Ezekiel Chapter 23
The Adultery of Oholah and Oholibah
1 A message from the LORD came to me:
2 “Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother. 3 They carried on prostitution in Egypt when they were young. Their breasts were pressed there and their virgin bosom was handled. 4 Their names were Oholah the older and Oholibah her sister. They became mine and had children. Samaria is Oholah; Jerusalem is Oholibah.
5 “Oholah played the prostitute while she belonged to me, and doted on her lovers, the Assyrians, her neighbors, 6 who dressed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on their horses. 7 She bestowed her prostitution on them, choice men of Assyria. She defiled herself with their idols. 8 She didn’t abandon her prostitution from the time she was in Egypt. When she was young, men had lain with her, and handled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her. 9 So I gave her to her lovers, the Assyrians. 10 They uncovered her nakedness; they took her children but killed her with a sword. So she became a byword among women, and they carried out judgments on her.
Ezek 23:1-10
11 “Her sister Oholibah saw that and became even more corrupt in doting on her lovers. Her prostitution was worse than her sister’s. 12 She doted on the Assyrians, nearby governors and officials, magnificently attired, horsemen riding horses, all desirable young men. 13 I saw that she’d defiled herself; they both had followed the same path. 14 So she increased her prostitution. She saw men painted on the wall, images of Babylonians painted with vermilion, 15 wearing waistbands, with flowing turbans on their heads, all looking like officers, like Babylonians in Babylonia, the land where they were born. 16 When she saw them, she doted on them and sent messengers to them in Babylonia. 17 The Babylonians came to her bed of lust and defiled her with their prostitution. When they’d defiled her, she became disgusted with them. 18 She uncovered her prostitution and her nakedness.
Then I became disgusted with her like I had with her sister. 19 She still increased her prostitution and remembered her youth when she carried on prostitution in Egypt. 20 She doted on her paramours, whose members are like donkeys’ and whose issue is like horses’. 21 So she longed for the lewdness of her youth when the Egyptians handled her young breasts.
Ezek 23:11-21
God’s Judgment on Oholibah
22 “So, Oholibah, the Lord GOD says, ‘I’ll arouse your lovers against you—the ones you’re alienated from—and bring them against you from every direction: 23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans; Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and the Assyrians, desirable young men, governors and officials all, officers and soldiers every one, riding horses. 24 They’ll attack you with weapons, chariots, and wagons, and an army of soldiers arrayed against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet. I’ll let them judge you by their customs, 25 and I’ll direct my jealousy against you in anger. They’ll cut off your nose and ears, and any survivors will fall by the sword. They’ll capture your children and burn your survivors. 26 They’ll strip off your clothes and take your beautiful jewels. 27 That’s how I’ll stop your lewdness and prostitution with Egypt so you won’t look up to it or remember it anymore. 28 I’ll turn you over to the ones you despise, people you’re alienated from. 29 They’ll deal with you in hate, take your property, and leave you naked. 30 Your lewdness and prostitution will be exposed. 31 You’ve followed your sister’s ways; so I’ll give you her cup to drink.’ Ezek 23:22-31
32 “The Lord GOD says,
‘You’ll drink your sister’s cup,
which is deep and wide.
You’ll be laughed at and ridiculed
because it holds a lot.
33 You’ll be filled with drunkenness and distress:
the cup of horror and desolation,
the cup of your sister Samaria.
34 You’ll drink it and drain it.
Then you’ll dash it to pieces
and beat your breasts.
I’ve said so.
35 Because you’ve thrown me away and forgotten me, take the punishment for your lewdness and prostitution.’”
Ezek 23:32-35
God’s Judgment on Both Sisters
36 The LORD said:
“Son of man, will you willing to judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then remind them of their detestable acts. 37 Say,
‘You’ve committed adultery and murder—
adultery by worshiping your idols,
murder by burning your children as food for them—
children you bore to me.
38 You’ve defiled my sanctuary
and profaned my Sabbaths.
39 The very day you killed your children for your idols,
you went into my sanctuary to worship—my Temple!
40“You sisters” even sent messengers
to bring men from a long way off.
You took baths,
put on eyeshadow and fine jewelry,
41 and sat down on a splendid couch
by a table where you’d put my oil and incense.
42 The sound of debauchery surrounded you,
and common drunks were brought in from the wilderness.
They put bracelets on your wrists
and beautiful crowns on your heads.
Ezek 23:36-42
43Then I said about you women
that were worn out from committing adulteries,
“Will these guys commit adultery
with women in that condition?!”
44 But they slept with you like prostitutes,
Oholah and Oholibah, lewd women.
45 But good men will condemn you
for your adultery and murder.’
46 “The Lord GOD says,
‘Bring an army against them;
turn them over to terror and plunder:
47 stone them,
cut them down with swords,
kill their children,
burn their houses.
48 That’s how I’ll stop lewdness in the land.
Warn every woman not to do like “the sisters” have done,
49 “Your lewdness will come back on you
as the penalty for worshiping idols.