before your wickedness was uncovered? Now you have become an object of reproach for the daughters of Syria and all those around her, and for the daughters of the Philistines, those all around who despise you.
The prophet here further shows Jerusalem her abominations, by comparing her with those places that had gone before her, and showing that she was worse than any of them, and therefore should, like them, be utterly and irreparably ruined. We are all apt to judge of ourselves by comparison, and to imagine that we are sufficiently good if we are but as good as such...
Commenting on Ezekiel 16:44-59
Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations,.... Openly and publicly; their abominable iniquities were written as it were upon their foreheads, and were to be seen of all men; their sin was to be read in their punishment, which is meant by bearing their lewdness and abominations; namely, the punishment due unto them: saith the Lord; who always speaks what is just and true...
Before thy wickedness was discovered--manifested to all, namely, by the punishment inflicted on thee. thy reproach of . . . Syria and . . . Philistines--the indignity and injuries done thee by Syria and the Philistines (Kg2 16:5; Ch2 28:18; Isa 9:11-12).