Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:13
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
13. Her delicate fare and beauty.
fine flour ] This was used in offerings at the altar ( Eze 16:19), and was probably the food of persons of refinement and rank. Cf. Psa 81:16, “I should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat, and with honey out of the rock should I satisfy thee;” Psa 147:14; Deu 32:13-14.
exceeding beautiful ] The beauty is less that of the mere city (Psa 48:2) than of the personified state or people ( Eze 16:14).
prosper into a kingdom ] Or, attain to royal estate. The reference is not to the mere historical fact that a monarchy arose in Israel under Saul or more permanently under David. It was Israel herself, personified as a woman, that attained to royalty, that is, to be an independent state among the states around, a queen among other queens. The words are wanting in LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Fine flour, and honey, and oil – These were the choicest kinds of food.
Into a kingdom – This part of the description refers to the reigns of David and Solomon, when the kingdom of Israel (still undivided) attained its highest pitch of grandeur.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. Thus wast thou decked, c.] The Targum understands all this of the tabernacle service, the book of the law, the sacerdotal vestments, c.
Thou didst prosper into a kingdom.] Here the figure explains itself: by this wretched infant, the low estate of the Jewish nation in its origin is pointed out by the growing up of this child into woman’s estate, the increase and multiplication of the people by her being decked out and ornamented, her tabernacle service, and religious ordinances; by her betrothing and consequent marriage, the covenant which God made with the Jews; by her fornication and adulteries, their apostasy from God, and the establishment of idolatrous worship, with all its abominable rites; by her fornication and whoredoms with the Egyptians and Assyrians, the sinful alliances which the Jews made with those nations, and the incorporation of their idolatrous worship with that of Jehovah; by her lovers being brought against her, and stripping her naked, the delivery of the Jews into the hands of the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, who stripped them of all their excellencies, and at last carried them into captivity.
This is the key to the whole of this long chapter of metaphors; and the reader will do well to forget the figures, and look at the facts. The language and figures may in many places appear to us exceptionable: but these are quite in conformity to those times and places, and to every reader and hearer would appear perfectly appropriate, nor would engender either a thought or passion of an irregular or improper kind. Custom sanctions the mode, and prevents the abuse. Among naked savages irregular passions and propensities are not known to predominate above those in civilized life. And why? Because such sights are customary, and therefore in themselves innocent. And the same may be said of the language by which such states and circumstances of life are described. Had Ezekiel spoken in such language as would have been called chaste and unexceptionable among us, it would have appeared to his auditors as a strange dialect, and would have lost at least one half of its power and effect. Let this be the prophet’s apology for the apparent indelicacy of his metaphors; and mine, for not entering into any particular discussion concerning them. See also on Eze 16:63.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The prophet sums up all again, partly to aver the truth thereof, partly to bring it to her remembrance, and partly to affect her with thankfulness for what she had received, and with shame for what she had done.
Thou didst eat fine flour; it was the constant course of thy diet, to be provided thus with the choicest food, which thou didst not by scanty allowance taste of, but wast filled with: these were royal dainties, as Gen 49:20.
Thou wast exceeding beautiful; such diet, with the additional ornaments, would surely render a perfect beauty, and to such perfection did this espoused virgin grow.
Thou didst prosper; all affairs succeeded well, and events added to thy greatness.
A kingdom, not only compact in itself, but victorious over others; and so she was a mistress over kingdoms, as in Davids, Solomons, Jehoshaphats, and Hezekiahs time.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. flour . . . honey . . .oilThese three mixed form the sweetest cakes; not dry breadand leeks as in Egypt. From raiment He passes to food (Deu 32:13;Deu 32:14).
exceeding beautiful Ps48:2, the city; also, Ps 29:2,the temple.
prosper into akingdomexercising empire over surrounding nations.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver,…. The Targum interprets it of the tabernacle adorned with gold and silver, and linen curtains, of various dies and colours; but it refers to the ornaments, bracelets, chain, earrings, and crown before, mentioned; see
Ps 45:9;
and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and broidered work;
[See comments on Eze 16:10]; with this compare
Re 19:8;
thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; which did not a little contribute to her beauty and comeliness; see Da 1:15; this the Targum explains of the manna with which the Lord fed the Israelites in the wilderness, and was good, like fine flour, and honey, and oil; and had, as Jarchi says, the taste of them all: but may be better applied to spiritual provisions believers are fed with; to the Gospel, and the doctrines of it, which are as nourishing and strengthening as bread of fine flour; as sweet as honey to the taste; and which make fat and plump, and cause the face to shine as oil:
and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom; the Targum is,
“and ye became rich, and were greatly strengthened, and prospered, and ruled over all kingdoms;”
and had its accomplishment, as Kimchi observes, when the time of the kingdom of the house of David came: land is true of all believers, who are a kingdom of priests, a royal priesthood, kings and priests unto God; have a kingdom of grace; now, which can never be moved, and lies in righteousness, peace, and joy, in the Holy Ghost; and are heirs of a kingdom of glory hereafter.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
If any one makes any inquiry about these various kinds of dresses, whether it was lawful for women to use so many ornaments, the answer is easy, that the Prophet here does not approve of what he relates, but uses a common image. We said that his only intention was to show that God could not have treated his people more freely; since in every way he had unfolded the incomparable treasures of his beneficence in adorning the Israelites. He now describes this in a metaphor, and under figures taken from the common practice everywhere received. It does not follow, therefore, that women ought to adorn themselves in this way. For we know that superfluous ornaments are temptations; and we know also the vanity of women, and their ambition to show themselves off, as the saying is: and we see how sharply this eager desire of women is blamed, especially by Isaiah. (Isa 3:0.) But it is sufficient to elicit what God wished to teach by these figures, namely, that he had not omitted any kind of liberality. Whence it follows, that the people’s ingratitude was the less excusable, as Ezekiel will immediately add. But before we proceed further, we must turn this instruction to our use. What has hitherto been said of the Israelites does not suit us, I confess, in all things: but yet there is some likeness between us and them. If we reflect upon our origin, we are all born children of wrath, all cursed, all Satan’s bondsmen, (Eph 2:3😉 and although many have been well brought up, yet as to our spiritual state we are like infant children or the new-born babe, exposed and immersed in its own filth and corruption. For what can be found in man before his renewal but the curse of God? Hence we are such slaves of Satan, that God hates us, as it is said in Genesis, (Gen 6:7,) I repent of having formed man; where he does not acknowledge his image in us, which is not only defiled by original sin, but is all but extinct, surely this is the height of deformity: and though we do not perceive what is said by our senses, yet we are sufficiently detestable before God and the angels. We have no cause, then, to please ourselves; nay, if we open our eyes, the foulness which I have mentioned will be sufficiently clear to us. Meanwhile, God so aided us that he truly fulfilled what Ezekiel relates. For although we were not freed from any external tyranny, yet God espoused us: then he adopted us into his Church: this was our greatest honor; this was more than royal dignity. We see, then, that this instruction is useful for us also at this time, if we only consider in what we are like the ancient people. I had almost omitted one point — the nourishment. God here not only reminds them that he had adorned the people with various kinds of clothing, and necklaces, and gems, and silver; but he adds also, you did eat fine flour, or fine meal, and honey and oil, and you was very beautiful, and proceeded prosperously, even to a kingdom. Here God again commends and extols his beneficence, because he not only clothed sumptuously his spouse of whom he speaks, but also fed her plentifully with the best, and sweetest, and most delicate food. He puts only three species: he makes no mention of will or flesh; but by fine flour he means that they lacked no delicacy: the oil and honey mean the same thing. This clause points out an accumulation of grace when he says that they progressed happily even to a kingdom: all God’s benefits could not be recounted: he says that his bride was not only magnificently clothed and delicately brought up, but that she proceeded even to the royal dignity. In the next verse he still reminds them of his benefits.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
13. Fine flour, and honey, and oil; and thou didst prosper into a kingdom There is a double meaning attached to the food mentioned, as it was used by princesses and also in the temple sacrifices. The dress and food of the bride “symbolized the ritual and cultus of Judaism.” Israel is personified as a beautiful woman arriving at royal honors in David’s time (Eze 16:19; Psa 81:16).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Thus were you decked with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered work. You ate fine flour, and honey, and oil, and you were extremely beautiful and you prospered to royal estate.”
The picture is idealised. It was how God saw His people once they were cleansed. They who had been sinners had become beautiful in His eyes, and He had made them His queen, and had richly provided everything that they could need. The gods of other nations had goddesses as their consorts, but Yahweh’s consort was His people. He was to be all in all in their eyes, and they were His beloved. Compare for a similar figure in the New Testament Eph 5:26-27.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 16:13. And thou didst prosper into a kingdom And, in fine, wast advanced to a kingdom; Houbigant, who instead of comeliness, in the next verse, reads glory.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Eze 16:13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.
Ver. 13. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver. ] Yea, with far better habiliments; for what is gold and silver but the guts and garbage of the earth? It was observed of Queen Elizabeth (as of her father before her), that she loved to go very richly arrayed. Her sister Queen Mary had, at her coronation, her head so laden with jewels, that she could hardly hold it up. King Richard II had one coat of gold and jewels valued at 30,000 marks. This was much, but nothing to the Church’s beauty and bravery, which yet was all but borrowed, as is said in the next verse.
Thou didst eat fine flour and honey,
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fine flour, &c. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6, for all kinds of delicacies,
exceeding beautiful. Hebrew. me od meod. Figure of speech Epiz euxis (App-6), thus well rendered.
a kingdom. Hence the expression, “Judah and Jerusalem”, the latter being reckoned as a separate kingdom.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thou didst: Eze 16:19, Deu 8:8, Deu 32:13, Deu 32:14, Psa 45:13, Psa 45:14, Psa 81:16, Psa 147:14, Hos 2:5
and thou wast: Eze 16:14, Eze 16:15, Psa 48:2, Psa 50:2, Isa 64:11, Jer 13:20
and thou didst: Gen 17:6, 1Sa 12:12, 2Sa 8:15, 1Ki 4:21, Ezr 4:20, Ezr 5:11, Psa 50:2, Lam 2:15
Reciprocal: Son 6:4 – beautiful Eze 16:10 – broidered Eze 23:40 – and deckedst Luk 16:19 – purple
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 16:13. The husband continued his favors upon the woman he loved. The actual subject of the parable was indicated by the closing words, thou didst prosper into a kingdom,. We know that a wife would not develop into a kingdom, so the idea is plain that God’s relation with Judah was the subject of the illustration, But His love and favor toward that nation could not he described so as to overdraw the truth, even by the most extreme devotion that an ardent husband could lavish upon a wife whom he loved with his whole heart.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 16:13-14. Thus wast thou decked with gold, &c. With ornaments the most costly and splendid. And thy raiment was of fine linen, &c. Which was of the manufacture of Egypt, and one of the principal ornaments of women, as well as of great men. Thou didst eat fine flour, honey, and oil Thy country afforded all manner of plenty and delicacies: see Deu 32:13-14. Thou wast exceeding beautiful This may refer to the beauty of the buildings of Jerusalem, and in particular of the temple. And thou didst prosper into a kingdom Thou didst increase in majesty and dominion, and became superior to the nations around. Bishop Newcome renders this clause, Thou didst prosper into a queen, that is, didst become the reigning city, the mistress of many subject provinces. And thy renown went forth, &c., for thy beauty Through thy power and riches thou wast able to procure every thing beautiful and desirable, so that thou didst soon become famous among the heathen nations around; or, perhaps, the words may refer to the excellent laws by which they were governed, and the various privileges of their church and state, which rendered their nation more perfect in beauty than any other in the world. Indeed, we can name nothing that would be to the honour of a people, but it was found in Israel in David and Solomons time, when that kingdom was in its zenith of prosperity, power, and glory; piety, learning, wisdom, justice, victory, peace, wealth, were found there in perfection, and all sure to continue if they had kept close to God. It was perfect, saith God, through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee That is, through the beauty of their holiness, as they were a people devoted to God. This was it that put a lustre upon all their other honours, and was indeed the perfection of their beauty. Observe, reader, sanctified souls are truly beautiful in Gods sight, and they themselves may take the comfort of it; but God must have all the glory, for whatever comeliness they have is that which God has put upon them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
She had the best jewelry and clothes. She also ate the best food. In other words, the love of her husband knew no bounds. She became very beautiful and even qualified as royalty; she became a royal city that was home to the Davidic dynasty of kings. Other nations even commented on her beauty since it was so extraordinary because of the grace the Lord had bestowed on her (1 Kings 10; 1Ch 14:17; Lam 2:15).