Isa 57:7, Eze 18:6, 20:27-28, Hos 4:13 | JFB | STEP | 7. Upon ... high mountain ... bed-- image from adultery, open and shameless ( ); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous altar, the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband ( , ; ).

‏ Isaiah 57:7

7. Upon ... high mountain ... bed--image from adultery, open and shameless (Eze 23:7); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous altar, the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband (Eze 16:16, 25; 23:41).

‏ Ezekiel 18:6

6. not eaten upon ... mountains--the high places, where altars were reared. A double sin: sacrificing elsewhere than at the temple, where only God sanctioned sacrifice (De 12:13, 14); and this to idols instead of to Jehovah. "Eaten" refers to the feasts which were connected with the sacrifices (see Ex 32:6; De 32:38; Jud 9:27; 1Co 8:4, 10; 10:7).

lifted ... eyes to--namely, in adoration (Psa 121:1). The superstitious are compared to harlots; their eyes go eagerly after spiritual lusts. The righteous man not merely refrains from the act, but from the glance of spiritual lust (Job 31:1; Mt 5:28).

idols of ... Israel--not merely those of the Gentiles, but even those of Israel. The fashions of his countrymen could not lead him astray.

defiled ... neighbour's wife--Not only does he shrink from spiritual, but also from carnal, adultery (compare 1Co 6:18).

neither ... menstruous woman--Leprosy and elephantiasis were said to be the fruit of such a connection [Jerome]. Chastity is to be observed even towards one's own wife (Le 18:19; 20:18).

‏ Ezekiel 20:27-28

27-29. The next period, namely, that which followed the settlement in Canaan: the fathers of the generation existing in Ezekiel's time walked in the same steps of apostasy as the generation in the wilderness.

Yet in this--Not content with past rebellions, and not moved with gratitude for God's goodness, "yet in this," still further they rebelled.

blasphemed--"have insulted me" [Calvin]. Even those who did not sacrifice to heathen gods have offered "their sacrifices" (Eze 20:28) in forbidden places.

‏ Hosea 4:13

13. upon ... mountains--High places were selected by idolaters on which to sacrifice, because of their greater nearness to the heavenly hosts which they worshipped (De 12:2).

elms--rather, "terebinths" [Maurer].

shadow ... good--screening the lascivious worshippers from the heat of the sun.

daughters ... commit whoredom ... spouses ... adultery--in the polluted worship of Astarte, the Phoenician goddess of love.