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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 16:44-59

The prophet here further shows Jerusalem her abominations, by comparing her with those places that had gone before her, and showing that she was worse than any of them, and therefore should, like them, be utterly and irreparably ruined. We are all apt to judge of ourselves by comparison, and to imagine that we are sufficiently good if we are but as good as such and such, who are thought passable; or that we are not dangerously bad if we are no worse than such and such, who, though bad, are not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 16:52

Thou also which hast judged thy sisters ,.... Sodom and Samaria, by censuring and condemning them for their sins; see 2 Chronicles 13:8 ; in which sense Jarchi and Kimchi interpret the word; or by defending and patronizing them, acquitting and absolving them, by committing the same sins, and more heinous ones: bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they ; look upon thy sins, and blush at them; confess them with shame and confusion of face; take... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 16:52

They are more righteous than thou - ממך תצדקנה tetsuddaknah mimmech , "They shall be justified more than thou." They are less guilty in the sight of God, for their crimes were not accompanied with so many aggravations. This phrase casts light on Luke 18:14 ; : "This man went down to his house justified rather than the other." Less blame in the sight of God was attached to him. He always had fewer advantages, and now he was a true penitent; while the other was boasting of what he had... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 16:52

Verse 52 Here at length God announces that he would punish the Jews according to their deserts. Hitherto he has recounted their crimes, as judges are accustomed, when they condemn criminals, to state the reasons which induce them to pass sentence: thus God shortly shows how wicked the Jews were. He now adds, that he would avenge them according to the magnitude of their crimes. For they would easily have swallowed all reproaches if the fear of punishment had not been infused into them. This... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:1-63

The thought that underlies Ezekiel's parable, that Israel was the bride of Jehovah, and that her sin was that of the adulterous wife, was sufficiently familiar. Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:21 ) had spoken of the "faithful city that had become a harlot." Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 2:2 ) had represented Jehovah as remembering "the kindness of her youth, the love of her espousals." What is characteristic of Ezekiel's treatment of that image is that he does not recognize any period in which Israel had been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:15-59

Inexcusable infidelity. Universal consent accounts that woman vile who, married to a kind and honourable husband, in order to gratify her own unchastened desires, commits adultery with her neighbours and acquaintances, and expends her husband's substance in rewarding her numerous and profligate admirers. The guilt of Jerusalem must indeed have been great if it could only be adequately set forth under the similitude of guilt so flagrant and abominable as that described in this most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:44-52

A picture of comparative iniquity. "Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying. As is the mother, so is her daughter," etc. The following observations are suggested by this paragraph. I. THE HEINOUSNESS OF SIN IS PROPORTIONATE TO THE POSITION AND PRIVILEGES OF THE SINNERS . "The more mercies people enjoy, the greater are their sins if they answer not those mercies." It is by the application of this principle that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:44-59

Sin seen in the light of comparison. If men are so encased in worldliness that they cannot see their sin in the light of God's perfect righteousness, they may yet discover some features of their sin in the light of others' conduct, in the light of others' doom. God has employed manifold methods for convincing men of sin. I. SIN MAY BE SEEN IN THE LIGHT OF ANOTHER 'S FALL . In the case of Israel it might have been seen in a parent's disaster and doom. For their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:51-52

Thou hast justified, etc. The word has a touch of sarcasm. Sodom and Samaria might claim a verdict of acquittal ("justify," in its technical sense) as compared with Judah. They had not presented, as she had done, a confluence of all the worst idolatries. The words find something like an echo in our Lord's teaching Matthew 10:15 ; Matthew 11:24 . And, as is common m such eases," she had judged," i.e. had passed sentence of condemnation on those who were more righteous than herself. The... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 16:51-52

Ezekiel 16:51-52. Neither hath Samaria The kingdom of the ten tribes, founded in rebellion and idolatry; committed half of thy sins The sin of Jerusalem was greater than that of Samaria, because God had placed his name and the ordinances of his worship there; and she had profaned his temple by placing idols in it, which was a degree of idolatry beyond any thing the ten tribes had been guilty of. And probably, with respect to other crimes, Jerusalem went beyond, or exceeded Samaria. But... read more

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