Page 119 - NOTES ON EZEKIEL

CHAPTER XXIII. 113
act for good upon Aholibah ? On the contrary, “ she
was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she.” The
younger and more favoured sister followed the elder
and was even grosser in the indulgence of her idolatry.
(Yer. 11.) Nay, on the sons of Assyria she doted.
“ Then I saw that she was defiled, that they both took
one way.” Not content with Assyria, she desired a/'ter
the Chaldeans and their idolatrous worship. And the
sons of Babylon defiled her; but if she was defiled by
them, her mind was alienated from them. So it ever is
where the favour and the will of God are not. Evil
nearness is quickly followed by mutual disgust. But
alas! there is worse. “ My mind, saith Jehovah, was
alienated from her, as my mind was alienated from her
sister.” Jerusalem was given over to a reprobate mind.
(Vers. 19, 20.) From verse 22 the Lord Jehovah
threatens Jerusalem:—
“ Therefore, 0 Aholibah, thus saith the Lord Je­
hovah, Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee,
from whom thy mind is alienated, and I will bring them,
against thee on every side; the Babylonians, and all
the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the
Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men,
captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of
them riding upon horses. And they shall come against
thee with chariots, waggons, and wheels, and with an
assembly of people, which shall set against thee buckler
and shield and helmet round about: and 1 will set judg­
ment before them, and they shall judge thee according
to their judgments. And I will set my jealousy against
thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they
shall take away thy nose and thine ears; and thy rem-
i