So the book of Chronicles dismisses the whole of the reign of Saul in one chapter. No mention of any of his activities. Chronicles is concerned with the line of David. Hence Saul is passed over so quickly.

10:13-14 And so the reason for the rejection of Saul is stated baldly and simply – he didn’t enquire of God. The details are outlined in the book of Samuel but the reasons can be simply stated as they are here.

V.13 The demise of Saul is explained by the chilling words: Saul died because he was unfaithful to the LORD.  But, Saul's end is the same for all who are unfaithful to Yahweh. 

Jesus exhorts the ecclesia at Smyrna to: Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (Rev 2:10). 

We are part of the same ecclesia of Christ, and so the exhortation applies to us.  Let us, then, hold fast to our faith in these last days: ...but he who stands firm to the end will be saved (Matt 10:22).

10:9 In taking Saul’s head and armour the Philistines are copying what David did to Goliath – 1Sam 17:54

10:1 We must remember that the historical narrative which starts here with the death of Saul does not naturally follow on from the list of names which we have been reading. The lists run right on past Saul. The lists, in part, provide the historical background t the history. We are now being provided with the background to the reign of David.

10:5 Here we have the historical details of the death of Saul. Not to be confused with the record in 2Sam 1:1-10

V.10 Dagon originated in Babylon, but it became associated as the Philistine god.  Dagon had the head and arms of a man but the body of a fish. 

The dress of bishops in the Catholic and Anglican Churches is patterned after Dagon.  The bishop’s mitre - it opens like the mouth of a fish.  The bishop’s cloak flows down from the mitre like the body of a fish flows from its mouth.

10:2 When we think of Saul’s sons our mind focuses on Jonathan. Here we are reminded that, in fact, he was one of three. He figures prominently because of his Godly support of David.

Aholah is Samaria - the northern kingdom
Aholibah is the kingdom of Judah centred in Jerusalem.

Samaria made her own system of worship - tent.
Jerusalem, whilst having been choen by God - high- sought her own ways.

V.9-10 The judgement of the Northern Kingdom is described in these two verses. Israel was "delivered into the hand of her lovers" when Hoshea was dethroned and the ten tribes carried captive into Assyria (2Kin 17:4-6). So with Judah: her lovers were to be her judges. Her heart became "alienated"( V22) from Babylon when Jehoiakim rebelled against Nebuchadnezzer as recorded in 2Kin 24:1 and later when Zedekiah rebelled.(2Kin 24:20)

Vs.6,15,16,40 Jerusalem's idolatry is likened to a whore who had courted many suitors.  Dyeing garments and painting faces were part of attracting other people, often for illicit purposes.  Personal decorations were used by people with questionable reputations, like Jezebel (2Kin 9:30).  Jeremiah's description of Jerusalem's downfall could easily be a description of Jezebel's demise (Jer 4:30). 

Dyeing in the ancient Near-East was an important industry.  The main colors were blue, red (crimson), and purple.  Blue was obtained from the rinds of pomegranates; crimson from grubs that fed on oak trees; and purple from a tiny shellfish found on the Phoenician coast. 

For painting the lips, ochre (red) was used.  Various materials (depending upon the color desired), in powdered form, were used to paint the eyes.  Water, or gum, was added to the powder, and the substance applied to the lids.  Heavy black lines were painted in an almond shape around the eyes to make them look bigger.   

23:3  In saying that Israel committed whoredoms ‘in their youth’ he is speaking of the nation in Egypt again – He has already done this in Eze 20:7-8. So the nation are no better now than they were when they were delivered from Egypt.

V.20 Judah lusted after other nations and their idolatrous practices.  Her insatiable desire is couched in animalistic terms.  This analogy is a clearly pointing to their disobedience by referencing the Law (Lev 18:23).   

23:10 ‘famous’ carries the idea of ‘byword’ in Deut 28:37. Ezekiel is again showing how the curses that would follow Israel if they were faithless are coming upon them.

23:46 in speaking of being ‘removed’ the prophet harks back to his behaviour – Eze 12:3– and also the terrible warning that Moses had given – Deut 28:25

V.4 Aholah (she has her own tent) signified Samaria = Israel.  Aholah had her own tent (tabernacle) because Jeroboam had set up two golden calves, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. Ahola courted Assyria and was eventually taken captive.

Aholibah (My tabernacle) signified Jerusalem = Judah.  There were no golden calves set up in Judah.  Yahweh was worshipped (my = Yahweh’s tabernacle).  However, Judah was worse that Israel and allowed Babylon to corrupt her.  She did not take to heart the example of her sister Aholah’s disastrous relationship with Assyria.

The picture language of Jerusalem as a woman is developed in Chapter 16. But Chapter 23 gives us some important additional information. Here in v2 we see that the girl/nation was already maturing whilst in Egypt. So this can't be talking about the birth of the nation of Israel at the Exodus. Instead 16:3-6 must refer to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob with whom the nation started, and was almost lost in its infancy due to the famine at the time of Joseph (see Gen 42:2 and 43:8). But God delivered the infant nation and caused it to live by sending Joseph to Egypt (Gen 45:5-11 compare Eze 16:6-7).

Chapter 23 also gives us the additional information that she/they were born in Chaldea (23:15) which would confirm their birth as being the calling of Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans (Gen 11:31). God is making the point that Israel have come full circle and been absorbed back into the world they were called away from - which is a powerful point for us personally; in lurid picture language we can't possibly misunderstand.

23:40 ‘from afar’ speaks of the coming of the Babylonians against Jerusalem.

20:9 certain man planted a vineyard Isaiah 5:1
20:14 saw him Genesis 37:18
20:14 let us kill him Genesis 37:18
20:14 inheritance Psalm 2:8
20:17 The stone ... of the corner Psalm 118:22
20:18 whomsoever ... grind him to powder Daniel 2:34
20:42 The Lord ... footstool Psalm 110:1
20:47 devour widows houses Ezekiel 22:25

20:1 - 6 The question of the authority of John is not a 'cop out'. John had testified of Jesus. If they did not believe John then they would not believe Jesus. The question of Jesus' authority had already been established by John the Baptist. All three 'synoptic' gospels present this discussion. Matthew 21:25 Mark 11:30 Luke 20:4
20:27 - 33 The Jews seemed to - and still do - delight in hypothetical discussions. Jesus demonstrates that Scripture cuts through the trivia of hypothetical discussion and provides a clear answer. The warning is clear for us - as we, at times, seem to indulge in such discussions. Paul, writing to the Thessalonians said 'prove all things' 1 Thessalonians 5:21 and this should be our approach. There is no value discussion hypothetical issues. Real life problems that we experience are sufficient to keep our minds exercised without having to dream up problems!
20:40 This marks the end of the 'examination' of Jesus during the three days that the Passover lamb was kept up from the 10th to the 14th of the month. It is recorded in both other accounts. Matthew 22:46 Mark 12:34

20:21  ‘Master we know …’ shows the true motives of those who were speaking to Jesus. How often do we flatter people to trap them? Are we always honest in our motives?

Vs.1,2 The chief priests and the scribes asked Jesus to justify His authority.  If He had replied: God, then they would have claimed to have the same authority.  Not wishing to be associated with them, look how Jesus replied (vs.3-8).  He applied Prov 26:4.    

V.17 Jesus quoted Psa 118:22 in which He is described as the cornerstone or capstone.  A cornerstone is a right-angled stone found at the base of two conjoined walls.  Both walls are built upon this shared stone.  The figure aptly describes Jesus because He is the conjunction of two walls: the Jews and the Gentiles. The Old Covenant and the Law grew out of Him, around Him, for Him; and so did the New Covenant.

20:39  When ‘certain of the scribes’ thought Jesus had given a good answer it is probable that they viewed his answer as a good debating answer rather than a profound Scriptural one. We do well to realise, in our discussions, that it is not simply a matter of making a ‘good point’. Rather it is a matter of presenting Bible truth which should affect the way we live.

20:42,44        Doubtless this very question had been debated by the Jewish leaders for centuries. That they did not have an answer to the question highlighted that they approached Scripture from their own pre-conceived stand point. What about ourselves?

Luke 20:37 We might never have thought of using Exo 3:6 to prove that there will be a resurrection. However Jesus’ use of this passage demonstrates that it is proof. Why is that so? In the next verse Jesus says ‘for all live unto him’ but clearly Abraham, Isaac and Jacob have no consciousness at the movement. Therefore Jesus’ point is that as far as God is concerned they are still alive in His consciousness. Isn’t it a wonderful comfort that even when we are dead our God remembers us?

Vs.35,36 These verses give important information about those who will be accepted at the judgment.  Those accepted will form the Redeemed, who will be with Jesus in His work in the Kingdom.

The Redeemed are sometimes termed the multitudinous Christ because of their inseparable relationship with Jesus. And, because of this special relationship, the Redeemed will be greater than the angels, as Jesus Himself is greater.

And so, the term: equal to angels (ESV) does not imply that the Redeemed and the angels are equal in status.  The phrase supports the previous clause: for they cannot die anymore (ESV) which shows that the Redeemed will be immortal like the angels are immortal. It is the immortality which is equal and not the status.

20:44-45  Notice that Jesus asks the question and then moves directly into a warning about the scribes. Clearly they had no answer to the question worth listening to and so they deserved the condemnation of Jesus.