Albert Barnes Commentary Ezekiel 16:35-43

"Wherefore, O harlot, hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Because thy filthiness was poured out, and thy nakedness uncovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers; and because of all the idols of thy abominations, and for the blood of thy children, that thou didst give unto them; therefore behold, I will gather all thy lovers, with whom thou hast taken pleasure, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them against thee on every side, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness. And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring upon thee the blood of wrath and jealousy. I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thy vaulted place, and break down thy lofty places; and they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and take thy fair jewels; and they shall leave thee naked and bare. They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords. And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women; and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou shalt also give no hire any more. So will I cause my wrath toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast raged against me in all these things; therefore, behold, I also will bring thy way upon thy head, saith the Lord Jehovah: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness with all thine abominations." — Ezekiel 16:35-43 (ASV)

Judah is now represented as undergoing the punishment adjudged to an adulteress and murderess. Only in her utter destruction will the wrath of the Lord, the jealous God, cease.

(Ezekiel 16:36)

Filthiness - Or, brass, that is, money, is lavished. The Hebrews generally speak of money as gold (Isaiah 46:6), but brass coins were not unknown in the time of the Maccabees. Compare Matthew 10:9; Mark 12:41. Ezekiel may here have put brass for gold contemptuously. Compare Isaiah 1:22-25; Isaiah 48:10.

(Ezekiel 16:38)

I will give you blood in fury - Rather, “I will make you a bloody sacrifice to fury and jealousy.” By the Law of Moses, death was the penalty for murder (Exodus 21:12), and for adultery (Leviticus 20:10; for example, by stoning, Ezekiel 16:40). The circumstances of the siege of Jerusalem corresponded with the punishment of the adulteress: the company gathered around her were the surrounding armies; the fury of the jealous husband was the fury of the attacking army; the stripping off her ornaments was the plunder of the siege; the stoning, the battering-rams; the bloody death being the slaughter in the battle.

(Ezekiel 16:42)

So ... rest - Or, “My fury will not rest until you are utterly ruined.”

(Ezekiel 16:43)

You shall not ... abominations - Others render it: “I will not do wickedly because of all your etc.” that is, by allowing Jerusalem to remain unpunished.