CHAP. XXII.
A catalogue of the crimes committed in Jerusalem, for which judgment was awarded against the Jews, 1-16. God will prove them as metals in the furnace, 17-22. The wickedness of the prophets, priests, princes, and people, shewn to be the combined causes of their ruin, 23-31.
OREOVER the word of the LORD
a wilt thou bloody city?
maketh idols against herself to defile herself.
4 Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed: and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made: & and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore hhave I made thee a reproach unto the
came unto me, saying, 2 Now, thou son of man, *judge, wilt thou judge the yea, thou shalt + shew her all her abom-heathen, and a mocking to all countries.
inations.
3 Then say thou, Thus saith the Lord God, The city sheddeth blood in the midst of it, that her time may come, fand
except that the great are singled out as the principal criminals; and the sword often pursues them, into their secret recesses of wickedness, and their most secure hiding places. Even those who fill thrones, when distinguished by profaneness and iniquity, will be exposed to shame, and their punishments made proportionably conspicuous: if they escape such revolutions, as sometimes hurry monarchs from the throne to the prison; yet death will soon terminate their career, rob them of their diadems and sceptres, and transmit them as criminals to the judgment-seat of God.
V. 18-32.
5 Those that be near, and those that be far from thee, shall mock thee, which art infamous and much vexed.
6 Behold, the princes of Israel, every
g Num. 32:14. Matt. 23:32,33. 1 Thes. 2.16.
h 5:14,15. 16:57. 21:28. Lev.
Dan. 9:16.
Heb. polluted of name, much in vexation. Jer. 15:2,3.
26:32. Deut. 28:37. 29:24. 1 i 27. Neh. 9:34. Is. 1:23. Jer
Kings 9:7. 2 Chr. 7:20. Ps. 44: 13,14. 79:4. 89:41,42. Jer. 18: 16. 24:9. 44:8. Lam. 2:15,16. |
2:26,27. 5:5. 32:32. Dan. 9:8. Mic. 3:1-3,9-11. Zeph. 3:3.
cy i pensations are in the hand of the only begotten Son of God: and all wars, convulsions, and revolutions, combine to bring forward the es- tablishment of his kingdom. The Lord will "overturn, overturn, overturn," till that great revolution takes place, when "the kingdoms of the earth shall become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ." This should satisfy all, who love his rightful authority, and are be- come his loyal subjects: "what he doeth they know not now, but they shall know hereafter." But let us be thankful to be employed as in- struments of his mercy, let us use our under- standings in devising methods of doing good; and let us stand aloof from those brutish men, who are only skilful to destroy.
is exercised to sinful men. All these dis
NOTES.
The most self-sufficient and ungodly, as well as the most sagacious and politic, sometimes find their counsels so perplexed, as to feel the want of a superior direction: and the vain superstitions and divinations of idolaters proclaim, how desirable it is to be directed by the word and Spirit of God. But, whatever apparent chance or choice, whatever augury or divination, determine the measures which men adopt; the Lord secretly leads them to execute his wise designs: and even ambitious conquer---53.) The prophet therefore, instead of plead
CHAP. XXII. V. 2. Jerusalem, instead of a holy city, was become, "a city of blood," filled with murder, and every crime for which men were punishable by death. ( Marg . and Ref .-- Notes , 3--16. Matt . 23:34--39. Acts 7:51
ors, and cruel tyrants, are the undesigning executioners of deserved punishment on condemned criminals. ( Notes , Ps . 76:10. Prov . 16: 33. 21:30. Is . 10:5-7. Dan . 5:18-24.) Wherever the sword of divine justice turns, it meets with men deserving of its stroke: but it commonly begins at the sanctuary, and first executes vengeance on those who profane it by their hypocrisy and iniquity.
These are the last persons, in general, who give credit to the warnings of God's word: their hearts are often hardened by repeatedly violating the most solemn vows and engagements, and attending on sacred ordinances in an impious and infidel manner; and they are left to themselves, till they ripen for vengeance: then their sins are made to appear, and they are brought to condign punishment. Next to such wicked professors of religion, they will be most severely punished, who insult over their falls and miseries.
What a frivolous advantage is it to a condemned malefactor, to be executed the last of the company! how little reason has he to exult over his fellow-sufferers! yet this is the common conduct of profane men; when they see others punished while they are spared; though the sword will not be sheathed till it have consumed them also.-But in the midst of the most tremendous predictions and deDunciations of wrath, we still hear some report of mercy, and of him through whom mer-the heathen: for even the idolaters, whose
ing in her behalf, was summoned to sit in judgment on her: whilst the Lord himself assumed the office of an accuser and a witness, and shewed that she merited the sentence of condemnation denounced against her. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . b, c.-- Notes , 20:4. Mal . 3:5,6, ν. 5.) V. 3--5. There is a peculiar emphasis in all these accusations brought against Jerusalem, arising from the consideration, that this was the city which God had chosen for the place of his temple, and favored with his oracles, ordinances, special presence, and protection, above all the cities upon earth.
Yet the inhabitants of this very city were peculiariy guilty of murder and idolatry, the two most atrocious of all crimes. They shed much blood, in sacrificing their children to idols, in persecuting the prophets and servants of God, and in cruelly oppressing the poor; by iniquitous laws and unrighteous decrees; and probably by frequent assassinations, in perpetrating robberies, and in furious quarrels.
So that the people seemed in haste to bring forward the time of vengeance.--They also made idols, to defile themselves; which was eventually to destroy themselves, as it was sure to provoke the Lord to destroy them. Thus they would speedily arrive at those years of desolation which had been predicted, when they would become the objects of scorn and reproach to
one were in thee to their power to shed blood.
7 In thee have they kset light by father and mother: in the midst of thee have they 1 dealt by † oppression with the stranger: in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow.
8 Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.
9 In thee are + men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness:
10 In thee have they discovered their father's nakedness: in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution.
12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord God.
13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, dand at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee.
14 Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it , and will do it .
15 And I will & scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee. 16 And thou shalt ** take thine inherit11 And one hath committed abomi-ance in thyself in the sight of the heathen, nation with his neighbor's wife; and || another and thou shalt know that I am the Lord. thath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in thee hath humbled "his sister, his father's daughter.
* Heb. arm. Mic. 2:1. k Ex. 21:17. Lev. 20:9. Deut. 27:16. Prov. 20:20. 30:11,17. Matt. 15:4-6. Mark 7:10. 129. 18:12. Ex. 22:21,22. Deut. 27:19. Prov. 22:22,23. Jer. 7: 6. Zech. 7:10. Mal. 3:5. ↑ Or, deceit.
m 26.
20:13,21,24.
23:38,39. Lev. 19:30. Am. 8:4-6. Mal. 1:6-8.12.
Heb. men of slanders.
n Ex. 20:16. 23:1. Lev. 19:16. 1 Kings 21:10-13. Ps. 50:20. 101:5. Prov. 10:18. 18:8. 26: 22. Jer. 6:28. 9:4. 37:13-15. 38:4-6. Matt. 26:59. Acts 6: 11--13. 24:5,13. Rev. 12:9,10. • 18:6,11,15. Ps. 106:28. 1 Cor.
gods they worshipped, having tenaciously adhered to the religion of their fathers, would mock them for forsaking JEHOVAH, and insult them under the miseries to which their rebellion had exposed them; so that their infamy would equal their misery. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref .-- Notes , 2,25-28. 5:14-17. Is . 1:10-15, v . 15. Jer . 2:26-30,33-37, ν. 34. Lam . 4:13—16. Mic . 3:8-12. Zeph . 3:1-4. Rev. 17:1-6.)
V. 6-11. Marg . and Marg . Ref . Notes , 18: 5-13.20:30-32. Ex . 22:21--27. Lev . 18:18. 19:16. 20: 1 Sam . 22:9-19. Is . 59:38. Jer. 5: 7-9.1 Cor . 1:1-5, v. 1.
[Practical Observations.]
And the word of the Lord came
unto me, saying,
Matt.
z Prov. 1:19. Is. 56:11. 2S:14,25. Luke 3:13. 18:11. 19:8. 1 Cor. 5:11. 6:10. 1 Tim. 3 : 3. 6 :9,10. Jam. 5:1-4. Jude 11.
a 23:35. Deut. 32:18. Ps. 106: 21. Jer. 2:32. 3:21.
b 21:14,17. Num. 24:10.
c 27. Prov. 28:8. Is. 33:15. Jer. 5:26,27. 7:9-11. Am. 2:6-8. 3:10. 8:4-6. Mic. 2:1-3. 6:10,11. 1 Thes. 4:6. d 2-4.
e 21:7. 28:9. Job 40:9. Is. 31:3. 45:9. Jer. 13:21. 1 Cor 10:22. Heb. 10:31.
f 5:13. 17:24. 24:14. 1 Sam. 15:29. Mark 13:31.
g 5:12. 12:14,15. 34:6. 36:19. Lev. 26:33. Deut. 4:27. 25,64. Neh. 1:8. Jer. 15:4. Zech. 7:14.
h 18-22. 20:38. 23:47,48, 24:6 -14. Is. 1:25. Zech. 13:9. Mal. 3:3. 4:1. Matt. 3:12. 1 Pet. 4:12.
** Or, be profaned in thyself. 7: 24. 25:3. Is. 43:28. 47:6. i 6:7. 39:6,7,28. Ex. 8:22. Kings 20:13,28. Ps. 83:18. Is. 37:20. Dan. 4:25,32-35.
some to think, that no eagerness after gain is hateful to God, unless attended by gross injustice: whereas "covetousness" in all cases "is idolatry." ( Marg . Ref . c.-- Notes , 27,28. 1 Tim . 6:6--10, υυ . 8-10.)
V. 14. ( Marg . Ref . e, f.) The utter inability of sinners to stand against that God, whom they continually set at defiance, shews their folly to be equal to their impiety. ( Notes , 28: 6-10, v. 9. Job 40:9-14. 1 Cor . 10:18--22. v . 22.)
V. 15. ( Marg . Ref. g.) When Jerusalem was desolated and laid in ruins, her iniquity and idolatry were entirely purged out, as by fire: and gross idolatry was never after practised there, even to the final destruction of the city by the Romans. ( Marg . Ref . h.-- Notes , 18 -22. 23:27. 24:9-13. Is . 27:7--11.)
V. 12. ( Marg . Ref . x- z .-- Note , 18:10--13.) 'The judges have taken bribes, not only to 'pervert justice, but even to take away the 'lives of the innocent.' Lowth .--All the immorality, murders, and oppressions, as well as idolatry, of the Jews, arose from forgetfulness of God, of his perfections, commandments, testimonies, promises, and wonderful works, and of their relations and obligations to him. (Marg. Ref . a.- Notes , Ps . 9:17. Jer . 2:31,32.) V. 13. The Lord was about to shew his abhorrence of the iniquity committed by his professed worshippers, and his earnestness in punishing it; as men smite their hands togeth-carried captive: and thus they should know er, when they are provoked beyond what they the Lord, by experiencing the misery of forare able to bear. ( Marg . Ref . b.-- . Note , 21:17.) feiting his favor, and incurring his indignation.
V. 16. In thyself.] Or, For thyself . The Lord had been the Portion of his people; and he had allotted Canaan to them for their temporal inheritance. But they had forfeited his favor, and were driven out of the country; they might therefore provide for themselves, and get what inheritance they could among the nations, by whom they were enslaved and
Thy dishonest gain . בצער "Thy covetous-( Marg . Ref . (ness." Old Version. Covetousness is almost Thou shalt be profaned , &c.] Marg . 'Thou
always connected with some kind or degree of unfair and fraudulent dealing, but this is not so generally considered as direct dishones ty : and the insertion of the epithet may lead
'shalt no longer enjoy the privileges of a city 'called by my name and set apart for my resi'dence; but shalt be laid open as commou ground to be profaned by infidels.' Lowth .
19 Therefore thus saith the Lord Gon; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.
20 As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it ; so will I gather you Pin mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.
21 Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
22 As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
k Ps. 119:119.
6:28-30.
Is. 1:22. Jer.
120. Is. 48:4. Lam. 4:1,2.
m Prov. 17:3. Is. 31:9. 48:10. Heb. drosses.
n 11:7.
ο 21. 21.31,32. Is. 54:16,
p 24:13. Jer. 4:11,12,20.
q 15:6,7. 20:47,48. Deut. 4:24. 29:20. $2:22. 2 Kings 25:9. Ps. 21:9. 50:3. Is. 30:33. Jer. 21:12. Nah. 1:6. Zeph. 1:18. r Ps. 68:2. 112:10. Is. 64:2,7.
24:3-6. Mic. 4:12. Matt, 13:30,40-42. † Heb. According to the gath- marg. Jer. 9:7. ering.
s 16,31. Hos. 5:10. Rev. 16:1.
V. 18-22. Israel, compared with other nations, had been as the gold and silver compared with the baser metals. But they were now become as the dross, or scum, of silver; the refuse that is consumed in the furnace, or thrown away when the silver is refined. Or they were become as brass, tin, iron, and lead, or a mixture of such metals as are comparatively of small value. These may mean different characters among them, all far beneath what Israelites ought to have been, and at best only equal to the heathen. The Lord intended therefore to gather them into Jerusalem, as metals are cast into the furnace; to make the fire exceedingly hot under them by blowing it; and to leave them there to be melted and proved; that if there were any gold or silver, it might be separated and refined, refined, and
unto me, saying,
24 Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.
25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey: they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof.
26 Her priests have violated my law, and have a profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed dif ference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and dI am profaned among them.
27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed 12 Chr. 28:22. 36:14-16. Is.
1:5. 9:13. Jer. 2:30. 5:3. 6: 29. 44:16-19. Zeph. 3:2. u 13:10-16. 13,23.
1 Kings 22:11- Jer. 5:30,31. 6:13. Lam. 2:14. 4:13. 2 Pet. 2:1-x 27-29. Is. 56:11. Hos. 6:9. Mic. 3:5-7. Rev. 13:11,15. y 13:19. Jer. 2:30,34. Matt. 23:14. Mark 12:40. Luke 20: 47. Rev. 17:6. 18:13.
z1 Sam. 2:12-17,22. Jer. 2:8,
26,27. Lam. 4:13. Mic. 3:11, 12. Zeph. 3:4. Mal. 1:6-8. 2:1-3.
Heb. offered violence to.
a Lev. 22:2, &c. 1 Sam. 2:15,29. b 44:23. Lev. 10:1-3,10. 11 47. 20:25. Jer. 15:19. Hag.
2:11-13.
c 8. 20:12,13.
d 36:20-23. Rom. 2:24.
e 6. 19:3-6. 45:9. Is. 1:23. Hos. 7:1-7. Mic. 3:2,3,11. 7: 3. Zeph. 3:3. Jam. 2:6,7.
merous, conspired together to maintain the authority of their lying predictions, to encourage the people in wickedness, and to oppose with contempt and violence the few who spake the word of God. Perhaps they boasted of their unanimity, as a proof of the truth of their predictions: whereas it was a wicked "conspiracy" aga against the cause of God and the interests of true rel eren religion. They resembled "roaring lions ravening the prey:" they were fierce, cruel, and rapacious, seeking only to enrich themselves, and to be avenged on all who opposed them.
They They not only deceived the souls of men by false doctrine, but they procured the death of numbers, that they might take the treasure and precious things belonging to them: thus they multiplied the widows in Jerusalem, by the murder of their husbands on pover poverty, by seizing their property as forfeited. Marg . Ref . Notes , 27,28. 13:1-16. 1 Kings 22:6,10,11,19-23. Jer . 5:30,31. 6:13-15. 23:13 -15. 29:1. Міс . 3:8-12. Matt . 23:14.)
that the dross and base metal might be con-one pretence or another; and reduced them to
sumed. The wrath of God kindled and blew this fire, which consisted of the judgments inflicted on the Jews by the Chaldeans; by whom Jerusalem was entirely destroyed, and all orders and characters of men were either slain, or reduced to a wretched captivity. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans, and the long continued calamities of the Jews since that event, seem also to have been intended by the Spirit of prophecy, though the Chaldean invasion was primarily foretold. ( Marg . and Marg . Ref . - Notes , 20:45 -48.24:3-11. Is . 1:25-27. Jer. 6:27-30. Mal . 3:1-4.)
V. 24. No cleansing, purifying, fertilizing showers of rain, attended on these tremendous storms: the land still continued poliuted with idolatry and wickedness, after all the calamities which had been experienced, and notwithstanding the predictions of more entire desolations. The people were not led to repentance or reformation, but grew more and more wicked amidst them all. ( Marg . Ref .)
V. 25. The false prophets, who were nu
V. 26. The whole company of the priests were become like Hophni and Phinehas: they wrested the law of God from its true meaning, that it might seem to sanction their enormities; or they contemptuously broke it for their own ungodly gain. They profaned the temple by their crimes, where the sacrifices and oblations were offered, or used by them in a most unholy manner. They disregarded the distinction between holy and profane, and between clean and unclean, both in respect of times, meats, persons, and actions; making every thing bend to their interest. They connived at the profanation of the sabbaths, and joined in it; and their sacred function was so disgraced by their crimes, that the name of God was greatly profaned by them. ( Marg . and Marg. Ref . - Notes , 20:12-14. 36:20-24. 44:23,24. Lev . 10:8-11. 1 Sam. 2:12-17,22. Is . 56:9-12. Jer. 2:8,9.5:30,31. 8:10-12. Zeph .
blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishon- || have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. est gain. 30 And I sought for a man among 28 And her prophets have daubed them that should make up the hedge, and them with untempered mortar , seeing van- stand in the gap before me for the land, ity, and divining lies unto them, saying, that I should not destroy it; but I found Thus saith the Lord God, and the LORD || none.
Acts 4:1-3.)
V. 27, 27, 28. The prophets employed all their ingenuity to varnish over the crimes of the princes, who were like ravening wolves, and took bribes to shed innocent blood. By these means the prophets shared the dishonest gain with the princes, or availed themselves of their authority to gratify their avarice or revenge. And thus from them robbery and oppression were diffused through the land. ( Marg . Ref . e, f.- Notes , 13,25. 19:2–9. Ps . 82:2-4. Is . 1: 21-24. 10:1-4. Міс . 3:1—4. 6: 10-15 , v . 12. 7: 1-4, v. 3. Zeph. 3:1-4, v. 3.)- Have daubed , &c. (28) Marg . Ref . g, h.- Note , 13:10-16.
V. 29. Marg . and Marg. Ref . Notes, Jer. 5:26-31. 6:13-15. Am . 4:1-3. 5:10-13.
V. 30. Jeremiah, and some few others, endeavored to bring the people to repentance, and to avert divine judgments by their prayers: but they were greatly despised; their efforts were generally and pertinaciously opposed, and almost entirely unsuccessful; and their prayers were discouraged. There was not one, however, that possessed authority or influence, who made a good use of it.
Neither the king nor any of his nobles, neither the high priest nor any of the chief priests, not one of the scribes, the members of the sanhedrim, or the magistrates, nor of those, who possessed credit and influence: none of them all employed their abilities and authority to stop the progress of wickedness, and to bring the principal offenders to justice; or endeavored by their labors and examples to promote a reformation, or to interpose by their prayers to avert divine judgment.
The Lord (speaking after the manner of men,) sought for some Moses, Phinehas, or Samuel, to stand in the gap on this occasion; but, as he found none, the destruction of Jerusalem was inevitable. ( Marg . Ref . Notes , 9:3,4. 13:5. Ps . 99:6. 106:19-23,28-31. Is . 59: 16-19, v . 16. Jer . 5:1,2.)
PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS.
V. 1-16.
How strong must the stream of human depravity be when it can burst through so many powerful obstructions, and inundate even the city of God with such a torrent of horrible wickedness, as is in this chapter described!We must not excuse, or scruple to expose, the crimes of men, because they live in "holy places," or occupy sacred functions: for when nominal Christians, or the clergy, become odious by their vices; the glory of God requires, that they should be made a reproach and a mocking even to the beathen: and if they be sheltered from deserved punishment and contempt, religion itself will be disgraced, or the sacred ministry despised; but their infamy and
vexation shew, that God will not connive at wickedness in persons of any name or station. -It is happy for mankind, that the power of ungodly men is limited: for they who perpetrate the most injustice and murder, would do still more were it "in their power." But while they greatly harass and afflict others, they destroy themselves.
The Lord notes the sins of men with all their aggravations: and as he will call them to account for their idolatries, murders, and outrageous cruelties; so he will not overlook the neglect and contempt shewn by children to their parents; the oppression of those of other religions, nations, or or complexions; the vexation of orphans and widows; the slanders by which characters and even lives are destroyed; the profanation of his holy sabbaths; the neglect of his ordinances, or hypocrisy in attending on them; the preference given by men to their own traditions and superstitions, above his truths and precepts; their multiplied violations of his holy law, in the gratification of their sensual appetites, and in every species of lewdness; or their bribery, extortion, and greediness of gain, however acquired.
It is very common for sinners secretly to indulge their worldly lusts; and to varnish it over with a zealous profession of religion, and a great attachment to some of its doctrines or observances: and thus they impose on themselves, or on others; and perhaps exclaim. against those who warn them of their danger as precise or over rigorous. But can "their hearts endure, or their hands be strong, in the day that God shall deal with them," as he has spoken?
If in temporal judgments, every heart melts and all hands wax feeble; what will be the case "in the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God!" Will the stout-hearted, at that awful season, be able to harden their hearts under misery, as they now do in impiety? Will they despise the accomplishment, as they now do the revelation, of the wrath of the almighty God? As this must be impossible, let them, ere it be too late, submit to God and seek his mercy and salvation.
And let those who find acute pain or lingering disease (comparatively light and momentary afflictions,) very hard to be endured, take warning to "flee from the wrath to come," lest a far "worse thing come upon them."
V. 17-31.
When rulers and princes choose to be like ravening wolves, and to shed blood in oppression or persecution; they will be sure to find profane priests and false prophets, to buoy up their confidence and keep them in countenance! There always were men of this stamp who would violate the law of God, contradict his truths, explain away his precepts, prosti
CHAP . XXIII.
The idolatry of Israel in Egypt exposed by a parable of two sisters, Aholah, and Aholibah, 1-4. The subsequent whore
doms of Aholah, and her punishment, 5-10. The whoredoms
and punishment of Aholibah, 11-35. As involved in the same guilt, they are visited by similar judgments, 36-49.
THE HE word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, there were two women, The daughters of one mother:
3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.
6 Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
7 Thus she committed her whoredoms
with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom she doted: with all their idols she defiled herself.
8 Neither left she her 1 whoredoms
brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.
9 Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.
4 And the names of them were Aholah d the elder, and Aholibah her sister; and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Sa10 These discovered her nakedness: maria is * Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholi-they took her sons and her daughters, and bah. slew her with the sword: and she became 5 And Aholah played the harlot when famous among women; for they had exeshe was mine; and she doted on her lov-cuted judgment upon her.
ers, hon the Assyrians her neighbors,
a 16:44. Jer. 3:7-10.
b 20:8. Lev. 17:7. Deut. 29:16, 17. Josh. 24:14.
с 8,19,21. 16:22. Hos. 2:15. d 16:40. 1 Kings 12:20.
e 16:8,20, Ex. 19:5,6. Ps. 45: 11-16. Jer. 2:2,3. Rom. 7:4. *That is, His tent , or, taberna cle. 1 Kings 12:26-33. John
4:22.
11 And when her sister Aholibah saw
tute his ordinances, "see vanity, divine lies," Israel and Judah, were both descended from confound all distinctions between holy and un-one common stock, and at first formed but one people or family. ( Notes , 16:44-47. Jer . 3:611.)
holy, "daub the wall with untempered mortar;" and even become caterers to the lusts, usts, or instruments of the cruelty and iniquity of wicked rulers, for a share of the spoil, and that they might be permitted to "take the treasure and the precious things." Thus they destroy both the lives and souls of men, "for filthy lucre's sake." By such professed ministers of religion, whose false doctrines are devised to hide the shame of their wicked lives, the church of
V. 3. As soon as the family of Jacob was grown up into a people, they were seduced into idolatry, and initiated into those abominations, to which they ever after were so exceedingly prone. ( Marg . Ref . Note , 20:7-9.)
V.4. The kingdom of Israel, of which Samaria was the capital city, containing ten tribes, and occupying the larger part of Ca
God becomes "a den of thieves" instead of "anaan, was called "the elder sister" in this par
house of prayer;" the gold and silver become dross and base metal; and nations are prepared to be melted, or consumed, by the fire of the divine indignation. And if lighter visitations be not sanctified, and rendered effectual to bring men to "repentance and fruits meet for
able. (16:46.) "Aholah," the name given to her, signifies, His or her tent , or tabernacle ; ( Marg . and Ref . ) and implies, that the whole of the religion established in Israel was a human invention, a temple and service of their own, and not of God's appointment. "Aholibah," the name
repentance;" they will prove to be the forerun-given to the younger sister, or to the kingdom
ners of desolating judgments and irreversible destruction.-But let every one, according to his measure of ability and influence, endeavor to "make up the hedge and to stand in the gap," to stop the progress of iniquity, and to avert the judgments of God from our guilty land. The Lord seeks for such men, and will accept their prayers and efforts; and so long as any are found, especially among our princes, senators, magistrates, and rulers in church or state, we may hope to be still preserved: but when none shall remain of this character, it may be expected, that God will "pour out his indignation upon us, and recompense our ways upon our heads, as he hath spoken." Let then all who fear his name, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; even as zealously as wicked men, of every rank and profession, often conspire and combine their efforts to run them down.
NOTES.
of Judah and the city of Jerusalem, signifies, My tent in her; ( Marg . and Ref .) and implies that the worship established in Judah was from God, and that his temple was indeed at Jerusalem: for the profanation of it was the grand aggravation of the sins of the Jews. Both these sisters belonged to the Lord: they were solemnly espoused to him at mount Sinai, and bare sons and daughters to him; that is, children of God, true believers were raised up among them: and had they continued faithful to him, the whoredoms of their youth in Egypt would not have been mentioned against them. ( Marg . Ref .)
V.5-10. The kingdom of Israel not only revolted from the family of David, but apostatized from God, whose people they were by the most solemn engagements. In addition to their previous gross idolatries, in worshipping the golden calves and Baal: in the latter times of their nation, they connected themselves with [537