Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 2. Set thy face against the Ammonites] We have already seen, chap. xxi. 19, &c., that when Nebuchadnezzar left Babylon he was in doubt whether he should besiege Riblath, the capital of the Ammonites, or Jerusalem, the capital of the Jews, first: and having used his divination. he was determined, by the result, to attack Jerusalem the first. He did so and the Ammonites, seeing the success of his arms, made friends with him, and exulted in the ruin of the Jews. God resents this, and predicts their downfall with that of Edom, Moab, and the Philistines. The fulfillment of this prediction is not noted in Scripture: but Josephus tells us, that about five years after the taking of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar turned his arms against the Ammonites and Moabites, and afterwards against Egypt; and having subdued those nations, he returned to Babylon. Joseph. Antiq., l. x., c. ii. Berosus states, as quoted by Josephus, contra App., that Nebuchadnezzar subdued Syria, Arabia, Phoenicia, and Egypt: and consequently, that he had brought under his dominion the Ammonites, Moabites, and Idumeans, who were included among the Philistines. See Calmet.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- The sins of Jerusalem. (Ezek. 22:1-16) Israel is condemned as dross (Ezek. 22:17-22) As the corruption is general, so shall be the punishment. (Ezek. 22:23-31)
Ezek. 22:1-16 The prophet is to judge the bloody city; the city of bloods. Jerusalem is so called, because of her crimes. The sins whic Jerusalem stands charged with, are exceeding sinful. Murder, idolatry disobedience to parents, oppression and extortion, profanation of the sabbath and holy things, seventh commandment sins, lewdness an adultery. Unmindfulness of God was at the bottom of all thi wickedness. Sinners provoke God because they forget him. Jerusalem ha filled the measure of her sins. Those who give up themselves to be ruled by their lusts, will justly be given up to be portioned by them Those who resolve to be their own masters, let them expect no othe happiness than their own hands can furnish; and a miserable portion it will prove.
Ezek. 22:17-22 Israel, compared with other nations, had been as the gold and silver compared with baser metals. But they were now as the refuse that is consumed in the furnace, or thrown away when the silve is refined. Sinners, especially backsliding professors, are, in God' account, useless and fit for nothing. When God brings his own people into the furnace, he sits by them as the refiner by his gold, to se that they are not continued there any longer than is fitting an needful. The dross shall be wholly separated, and the good meta purified. Let those who suffer pains, or lingering sickness, and fin that their hearts can scarcely bear these light and momentar afflictions, take warning to flee from the wrath to come; for if thes trials are not sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit, to the cleansing their hearts and hands from sin, far worse things will com upon them.
Ezek. 22:23-31 All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, an the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank an profession plot together to run them down _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew בן1121 אדם120 שׂים7760 פניך6440 אל413 בני1121 עמון5983 והנבא5012 עליהם׃5921
