Ezekiel: A Bible Commentary: Chapter 16 by Charles R. Sabo

             Ezekiel

                A Bible Commentary

                                              Chapter 16

The command to Ezekiel in verse 16:2 says it all. The entire chapter is addressed to the city called Jerusalem, and not Israel. Commentaries consistently get this confused and misinterpret this chapter completely. The verse does not say “Speak unto Judah,” or even Israel. God’s intent was to present the pagan inhabitants of Jerusalem with the foundations of their coming destruction. God’s “city of peace” had existed back when Shem (Noah’s oldest son) was teaching Canaanites about God and His ways. The city was born, then abandoned when Shem had died.

As this chapter moves, the Lord described the demon worship, which had taken over this city. The inhabitants of Jerusalem erected altars and high places on every street; they worshipped and offered gifts to their demonic gods; they sacrificed little children to appease the demonic realm. God’s city needed to be cleansed of these abominations and the people performing the evil deeds.

Ezekiel 16:1-2 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 2 “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations,” God had already addressed the inhabitants within the first fifteen chapters. Now the Lord brings to perspective, His feelings towards His city. God presented the captives with His imagery of what He had seen, felt, and accomplished within His holy city throughout its history. Because a city is but a community of people, it cannot be held accountable for the people’s actions. God will use His imagery to illustrate His feelings towards Jerusalem, His city.

Ezekiel 16:3 And say, Thus says the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Your birth and your nativity is of the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite, and your mother a Hittite. From an early Nineveh tablet from the land of Canaan, a cuneiform document provides that “Salim” means “peace,” which represents “the God of Peace,” who was the patron deity of Jerusalem. In this pre-semitic language of Babylonia, “uru” means city, thus uru-salim presents us with the original name for the “city of peace.”[1]   

It is believed that the inhabitants of Uru-salim were the Hittites, Jebusites and the Amorites who dwelled in the mountains (Num. 13:29).[2] Joshua 10:5 states that there were five kings of the Amorites, with the king of Jerusalem being one of the five kings. Joshua led Israel in a campaign to drive out and destroy all Canaanites from the Promised Land, however they failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem (Josh. 15:63). The Benjamites also failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem years later (Jud. 1:21). The Jebusites changed the name of Jerusalem to Jebus during this time of their inhabitation.[3] It was not until King David took his men to Jebus (Jerusalem) and they defeated the Jebusites (1 Chron. 11:6). “And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.” (1 Chron. 11:7-8) God had His people build Him the Temple where they could worship Him in His city of choice, Jerusalem (1 Kings 5-9).

Ezekiel 16:4 And as for your nativity, in the day you were born your navel was not cut, neither were you washed in water to supple you; you were not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. The translators used the verb “supple” for the Hebrew verb “mišʿî,” which is defined as: “cleansing.” God’s imagery reveals a newborn baby, which had not had its umbilical cord cut from its navel yet, nor cleansed of the fluids and blood from its body, nor sanitized with the rubbing of salt water on its skin, nor wrapped in swaddling clothes as most babies were. The city of uru-salim was as a newborn left unattended, after its birth. God’s city became a pagan city for several hundred years, after the death of the patriarch Shem (son of Noah). 

25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren.

26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.

27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. (Genesis 9:25-27)

The curse, spoken upon Canaan by his grandfather Noah, was a prophecy that was to come to pass during Shem’s lifetime. Canaan and his offspring were to be ruled over by Shem. The sons of Canaan can be found in Genesis 10:15-18 (Sidon, Heth, and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite); Genesis 10:19 declares where they had inhabited. The kingdom of Shem can be associated with the borders mentioned within Genesis 10:19, because he ruled over the Canaanites. Verse 27 does indicate that Japheth was to rule over Canaan, but as Japheth had multiplied, they scattered and ruled their own lands outside of the land of Canaan.[4] Shem, however, migrated over to the original Uru-salim to teach the Canaanites about the instruction of the Lord. He built the city of Jerusalem in the mountains of Moriah; the root word of Moriah is “morah,” which is Hebrew for “teacher.”[5]

Ezekiel 16:5 No eye pitied you, to do any of these unto you, to have compassion upon you; but you were cast out in the open field, to the loathing of your person, in the day that you were born. The time being illustrated here is “the day,” or time of the birth of the city. The naming of the city, and the people influenced by its godliness, did not occur over a twenty-four hour day. We should look at this time being called “the day” as the short time that Shem was alive. Once the death of god’s kingly priest (Shem) had occurred, the new born city of God, had been cast off by the pagans; thus the baby city was left unattended to (but you were cast out in the open field, to the loathing of your person). The pagans had loathed the city of God, and brought in their idols and wizardry instead.

Ezekiel 16:6 And when I passed by you, and saw you polluted in your own blood, I said unto you when you were in your blood, Live; yea, I said unto you when you were in your blood, Live. Once again, this verse continues with God’s imagery of His revival of His new born city left behind as a baby, because it was no longer being tended to by godly people. The blood on the baby is the polluted bloody birth fluids, which were still on this new born. It was several hundred years after Shem had died, that this new born baby (Jerusalem) laid abandoned, even though the pagan Canaanites were still living there.

God repeated Himself here for a reason. God had brought the children of Israel back from Egypt, then gave them the Promised Land; you should notice that Jerusalem was never secured by the Israelites until King David, because Joshua led Israel in a campaign to drive out and destroy all Canaanites from the Promised Land, however, they failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem (Josh. 15:63). The Benjamites also failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem years later (Jud. 1:21). The Jebusites changed the name of Jerusalem to Jebus during this time of their inhabitation.[6] God repeated “I said unto you when you were in your blood, Live.” It was not until King David took his men to Jebus (Jerusalem) that they defeated the Jebusites (1 Chron. 11:6).

Ezekiel 16:7 I have caused you to multiply as the bud of the field, and you have increased and waxen great, and you have come to excellent ornaments: your breasts are fashioned, and your hair is grown, whereas you were naked and bare. The city of Jerusalem prospered from the time of King David, through the times of King Solomon.  

24 For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him.

25 And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon. (1 Kings 4:24-25) 

Still referring to Jerusalem, she had grown from that abandoned baby, to an attractive young lady. God shall always refer to cities in the female gender (Lam. 1:1-7), just as He has referred to a church. The Lord used this imagery to illustrate how He had been involved in the upbringing of His city, young Jerusalem. He reminded Ezekiel's readers that she was a fair-looking city, whereas before she was naked and alone (whereas you were naked and bare).

Ezekiel 16:8 Now when I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered your nakedness: yea, I swore unto you, and entered into a covenant with you, says the Lord God, and you became mine. The chronology of these verses remains focused on the abandoned newborn is her birth fluids. Verse 16:7 was a verse that reveals what God had done with her, but he was still describing the details of her upbringing. The most important part of this verse is the covenant set up between the city of Jerusalem and the Lord God. The Mosaic, Noahic, Abrahamic, and Davidic Covenants do not specify a commitment to the city of Jerusalem from God, but God has made statements of commitment to the city called Jerusalem. “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” (Is. 62:1) Notice in Isaiah 62:1, the Lord refers to Jerusalem in the female gender (her).  

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. (Ps. 152:2)

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Is. 62:3)

But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. (Joel 3:20)

The Lord indicated that he passed by the baby city, left alone (naked), which indicates that the baby holy-city was not being attended to. The Lord had spoken with imagery of His relationship and care for the city of Jerusalem. God does not wear a skirt, as the translators were implying. We do know that He wears fine linen (Is. 6:1, Dan. 10:5, Rev. 1:13) down past His feet. The Hebrew noun “kānāp̄” is defined as “corner of garment.” This is not a skirt in any sense, but a corner of His long garment of white linen. The Lord covered the baby of a city, left alone (naked), with the corner of His white linen garment. The attention given was when God brought King David to power, who went on to drive out the pagan Jubusites (1 Chron. 11:16). Thus, the unattended baby was occupied by a king who was after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). Once Jerusalem was being occupied by the godly men of Israel, God declared her as His (you became mine).

Ezekiel 16:9 Then washed I you with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. The anointed King, reigned over Zion, the holy city of David. “Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.” (2 Sam. 5:7) That day, they did anoint David to rule over all of Israel, with Jerusalem as the city of David, anointed to be His city (2 Sam. 5:3). With this action here, the bloody new-born, that was cast away and left alone (naked), was anointed as the city of David, who was God’s choice as His king of Zion (God’s Kingdom). She was washed clean with the cleansing water of God’s Holy Spirit, therefore she was God’s chosen city (Is. 1:18, Ps. 51:2, Titus 3:5). The city of Jerusalem was revived!

Ezekiel 16:10 I clothed you also with broidered work, and shod you with badgers' skin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. Interestingly, when we refer back to the Mosaic Covenant, we will find that the priests were to wear a broidered coat for service in the Temple of God (Ex. 28:4). This statement reflects the service of God was in Jerusalem. If we look back to the Mosaic Covenant, we will find several passages instructing Israel to use badger’s skin to cover God’s Tabernacle, as well as the cover for the ark of the Covenant. (Ex. 25:5; 26:14; 35:7, 23; 36:19; 39:24; Num. 4:6-23) With Israel in control of Jerusalem, they performed the ceremonies in a newly made tabernacle using the badger’s skin (2 Sam. 6:17), while following the same formalities with the ark of the Covenant. The ceremony was accomplished by King David, to have the ark of the Covenant carried into the city of David (Jerusalem). (1 Chron. 15:25-28)

King Solomon wrote of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31:10-31. The virtuous woman wears clothing of silk, according to the translators, however there is not a Hebrew word for silk. Solomon used the Hebrew noun “šēš,” which actually is defined as “fine linen.” Ezekiel used the Hebrew noun “mᵊšî,” which is defined as: “a costly material for garment.” It was the translators who chose “silk” as the material being considered, but silk was not even given a specific name in Hebrew, therefore it would be more contextually correct to say: “fine linen” within Proverbs 31:22. In the case with the virtuous women, she would be wearing fine linen, in the context that God referred to Jerusalem being “girded about with fine linen.” The priests were to wear “fine linen” also in performing Temple services (Lev. 6:10), which reflects the purity of God.

The Lord had made a comparison between the virtuous women and the young lady (city of Jerusalem). To avoid redundancy, it may be appropriate to use the noun “silk,” since it seems to be an upgrade to fine linen. If the city (woman) were girded with fine linen, the Lord claims to have covered her with a more costly material. To be covered with the finest material, such as silk, presents a context of royalty (and I covered you with silk), as the city was lifted up by the Lord to be His city (Is. 62:3).

Ezekiel 16:11 I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a chain on your neck. The city of Jerusalem was still being referred to here, meanwhile she was being addressed as a reflection of the godly inhabitants living within. If we look to Genesis 24, we will find that Isaac gifted Rebecca, after she serviced his camels with water. “And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;” (Gen. 24:22) Moses used the Hebrew noun “nezem,” which actually means “nose ring.” The consistency of the word of God, would lead you to understand that the ornaments were probably a single nose ring, because Ezekiel used the Hebrew noun “ʿăḏî” inflected as a singular noun. It would be a poor gift, if you receive one earring, when you have two ears. While Isaac rewarded Rebecca a golden nose ring and two gold bracelets for her kindness unto him, God used imagery and stated that He had rewarded the young woman named Jerusalem the same for her honor of Him. The chain on the neck of the city reflects her inhabitant’s obedience to their parent’s instructions (Prov. 1:8-9), which falls back on the Fifth Commandment of the Laws of Moses. (Ex. 20:12)

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of your mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto your head, and chains about your neck. (Prov. 1:8-9)

Ezekiel 16:12 And I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head. The translators mistranslated the first sentence. The Hebrew noun “nezem” was translated as “jewel,” when it is defined as: “ring, nose ring, earring.” The Hebrew noun “ap̄” was translated as “forehead,” when it actually is defined as “nose.” “And I put a ring on your nose.” The nose ring was used by Isaac’s servant to give to Rebecca as a gift of betrothal between Isaac and Rebecca. The earrings in the ears were a traditional jewel worn by all women of the time, while the beautiful crown represents royalty. God has plans for Jerusalem to be the Eternal city of New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:2).  “And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2)

Ezekiel 16:13 Thus were you decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; you did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and you were exceeding beautiful, and you did prosper into a kingdom. God brought what He had just described into a complete picture of imagery. The city of Jerusalem grew up into a prosperous kingdom, when King David, then Solomon had reigned (1 Kings 4:21-34). “And those officers provided victual for king Solomon, and for all that came unto king Solomon's table, every man in his month: they lacked nothing.” (1 Kings 4:27)

Ezekiel 16:14 And your renown went forth among the heathen for your beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon you, says the Lord God. This is an easy verse to comprehend, if you are familiar with the Old Testament writings. There were several instances of greatness that we can find, but when royalty from another nation far away comes and makes statements, this is what God is talking of. The Queen of Sheba heard such great things, of King Solomon and his kingdom, so she had to travel and find this for herself.  

6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in my own land of your acts and of your wisdom.

7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: your wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame which I heard.

8 Happy are your men, happy are these your servants, which stand continually before you, and that hear your wisdom. (1 Kings 10:6-8) 

The Hebrew noun used by Ezekiel, translated as “comeliness,” is “hāḏār;” It is defined as: “splendor, honor, majesty.” “Because it was perfect through my majesty…” “which I had put upon you.” When God is reigning in a city, it thrives and lacks nothing.

Ezekiel 16:15 But you did trust in your own beauty, and played the harlot because of your renown, and poured out your fornications on every one that passed by; his it was. This statement presents itself in opposition to what was said previously. The city of Jerusalem’s renown went forth (16:14), reflecting God’s majesty, “but” the inhabitants of Jerusalem trusted in their city’s greatness (beauty), which they then played the harlot (worshipping false gods) on all that traveled to see this remarkable city (every one that passed by). “According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.” (Hos. 13:6)

4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. (1 Kings 11:4-6)

When the king worships, the people then worship; if the king worship’s God, the people will follow; when the king worship’s idols, so will the people as well.

The last sentence of this verse needs to be re-evaluated. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever the way it stands. The original Hebrew seems to have a scribal error, because there seems to be a word with no Hebrew meaning “לוֹ.” It may be that this may only need to be the waw (וֹ) as the conjunction connected to the Hebrew verb “hāyâ (יֶֽהִי)” inflected into the infinitive (ongoing) form to mean “so it came to be (וֹ־יֶֽהִי).” With this, I will conclude it just confirmed that the event described had been coming to pass.

Ezekiel 16:16 And of your garments you did take, and decked your high places with divers colors, and played the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. The translators inserted the expression “the like things” which was not in the original Hebrew. They will imply that it was understood, therefore wright it in the English language this way. However, if it is referring to the previous statement, it would be contextually correct to insert the pronoun “this” instead. “this shall not come, neither shall it be so.”

The inhabitants of Jerusalem were committing adultery, by breaking the Mosaic Covenant. God called it harlotry, yet they were not being paid as a harlot. The Lord elaborated on what He had implied in verse 16:15. The tapestry of colors for adornment was and is still used in the worship of the pagan idols (ie…stained glass windows of today). The idolatry had taken over the city of Jerusalem, but God will not have it; He stated that none of this will ever come to be, if He has any say in it. “this shall not come, neither shall it be so.”

Ezekiel 16:17 You have also taken your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made to yourself images of men, and did commit whoredom with them, There is not anything as specific as this, within God’s word, however there are various testimonies from certain prophets, which indicate that the people had been making idols.  

But where are your gods that you have made you? Let them arise, if they can save you in the time of your trouble, because according to the number of your cities are your gods, O Judah. (Jer. 2:28)

The gold and silver being used may have been from God’s Temple, but it could be just anybody’s silver and gold being used. All of the gold and silver of the world belongs to God, Himself. “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts.” (Hag. 2:8)

The images of Ba’al were of a man, which was one of the many names of male gods. The Mystery Religion of the occult was born from the legends of Nimrod, his wife Semiramis, and her son, Tammuz. Once the Tower of Babel had come to pass, the people and their Mystery Religion were scattered throughout the Earth (Gen. 11:1-9), but spoken of in various languages. It was the same religion, but with different names. Nimrod is known by the names: Marduk in Babylon, Amarutuk in Akkadia, Osiris in Egypt, Molech in Canaan, Vishnu in India, and Adonis in Greece. Deified father of Nimrod, Cush, was revered in Canaan as Bel, or well known as Ba’al. After the death of Nimrod, it is believed that his wife Semiramis became ruler. Because of the scattering of the people, the names for Semiramis have varied, such as: Ishtar (Easter)/Astarte/Ashtoreth in Canaan, while she was known as Isis in Egypt, Venus in Greece, and Ushas in India. Many legends of her son Tammuz have spread, while he is also known as Damu, Horus, and Gilgamesh. Sadly, the Mystery Religion is just that, no legitimate history written, but foolishly worshiped as a legend (made to yourself images of men).

The Hebrew verb “zānâ” was used by Ezekiel, which the translators called: “commit whoredom;” this Hebrew verb is used whenever someone “commits adultery,” or acts as a harlot. Exodus 19 presents the ceremony followed by the wedding contract (Mosaic Covenant) in the chapters that follow. If you will notice, the first four Commandments were focused on Israel’s faithfulness to God (Ex. 20:2-11). When they committed acts of idolatry, they committed adultery against Him (did commit whoredom with them). This adultery continued into Jerusalem until the days of its destruction in 587 B.C.

Ezekiel 16:18 And took your broidered garments, and covered them: and you have set my oil and my incense before them. Interestingly, when we refer back to the Mosaic Covenant, we will find that the priests were to wear a broidered coat for service in the Temple of God (Ex. 28:4). Verse 16:18 addresses the priests, who apparently dishonored the use of this sacred garment, and presented it to their idol as a gift of their harlotry. The pronoun “them” refers back to the “images of men” from verse 16:17. There is no biblical record for this, except here as part of God’s accusations (took your broidered garments, and covered them).

The oil and incense were used in Temple worship by the priests (Lev. 2:1-2). Olive oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:6). So when you make such an abomination occur, by using the olive oil as a gift to false gods, it is even offensive to someone that knows of the significance of the Holy Spirit in their life. The spiritual significance of the incense were imagery of the prayers of the saints which raise up to God in heaven continuously.  

7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresses the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

8 And when Aaron light the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. (Ex. 30:7-8)

This act was especially offensive, because the true worship of God are the prayers coming to Him continuously from the entire Earth. Prayers are not only important to God, but they fulfill a believer’s needed faith in Him. The unholy pagan priests of that time, truly were an abomination unto Him, because they gifted such an important ritual (burning incense) to their false gods.  

3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (Rev. 8:3) 

Ezekiel 16:19 My meat also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed you, you have even set it before them for a sweet savor: and thus it was, says the Lord God. God continued here to recognize the abominable things, which the pagan Israelites had been doing. They offered up the blessings, which the Lord had given them, as a gift to their false gods (idols of men) 

11 And the Lord shall make you plenteous in goods, in the fruit of your body, and in the fruit of your cattle, and in the fruit of your ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give you.

12 The Lord shall open unto you his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto your land in his season, and to bless all the work of your hand: and you shall lend unto many nations, and you shall not borrow. (Deut. 28:11-12)

Ezekiel 16:20 Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne unto me, and these have you sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Is this of your whoredoms a small matter,… The worst abomination unto the Lord is the killing of His image bearers. Genesis 1:26-27 states that mankind was created in God’s image; Genesis 9:6 states that the death penalty be established against anyone who kills one of God’s image bearers. The satanic realm realizes this, and deceives its victims of lies to sacrifice little children (image bearers) in honor of their false gods.

And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; also he observed omens, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with mediums and with wizards. He wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke Him to anger. (2 Chron. 33:6)

The last clause of verse 16:20, should actually be added to the beginning of verse 16:21. This is the first clause of a rhetorical question being asked of the inhabitants of Jerusalem during this time. Is this of your whoredoms a small matter,…

Ezekiel 16:21 That you have slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them? The last clause of the previous verse, begins a rhetorical question addressed to the pagans of Jerusalem, who were sacrificing children at the altars of their gods; As was stated in my commentary on verse 16:20, this was a satanic ritual; one thing is for sure, this satanic ritual occurs even today, as the united States of America sacrifices multiple-millions of babies each year through abortions. The sentence is rhetorical, because it is asked, but God and all of the pagans of Jerusalem already knew the answer. Hopefully, those of you reading this do as well. The wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem were killing their children as an offering to the demons. We will find that these people were seeking the supernatural, and would find it if they satisfied the demons asking them.  

Is this of your whoredoms a small matter, that you have slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?     

Ezekiel 16:22 And in all your abominations and your whoredoms you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and were polluted in your blood. We must remember that this entire chapter is addressed to the city of Jerusalem herself, which is a reflection of her inhabitants. God returns the readers of this back to the city’s beginning, when He washed her clean from her birth fluids, by bringing godly people unto her to inhabit her (see 16:4-9).

The Hebrew noun “taznûṯ” was used by Ezekiel, which the translators called: “whoredoms;” this Hebrew noun is used whenever someone “commits fornication,” or acts as a harlot. Israel’s harlotry violated their Mosaic Covenant by worshipping other gods. The pagans of Jerusalem committed abominations and whoredoms without recalling all that God had done for their people, as well as what their ancestors had been through. Their selfish behavior not only dishonored God, but their ancestry as well. They did not care to remember the Exodus out of Egypt, the battles led by Joshua and fought by their people. They could not even think of the memory from a century earlier, when the Lord had killed one-hundred eighty-five thousand Assyrians (in one night) in the mountains surrounding Jerusalem (Is. 37:36), just to protect His city and her inhabitants.

Ezekiel 16:23-24 And it came to pass after all your wickedness, (woe, woe unto you! says the Lord God;) that you have also built unto you an eminent place, and have made you a high place in every street. The Hebrew interjection translated as “woe” is “'ôy,” which is defined as: “passionate cry of grief or despair.” The Lord felt grief for His people, who had sunk so low in their abominations. The translators translated the Hebrew noun “gaḇ” as “eminent place,” which could possibly be referring to the hidden room being used for secret worship. God had showed Ezekiel this secret room, where seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel were all burning incense in censors and worshipping idols in secret (Ezek. 8:7-12).

If we look forward to verse 16:31, we will find that God was addressing the many pagan shrines that were available for them to worship as they pleased. “High places” were typically on a hilltop crowned with an altar, one or two standing stones, a wooden pillar, as well as a clump of evergreen trees (Jer. 3:6-9). In the case here, leave out the hilltop, and it quite possibly consisted of the similar materials to make it the illicit place of worship that it had been known for.

Ezekiel 16:25 You have built your high place at every head of the way, and have made your beauty to be abhorred, and have opened your feet to everyone that passed by, and multiplied your whoredoms. The translators used the term “head of the way,” which is derived from two Hebrew nouns. The Hebrew noun “rō'š” can mean “head, top, summit, beginning,” The Hebrew noun “dereḵ,” which can mean “way, road, distance, journey.” “Head of the way” seems appropriate, but in modern English, it would be better to say “beginning of the roads.” The pagans of Jerusalem had built their places of worship at every beginning of the roads leading in and out of Jerusalem.

In God’s eyes, Jerusalem’s beauty was her holiness and faithfulness to Him. With every opportunity presented to the people, to worship the idols at these altars, would be like placing a red light in every window of a church building; it would be an abhorrence to God.

The Hebrew noun used as “feet” is “reḡel,” which should be understood to be “idols.” The pagans of Jerusalem increased (multiplied) their whoredoms by encouraging the worship of their idols to every stranger (everyone) coming in and out of Jerusalem (passed by).

Ezekiel 16:26 You have also committed fornication with the Egyptians your neighbors, great of flesh; and have increased your whoredoms, to provoke me to anger. The translators used the expression “great of flesh” for two Hebrew words, one adjective, the other a noun. The Hebrew adjective “gāḏēl” means “growing, becoming great.” The Hebrew noun “bāśār” also means “mankind.” Israel’s neighbors were the Egyptians, which was a nation still growing in greatness and population; they were growing in mankind (population). They were not only being influenced by the Egyptians, but were also being the bad influence on the Egyptians. Pagan Jerusalem increased their offenses of whoredom, when they encouraged the Egyptians to worship their gods, when they entered the city. God’s city of godliness became a whoredom to Him and bad influence on the rest of the world, which made Him very angry.

Ezekiel 16:27 Behold, therefore I have stretched out my hand over you, and have diminished your ordinary food, and delivered you unto the will of them that hate you, the daughters of the Philistines, which are ashamed of your lewd way. As we will find later in this chapter, God called cities being birthed by a mother city as “daughters.” It was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon who destroyed Ekron in 603 B.C. He left behind a remnant of people (the daughters (cities) of the Philistines), whom God had spared. These people were most likely more-godly than the pagans of Jerusalem, whom the Philistines thought to be very wicked (zimmâ), which can be described as lewd. There had always been hate between the Philistine people and Israel, meanwhile God used them in this case to become adversarial against them.

Because Jerusalem became very desperate for ordinary food (meat, grain, oil), they attempted to buy food from their neighbors (daughters of the Philistines); this gave the daughters of the Philistines the upper hand, thus the starving pagans of Jerusalem were desperate for their mercy.

Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he has stretched forth his hand against them, and has smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (Is. 5:25)

A stretched out hand of God, is an active sovereign hand, which has control over a situation. He can bring mercy, or He can bring judgments.

Ezekiel 16:28 You have played the whore also with the Assyrians, because you were unsatiable; yea, you have played the harlot with them, and yet could not be satisfied. The definition for unsatiable is: “unable to be satisfied.” It was King Ahaz of Judah who befriended Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, so that he could be assured to not lose in battle to Rezin king of Aramea and Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel. God had advised King Ahaz, through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:4-20, to not bother with the two kings, because they would not have their kingdoms very much longer. King Ahaz chose to not trust God’s words given to Him, and instead asked the Assyrian king to protect Judah. King Ahaz was unsatisfied in trusting in the Lord God, so he trusted a power hungry pagan king instead.

7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Aramea, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.”

8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. (2 Kings 16:7-9)

After the Assyrian king had taken care of King Ahaz and eliminated the threats of war against Judah, Ahaz had met with the Assyrian king in Damascus, and saw an altar. He sent for his priest to fashion an altar like it for him in Jerusalem. (2 Kings 16:10) By playing the harlot with them, Jerusalem began worshipping the same gods as the Assyrians.

Ezekiel 16:29 You have moreover multiplied your fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet you were not satisfied therewith. The Hebrew name translated as “Chaldea” is “kaśdîmâ,” which were people of the Kasdite, or descendants of Kesed; by implication, they were Chaldean; these were people dwelling on the lower Euphrates and Tigris Rivers. Abraham was originally from Ur of the Chaldees (Gen. 11:28, 31).

With Israel (land of Canaan) being in the lower parts of the Chaldean territory, the Lord implied that the city of Jerusalem had extended its idolatry outward from their land to the lower Tigris and Euphrates. Their trade routes brought not only staples from their land, but their pagan devil worship as well. God implied that even though they worshipped the Canaanite gods, the Egyptian gods, the Assyrian gods, and the Chaldean gods, they still were not satisfied and still wanted more. (yet you were not satisfied therewith)   

   Ezekiel 16:30 How weak is your heart, says the Lord God, seeing you do all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman; This is a rhetorical question being asked of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, just to have them look in the mirror at themselves. The Lord spoke as a Father when they scold children by asking questions, intended on opening the children’s eyes to very convicting logic. The Lord defined what He meant by His accusation in verses 16:31-34. He slapped them by recognizing them all of being an imperious (domineering) whorish woman. Since this chapter has always been addressing the city of Jerusalem, the Lord referred to the city as that imperious (domineering) whorish woman, because all of her inhabitants were like this.

The question being asked is “How weak is your heart?” The inhabitants of Jerusalem seem to be willing to worship anything but the One true living God. Their gods had not let them know how they felt, did not bless them with a land, food, and protection, but just were carvings of wood and metal. They knew that they needed more than what they had in these idols, but their disbelief in the Lord did not enable them to seek the God who could satisfy them.

 Ezekiel 16:31 In that you build your eminent place in the head of every way, and make your high place in every street; and have not been as a harlot, in that you scorn hire; The inhabitants of Jerusalem built their secret place of worship (eminent place [see 16:24]) at the beginning (head) of every road (way) leading to and from the city (see 16:25), established their places of worship (high place) on every inner street of the city (see 16:25), they still refused to take payment for their worship, nor charged as a prostitute (harlot) would; they scorned at being paid, nor paying for worship (in that you scorn hire); the Lord elaborated in the next few verses in what He meant by this.

Ezekiel 16:32 But as a wife that commits adultery, which takes strangers instead of her husband! Exodus 19 presents the ceremony followed by the wedding contract (Mosaic Covenant) in the chapters that follow. If you will notice, the first four Commandments were focused on Israel’s faithfulness to God (Ex. 20:2-11). When they committed acts of idolatry, they committed adultery against Him. God had always looked upon the Mosaic Covenant to be a marriage decree between Himself and the house of Israel. What He is saying between verses 16:31-32 is that they were not a prostitute, because they refused payments, but were adulterers; the adulteress wife commits adultery by seeking love from strangers, rather than her own husband.  

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. (Prov. 5:3-5)  

Ezekiel 16:33 They give gifts to all whores: but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and hire them, that they may come unto you on every side for your whoredom. The pronoun “they” does not refer back to a previous noun, but is understood to be those men (johns) who hire prostitutes by paying them for their services. In the case here, the Lord implied that “johns” give gifts to their prostitutes (all whores) to show appreciation for them. Therefore, God’s point being made implies that the pagan inhabitants of Jerusalem, instead, gave gifts to their gods;  

 18 And took your broidered garments, and covered them: and you have set my oil and my incense before them.

19 My meat also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed you, you have even set it before them for a sweet savor: and thus it was, says the Lord God. (Ezek. 16:18-19) 

Verses 16:20-21 even speak of the child sacrifices that had become a common occurrence in Jerusalem. The occult of the modern age still perform such horrific acts as this, because they have been blinded by the god of this world (Satan) into thinking that he is greater (2 Cor. 4:4). “The thing that has been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecl. 1:9) 

The Lord’s point even emphasizes that the pagan inhabitants of Jerusalem were actually hiring their idols by their gifts as payment; their motivation was just as it is in the modern day; they desired to influence the demonic realm to come in, or unto them. They knew there were supernatural forces that they could entice into demonic possession. This was not just a love affair with a hand-made doll, but the supernatural was what they desired. Their lack of faith in the Lord God (who would never answer their call for the supernatural from them) caused them to seek the supernatural elsewhere. The demonic realm was readily available to them, therefore they sought out these “familiar spirits” for their faith and stimulation. (Lev. 19:31; 20:6, Deut. 18:11, 1 Sam. 28:3, 9, 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24, Is. 8:19; 19:3) (that they may come unto you on every side for your whoredom)

And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. (Lev. 20:6)

Witches (women of Israel) would cover the head of every customer they were visited by, thus seducing them into their devilish requirements to achieve good standing with the gods that they worshipped. The person being consulted willingly wore the veil over their head, as if it made them fit in receiving a response that they might be taken into a spiritual trance.  

Woe to the women that sew false phylacteries to all joints of hands, and accomplish long veils upon the heads of every stature to hunt souls! (Ezek. 13:18)

Ezekiel 16:34 And the contrary is in you from other women in your whoredoms, whereas none follows you to commit whoredoms: and in that you give a reward, and no reward is given unto you, therefore you are contrary. This is a special theological verse, in that it proclaims that the adultery that the house of Israel had been committing can still be called whoredoms, though they were not really taking payments. God has not contradicted Himself (adulteress vs whore), but made His point that it was the inhabitants of Jerusalem who were being contrary. It is the payment (reward) for services (unto a wizard) that is contrary to the normal social setting that entices johns to pay for sexual services to a whore.

Ezekiel 16:35 Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of the Lord: The Lord then called the inhabitants of Jerusalem a “harlot,” after explaining their contrary behavior of paying for their adultery, rather than taking payment. The Lord proclaimed His wrath that was coming over the city of Jerusalem in the near future within verses 16:36-59.

Ezekiel 16:36 Thus says the Lord God; “Because your filthiness was poured out, and your nakedness discovered through your whoredoms with your lovers, and with all the idols of your abominations, and by the blood of your children, which you did give unto them;” Commentaries want to imply that the Hebrew noun “nᵊḥšeṯ” refers to the mixed metal called “bronze.” Bronze is a dark metal that does not shine with brightness, even when polished. The Hebrew noun “nᵊḥšeṯ” also means: “lust, harlotry.” Though the noun “filthiness” is adequate, it might be more accurate to say: “Because your lust was poured out.” They poured out their lust for the occult, their lust for the supernatural, their lust for gods that could make them feel good with divinations.

If we refer back to verse 16:8, God had covered the new born city’s nakedness with His corner of His white linen garment; godly men and women inhabited the city, therefore she was clothed with God’s white linen. In the case here in verse 16:36, godliness was nowhere in Jerusalem, therefore she was naked of His holiness. The translators incorrectly translated the Hebrew verb “gālâ” as “discovered.” This Hebrew verb was inflected as a niphal imperfect verb, which should be an unfinished verb (ongoing). The niphal imperfect verb “gālâ” contextually translates as: “is being uncovered.” Their nakedness was being uncovered:

1)   through their whoredoms (worship, fornication) with their lovers (demons). (16:33)

2)  with all the idols of their abominations (16:17-20).

3)  by the blood of their children, whom they sacrificed (gave) unto them (16:20-21).

The city’s inhabitant’s nakedness was being uncovered through their whoredoms (worship, fornication) with their lovers (demons). The Lord first implied the spiritual fornication with the demonic realm, then included the abominations (physical fornication) of worshipping their idols (and with all the idols of your abominations). As was disclosed in verses 16:20-21, the inhabitants sacrificed children upon their demonic altars to win favor with those demons. All of these acts committed pushed God away from them while they rejected Him, so that they could experience gratification from the demonic presence of their spiritual lovers.

Ezekiel 16:37 Behold, therefore I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all them that you have loved, with all them that you have hated; I will even gather them round about against you, and will discover your nakedness unto them, that they may see all your nakedness. It would be tempting to leave the demonic realm out of this judgment against the inhabitants, but God has implied that their lovers (whom gave them pleasure) were the demons (see 16:33). I know there are many who think that God does not have a say in what Satan and his dominion are allowed to do, but if He has no control, He is not 100% sovereign. How great is our God?

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschews evil?”

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?

10 Have not You made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.”

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only upon himself put not forth your hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1:8-12)

God is sovereign over the demonic realm; they cannot hurt anyone without His permission. He manipulates Satan, his angels, and his demons to do as He wills them to do. In the case here in verse 16:37, God implied that He will gather all of the lovers (demons) of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord had not done it? (Amos 3:6)

In addition to their lovers, God would also gather all of the loved nations that they befriended for their fornications, along with their enemies (them that you have hated) from surrounding nations.

As the Lord brings the three categories against Jerusalem, He implied that He would gather them around (surround) the city. The translators incorrectly translated the Hebrew verb “gālâ” as “discovered.” This Hebrew verb was inflected as a Qal perfect verb, which should be a finished verb. God did not need to discover their nakedness, as the translators want to imply; The Qal perfect Hebrew verb “gālâ” should be used as: “and uncover your nakedness unto them.” As discussed in verse 16:36, godliness was nowhere in Jerusalem, therefore she was naked of God’s holiness. When King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Chaldees) sieged Jerusalem the third time, he brought the fighting men of Aramea, Moab, and Ammon. Moab and Ammon were sons of Lot, who was Abraham’s nephew. Israel had always befriended them, in spite of their ungodliness, because they were cousins to them. Meanwhile Abraham was out of the land of Aramea (Ur) when God got ahold of him. When they all would invade Jerusalem, God would be revealing their ungodliness to all of them, when they saw all of their high places, idols, and abominations (that they may see all your nakedness).

 2 And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Arameans, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which He spoke by his servants the prophets. (2 Kings 24:2)

Ezekiel 16:38 And I will judge you, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give you blood in fury and jealousy. This entire chapter refers to the entire city of Jerusalem, which God has been addressing as a woman. The pronoun “you” refers back to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who have been addressed between 16:16-37. Verses 16:20, 22, 25-26, 29-30, 32-34 and 36 all refer to the whoredoms and harlotry of the entire city, therefore the Lord has sentenced the entire city to this judgment.

The two crimes, being punished for, are the crimes of a woman within the laws of Moses; the crimes were those that break wedlock and those that shed blood. The translators left out a very important pronoun “that,” which would provide a separation from the two crimes (and that shed blood). This was not meant to be for a woman that breaks wedlock and spills blood at the same time. The death penalty was given within the Laws of Moses for both of these crimes.  

 And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. (Lev. 20:10)

 Again, you shall say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that gives any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. (Lev. 20:2)

It was in the Everlasting Covenant that commanded the entire humankind to put to death anyone (or animal) that shed the blood of a man or woman (Gen. 9:5-6). Mankind has failed to uphold this covenant, therefore God will soon judge the world for their crimes of murder, when the Lord Jesus returns with vengeance (Is. 24:5-6, Rev. 14:19-20; 19:15-16).

Some people have a hard time when they read that our God feels jealousy. Jealousy is unavoidable when it comes to parental love of their children. If my daughters were to feel and show daughterly love to another man over me, my heart would be angered from jealousy. After all that I have done for my kids, with all the love that I have given them, how dare they love another man as their father over me! This, to me, is the jealousy that God feels when His children worship and love idols and demons instead Him. The fury then follows the jealousy, which motivates wrath. God is a merciful God, while all knowing (omniscient); He knows when a child can be turned back to Him, and when they cannot. His mercy and love is shown, when He has some of the guilty taken into captivity. Some in captivity might not turn to Him, but may have offspring (while in captivity) that will be one of His.

Ezekiel 16:39 And I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your eminent place, and shall break down your high places: they shall strip you also of your clothes, and shall take your fair jewels, and leave you naked and bare. God’s mercy is revealed here, when He would spare those who would be taken captive to Babylon. The entire city was destroyed when the Babylonians burned the city of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. There was not anything left standing, including their high places, which were on every street (16:24). An eye witness (Jeremiah) wrote of this event, which can be read of in detail within the Book of Lamentations.

8 Jerusalem has grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honored her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sighs, and turns backward. (Lam. 1:8)

  We must remember that God had been addressing His city of Jerusalem; the clothes and jewels were worn by her daughters (women), which imagery implies the entire city was stripped. If someone is being stripped of their garments, then they were not being slain, but taken captive. The booty was their captor’s reward, which included all of the fine jewelry that the woman had worn. If we look back to 16:3-6, God saw His city as an abandoned newborn, naked and bloody in birth fluids. He covered her nakedness with His garment (16:8), then fine linen (16:10). Godliness was within her, as her inhabitants worshipped the Lord. When God stripped the captives of their clothing, it was imagery of the nakedness of the city, as godliness was gone from the city. The city was left bare of any protection from the Lord God. 

Ezekiel 16:40They shall also bring up a company against you, and they shall stone you with stones, and thrust you through with their swords. As 2 Kings 24:2 discloses, the Babylonians brought bands of the Arameans, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon as part of their company of men upon Jerusalem. Stonings of the inhabitants could have been the catapults from afar heaving huge rocks upon them in the initial raid upon the city. As promised, the Babylonians used their many swords upon the inhabitants. It’s a terrible thing to be told ahead of time what will happen by the Creator of the Universe, then to not believe Him, and then it happens.

The young and the old lie on the ground in the streets: my virgins and my young men are fallen by the sword; you have slain them in the day of your anger; you have killed, and not pitied. (Lam. 2:21)

Ezekiel 16:41 And they shall burn your houses with fire, and execute judgments upon you in the sight of many women: and I will cause you to cease from playing the harlot, and you also shall give no hire any more. The burning of houses should be obvious, when it can be understood that the entire city was burned to the ground. The judgements executed were most likely on the prideful men, who were treated shamefully right in front of the many women being spared.

3 He has cut off in His fierce anger all the horn of Israel: He has drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and He burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoured round about.

4 He hath bent his bow like an enemy: he stood with his right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: He poured out His fury like fire. (Lam. 2:3-4) 

In verses 16:22-24, God accused the inhabitants of being contrary to that of a prostitute, since they were paying for their services to their gods, by giving gifts and sacrificing their own children. The harlot is then defined in this chapter as the one who commits adultery by paying for services unto the demonic realm (16:35-38). The inhabitants of Jerusalem were within a marriage covenant with God (Ex. 19-23), yet they pursued other gods. When Jerusalem ceased from having any inhabitants at all, harlotry had ceased to exist within her. The inhabitants would no longer be there to give hire to their gods (demons), and no one any longer could be enlighten by them.

 Ezekiel 16:42 So will I make my fury toward you to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from you, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. The Lord expressed these words of comfort to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, while some of them may have remembered what He said in Isaiah 40. God expressed his mercy to them, so that they felt comfort and faith while in captivity.

Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:2) 

Isaiah 40:2 is not addressed to children of Jacob, nor Israel, but to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. If someone were writing this verse after the captivity had taken place, Jerusalem would not have been in existence and the inhabitants would have been scattered. Isaiah is writing this to the people living in Jerusalem, before they had been taken (Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem). Within this comforting, the remnant who will be taken captive, will read these words from God and realize that His wrath had been accomplished (her warfare is accomplished). Because the Judge had carried out His sentence and fulfilled the required punishment, their sin can then be pardoned (that her iniquity is pardoned). Because Jerusalem is God’s city, she has had to maintain a higher standard of righteous living than any other city. The terrible sin of idolatry is adultery to the Lord, especially when committed by His people within the city of Jerusalem. Because the idolatry occurred in God’s holy city, they received double the punishments of captivities from other places. He brought a horrible captivity to Jerusalem and cleansed it of idolatry; which brought about a pardoned remnant to be returning for the coming of the Messiah (she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins).[7]

Ezekiel 16:43 Because you have not remembered the days of your youth, but have fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense your way upon your head, says the Lord God: and you have not commit this lewdness above all your abominations. The Lord provided an offense that the city of Jerusalem was guilty of. The city was no longer holy, but an abomination. The city’s inhabitants did not remember the stories of their ancestors and what God had done to make Jerusalem such a renowned city as it used to be. The translators used the verb “fretted” for the Hebrew verb “rāḡaz,” which contextually is defined as: “tremble, quake, rage, quiver, be agitated, be excited, be perturbed.” The Lord God had said that the inhabitants of Jerusalem had been perturbed of God (me) in all “these” things, because they (inhabitants) had not remembered the days of Jerusalem’s (your) youth. The pronoun “these” reflects back to a previous noun; “all these things” has to be offenses stated somewhere; this would be the offenses addressed in 16:36. The three offenses indicated in 16:36 were:

1)   through their whoredoms (worship, fornication) with their lovers (demons). (16:33)

2)  with all the idols of their abominations (16:17-20).

3)  by the blood of their children, whom they sacrificed (gave) unto them (16:20-21).

 The inhabitants of Jerusalem had been perturbed with God, when they proceeded to do these abominable acts, because they had forgotten what God had done for Jerusalem in her youth.

The Lord had promised in this verse to recompense (repay) her (Jerusalem) way (course of life) onto her head (head, front, beginning). The better word to use contextually should be “beginning.” God promised to repay Jerusalem’s (your) “course of living” upon her “beginning.” He then proceeded to explain her “beginning” (church of demon worship) in the next twelve verses.  

The translators mistranslated the inflected Hebrew verb “‛âώâh” in second person, when the inflection indicates a first person verb (עשיתי). The Lord referred to Himself by saying: “and I have not commit this lewdness in your abominations.” The mistranslated Hebrew conjunction “`al” should be translated as “in.” Thus the Lord God implied that He did not participate in any of their lewd behavior, while some may have insinuated that He had.

Ezekiel 16:44 Behold, every one that uses proverbs shall use this proverb against you, saying, “As is the mother, so is her daughter.” From 16:44-56, God presents his accusation towards the inhabitants of Jerusalem that indicated that they were the daughter of their mother church. This verse uses the feminine to indicate a church of demon worship. One could say that this was the church of Satan. God introduced the proverb here, which reflects the way the occult has moved from culture to culture, mothering its daughters in their attempt at enlightenment, without the help of the Lord God. The ultimate mother church goes back to the Tower of Babel, when the Lord stepped in and confounded the languages and scattered the demonic worshippers (Gen. 11:1-9), which evolved into various names throughout the world.

The images of Ba’al were of a man, which was one of the many names of male gods. The Mystery Religion of the occult was born from the legends of Nimrod, his wife Semiramis, and her son, Tammuz. Once the Tower of Babel had come to pass, the people and their Mystery Religion were scattered throughout the Earth (Gen. 11:1-9), but spoken of in various languages. It was the same religion, but with different names. Nimrod is known by the names: Marduk in Babylon, Amarutuk in Akkadia, Osiris in Egypt, Molech in Canaan, Vishnu in India, and Adonis in Greece. Deified father of Nimrod, Cush, was revered in Canaan as Bel, or well known as Ba’al. After the death of Nimrod, it is believed that his wife Semiramis became ruler. Because of the scattering of the people, the names for Semiramis have varied, such as: Ishtar (Easter)/Astarte/Ashtoreth in Canaan, while she was known as Isis in Egypt, Venus in Greece, and Ushas in India. Many legends of her son Tammuz have spread, while he is also known as Damu, Horus, and Gilgamesh. Sadly, the Mystery Religion is just that, no legitimate history written, but foolishly worshiped as a legend (made to yourself images of men).

Ezekiel 16:45 You are your mother's daughter, that loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, which loathed their husbands and their children: your mother was an Hittite, and your father an Amorite. First, let’s identify who the pronoun “you” refers to. The entire chapter is addressed to Jerusalem the city, and her inhabitants, therefore the pronoun “you” is towards the city of Jerusalem. The Lord begins here in verse 45 to explain what He means by the city’s relationship with her mother city, her sister city, and then reminds us that the original inhabitants of Jerusalem were Hittite and Amorite; verse 16:3 first identified the mother and father of Jerusalem as a Hittite mother and an Amorite father. The transition, from a holy city of God, (King Shem) into an unholy city, occurred when the patriarch Shem had died. The Canaanites turned Uru-salim into a pagan inhabited city and she remained in the Jebusites possession until King David defeated them.

It is believed that the inhabitants of Uru-salim were the Hittites, Jebusites, and the Amorites who dwelled in the mountains (Num. 13:29).[8] Joshua 10:5 states that there were five kings of the Amorites, with the king of Jerusalem being one of the five kings. Joshua led Israel in a campaign to drive out and destroy all Canaanites from the Promised Land, however they failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem (Josh. 15:63). The Benjamites also failed to drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem years later (Jud. 1:21). The Jebusites changed the name of Jerusalem to Jebus during this time of their inhabitation.[9] Jerusalem remained pagan until King David took his men to Jebus (Jerusalem) and defeated the Jebusites (1 Chron. 11:6). “And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David. 8 And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.” (1 Chron. 11:7-8) God had His people build Him the Temple where they could worship Him in His city of choice, Jerusalem (1 Kings 5-9).

The Hebrew verb translated as “loathed” is “gāʿal,” which is defined as: “to abhor, loathe, be vilely cast away.” The newborn baby was loathed and cast away, herself, in her beginning (16:4-5). God’s city resembles Him, so when it becomes ungodly, that is when He has been abandoned along with His children who love Him. She laid abandoned of godliness. God is the husband of Israel (emphasis on Jerusalem) and her children. The city of Jerusalem loathed the Lord God (husband [Ex. 19-23]) and her children. She (Jerusalem) sacrificed her children to pass through fire, while offering them to their demonic gods (16:36).

There were sister cities to this ungodliness, whom God will identify in the verses to follow. Jerusalem was just like those ungodly sister nations, who loathed their husbands and sacrificed their children in the fire. 

Ezekiel 16:46 And your elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at your left hand: and your younger sister, that dwells at your right hand, is Sodom and her daughters. The prejudice against the northern kingdom of Samaria continued on with this statement. The children of Israel in Samaria were taken captive in 722 B.C. by the Assyrians, but her influence on Jerusalem and Judah was irreversible. Most of the kings of Judah attempted to befriend Samaria, while others were enemies with her. The spiritual application is still being addressed here, when the demon worshipping city of Samaria was close by, as if a sister to her whoredoms. Jerusalem had become as dark and evil as their sister Samaria had.

An interesting relationship was uncovered here, when the Lord proclaimed that the city of Jerusalem’s sister was Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed when Abraham was alive (Gen. 19). The daughter cities of Sodom were Gomorrah, Zoar, Admah, and Zeboyim. They were known as the five cities of the plain. Their wickedness was not wrote of within the Book of Genesis, but was covered more thoroughly by the history book called the Book of Jasher.    

4 And as he lay down, three men would stand at his head and three at his feet, and measure him by the length of the bed, and if the man was less than the bed these six men would stretch him at each end, and when he cried out to them they would not answer him.

5 And if he was longer than the bed they would draw together the two sides of the bed at each end, until the man had reached the gates of death.

6 And if he continued to cry out to them, they would answer him, saying, “Thus shall it be done to a man that comes into our land.” (Jash. 19:4-6).

Genesis 19:5 does imply that the people of Sodom were partaking in forced homosexual encounters with sojourners throughout their city. “And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, ‘Where are the men which came into you this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.’” (Gen. 19:5) To “know” someone, in a Biblical sense, is to have sexual intercourse with that person. The first time Adam “knew” Eve, she then conceived Cain (Gen. 4:1). If that is not obvious, then refer to another time Eve conceived in Gen. 4:25.

And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, has appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. (Gen. 4:25)

It was not just the homosexual activities that Sodom was destroyed over, but its evil-wicked deeds within the whole city. Theft, rape, cruelty, murder, sodomy, and false witness were common place in Sodom. The worst thing, which influenced their wickedness was their worship of demons as their gods. When God insisted that the sister to Jerusalem was Sodom, it meant all of the evil deeds that Sodom had been doing, the inhabitants of Jerusalem were as well. Because God had said that Sodom was at Jerusalem’s right hand, she was being influenced by the same Mystery Religion and performing the same evil deeds as Sodom had.

The relationships between Jerusalem, Samaria, and Sodom were used to point out what God had done to those other two cities, after He poured out wrath upon them. Samaria was destroyed in 722 B.C., while Sodom was destroyed during the time of Abraham and Lot. They did not exist during the time this was written to the captives, and inhabitants of Jerusalem. That was God’s main point, they no longer existed.

Ezekiel 16:47 Yet you have not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, you were corrupted more than they in all your ways. This is a verse for us to realize how terrible the city of Jerusalem was, before its destruction in 587 B.C. A reader can do even more research and find additional information of the evil that went on within Samaria of the Northern Kingdom, and Sodom. After learning from research, a person would find Sodom was a brutally evil place, yet God says here that Jerusalem was worse (you were corrupted more than they in all your ways).

God was sure that the abominations that Sodom had displayed was not what the city of Jerusalem was guilty of. The city of Sodom was brutally cruel in the unhospitable behaviors against visitors, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem seemed to be more hospitable. The Lord declared here that the city of Jerusalem and its inhabitants were worse in all of their pagan idolatry, demon worship, and killing of their own children (you were corrupted more than they in all your ways).  

Ezekiel 16:48 As I live, says the Lord God, Sodom your sister has not done, she nor her daughters, as you have done, you and your daughters. We must remember that the addressee is not the house of Israel, but the city of Jerusalem. Sodom was her sister, because the Mystery Religion followed into Jerusalem over the centuries, therefore Sodom’s sister was of the same religion. The city of Sodom, and her daughter cities (Gomorrah, Zoar, Admah, and Zeboyim), had not been quite so demonic in their activities as Jerusalem and her daughter cities (Bethlehem, Lachish, Hebron, Debir, Jarmuth, Gibeon, Jericho). The wickedness of their idolatry, demon worship, and child sacrifices were being done in all of Jerusalem’s daughter cities. The Lord God swore on His life (as I live) that Sodom and her cities had not done as they had done in Jerusalem and her cities around her.

Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. The entire chapter nineteen of the Book of Jasher covers the cruelty and inhospitable behaviors of the people of the five Cities of the Plain. I would have to say that Ezekiel confirmed here that it is as accurate as it states, because God said here that they were prideful, had plenty of food and money, and self-absorbed (idleness); they did not help the poor and needy, but they had left them in the streets to die.  

"And when a poor man came to their land they would give him silver and gold, and cause a proclamation in the whole city not to give him a morsel of bread to eat, and if the stranger should remain there some days, and die from hunger, not having been able to obtain a morsel of bread, then at his death all the people of the city would come and take their silver and gold which they had given to him." (Bk. of Jash. 19:8)

Ezekiel 16:50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. As discussed in verses 19:46 and 49, the people of Sodom were cruel and unhospitable, and performed many hideous acts against their fellow man, while the Lord had watched. As we can read in Genesis 19, and Book of Jasher 19, the Lord brought down fire from heaven and burnt the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to a crisp. “And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.” (Gen. 19:28)

Ezekiel 16:51 Neither has Samaria committed half of your sins; but you have multiplied your abominations more than they, and have justified your sisters in all thine abominations which you have done. Jerusalem’s other sister, Samaria, was destroyed and sent into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 B.C. God declared here that the city of Jerusalem exceeded what the inhabitants of Samaria had done in their idolatry, demon worship and child sacrifices (half of your sins).

When someone knows that someone is committing a crime, positive reinforcement towards that person would be to see it and not say or do anything. The guilty party then realizes that it must be ok to commit that crime. The acts of idolatry, within God’s holy city, presented the rest of the world that it was ok to commit idolatry, worship demons, and sacrifice children to their gods. Therefore, though Samaria and Sodom (sisters) had been destroyed, the wicked acts of Jerusalem justified the behavior of its two dead sisters.

 Ezekiel 16:52 You also, who had judged your sisters, bear your own shame for your sins that you have committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than you: yea, be you confounded also, and bear your shame, in that you have justified your sisters. Ouch! That was harsh for God to say that the inhabitants of Samaria and Sodom (sisters) were more righteous than the inhabitants of Jerusalem. The whole time Sodom had existed, it was scorned upon by the men of God, while Judah had scorned the idolatry going on in Samaria as well. Here, God declared that they will bear their own shame for all of their hideously, ungodly sins. After centuries of thinking that Jerusalem was God’s city, the inhabitants forgot God, and justified the lewd behavior of the same cities they use to scorn the memory of. God declared that they shall bear this shame of justifying the lewdness of these pagan behaviors.  

Ezekiel 16:53 When 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 your captives in the midst of them: As gruesome as this sounds, it is reality. The “captivity,” of the dead crispy people of Sodom and the dead people of Samaria, indicates that they were being held captive somewhere. There were no survivors of Sodom. Can you say “hell?” The captivity of Sodom (and daughter cities) and Samaria (and daughter cities) is the existence of their souls and spirits in a temporary place, until Judgment Day. The first captivity is hell, while the second captivity will be the lake of fire. The second captivity will be after each person has been judged of their crimes, then cast into the lake of fire forever (Rev. 20:11-15); the spirit of each will be captive in the flames, while their souls will die (Matt. 10:28). These wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem will be right in the midst of the inhabitants of all of the wicked (will I bring again the captivity of your captives in the midst of them).

 Ezekiel 16:54 That you may bear your own shame, and may be confounded in all that you have done, in that you are a comfort unto them. God was still remarking on the inhabitants being captive in the midst of the inhabitants of Sodom and Samaria (and their sister cities) while in the lake of fire (16:53). Their spirits will be conscience, feel pain, and feel shame for eternity. The translators used the verb “be confounded” for the Hebrew verb “kālam,” which means: “to be ashamed, humiliated.” To avoid redundancy, “and may be humiliated in all that you have done” would be more contextually correct. The spirits of the dead inhabitants of Jerusalem will be in the lake of fire, in the midst of the dead inhabitants of Sodom and Samaria; because the dead inhabitants of Sodom and Samaria would feel comforted that even Jerusalem’s inhabitants were with them, the dead inhabitants of Jerusalem will be humiliated.

Ezekiel 16:55 When your sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then you and your daughters shall return to your former estate. This was kind of an “in your face” type of comment towards the wicked inhabitants of Jerusalem. After discussing their fate in the same lake of fire as the inhabitants of Sodom and Samaria (16:53), God promised them that when these dead inhabitants of Sodom (and daughter cities) and Samaria (and daughter cities) are brought back to their former estate (land), then they (inhabitants of Jerusalem) will be brought back as well. The Lord implied that there was no chance at all that they should have any hope for reconciliation ever.

Ezekiel 16:56 Because your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride, Verses 16:56-58 should be read together as one long sentence. The day of Jerusalem’s pride was when they felt above the other cities and nations, because they were in God’s city. This most likely was the time of King Solomon, when the wealth and strength of Jerusalem was at its peak (1 Kings 22-25). The Lord stated that the pride of the inhabitants of Jerusalem never spoke of the wrath that God had poured over Sodom, which may be considered their detriment. They had no fear of God, therefore godliness left them. It is better to leave out verse 16:57, and read 16:56 with 16:58 right after it.  

Because your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride, 58 you have birthed your lewdness and your abominations, says the Lord.

God blamed the pride of Jerusalem being the reason for her fall from grace, because she began to worship idols, demons, and sacrificed their children as a result. 

Ezekiel 16:57 Before your wickedness was discovered, as at the time of your reproach of the daughters of Aremea, and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise you round about. This is a clause and incomplete sentence linked to the previous verse as well as the following verse. God provided a more precise time, which He was referring to. Since the previous clause spoke concerning the day (time) of Jerusalem’s pride, this clause sets a tighter timeframe to look back to.

The translators used the verb discovered” for the Hebrew verb “gālâ” which contextually is better to say “uncovered.” This Hebrew verb was inflected as a Niphal imperfect verb, which should be an unfinished verb. The clause should say: “wickedness was being uncovered.” God did not need to discover their nakedness, as the translators want to imply. As discussed in verse 16:36, godliness was nowhere in Jerusalem, therefore she was naked of God’s holiness. The nakedness mentioned in verses 16:36-37 should be applied to this context. The nakedness of the city of Jerusalem was being uncovered during the specified timeframe within verses 16:56-57.

The nakedness of the city of Jerusalem was being uncovered during the time of King Ahaz and his terrible sin against the Lord. With God speaking right at King Ahaz, through Isaiah, Ahaz chose to not trust the words of advice given to him (Is. 7:3-9). He instead hired the Assyrians to help him (2 Kings 16:1-12). The reproach was the sin of King Ahaz, who should have trusted God, but instead hired King Tiglathpileser of Assyria, who put Aremea into captivity and killed King Rezin of Aremea. If you read 2 Kings 16:2-4, you will see how bad King Ahaz was, which the inhabitants of Jerusalem then followed his example. He worshipped idols, demons, and even put his own son into the fire as a sacrifice. Jerusalem’s nakedness was beginning to be uncovered.

9 And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. (2 Kings 16:9)

The daughters of the Philistines were all of the cities that had been birthed by the Philistines. Ekron, Ashkelton, Ashdod, Gaza, Raphia, and Goth were all sister cities with one another as part of Philistia. All were under Canaanite control from 2,300 B.C., until 1000 B.C., when it was defeated and controlled by Israel; in 730 B.C., it was taken by the Assyrians, then in 609 B.C., Egypt defeated the ancient Philistia strip, while on their way back from defeating Israel at Megiddo (Jer. 47:1). The hatred for Jerusalem was felt by the Philistines for centuries, which covered this time of King Ahaz.

“The day of your pride” from verse 16:56 can then be placed during the time of King Ahaz and the reproach that he committed against the Lord. King Rezin of Aramea and his daughter’s cities would not have been attacked by King Tiglathpileser of Assyria, if King Ahaz of Judah would have trusted the word of God. This was a reproach by Ahaz and Jerusalem against the Arameans.

Ezekiel 16:58 You have birthed your lewdness and your abominations, says the Lord. This is the conclusion of the three-verse sentence (16:56-58). The middle verse (16:57) provided the time parameter for this statement being made. It was during the time of the reproach of King Ahaz of Judah, who did not listen or trust in the word of the Lord, and hired the Assyrians for protection. If we read verses 16:56 with 16:58 right behind it, we get the context of the statement.

Because your sister Sodom was not mentioned by your mouth in the day of your pride, 58 you have birthed your lewdness and your abominations, says the Lord.  

It was because of their pride as a great city, which birthed their lewd behavior; they worshipped idols, demons, and gave their children as sacrifices from this point. The main fact is in verse 16:36, when God had said that Jerusalem did not remember the destruction of Sodom, and her daughter cities; if she had remembered, she may have remembered what happens to cities who fill their cup with God’s anger: “But in the fourth generation, they shall come here again: because the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” (Gen. 15:16).

Ezekiel 16:59 For thus says the Lord God; I will even deal with you as you have done, which have despised the oath in breaking the covenant. The Lord God charged that He will despise the inhabitants of Jerusalem, just how they have despised Him. Israel entered into the Mosaic Covenant with God (Deut. 28:12-14), and broke it by going after other gods. God insists here that the inhabitants despised the oath that they took. Without appreciation, the hardships of following the Mosaic Covenant were very be difficult (Ex. 19-23). The despise that they had for the covenant was because the other gods had demands that weren’t so burdensome, such as: erecting high places and altars, giving gifts, sacrificing children, and spreading the news. The demonic realm participated in the drawing away from God of His people, so that the Messiah could not be born (Gen. 3:15).

Ezekiel 16:60 Nevertheless, I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish unto you an everlasting covenant. We have to be consistent through this entire chapter and realize that God is addressing Jerusalem throughout, which included her inhabitants. A special point to understand is that Genesis 9:16-17 used the definite article (the) when naming The Everlasting Covenant, while here there is the conjunction “an.” Genesis 9:1-17 was “the” covenant, while this is “a” covenant. The covenant between God and the city of Jerusalem was when she was a newly washed up infant, when King David freed her from the Jebusites (1 Chron. 11:6). The nation of Israel was in their youth as a nation, when Moses brought to them the law (Ex. 19-23), but never occupied Jerusalem until King David. God acknowledged that He made a covenant with the city of Jerusalem in verse 16:8. “For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch.” (Is. 62:1) Notice in Isaiah 62:1, the Lord refers to Jerusalem in the female gender (her).

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore. (Ps. 152:2)

You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Is. 62:3)

But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. (Joel 3:20)

Joel 3:20 seems pretty important; if Jerusalem were not in existence, then God would be a covenant breaker. He committed to Jerusalem that she would be everlasting for all generations to come. This is the covenant that He was speaking of when He said that he will remember His covenant.

The covenant, that God was to establish with Jerusalem, is The New Covenant, which all Gentile Christians are grafted into (Jer. 33:31-40, Ezek. 36:26, Matt. 26:28). Jerusalem is God’s city, where He sacrificed Himself for the sins of all who would believe. Jerusalem was destroyed again, because its inhabitants denied the New Covenant (A.D. 70). Having been revived on May 15, 1948, Jerusalem was reborn with the people of Israel. Promises have been made concerning Jerusalem in the future, which have yet to be fulfilled. The New Covenant has established the promise of the Second Coming of Messiah Jesus (Rev. 19:11-21). Armageddon will be in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Joel 3:2, 12) outside of Jerusalem, when Messiah Jesus will destroy His adversaries (Rev. 19:17-21); He will reign in Jerusalem for one thousand years (Rev. 20:5-6).

Ezekiel 16:61 Then you shall remember your ways, and be ashamed, when you shall receive your sisters, your elder and your younger: and I will give them unto you for daughters, but not by your covenant. The contrite heart described here may have several timeframes, but to be consistent, we should consider this to be the contriteness that the inhabitants of Jerusalem will feel when they see Messiah Jesus at His Second Coming.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zech. 12:10)

The translators used the noun “sisters,” for the Hebrew noun “'āḥôṯ.” If this were to be intended to be the two “sisters” from verses 16:48-56, then the elder sister (Sodom) would not exist anymore, except their souls and spirits in hell. This address is for after the city is revived and has many sister cities with her. Some cities, (such as Damascus), are her elder, while Tel Aviv is her younger.

Because the translators assumed that the sisters were Samaria and Sodom, they incorrectly used the singular for “qāṭān,” which actually is inflected into a plural form (your younger ones). They used the singular for the Hebrew noun “gāḏôl,” which was inflected into plural form as well. It should read: “when you shall receive your sisters, your elders and your youngers.”

Once again, we must think of this as a statement to the city of Jerusalem, so the sisters being accepted are sister cities. God has committed to bring these sisters unto Jerusalem as her daughters. They will be grafted in, when Messiah Jesus returns and sets up His one-thousand year Kingdom. Because Jerusalem will be where the Lord will sit and reign from, the other cities would be offspring (daughters) of hers. This will not be a man-made covenant between Jerusalem and her sisters, but a relationship made by the Lord God and His New Covenant (but not by your covenant).

In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. (Is. 19:23)

The rivalry between Egypt and Aramea has gone as far back as the times of Isaiah where the Assyrians rivaled with Egypt; then later the Assyrians defeated Pharaoh Necko (2 Kings 23:29) and ruled over them. Then during the times of the Seleucid Dynasty, we can read in Daniel 11, how the battles continued for centuries between the king of the north (Seleucid Dynasty) and the king of the south (Egyptians).

During the Millennial Kingdom, Isaiah proclaims that there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Typically, highways interconnecting two countries is a sign of peace between them, as the commerce and tourism flourishes between them. Here Isaiah proclaims that the Egyptians will serve the Lord along with the Assyrians.

In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: (Is. 19:24)

Right between Egypt and Assyria sits Israel on the open highway. The Lord will be sitting on his throne in Jerusalem in the middle of Israel; Israel will be a blessing to them as they travel back and forth, while going straight through Jerusalem. No need to worship idols as a pagan, the Holy One of Israel will be sitting on His throne right in their midst.

Whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance. (Is. 19:25)

Oh what a happy time this will be, when God the Son will look upon the Egyptians and Assyrians and praise them, while sitting In Jerusalem in the midst of His inheritance, Israel!

Ezekiel 16:62 And I will establish my covenant with you; and you shall know that I am the Lord: Once again, this covenant is with Jerusalem. The same covenant promises made to Jerusalem will then be established and working. Jerusalem shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Is. 62:3) When this comes to pass, then the children of Israel will know that He is (I AM) the Lord.

Ezekiel 16:63 That you may remember, and be confounded, and never open your mouth anymore because of your shame, when I am pacified toward you for all that you have done, says the Lord God. God judged Jerusalem twice, and she died twice (587 B.C., 70 A.D.); He revived her both times. Going into the Babylonian Captivity, the house of Israel were comforted with promises from the One who judged them (16:42).

The Lord expressed these words of comfort to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, while some of them may have remembered what He said in Isaiah 40. God expressed his mercy to them, so that they felt comfort and faith while in captivity. 

Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she has received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. (Isaiah 40:2)

Isaiah 40:2 is not addressed to the children of Jacob, nor Israel, but to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. If someone were writing this verse after the captivity had taken place, Jerusalem would not have been in existence and the inhabitants would have been scattered. Isaiah had written this to the people living in Jerusalem, before they had been taken (Speak you comfortably to Jerusalem). Within this comforting, the remnant who would be taken captive, would read these words from God and realize that His wrath had been accomplished (her warfare is accomplished). Because the Judge had carried out His sentence and fulfilled the required punishment, Jerusalem’s sin can then be pardoned (that her iniquity is pardoned).

 [1] Edwin S. Wallace, Jerusalem the Holy (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1898), 16.

 [2] Ibid. 19

  [3] Ibid.

 [4] Ken Johnson, Ancient Book of Jasher, (United States: Bible Artifacts Ministries, 2008), 77

[5] Ken Johnson, Ancient Post-Flood History, 47.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Isaiah, Sabo, 344-345.

 [8] Ibid. 19.

 [9] Ibid.