Matthew Poole and continuators on Ezekiel 16:4

4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born, thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washt in water to supple thee: thou wast not salted at all, nor swadled at all.

Either in the day I called Abraham to leave his Idolatry. Or, when in Aegypt you began to multiply into a Nation. Or, when you were brought out of Aegyptian bondage. Or, whether you fix any other time, it was a helpless and miserable state they were in.

As the new born infant cannot do this for its own preservation, and as there is great danger if not carefully and skilfully done, as 'tis the early care of the hand that delivers the Child, so was the care and love of God towards this people when they could not, and others would not help them, and this will be declared in a continued allegory. The preventing mercy of God was shew'd in this.

Born in blood, unpleasant to behold, thou must have weltred therein, and perisht, none washt thee, that thou mightest be handled, but I; I purged away the blood and uncleanness of thy birth, took thee up, nurst, provided for and disposed of thee.

Salt is of a drying, abstersive and cleansing nature, and was used to purge, dry & strengthen the new born child, to make it the more lovely and lively.

This usage for the continued preservation of the infant, for strengthening it, setting its limbs, and keeping them in their right and orderly posture, is most necessary to be observed, and yet there was none that would do this for this infant, so forlorn was the state of the Jews in their birth, without beauty weltring in blood, without strength, new born, without friend, that might act Mother, or Midwifes office.

Marginal references: Hos. 2.3.; Or, when I looked upon thee.