8 "Then I passed by you and saw you, and behold , you were at the time for love ; so I spread My skirt over you and covered your nakedness . I also swore to you and entered into a covenant with you so that you became Mine," declares the Lord GOD . 9 "Then I bathed you with water , washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil . 10 "I also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk . 11 "I adorned you with ornaments , put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck . 12 "I also put a ring in your nostril , earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 16:8-12
Commentary on Ezekiel 16:1-58
(Read Ezekiel 16:1-58)
In this chapter God's dealings with the Jewish nation, and their conduct towards him, are described, and their punishment through the surrounding nations, even those they most trusted in. This is done under the parable of an exposed infant rescued from death, educated, espoused, and richly provided for, but afterwards guilty of the most abandoned conduct, and punished for it; yet at last received into favour, and ashamed of her base conduct. We are not to judge of these expressions by modern ideas, but by those of the times and places in which they were used, where many of them would not sound as they do to us. The design was to raise hatred to idolatry, and such a parable was well suited for that purpose.