Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 23:14
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And that she increased her whoredoms, &c.] Added to the number of her idols, increased her idols, and even was guilty of more than her sister: for when she saw men portrayed on the wall; of the temple, as idols were, (<260810>Ezekiel 8:10) or upon the wall of a private house, where they were worshipped as household gods: the images of the Chaldeans portrayed with vermilion: the images of their heroes, who after death were deified; and these, being drawn upon the wall with vermilion, which, being mixed with ceruse, made a flesh colour, were worshipped; as Bel, Nebo, Merodach, which are names of their idols, (<234601>Isaiah 46:1 <240102>Jeremiah 1:2) or these were graven on the walls, or etched out upon them with minium or red lead; or rather were “painted”f349, as some render the word, with minium, vermilion, or cinnabar, which are the same; (see Gill on “<242214>Jeremiah 22:14”), and it may be observed, that it was usual with the Heathens to paint the images and statues of their gods with these. Thus Virgilf350 represents Pan, the god of Arcadia, coloured red with minium or vermilion; and Pausaniusf351 speaks of the statue of Bacchus being besmeared with cinnabar: and Plinyf352 says the face of the image of Jupiter used to be anointed with minium or vermilion on festival days; and observes, that the nobles of Ethiopia used to colour themselves all over with it; this being the colour of the images of their gods, which they reckoned more august, majestic, and sacred. Hence the Romans, in their triumphs, used to paint themselves with vermilion; particularly it is said of Augustus Caesar, that he did this to make himself the more conspicuous and respectable, after the example of the Assyrians and Medesf353: and the triumphers chose to be rubbed all over with a red colour, that they might, according to Isidoref354, resemble the divine fire.
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