Isa 57:3, Eze 23:45, 47 | JFB | STEP | 3. But . . . ye —In contrast to "the righteous" and their end, he announces to the unbelieving Jews their doom. sons of the sorceress —that is, ye that are addicted to sorcery: this was connected with the worship of false gods ( ). No insult is greater to an Oriental than any slur cast on his mother ( ). seed of the adulterer — Spiritual adultery is meant: idolatry and apostasy ( ).

Isaiah 57:3

3. But . . . ye—In contrast to "the righteous" and their end, he announces to the unbelieving Jews their doom.

sons of the sorceress—that is, ye that are addicted to sorcery: this was connected with the worship of false gods (2Ki 21:6). No insult is greater to an Oriental than any slur cast on his mother (1Sa 20:30; Job 30:8).

seed of the adulterer—Spiritual adultery is meant: idolatry and apostasy (Mt 16:4).

Ezekiel 23:45

45. the righteous men—the Chaldeans; the executioners of God's righteous vengeance (Eze 16:38), not that they were "righteous" in themselves (Hab 1:3, 12, 13).

Ezekiel 23:47

47. stones—the legal penalty of the adulteress (Eze 16:40, 41; Joh 8:5). Answering to the stones hurled by the Babylonians from engines in besieging Jerusalem.

houses . . . fire—fulfilled (2Ch 36:17, 19).