Did Israel imitate the heathen or not? Ezekiel 16:47
Ezekiel 16:47 New King James Version (NKJV) 47 You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became more corrupt than they in all your ways. PROBLEM: In Ezekiel 5:7, the Israelites were condemned because they had “multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around” them. Yet, here in Ezekiel 16:47 they were condemned by God who said, “You did not walk in their ways nor act according to their abominations.”
Ezekiel 5:7
ESV - 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God : Because you are more turbulent than the nations that are all around you, and have not walked in my statutes or obeyed my rules, and have not even acted according to the rules of the nations that are all around you.
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Asked October 12 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
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Tim Maas
The wording of Ezekiel 16:47 as rendered in the New King James Version cited in the question creates the possibility of confusion due its difference from modern word order. God's statement that the Israelites did not walk in the ways of Samaria and Sodom was not meant as a commendation of them, but, as indicated by the subsequent words "as if that were too little", God was saying that Israel even exceeded the wickedness of Samaria and Sodom. To me, it would have been preferable from a comprehension standpoint for the verse in the New King James Version to have read, "You did not ONLY (emphasis added) walk in their ways and act according to their abominations; but, as if that were too little, you became EVEN (emphasis added) more corrupt than they in all your ways."
Jack Gutknecht
I would agree with Mr. Maas' answer and would just add this. See the Voice Bible Ezekiel 16:47 VOICE “Not only did you imitate the ways and follow the shocking actions of your sisters, but soon you became even more corrupt than they ever were.” The language is probably exaggerated for its shock effect. Maybe Jerusalem’s sins, though not actually as evil as Sodom’s, were more offensive to God because she had received such a clear revelation of God’s moral will (compare Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” (Luke 12:48). This statement of Jesus has become somewhat of an idiom in Western culture and is found, paraphrased, in Uncle Ben’s words of wisdom to Peter Parker in Spider-man : “With great power comes great responsibility.”) I like the Message Bible, Ezekiel 16:47, MSG “‘Your older sister is Samaria. She lived to the north of you with her daughters. Your younger sister is Sodom, who lived to the south of you with her daughters. Haven’t you lived just like they did? Haven’t you engaged in outrageous obscenities just like they did? In fact, it didn’t take you long to catch up and pass them! As sure as I am the living God!—Decree of GOD, the Master—your sister Sodom and her daughters never even came close to what you and your daughters have done. (46 " 'Your older sister is Samaria. She lived to the north of you with her daughters. Your younger sister is Sodom, who lived to the south of you with her daughters. 47 Haven't you lived just like they did? Haven't you engaged in outrageous obscenities just like they did? In fact, it didn't take you long to catch up and pass them! 48 As sure as I am the living God!—Decree of GOD, the Master—your sister Sodom and her daughters never even came close to what you and your daughters have done.)
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