Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 16:3

3 And say thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth, and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan: thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite.

The proud and blinded Jews thought their original more pure then that of the Heathen; this was an old tradition among them, now that the Prophet is to acquaint them with the truth of their polluted original, which they'l storm and fret at, he comes thus prefacing his discourse with a divine Commission.

Who is omniscient, knows all we are and do, who is so just and true, speaks not any thing but the very truth, who is supream Judge and determiner of controversies. He tells the Prophet what they were and commands him to tell them.

i. e. The whole race of the Jews as verse 2. Or, perhaps in more special manner the Inhabitants and Natives of that proud City, who thought it singular priviledge to be born there, which the Jews counted more holy then the rest of the Land of Canaan.

Thine habitation and thy kindred, so our English of 2 Eliz. time. Thy root whence thou didst spring, the rock whence thou wast cut, the place where thou grewest up, the company and commerce thou didst use, all were of the Land of Canaan, and thou hast a fulness of their vitious nature, manners and practices, both in civil, and religious things, as vile and obnoxious to my curse as Canaan it self.

If the Prophet refer to Abraham, it must be understood of his state, and Religion before God called him, when he, as his Father and Kindred, worshipped strange Gods beyond the River, Ios. 24.14. with ver. 2. If the Prophet refer to those that were in Aegypt, the Jews Ancestors that dwelt there; it is certain that many of them forgot Abrahams God, closed with the Aegyptian Idolatry, and were polluted with Idols, Iosh. 24.2. if you refer it as a figurative speech and call them Fathers whom we reverence, consult, obey and imitate, as well we may call such Fathers; these were not the best and holiest of men, Matth. 3.7. and 12.34. and 23.33. Oh ye Jews be it known to you, what ere you think, you have no cause to boast of your nobler or purer descent, your fountain was corrupt and poisonous.

Might have been for likeness of manners.

Either because this comprehended all the rest of the cursed Nations. Or, because the Amorites as most powerful and mighty, so most wicked among them; it was the Amorites which were filling up their sins, Gen. 15.16.

Sometimes the ill nature of a Father is corrected in the child by the sweetness of the Mother, but you Jews were not so happy, your Mother as bad every whit as your Father; both prodigiously vile in their inclination, civil converse, and choice of their Religion and in the practice of it. The daughters of Heth were women of ill fame, and worse manners, Gen. 27.46. enough to make a good soul weary of life. Such is your race, O ye Jews.

Marginal references: Heb. cutting out, or, habitation.; verse 45.