The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms # 139
139. Internal Meaning of Ezekiel, Chapter 16
The successive states of the Jewish church. (2)
1-2 There was nothing in it but falsity and evil. (2)
3-6 It was forsaken by the Lord from the beginning, because it was without anything of the church. (2)
7-12 After a time truths and goods of every kind and species were given to it through the Word, and thus evils and falsities were removed. (2)
13-14 Thus it could have been in intelligence. (2)
15-20 It falsified all things of the Word. (2)
21-22 It extinguished truths and goods, and became as in the beginning. (2)
23-25 It turned truths into falsities (2)
26-28 by knowledges [scientifica] of the natural man, by traditions, and by reasonings from them, (2)
29-30 finally profaning [truths]. (2)
31 It exalted itself above all men. (2)
32-34 It obtruded its falsities on others. (2)
35-42 They will utterly perish by the falsities by which the truths of the Word have been destroyed. (3)
43-45 Thus they will be as in the beginning. (3)
46-52 The like has come to pass with the Israelitish church, but in a less degree. (3, 17)
53-55 Nevertheless the church in general shall be restored. (11)
56-58 It is everywhere better than in the Jewish church. (11)
Ezekiel 16:15-20
15
But you trusted in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by; his it was.
16
You took of your garments, and made for yourselves high places decked with various colors, and played the prostitute on them: [the like things] shall not come, neither shall it be [so].
17
You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and played the prostitute with them;
18
and you took your embroidered garments, and covered them, and did set my oil and my incense before them.
19
My bread also which I gave you, fine flour, and oil, and honey, with which I fed you, you even set it before them for a pleasant aroma; and [thus] it was, says the Lord Yahweh.
20
Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and you have sacrificed these to them to be devoured. Was your prostitution a small matter,
