Ezekiel 16

CHAPTER 16

An Allegory of Unfaithful Jerusalem (16:1–63)

1–7 To further explain why Jerusalem had to be judged, the Lord set forth an allegory about Jerusalem, in which the city is personified as a woman. The Lord’s purpose was to describe Jerusalem’s sins over the course of her history. Throughout the allegory Jerusalem, as the capital city, represents all of Judah.

Jerusalem was “born” of Canaanite parents long before the Israelites arrived; the Amorites and Hittites were major Canaanite tribes (verse 3). Indeed, Canaan was known as the “land of the Amorites and Hittites.” Before King DAVID made Jerusalem the capital of all Israel, it had remained as an “unwanted infant” left out in an open field (verse 5). But then God saw the “infant” (Jerusalem) and caused it to thrive and grow into maturity (verses 6–7).

8–14 Later, God spread the corner of [His] garment over the now–grown woman (verse 8); this act symbolized His agreement to marry her (see Ruth 3:9). And God cleansed His bride and adorned her with beautiful clothes and jewelry. And her fame spread among the nations on account of her beauty (verse 14).

15–19 However, the wife (Jerusalem) trusted her beauty instead of her husband (God), and she began to entice other men (false gods and pagan nations) to commit spiritual adultery with her. She became a prostitute²⁸ (verse 15). She carried out her prostitution on high places, pagan shrines located on hilltops (verse 16). She used the very gifts given to her by God to engage in her prostitution (verses 17–19).

20–22 She even sacrificed her children to the god Molech (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2).

23–34 She then began building pagan shrines right inside the city (verses 2325). She committed spiritual adultery with Egyptians, Philistines, Assyrians, and finally Babylonians; but even then she was not satisfied (verses 26–29).

Indeed, Jerusalem was worse than a prostitute. An ordinary prostitute receives pay for her services; but Jerusalem paid others to commit adultery with her! (verses 32–34).

35–43 Here the Lord pronounces judgment on unfaithful Jerusalem. Her own “lovers” will be the instruments of judgment. She is to be sentenced to death (verse 38), the prescribed punishment for adulterers and shedders of blood (Leviticus 20:10; 24:17).

44–52 In these verses, the Lord compares Jerusalem with two other cities: Samaria (the former capital of the northern kingdom) and Sodom, which was destroyed in the days of ABRAHAM (Genesis 19:23–29). The Lord likens these three cities to three sisters; they were all daughters of a pagan mother (verse 3). “Like mother, like daughter” (verse 44): the three daughters inherited the evil nature of their mother (verse 45).

But the Lord’s point here is that Jerusalem was worse than her evil sisters—worse even than Sodom! (verse 48). If Samaria and Sodom were severely punished, how much more would Jerusalem be punished! Jerusalem was now so evil that she made Samaria and Sodom seem righteous by comparison! (verses 51–52).

53–58 But in the midst of God’s terrible condemnation of Jerusalem and her two “sisters,” there was still hope: He would one day restore their fortunes (verse 53). But before that time, Jerusalem would have to bear her disgrace (verses 54,58). She would have to bear the scorn of the surrounding nations (verse 57).

59–63 The allegory ends on a note of comfort and hope: having severely disciplined His people for breaking the covenant, the Lord would still remain faithful to His covenant promises. The people would suffer punishment for their disobedience (Leviticus 26:14–39), but then the Lord would restore a remnant of them to their land (Leviticus 26:40–45). Why? Because the Lord had promised Abraham to give the land to his descendants as an everlasting possession (Genesis 17:7–8). Even if we are unfaithful, the Lord remains faithful to His promises (2 Timothy 2:13).

Not only would God restore His people to their land but He would also establish with them an everlasting covenant (verse 60)a new covenant (see Jeremiah 31:31–33; 32:40). And God would make ATONEMENT for their sins (verse 63) and forgive their wickedness (Jeremiah 31:34). All this would be accomplished through Christ’s death on the cross.