Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 16:57
Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of [thy] reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all [that are] round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.
57. was discovered ] i.e. manifested. According to modes of thinking then prevalent calamity was the accepted proof of wickedness. Jerusalem’s wickedness was laid bare when her great calamities fell upon her, Lam 1:8-9.
the time of thy reproach ] Better, with R.V. as at the time of the reproach of the daughters of Syria which is that which they cast upon Jerusalem, not conversely as A.V. The “time” must be the present, not any previous time, and the language expresses this awkwardly. LXX. read: as now thou art the reproach (“now” for “time,” and either finding or inserting the pron. “thou”). The rendering: before thy wickedness was discovered as (it is) now, a reproach &c. (Hitz. Corn.), is scarcely a Heb. construction. It would be easiest to change “time” into “thou” (cf. the opposite change “which” into “ten” ch. Eze 40:49): as thou art the reproach.
Syria, and round about her ] The mention of Syria (Heb. Aram) is strange when the reference is to the downfall of Jerusalem. For Aram Syriac gives Edom ( d. for r, cf. ch. Eze 27:16) which is more natural (cf. ch. Eze 35:12 seq., Eze 25:5; Eze 25:12; Eze 25:15). Vulg. reads, round about thee, while Syr. wants the whole phrase. The ref. is to Jerusalem in any case. Ezekiel nowhere else brings Syria into connexion with Israel.
which despise thee ] Or, do despite unto thee; cf. ch. Eze 25:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thy reproach – Rather, the reproach. In his march toward Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar attacked and overthrew Damascus and other Syrian towns. The Jews exulted, not foreseeing that this was but a precursor of that ruin which should discover their own wickedness.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The time of her pride, security, and sin was when they were not afflicted, and despised by the Syrians.
Thy wickedness; thy abominable doings were made known to thyself, to thy friends and enemies too, by the execution of the severe menaces and sad predictions of my prophets, who foretold what punishments and what shame this sinful people should suffer by the hands of the Syrians, who should waste the Jews, and deride them, burn their cities, and carry citizens captives, as in the time of Ahaz over Judah, and Rezin over Syria.
All that are round about; the nations that were round about in vicinity, and combined in league against the house of David.
Her; either Jerusalem or Syria; rather this latter, the chief whereof were the Philistines, called here the daughters of the Philistines, as Isa 9:12.
Despise thee; contemn thee, as an impotent as well as wicked people, a people which had deserved to be enslaved, and over whom they might at pleasure make a king.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
57. Before thy wickedness wasdiscoveredmanifested to all, namely, by the punishmentinflicted on thee.
thy reproach of . . . Syriaand . . . Philistinesthe indignity and injuries done thee bySyria and the Philistines (2Ki 16:5;2Ch 28:18; Isa 9:11;Isa 9:12).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Before thy wickedness was discovered,…. By the punishment of it, by the judgments of God brought upon them; then they were humbled, who before were proud and haughty; and might speak and think of the vengeance of God on Sodom, which before they made no mention of. It is a sad thing only to know sin, and to have it discovered only by the punishment of it:
as at the time of [thy] reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all [that are] round about her, the daughters of the Philistines; this seems to refer to the times of Ahaz, when the Syrians smote the men of Judah; and carried many of them captive; and the Philistines invaded the cities of the low country, and southern parts of Judah, and took many of them, 2Ch 28:5; at which time the wickedness of the Jews was discovered; and it was a plain case they had sinned against the Lord, by his suffering their enemies to come upon them, and prevail over them; which was to their reproach. The Syrians reproached them, and so did the Philistines:
which despise thee round about; they spoiled and plundered them on all sides; and treated them with scorn and contempt, who before were formidable and terrible to them: thus it is with a people when they are left of God, they are despised by men.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(57) Thy reproach of the daughters of SyriaThe pronoun should be omitted, and the phrase read, the reproach. The time referred to, when Jerusalem was too proud to make mention of Sodom, was in the days of her prosperity. Later her wickedness was discovered, and her pride humbled by such disasters. as fell upon her, especially from the days of Ahaz onward. At that time she was hard pressed both by the Syrians and by the Philistines (2Ki. 15:37; 2Ch. 28:18-19), and impoverished herself to obtain aid from Assyria (2Ki. 16:8); and such straits continued to mark her subsequent history. (See 2Ki. 24:2.) In the weakness and disasters towards the close of her kingdom, Judah became an object of contempt to the surrounding nations, despised by Syria and Philistia alike. Another view less probably refers thy reproach to Judahs exultation at the fall of Syria and the Philistines before the march of the Assyrians.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
57. Before thy wickedness was discovered Jerusalem was very disdainful of others’ sins before her own wickedness was made manifest; but now the very “daughters of the Philistines” despise her.
As at the time of thy reproach LXX, and Vulgate, as now to be the reproach. Better, R.V., “as at the time of the reproach.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Eze 16:57 Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of [thy] reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all [that are] round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round about.
Ver. 57. Before thy wickedness was discovered, ] sc., By my punishments, by my sending the Syrians and Philistines upon thee, in the days of Ahaz, to despoil and despise thee. Compare Isa 9:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
discovered = unveiled.
as at the time of thy. Septuagint and Vulgate read “as now [thou] art”. Compare Eze 23:43.
Syria. Hebrew. aram. Some codices, with two early printed editions, read “adam” = men (Daleth = D), being road for Resh = R).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy wickedness: Eze 16:36, Eze 16:37, Eze 21:24, Eze 23:18, Eze 23:19, Psa 50:21, Lam 4:22, Hos 2:10, Hos 7:1, 1Co 4:5
reproach: 2Ki 16:5-7, 2Ch 28:5, 2Ch 28:6, 2Ch 28:18-23, Isa 7:1, Isa 14:28
Syria: Heb. Aram, Gen 10:22, Gen 10:23, Num 23:7
the daughters: Eze 16:27
despise: or, spoil, Jer 33:24
Reciprocal: 2Sa 1:20 – Philistines Eze 22:4 – have I Eze 39:26 – they have borne Zec 9:7 – he that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 16:57. This verse continues the thought begun in the preceding one, and the attitude of Judah toward Syria and the Philistines is to be regarded in the same sense as Sodom because it is principles of action that are being considered.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 16:57-59. As at the time of thy reproach, &c. These words appear to begin a new sentence; which may be translated more intelligibly thus, by joining them to the following verse: But when it was the time of thy becoming the reproach of the daughters of Syria, &c. The words, with regard to what goes before, import thus much: In thy prosperity thou didst despise those who were no worse than thyself; but thou hast since, in thy turn, been insulted and invaded by thy neighbours, both Syrians and Philistines, whom God hath made use of as executioners of his judgments upon thee; thou hast been a remarkable instance of his vengeance, and Gods hand hath been heavy upon thee for all thine idolatries and abominations. The words relate to the frequent inroads which the Syrians and Philistines made into Judea, in the time of King Ahaz. Thou hast borne Or, Thou shalt bear, thy lewdness, &c. Thou shalt be punished according to thy wickedness. I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath, &c. That solemn oath and covenant you entered into with me, to be my people, and serve no other god besides, Deu 29:12; Deu 29:14. Hereupon God threatens her, that since she had broken her oath and promise, he should not think himself obliged to make good any of the promises of favour and protection which he had made to her, but would give her up to ruin and desolation.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:57 Before thy wickedness was {i} uncovered, as at the time of [thy] reproach of the daughters of Syria, and all [that are] around {k} her, the daughters of the Philistines, who despise thee on every side.
(i) That is, till you were brought under by the Syrians and Philistines, 2Ch 28:19 .
(k) Which joined with the Syrians, or compassed about Jerusalem.