Eze 23:8 | KingComments | STEP | Samaria (the ten tribes) plays the harlot in a spiritual sense ( ). Instead of trusting in God, she connects herself with the Assyrians ( ; ). Seeking help from the Assyrians results in impressively dressed “neighbors”, men of distinction, entering the land ( ). Thus Assyrian culture makes its appearance in the land and conquers the heart of Samaria ( ). That culture is completely intertwined with the idolatry of Assyria which is also adopted by Samaria. The ten tribes bow down in fornication to the stink gods of Assyria. But Assyria is not the only empire with which Samaria commits spiritual harlotry. Samaria also remains open to the influence of Egypt ( ). She continues to worship the idols of Egypt as she has done during the time of her slavery. Where appropriate, she also seeks political support from Egypt (cf. ). God reminds her of her shameless behavior that she has already displayed in her earliest days. Because of her harlotry with Assyria, the LORD surrendered Samaria to the Assyrians ( ). From a political point of view, Assyria could not tolerate Samaria’s collusion with Egypt and punished Samaria severely for it ( ). The Assyrians completely destroyed and disfigured Samaria and also depopulated it by taking away its population ( ). Thus, the existence of the northern ten tribes realm came to an end. The behavior of Samaria gives the Israelites a bad name among the other “women”, that is, among the other nations and especially among their sister nation Judah. In the following verses we see how Oholibah reacts to what has happened to her sister Oholah.

‏ Ezekiel 23:8

The Sin of Oholah and the Judgment on Her

Samaria (the ten tribes) plays the harlot in a spiritual sense (Eze 23:5). Instead of trusting in God, she connects herself with the Assyrians (2Kgs 15:19; Hos 5:13 ; Hos 7:11 ; Hos 8:9 ; Hos 12:2). Seeking help from the Assyrians results in impressively dressed “neighbors”, men of distinction, entering the land (Eze 23:6). Thus Assyrian culture makes its appearance in the land and conquers the heart of Samaria (Eze 23:7). That culture is completely intertwined with the idolatry of Assyria which is also adopted by Samaria. The ten tribes bow down in fornication to the stink gods of Assyria.

But Assyria is not the only empire with which Samaria commits spiritual harlotry. Samaria also remains open to the influence of Egypt (Eze 23:8). She continues to worship the idols of Egypt as she has done during the time of her slavery. Where appropriate, she also seeks political support from Egypt (cf. Hos 12:1). God reminds her of her shameless behavior that she has already displayed in her earliest days.

Because of her harlotry with Assyria, the LORD surrendered Samaria to the Assyrians (Eze 23:9). From a political point of view, Assyria could not tolerate Samaria’s collusion with Egypt and punished Samaria severely for it (2Kgs 17:2-8). The Assyrians completely destroyed and disfigured Samaria and also depopulated it by taking away its population (Eze 23:10). Thus, the existence of the northern ten tribes realm came to an end. The behavior of Samaria gives the Israelites a bad name among the other “women”, that is, among the other nations and especially among their sister nation Judah. In the following verses we see how Oholibah reacts to what has happened to her sister Oholah.