24. eminent place—rather, "a fornication-chamber," often connected with the impure rites of idolatry; spiritual fornication, on "an eminent place," answering to "fornication-chamber," is mainly meant, with an allusion also to the literal fornication associated with it (Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:2). read more
25. at every head of the way—in the most frequented places ( :-). thy beauty . . . abhorred, . . . opened . . . feet to every one—The wanton advances were all on Israel's part; the idolatrous nations yielded to her nothing in return. She had yielded so much that, like a worn-out prostitute, her tempters became weary of her. When the Church lowers her testimony for God to the carnal tastes of the world, with a view to conciliation, she loses everything and gains nothing. read more
26. fornication with . . . Egyptians—alliances with Egypt, cemented by sharing their idolatries. great of flesh—of powerful virile parts; figuratively for the gross and lustful religion of Egypt (for example, Isis, c.), which alone could satisfy the abominable lust of Israel (Ezekiel 20:7 Ezekiel 20:8; Ezekiel 23:19; Ezekiel 23:20; Ezekiel 23:21). to provoke me—wantonly and purposely. read more
27. The consequent judgments, which, however, proved of no avail in reforming the people (Isaiah 9:13; Jeremiah 5:3). delivered thee unto . . . Philistines— (2 Kings 16:6; 2 Chronicles 28:18; 2 Chronicles 28:19). ashamed of thy lewd way—The Philistines were less wanton in idolatry, in that they did not, like Israel, adopt the idols of every foreign country but were content with their own (Ezekiel 16:57; Jeremiah 2:11). read more
28. unsatiable—Not satisfied with whoredoms with neighbors, thou hast gone off to the distant Assyrians, that is, hast sought a league with them, and with it adopted their idolatries. read more
29. multiplied . . . fornication in . . . Canaan unto Chaldea—Thou hast multiplied thy idolatries "in Canaan" by sending "unto Chaldea" to borrow from thence the Chaldean rites, to add to the abominations already practised "in Canaan," before the carrying away of Jehoiachin to Chaldea. The name "Canaan" is used to imply that they had made Judea as much the scene of abominations as it was in the days of the corrupt Canaanites. The land had become utterly Canaanitish (Ezekiel 23:14, &c.). read more
30. weak . . . heart—Sin weakens the intellect ("heart") as, on the contrary, "the way of the Lord is strength to the upright" ( :-). read more
31. Repetition of :-. not . . . as . . . harlot . . . thou scornest hire—Unlike an ordinary harlot thou dost prostitute thy person gratis, merely to satisfy thy lust. JEROME translates, "Thou hast not been as a harlot in scorning (that is, who ordinarily scorns) a hire offered," in order to get a larger one: nay, thou hast offered hire thyself to thy lovers (Ezekiel 16:33; Ezekiel 16:34). But these verses show English Version to be preferable, for they state that Israel prostituted herself,... read more
32. instead of her husband—referring to Numbers 5:19; Numbers 5:20; Numbers 5:29. FAIRBAIRN translates, "whilst under her husband." read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 16:23
23. woe, woe unto thee, &c.—This parenthetical exclamation has an awful effect coming like a lightning flash of judgment amidst the black clouds of Israel's guilt. read more