Eze 23:1 | KingComments | STEP | In Ezekiel 23, Ezekiel vividly paints the history of the sister kingdoms Israel and Judah. In Ezekiel 16, the LORD compared Jerusalem to a harlot. The same comparison is used in this chapter, but now for the entire nation. The emphasis in the previous comparison is on spiritual adultery with Canaanite idolatry. In addition, in Ezekiel 23 it is also about Israel’s political adultery, that is, on its political alliances with foreign powers. Ezekiel 16 emphasizes more the earlier history of Israel, while Ezekiel 23 emphasizes more the later history. The chapter can be divided into five sections: 1. Introduction: Oholah and Oholibah ( ). 2. The sin of Oholah (Samaria) ( ). 3. The sin of Oholibah (Jerusalem) ( ). 4. Judgment on Oholibah ( ). 5. Judgment on Oholah and Oholibah ( ). The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel ( ). The LORD is going to introduce to Ezekiel the political sins of His people in a parable of two women, two sisters ( ). This is the third time, after Ezekiel 16 and Ezekiel 20, that He deals with the history of His people. In the description in Ezekiel 16, we still find hope at the end of the chapter. That hope is missing in the description in this chapter. That the two women are daughters of one mother indicates that Israel was originally one people. Yet from the time the people were in Egypt, they are represented as two women ( ). The actual tearing of the kingdom into two parts was preceded by a long time of inner division. This should be a warning to us to nip a spirit of division in the bud. The two women take pleasure in the caresses of the Egyptians. The time in Egypt begins well. Joseph is viceroy. When Jacob and his sons come to Egypt, they are allowed to live in the best part of the land ( ). When slavery comes, the people continue to benefit from the prosperity in Egypt. This prosperity gives a nice feeling. It makes slavery pleasant. Soon after they leave Egypt and the trials come, they even long to return to their stay in Egypt ( ; ). The LORD gives both women names and also says to whom those names belong ( ). The Hebrew word ohel , which means ‘tent’, is found in both names. Oholah means ‘her tent’ and Oholibah means ‘My tent is in her’. Oholah is an allusion to the self-willed religion (‘her tent’) of the ten tribe realm, represented by Samaria. We see this willfulness in the erection of the altars for the golden calves at Bethel and Dan ( ). Oholibah is an allusion to Jerusalem, where the temple of God (‘My tent’) stands and where He has dwelt.

‏ Ezekiel 23:1

Introduction

In Ezekiel 23, Ezekiel vividly paints the history of the sister kingdoms Israel and Judah. In Ezekiel 16, the LORD compared Jerusalem to a harlot. The same comparison is used in this chapter, but now for the entire nation. The emphasis in the previous comparison is on spiritual adultery with Canaanite idolatry. In addition, in Ezekiel 23 it is also about Israel’s political adultery, that is, on its political alliances with foreign powers. Ezekiel 16 emphasizes more the earlier history of Israel, while Ezekiel 23 emphasizes more the later history.

The chapter can be divided into five sections:

1. Introduction: Oholah and Oholibah (Eze 23:1-4).

2. The sin of Oholah (Samaria) (Eze 23:5-10).

3. The sin of Oholibah (Jerusalem) (Eze 23:11-21).

4. Judgment on Oholibah (Eze 23:22-35).

5. Judgment on Oholah and Oholibah (Eze 23:36-49).

Oholah and Oholibah

The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel (Eze 23:1). The LORD is going to introduce to Ezekiel the political sins of His people in a parable of two women, two sisters (Eze 23:2). This is the third time, after Ezekiel 16 and Ezekiel 20, that He deals with the history of His people. In the description in Ezekiel 16, we still find hope at the end of the chapter. That hope is missing in the description in this chapter. That the two women are daughters of one mother indicates that Israel was originally one people.

Yet from the time the people were in Egypt, they are represented as two women (Eze 23:3). The actual tearing of the kingdom into two parts was preceded by a long time of inner division. This should be a warning to us to nip a spirit of division in the bud.

The two women take pleasure in the caresses of the Egyptians. The time in Egypt begins well. Joseph is viceroy. When Jacob and his sons come to Egypt, they are allowed to live in the best part of the land (Gen 47:6 ; 11). When slavery comes, the people continue to benefit from the prosperity in Egypt. This prosperity gives a nice feeling. It makes slavery pleasant. Soon after they leave Egypt and the trials come, they even long to return to their stay in Egypt (Num 11:5 ; Num 14:2-4; Exo 16:3).

The LORD gives both women names and also says to whom those names belong (Eze 23:4). The Hebrew word ohel, which means ‘tent’, is found in both names. Oholah means ‘her tent’ and Oholibah means ‘My tent is in her’. Oholah is an allusion to the self-willed religion (‘her tent’) of the ten tribe realm, represented by Samaria. We see this willfulness in the erection of the altars for the golden calves at Bethel and Dan (1Kgs 12:28-30). Oholibah is an allusion to Jerusalem, where the temple of God (‘My tent’) stands and where He has dwelt.