters, and ſlew her with the ſword: and ſhe became famous among women, for they had executed judgement upon her.
In theſe verſes Aholahs ſinnes and judgements are ſet out.
1 Her ſins, which were
1 Confederating with the Aſſyrians, verſ. 5. ſee 2 Kin. 15.19. and thoſe Aſſyrians are deſcribed, verſ. 6, 7.
1 From their Garments.
2 From their Titles.
3 From their Age.
4 From the Creatures they uſed.
2 Entertaining and defiling her ſelf with the Aſſyrian idols, verſ. 7.
3 Retention of her old Egyptian Idolatry, verſ. 8. there ſhee had a Calfe, and under Jeroboam and others, ſhee had golden Calves.
2 Her Judgements, which were
1 Loſs of her freedome, verſ. 9.
2 Deſolation, verſ. 10. in which verſes wee have alſo,
1 The Cauſes of the judgements,
1 The Principal, God himſe…f, verſ 9.
2 The Inſtrumental, viz. the Aſſyrians.
2 The Event of thoſe judgements, ver. 10. ſhee became famous among women.
Verſ. 5 When ſhe was mine.
The Hebrew for mine is, Tachti, ſub me, when ſhe was under me, under my Covenant, under my worſhip, my power, and authority. Septuagint is, foreign, ſhee hath gone out from mee her husband, and plaid the harlot; or pro me, in ſtead of me and my worſhip, Shee hath taken in other gods, and their Worſhip. The Chaldee is, a cultu meo, ſhe hath left my pure worſhip, and fallen to the abominable idolatries of the Aſſyrians.
She doted on her lovers.
The Hebrew word foreign notes violent and baſe love, and is rendred by the Vulgar inſanivit in amatores ſuos, Inſano amore flagrare, importat turpem & inhoneſtum amorem. Prad.ſhee was mad upon her lovers, the Aſſyrians and other Nations.
Verſ. 8 Neither left ſhee her whoredomes brought from Egypt.
That ſuperſtitious idolatrous diſpoſition which ſhee had being in Egypt, ſtill abode with her, ſhee made leagues with the Egyptians, 2 King. 17.4. ſhee had her calves like the Egyptian calf, 1 King. 12.28.
Verſ. 10 Theſe diſcovered her nakedneſs.
The Aſſyrians took away her ornaments and cloathing, as ver. 26. and uſed her ſhamefully and cruelly, as women often are, being taken in war, Iſa. 47.2, 3.
She became famous among women.
Hebrew is, ſhee was a name to women; Septuagint foreign, ſhee was a talk among women: Some talkt of her for her whoredomes and filthineſſes. Others for her miſeries, judgements, and grievous ſufferings, and ſo ſhe was famous amongſt women.
Obſ. 1 That when people go out from God to falſe waies of worſhip and confidences therin, they are violent and ſtrong in their affections thereunto. Aholah doted upon her lovers, her heart was fired with Babyloniſh gods, and confidences in them.
Obſ. 2 What evil perſons have practiſed in their youth, that they affect in their age. Aholah had loved the Egyptian Idols in her minority, and after ſhee was grown up, come to her latter daies, thoſe Idols were not out of her thoughts, her Egyptian Lovers were ſtill in her minde, like Harlots that minde their former lovers long after they are married; what corruption gets in in youth, grows up and abides. An unclean idolatrous heart in youth, will be ſo in age.
Obſ. 3 That Idolatry may continue long in a Nation, but ſhall at laſt be ſeverely puniſhed by the Lord. Aholah had been an idolatreſſe from her youth, and when ſhee was grown up to ſome greatneſſe, then ſhee brake out into groſs notorious Idolatry, 1 King 12. in which ſhee continued ſome two hundred ſixty and odde years, and then the Lord plagued, yea, deſtroyed her, her Sonnes and Daughters. Its wiſdome to cleave to the Lord and his worſhip, not to follow or confide in other Nations or their waies.
Obſ. 4 God makes places and perſons remarkeable, by the judgements he executeth upon them. Aholah was made famous among women, by thoſe judgements hee brought upon her: Aholah was Samaria, which Shalmanezer beſiedged three years, and then took it, 2 King. 17.5, 6. and after burnt it, as Lavater obſerves.
Verſ. 11 And when her ſiſter Aholibah ſaw this, ſhee was more corrupt in her inordinate love than ſhee, and in her whoredomes, more than her ſiſter in her whoredomes.
12 Shee doted upon the Aſſyrians her neighbours, Captains, and Rulers, cloathed moſt gorgeouſly, horſe-men riding upon horſes, all of them deſirable young men.
13 Then I ſaw that ſhee was defiled, that they took both one way.
14 And that ſhee increaſed her whoredomes: for when ſhee ſaw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldaeans pourtrayed with vermilion.
15 Girded with girdles upon their loines, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them Princes to look to, after the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldaea, the land of their nativity.
16 And as ſoon as ſhee ſaw them with her eies, ſhee doted upon them, and ſent meſſengers unto them into Chaldaea.
17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of Love, and they defiled her with their whoredome, and ſhe was polluted with them, and her minde was alienated from them.
18 So ſhee diſcovered her whoredomes, and diſcovered her nakedneſs: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind was alienated from her ſiſter.
19 Yet ſhee multiplyed her whoredomes, in calling to remembrance the daies of her youth, wherein ſhee had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20 For ſhee doted upon their paramours, whoſe fleſh is as the fleſh of aſſes, and whoſe iſſue is like the iſſue of horſes.
21 Thus thou calledſt to remembrance the lewdneſſe of thy youth, in bruiſing thy teats by the Egyptians, for the paps of thy youth.
Having ſet out Aholahs ſins in the former verſes, here he comes to Aholibahs ſinnes, and the events of them.
Her ſinnes were,
1 Her not taking warning by her Siſter to amend, but growing worſe, ver. 11.
2 Her Confederacy and Idolatry with
1 The Aſſyrians, ver. 12. who are deſcribed,
1 From their nearneſſe, neighbours.
2 From their Titles or Offices, Captains, Rulers.
3 From their habit, cloathed moſt gorgeouſly.
4 From their ranke, horſe-men riding upon, &c.
5 From their age and comlineſſe, all of them deſireable young men.
2 The Chaldaeans, verſ. 14. which idolatry is ſet out,
1 From the occaſion of it, viz. pictures or images, which are deſcribed, verſ. 14.
1 From their colouring, vermilion.
2 Their form, girded, dyed attire, &c.
3 Aſpect, Princes to look to.
4 Pattern and place, ver. 15.
2 From the haſte ſhe made thereunto, verſ. 16.17.
3 The Egyptians, verſ. 19. which is aggravated from the violence of her affection, ver. 20.
The Events were 1 Gods diſpleaſure, ver. 13.
2 Alienation of his minde from her. ver. 18.
3 Alienation of Aholibahs minde from the Chaldae…ns, ver. 17.
Verſ. 11 She was more corrupt in her inordinate love than ſhe.
The Hebrew is, Corrupit amorem ſuum prae illa, ſhee corrupted her love more than ſhee. The Septuagint is, foreign, ſhee corrupted her deſire, ſhee was more filthy and vile in her dotings and violent loves, than her ſiſter. Corruptiùs exarſit amore ſuo quam illa. Piſc. Jeruſalem was more addicted unto idols than Samaria.
And in her whoredomes, more than her ſiſter in her whoredomes.
In the Original its, her whoredomes were before, or more than the whoredomes of her ſiſter: ſhee exceeded Samaria and other places in her idolatries, as you may ſee Ezek. 16.47. thou waſt corrupt more than they all in thy waies.
Verſ. 12 She doted upon the Aſſyrians.
For Aſſyrians, the Text ſaith, the Sonnes of Aſſur, this you have verified 2 King 16.7, 8. when Ahaz hired Tiglath Pilezer King of Aſſyria with the gold and ſilver of the Temple to come and help him.
Cloathed moſt gorgeouſly.
In the Hebrew its Lebuſhe miclol, cloathed with an abſolute garment, with every kinde of comely cloathing. Junius hath it, cloathed moſt perfectly: with every kinde of pretious garments.
Deſireable young men.
Bachure chemed, the elect of deſire, ſaith the Text, ſuch men as deſire it ſelf would chooſe, they were no ordinary men, but ſuch as were comely, amiable, even men of deſires, very deſirable.
Verſ. 14 Pourtrayed with vermilion.
The Hebrew for vermilion is ſhaſhar, which ſignifies red colour, with which any thing is painted. The Rabbies ſay its minium, red lead, its but twice uſed in the holy Scriptures, in Jer. 22.14. and here. Some render it, Indico, which abounds in thoſe parts, and the French hath it, peints d'azure, painted with blew.
15 All of them Princes to look to.
The word for Princes is ſholiſhim, which Montanus renders Triarii, quaſi tertii a rege, Thoſe that were of the third rank or dignity from the King, 2 King. 7.2. then a Lord on whoſe hand the King leaned, anſwered, the word is, haſhaliſh, one that was a man in place third from the King.
17 The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and defiled her with their whoredome.
This is ſpoken of Metaphorical whoredome; the Jews ſent to the Babylonians to enter into league with them, and that being done they brought in their Babyloniſh Idols, and worſhip amongſt them, and taught the Jews to ſacrifice unto them, and ſo defiled the Temple and Ordinances, the bed of love. Ahaz brought in the Altar from Damaſcus, which did defile, 2 King. 16.
Her mind was alienated from them.
In the Hebrew it is, Her ſoul was removed from them, the Sept. foreign, Her ſoul departed from them. The French, Son deſir ſe de partit d'iceux, Her deſire departed from them; ſhee grew weary of them, and fell in with the Egyptians, 2 King. 24. thoſe ſhee had doted upon before, now ſhee affected no longer. Luxata est anima ejus, her ſoul was looſed from them, and as a thing out of joynt.
19 In calling to mind the daies of her youth.
That is, ſhee remembred, and together with her remembring, exerciſed her former ſpiritual whoredome.
20 She doted upon their paramours.
The word for Paramours is, Pillagſhehem pilgeſh, or pillegeſh, is a Concubine, or half wife, one for the bed, not for the government of the houſe. Montanus renders the word here, Pellices corum, their harlots. The Egyptians had the nighbouring Nations leagueing it with them, and imitating their idolatry, theſe were Egypts Concubines, whores. Now Aholibah or Jeruſalem, doted upon theſe alſo, or rather thus; ſhee doted above their paramours, above their Concubines, more than they, ſhee was carried more ſtrongly towards the Egyptians, than other Nations.
Whoſe fleſh is as the fleſh of Aſſes, and whoſe iſſue is as the iſſue of Horſes.
Here Rem inhoneſtam honeſt is verbis exprimit. The Egyptians were great of fleſh, Ezek. 16.26. they were like Aſſes and Horſes. Quae inter omnia animalia habent maxima genitalia, burning in luſt, given to filthineſſe and idolatry, hereby is ſet out the ſtrength and wealth of Egypt, which provoked the Jews to make leagues with them. As whores luſt after thoſe are ſtrongeſt and ableſt to ſatisfy their luſt, and pour out their filthineſſe upon them, ſo did Aholibah luſt after the Egyptians.
Obſ. 1 That when God executes ſevere judgements upon Cities, hee looks that ſiſter Cities ſhould take warning thereby, and reform in thoſe ſinnes which brought ſuch judgements upon them. God deſtroyed Aholah or Samaria for her idolatry and conſederating with heatheniſh Nations. When Aholibah ſaw this, ſhee reformed not, but was more corrupt: God expected that Jeruſalem ſhould hereupon have purged out all idolatry, knockt off her confidences in other Nations, and cleaved wholly to him, that ſo ſhee might have been ſpared, but ſhee made no good uſe of his dealings with Samaria.
Obſ. 2 That progreſſe in the ſame ſinnes after judgement executed upon others for the ſame, and ſeen, is a fearful aggravation of ſinne. Aholahs ſinnes were the ſame that Aholibahs were, and Aholibah ſaw Gods judgements executed upon her for thoſe ſinnes, and yet ſhee continued and proceeded in the ſame. When ſhe ſaw this, ſhee was more corrupt; when Gods hand is lift up, judgement executed, men ſhould fear and learn righteouſneſſe, but to go on in wickedneſſe is an horrible ſleighting, yea, deſpiſing of God, and his judgements.
Obſ. 3 That ſinful Cities uſually grow worſer, whatever judgements they ſee or hear to be executed upon others. Jeruſalem was more corrupt than Samaria, and abounded in whoredomes more than ſhee did, and doted more upon the Aſſyrians, Chaldaeans, and Egyptians. So corrupt is the nature of man, that its not onelyonly the worſe, after mercies, but even after judgements. Are not wee in this City and land, worſer now after all the judgements, and mercies, wee have ſeen, felt, and injoyed?
Obſ. 4 The Lord takes notice what waies Cities go, and how they do defile themſelves, verſ. 13. I ſaw that ſhe was defiled with Aſſyrians, Chaldaeans, Egyptians, by her truſting in them more than in mee; by her Idols ſhee fetched in from them. Gods eye was upon Sodome, Gomorrha, Nineveh, Babylon, Tyre, Rabbath, and all other Cities, and ſo its now upon Rome, &c.
Obſ. 5 From this 13. verſ. That ſinful Cities do tread in one anothers steps; They took both one way, what one did, that the other did, if Aholah was gone to Aſſyria, Aholibah will follow her, if one runne to Egypt, the other will run after her, if one dote upon them both, ſo will the other, if one proſ…itute her ſelf to corpor…l and ſpiritual whoredome, ſo will the other; Simeon and Levi were brethren in evill, and went both one way: Samaria and Jeruſalem were ſiſters in wickedneſſe, and went both one way,
6 From the 14, 15, 16. Obſ. That the eyes are inſtruments and occaſions of great evil. When ſhee ſaw the images of the Chaldaeans in their dreſſes, with their belts and aſpects, ſhee was taken with them, as ſoon as ſhee ſaw them with her eyes, Heb. is, At the ſight of her eyes ſhe doted upon them, the images affected her eyes, and they conveyed corruption to her heart, or that which ſtirred the corruption pre-exiſtent in her heart, which ſet her on work to ſend into Chaldaea, for the men themſelves. Adultery and idolatry have their chief entrance by the eye, and many other ſinnes likewiſe: if men and women would have chaſte hearts, they muſt have ſpecial care of their eyes; what a ſad thing was it, that Jeruſalems eyes ſhould bee taken with the painted images of Babylonians. Some confeſſe there is danger by gazing upon living objects, the beauties of men and women, but they fear none from dead objects; but Achan ſaw a wedge of gold and a Babyloniſh garment, and they ſnared him. Aholibah here ſaw Babyloniſh Pictures, and they enſnared her; if you would bee ſafe, keep your eyes from wandering, and beholding wanton pictures, ſuch ſights have coſt ſome dear, and brought forth much wickedneſſe.
Obſ. 7 From the 17. v. For Gods people to confederate with Babylonians, and admit of any part of Babyloniſh worſhip, is to defile the bed of love; for a woman to make leagues with other men, and to admit any one into the marriage bed, is to defile it. God is a jealous God, his worſhip muſt bee pure, and the heart muſt bee pure; if the worſhip bee mixt, or heart lean upon an arm of fleſh, the bed of love is defiled: in the bed is the love let out to the wife; in the worſhip and Ordinances, God lets out his love to the ſoul, when they are pure, in the heart, being pure and confiding in God, God lets out himſelf, and his love. Let us look to our hearts, that they may bee diſ-ingaged from all creature confidences, and to our worſhip that it bee according to God, and then the bed of love is undefiled, and we ſhall have communion with, and comfort from our beloved.
Obſ. 8 Wickedneſſe i… unconstant, Aholibah doted upon the Aſſyrians, ver. 12. and again ſhee doted upon the Chaldaeans, verſ. 16. and here in the 17. her minde was alienated from them. Wickedneſſe is violent and unconſtant, ſhee was taken with the very images of the Babylonians, now ſhe cares not for the men themſelves, her ſoul is diſ-joynted from them, but it was to fall in with ſome others, and they were the Egyptians, verſ. 19. but ſhee held not there long; which made the Lord to ſay, Jer. 2.36. why gaddeſt thou about ſo much, to change thy way? Thou alſo ſhalt be aſhamed of Egypt, as thou waſt aſhamed of Aſſyria.
Obſ. 9 Impudence and open ſinning, cauſes God to diſowne and renounce them do ſo. Aholibah, verſ. 18. diſcovered her whoredomes and nakedneſſe; ſhee talked openly what ſhee had done with the Babylonians, ſhee ſet up Altars and Idols in every ſtreet, was openly and impudently wicked, even like an whore that ſhould proſtitute her ſelf to any in the ſtreets; Now it being ſo, ſaith the Lord, then my minde was alienated from her. The Hebrew for from her, is Mealeah, a deſuper ea, my heart before was faſtened upon her, and none could take it off, but ſeeing ſhe is become ſuch an whore, ſo audaciouſly wicked, I can affect her no longer; there is a neceſſity in it, that I ſhould alienate my heart from her, as I did from her ſiſter Aholah; elſe I ſhall bee thought not to have dealt juſtly with her, eſpecially ſeeing Aholibahs ſinnes exceed Aholahs. Jeruſalems wickedneſs alienated Gods heart from her, that is, made him renounce her for an harlot. Its ſad when God renounces. Hoſ. 1.9. Lo ammi, you are not my people, and I will not bee your God; what more dreadful ſound w…s there ever in the ears of Ephraim, Samaria, or Aholibah than that? There can be nothing more dreadful, than to have God diſclaim and renounce, then is God turned againſt them; hee ſo renounces, and ſo hee was againſt Jeruſalem, Ezek. 5.8 Behold, I am against thee, and will execute judgement in the midſt of thee. If wee would not have Gods heart alienated from us, and ſo bee diſ-owned, renounced by him, let us take heed of all ſins, eſpecially of impudency in any ſinne, let us give him our hearts, not alienate them from him, and ſo hee will not alienate his heart from us.
Obſ. 0 From the 19, 20, 21. That freſh ſinnes bring to mind former old ſinnes. Aholibahs latter trucking with the Egyptians, minded God of her primitive whoredomes, and Abominations, when ſhee lived in Egypt, which was one thouſand years before, there ſhe had her lovers, there ſhe defiled her ſelf, with the Idols of Egypt, Ezek. 20.7. and her affection now to Egypt, and Egypts paramours, cauſed God to minde thoſe ſinnes of her youth, he… had no pleaſure in doing ſo, but Aholibah called them to remembrance, by acting the ſame or like things again, ſhee called them out of darkneſſe, and preſented them to the view of God.
Verſ. 22 Therefore, O Aholibah, Thus ſaith the Lord God, Behold, I will raiſe up thy Lovers againſt thee, from whom thy minde is alienated, and I will bring them againſt thee on every ſide.
23 The Babylonians and all the Chaldaeans, Pekod and Shoah, and Koa, all the Aſſyrians with them, all of them deſireable young men; Captains and Rulers, great Lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horſes.
24 And they ſhall come againſt thee with Chariots, wagons, and wheeles, and with an Aſſembly of people, which ſhall ſet againſt thee, buckler, and ſheild, and helmet, round about: and I will ſet judgement before them, and they ſhall judge thee according to their judgements.
25 And I will ſet my jealouſy againſt thee, and they ſhall deal furiouſly with thee: they ſha… take away thy noſe, and thine ears, and thy remnant ſhall fall by the ſword, they ſhall take thy Sonnes and thy Daughters, and thy reſidue ſhall be devoured by the fire.
26 They ſhall alſo ſtrip thee out of thy cloathes, and take away thy fair Jewels.
27 Thus will I make thy lewdneſſe to ceaſe from thee, and thy whoredomes brought from the Land of Egypt: ſo that thou ſhalt not lift up thine eyes unto them, nor remember Egypt any more.
28 For thus ſaith the Lord God, behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hateſt, into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated.
29 And they ſhall deal with thee hatefully, and ſhall take away all thy labour, and ſhall leave thee naked and bare, and the nakedneſſe of thy whoredomes ſhall be diſcovered, both thy lewdneſſe and thy whoredomes.
30 I will do theſe things unto thee, becauſe thou haſt gone a whoreing after the Heathens, and becauſe thou art polluted with their idols.
31 Thou haſt walked in the way of thy ſiſter, therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.
32 Thus ſaith the Lord God, Thou ſhalt Drink of thy ſiſters cup, deep and large: thou ſhalt be laughed to ſcorn, and had in deriſion, it containeth much.
33 Thou ſhalt be filled with Drunkenneſſe and ſorrow, with the cup of aſtoniſhment and deſolation, with the cup of thy ſiſter Samaria.
34 Thou ſhalt even Drink it, and ſuck it out, and thou ſhalt break the ſheards thereof, and pluck off thine own breaſts, for I have spoken it, ſaith the Lord God.
35 Therefore thus ſaith the Lord God, becauſe thou haſt forgotten me, and caſt me behind thy back, therefore bear thou alſo thy lewdneſſe and thy whoredomes.
In theſe verſes you have a Declaration of Gods dealings with Aholibah, and the grounds thereof: and herein,
1 Whom God would raiſe up againſt her, thoſe had been her Lovers, verſ. 22. and the cauſe thereof, her defection from them, ib. Now theſe are,
1 Nominated and deſcribed, ver. 23.
2 The Manner of their comming againſt, and judging Aholibah, is ſet down, verſ. 24.
3 Specification of the evil they ſhould do unto her, verſ. 25, 26, 29.
2 What God would do himſelf.
1 Like an Husband inraged, he would ſet his jealouſy againſt her, verſ. 25.
2 Put her into the hands of thoſe hated her, verſ. 28.
3 Bring her to the condition her ſiſter Samaria was in, ſhee ſhould drink of her cup, and that deeply, verſ. 32, 33, 34.
3 The Grounds moving God thus to deal with her, which are principally two.
1 Her Idolatry, v. 30, 31.
2 Her Forgetfulneſſe of God, v. 35.
4 The Events, which are two.
1 Ceſſation from her idolatry and confederating with Egypt any more, v. 27.
2 Scorn and deriſian, v. 32.
22 I will raiſe up thy Lovers againſt thee.
The Babylonians were Lovers of Aholibah or Jeruſalem, becauſe ſhee had affected their gods, rites, and ſacred things, and truſted in them for help againſt others, but being now fallen off to the Egyptians, God would ſtir up the Babylonians againſt her, and ſo generally that they ſhould come and compaſs her round about.As you may ſee in Glaſſius his philol. Part. 3. p. 863.
23 Pekod, Shoah, and Koa.
Some make theſe the Names of great men, but they are rather the Names of Provinces, which were under the Babylonians, the people whereof God ſtirred up with others to come to the ſiedge of Jeruſalem. The Chaldee makes them Nomina Gentilitia, Vide Junii notas in Bibl. & commentaria in locum.Pecodoitas, Soiatas, Koaitas, the Pecodaits, Soaits, and Koaits.
24 I will ſet judgement before them, &c.
Mariana underſtands the words thus, I will puniſh thee O Jeruſalem, the Babylonians beholding it. They were the executioners of Gods judgements, and muſt needs behold them. Wee may take the words thus, I will make known my minde to the Babylonians concerning thy deſtruction, and leave thee to them to bee puniſhed according to their Laws, ſeeing thou haſt been perfidious and treacherous unto them. I will put thee into their hands, give them power to puniſh thee, and they ſhall do it according to their Laws and judgements.
Verſ. 25 And I will ſet my jealouſy againſt thee.
By Jealouſy, Maldonate underſtands the Chaldaeans, becauſe they were the inſtruments of his wrath: but here the Lord alludes to the practice of jealous Husbands, who finding their wives faulty, ſet themſelves againſt them, and turn them out of doors; ſo would God deal with this woman whom hee had taken to bee his, hee would drive her out of the land, for her ſpiritual whoredome, hee would give her a bill of divorce, and ſend her away.
They ſhall take away thy noſe and thine ears.
This Aholibah did truſt in her beauty, and play the Harlot, chap. 16.15. and the Lord would have her deformed like a moſt filthy Harlot, whoſe noſe and ears were wont to bee mangled or cut off: It was a law or cuſtome in Egypt, that if a man were taken in adultery, hee ſhould bee beaten with rods, ad mille plagas, to a thouſand ſtripes, and that a woman found therein, ſhould have her noſtrils cut off. And Pradus ſaith, it was ſo in many Nations, that for the greater diſgrace, they uſed to cut off the noſe, lips, ears,Caeliu… …hod. Lect. Antiq. l. 21. c. 45 Diod. Siculus. 1. &c. tops of the toes, and fingers, of their enemies, runagates, and adulterers, which was ſhameful to any, ſpecially to women. Hereunto its conceived our Prophet alludes, but becauſe its doubtful whether any ſuch thing was really done to Aholibah; Diverſe interpret Noſe of the King, and Ears of the Judges, or chief Prieſts: but wee need not allegorize; the meaning is, that God would bring Jeruſalem to ſuffer open and extream ſhame.
26 They ſhall alſo ſtrip thee of thy cloathing.
This Metaphorical woman was well clad, ſhee exceeded in her apparrel, both for the matter, quantity, and quality, as appeared, chap. 16. ſhee took up the faſhions of the Babylonians, and Egyptians, whom ſhee doted upon, and had confederated with, but what ever ſhe had when the Souldiers came, they ſtript her of all. The Hebrew for ſtrip is, Hiphſhiluc, exuere te facient, they ſhall make thee to put off, they ſhall handle thee ſo roughly, that thou ſhalt bee forced with thine own hands, to put off thy garments, and give them to them; thoſe garments thou haſt taken much pride and pleaſure in. Of theſe words, and fair jewels, was ſpoken, cha. 16.39.
27 Thus will I make thy lewdneſſe to ceaſe from thee, &c.
By my Judgements upon thee, Ile make thee give over thine idolatry, thou ſhalt minde neither Egyptians, nor gods, their Idols, thou ſhalt neither adore nor deſire help from them, thou ſhalt bee made to minde other things, as food, raiment, habitations.
28 I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hateſt.
In the 16. chap. 27. God delivered her into the hands of them that hated her, chap. 21.31. hee ſaith, hee would deliver her into the hands of brutiſh men, and skilful to deſtroy, and here into the hands of thoſe ſhee hated, there was hatred on both ſides, ſhee hated her lovers, and her lovers hated her, and into their hands would the Lord put her, ſhee ſhould find it was the Lords doings.
29 They ſhall deal with thee hatefully.
They ſhall ſpeak evill of thee, do evil unto thee, they ſhall ſhew thee no mercy, they ſhall ſpare neither thee, nor thy eſtate, nor thy name, but ſhall take away all thou haſt gotten by thy labour, and make known to the world, what a filthy ſtrumpet thou haſt been.
30 Becauſe thou haſt gone a whoring after the Heathen, &c.
Thou haſt left mee thy Husband and guide, and gone out to the Heatheniſh gods, and Idols for help, thou haſt beſtowed thy ſelf and love upon them, and art defiled by taking them into the bed of love, vide ch. 6.9. where you have the ſame or like words.
31 Thou haſt walked in the way of thy ſiſter.
Aholah doted upon the Aſſyrians, made leagues with them, defiled her ſelf with their idols, manifeſted her idolatrous diſpoſition ſhee had in Egypt, to bee ſtill living, and thus did Aholibah, verſ. 12, 16, 17, 19.
I will give her cup into thine hand.
32 Thou ſhalt drink of thy ſiſters cup.
Thou ſhalt bee puniſhed with the ſame puniſhments Aholah was, ſhee was taken by the Aſſyrians, ſhamefully intreated, and her children carried into captivity, and ſo ſhalt thou bee dealt with. The ſame cup ſhee drank of, thou ſhalt alſo drink of. This Metaphor is very frequent in ſcripture, Iſa. 51.17.22. Jer. 25.15, 17, 28. Pſalm 75.8. Lament. 4.21. Some think this Metaphor to bee borrowed a re medica, from Phyſitians giving potions in Cups, to their patients, which are troubleſome to behold, and grievous to taſte; ſo Gods judgements are cups of that nature. Others, think it taken from that practice of giving cups of wine or ſtrong drink to thoſe that were to ſuffer, Amos 2.8. which hebetating their ſenſes, ſhould take away the ſharpeneſſe of their pain. Others fetch it from the practice at feaſts, where the Maſter of the feaſt, ſingulis convivis ſuum calicem temperabat pro cujuſque aetate, did temper and proportion a Cup, for each gueſt according to his capacity, and thoſe they purpoſed to make drunk, they would fill the larger Cups. Let the Metaphor of Cup bee borrowed from which you will, it notes out here, Gods ordering and meaſuring out of judgements for Aholibah and hers.
Deep and large.
It ſhall not bee a Cup to drink off at one draught, or in one day, but it ſhall bee a Cup, deep, large, containing much, grievous, great, and long afflictions; a Cup thou ſhalt bee ſeventy years a drinking.
Thou ſhalt bee laughed to ſcorn, and had in Deriſion.
When Whores are puniſhed for their whoredomes, they become matter of ſcorn and deriſion to all. The like words wee had before, chap. 22.4, 5.
33 Thou ſhalt be filled with drunkenneſſe and ſorrow.
Thy afflictions, thy puniſhments ſhall bee ſuch, as ſhall make thee ſtagger like one that is drunk, thy pains and ſorrows ſhall bee great, it ſhall not bee a cup of conſolation, but of aſtoniſhment to thy ſelf and all about thee, yea, a cup of deſolation, and as the Septuagint hath it, of perdition.
34 Thou ſhalt even drink it, and ſuck it out.
Thou mayeſt think this Cup ſhall paſs away from thee, or if not, that thou ſhalt drink onelyonly a little of it, but thou deceiveſt thy ſelf, it ſhall not paſs from thee, thou ſhalt drink it, and drink it off all, thou ſhalt ſuck it out, even the lees and dregs of it, how bitter ſoever they be.
Thou ſhalt break the ſheards thereof.
Not onelyonly drink up what is in the Cup, but as drunkards oft break the veſſel, and lick the fragments, not ſuffering the leaſt drop to bee loſt; So would God make Aholibah to drink every drop of his fury, which he had put in this Cup. The greatneſſe of their puniſhment is ſet out hereby.
And pluck off thine own breaſts.
In time of great afflictions many do ſtrange things, rend their garments, bite their fleſh, tear their hair, and Aholibah ſhould pluck off her breaſts: Before ſhee had let Egyptians and Aſſyrians, bruiſe the breaſts of her virginity, and draw her to idolatry, and now ſhee ſhould ſcratch and rend them, ſhee ſhould expreſſe ſignes of great grief, and great miſery upon her.
35 Becauſe thou haſt forgotten mee, and caſt me behind thy back.
Here is the ground of her wickedneſſe, and Gods judgements comming upon her, ſhe forgate God, which words wee had, chapter 22.12.
And caſt me behind thy back.
The Hebrew is, Behind thy body, the ſenſe is this, thou haſt turned from mee to thy lovers, to the Aſſyrians and Egyptians, ſo that thy face and heart are towards them, and thy back is towards mee. A like expreſſion wee had chap. 8.16. where its ſaid, Their backs were towards the Temple of the Lord, and their faces towards the Eaſt. Or thus, thou haſt dealt by mee, as men do by things they throw behinde them, they ſl…ight them and mind them no more, Neh. 9.26. they caſt thy law behind their backs, and ſlew thy Prophets, that is, they ſleighted the Law, minded it not, it was out of their ſight as a thing behind them, as if there were no ſuch thing. When Jeroboam ſleighted the Counſel of the Prophet, 1 King. 11.38. and ſet up other gods, then hee caſt God behind his back, 1 King. 14.9.
Obſ. 1 God makes them inſtruments of our woe and miſery, with whom wee have ſinned. I will raiſe up thy Lovers againſt thee, the Babylonians, Chaldaeans, Aſſyrians, I will bring them againſt thee on every ſide. Jeruſalem had doted upon, and truſted in them, and by them would God plague Jeruſalem. Shee had oft ſinned by her confidence in Egypt, Iſa. 30.2. chap. 31.1. and God by the Egyptians ſcourged her, 2 Chron. 36.3. Parents dote upon their children, and oft God makes them roddes to whip them, yea, clubs to break their hearts and bones.
Obſ. 2 When People go out from God to falſe waies of worſhip; and put confidence in armes of fleſh, God will deal ſeverely by them. God would put Aholibah into the Babylonian hands, they ſhould do with her as they pleaſed, judge her according to their judgements, God would ſet his jealouſy againſt her, thruſt her out of doors, and what then? the Babylonians ſhould deal furiouſly with her, abuſe her body, deſtroy her children, burn her habitation, ſtrip her of her veſtments, and jewels, take away all ſhee had gotten, lay open her ſhame, and do hatefully by her; ſhee ſhould bee puniſhed with the ſame puniſhments Aholah was.
Obſ. 3 Judgements and afflictions are cups which the Lord gives ſinners to drink of, ſome more, ſome leſſe. Thou ſhalt drink of thy ſiſters cup, deep and large. Sometimes Gods judgements are cald a cup of trembling, as Iſa. 51.22. ſometimes a Cup of fury, as Jer. 25.15. and ſometimes a Cup of aſtoniſhment, as here, and Aholibah had all theſe Cups given her to drink, they were deep, large, contained much, and ſhee was made to drink them all off, yea, to drink the very dregs of them, as men fill up the meaſure of their ſinnes, ſo God fills up the Cups of his judgements, Rev. 18.6. fill to her double. Babylons ſinnes were come to the full, and the cup of the Lords fury was full.
Obſ. 4 Neglect and contempt of God, and his word, cauſes him to execute judgement: becauſe thou haſt forgotten me▪ and caſt mee behind thy back, therefore bear thou alſo thy lewdneſſe, and thy whoredomes: That is, bear the puniſhment of thy lewdneſſe and whoredomes, thou haſt made mee bear thy ſinnes, and thou ſhalt bear my puniſhments. As the fear of God is the beginning of wiſdome, ſo the forgetting of God is the beginning of Folly, and all evill; then God is out of ſight, behind the back, and what will not men do, when no awe of God or his word is upon them? Then like Aholibah, they will commit any lewdneſſe, and becauſe they do ſo, God lets out his wrath, loads them with his judgements, and makes them bear the merit of their wickedneſs.
God had done much for Aholibah, dealt by her like a loving husband, but ſhee ſleighted him, went out a whoring from him, did thoſe things which greatly diſhonoured him, and ſo provoked him to minde her, that forgate him; for hee fell upon her with his judgements, and deſtroyed her; and ſo will the Lord do by all that forget him, Pſalm. 9.17. the wicked ſhall be turned into Hell and all the Nations that forget God: whatever ſins the Nations commit, they are comprehended in their forgetting God, that's the root of all evil; and becauſe they did forget God, they ſhould be turned into Hell, and bear the burden of their ſins there for ever.
Verſ. 36 The Lord ſaid moreover unto me; Sonne of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their abominations;
37 That they have committed adultery, and bloud is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have alſo cauſed their Sonnes, whom they bare unto mee, to paſs for them through the fire to devour them.
38 Moreover, this they have done unto mee: they have defiled my Sanctuary in the ſame day, and have prophaned my Sabbaths.
39 For when they had ſlain their Children to their Idols, then they came the ſame day into my Sanctuary to prophane it, and loe thus have they done in the midſt of mine houſe.
40 And furthermore, that yee have ſent for men, to come from far, unto whom a meſſenger was ſent, and loe they came, for whom thou didſt waſh thy ſelf, paintedſt thine eyes, and deckedſt thy ſelf with ornaments.
41 And ſateſt upon a ſtately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou haſt ſet mine incenſe, and mine oyle.
42 And a voice of a multitude being at eaſe was with her, and with the men of the common ſort were brought Sabaeans from the wilderneſſe, which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
43 Then ſaid I unto her, that was old in adulteries; will they now commit whoredomes with her, and ſhe with them?
44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot, ſo went they in unto Aholah, and unto Aholibah, the lewd women.
In theſe nine verſes, Aholahs and Aholibahs ſinnes are further declared and amplified.
1 Here is a mandate to the Prophet, to declare their abominations, verſ. 36.
2 The Declaration of thoſe abominations, which are
1 Idolatry, expreſſed by the tearm of adultery. v. 37.
2 Cruelty, in ſacrificing their children, v. 37. and ſlaying of them, v. 39.
3 Defilement, of holy things
Sanctuary
Sabbaths,
which is ſet out with aggravation, v. 38, 39.
4 Invitation, and alluring men of other nations to commit lewdneſs, verſ. 40, 41, 42.
5 Incorrigibleneſs, they were reproved for their wickedneſſe, warned and counſelled to deſiſt, but they went on, v. 43, 44.
36 Wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah?
God being very angry with theſe two women for their lewdneſſe and abominations, turns to the Prophet, who being charitable, was ready to excuſe them (for ſo the words may bee read, and are by Piſcator) ſee thou do it not, they are inexcuſable: but take the words as they are here, Wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? thou ſeeſt what they have done, what vile ſtrumpets they are, how juſtly they deſerve ſeverely to bee puniſhed? what ſayeſt thou, wilt thou judge them, wilt thou reprove and ſentence them for their ſinnes? ſpeak ſonne of man? I ſee thou art backward to it, thou thinkeſt there will no good come of it, thou art diſcouraged, but rouſe up thy ſpirit, it is thy duty to do it, and thou ſhalt do it. The French tranſlation is, Ne jugeras tu pás; wilt thou not judge? of theſe words ſee chap. 22.2. & 20.4.
37 That they have committed adultery, and bloud is in their hands, &c. and have alſo cauſed their Sons whom they bare unto me, to paſs, &c.
For this verſ. ſee what hath been ſaid, ch. 16. v. 16.20, 21, 32. ch. 9.9. cha. 22.3.
38 Moreover, this they have done unto mee, they have defiled my Sanctuary in the ſame day, and have prophaned my Sabbaths.
Of Defiling the Sanctuary, ſee chap. 5.11. where theſe words, becauſe thou haſt defiled my Sanctuary, were handled: and of prophaning the Sabbaths, was ſpoken chap. 20.13.16. and chap. 22.8.
One thing here is to bee conſidered, viz. the time when they did defile the Sanctuary, and prophane the Sabbaths, its ſaid in the ſame day, what day that was, the next verſe tells us more fully.
39 When they had ſlain their children to their idols, then they came the ſame day into my Sanctuary to prophane it.
It was unnatural and barbarous for them to ſlay their children, impious to offer them to idols, to Devils, and to do thoſe things upon the Sabbath days, wherein they were to reſt from ordinary works, how extreamly wicked, and abominable was it, and then after ſuch evils to come into the Temple, and appear before God, as if they had done no wickedneſs, but well; what height of iniquity was here? It was as if a woman playing the whore with another, ſhould immediately come from him to her Husband, pretending conjugal love. The bloud of their children was yet hot upon their hands, and freſh upon their skirts, and in that pickle they came into the Temple to have communion with God in his worſhip.
Loe, Thus have they done in the midſt of mine houſe.
They have not onelyonly ſet up Idols in Hills and Groves, offered their children to Molech in the valley of Hinnom, but they have ſet up Idols in the Temple, and have ſacrificed their children to them there. So I find ſome interpreters to underſtand theſe words, Maldonate ſaith, Etiam in ipſo Templo filios ſuos ſacrificaverunt, and hee grounds it upon, Jer. 7.30. Ezek. 8.10, 11. which places prove there were Idols in the Temple, that they ſacrificed unto them, but not that they ſacrificed their children there; but rather came with the guilt of their childrens bloud upon them into the Temple, and ſo polluted it, and the worſhip of it.
Obſ. 1 That wicked ones make little or no conſcience of horrible ſinnes, or holy duties; they do paſs from the one to the other immediately. When Aholah and Aholibah had ſlain their children to their idols, the ſame day they came into the ſanctuary and joyned in the duties of the place and day; from ſhedding of bloud and ſacrificing to Idols, they ſtep into the Temple, and worſhip of God. Had not their Conſciences been ſeared, they would have accuſed them, and told them, they were unclean, not fit to meddle with holy things, that they might look for vengeance every hour, who had done ſuch things, and that if they came before the Lord, hee would bee a conſuming fire unto them, but they go boldly and impudently into his preſence, not being troubled for what they had done, nor conſidering how they polluted holy things: So in Jerem. 7.9, 10. they did ſteal, murther, commit adultery, ſwear falſely, burn incenſe to Baal, walk after other gods, and then come preſently and ſtand before him in his houſe, and ſay, wee are delivered, they paſſed from wicked practiſes unto holy duties, making no conſcience of the one, or the other.
Obſ. 2 The Lord takes notice how men draw near to him on his daies, in the duties of his worſhip: when they ſlew their Children to their Idols, then they came to my Sanctuary the ſame day; they defiled themſelves with bloud and idolatry, on my Sabbaths, and in thoſe defilements they came to worſhip mee, Jer. 7.10. God obſerved them there, how they came in their ſinnes, and ſtood before him, they were notoriouſly wicked, and thruſt into the Temple worſhip, and into the preſence of God, as if they had been innocent, and as acceptable to God as any. Men may deceive others and themſelves: but they cannot deceive the Lord, hee ſees their ſpirits, knows them intus & in cute, whether they come before him with bloudy, idolatrous, unclean, prophane, covetous, proud, froward, and malicious hearts, or no; whether they come unprepared in the guilt of former or preſent ſinnes.
Obſ. 3 Prophaning of holy things is wronging of God, provokes greatly, and cauſes him to ſet an emphaſis thereon: When they had ſinned, and ſo came into the Sanctuary, and prophaned that and the Sabbath, ſaith God, This they have done unto mee. Loe, Thus have they done in the midſt of mine houſe. God takes the wrong done to his houſe, worſhip, and day, as done unto himſelf, for hee dwelt in the Temple, inſtituted the worſhip, and day, had ſtamped holineſſe upon them, and therefore the defiling and prophaning of them, hee counted the defiling and prophaning of his name, and of himſelf, and it did ſo ſorely offend him, that he ſets a double mark or brand thereupon.
This have they done to mee, Thus have they done in my houſe.
Three waies eſpecially are holy things defiled, prophaned.
1 When men come in their ſinnes, without purging themſelves, and preparing for them, James 4.8. if men draw near to God without cleanſing their hands, and purifying their hearts, God will not draw near them, hee will not touch unclean things, they will defile him.
2 When we mingle ought of ours therewith: Additions of humane things, are pollutions of divine things: when they brought ought into the Temple which God appointed not, that was a defiling that, and the worſhip thereof: when Nadab and Abihu put ſtrange fire into the cenſers, they defiled them, the worſhip, and provoked God, to their deſtruction, Levit. 10. and when they ſet their threſhold with Gods threſhold, they defiled his name and worſhip, Ezek. 43.7, 8.
3 When holy things are handled irreverently. The Bethſhemites in a rude manner peeped into the Ark, and prophaned it, which cauſed the Lord to ſmite them with ſuddain death, 1 Sam. 6.19. Hence it is, that Solomon gives Counſel, Eccl. 5.1. that men ſhould keep their feet, when they go to the houſe of God; why then? becauſe they are to bee converſant in holy things; and if they look not well to their affections, they will play the fools; and prophane thoſe holy things, and procure a curſe inſtead of a bleſſing.
40 And furthermore, that yee have ſent for men to come from far, unto whom a meſſenger was ſent, and loe, they came.
They were not content to do wickedly themſelves, but they ſent to and invited others, the Chaldaeans, Aſſyrians, and Egyptians, Theſe Metaphorical Harlots were wanton with thoſe did provoke them thereto, and alſo provoked others a farre off to wantonize with them, according to what you had, Ezek. 16.33. the meaning is, they ſent for men of other Nations to make leagues with them, and being come, admitted their idols, and idolatrous waies of worſhip, as appeared verſ. 7.
For whom thou didst waſh thy ſelf, paintedſt thine eyes, and deckedſt thy ſelf with Ornaments.
Here is ſet forth the practice of whores, they waſh, they paint, they deck themſelves for their lovers, and ſo did theſe City Harlots, Aholah and Aholibah, they fitted themſelves for the Babylonians and Egyptians, their courtings and loves.
Paintedſt thine eyes.
The Hebr. word foreign Cachal, is onelyonly in this place, and ſignifies to colour, to paint, with ſtibium or Red; Montanus renders the words, Thou haſt coloured thine eies. The Septuagint is, foreign, Thou haſt ſtibium'd thine eyes. Stibium was a colouring ſtuffe women uſed to make themſelves black browed withall. Eyes here are put Synechdochically for the whole face; and by painting their eyes, is meant the painting of their faces, 2 King. 9.30. its ſaid of Jezabel, Shee Painted her face, the Hebrew is, Shee put her eyes in painting, the eyes are put for the face. Painting of faces was long ago in practice. Some out of pride painted them, that none might ſeem more beautiful than they, ſome out of luſt, that they might pleaſe men therewith, and allure them thereby to folly and wickedneſſe: painted faces are like Sampſons Foxes, which ſet the corn on fire. This practice is not warrantable. If women may not counterfeit and change their habits, Deut. 22.5. why ſhould they counterfeit and change their faces? if the body bee more than meat, the face is more than cloathes. The Apoſtle forbids us to take the members of Chriſt, and make them the members of an Harlot, 1 Cor. 6.15.Ornamentorum inſignia & laenocinia …uco… rum non niſi proſtitutis & impudicis foeminis congruit. Cyprianus de habitu virginum. and may wee take the faces which are the Lords, verſ. 19. and make them the Faces of Harlots by painting them?
Again, All Hypocriſy is odious in the ſight of God, and there is face-hypocriſy, as well as heart hypocriſy, this painting is face hypocriſy; women thereby ſeem that which they are not; Chriſt calls them Hypocrites for diſ-figuring their faces, that they might appear unto men to faſt, Mat. 6.16. and do not they paint their faces, diſ-figure the workmanſhip of God, that they may appear unto men beautifull which they are not? Mat. 23.27, 28. by this painting you ſay you are beautifull, but you lye both to God and man, pretending it to bee the work of God, when it is not.
And deckedſt thy ſelf with Ornaments.
Of Ornaments and Decking therewith, was ſpoken in the 16. chap. v. 11.13. Aholibah put on her bravery, and trim'd up her ſelf for ſtrangers, as whores do for their lovers.
41 And ſateſt upon a ſtately bed.
The Hebrew is, Mittah, cebudah, a bed of honour, or an honourable bed. The Vulgar is, in lecto putcherrimo. Others, Glorioſo, magnifico, honorato, in a bed of ſtate. The Scriptures mention two kinds of beds: Lecti cubiculares, which men ſleep in, Pſalm. 6.6. all the night make I my bed to ſwim; and Lecti diſcubitorii, which they did eat and feaſt at, Eſth. 1.6. Amos 6.4. and theſe were called Tricliniares, Tables, or beds, with three feet. Which bed ſhee ſate upon is not much material, like the Harlot in the Proverbs, chap. 7.16, 17. Shee prepared all things to affect and pleaſe her lovers; ſhee had a Table furniſhed, and ſet the incenſe and oyle which were for Gods worſhip, in a readineſſe for idolatrous worſhip, or to bee ſpent upon the Chaldaeans, and Egyptians, when ſhee entertained and feaſted them; ſhee was profuſe in her expences upon Idolaters.
42 And a voice of a multitude being at eaſe, was with her.
When the Chaldaeans and Egyptians came to Aholibah and Aholah, they were feaſted, leagues made between them, and all were at peace; ſo that the voice of a multitude at peace, was with her, ſo the word for eaſe ſignifies, being ſhalef from ſhalah, to bee at peace and quiet. Peace being made they were at eaſe, and the voice of muſick, ſinging, and rejoycing was amongſt them, they walkt, they worſhipped, they feaſted together.
With the men of the Common ſort, were brought Sabaeans from the wilderneſs.
Theſe Harlots were not ſatisfied with the Captains, Rulers, Lords, and Princes of the Aſſyrians, Chaldaeans, and Egyptians; but, they invited the baſer ſort of people, who thought it a great honour, that they ſhould bee entertained by theſe famous Harlots, Samaria and Jeruſalem, Jer. 27.3. there were meſſengers ſent from the Kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon, which were inconſiderable to the Kings of Babylon and Egypt; and as theſe were drawn in, ſo men inferiour to them, thoſe of the common ſort, yea, Sabaeans, or Drunkards, as ſome render the word.
Which put bracelets upon their hands, and beautiful crowns upon their heads.
They brought their preſents with them, bracelets and crowns which they beſtowed upon thoſe Harlots, who hired and gave gifts to the great ones, to come unto them, ch. 6.33, 34. but were cunning here, and received gifts of the meaner and under ſort. Of bracelets and beautiful crowns, the 16. chap. gave occaſion to ſpeak, v. 11, 12.
Obſ. Wicked ones are active and expenſive to draw others to themſelves, and their wicked waies. Theſe Harlots Aholah and Aholibah ſent to Aſſyria, to Egypt, to others, to come unto them, they trimmed and deckt up themſelves, made great preparations to entertain them, they ſpared not for any coſt whereby they might pleaſe and ſatisfy them. Thus did the Harlot, Prov. 7. ſhee perfumes her bed, trims up her ſelf, goes forth, and diligently ſeeks, finds, and brings in a prey. Some bad enough, compaſs Sea and land to make proſelites; ſhall wicked ones, and wickedneſſe, bee active, expenſive to draw, and ruine others, and ſhall not godly ones, and godlineſſe, be as active and expenſive, to win, and ſave ſinners?
43 Then ſaid I unto her that was old in adulteries, will they now commit whoredomes with her, &c.
What, art not thou yet ſatisfied, thou art old in wickedneſſe, art like a dry and dead thing; What, can thy Lovers have any pleaſure in thee, or thou in them? Ceaſe yee Harlots from your wicked and lewd practiſes, here the Lord chides and reproves them, upbraiding them from their long continuance in their ſinne, Aholah, Samaria, was oldeſt in her adulteries, ſhee had continued from the time of Jeroboam, in her idolatrous worſhip; and Aholibah had many years lived in that ſin. Gods reproof, upbraiding, prevailed not, for
44 Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the Harlot, &c.
Obſ. 1 Thoſe are given to corporal or spiritual uncleanneſs, are ſeldome recovered, but go on, and grow old in thoſe ſinnes. Theſe women had many reproofs, and threatnings, but none prevailed. Such ſinnes are bewitching, and hold men captive, Prov. 2.19. none that go unto her return again.
Obſ. 2 The Lord takes notice of perſons beginning, progreſſe, and continuance in ſinne: Hee obſerved when Aholah beganne her whoredomes, when the Calves were ſet up at D…n and Bethel, how ſhee grew up, and grew old in adulteries. Gods eye goes along with ſinners, from the beginning to the end.
Verſ. 45 And the righteous men, they ſhall judge them after the manner of adultereſſes; and after the manner of women that ſhed bloud, becauſe they are adultereſſes, and bloud is in their hands.
46 For thus ſaith the Lord God, I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to bee removed and ſpoiled.
47 And the company ſhall ſtone them with ſtones, and dispatch them with their ſwords: they ſhall ſtay their ſonnes, and their daughters, and burn up their houſes with fire.
48 Thus will I cauſe lewdneſſe to ceaſe out of the land, that all women may bee taught not to do after your lewdneſs.
49 And they ſhall recompenſe your lewdneſſe upon you, and yee ſhall bear the ſinnes of your Idols, and yee ſhall know that I am the Lord God.
In theſe verſes the judgements of God upon thoſe Harlots are further ſet out, and amplified with the events thereof.
1 They ſhall bee puniſhed like adultereſſes, and murthereſſes, v. 45.
2 They ſhall be carried into captivity, and ſpoiled, v. 46.
3 They, their Sons and daughters, ſhall bee ſtoned and ſlain, v. 47. and their houſes burnt. ibid.
The Events or effects are,
1 Ceſſation of lewdneſſe, v. 48.
2 Inſtruction of other women to take heed of doing the like. ibid.
3 Conviction of the equity of Gods dealings, v. 49.
45 And the righteous men.
The Aſſyrians and Babylonians who deſtroyed Samaria, and Jeruſalem, are called righteous or juſt men, not that they were ſo really, but comparatively, they are ſtiled ſo, in reſpect of the Jews, they were ſuch, Ezek. 5.6, 7. chap. 16.27, 47. who exceeded the Nations in wickedneſſe, or becauſe they were Gods inſtruments to execute his juſt judgements upon them, eſpecially for their perfidiouſneſſe with thoſe Nations.
They ſhall judge them after the manner of adultereſſes, and after the manner of women that ſhed bloud.
Adultereſſes were puniſhed with death under the Law, Lev. 20.10. Deut. 22.22. and the death was ſtoning, John 8.5, 7. elſe Chriſt would not have commiſſioned them to have thrown ſtones at the woman, if they had been faultleſse themſelves, and as theſe were to dye for their uncleanneſſe, ſo were thoſe that ſhed blood. Of theſe words ſee chap. 16.38.
46 I will bring up a company upon them.
I brought up an Army againſt Samaria, and deſtroyed it; and ſo I will do with Jeruſalem, I will bring the Babylonians, upon her, who ſhall ſpoil her, by ſtoning, ſlaughtering, burning and removing her into Captivity. No enemies can ſtirre out of their countrey to miſchief others, till the Lord call and bring them; and when hee doth ſo, ſad effects follow; they lay all waſte, making Cities heaps, and pleaſant Lands wilderneſſes. Of this 46. and 47. verſ. ſee chap, 16.40, 41.
48 Then will I cauſe lewdneſſe to ceaſe out of the land.
When the Lord ſhould have accompliſhed his judgements upon theſe Harlots, when Aholah and Aholibah ſhould be deſtroyed, then idolatry ſhould ceaſe, and be no more in the Land; then ſacrificing their children to idols, and ſhedding of blood ſhould be no more heard of. Gods judgements will ſilence wickedneſſe, and take away evil from the land.
That all women may bee taught not to do after your lewdneſs.
By Women here underſtand, Cities, Provinces, Nations, which ſeeing the juſt judgements of God upon theſe whoriſh women, Aholah and Aholibah, might learn to beware of ſuch ſinnes, and not to go out from God, having once given up themſelves to him, leaſt they draw ſuch ſevere and ſhamefull puniſhments upon themſelves.
Obſ. Gods Judgements are teaching things; hee brought dreadful judgements upon Aholah and Aholibah, that all women might bee taught thereby. Gideon by thorns and bryers taught the men of Succoth, Judges 8.16. and God by his peircing judgements teaches the Nations; hee puniſheth one City, that others may take warning. There is no judgement of God upon any City, Nation, or people, but it ſpeaks and teaches, Micah 6.9. hear ye the rod, it hath a voice, a teaching voice.
1 It Teaches all who are guilty of the ſame ſinnes, and not viſited with the ſame judgements, to admire the long ſuffering, and goodneſſe of God towards them.
2 It Teaches thoſe preſently to conſider their waies, turn to the Lord by repentance, who are guilty of ſuch ſins, leaſt the Lord being now in a way of judgement, ſhould break out alſo upon them, and make them examples of his juſtice.
3 It Teaches others to fear and fly from ſuch practiſes, as bring ſuch deſtructive judgements. When Samaria and Jeruſalem ſhall be deſtroyed by dreadful judgements for their confidence in armes of fleſh, by confederating with other nations, for their idolatry, cruelty, prophaneneſs, and perfidiouſneſſe, will not other Cities fear to do the like? will not every City learn to ſee what is the reward of wickedneſs, in the ſufferings of others. This Gods judgements teach ſinners to do, that ſo they may conſult for their credit and ſafety.
49 And they ſhall recompenſe your lewdneſſe upon you.
The Hebrew is, And they ſhall put your filthineſſe and lewdthineſſe upon you, that is, the Nations and Cities round about, ſhall concur with the Babylonians to puniſh you for your wickedneſſe, to bring upon you the merit of your ſinnes; or thus, they ſhall approve of what the Lord doth in deſtroying of you, ſaying, all is the fruit and juſt recompenſe of your own doings.
And ye ſhall bear the ſins of your idols.
Their Idols did not ſin, but they ſinned with their Idols, and the fruit of thoſe ſins they muſt eat, the puniſhment due to them they muſt bear: there is a near connexion between ſinne and puniſhment, they have the ſame names, ſo v. 35.
Obſ. Gods proceeding with ſinners in judgement righteouſly, brings them to acknowledge the equity of his dealing with them: when the juſt puniſhment of your lewdneſſe and idolatry ſhall bee upon you, ye ſhall know that I am the Lord God, who obſerved all your waies, who waited long for your repentance, who have dealt juſtly with you in all the evils, I have brought upon you, you cannot but juſtify me, and condemn your ſelves.