Ezekiel 23:36-39

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 23:36-49

After the ten tribes were carried into captivity, and that kingdom was made quite desolate, the remains of it by degrees incorporated with the kingdom of Judah, and gained a settlement (many of them) in Jerusalem; so that the two sisters had in effect become one again; and therefore, in these verses, the prophet takes those to task jointly who were thus conjoined: ?Wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah together? Ezek. 23:36. Wilt thou go about to frame an excuse for them? Thou seest the matter... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:36

The Lord said moreover unto me, son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah ?.... Plead the cause of Israel and Judah? say any thing in their defence, and in excuse of them? or intercede and pray for them, that threatened judgments may not come upon them? no, do nothing of this kind; if thou wilt do anything, do as follows: yea, declare unto them their abominations ; their abominable sins, their murders, adulteries, and idolatries; set them in a true light before them, in all their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:37

That they have committed adultery ,.... Either literally, adultery with their neighbours' wives, which was a prevailing sin with this people; or figuratively, spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry: and blood is in their hands ; the Targum is, "they have shed the blood of innocents with their hands;' the blood of prophets and righteous men, sent unto them; and the blood of their infants in sacrificing to idols, as after mentioned: and with their idols have they committed adultery ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:38

Moreover this they have done unto me ,..... The following piece of wickedness, which was very provoking to the Lord: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day ; as they caused their children to pass through the tire to their idols, by entering into the sanctuary when they had so done, and were thus defiled, and by offering sacrifices to their idols in it; or under pretence of serving the Lord, when they had just been guilty of murder and idolatry: and have profaned my sabbaths ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 23:39

For when they had slain their children to their idols ,.... This explains more clearly what is before said, that by causing their children to pass through the fire was a slaying them; and that their passing through it "for them" was for their idols, and unto them; see Ezekiel 23:37 , and how when they had been guilty of such shocking wickedness, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it ; not that they came into the temple on purpose to profane it; but coming into it,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 23:38

They have defiled my sanctuary - By placing idols there. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:1-49

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:1-49

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:36

As often, Ezekiel emphasizes by reiteration, begins yet a fresh discourse with the same words, wilt thou judge , as in Ezekiel 20:4 and Ezekiel 22:2 , and enters on another summary of the sins of the two harlot sisters, in which Moloch-worship (Verse 37) and sabbath-breaking (Verse 38) were conspicuous elements. The nature of the guilt is emphasized (Verses 38, 39) by the fact that the idolatrous ritual was performed on the very day in which the people sacrificed in the temple; that it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 23:36

(last clause) Abominations declared. I. ABOMINATIONS MAY BE HIDDEN . 1. They may be committed in secret . Then they are unknown to every one but the guilty persons and their accomplices. 2. Their corrupt character may not be admitted . Then they may be done in open daylight without shame or rebuke. Not only the outside public, but even the guilty persons themselves, may not perceive the full evil of what they are doing. 3. They may be forgotten . People... read more

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