Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 16:41

Verse 41 After he had spoken of the slaughter of men, he adds the burning of their dwellings. This was sad indeed, that the whole land should be deprived of inhabitants: but the deformity of this last slaughter was heaped upon them when the houses were burnt up; for the country was laid waste for the future, and for a length of time. For when men are slain others may succeed, if they find houses prepared, and fields not uncultivated. But when all these things are consumed by fire, and by other... 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 16:35-43

Judicial verdict. It is a great kindness done by any one if he disclose to us the real nature of our sin. Light from any quarter should be welcomed. To demonstrate to the Hebrews that their idolatry was the worst form of adultery was an act of condescension on the part of God. By their own state law they knew that this sin incurred the penalty of death. With all the circumstance of judicial solemnity, the Supreme Judge summons the attention of the culprit: "O harlot, hear the word of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:35-43

A picture of righteous retribution because of apostasy. "Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out," etc. The scope and meaning of this paragraph is clearly and forcibly stated in the 'Speaker's Commentary:' "The punishment of Judah is represented by the same figure as her sin. She has been portrayed as an adulteress and a murderess. She is now represented as undergoing the punishment adjudged to an adulteress and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:37

I will gather all thy lovers, etc. Interpreting the parable, the" lovers" are the nations with which Judah had allied herself, and whose religion she had adopted. In that confederacy of Moabites, Ammonites, Syrians, Philistines, Edomites and Chaldeans them should be small difference between those whom she had loved and those whom she had hated. All alike would exult in her shame and her fall (comp. Psalms 137:7 ; 2 Kings 24:2 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:38

The bloodshed may refer, as in Ezekiel 16:36 , to the Moloch sacrifices, or may include also other crimea, assassinations and judicial murders ( Jeremiah 2:34 ). Strictly speaking, the punishment of the adulteress was death by stoning (Le Ezekiel 20:2 , Ezekiel 20:10 ; Deuteronomy 21:21 ; Deuteronomy 22:21 ; John 8:5 ). Did Ezekiel think of the stones cast against the city from the catapult engines of the Chahleans as a literal counterpart of that punishment? In the last clause... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:39

(For eminent place and high place , see notes on Ezekiel 16:24 .) These the Chaldean conqueror treated as local sanctuaries, and laid them waste. The clothes and the jewels are, of course, all outward tokens of stateliness and prosperity. The (or a) holy city, the perfection of beauty, should be as "some forlorn and desperate castaway" (comp. Lamentations 1:1-10 for a companion picture). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:40

The punishment of stoning was, as a rule, inflicted by the "congregation" ( Numbers 15:36 ), or by the men of the city (Le Ezekiel 20:2 ). Other forms of punishement for impurity were those of the sword and burning, as in Le Ezekiel 20:14 ; Ezekiel 21:9 . The thrusting through (better, hewing; the word is not found elsewhere) probably points to mutilation after death, as in the case of Agog ( 1 Samuel 15:33 : comp. 19:29 ; Daniel 2:5 ; Daniel 3:29 ). in this case the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 16:41

They shall burn thine houris with fire, etc.. The women stand for the "cities" which looked on, with awe or exultation, at the destruction of the guilty. Possibly, however, the words may include a literal sense, as in Lamentations 2:10 . read more

Group of Brands