“Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine. She doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whoever she lusted after.
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Ezekiel 23:5-7 sits inside this longer paragraph.
“Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine. She doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors, who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whoever she lusted after. She hasn’t left her prostitution since leaving Egypt; for in her youth they lay with her. They caressed her youthful nipples; and they poured out their prostitution on her.
Parallel Translations
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“Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine. She doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbors,
who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.
She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whoever she lusted after.
-
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,
Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.
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.
Show all 3 translations
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And Oholah played the harlot when she was Mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians, warriors,
clothed with blue, governors and rulers, handsome young men all of them, horsemen riding upon horses.
And she bestowed her harlotries upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whomsoever she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself.
Cross-references (31)
- 2 Kings 15:19 (v5) Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to…
- 2 Kings 16:7 (v5) So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me out of the hand of…
- 2 Kings 17:3 (v5) Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant, and brought him tribute.
- Hosea 5:3 (v7) I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.
- Hosea 5:13 (v5) “When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, Then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to king Jareb: but he is not able to heal you,…
Show all 31 cross-references
- Hosea 6:10 (v7) In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing. There is prostitution in Ephraim. Israel is defiled.
- 2 Kings 17:7-18 (v5) It was so because the children of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the…
- Jeremiah 50:38 (v5) A drought is on her waters, and they will be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols.
- Ezekiel 16:28 (v5) You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet…
- Ezekiel 20:7 (v7) I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your…
- Ezekiel 22:3-4 (v7) You shall say, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “A city that sheds blood within herself, that her time may come, and that makes idols against herself…
- Hosea 8:9-10 (v5) For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself. But although they sold…
- Genesis 10:22 (v7) The sons of Shem were: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.
- 1 Kings 14:9 (v5) but have done evil above all who were before you, and have gone and made for yourself other gods, molten images, to provoke me to anger,…
- 1 Kings 14:16 (v5) He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, which he has sinned, and with which he has made Israel to sin.”
- 1 Kings 15:26 (v5) He did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin with which he made Israel to sin.
- 1 Kings 15:30 (v5) for the sins of Jeroboam which he sinned, and with which he made Israel to sin, because of his provocation with which he provoked Yahweh,…
- 1 Kings 16:31-32 (v5) As if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal…
- 1 Kings 21:26 (v5) He did very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites did, whom Yahweh cast out before the children of Israel.
- Psalms 106:39 (v7) Thus they were defiled with their works, and prostituted themselves in their deeds.
- Ezekiel 16:15 (v7) “ ‘ “But you trusted in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who…
- Ezekiel 16:37 (v5) therefore see, I will gather all your lovers, with whom you have taken pleasure, and all those who you have loved, with all those who you…
- Ezekiel 23:7 (v5) She gave herself as a prostitute to them, all of them the choicest men of Assyria. She defiled herself with the idols of whoever she lusted…
- Ezekiel 23:9 (v5) “Therefore I delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, on whom she doted.
- Ezekiel 23:12 (v5) She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and rulers, her neighbors, clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding on horses, all of them…
- Ezekiel 23:16 (v5) As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them into Chaldea.
- Ezekiel 23:20 (v5) She lusted after their lovers, whose flesh is as the flesh of donkeys, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.
- Ezekiel 23:23 (v6) the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; all of them desirable young men, governors and…
- Ezekiel 23:30 (v7) These things will be done to you, because you have played the prostitute after the nations, and because you are polluted with their idols.
- Hosea 10:6 (v5) It also will be carried to Assyria for a present to a great king. Ephraim will receive shame, and Israel will be ashamed of his own counsel.
- Hosea 12:1 (v5) Ephraim feeds on wind, and chases the east wind. He continually multiplies lies and desolation. They make a covenant with Assyria, and oil…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v5 Hebrew, under me.
Hebrew, under me.
When the Israelites were named the people of God, they became idolaters, and forsook God, and put their trust in the Assyrians.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Eze 23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when she…
Eze 23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours,
Ver. 5. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine.] Fornicata est sub me, under colour and covert of a marriage made with me. See what a fair gloss Jeroboam set upon his foul idolatry. {1Ki 12:28}
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On the Assyrians, her neighbours.] So they were now become, by the conquest of Syria.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Aholah, the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes,
Aholah, the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes,
played the harlot; united in confederacy in civil concerns, and in idolatry as to religious concerns, with the Assyrians.
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When she was mine; when under my government and protection, or in my presence, or before I had abdicated and cast her off.
Doted; were madly enamoured with the Assyrian idols, temples, and manner of worship.
Her lovers; whom she loved, not that I find they so much loved her.
The Assyrians; so often mentioned, nothing needs be said of them.
Her neighbours; so they were now by their seizing of Syria, and possessing it as their own 2Ki 15:19.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv5–7 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine,....…
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine,.... His married wife, and so ought to have cleaved to him alone: or, under me (o); under his cover, power, and protection, and therefore it was their interest to serve him only: or, "instead of me" (p); or, as the Syriac version, "besides me": they worshipped other gods in the room of the true God, or other gods besides him. The Targum is,
"and Aholah erred from my worship;''
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the ten tribes fell into idolatry, when they were God's professing people:
and she doted on her lovers; whom she loved even to madness; she was mad with love, to the idols, temples, altars, and idolatrous worship of the Heathens; particularly doted "on the Assyrians her neighbours"; who were become so by the conquest of Syria; and these they treated as their neighbours, and sought to have them to be their allies and confederates; courted their help and assistance, and gave them much money for that purpose; as Menahem gave to Pul king of Assyria a thousand talents of silver, to confirm the kingdom in his hand, Kg2 15:19.
(o) "sub me", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Tigurine version. Piscator, Cocceius, Starckius. (p) "Exteros excipiens loco meo", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Played the harlot - United in idolatry, with the…
Played the harlot - United in idolatry, with the Assyrians. Mine - When under my government, and protection.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Verse 5. And Aholah played the harlot] Without entering…
Verse 5. And Aholah played the harlot] Without entering into detail here, or following the figures, they both became idolatrous, and received the impure rites of the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, of which connexion the prophet speaks here as he did in Eze 16:15 c., which see.
In this chapter there are many of what we would call indelicate expressions, because a parallel is run between idolatry and prostitution, and the circumstances of the latter illustrate the peculiarities of the former. In such cases, perhaps, the matter alone was given to the prophet, and he was left to use his own language, and amplify as he saw good. Ezekiel was among the Jews what Juvenal was among the Romans,-a rough reprover of the most abominable vices. They both spoke of things as they found them stripped vice naked, and scourged it publicly. The original is still more rough than the translation; and surely there is no need of a comment to explain imagery that is but too generally understood. I have said enough on Eze 16:15 c,, and to that I must refer the reader. It is true that there are a few things here in the shade that might be illustrated by anatomy and it would not be difficult to do it: but they are not necessary to salvation, and I shall not take off the covering. They were sufficiently understood by those for whose use they were originally designed.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv5, 7 Eze 23:5-6. And Aholah played the harlot when she…
Eze 23:5-6. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine — When she was under my government and protection. “After she had lived in covenant with me, and attended upon my service and worship all the time of the judges, and of David and Solomon, she fell off from my service, and was the first that established idolatry by a law, and consented to Jeroboam’s wicked device of setting up the golden calves.” In the Scripture language, the Jewish people are said to play the harlot with those whose religious ceremonies they imitated. And she doted on her lovers — That is, her foreign allies, whose idolatries she was fond of, and hoped by that means to procure their friendship and assistance: see note on Eze 16:33; Eze 16:37. On the Assyrians her neighbours — The king of Assyria was a very potent prince, and thereupon his alliance was courted both by the kings of Israel and Judah: see the margin. Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers — “As women are apt to fall in love with comely young men, well mounted and richly clothed; so the Israelites were enamoured with the state and bravery of the Assyrians, and thought themselves secure if they could but procure their alliance and friendship, and in order to it embraced their idolatries. Horsemen riding upon horses — Horses were scarce in Judea, which made the Jews apply themselves to the neighbouring counties for troops of horse, in the time of any hostile invasion.” — Lowth.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v6 The army of the Assyrians is described. War-horses formed…
The army of the Assyrians is described. War-horses formed an important part in the armies of Assyria and Egypt; Israel was deficient in this respect Isa 36:8.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Assyrians. That is, the idols of the Assyrians: for…
Assyrians. That is, the idols of the Assyrians: for all that is said in this chapter of the fornications of Israel and Juda, is to be understood in a spiritual sense of their disloyalty to the Lord, by worshipping strange gods. (Challoner) (Worthington) --- The Assyrians taught the worship of Baal, the high places, &c. The Egyptians also promoted their abominations. (Calmet)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5–7 when . . . mine--literally, "under Me," that is,…
when . . . mine--literally, "under Me," that is, subject to Me as her lawful husband.
neighbours--On the northeast the kingdom of Israel bordered on that of Assyria; for the latter had occupied much of Syria. Their neighborhood in locality was emblematical of their being near in corruption of morals and worship. The alliances of Israel with Assyria, which are the chief subject of reprobation here, tended to this (Kg2 15:19; Kg2 16:7, Kg2 16:9; Kg2 17:3; Hos 8:9).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5. And Aholah played the harlot — The wife…
5. And Aholah played the harlot — The wife deserts her husband and joins herself to the handsomely uniformed Assyrians. Nahum represents Nineveh as the grand courtesan of the nations. Her palaces and glorious gardens and, above all, the military prowess which for six centuries dominated the whole earth made her brave to look upon. “In war the Assyrians astonished the people by the richness of the colors of their costumes, the flashing of their arms, and the multitude of horses and chariots, which has never been surpassed by any other people.” — Delatre. The military grandeur of these young horsemen dazzles her eyes and she accepts them and “all their idols” (Eze_23:7) instead of her true Lord. This evidently refers to Jerusalem’s political as well as her religious affiliation with Assyria. (Compare Hos_5:13; Hos_7:11; 2Ki_23:11; 2Ki_17:4.) Her neighbors (also Eze_23:12) — The nations that had formerly seemed far away (Eze_23:40) came very near to Jerusalem after Jehu began to pay tribute to Shalmaneser (Black Obelisk). It is probable, however, that this Hebrew term may mean “warriors” (Smend) or “high dignitaries” (Toy).
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5–10. The intrigues of Samaria with Assyria
5–10. The intrigues of Samaria with Assyria
5. when she was mine] though my wife, lit. under me.
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Assyrians her neighbours] In Eze_16:26 the Egyptians are called Israel’s “neighbours,” but the Assyrians could hardly be so called, and indeed in Eze_23:40 are referred to as “far off.” The word may mean “warriors” (the similar word “war” or “battle” 2Sa_17:11 and often). Corn, suggests, “famous,” the term used in Eze_23:23. The verse should be connected with Eze_23:6, as appears from Eze_23:12—even on the Assyrians, warriors clothed with blue.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–7 (5) The Assyrians her neighbours.—Or, the Assyrians drawing near.…
(5) The Assyrians her neighbours.—Or, the Assyrians drawing near. They are described in Eze_23:40 as those who “come from far.” The nearness here spoken of is to be understood not locally, but spiritually, of sympathy in idolatry. Of the earlier connection between Israel and Assyria there is little remaining record. In 2Ki_15:19-20, it is said that Pul exacted tribute of Menahem, and the mention seems to imply a still earlier intercourse. According to the Assyrian records, Jehu was tributary to Shalmaneser; Assyria, as representing the great northern power, in contrast to Egypt on the south, is probably used here in a sense broad enough to include also Syria.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5–7 The history of both the sisters passes from the…
The history of both the sisters passes from the time of the Exodus to that of their separate existence, and starts, in fact, from their first intercourse with the great monarchies of Asia. So far it is less a survey of their successive stages of degradation, like that of Eze 16, than a retrospect of their political alliances. Aholah played the harlot. The lovers, as in Eze_16:33, are the nations with which the kings of Israel were in alliance, and of these the Assyrians are named as preeminent. The word neighbors, which in its literal sense is hardly applicable, is probably to be taken of spiritual affinity, or may be taken as "come near" is in Gen_20:4; Eze_18:6; Lev_20:16. The Assyrians were those who, in that sense, came near to the harlot city. We have in 2Ki_15:20 the fact that Menahem paid tribute to Pul. Hos_5:13 and Hos_7:11 speak generally of such alliances. The black obelisk of Shalmaneser records the fact that Jehu paid tribute to him ("Records of the Past," 5:41). In the last-named case the tribute consisted chiefly of vessels of gold, bowls, goblets, etc.
HOMILIES BY W. JONES Ver. 5a. Exalted relationship and enormous sin.
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"And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine.
I A RELATIONSHIP OF THE HIGHEST PRIVILEGE. "She was mine." Aholah is intended to represent the people of Israel as distinguished from the people of Judah. The Lord here says that she was his. In common with all other peoples, Israel was his:
(1) By creation. God himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." He is "the Father of spirits.
(2) By sustentation. He is "the God in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways." With Job, we may say to him, "Thou hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit." But:
(3) Israel was his by redemption. He redeemed them from their bondage in Egypt by mighty works and marvelous signs. That emancipation is an illustration of the redemption of man from sin effected by our Savior Jesus Christ. "The Lord hath anointed him to proclaim liberty to the captives,". (Isa_61:1, Isa_61:2) He "gave himself a ransom for all.
(4) Israel was his pre-eminently by covenant engagement. "I aware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine". (Eze_16:8) They belonged to him as a wife belongs to her husband. This is the relationship to which the text points, and which is treated of in Ezekiel 16. It is great condescension on the part of God to authorize the prophets thus to represent his relation to his people. "Thy Maker is thy Husband; the Lord of hosts is his name". "Return, (Isa_54:5) O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am a Husband unto. (Jer_3:14) This relationship should be characterized by:
1. Tender affection. We may see this in the way in which St. Paul writes of the love between Christ and the Church. (Eph_5:23-32) When marriage is contracted without true mutual affection, the relation is desecrated.
2. Exalted privilege. In taking the Israelites to be his, God gave himself to them as their supreme Portion. "They shall be my people, and I will be their. (Jer_32:38) "This of God"s being our God," says Charnocke, is the quintessence of the covenant, the soul of all the promises: in this he hath promised whatsoever is infinite in him, whatsoever is the glory and ornament of his nature, for our use; not a part of him, or one single perfection, but the whole vigor and strength of all. As he is not a God without infinite wisdom, and infinite power, and infinite goodness, and infinite blessedness, etc., so he passes over, in this covenant, all that which presents him as the most adorable Being to his creatures: he will be to them as great, as wise, as powerful, as good, as he is in himself. And the assuring us, in this covenant, to be our God, imports also that he will do as much for us as we would do for ourselves, were we furnished with the same goodness, power, and wisdom: in being our God, he testifies it is all one as if we had the same perfections in our power to employ for our use; for he being possessed with them, it is as much as if we ourselves were possessed with them for our own advantage, according to the rules of wisdom, and the several conditions we pass through for his glory.
3. Scrupulous fidelity. The relationship imperatively demands this. God would not fail in one jot or tittle on his part. "If we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself." And Israel was required to be true to him in obeying his commands, and above all in worshipping him alone. "I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods before me," etc. (Exo_20:1, seg.) Through Jesus Christ we may each enter into this exalted relationship. Through him we may each be enabled, without presumption, to say of the great God, "He is my God and my Father.
II A SIN OF THE GREATEST HEINOUSNESS. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine." Israel is here represented as a wife who has been unfaithful to her husband. The primary reference is to the sin of Jeroboam in setting up the golden calves at Bethel and at Dan, and calling upon the people to worship God through them. (1Ki_12:26-33) And this was but the beginning of Israel"s sin. Afterwards they worshipped Baal and Astarte. Their sin involved:
1. Positive injustice. They robbed God of his rights. He has a just claim on our obedience, our reverence, and our love. This claim is firmly based upon what he is in himself the Supremely Great and Good; and upon what he is and does in relation to us our Creator, etc. Not to comply with his claims is to defraud him o; his due.
2. Base ingratitude. How shameful were the returns which Israel made for his great kindness to them! Very strikingly is this set forth in Ezekiel 16. And their conduct has been too closely reproduced by us. For his fidelity we have returned unbelief; for his love, coldness of heart; for his beneficence, disobedience. How heinous this ingratitude is! And yet, alas, how common!
Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind As man"s ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude.
Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, That dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot: Though thou the Waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remember"d not. (Shakspeare. )
3. Heinous infidelity. This is the aspect of Israel"s sin to which prominence is given in the text. In forsaking the Lord God for idols they committed a treacherous breach of a sacred engagement. Their conduct is an illustration of the action of those who, having avowed their allegiance to him, turn their backs upon him and upon his cause. Terrible is their guilt, and deplorable their condition. "It is a miserable thing," says Bishop Ryle, "to be a backslider. Of all unhappy things that can befall a man, I suppose it is the worst. A stranded ship, a broken-winged eagle, a garden overrun with weeds, a harp without strings, a church in ruins, all these are sad sights; but a backslider is a sadder sight still." And appalling will be their doom, even "a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries." Says Bunyan, "They fall deepest into hell who fall backwards into hell." Let backsliders return unto the Lord while there is yet time. "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; I will not look in anger upon you," etc. W.J. (Jer_3:12, Jer_3:14; Hos_14:1-4)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On v5 EXEGETICAL NOTES.—The spiritual adultery of Samaria with Assyria. The…
(Eze_23:5-10)
EXEGETICAL NOTES.—The spiritual adultery of Samaria with Assyria. The instrument of her punishment is that very people which she had made the object of her impure love.
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Eze_23:5. The Assyrians her neighbours. The word refers rather to kinsmen, rather than to those dwelling near. Asshur was brother to Arphaxad, Abraham’s ancestor (Gen_10:22; Gen_10:24; Gen_11:16-26).
Eze_23:6. Clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. “This description given of the Assyrians contains the thought that Israel, dazzled by Assyria’s splendour, and overpowered by the might of that kingdom, had been drawn into intercourse with the Assyrians, which led her astray into idolatry. The predicate, clothed in purple, points to the splendour and glory of this imperial power; the other predicates, to the magnitude of its military force.” (Keil). We have here the ground which tempted Aholah to become unfaithful to her God. It lay in this, that the paramour Assyria came into her neighbourhood, and placed his grandeur before her. Therein lay the temptation to sue for his favour to ward off injury. The adultery has been not so much a religious as a political import. The paramour, on whose account Israel forsakes his God, is Assyria itself, not its god, though they endeavoured, no doubt from fear of the people, to make friends of its gods also.” (Hengstenberg).
Eze_23:8. “Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt.” This was the Apis-worship of which Israel was guilty while in Horeb. Jeroboam instituted it, thus reviving the former iniquity of the nation. The people never wholly got rid of this source of unfaithfulness brought from Egypt. Even Jehu tolerated it (2Ki_10:31).
Eze_23:10. “These discovered her nakedness.” “This denotes the ignominious treatment which Israel must suffer from Assyria, as a punishment for her revolt to Egypt. Aholah is slain with the sword: the proper substance of the people, the men fit for service, fell in the war, while the weaker portion was carried into exile.” (Hengstenberg.) “Famous among women.” “She was rendered as notorious by her punishment as she had been by her crimes. She was made an example to which an appeal could be made by other states” Henderson.
HOMILETICS
THE SIN OF SAMARIA
I. It showed the basest ingratitude. “Played the harlot when she was Mine.” God had united her to Himself, she was in living and tender relationship with Him when she basely deserted His worship and service. She was taught the true doctrine, and the right way of duty, and was supplied with means to observe both. Yet she sinned against light and privilege.
II. It showed the dangerous power of the imagination. The military organization of Assyria dazzled their imagination. The glory of the world seduces the worldly mind. “Clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.” Such was the power and grandeur of Assyria. In accordance with the figure employed, those things are named which would be likely to strike the eye of a wordly minded young woman. Israel admired the political and worldly grandeur of the Assyrians, and so were seduced into idolatry. They first worshipped the power and magnificence of the nation, and then it was an easy matter to adopt the worship of their gods. The fascinations of the world is still the standing danger to purity in doctrine and worship. In all sensuous forms of religious worship there lurks this great danger, that men through admiration of the outward are led to adopt the false doctrines of which it is the vehicle.
III. It showed how inveterate are old evils. “Brought from Egypt” (Eze_23:8). The old idolatry which they had learned in Egypt clung to the nation every now and then breaking out. The nation was never clearly delivered from it till after their captivity in Babylon.
IV. It was visited with exemplary punishment.
1. Those who had seduced her by their power and grandeur were made the very instruments of her punishment. She had doted on the Assyrians, and she was delivered into their hands (Eze_23:9).
2. She was made a warning example to all. “Famous among women.” An example to all the other nations. They would talk of her; some of her abominable wickedness, others of her miseries, previous judgments, and calamities.
1. When people embrace false worship they are violent and strong in their affections towards it. Aholah doted upon her lovers, her heart was fired with Babylonish gods, and confidences in them.
2. What evil persons have practised in their youth that they affect in their age. Aholah had loved the Egyptian idols in her minority, and after she was grown up, those idols were not out of her thoughts. Her Egyptian lovers were still in her mind, like harlots that mind their former lovers long after they are married. What corruption gets in youth, grows up and abides; an unclean, idolatrous heart in youth, will be so in age.
3. Idolatry may continue long in a nation, but shall at least be severely punished by the Lord. Aholah had been an idolatress from her youth, and when she was grown up to some greatness, then she broke out into gross, notorious idolatry (1 Kings 12); in which she continued for upwards of two hundred and sixty years, and then the Lord plagued, yea, destroyed her, her sons and daughters. It is wisdom to cleave to the Lord and His worship, not to follow or confide in other nations, or their ways.
4. God makes places and persons remarkable by the judgments He executeth upon them. Aholah was made famous among women by those judgments He brought upon her. Aholah was Samaria, which Shalmaneser besieged three years, and then took it; and afterwards burnt it (2Ki_17:5-6).—Greenhill.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 General Information:
General Information:
Yahweh continues his metaphor in which he speaks of the cities of Jerusalem and Samaria as if they were two prostitutes. This metaphor continues through Ezekiel 23:34. (See: Metaphor)
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when she was mine
This refers to when she was his wife. AT: "while she was still my wife" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
who were dominant
"who ruled over her"
all the best of Assyria's men
This identifies who the word "them" refers to.
she made herself unclean with everyone she lusted for—and with all their idols
This implies that she slept with all of these men and worshiped the idols they worshiped. AT: "she made herself unclean by sleeping with everyone she lusted for and by worshiping all their idols" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
unclean
A person who God considers spiritually unacceptable or defiled is spoken of as if the person were physically unclean. (See: Metaphor)
translationWords
lust
Assyria
govern
horse
clean
false god
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v5 23:5-8 Oholah: The northern kingdom, far from being converted…
23:5-8 Oholah: The northern kingdom, far from being converted by God’s covenant of grace, was fascinated with the power and prestige of Assyria. Alliances with Assyria were part of Israel’s political strategy from the 800s BC, but in the end, such alliances did not keep Israel safe.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.