26 Her priests H3548 have violated H2554 my law, H8451 and have profaned H2490 mine holy things: H6944 they have put no difference H914 between the holy H6944 and profane, H2455 neither have they shewed H3045 difference between the unclean H2931 and the clean, H2889 and have hid H5956 their eyes H5869 from my sabbaths, H7676 and I am profaned H2490 among H8432 them.
And that ye may put difference H914 between holy H6944 and unholy, H2455 and between unclean H2931 and clean; H2889
Now the sons H1121 of Eli H5941 were sons H1121 of Belial; H1100 they knew H3045 not the LORD. H3068 And the priests' H3548 custom H4941 with the people H5971 was, that, when any man H376 offered H2076 sacrifice, H2077 the priest's H3548 servant H5288 came, H935 while the flesh H1320 was in seething, H1310 with a fleshhook H4207 of three H7969 teeth H8127 in his hand; H3027 And he struck H5221 it into the pan, H3595 or kettle, H1731 or caldron, H7037 or pot; H6517 all that the fleshhook H4207 brought up H5927 the priest H3548 took H3947 for himself. So they did H6213 in Shiloh H7887 unto all the Israelites H3478 that came H935 thither. Also before they burnt H6999 the fat, H2459 the priest's H3548 servant H5288 came, H935 and said H559 to the man H376 that sacrificed, H2076 Give H5414 flesh H1320 to roast H6740 for the priest; H3548 for he will not have H3947 sodden H1310 flesh H1320 of thee, but raw. H2416 And if any man H376 said H559 unto him, Let them not fail H6999 to burn H6999 the fat H2459 presently, H3117 and then take H3947 as much as thy soul H5315 desireth; H183 then he would answer H559 him, Nay; but thou shalt give H5414 it me now: and if not, I will take H3947 it by force. H2394 Wherefore the sin H2403 of the young men H5288 was very H3966 great H1419 before H6440 the LORD: H3068 for men H582 abhorred H5006 the offering H4503 of the LORD. H3068
And they shall teach H3384 my people H5971 the difference between the holy H6944 and profane, H2455 and cause them to discern H3045 between the unclean H2931 and the clean. H2889
Thou hast despised H959 mine holy things, H6944 and hast profaned H2490 my sabbaths. H7676
The priests H3548 said H559 not, Where is the LORD? H3068 and they that handle H8610 the law H8451 knew H3045 me not: the pastors H7462 also transgressed H6586 against me, and the prophets H5030 prophesied H5012 by Baal, H1168 and walked H1980 after H310 things that do not profit. H3276
And when they entered H935 unto the heathen, H1471 whither they went, H935 they profaned H2490 my holy H6944 name, H8034 when they said H559 to them, These are the people H5971 of the LORD, H3068 and are gone forth H3318 out of his land. H776
Now Eli H5941 was very H3966 old, H2204 and heard H8085 all that his sons H1121 did H6213 unto all Israel; H3478 and how they lay H7901 with the women H802 that assembled H6633 at the door H6607 of the tabernacle H168 of the congregation. H4150
Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts; H6635 Ask H7592 now the priests H3548 concerning the law, H8451 saying, H559 If one H376 bear H5375 holy H6944 flesh H1320 in the skirt H3671 of his garment, H899 and with his skirt H3671 do touch H5060 bread, H3899 or pottage, H5138 or wine, H3196 or oil, H8081 or any meat, H3978 shall it be holy? H6942 And the priests H3548 answered H6030 and said, H559 No. Then said H559 Haggai, H2292 If one that is unclean H2931 by a dead body H5315 touch H5060 any of these, shall it be unclean? H2930 And the priests H3548 answered H6030 and said, H559 It shall be unclean. H2930 Then answered H6030 Haggai, H2292 and said, H559 So is this people, H5971 and so is this nation H1471 before H6440 me, saith H5002 the LORD; H3068 and so is every work H4639 of their hands; H3027 and that which they offer H7126 there is unclean. H2931
For G1063 the name G3686 of God G2316 is blasphemed G987 among G1722 the Gentiles G1484 through G1223 you, G5209 as G2531 it is written. G1125
And now, O ye priests, H3548 this commandment H4687 is for you. If ye will not hear, H8085 and if ye will not lay H7760 it to heart, H3820 to give H5414 glory H3519 unto my name, H8034 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 I will even send H7971 a curse H3994 upon you, and I will curse H779 your blessings: H1293 yea, I have cursed H779 them already, because ye do not lay H7760 it to heart. H3820 Behold, I will corrupt H1605 your seed, H2233 and spread H2219 dung H6569 upon your faces, H6440 even the dung H6569 of your solemn feasts; H2282 and one shall take you away H5375 with it.
A son H1121 honoureth H3513 his father, H1 and a servant H5650 his master: H113 if then I be a father, H1 where is mine honour? H3519 and if I be a master, H113 where is my fear? H4172 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 unto you, O priests, H3548 that despise H959 my name. H8034 And ye say, H559 Wherein have we despised H959 thy name? H8034 Ye offer H5066 polluted H1351 bread H3899 upon mine altar; H4196 and ye say, H559 Wherein have we polluted H1351 thee? In that ye say, H559 The table H7979 of the LORD H3068 is contemptible. H959 And if ye offer H5066 the blind H5787 for sacrifice, H2076 is it not evil? H7451 and if ye offer H5066 the lame H6455 and sick, H2470 is it not evil? H7451 offer H7126 it now unto thy governor; H6346 will he be pleased H7521 with thee, or accept H5375 thy person? H6440 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts. H6635
And Nadab H5070 and Abihu, H30 the sons H1121 of Aaron, H175 took H3947 either H376 of them his censer, H4289 and put H5414 fire H784 therein, H2004 and put H7760 incense H7004 thereon, and offered H7126 strange H2114 fire H784 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 which he commanded H6680 them not. And there went out H3318 fire H784 from the LORD, H3068 and devoured H398 them, and they died H4191 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 Then Moses H4872 said H559 unto Aaron, H175 This is it that the LORD H3068 spake, H1696 saying, H559 I will be sanctified H6942 in them that come nigh H7138 me, and before H6440 all the people H5971 I will be glorified. H3513 And Aaron H175 held his peace. H1826
Her princes H8269 within H7130 her are roaring H7580 lions; H738 her judges H8199 are evening H6153 wolves; H2061 they gnaw not the bones H1633 till the morrow. H1242 Her prophets H5030 are light H6348 and treacherous H900 persons: H582 her priests H3548 have polluted H2490 the sanctuary, H6944 they have done violence H2554 to the law. H8451
The heads H7218 thereof judge H8199 for reward, H7810 and the priests H3548 thereof teach H3384 for hire, H4242 and the prophets H5030 thereof divine H7080 for money: H3701 yet will they lean H8172 upon the LORD, H3068 and say, H559 Is not the LORD H3068 among H7130 us? none evil H7451 can come H935 upon us. Therefore shall Zion H6726 for your sake H1558 be plowed H2790 as a field, H7704 and Jerusalem H3389 shall become heaps, H5856 and the mountain H2022 of the house H1004 as the high places H1116 of the forest. H3293
Moreover also I gave H5414 them my sabbaths, H7676 to be a sign H226 between me and them, that they might know H3045 that I am the LORD H3068 that sanctify H6942 them. But the house H1004 of Israel H3478 rebelled H4784 against me in the wilderness: H4057 they walked H1980 not in my statutes, H2708 and they despised H3988 my judgments, H4941 which if a man H120 do, H6213 he shall even live H2425 in them; and my sabbaths H7676 they greatly H3966 polluted: H2490 then I said, H559 I would pour out H8210 my fury H2534 upon them in the wilderness, H4057 to consume H3615 them.
For the sins H2403 of her prophets, H5030 and the iniquities H5771 of her priests, H3548 that have shed H8210 the blood H1818 of the just H6662 in the midst H7130 of her,
Therefore thus saith H559 the LORD, H3068 If thou return, H7725 then will I bring thee again, H7725 and thou shalt stand H5975 before H6440 me: and if thou take forth H3318 the precious H3368 from the vile, H2151 thou shalt be as my mouth: H6310 let them return H7725 unto thee; but return H7725 not thou unto them.
As the thief H1590 is ashamed H1322 when he is found, H4672 so is the house H1004 of Israel H3478 ashamed; H3001 they, their kings, H4428 their princes, H8269 and their priests, H3548 and their prophets, H5030 Saying H559 to a stock, H6086 Thou art my father; H1 and to a stone, H68 Thou hast brought me forth: H3205 for they have turned H6437 their back H6203 unto me, and not their face: H6440 but in the time H6256 of their trouble H7451 they will say, H559 Arise, H6965 and save H3467 us.
Wherefore kick H1163 ye at my sacrifice H2077 and at mine offering, H4503 which I have commanded H6680 in my habitation; H4583 and honourest H3513 thy sons H1121 above me, to make yourselves fat H1254 with the chiefest H7225 of all the offerings H4503 of Israel H3478 my people? H5971
Speak H1696 unto Aaron H175 and to his sons, H1121 that they separate H5144 themselves from the holy things H6944 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and that they profane H2490 not my holy H6944 name H8034 in those things which they hallow H6942 unto me: I am the LORD. H3068 Say H559 unto them, Whosoever H376 he be of all your seed H2233 among your generations, H1755 that goeth H7126 unto the holy things, H6944 which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 hallow H6942 unto the LORD, H3068 having his uncleanness H2932 upon him, that soul H5315 shall be cut off H3772 from my presence: H6440 I am the LORD. H3068 What man soever H376 of the seed H2233 of Aaron H175 is a leper, H6879 or hath a running issue; H2100 he shall not eat H398 of the holy things, H6944 until he be clean. H2891 And whoso toucheth H5060 any thing that is unclean H2931 by the dead, H5315 or a man H376 whose seed H2233 H7902 goeth H3318 from him; Or whosoever H376 toucheth H5060 any creeping thing, H8318 whereby he may be made unclean, H2930 or a man H120 of whom he may take uncleanness, H2930 whatsoever uncleanness H2932 he hath; The soul H5315 which hath touched H5060 any such shall be unclean H2930 until even, H6153 and shall not eat H398 of the holy things, H6944 unless H518 he wash H7364 his flesh H1320 with water. H4325 And when the sun H8121 is down, H935 he shall be clean, H2891 and shall afterward H310 eat H398 of the holy things; H6944 because it is his food. H3899 That which dieth of itself, H5038 or is torn H2966 with beasts, he shall not eat H398 to defile H2930 himself therewith: I am the LORD. H3068 They shall therefore keep H8104 mine ordinance, H4931 lest they bear H5375 sin H2399 for it, and die H4191 therefore, if they profane H2490 it: I the LORD H3068 do sanctify H6942 them. There shall no stranger H2114 eat H398 of the holy thing: H6944 a sojourner H8453 of the priest, H3548 or an hired servant, H7916 shall not eat H398 of the holy thing. H6944 But if the priest H3548 buy H7069 any soul H5315 with H7075 his money, H3701 he shall eat H398 of it, and he that is born H3211 in his house: H1004 they shall eat H398 of his meat. H3899 If the priest's H3548 daughter H1323 also be married unto a stranger, H376 H2114 she may not eat H398 of an offering H8641 of the holy things. H6944 But if the priest's H3548 daughter H1323 be a widow, H490 or divorced, H1644 and have no child, H2233 and is returned H7725 unto her father's H1 house, H1004 as in her youth, H5271 she shall eat H398 of her father's H1 meat: H3899 but there shall no stranger H2114 eat H398 thereof. And if a man H376 eat H398 of the holy thing H6944 unwittingly, H7684 then he shall put H3254 the fifth H2549 part thereof unto it, and shall give H5414 it unto the priest H3548 with the holy thing. H6944 And they shall not profane H2490 the holy things H6944 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 which they offer H7311 unto the LORD; H3068 Or suffer them to bear H5375 the iniquity H5771 of trespass, H819 when they eat H398 their holy things: H6944 for I the LORD H3068 do sanctify H6942 them. And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 Speak H1696 unto Aaron, H175 and to his sons, H1121 and unto all the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 and say H559 unto them, Whatsoever H376 he be of the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 or of the strangers H1616 in Israel, H3478 that will offer H7126 his oblation H7133 for all his vows, H5088 and for all his freewill offerings, H5071 which they will offer H7126 unto the LORD H3068 for a burnt offering; H5930 Ye shall offer at your own will H7522 a male H2145 without blemish, H8549 of the beeves, H1241 of the sheep, H3775 or of the goats. H5795 But whatsoever hath a blemish, H3971 that shall ye not offer: H7126 for it shall not be acceptable H7522 for you. And whosoever H376 offereth H7126 a sacrifice H2077 of peace offerings H8002 unto the LORD H3068 to accomplish H6381 his vow, H5088 or a freewill offering H5071 in beeves H1241 or sheep, H6629 it shall be perfect H8549 to be accepted; H7522 there shall be no blemish H3971 therein. Blind, H5788 or broken, H7665 or maimed, H2782 or having a wen, H2990 or scurvy, H1618 or scabbed, H3217 ye shall not offer H7126 these unto the LORD, H3068 nor make H5414 an offering by fire H801 of them upon the altar H4196 unto the LORD. H3068 Either a bullock H7794 or a lamb H7716 that hath any thing superfluous H8311 or lacking in his parts, H7038 that mayest thou offer H6213 for a freewill offering; H5071 but for a vow H5088 it shall not be accepted. H7521 Ye shall not offer H7126 unto the LORD H3068 that which is bruised, H4600 or crushed, H3807 or broken, H5423 or cut; H3772 neither shall ye make H6213 any offering thereof in your land. H776 Neither from a stranger's H5236 hand H3027 H1121 shall ye offer H7126 the bread H3899 of your God H430 of any of these; because their corruption H4893 is in them, and blemishes H3971 be in them: they shall not be accepted H7521 for you. And the LORD H3068 spake H1696 unto Moses, H4872 saying, H559 When a bullock, H7794 or a sheep, H3775 or a goat, H5795 is brought forth, H3205 then it shall be seven H7651 days H3117 under the dam; H517 and from the eighth H8066 day H3117 and thenceforth H1973 it shall be accepted H7521 for an offering H7133 made by fire H801 unto the LORD. H3068 And whether it be cow H7794 or ewe, H7716 ye shall not kill H7819 it and her young H1121 both in one H259 day. H3117 And when ye will offer H2076 a sacrifice H2077 of thanksgiving H8426 unto the LORD, H3068 offer H2076 it at your own will. H7522 On the same day H3117 it shall be eaten up; H398 ye shall leave H3498 none of it until the morrow: H1242 I am the LORD. H3068 Therefore shall ye keep H8104 my commandments, H4687 and do H6213 them: I am the LORD. H3068 Neither shall ye profane H2490 my holy H6944 name; H8034 but I will be hallowed H6942 among H8432 the children H1121 of Israel: H3478 I am the LORD H3068 which hallow H6942 you, That brought you out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 to be your God: H430 I am the LORD. H3068
Ye shall therefore put difference H914 between clean H2889 beasts H929 and unclean, H2931 and between unclean H2931 fowls H5775 and clean: H2889 and ye shall not make your souls H5315 abominable H8262 by beast, H929 or by fowl, H5775 or by any manner of living thing that creepeth H7430 on the ground, H127 which I have separated H914 from you as unclean. H2930
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ezekiel 22
Commentary on Ezekiel 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Eze 22:1-31. God's Judgment on the Sinfulness of Jerusalem.
Repetition of the charges in the twentieth chapter; only that there they were stated in an historical review of the past and present; here the present sins of the nation exclusively are brought forward.
2. See Eze 20:4; that is, "Wilt thou not judge?" &c. (compare Eze 23:36).
the bloody city—literally, "the city of bloods"; so called on account of murders perpetrated in her, and sacrifices of children to Molech (Eze 22:3, 4, 6, 9; 24:6, 9).
3. sheddeth blood … that her time may come—Instead of deriving advantage from her bloody sacrifices to idols, she only thereby brought on herself "the time" of her punishment.
against herself—(Pr 8:36).
4. thy days—the shorter period, namely, that of the siege.
thy years—the longer period of the captivity. The "days" and "years" express that she is ripe for punishment.
5. infamous—They mockingly call thee, "Thou polluted one in name (Margin), and full of confusion" [Fairbairn], (referring to the tumultuous violence prevalent in it). Thus the nations "far and near" mocked her as at once sullied in character and in actual fact lawless. What a sad contrast to the Jerusalem once designated "the holy city!"
6. Rather, "The princes … each according to his power, were in thee, to shed blood" (as if this was the only object of their existence). "Power," literally, "arm"; they, who ought to have been patterns of justice, made their own arm of might their only law.
7. set light by—Children have made light of, disrespected, father … (De 27:16). At Eze 22:7-12 are enumerated the sins committed in violation of Moses' law.
9. men that carry tales—informers, who by misrepresentations cause innocent blood to be shed (Le 19:16). Literally, "one who goes to and fro as a merchant."
10. set apart for pollution—that is, set apart as unclean (Le 18:19).
12. forgotten me—(De 32:18; Jer 2:32; 3:21).
13. smitten mine hand—in token of the indignant vengeance which I will execute on thee (see on Eze 21:17).
14. (Eze 21:7).
15. consume thy filthiness out of thee—the object of God in scattering the Jews.
16. take thine inheritance in thyself—Formerly thou wast Mine inheritance; but now, full of guilt, thou art no longer Mine, but thine own inheritance to thyself; "in the sight of the heathen," that is, even they shall see that, now that thou hast become a captive, thou art no longer owned as Mine [Vatablus]. Fairbairn and others needlessly take the Hebrew from a different root, "thou shalt be polluted by ('in,' [Henderson]) thyself," &c.; the heathen shall regard thee as a polluted thing, who hast brought thine own reproach on thyself.
18. dross … brass—Israel has become a worthless compound of the dross of silver (implying not merely corruption, but degeneracy from good to bad, Isa 1:22, especially offensive) and of the baser metals. Hence the people must be thrown into the furnace of judgment, that the bad may be consumed, and the good separated (Jer 6:29, 30).
23. From this verse to the end he shows the general corruption of all ranks.
24. land … not cleansed—not cleared or cultivated; all a scene of desolation; a fit emblem of the moral wilderness state of the people.
nor rained upon—a mark of divine "indignation"; as the early and latter rain, on which the productiveness of the land depended, was one of the great covenant blessings. Joel (Joe 2:23) promises the return of the former and latter rain, with the restoration of God's favor.
25. conspiracy—The false prophets have conspired both to propagate error and to oppose the messages of God's servants. They are mentioned first, as their bad influence extended the widest.
prey—Their aim was greed of gain, "treasure, and precious things" (Ho 6:9; Zep 3:3, 4; Mt 23:14).
made … many widows—by occasioning, through false prophecies, the war with the Chaldeans in which the husbands fell.
26. Her priests—whose "lips should have kept knowledge" (Mal 2:7).
violated—not simply transgressed; but, have done violence to the law, by wresting it to wrong ends, and putting wrong constructions on it.
put no difference between the holy and profane, &c.—made no distinction between the clean and unclean (Le 10:10), the Sabbath and other days, sanctioning violations of that holy day. "Holy" means, what is dedicated to God; "profane," what is in common use; "unclean," what is forbidden to be eaten; "clean," what is lawful to be eaten.
I am profaned among them—They abuse My name to false or unjust purposes.
27. princes—who should have employed the influence of their position for the people's welfare, made "gain" their sole aim.
wolves—notorious for fierce and ravening cruelty (Mic 3:2, 3, 9-11; Joh 10:12).
28. Referring to the false assurances of peace with which the prophets flattered the people, that they should not submit to the king of Babylon (see on Eze 13:10; Eze 21:29; Jer 6:14; 23:16, 17; 27:9, 10).
29. The people—put last, after the mention of those in office. Corruption had spread downwards through the whole community.
wrongfully—that is, "without cause," gratuitously, without the stranger proselyte giving any just provocation; nay, he of all others being one who ought to have been won to the worship of Jehovah by kindness, instead of being alienated by oppression; especially as the Israelites were commanded to remember that they themselves had been "strangers in Egypt" (Ex 22:21; 23:9).
30. the hedge—the wall (see on Eze 13:5); image for leading the people to repentance.
the gap—the breach (Ps 106:23); image for interceding between the people and God (Ge 20:7; Ex 32:11; Nu 16:48).
I found none—(Jer 5:1)—not that literally there was not a righteous man in the city. For Jeremiah, Baruch, &c., were still there; but Jeremiah had been forbidden to pray for the people (Jer 11:14), as being doomed to wrath. None now, of the godly, knowing the desperate state of the people, and God's purpose as to them, was willing longer to interpose between God's wrath and them. And none "among them," that is, among those just enumerated as guilty of such sins (Eze 22:25-29), was morally able for such an office.
31. their own way … recompensed upon their heads—(Eze 9:10; 11:21; 16:43; Pr 1:31; Isa 3:11; Jer 6:19).