Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 23:39

For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

39. The particular profanation of the Lord’s house lay in this that those who had sacrificed their children entered it. The children were no doubt offered to Jehovah, under whatever conception or name, and the worshippers felt no incongruity in entering his house. Jer 7:9 seq.

midst of mine house ] It is not meant that children were sacrificed in the house; their sacrifice was combined with other service in the house.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Yahweh was placed as it were in the list of deities, not acknowledged as the One God. Idols and idol-temples were erected close to the House of God, and yet the temple-service went on Jer 32:34.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Slain their children: see Eze 16:20.

To profane it; using my holy temple as if it were a common and unclean place.

Thus have they done in the midst of my house; nay, these things have been done in my house, they have offered to their idols in the house where my name alone should be called upon.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

36-44. A summing up of the sinsof the two sisters, especially those of Judah.

wilt thou judgeWiltthou (not) judge (see on Eze 20:4)?

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

For when they had slain their children to their idols,…. This explains more clearly what is before said, that by causing their children to pass through the fire was a slaying them; and that their passing through it “for them” was for their idols, and unto them; see

Eze 23:37, and how when they had been guilty of such shocking wickedness,

then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; not that they came into the temple on purpose to profane it; but coming into it, being themselves defiled with the murder of their infants, and offering sacrifices to idols, or performing a hypocritical service to the Lord, this was in the event a profanation of the sanctuary:

and, lo, thus they have done in the midst of mine house; set up idols there, and worshipped them; as they did in the temple itself, in the times of Ahaz and Manasseh; see Jer 7:30.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

39. The same day This was an especial insult to Jehovah. The sacrilegious irreverence of these pretended worshipers of Jehovah is seen in the fact that they do not even repent of such practices, but unblushingly enter the holy place. This proved that they neither obeyed nor feared the Lord of the house ( Eze 8:17 ; 2Ki 21:4; Jer 32:34).

Jerusalem has become like the prostitutes of the heathen temple, who seek visitors from afar (see Eze 23:16); who bathe themselves, and paint their eyes with kohl to make them look large and bright, who bedeck themselves with jewels (Eze 23:40), and use the sacred incense and oil as attractions for their bed of lust (Eze 23:41). The revelations of Jerusalem life given elsewhere by Ezekiel and other prophets prove that this was not all metaphor, nor does it refer merely to political alliances. The prevalence of idolatry in Jerusalem, and even in the temple itself, proves the presence of these other shameless iniquities. No wonder the prophet calls the holy city a harlot, and speaks in words that cut to the quick against practices which strike at the roots of all social and family life (Eze 23:40-44).

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Eze 23:39 For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and, lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house.

Ver. 39. For when they had slain. ] When their hands were full of blood, and even reeking hot therewith. This was detestable impudence.

Then they came the same day into my sanctuary. ] Citra conscientiam, as if they had done God good service. So Erasmus a telleth of a fierce friar, Augustine of Antwerp, who openly in the pulpit there preaching to the people, wished that Luther were present, that he might bite out his throat with his teeth; so doing he would nothing doubt to resort to the altar with the same bloody teeth, and receive the body of Christ. Fiducia in federibus.

a Eras. Ep., lib. xvi. ad obtrect.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

children = sons.

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

they came: Isa 3:9, Jer 7:8-11, Jer 11:15, Mic 3:11, Joh 18:28

thus: Eze 23:38, Eze 44:7, 2Ki 21:4, 2Ch 33:4-7, Jer 23:11

Reciprocal: Lev 20:2 – giveth Lev 20:3 – to defile 2Ki 17:17 – they caused 2Ch 33:6 – caused Jer 7:10 – come Eze 8:6 – even Eze 16:20 – and these Eze 22:8 – General Eze 23:37 – and blood Eze 43:7 – no more Eze 43:8 – setting 1Co 3:17 – any

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Eze 23:39, These women are still being regarded as unfaithful wives, though this verse drops the figures and states the literal facts. The people of God actually made sacrifices of their children, and also set up idols in the temple.

Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary