Ezekiel 23

Ezekiel 23 is a parable about two sisters, symbolizing the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem, who engage in idolatrous relationships with neighboring nations, reflecting their spiritual unfaithfulness to God. The chapter uses explicit imagery to depict the depth of Israel's spiritual corruption and the consequences of their alliances with pagan nations. Through this graphic language, God emphasizes His disgust for their idolatry and foretells their judgment, warning that unfaithfulness leads to inevitable destruction.

Ezekiel 23:1-4 (NKJV)
1 The word of the Lord came again to me, saying:
2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
3 They committed harlotry in Egypt, they committed harlotry in their youth; their breasts were there embraced, their virgin bosom was there pressed.
4 Their names: Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister; they were Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem is Oholibah.

God introduces a parable of two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, representing Samaria and Jerusalem, respectively. Both cities are portrayed as having a history of idolatry dating back to their time in Egypt. Through this metaphor, God underscores His relationship with them, claiming them as His own, yet they engaged in spiritual “harlotry” by turning to foreign influences. This foundational description establishes the theme of betrayal and sets the stage for the ensuing judgment.

Ezekiel 23:5-10 (NKJV)
5 “Oholah played the harlot even though she was Mine; and she lusted for her lovers, the neighboring Assyrians,
6 Who were clothed in purple, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.
7 Thus she committed her harlotry with them, all of them choice men of Assyria; and with all for whom she lusted, with all their idols, she defiled herself.
8 She has never given up her harlotry brought from Egypt, for in her youth they had lain with her, pressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their immorality upon her.
9 “Therefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, for whom she lusted.
10 They uncovered her nakedness, took away her sons and daughters, and slew her with the sword; she became a byword among women, for they had executed judgment on her.

Oholah (Samaria) is described as seeking after Assyrian alliances, captivated by their splendor and military strength. This relationship is portrayed as idolatrous infidelity, for instead of relying on God, Samaria placed trust in Assyrian power and idols. As a result, God hands her over to the Assyrians she desired, allowing her judgment through conquest and humiliation. The portrayal of her downfall illustrates the consequences of forsaking God for foreign allegiances.

Ezekiel 23:11-13 (NKJV)
11 “Now although her sister Oholibah saw this, she became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt than her sister’s harlotry.
12 She lusted for the neighboring Assyrians, captains and rulers, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.
13 Then I saw that she was defiled; both took the same way.

Despite witnessing Samaria’s judgment, Oholibah (Jerusalem) engages in even greater corruption, displaying an insatiable desire for alliances with powerful Assyrians. This intensifies her unfaithfulness, reflecting her disregard for the warning implicit in her sister's downfall. Jerusalem’s actions show a deep-seated inclination toward idolatry, ignoring the consequences that befell Samaria and continuing down a similar path of rebellion against God.

Ezekiel 23:14-18 (NKJV)
14 But she increased her harlotry; she looked at men portrayed on the wall, images of Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion,
15 Girded with belts around their waists, flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like captains, in the manner of the Babylonians of Chaldea, the land of their nativity.
16 As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
17 “Then the Babylonians came to her, into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their immorality; so she was defiled by them, and alienated herself from them.
18 She revealed her harlotry and uncovered her nakedness. Then I alienated Myself from her, as I had alienated Myself from her sister.

Jerusalem’s infatuation shifts toward the Babylonians, indicating a new alliance and further idolatry. The city’s interest in the Babylonian culture and military prowess reflects her misplaced trust, leading to spiritual corruption. Her pursuit of foreign power ultimately defiles her, alienating God. This description reinforces the theme that seeking security outside of God leads to spiritual degradation and separation from Him.

Ezekiel 23:19-21 (NKJV)
19 “Yet she multiplied her harlotry in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, when she had played the harlot in the land of Egypt.
20 For she lusted for her paramours, whose flesh is like the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
21 Thus you called to remembrance the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians pressed your bosom because of your youthful breasts.

Jerusalem (Oholibah) is depicted as recalling her early days of idolatry in Egypt, rekindling her past immorality. This regression signifies her ongoing attachment to idolatry despite God’s calls for repentance. The graphic language emphasizes Jerusalem’s deep entrenchment in her ways, highlighting that despite the warnings and judgments of the past, she remains entangled in her unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 23:22-27 (NKJV)
22 “Therefore, Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I will stir up your lovers against you, from whom you have alienated yourself, and I will bring them against you from every side:
23 The Babylonians, all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, all the Assyrians with them, all of them desirable young men, governors and rulers, captains and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
24 And they shall come against you with chariots, wagons, and war-horses, with a horde of people. They shall array against you buckler, shield, and helmet all around. ‘I will delegate judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments.
25 I will set My jealousy against you, and they shall deal furiously with you; they shall remove your nose and your ears, and your remnant shall fall by the sword; they shall take your sons and your daughters, and your remnant shall be devoured by fire.
26 They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewelry.
27 ‘Thus I will make you cease your lewdness and your harlotry brought from the land of Egypt, so that you will not lift your eyes to them, nor remember Egypt anymore.’

God announces judgment on Jerusalem through the very nations she once pursued. The imagery of mutilation and stripping signifies the city’s impending humiliation and desolation. By allowing her former “lovers” to punish her, God illustrates that her alliances will turn against her, leading to destruction. This serves as a painful lesson on the futility of seeking security outside of God.

Ezekiel 23:28-31 (NKJV)
28 “For thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I will deliver you into the hand of those you hate, into the hand of those from whom you alienated yourself.
29 They will deal hatefully with you, take away all you have worked for, and leave you naked and bare. The nakedness of your harlotry shall be uncovered, both your lewdness and your harlotry.
30 I will do these things to you because you have gone as a harlot after the Gentiles, because you have become defiled by their idols.
31 You have walked in the way of your sister; therefore I will put her cup in your hand.’

God warns that Jerusalem (Oholibah) will suffer at the hands of the very nations she sought alliances with. The punishment reflects a poetic justice: the nations she once pursued will now strip her of everything. This exposes her spiritual nakedness, making her shame and idolatry evident to all. By walking in Samaria’s path of unfaithfulness, Jerusalem will drink from the same cup of judgment, facing similar consequences.

Ezekiel 23:32-35 (NKJV)
32 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘You shall drink of your sister’s cup, the deep and wide one; you shall be laughed to scorn and held in derision; it contains much.
33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria.
34 You shall drink and drain it, you shall break its shards, and tear at your own breasts; for I have spoken,’ says the Lord God.
35 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry.’”

Jerusalem is warned that she will fully experience the cup of judgment, symbolizing intense suffering and shame similar to that of Samaria. The imagery of a broken cup emphasizes the irreversible nature of her fate. Jerusalem’s anguish is self-inflicted due to her idolatrous actions and abandonment of God. By forgetting God and pursuing foreign gods, she must now bear the heavy consequence of her unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 23:36-39 (NKJV)
36 The Lord also said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.
37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and even sacrificed their sons whom they bore to Me, passing them through the fire, to devour them.
38 Moreover they have done this to Me: They have defiled My sanctuary on the same day and profaned My Sabbaths.
39 For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house.

God highlights the depth of Israel’s sin by detailing their atrocities, including idolatrous rituals and the sacrifice of their children. These actions represent the ultimate defilement, as they violate both their commitment to God and the sanctity of life. Entering the sanctuary after such acts further reveals their hypocrisy and disregard for God’s holiness. This passage underscores the gravity of Israel’s spiritual corruption and the audacity of defiling the temple while continuing in idolatry.

Ezekiel 23:40-42 (NKJV)
40 “Furthermore you sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and there they came. And you washed yourself for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments.
41 You sat on a stately couch, with a table prepared before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil.
42 The sound of a carefree multitude was with her, and Sabeans were brought from the wilderness with men of the common sort, who put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns on their heads.

Jerusalem’s actions are portrayed as those of a woman preparing for an illicit affair. This preparation — adorning herself and using God’s sacred items for unholy purposes — symbolizes Israel’s willingness to abandon God for the approval of other nations. The presence of foreigners in her midst represents her openness to foreign influences and idolatrous practices. This imagery powerfully illustrates her abandonment of her sacred covenant with God.

Ezekiel 23:43-45 (NKJV)
43 Then I said concerning her who had grown old in adulteries, ‘Will they commit harlotry with her now, and she with them?’
44 Yet they went in to her, as men go in to a woman who plays the harlot; thus they went in to Oholah and Oholibah, the lewd women.
45 But righteous men will judge them after the manner of adulteresses and after the manner of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.

Despite Jerusalem’s long history of unfaithfulness, foreign nations continue to engage with her, taking advantage of her willingness to compromise. However, righteous judgment awaits her, as she will be treated like an adulteress deserving punishment. This judgment by “righteous men” signifies God’s justice against spiritual unfaithfulness and the violence Israel inflicted upon herself and her people through her idolatrous actions.

Ezekiel 23:46-49 (NKJV)
46 “For thus says the Lord God: ‘Bring up an assembly against them, give them up to trouble and plunder.
47 The assembly shall stone them with stones and execute them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters and burn their houses with fire.
48 Thus I will cause lewdness to cease from the land, that all women may be taught not to practice your lewdness.
49 They shall repay you for your lewdness, and you shall pay for your idolatrous sins. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God.’”

God decrees judgment upon Oholah and Oholibah, calling for an assembly to punish them as a warning against idolatry. This severe consequence, including the destruction of families and homes, reflects the gravity of their unfaithfulness. The punishment is meant to be a lasting lesson for the people, ending idolatrous practices and leading Israel to acknowledge the authority and holiness of God. Through this judgment, God aims to purify the land and re-establish His rightful place as Israel’s one true God.