2tn Heb “in water you were not washed for cleansing” or “with water you were not washed smooth” (see D. I. Block, Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:473, n. 57, for a discussion of possible meanings of this hapax legomenon).

3sn Arab midwives still cut the umbilical cords of infants and then proceed to apply salt and oil to their bodies.

4sn These verbs, “pity” and “spare,” echo the judgment oracles in 5:11; 7:4, 9; 8:18; 9:5, 10.

5sn A similar concept is found in Deut 32:10.

6tc The translation reflects the Hebrew text, which repeats the statement, perhaps for emphasis. However, a few medieval Hebrew manuscripts, the Old Greek, and the Syriac do not include the repetition. The statement could have been accidentally repeated or the second occurrence could have been accidentally omitted. Based on the available evidence it is difficult to know which is more likely.

7tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a participle.

8tn See similar use of this term in Ezek 23:17; Prov 7:16; Song of Songs 4:10; 7:13.

9tn Heb “wing” or “skirt.” The gesture symbolized acquiring a woman in early Arabia (similarly, see Deut 22:30; Ruth 3:9).

10tn Heb “name.”

11sn The description of the nation Israel in vv. 10-14 recalls the splendor of the nation’s golden age under King Solomon.

12tn Heb “it” (so KJV, ASV); the referent (the beauty in which the prostitute trusted, see the beginning of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

13tc The text as written in the MT is incomprehensible (“not coming [plural] and he will not”). Driver has suggested a copying error of similar-sounding words, specifically לֹא (lo’) for לוֹ (lo). The feminine participle בָאוֹת (va’ot) has also been read as the feminine perfect בָאת (va’t). See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 1:228, n. 15.b, and D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:486, n. 137.

14tn Or perhaps “and worshiped them,” if the word “prostitution” is understood in a figurative rather than a literal sense (cf. CEV, NLT).

15sn The sacrifice of children was prohibited in Lev 18:21; 20:2; Deut 12:31; 18:10.

16tn Heb “and you gave them, by passing them through to them.” Some believe this alludes to the pagan practice of making children pass through the fire.

17tn The Hebrew גֶּב (gev) may represent more than one word, each rare in the Old Testament. It may refer to a “mound” or to “rafters.” The LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate interpret this as a brothel.

18tn Or “lofty place” (NRSV). See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 1:229, and B. Lang, Frau Weisheit, 137.

19tn Heb “treated as if abominable,” i.e., repudiated.

20tn The only other occurrence of the Hebrew root is found in Prov 13:3 in reference to the talkative person who habitually “opens wide” his lips.

21tn Heb “your neighbors, large of flesh.” The word “flesh” is used here of the genitals. It may simply refer to the size of their genitals in general, or, as the translation suggests, depicts them as sexually aroused.

22tn Heb “Chaldea.” The name of the tribal group ruling Babylon (“Chaldeans”) and the territory from which they originated (“Chaldea”) is used as metonymy for the whole empire of Babylon.

23tn The Hebrew term, which also occurs in vv. 34 and 41 of this chapter, always refers to the payment of a prostitute (Deut 23:19; Isa 23:17; Hos 9:1; Mic 1:7).

24tn The Hebrew word occurs only here in the OT.

25tn Heb “With you it was opposite of women in your prostitution.”

26tn The Hebrew word occurs only here in the OT.

27sn Harlots suffered degradation when their nakedness was exposed (Jer 13:22, 26; Hos 2:12; Nah 3:5).

28tn Heb “and I will judge you (with) the judgments of adulteresses and of those who shed blood.”

29tn Heb “and I will give you the blood of rage and zeal.”

30tn The words “to your clients” are not in the Hebrew text but are implied.

31tn Heb “your way on (your) head I have placed.”

32tn Heb “left.”

33tn Heb “right.”

34sn Sodom was the epitome of evil (Deut 29:23; 32:32; Isa 1:9-10; 3:9; Jer 23:14; Lam 4:6; Matt 10:15; 11:23-24; Jude 7).

35tn Heb “walked in their ways.”

36tn The Hebrew expression has a temporal meaning as illustrated by the use of the phrase in 2 Chr 12:7.

37tn Or “guilt.”

38tn Heb “strengthen the hand of.”

39tn Or “you have multiplied your abominable deeds beyond them.”

40tn Heb “because you have interceded for your sisters with your sins.”

41tn Or “pride.”

42tc So MT, LXX, and Vulgate; many Hebrew mss and Syriac read “Edom.”

43tn Or “eternal.”

44tn Heb “and your mouth will not be open any longer.”

45tn Heb “when I make atonement for you for all which you have done.”