Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister ,.... Samaria, or the ten tribes of Israel; followed them in their idolatrous practices, were guilty of the same: therefore will I give her cup into thine hand ; the cup of her vengeance, as the Targum; inflict the same punishment on the two tribes as on the ten, and suffer them to be carried captive as they had been. read more
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
A bad example. Judah followed the bad example of her sister Israel; consequently, she was to share the fate of Israel We see here an instance of the evil influence of a bad example, and of its fatal consequences. I. THE EVIL INFLUENCE OF A BAD EXAMPLE . Consider how this fell power is exerted. 1. By the fascination of suggestion . The path is made by the pioneer, and the follower has only to walk in it. The sight of a predecessor indicates the road, calls attention... read more
I will give her cup into thine hand . (For the image of the cup as the symbol of good or evil fortune, see Psalms 23:5 ; Isaiah 51:17 ; Jeremiah 25:15 ; Matthew 20:22 ; Matthew 26:39 .) The cup, in this case, was to be deep and large as that of Samaria. The adulteress was to be "drunk, but not with wine" ( Isaiah 29:9 ). And that "cup," over and above the laughter and derision, would contain much of unknown calamities, the astonishment and desolation of Ezekiel 23:33 . read more
Ezekiel 23:31-35. Therefore will I give her cup, &c. I will make thee drink the same bitter draught, or experience the same calamity that has fallen upon her. God’s judgments are often compared to a cup of intoxicating liquors, because they astonish men, and bereave them of common judgment and discretion, and likewise expose them to the scorn and contempt of their enemies. Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out There shall be no punishment which thou shalt not partake of. Thou shalt... read more
Two prostitute sisters (23:1-35)God’s chosen nation was saved from Egypt and settled in Canaan, but it soon divided into two, the northern kingdom Israel (capital: Samaria) and the southern kingdom Judah (capital: Jerusalem). The prophet likens these two kingdoms to two sisters who became prostitutes (23:1-4).The prostitution of Israel and Judah was their unfaithfulness to God in forming military alliances with foreign nations instead of trusting in him. Israel, the northern kingdom, was... read more
cup. Compare Isaiah 51:17 . Revelation 14:9 , Revelation 14:10 . read more
Ezekiel 23:31. Therefore will I give her cup, &c.— "Thou shalt suffer the same punishment as Samaria." See Ezekiel 23:33. The cup is often used as a metaphor to express chastisement. Comp. Isaiah 51:17; Isaiah 51:23. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 23:22-35
Jerusalem stands indicted by the name of Aholibah, for that she, as a false traitor to her sovereign Lord the God of heaven, not having his fear before her eyes, but moved by the instigation of the devil, had revolted from her allegiance to him, had compassed and imagined to shake off his government, had kept up a correspondence had joined in confederacy with his enemies, and the pretenders to a deity, in contempt of his crown and dignity. To this indictment she has pleaded, Not guilty: I am... read more