The city sheddeth blood , etc. As in the great indictment of Isaiah ( Isaiah 1:15 , Isaiah 1:21 ; Isaiah 4:4 ), the sins of murder and idolatry are grouped together. She sins as if with the purpose "that her time" ( i.e. the time of her punishment) "may come." read more
Thou hast caused thy days to draw near , etc. As in Ezekiel 22:3 , the days and the years are those of God's judgments. The people had made no effort to avert their doom by repentance. They had, as it were, rushed upon their appointed fate. So, though in another sense, the righteous lives of the faithful are said, in 2 Peter 3:12 , to "hasten the coming of the day of God." Exceptional evil and exceptional good alike hasten the approach of the day which is to decide between the two. read more
Thy days, - i. e., of judgment; “thy years,” i. e., of visitation (compare Ezekiel 20:25, Ezekiel 20:39).A reproach ... a mocking - Judah shall be like the Ammonites Ezekiel 21:28. read more
Ezekiel 22:2-5. Wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? Wilt thou plead for it? Or rather, Wilt thou not judge? see note on Ezekiel 20:4. The expression is doubled to awaken the prophet more fully, and to quicken him to his work. Jerusalem is termed the bloody city, Hebrew, עיר הדמים , the city of bloods, because of the blood of innocent persons, of children sacrificed to Moloch, and of prophets and righteous men shed in her, and that by courts of justice under colour of... read more
National decay (22:1-31)With Jerusalem’s end approaching, God again told Ezekiel to show the city its sins and the humiliating judgment that these sins would bring upon it (22:1-5). Powerful people exploited others, without any respect for the laws of God or the dignity of their fellow human beings (6-8). The corrupt city was characterized by lies, violence, idolatry, bribery, oppression and sexual sins of the worse kind (9-12). God warned that in punishment for its wickedness, he would destroy... read more
son of man. See note on Ezekiel 2:1 . judge = pronounce judgment on. See Ezekiel 20:4 ; Ezekiel 23:36 . bloody city = city of bloods: bloods (plural of Majesty) much blood. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Sebjeet), App-6 , for great bloodshed: referring to those put to death for the truth's sake by the wicked rulers. So in Cr Ezekiel 3:4 , Ezekiel 6:12 , Eze 6:27 . abominations = idolatries. read more
the Lord GOD. Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 . idols = manufactured gods. read more
days. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct), App-6 , for the judgment inflicted in them. come even unto. Some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "hast entered the time of". have I made thee a reproach . . . mocking . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 28:37 ). These words occur nowhere else. App-92 . heathen = nations. read more
Ezekiel 22:2. Wilt thou judge? &c.— Wilt thou not judge, wilt thou not judge? &c. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 22:1-16
An appalling indictment and a just judgment. "Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Now, thou son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city?" etc. "This chapter," says Fairbaim, "stands closely related to the last chapter, and may fitly be regarded as supplementary to it; the former having presented a striking delineation of the Lord's purpose to execute the severity of his displeasure upon the people of Jerusalem, while this returns to lay open the fearful... read more