Ezekiel 23
[Ezekiel 23:1] THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME AGAIN UNTO ME, SAYING,
[Ezekiel 23:2] SON OF MAN, THERE WERE TWO WOMEN, THE DAUGHTERS OF ONE MOTHER:
[Ezekiel 23:3] AND THEY COMMITTED WHOREDOMS IN EGYPT; THEY COMMITTED
WHOREDOMS IN THEIR YOUTH: THERE WERE THEIR BREASTS PRESSED, AND THERE THEY
BRUISED THE TEATS OF THEIR VIRGINITY.
[Ezekiel 23:4] AND THE NAMES OF THEM WERE AHOLAH THE ELDER, AND AHOLIBAH
HER SISTER: AND THEY WERE MINE, AND THEY BARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS. THUS WERE
THEIR NAMES; SAMARIA IS AHOLAH, AND JERUSALEM AHOLIBAH.
<<SAMARIA IS AHOLAH, AND JERUSALEM AHOLIBAH>>:
Ezekiel
is talking about the Ten Tribes headed by Joseph or Ephraim and about Judah
or the Jews. Samaria = <<AHOLAH>>: Her tent (Ohela) is there.Jerusalem
(Judah) = <<AHOLIBAH>> My tent (oheli) is in her (bah).Rabbi
Moshe Eisemann (Artscroll Commentary) points out that these verses suggest
that the division which took place after the death of Solomon between the
northern tribes and the southern ones had its roots from the very beginning.
Even when they were in Egypt, and before they had properly speaking even
become a nation, the two halves of Israel were distinct from each other.
This supports the view that even though the division was a calamity for both
sides there was an aspect of almost inevitable destiny about it. There was
something in each half of Israel that each side had to develop on its own
even though this meant that each side would be lacking a certain quality
he could have developed through association with the other.In the future
the two sides will re-unite and complement each other. This coming re-unification
is being instinctively felt even now in an unconscious sense by elements
on both sides.
Eisemann points out that even though Samaria ("Shomron" in Hebrew)
meaning the northern ten tribes worshipped golden calves (1-Kings 12:28)
the original intention had not been that of idol worship but rather as symbolic
representations of the Presence of God intended to replace the Temple in
Jerusalem. Even so, this was forbidden and eventually it did deteriorate
into idolatry.
[Ezekiel 23:5] AND AHOLAH PLAYED THE HARLOT WHEN SHE WAS MINE; AND SHE DOTED ON HER LOVERS, ON THE ASSYRIANS HER NEIGHBOURS,
[Ezekiel 23:6] WHICH WERE CLOTHED WITH BLUE, CAPTAINS AND RULERS, ALL OF THEM DESIRABLE YOUNG MEN, HORSEMEN RIDING UPON HORSES.
[Ezekiel 23:7] THUS SHE COMMITTED HER WHOREDOMS WITH THEM, WITH ALL
THEM THAT WERE THE CHOSEN MEN OF ASSYRIA, AND WITH ALL ON WHOM SHE DOTED:
WITH ALL THEIR IDOLS SHE DEFILED HERSELF.
[Ezekiel 23:8] NEITHER LEFT SHE HER WHOREDOMS BROUGHT FROM EGYPT: FOR IN
HER YOUTH THEY LAY WITH HER, AND THEY BRUISED THE BREASTS OF HER VIRGINITY,
AND POURED THEIR WHOREDOM UPON HER.
The Northern Kingdom worshipped Egyptian idols and was heavily permeated
with Egyptian culture as evidenced by archaeological finds. The Israelites
had come out of Egypt and apparently something of the Egyptian influence
always remained and in times of moral decline it became stronger.
[Ezekiel 23:9] WHEREFORE I HAVE DELIVERED HER INTO THE HAND OF HER LOVERS, INTO THE HAND OF THE ASSYRIANS, UPON WHOM SHE DOTED.
[Ezekiel 23:10] THESE DISCOVERED HER NAKEDNESS: THEY TOOK HER SONS
AND HER DAUGHTERS, AND SLEW HER WITH THE SWORD: AND SHE BECAME FAMOUS AMONG
WOMEN; FOR THEY HAD EXECUTED JUDGMENT UPON HER.
<<THEY TOOK HER SONS AND HER DAUGHTERS>>: The Assyrians
exiled the northern Kingdom of Israel (Samaria) i.e. the ten Tribes in three
stages:
1. Reuben, Gad, and half-Menasseh who dwelt east of the Jordan, ( Ist Chronicles 5:26)
2. Gilead, Galileee, Naphtali 2-Kings 15:29
3. The city and Pronvince of Samaria in the south 2-Kings 17:6.The Assyrians
later invaded Judah (2-Kings 18:13). They exiled many from Judah and Simeon
who joined the ten tribes and were counted with them. Simeon was counted
as one of the Ten (as we have explained several times in the past).
[Ezekiel 23:11] AND WHEN HER SISTER AHOLIBAH SAW THIS,
SHE WAS MORE CORRUPT IN HER INORDINATE LOVE THAN SHE, AND IN HER WHOREDOMS
MORE THAN HER SISTER IN HER WHOREDOMS.
[Ezekiel 23:12] SHE DOTED UPON THE ASSYRIANS HER NEIGHBOURS, CAPTAINS
AND RULERS CLOTHED MOST GORGEOUSLY, HORSEMEN RIDING UPON HORSES, ALL OF THEM
DESIRABLE YOUNG MEN.
[Ezekiel 23:13] THEN I SAW THAT SHE WAS DEFILED, THAT THEY TOOK BOTH ONE WAY,
[Ezekiel 23:14] AND THAT SHE INCREASED HER WHOREDOMS: FOR WHEN SHE
SAW MEN POURTRAYED UPON THE WALL, THE IMAGES OF THE CHALDEANS POURTRAYED
WITH VERMILION,
[Ezekiel 23:15] GIRDED WITH GIRDLES UPON THEIR LOINS, EXCEEDING IN
DYED ATTIRE UPON THEIR HEADS, ALL OF THEM PRINCES TO LOOK TO, AFTER THE MANNER
OF THE BABYLONIANS OF CHALDEA, THE LAND OF THEIR NATIVITY:
<<CHALDEA>>: In Hebrew the Chaldeans are called "Casdim".
[Ezekiel 23:16] AND AS SOON AS SHE SAW THEM WITH HER EYES, SHE DOTED UPON THEM, AND SENT MESSENGERS UNTO THEM INTO CHALDEA.
[Ezekiel 23:17] AND THE BABYLONIANS CAME TO HER INTO THE BED OF LOVE,
AND THEY DEFILED HER WITH THEIR WHOREDOM, AND SHE WAS POLLUTED WITH THEM,
AND HER MIND WAS ALIENATED FROM THEM.
[Ezekiel 23:18] SO SHE DISCOVERED HER WHOREDOMS, AND DISCOVERED HER
NAKEDNESS: THEN MY MIND WAS ALIENATED FROM HER, LIKE AS MY MIND WAS ALIENATED
FROM HER SISTER.
Judah also lusted after foreign influences and this was as despicable as could be.
[Ezekiel 23:19] YET SHE MULTIPLIED HER WHOREDOMS,
IN CALLING TO REMEMBRANCE THE DAYS OF HER YOUTH, WHEREIN SHE HAD PLAYED THE
HARLOT IN THE LAND OF EGYPT.
[Ezekiel 23:20] FOR SHE DOTED UPON THEIR PARAMOURS, WHOSE FLESH IS
AS THE FLESH OF ASSES, AND WHOSE ISSUE IS LIKE THE ISSUE OF HORSES.
The Prophets likens the foreign influences to the seed of animals and animalistic lusts.
[Ezekiel 23:21] THUS THOU CALLEDST TO REMEMBRANCE
THE LEWDNESS OF THY YOUTH, IN BRUISING THY TEATS BY THE EGYPTIANS FOR THE
PAPS OF THY YOUTH.
[Ezekiel 23:22] THEREFORE, O AHOLIBAH, THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD,
I WILL RAISE UP THY LOVERS AGAINST THEE, FROM WHOM THY MIND IS ALIENATED,
AND I WILL BRING THEM AGAINST THEE ON EVERY SIDE;
[Ezekiel 23:23] THE BABYLONIANS, AND ALL THE CHALDEANS, PEKOD, AND
SHOA, AND KOA, AND ALL THE ASSYRIANS WITH THEM: ALL OF THEM DESIRABLE YOUNG
MEN, CAPTAINS AND RULERS, GREAT LORDS AND RENOWNED, ALL OF THEM RIDING UPON
HORSES.
Judah would be punished by the Babylonians and all the Babylonian tribes
who included remnants of the Assyrians after the Assyrian Empire had been
destroyed.
[Ezekiel 23:24] AND THEY SHALL COME AGAINST THEE WITH
CHARIOTS, WAGONS, AND WHEELS, AND WITH AN ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE, WHICH SHALL
SET AGAINST THEE BUCKLER AND SHIELD AND HELMET ROUND ABOUT: AND I WILL SET
JUDGMENT BEFORE THEM, AND THEY SHALL JUDGE THEE ACCORDING TO THEIR JUDGMENTS.
[Ezekiel 23:25] AND I WILL SET MY JEALOUSY AGAINST THEE, AND THEY SHALL
DEAL FURIOUSLY WITH THEE: THEY SHALL TAKE AWAY THY NOSE AND THINE EARS; AND
THY REMNANT SHALL FALL BY THE SWORD: THEY SHALL TAKE THY SONS AND THY DAUGHTERS;
AND THY RESIDUE SHALL BE DEVOURED BY THE FIRE.
[Ezekiel 23:26] THEY SHALL ALSO STRIP THEE OUT OF THY CLOTHES, AND TAKE AWAY THY FAIR JEWELS.
[Ezekiel 23:27] THUS WILL I MAKE THY LEWDNESS TO CEASE
FROM THEE, AND THY WHOREDOM BROUGHT FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT: SO THAT THOU
SHALT NOT LIFT UP THINE EYES UNTO THEM, NOR REMEMBER EGYPT ANY MORE.
<<NOR REMEMBER EGYPT ANY MORE>>: Egypt and its attractions
will be forgotten. In modern terms we have suggested in the past that the
Hebrew word "Mitsrayim" translated as "Egypt" could possibly in certain circumstances
refer to Russia.
[Ezekiel 23:28] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BEHOLD,
I WILL DELIVER THEE INTO THE HAND OF THEM WHOM THOU HATEST, INTO THE HAND
OF THEM FROM WHOM THY MIND IS ALIENATED:
The Jews hated the Babylonians and rebelled against them but were delivered up to them.
[Ezekiel 23:29] AND THEY SHALL DEAL WITH THEE HATEFULLY,
AND SHALL TAKE AWAY ALL THY LABOUR, AND SHALL LEAVE THEE NAKED AND BARE:
AND THE NAKEDNESS OF THY WHOREDOMS SHALL BE DISCOVERED, BOTH THY LEWDNESS
AND THY WHOREDOMS.
[Ezekiel 23:30] I WILL DO THESE THINGS UNTO THEE, BECAUSE THOU HAST
GONE A WHORING AFTER THE HEATHEN, AND BECAUSE THOU ART POLLUTED WITH THEIR
IDOLS.
[Ezekiel 23:31] THOU HAST WALKED IN THE WAY OF THY SISTER; THEREFORE WILL I GIVE HER CUP INTO THINE HAND.
Just as the northern kingdom had gone into exile, so would the southern kingdom.
[Ezekiel 23:32] THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; THOU SHALT
DRINK OF THY SISTER'S CUP DEEP AND LARGE: THOU SHALT BE LAUGHEDTO SCORN
AND HAD IN DERISION; IT CONTAINETH MUCH.
[Ezekiel 23:33] THOU SHALT BE FILLED WITH DRUNKENNESS AND SORROW, WITH
THE CUP OF ASTONISHMENT AND DESOLATION, WITH THE CUP OF THY SISTER SAMARIA.
[Ezekiel 23:34] THOU SHALT EVEN DRINK IT AND SUCK IT OUT, AND THOU SHALT
BREAK THE SHERDS THEREOF, AND PLUCK OFF THINE OWN BREASTS: FOR I HAVE SPOKEN
IT, SAITH THE LORD GOD.
[Ezekiel 23:35] THEREFORE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; BECAUSE THOU HAST FORGOTTEN
ME, AND CAST ME BEHIND THY BACK, THEREFORE BEAR THOU ALSO THY LEWDNESS AND
THY WHOREDOMS.
[Ezekiel 23:36] THE LORD SAID MOREOVER UNTO ME; SON OF MAN, WILT THOU
JUDGE AHOLAH AND AHOLIBAH? YEA, DECLARE UNTO THEM THEIR ABOMINATIONS;
Eisemann quotes the commentary of Rabbi Isaac Breuer ("The New Kuzari")
as saying that each part of Israel has a portion in the other part. "The
two tribes of the southern kingdom [i.e. the present-day Jews] bear the sins
of the lost ten tribes and are the guaranters of the latter's eventual return".
[Ezekiel 23:37] THAT THEY HAVE COMMITTED ADULTERY,
AND BLOOD IS IN THEIR HANDS, AND WITH THEIR IDOLS HAVE THEY COMMITTED ADULTERY,
AND HAVE ALSO CAUSED THEIR SONS, WHOM THEY BARE UNTO ME, TO PASS FOR THEM
THROUGH THE
FIRE, TO DEVOUR THEM.
<<WHOM THEY BARE UNTO ME, TO PASS FOR THEM THROUGH THE FIRE>>:
Both Judah and the northern kingdom committed human sacrifice. The Druids
in the Celtic west, amongst descendents of Israelites, also practiced human
sacrifice.
[Ezekiel 23:38] MOREOVER THIS THEY HAVE DONE UNTO
ME: THEY HAVE DEFILED MY SANCTUARY IN THE SAME DAY, AND HAVE PROFANED MY
SABBATHS.
[Ezekiel 23:39] FOR WHEN THEY HAD SLAIN THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR IDOLS,
THEN THEY CAME THE SAME DAY INTO MY SANCTUARY TO PROFANE IT; AND, LO, THUS
HAVE THEY DONE IN THE MIDST OF MINE HOUSE.
<<HAD SLAIN THEIR CHILDREN TO THEIR IDOLS>>: Abortion is
also a type of human sacrifice. Abortion is tolerated because people want
it, it is difficult to control, and also because some public administrators
believe it may be for the public good. They think it keeps the population
down and reduces the numbers of less positive social elements. These considerations
are mistaken. Human sacrifice was also mistaken but it was likewise justified
by the mistaken belief that society and the individual would benefit.
[Ezekiel 23:40] AND FURTHERMORE, THAT YE HAVE SENT
FOR MEN TO COME FROM FAR, UNTO WHOM A MESSENGER WAS SENT; AND, LO, THEY CAME:
FOR WHOM THOU DIDST WASH THYSELF, PAINTEDST THY EYES, AND DECKEDST THYSELF
WITH ORNAMENTS,
[Ezekiel 23:41] AND SATEST UPON A STATELY BED, AND A TABLE PREPARED BEFORE
IT, WHEREUPON THOU HAST SET MINE INCENSE AND MINE OIL.
[Ezekiel 23:42] AND A VOICE OF A MULTITUDE BEING AT EASE WAS WITH HER:
AND WITH THE MEN OF THE COMMON SORT WERE BROUGHT SABEANS FROM THE WILDERNESS,
WHICH PUT BRACELETS UPON THEIR HANDS, AND BEAUTIFUL CROWNS UPON THEIR HEADS.
[Ezekiel 23:43] THEN SAID I UNTO HER THAT WAS OLD IN ADULTERIES, WILL THEY NOW COMMIT WHOREDOMS WITH HER, AND SHE WITH THEM?
[Ezekiel 23:44] YET THEY WENT IN UNTO HER, AS THEY
GO IN UNTO A WOMAN THAT PLAYETH THE HARLOT: SO WENT THEY IN UNTO AHOLAH AND
UNTO AHOLIBAH, THE LEWD WOMEN.
[Ezekiel 23:45] AND THE RIGHTEOUS MEN, THEY SHALL JUDGE THEM AFTER
THE MANNER OF ADULTERESSES, AND AFTER THE MANNER OF WOMEN THAT SHED BLOOD;
BECAUSE THEY ARE ADULTERESSES, AND BLOOD IS IN THEIR HANDS.<<AND
THE RIGHTEOUS MEN>>: Our enemies among the non-Israelite nations in
some ways are considered righteous as compared to us and we are liable to
suffer punishment sat their hands unless we better our ways.
[Ezekiel 23:46] FOR THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD; I WILL BRING UP A COMPANY UPON THEM, AND WILL GIVE THEM TO BE REMOVED AND SPOILED.
[Ezekiel 23:47] AND THE COMPANY SHALL STONE THEM WITH STONES, AND DISPATCH
THEM WITH THEIR SWORDS; THEY SHALL SLAY THEIR SONS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS, AND
BURN UP THEIR HOUSES WITH FIRE.
[Ezekiel 23:48] THUS WILL I CAUSE LEWDNESS TO CEASE OUT OF THE LAND, THAT ALL WOMEN MAY BE TAUGHT NOT TO DO AFTER YOUR LEWDNESS.
[Ezekiel 23:49] AND THEY SHALL RECOMPENSE YOUR LEWDNESS UPON YOU, AND
YE SHALL BEAR THE SINS OF YOUR IDOLS: AND YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD
GOD.
EZEKIEL INDEX
CHAPTER 24
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