Isa 57:9, Eze 23:16 | JFB | STEP | 9. the king — the idol which they came to worship, perfumed with oil, like harlots ( ). So "king" means idol ( ); ( malcham meaning "king") [ROSENMULLER ]. Rather, the king of Assyria or Egypt, and other foreign princes, on whom Israel relied, instead of on God; the "ointment" will thus refer to the presents ( ), and perhaps the compliances with foreigners' idolatries, whereby Israel sought to gain their favor [LOWTH ] ( ). send . . . messengers far off —not merely to neighboring nations, but to those "far off," in search of new idols, or else alliances. even unto hell

Isaiah 57:9

9. the king—the idol which they came to worship, perfumed with oil, like harlots (Jer 4:30; Eze 23:16, 40). So "king" means idol (Am 5:26; Zep 1:5); (malcham meaning "king") [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, the king of Assyria or Egypt, and other foreign princes, on whom Israel relied, instead of on God; the "ointment" will thus refer to the presents (Ho 12:1), and perhaps the compliances with foreigners' idolatries, whereby Israel sought to gain their favor [LOWTH] (Isa 30:6; Eze 16:33; 23:16; Ho 7:11).

send . . . messengers far off—not merely to neighboring nations, but to those "far off," in search of new idols, or else alliances.

even unto hell—the lowest possible degradation.

Ezekiel 23:16

16. sent messengers . . . into Chaldea— (Eze 16:29). It was she that solicited the Chaldeans, not they her. Probably the occasion was when Judah sought to strengthen herself by a Chaldean alliance against a menaced attack by Egypt (compare 2Ki 23:29-35; 24:1-7). God made the object of their sinful desire the instrument of their punishment. Jehoiakim, probably by a stipulation of tribute, enlisted Nebuchadnezzar against Pharaoh, whose tributary he previously had been; failing to keep his stipulation, he brought on himself Nebuchadnezzar's vengeance.