Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary: Ezechiel
Chapter 16
Ver. 3. Cethite, or "Hethite." These two were probably the most abandoned of Chanaan. Daniel (xiii. 56.) gives the infamous judges the like appellation; and Isaias (i. 10.) calls the Jews princes of Sodom. (Calmet) --- So Dido says to Eneas:
Nec te diva parens, generis nec Dardanus auctor
Perfide sed duris genuit te cautibus, &c. (Virgil, Æneid iv.) (Haydock)
--- But we nowhere find such a vehement and continued reprimand. The prophet seems to quit his proper character to make (Calmet) the abominations of the people known and detested, chap. iii. 8. (Haydock)
Ver. 4. Cut. By this the infant received nourishment in the womb. Now it seems to be exposed by its parents. (Calmet) --- The Jews in Egypt were abandoned to idolatry and distress. (Theodoret, in Canticle of Canticles) --- Health. Many plunged the infant in cold water to brace its nerves, (Calmet) or to wash it. Salt was also used to dry up the humidity and stop the pores, (St. Jerome) or it was mixed with water to harden the skin and navel. (Avicen. Gall. San. i. 7.) --- Clouts, to keep the body straight. The negroes who neglect this are stronger and better proportioned, (Calmet) and too much restraint is known to be detrimental to the tender limbs. (Haydock)
Ver. 5. Born, as it were in Egypt. He represents the Jews as a female from her infancy, till she be advanced in years.
Ver. 6. Thy blood, unwashed after being born, ver. 4. (Calmet) --- The Jews were solicitous to increase their numbers, and exposed none. (Tacitus, Hist. v.) --- But other nations did, if they thought the child would be troublesome, or a disgrace. (Calmet) --- The prophet sends this admonition from Chaldea, and shews how God had selected his people from among the barbarous nations, and decorated them with many privileges of the law, sacrifices, &c. (Worthington)
Ver. 7. Woman's. Hebrew, "the ornament of ornaments;" hadaiim instead of harim in Septuagint, "the cities of cities," (Calmet) or the highest glory, being arrived at that age when decorations are most sought after. --- Fashioned. Literally, "swelling." Septuagint, "erect." (Haydock) --- Hair, (pilus.) Women are allowed by the canon law to marry at twelve. (Calmet)
Ver. 8. Lovers. Hebrew dodim, "breasts, (Haydock) or espousals;" (Aquila) "loving." (Symmachus) --- Garment, as a husband, Ruth iii. 9., and Jeremias ii. 2.
Ver. 9. Oil, used after bathing, or with perfumes. (Calmet)
Ver. 10. Embroidery. Literally, "various colours." (Haydock) --- But this is the import, Psalm xliv. 10. --- Violet, or dark blue, appropriated to princes. --- Linen, or cotton, Exodus xxv., and Proverbs xxxi. 24. (Calmet) --- Fine. Literally, "thin." Hebrew Mesi, (Haydock) "silken." (Jarchi; Pagnin, &c.) Silk was used much later at Rome, (Calmet) and was reprobated as not covering the body sufficiently.
Cois tibi pene videre est
Ut nudam.----- (Horace, i. Sat. ii.)
(Seneca, Ben. vii. 9.) --- Septuagint trichapto, according to Hesychius, &c., denotes "a silk ribbon for the hair;" (Calmet) a robe as delicate as hair, (St. Jerome) or a transparent veil for the head. (Theodoret) --- Such are still worn in the East. Hair is used in the veil opposite to the eyes, that the ladies may see without being seen. (Calmet)
Ver. 12. Forehead. Literally, "mouth." Hebrew, "nose." (Haydock) --- Women wore rings where spectacles are placed, and had others hung at their noses, so as to touch the mouth. People who are not acquainted with this odd custom, which is still prevalent in Africa and Asia, suppose that the ornament hung upon the forehead, as St. Jerome does. See Genesis xxiv. 22. (Calmet)
Ver. 13. Linen. Hebrew mossi, ver. 11. (Haydock) --- Chaldean understands these ornaments to pertain to the tabernacle, which was set up in the wilderness. --- Oil, enjoying a most fertile country, (Calmet) and the noblest sacrifices. (Haydock) --- And wast, &c. The kingdom had subsisted 1500 years. (Calmet) --- Septuagint omit this, for fear of giving umbrage to the Egyptians, according to St. Jerome, as if they could be ignorant of this circumstance. (Calmet) --- Grabe supplies, "thou wast directed to the kingdom." (Haydock)
Ver. 15. Renown, or name; thus dishonouring me, thy husband, Isaias iv. 1.
Ver. 16. Places: pavilions, (Cornelius a Lapide; 4 Kings xvii. 30.; Calmet) or idols stuffed, (St. Jerome; Theodoret) and outwardly adorned. Such might easily be procured or removed, 1 Kings xix. 13. --- Hereafter, with impunity. The Jews were guilty of greater ingratitude than other nations.
Ver. 17. My gold, for the temple, or thy most precious ornaments, which were sacrificed to gratify thy lubricity, (Calmet) or to form the golden calf, &c., Exodus xxxii. (Haydock) --- Obscene representations were also used in the worship of Osiris. (Herodotus ii. 48.)
Ver. 18. Oil, or perfume, which no man was allowed to use, Exodus xxx. 9, 38.
Ver. 20. Thy sons: so he calls them to shew his indignation, though he acknowledges them for his, (ver. 21.) to enhance the crime. Who could have thought that such cruel sacrifices would ever take place! (4 Kings xxiii.) (Calmet) --- Adulteresses bring in the children of others; but the Jews sacrifice their own to idols, 4 Kings xvi., &c. (Worthington)
Ver. 25. Sign; altars of idols. (Haydock) --- She makes no secret of her apostacy. The Greeks and Romans marked the houses of prostitutes, that honest men might avoid them. "They deemed the profession of such a crime a sufficient punishment to repress impure women." (Tacitus, Annal.)
Ver. 26. Bodies. Literally, "flesh." (Haydock) (Juvenal ix. 34.) (Menochius) --- The Egyptians are tall, but meagre. (Valle. Ep. xi.) --- They were the most dissolute in their worship, and corrupted most other nations as well as the Jews, chap. xx. 8., and xxiii. 3.
Ver. 27. Justification; law, &c. Hebrew, "thy right," or allowance, Exodus xxi. 10. --- Hate thee. To be abandoned to the will of a rival, is most dreadful for a woman. The Jews were subjected to the nations which they had despised, as they are still to Christians. Even other less favoured idolaters were astonished (Calmet) at their apostacy. (Haydock)
Ver. 28. Assyrians, adoring the sun, Baal, &c. (Calmet)
Ver. 31. Price, before she will yield, (Haydock) or who follow such practices for a livelihood. (Calmet) --- Hebrew, "in that thou scornest hire." (Protestants) Septuagint, "gathering rewards." The difference consisted in Jerusalem's sinning through mere wantonness, and even to her loss.
Ver. 34. Fornication unpunished, or comparable with thine, ver. 16. (Haydock) --- All such actions are abominable; but still more so, when the woman solicts[solicits?]. (Worthington)
Ver. 36. Money. Literally, "brass," (Haydock) to adorn idols. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "thy filthiness;" (Haydock) virus. (Pagnin, &c.) (Calmet)
Ver. 37. Nakedness. Friends and enemies (Haydock) saw that idols afforded no protection, chap. vi. 3., and Jeremias xiii. 26.
Ver. 38. Judge; punish thee by stoning to death, Leviticus xx. 10. The walls of the Jews were battered to the ground.
Ver. 39. House; the temple, which thou hast profaned, and the high places. The idols shall be plundered, in which thou hast trusted.
Ver. 41. Women: nations assembled against Jerusalem.
Ver. 42. No more. I will entirely repudiate thee, so as to observe thy conduct no longer, (Calmet) with the eyes of an husband. (Haydock) --- This is the most terrible effect of God's wrath, (Calmet) when the sinner is left to himself, Osee iv. 14. (St. Jerome)
Ver. 43. Youth, when thou wast destitute, (ver. 4.) and more grateful for my favours, Jeremias ii. 2. --- Head. I have punished thee, yet not as thy deeds require. (Haydock)