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Ezekiel Chapter 16

Unfaithful Jerusalem and God's Grace Under the parable of a wretched infant is shown the natural state of Jerusalem

16 A1Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

2 Eze 20:4 2Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,

3And say, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.

4 Hos 2:3 4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

5None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. God's extraordinary love toward her,

6¶And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

7I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare.

8 Rth 3:9; Exo 19:5 8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine.

9Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

10I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

11 Dan 5:29; Dan 5:16; Dan 5:7 11I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13 Deu 32:13; Psa 48:2 13Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14 Lam 2:15 14And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God. Her grievous judgment

15 Deu 32:15; Jer 7:4; Mic 3:11; Isa 1:21 15¶But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.

16 Hos 2:8; Eze 7:20; 2 Kin 23:7 16And of thy garments thou didst take, and deckedst thy high places with divers colours, and playedst the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so.

17Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

18And tookest thy broidered garments, and coveredst them: and thou hast set mine oil and mine incense before them.

19 Deu 32:13; Hos 2:8 19My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour: and thus it was, saith the Lord God.

20 Eze 20:26; Jer 7:31; Isa 57:5; 2 Kin 16:3 20Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of thy whoredoms a small matter,

21 Gen 17:7; Gen 17:11; Exo 13:2 21That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?

22 Jer 2:2; Hos 2:3 22And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.

23And it came to pass after all thy wickedness,(woe, woe unto thee! saith the Lord God;)

24 Jer 2:20; Isa 57:5; Psa 78:58 24That thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place, and hast made thee an high place in every street.

25 Pro 9:14; Jer 6:15 25Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.

26 Eze 20:7; Eze 8:10 26Thou hast also committed fornication with the Egyptians thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast increased thy whoredoms, to provoke me to anger.

27Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over thee, and have diminished thine ordinary food, and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of thy lewd way.

28 Jdg 10:6; 2 Kin 16:7; Jer 2:18 28Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.

29 Eze 23:14 29Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.

30 Pro 30:20 30How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman;

31In that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way, and makest thine high place in every street; and hast not been as an harlot, in that thou scornest hire;

32But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!

33 Isa 30:3 33They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.

34And the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms, whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms: and in that thou givest a reward, and no reward is given unto thee, therefore thou art contrary. Her sin, equal to her mother,

35¶Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord:

36 Psa 106:38; Jer 2:34 36Thus saith the Lord God; Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers, and with all the idols of thy abominations, and by the blood of thy children, which thou didst give unto them;

37 Nah 3:5; Hos 2:10; Eze 23:9; Lam 1:8; Jer 13:22; Isa 47:2-3 37Behold, therefore I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them round about against thee, and will discover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

38 Rev 13:10; Mat 26:52; Lev 24:17; Exo 21:12 38And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy.

39 Eze 23:26 39And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare.

40 Eze 23:46-47; Joh 8:5 40They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

41 Eze 23:27; Rom 2:8; Eze 23:10; Eze 5:8; Jer 39:8 41And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more.

42 Eze 5:13 42So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry.

43 Psa 78:42; Eze 9:10; Eze 11:21 43Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord God: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.

44¶Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.

45Thou art thy mother’s daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite. and exceeding her sisters, Sodom and Samaria,

46And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.

47 Eze 5:6-7; 2 Kin 21:9 47Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.

48 Mat 10:15; Mar 6:11; Luk 10:12 48As I live, saith the Lord God, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

49 Gen 13:10; Luk 16:20 49Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

50 Job 18:18; Gen 18:20; Gen 13:13 50And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

51 Mat 12:41 51Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.

52Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.

53 Isa 1:9; Rom 9:29; Jer 20:16 53When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them:

54 Eze 14:22-23 54That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done, in that thou art a comfort unto them.

55When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

56For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,

57 Isa 7:1; 2 Chr 28:18; 2 Kin 16:5 57Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.

58Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the Lord. calls for judgments

59 Deu 29:12,14; Eze 17:13; Eze 17:16 59For thus saith the Lord God; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant. Mercy is promised her in the end

60 Jer 32:40; Hos 2:15; Psa 106:45; Lev 26:41-42 60¶Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.

61 Jer 31:31; Gal 4:26; Isa 54:1; Isa 2:2; SS 8:8 61Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters, thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy covenant.

62 Hos 2:19-20; Act 7:8; Heb 8:6-10 62And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord:

63 Rom 3:19 63That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord God.

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Introduction to Ezekiel
by John MacArthur

Title

The book has always been named for its author, Ezekiel (Ezk 1:3; 24:24), who is nowhere else mentioned in Scripture. His name means “strengthened by God,” which, indeed, he was for the prophetic ministry to which God called him (Ezk 3:8,9). Ezekiel uses visions, prophecies, parables, signs, and symbols to proclaim and dramatize the message of God to His exiled people.

Author and Date

If the “thirtieth year” of 1:1 refers to Ezekiel’s age, he was 25 when taken captive and 30 when called into ministry. Thirty was the age when priests commenced their office, so it was a notable year for Ezekiel. His ministry began in 593/92 B.C. and extended at least 22 years until 571/70 B.C. (cf. 25:17). He was a contemporary of both Jeremiah (who was about 20 years older) and Daniel (who was the same age), whom he names in 14:14,20; 28:3 as an already well known prophet. Like Jeremiah (Jer 1:1) and Zechariah (cf. Zech 1:1 with Neh 12:16), Ezekiel was both a prophet and a priest (Ezk 1:3). Because of his priestly background, he was particularly interested in and familiar with the temple details; so God used him to write much about them (Ezk 8:1-11:25; 40:1-47:12).

Ezekiel and his wife (who is mentioned in 24:15-27) were among 10,000 Jews taken captive to Babylon in 597 B.C. (2 Kin 24:11-18). They lived in Tel-Abib (Ezk 3:15) on the bank of the Chebar River, probably SE of Babylon. Ezekiel writes of his wife’s death in exile (Ezek 24:18), but the book does not mention Ezekiel’s death, which rabbinical tradition suggests occurred at the hands of an Israelite prince whose idolatry he rebuked around 560 B.C.

The author received his call to prophesy in 593 B.C. (Ezk 1:2), in Babylon (“the land of the Chaldeans”), during the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, which began in 597 B.C. Frequently, Ezekiel dates his prophecies from 597 B.C. (Ezk 8:1; 20:1; 24:1; 26:1; 29:1; 30:20; 31:1; 32:1,17; 33:21; 40:1). He also dates the message in 40:1 as 573/72, the 14th year after 586 B.C., i.e., Jerusalem’s final fall. The last dated utterance of Ezekiel was in 571/70 B.C. (Ezk 29:17).

Prophecies in chaps. 1-28 are in chronological order. In 29:1, the prophet regresses to a year earlier than in 26:1. But from 30:1 on (cf. 31:1; 32:1,17), he is close to being strictly chronological.

Background and Setting

From the historical perspective, Israel’s united kingdom lasted more than 110 years (ca. 1043-931 B.C.), through the reigns of Saul, David, and Solomon. Then the divided kingdom, Israel (north) and Judah (south), extended from 931 B.C. to 722/21 B.C. Israel fell to Assyria in
722/21 B.C. leaving Judah, the surviving kingdom for 135 years, which fell to Babylon in 605-586 B.C.

In the more immediate setting, several features were strategic. Politically, Assyria’s vaunted military might crumbled after 626 B.C., and the capital, Nineveh, was destroyed in 612 B.C. by the Babylonians and Medes (cf. Nahum). The neo-Babylonian empire had flexed its muscles since Nabopolassar took the throne in 625 B.C., and Egypt, under Pharaoh Necho II, was determined to conquer what she could. Babylon smashed Assyria in 612-605 B.C., and registered a decisive victory against Egypt in 605 B.C. at Carchemish, leaving, according to the Babylonian Chronicle, no survivors. Also in 605 B.C., Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar, began the conquest of Jerusalem and the deportation of captives, among them Daniel (Dan 1:2). In Dec., 598 B.C., he again besieged Jerusalem, and on Mar 16, 597 B.C. took possession. This time, he took captive Jehoiachin and a group of 10,000, including Ezekiel (2 Kin 24:11-18). The final destruction of Jerusalem and the conquest of Judah, including the third deportation, came in 586 B.C.

Religiously, King Josiah (ca 640-609 B.C.) had instituted reforms in Judah (cf. 2 Chr 34). Tragically, despite his effort, idolatry had so dulled the Judeans that their awakening was only “skin deep” overall. The Egyptian army killed Josiah as it crossed Palestine in 609 B.C., and the Jews plunged on in sin toward judgment under Jehoahaz (609 B.C.), Jehoiakim [Eliakim] (609-598 B.C.), Jehoiachin (598-597 B.C.), and Zedekiah (597-586 B.C.).

Domestically, Ezekiel and the 10,000 lived in exile in Babylonia (2 Kin 24:14), more as colonists than captives, being permitted to farm tracts of land under somewhat favorable conditions (Jer 29). Ezekiel even had his own house (Ezk 3:24; 20:1).

Prophetically, false prophets deceived the exiles with assurances of a speedy return to Judah (Ezk 13:3,16; Jer 29:1). From 593-585 B.C., Ezekiel warned that their beloved Jerusalem would be destroyed and their exile prolonged, so there was no hope of immediate return. In 585 B.C., an escapee from Jerusalem, who had evaded the Babylonians, reached Ezekiel with the first news that the city had fallen in 586 B.C., about 6 months earlier (Ezk 33:21). That dashed the false hopes of any immediate deliverance for the exiles, so the remainder of Ezekiel’s prophecies related to Israel’s future restoration to its homeland and the final blessings of the messianic kingdom.

Historical and Theological Themes

The “glory of the Lord” is central to Ezekiel, appearing in 1:28; 3:12,23; 10:4,18; 11:23; 43:4,5; 44:4. The book includes graphic descriptions of the disobedience of Israel and Judah, despite God’s kindness (Ezk 23; cf. chap. 16). It shows God’s desire for Israel to bear fruit which He can bless; however, selfish indulgence had left Judah ready for judgment, like a torched vine (Ezk 15). References are plentiful to Israel’s idolatry and its consequences, such as Pelatiah dropping dead (Ezk 11:13), a symbolic illustration of overall disaster for the people.

Many picturesque scenes illustrate spiritual principles. Among these are Ezekiel eating a scroll (Ezk 2); the faces on 4 angels representing aspects of creation over which God rules (Ezk 1:10); a “barbershop” scene (Ezk 5:1-4); graffiti on temple walls reminding readers of what God
really wants in His dwelling place, namely holiness and not ugliness (Ezk 8:10); and sprinkled hot coals depicting judgment (Ezk 10:2,7).

Chief among the theological themes are God’s holiness and sovereignty. These are conveyed by frequent contrast of His bright glory against the despicable backdrop of Judah’s sins (Ezk 1:26-28; often in chaps. 8-11; and 43:1-7). Closely related is God’s purpose of glorious triumph so that all may “know that I am the LORD.” This divine monogram, God’s signature authenticating His acts, is mentioned more than 60 times, usually with a judgment (Ezk 6:7; 7:4), but occasionally after the promised restoration (Ezk 34:27; 36:11,38; 39:28).

Another feature involves God’s angels carrying out His program behind the scenes (Ezk 1:5-25; 10:1-22). A further important theme is God’s holding each individual accountable for pursuing righteousness (Ezk 18:3-32).

Ezekiel also stresses sinfulness in Israel (Ezk 2:3-7; 8:9,10) and other nations (throughout chaps. 25-32). He deals with the necessity of God’s wrath to deal with sin (Ezk 7:1-8; 15:8); God’s frustration of man’s devices to escape from besieged Jerusalem (Ezk 12:1-13; cf. Jer 39:4-7); and
God’s grace pledged in the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12:1-3) being fulfilled by restoring Abraham’s people to the land of the covenant (chaps. 34,36-48; cf. Gen 12:7). God promises to preserve a remnant of Israelites through whom He will fulfill His restoration promises and
keep His inviolate Word.

Interpretive Challenges

Ezekiel uses extensive symbolic language, as did Isaiah and Jeremiah. This raises the question as to whether certain portions of Ezekiel’s writings are to be taken literally or figuratively, e.g., being bound with ropes, 3:25; whether the prophet was taken bodily to Jerusalem, 8:1-3; how individual judgment can be worked out in chap. 18 when the wicked elude death in 14:22,23 and some of the godly die in an invasion, 21:3,4; how God would permit a faithful prophet’s wife to die (Ezk 24:15-27); when some of the judgments on other nations will occur (chaps. 25-32); whether the temple in chaps. 40-46 will be a literal one and in what form; and how promises of Israel’s future relate to God’s program with the church.

Outline of Ezekiel
by John MacArthur

The book can be largely divided into sections about condemnation/retribution and then consolation/restoration. A more detailed look divides the book into 4 sections. First, are prophecies on the ruin of Jerusalem (chaps. 1-24). Second, are prophecies of retribution on nearby nations (chaps. 25-32), with a glimpse at God’s future restoration of Israel (Ezk 28:25,26). Thirdly, there is a transition chapter (33) which gives instruction concerning a last call for Israel to repent. Finally, the fourth division includes rich expectations involving God’s future restoration of Israel (chaps. 34-48).

I. Prophecies of Jerusalem’s Ruin (Ezk 1:1-24:27)

A. Preparation and Commission of Ezekiel (Ezk 1:1-3:27)
1. Divine appearance to Ezekiel (Ezk 1:1-28)
2. Divine assignment to Ezekiel (Ezk 2:1-3:27)
B. Proclamation of Jerusalem’s Condemnation (Ezk 4:1-24:27)
1. Signs of coming judgment (Ezk 4:1-5:4)
2. Messages concerning judgment (Ezk 5:5-7:27)
3. Visions concerning abomination in the city and temple (Ezk 8:1-11:25)
4. Explanations of judgment (Ezk 12:1-24:27)

II. Prophecies of Retribution to the Nations (Ezk 25:1-32:32)

A. Ammon (Ezk 25:1-7)
B. Moab (Ezk 25:8-11)
C. Edom (Ezk 25:12-14)
D. Philistia (Ezk 25:15-17)
E. Tyre (Ezk 26:1-28:19)
F. Sidon (Ezk 28:20-24)
Excursus: The Restoration of Israel (Ezk 28:25, 26)
G. Egypt (Ezk 29:1-32:32)

III. Provision for Israel’s Repentance (Ezk 33:1-33)

IV. Prophecies of Israel’s Restoration (Ezk 34:1-48:35)

A. Regathering of Israel to the Land (Ezk 34:1-37:28)
1. Promise of a True Shepherd (Ezk 34:1-31)
2. Punishment of the nations (Ezk 35:1-36:7)
3. Purposes of restoration (Ezk 36:8-38)
4. Pictures of restoration—dry bones and two sticks (Ezk 37:1-28)
B. Removal of Israel’s Enemies from the Land (Ezk 38:1-39:29)
1. Invasion of Gog to plunder Israel (Ezk 38:1-16)
2. Intervention of God to protect Israel (Ezk 38:17-39:29)
C. Reinstatement of True Worship in Israel (Ezk 40:1-46:24)
1. New temple (Ezk 40:1-43:12)
2. New worship (Ezk 43:13-46:24)
D. Redistribution of the Land in Israel (Ezk 47:1-48:35)
1. Position of the river (Ezk 47:1-12)
2. Portions for the tribes (Ezk 47:13-48:35)

Introduction to Ezekiel
by John MacArthur

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

Historical and Theological Themes

Interpretive Challenges

Outline of Ezekiel
by John MacArthur

I. Prophecies of Jerusalem’s Ruin (Ezk 1:1-24:27)

II. Prophecies of Retribution to the Nations (Ezk 25:1-32:32)

III. Provision for Israel’s Repentance (Ezk 33:1-33)

IV. Prophecies of Israel’s Restoration (Ezk 34:1-48:35)

The 1440 Agenda

Remembering Marcy

Study Bible

Introduction to Ezekielby John MacArthur

Title

Author and Date

Background and Setting

Historical and Theological Themes

Interpretive Challenges

Outline of Ezekielby John MacArthur

I. Prophecies of Jerusalem’s Ruin (Ezk 1:1-24:27)

II. Prophecies of Retribution to the Nations (Ezk 25:1-32:32)

III. Provision for Israel’s Repentance (Ezk 33:1-33)

IV. Prophecies of Israel’s Restoration (Ezk 34:1-48:35)

Books of the Bible

Chapters in Ezekiel

The 1440 Agenda

Introduction to Ezekiel
by John MacArthur

Outline of Ezekiel
by John MacArthur