Ezekiel 16:46
Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to your north; and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to your south.
Your older sister was Samaria
In this phrase, "older sister" refers to a city or nation that is more established or has existed longer. Samaria was the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, which had fallen to the Assyrians in 722 BC. The use of "sister" here is metaphorical, indicating a familial relationship between Jerusalem and Samaria, suggesting shared heritage and covenantal ties. Historically, Samaria was known for its idolatry and apostasy, which led to its downfall. The Hebrew root for Samaria, "Shomron," means "watch mountain," reflecting its geographical and strategic significance. This phrase serves as a warning to Jerusalem, highlighting the consequences of unfaithfulness to God.

who lived with her daughters to the north of you
The "daughters" of Samaria refer to the smaller towns and villages that were part of its domain. The phrase "to the north of you" is geographically accurate, as Samaria was located north of Jerusalem. This positioning is significant in the biblical narrative, as the Northern Kingdom's apostasy and subsequent judgment serve as a cautionary tale for Jerusalem. The historical context emphasizes the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant, as the northern tribes were exiled due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience.

and your younger sister was Sodom
"Sodom" is infamous for its destruction due to wickedness, as recounted in Genesis 19. The term "younger sister" implies a lesser or more recent entity, yet it carries a heavy moral implication. Sodom's sins were not just sexual immorality but also pride, gluttony, and neglect of the poor, as detailed in Ezekiel 16:49. The Hebrew root for Sodom, "Sedom," means "burning," symbolizing its fiery judgment. By comparing Jerusalem to Sodom, God underscores the severity of Jerusalem's sins and the impending judgment if they do not repent.

who lived with her daughters to the south of you
Similar to Samaria, the "daughters" of Sodom refer to the surrounding cities, such as Gomorrah, that shared in its fate. "To the south of you" is geographically accurate, as Sodom was located in the southern region near the Dead Sea. This directional reference serves as a reminder of the historical and moral lessons from Sodom's destruction. The juxtaposition of Samaria to the north and Sodom to the south creates a powerful image of Jerusalem being surrounded by examples of divine judgment, urging the city to heed the warnings and return to righteousness.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jerusalem
The primary subject of Ezekiel 16, representing the people of Judah. In this chapter, Jerusalem is depicted as an unfaithful wife, symbolizing the nation's spiritual adultery and idolatry.

2. Samaria
The capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often associated with idolatry and apostasy. In this verse, Samaria is referred to as Jerusalem's "older sister," indicating a shared history of unfaithfulness.

3. Sodom
A city known for its wickedness and subsequent destruction by God. Sodom is called Jerusalem's "younger sister," highlighting the severity of Jerusalem's sins by comparing them to Sodom's notorious iniquity.

4. Daughters
Refers to the surrounding towns or smaller communities associated with Samaria and Sodom, indicating the influence and spread of their respective sins.

5. Ezekiel
The prophet delivering God's message to the exiles in Babylon, using vivid imagery and allegory to convey the depth of Jerusalem's sin and the need for repentance.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Spiritual Complacency
Just as Jerusalem became complacent in its spiritual state, believers today must guard against becoming comfortable with sin and neglecting their relationship with God.

The Consequences of Idolatry
The comparison to Samaria and Sodom serves as a warning about the destructive nature of idolatry and turning away from God. Believers are called to examine their lives for anything that takes precedence over God.

The Call to Repentance
Despite the harsh comparisons, God's message through Ezekiel is ultimately one of repentance and restoration. Believers are encouraged to turn back to God, seeking His forgiveness and grace.

The Influence of Community
The mention of "daughters" highlights the impact of a community's values and actions. Christians are reminded of their responsibility to influence their communities positively and uphold godly standards.

God's Righteous Judgment
The historical examples of Samaria and Sodom illustrate God's righteous judgment against sin. Believers are reminded of the seriousness of sin and the importance of living in obedience to God's commands.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the comparison to Samaria and Sodom in Ezekiel 16:46 challenge your understanding of Jerusalem's spiritual state?

2. In what ways can spiritual complacency manifest in a believer's life today, and how can we guard against it?

3. Reflect on the role of community influence as seen in the "daughters" of Samaria and Sodom. How can you positively impact your community for Christ?

4. Considering the consequences faced by Samaria and Sodom, what steps can you take to ensure that idolatry does not take root in your life?

5. How does the call to repentance in Ezekiel 16 encourage you to seek God's forgiveness and restoration in areas where you may have strayed?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 19
The account of Sodom's destruction provides context for understanding the gravity of being compared to Sodom. It highlights the consequences of extreme wickedness and God's judgment.

2 Kings 17
Details the fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience, serving as a historical backdrop for Ezekiel's comparison.

Isaiah 1:10
Isaiah also compares Jerusalem to Sodom, emphasizing the city's moral and spiritual decline and the need for repentance.

Matthew 11:23-24
Jesus references Sodom in His teachings, underscoring the seriousness of rejecting God's message and the greater accountability of those who have received more revelation.
Inexcusable InfidelityJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 16:15-59
A Picture of Comparative IniquityW. Jones Ezekiel 16:44-52
Sin Seen in the Light of ComparisonJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 16:44-59
People
Aram, Assyrians, Canaanites, Egyptians, Ezekiel
Places
Chaldea, Jerusalem, Samaria, Sodom, Syria
Topics
Daughters, Dwell, Dwelleth, Dwelling, Dwells, Elder, North, Older, Samaria, Sama'ria, Sister, Sodom, South, Younger
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 16:1-63

     7241   Jerusalem, significance

Ezekiel 16:44-48

     5481   proverb

Ezekiel 16:44-58

     4275   Sodom and Gomorrah

Ezekiel 16:44-63

     5737   sisters

Library
How Saints May Help the Devil
One way in which sinners frequently excuse themselves is by endeavoring to get some apology for their own iniquities from the inconsistencies of God's people. This is the reason why there is much slander in the world. A true Christian is a rebuke to the sinner, wherever he goes he is a living protest against the evil of sin. Hence it is that the worldling makes a dead set upon a pious man. His language in his heart is, "He accuses me to my face; I cannot bear the sight of his holy character; it makes
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859

Vile Ingratitude!
I. First, then, let us consider our iniquities--I mean those committed since conversion, those committed yesterday, and the day before, and to-day--and let us see their sinfulness in the light of what we were when the Lord first looked upon us. In the words of the prophet Ezekiel, observe what was our "birth and our nativity." He says of us, "Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canan. Thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite." Now, Canaan, as you know, was a cursed one, and the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

"Who Walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit. "
Rom. viii. 1.--"Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." It is difficult to determine which of these is the greatest privilege of a Christian,--that he is delivered from condemnation, or that he is made to walk according to the Spirit, and made a new creature; whether we owe more to Christ for our justification, or sanctification: for he is made both to us: but it is more necessary to conjoin them together, than to compare them with each other. The one is not more necessary--to be delivered
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Humbled and Silenced by Mercy. Ezek 0. 711111111

John Newton—Olney Hymns

For whom did Christ Die?
While man is in this condition Jesus interposes for his salvation. "When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly"; "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," according to "his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses and sins." The pith of my sermon will be an endeavour to declare that the reason of Christ's dying for us did not lie in our excellence; but where sin abounded grace did much more abound, for the persons for whom Jesus
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874

The Use of Fear in Religion.
PROVERBS ix. 10.--"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Luke xii. 4, 5.--"And I say unto you, my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him." The place which the feeling of fear ought to hold in the religious experience of mankind is variously assigned. Theories of religion are continually passing
William G.T. Shedd—Sermons to the Natural Man

Certainty of Our Justification.
"Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."--Rom. iii. 24. The foregoing illustrations shed unexpected light upon the fact that God justifies the ungodly, and not him who is actually just in himself; and upon the word of Christ: "Now are ye clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." (John xv. 3) They illustrate the significant fact that God does not determine our status according to what we are, but by the status to which He assigns us He determines
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Some Helps to Mourning
Having removed the obstructions, let me in the last place propound some helps to holy mourning. 1 Set David's prospect continually before you. My sin is ever before me' (Psalm 51:3). David, that he might be a mourner, kept his eye full upon sin. See what sin is, and then tell me if there be not enough in it to draw forth tears. I know not what name to give it bad enough. One calls it the devil's excrement. Sin is a complication of all evils. It is the spirits of mischief distilled. Sin dishonours
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

"And the Redeemer Shall Come unto Zion, and unto them that Turn,"
Isaiah lix. 20.--"And the Redeemer shall come unto Zion, and unto them that turn," &c. Doctrines, as things, have their seasons and times. Every thing is beautiful in its season. So there is no word of truth, but it hath a season and time in which it is beautiful. And indeed that is a great part of wisdom, to bring forth everything in its season, to discern when and where, and to whom it is pertinent and edifying, to speak such and such truths. But there is one doctrine that is never out of season,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Annunciation of Jesus the Messiah, and the Birth of his Forerunner.
FROM the Temple to Nazareth! It seems indeed most fitting that the Evangelic story should have taken its beginning within the Sanctuary, and at the time of sacrifice. Despite its outward veneration for them, the Temple, its services, and specially its sacrifices, were, by an inward logical necessity, fast becoming a superfluity for Rabbinism. But the new development, passing over the intruded elements, which were, after all, of rationalistic origin, connected its beginning directly with the Old Testament
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

"But Ye are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, if So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now, if any Man
Rom. viii. 9.--"But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Application is the very life of the word, at least it is a necessary condition for the living operation of it. The application of the word to the hearts of hearers by preaching, and the application of your hearts again to the word by meditation, these two meeting together, and striking one upon another, will yield fire.
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Covenant of Grace
Q-20: DID GOD LEAVE ALL MANKIND TO PERISH 1N THE ESTATE OF SIN AND MISERY? A: No! He entered into a covenant of grace to deliver the elect out of that state, and to bring them into a state of grace by a Redeemer. 'I will make an everlasting covenant with you.' Isa 55:5. Man being by his fall plunged into a labyrinth of misery, and having no way left to recover himself, God was pleased to enter into a new covenant with him, and to restore him to life by a Redeemer. The great proposition I shall go
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

An Exhortation to Love God
1. An exhortation. Let me earnestly persuade all who bear the name of Christians to become lovers of God. "O love the Lord, all ye his saints" (Psalm xxxi. 23). There are but few that love God: many give Him hypocritical kisses, but few love Him. It is not so easy to love God as most imagine. The affection of love is natural, but the grace is not. Men are by nature haters of God (Rom. i. 30). The wicked would flee from God; they would neither be under His rules, nor within His reach. They fear God,
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

"And He is the Propitiation,"
1 John ii. 2.--"And he is the propitiation," &c. Here is the strength of Christ's plea, and ground of his advocation, that "he is the propitiation." The advocate is the priest, and the priest is the sacrifice, and such efficacy this sacrifice hath, that the propitiatory sacrifice may be called the very propitiation and pacification for sin. Here is the marrow of the gospel, and these are the breasts of consolation which any poor sinner might draw by faith, and bring out soul refreshment. But truly,
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Spiced Wine of My Pomegranate;
OR, THE COMMUNION OF COMMUNICATION. I would cause Thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate."--Song of Solomon viii. 2.And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace."--John i. 16. THE SPICED WINE OF MY POMEGRANATE. THE immovable basis of communion having been laid of old in the eternal union which subsisted between Christ and His elect, it only needed a fitting occasion to manifest itself in active development. The Lord Jesus had for ever delighted Himself with the
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters,
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Annunciation to Joseph of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^A Matt. I. 18-25. ^a 18 Now the birth [The birth of Jesus is to handled with reverential awe. We are not to probe into its mysteries with presumptuous curiosity. The birth of common persons is mysterious enough (Eccl. ix. 5; Ps. cxxxix. 13-16), and we do not well, therefore, if we seek to be wise above what is written as to the birth of the Son of God] of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When his mother Mary had been betrothed [The Jews were usually betrothed ten or twelve months
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Epistle cxxii. To Rechared, King of the visigoths .
To Rechared, King of the Visigoths [82] . Gregory to Rechared, &c. I cannot express in words, most excellent son, how much I am delighted with thy work and thy life. For on hearing of the power of a new miracle in our days, to wit that the whole nation of the Goths has through thy Excellency been brought over from the error of Arian heresy to the firmness of a right faith, one is disposed to exclaim with the prophet, This is the change wrought by the right hand of the Most High (Ps. lxxvi. 11 [83]
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Bunyan's Last Sermon --Preached July 1688.
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God;" John i. 13. The words have a dependence on what goes before, and therefore I must direct you to them for the right understanding of it. You have it thus,--"He came to his own, but his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them which believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of God." In
by John Bunyan—Miscellaneous Pieces

Effectual Calling
THE second qualification of the persons to whom this privilege in the text belongs, is, They are the called of God. All things work for good "to them who are called." Though this word called is placed in order after loving of God, yet in nature it goes before it. Love is first named, but not first wrought; we must be called of God, before we can love God. Calling is made (Rom. viii. 30) the middle link of the golden chain of salvation. It is placed between predestination and glorification; and if
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
Preached August 19TH, 1688 [ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR] This sermon, although very short, is peculiarly interesting: how it was preserved we are not told; but it bears strong marks of having been published from notes taken by one of the hearers. There is no proof that any memorandum or notes of this sermon was found in the autograph of the preacher. In the list of Bunyan's works published by Chas. Doe, at the end of the 'Heavenly Footman,' March 1690, it stands No. 44. He professes to give the title-page,
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Birth of Jesus.
(at Bethlehem of Judæa, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke II. 1-7. ^c 1 Now it came to pass in those days [the days of the birth of John the Baptist], there went out a decree [a law] from Cæsar Augustus [Octavius, or Augustus, Cæsar was the nephew of and successor to Julius Cæsar. He took the name Augustus in compliment to his own greatness; and our month August is named for him; its old name being Sextilis], that all the world should be enrolled. [This enrollment or census was the first step
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

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