Isaiah 57:7

     7. Upon . . . high mountain . . . bed—image from adultery, open and shameless (Eze 23:7); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous altar, the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband (Eze 16:16, 25; 23:41).

Ezekiel 18:6

     6. not eaten upon . . . mountains—the high places, where altars were reared. A double sin: sacrificing elsewhere than at the temple, where only God sanctioned sacrifice (De 12:13, 14); and this to idols instead of to Jehovah. "Eaten" refers to the feasts which were connected with the sacrifices (see Ex 32:6; De 32:38; Jud 9:27; 1Co 8:4, 10; 10:7).

      lifted . . . eyes to—namely, in adoration (Ps 121:1). The superstitious are compared to harlots; their eyes go eagerly after spiritual lusts. The righteous man not merely refrains from the act, but from the glance of spiritual lust (Job 31:1; Mt 5:28).

      idols of . . . Israel—not merely those of the Gentiles, but even those of Israel. The fashions of his countrymen could not lead him astray.

      defiled . . . neighbour's wife—Not only does he shrink from spiritual, but also from carnal, adultery (compare 1Co 6:18).

      neither . . . menstruous woman—Leprosy and elephantiasis were said to be the fruit of such a connection [JEROME]. Chastity is to be observed even towards one's own wife (Le 18:19; 20:18).

Ezekiel 20:27-28

     27-29. The next period, namely, that which followed the settlement in Canaan: the fathers of the generation existing in Ezekiel's time walked in the same steps of apostasy as the generation in the wilderness.

      Yet in this—Not content with past rebellions, and not moved with gratitude for God's goodness, "yet in this," still further they rebelled.

      blasphemed—"have insulted me" [CALVIN]. Even those who did not sacrifice to heathen gods have offered "their sacrifices" (Eze 20:28) in forbidden places.

     28. provocation of their offering—an offering as it were purposely made to provoke God.

      sweet savour—What ought to have been sweet became offensive by their corruptions. He specifies the various kinds of offerings, to show that in all alike they violated the law.

Hosea 4:13

     13. upon . . . mountains—High places were selected by idolaters on which to sacrifice, because of their greater nearness to the heavenly hosts which they worshipped (De 12:2).

      elms—rather, "terebinths" [MAURER].

      shadow . . . good—screening the lascivious worshippers from the heat of the sun.

      daughters . . . commit whoredom . . . spouses . . . adultery—in the polluted worship of Astarte, the Ph nician goddess of love.

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