Ezekiel 23:40

“And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, &c.] From Egypt, Assyria, and Chaldea, to treat with them, and enter into alliances and confederacies with them, and to join them in their idolatrous practices; these Heathen nations did not send to the Jews, but the Jews to them; they did not court their friendship and alliance, but the Jews courted theirs: unto whom a messenger was sent; to court their favour, and solicit a confederacy, and to desire that ambassadors might be sent to reside among them: and, lo, they came; these Heathen courts listened to the proposal, and accordingly sent their plenipotentiaries and ambassadors to them, who came in their masters’ name, and with…”

“messenger was sent--namely, by Judah (Eze 23:16; Isa 57:9). paintedst . . . eyes-- (Kg2 9:30, Margin; Jer 4:30). Black paint was spread on the eyelids of beauties to make the white of the eye more attractive by the contrast, so Judah left no seductive art untried.”

“The figure is that of a woman decked in all her beauty, sitting on a couch (not bed) at a banquet prepared for those whom she has invited. This further offence is not one of idolatry, but that of courting alliances with other powers which were not less readily made than broken. Ezekiel 23:40 That ye have sent - Better, “they (i. e., Israel and Judah) sent.” return to 'Top of Page'”

“Wash thyself - After the manner of harlots. Ezekiel 23:41”

“ye have: Eze 23:13; Isa 57:9 to come: Heb. coming, Kg2 20:13-15 thou didst: Rut 3:3; Est 2:12 paintedst: Kachalt aineych rendered by the LXX εστιβιζου τους οφθαλμους σου; "thou didst paint thine eyes with stibium," and Vulgate circumlinisti stibio oculos tuos "thou didst paint round thine eyes with stibium," or lead ore; whence it is called in Arabic kochl and in Syriac kecholo and koochlȯ Kg2 9:30; Jer 4:30 and deckedst: Eze 16:13-16; Pro 7:10; Isa 3:18-23 Ezekiel 23:41”