Eze 16:37-41 | JFB | STEP | 37. thy lovers-- the Chaldeans and the Assyrians. The law of retribution is the more signally exemplified by God employing, as His instruments of judgment on Israel, those very nations whose alliance and idols Israel had so eagerly sought, besides giving her up to those who had been always her enemies. "God will make him, who leaves God for the world, disgraced even in the eyes of the world, and indeed the more so the nearer he formerly stood to Himself" [Hengstenberg], ( ; ; ; ). all ... thou hast hated-- the Edomites and Philistines; also Moab and Ammon especially ( ). I ... will discover thy nakedness-- punishment in kind, as she had "discovered her nakedness through whoredoms" ( ); the sin and its penalty corresponded. I will expose thee to public infamy.

‏ Ezekiel 16:37-41

37. thy lovers--the Chaldeans and the Assyrians. The law of retribution is the more signally exemplified by God employing, as His instruments of judgment on Israel, those very nations whose alliance and idols Israel had so eagerly sought, besides giving her up to those who had been always her enemies. "God will make him, who leaves God for the world, disgraced even in the eyes of the world, and indeed the more so the nearer he formerly stood to Himself" [Hengstenberg], (Is 47:3; Jr 13:26; Ho 2:12; Na 3:5).

all ... thou hast hated--the Edomites and Philistines; also Moab and Ammon especially (De 23:3).

I ... will discover thy nakedness--punishment in kind, as she had "discovered her nakedness through whoredoms" (Eze 16:36); the sin and its penalty corresponded. I will expose thee to public infamy.

38-40. judge thee, as women that break wedlock--(Le 20:10; compare Eze 16:2). In the case of individual adulteresses, stoning was the penalty (Joh 8:4, 5). In the case of communities, the sword. Also apostasy (De 13:10) and sacrificing children to Molech (Le 20:1-5) incurred stoning. Thus the penalty was doubly due to Israel; so the other which was decreed against an apostate city (De 13:15, 16) is added, "they shall stone thee with stones and thrust thee through with ... swords." The Chaldeans hurled stones on Jerusalem at the siege and slew with the sword on its capture.

shed blood ... judged--(Ge 9:6).

jealousy--image taken from the fury of a husband in jealousy shedding the blood of an unfaithful wife, such as Israel had been towards God, her husband spiritually. Literally, "I will make thee (to become) blood of fury and jealousy."

41. The result of the awful judgment shall be, when divine vengeance has run its course, it shall cease.

burn--(De 13:16; 2Ki 25:9).

women--the surrounding Gentile nations to whom thou shalt be an object of mocking (Psa 137:7).

I will cause thee to cease ... harlot--(Eze 23:27). Thou shalt no longer be able to play the harlot through My judgments.

thou ... shall give ... no hire ... any more--Thou shalt have none to give.