Eze 16:15, 24-25 | JFB | STEP | 15. Instead of attributing the glory of her privileges and gifts to God, Israel prided herself on them as her own ( ), and then wantonly devoted them to her idols ( ; compare ). playedst . . . harlot because of thy renown —"didst play the wanton upon thy name" [FAIRBAIRN ], namely, by allowing thy renown to lead thee into idolatry and leagues with idolaters ( ). English Version is better, "because of thy renown," that is, relying on it; answering to "thou didst trust in thine own beauty." his it was —Thy beauty was yielded up to every passer-by. Israel's zest for the worship of foul idols was but an anxiety to have the approbation of heaven for their carnal lusts, of which the idols were the personification; hence, too, their tendency to wander from Jehovah, who was a restraint on corrupt nature.

Ezekiel 16:15

15. Instead of attributing the glory of her privileges and gifts to God, Israel prided herself on them as her own (De 32:15; Jer 7:4; Mic 3:11), and then wantonly devoted them to her idols (Ho 2:8; compare Lu 15:12, 13).

playedst . . . harlot because of thy renown—"didst play the wanton upon thy name" [FAIRBAIRN], namely, by allowing thy renown to lead thee into idolatry and leagues with idolaters (Isa 1:21; 57:8; Jer 3:2, 6). English Version is better, "because of thy renown," that is, relying on it; answering to "thou didst trust in thine own beauty."

his it was—Thy beauty was yielded up to every passer-by. Israel's zest for the worship of foul idols was but an anxiety to have the approbation of heaven for their carnal lusts, of which the idols were the personification; hence, too, their tendency to wander from Jehovah, who was a restraint on corrupt nature.

Ezekiel 16:24-25

24. eminent place—rather, "a fornication-chamber," often connected with the impure rites of idolatry; spiritual fornication, on "an eminent place," answering to "fornication-chamber," is mainly meant, with an allusion also to the literal fornication associated with it (Jer 2:20; 3:2).

25. at every head of the way—in the most frequented places (Pr 9:14).

thy beauty . . . abhorred, . . . opened . . . feet to every one—The wanton advances were all on Israel's part; the idolatrous nations yielded to her nothing in return. She had yielded so much that, like a worn-out prostitute, her tempters became weary of her. When the Church lowers her testimony for God to the carnal tastes of the world, with a view to conciliation, she loses everything and gains nothing.