Teks -- Ezekiel 23:1-9 (NET)

Two Sisters

23:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 23:2 “Son of man, there were two women who were daughters of the same mother. 23:3 They engaged in prostitution in Egypt; in their youth they engaged in prostitution. Their breasts were squeezed there; lovers fondled their virgin nipples there. 23:4 Oholah was the name of the older and Oholibah the name of her younger sister. They became mine, and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 23:5 “Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians– warriors 23:6 clothed in blue, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 23:7 She bestowed her sexual favors on them; all of them were the choicest young men of Assyria. She defiled herself with all whom she desired– with all their idols. 23:8 She did not abandon the prostitution she had practiced in Egypt; for in her youth men had sex with her, fondled her virgin breasts, and ravished her. 23:9 Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Eze 23:2 - Two women

Judah, and Israel, two kingdoms.

Wesley: Eze 23:3 - Whoredoms

Idolatry.

Wesley: Eze 23:4 - Aholah

That is, his own tabernacle; for Israel falling off from the house of David, fell off from the tabernacle, or temple of God; so that all the temple they had was of their own making.

Wesley: Eze 23:4 - The elder

Greater for number of tribes, and for power, wealth, and for multitudes of people.

Wesley: Eze 23:4 - Aholibah

That is, my tabernacle in her: the two tribes had the temple of God with them.

Wesley: Eze 23:4 - Mine

By solemn marriage - covenant.

Wesley: Eze 23:4 - Bare sons

Were fruitful and brought forth children to me; they increased in numbers of people; and among these, some there were that were children of God by faith, love, and obedience.

Wesley: Eze 23:5 - Played the harlot

United in idolatry, with the Assyrians.

Wesley: Eze 23:5 - Mine

When under my government, and protection.

Wesley: Eze 23:6 - Horsemen

Skillful in riding, and well furnished with choice horses.

Wesley: Eze 23:7 - With all

Other nations, with whom she had commerce.

JFB: Eze 23:2 - two . . . of one mother

Israel and Judah, one nation by birth from the same ancestress, Sarah.

JFB: Eze 23:3

Even so early in their history as their Egyptian sojourn, they committed idolatries (see on Eze 20:6-8; Jos 24:14).

JFB: Eze 23:3 - in their youth

An aggravation of their sin. It was at the very time of their receiving extraordinary favors from God (Eze 16:6, Eze 16:22).

JFB: Eze 23:3 - they bruised

Namely, the Egyptians.

JFB: Eze 23:4 - Aholah

That is, "Her tent" (put for worship, as the first worship of God in Israel was in a tent or tabernacle), as contrasted with Aholibah, that is, "My tent in her." The Beth-el worship of Samaria was of her own devising, not of God's appointment; the temple-worship of Jerusalem was expressly appointed by Jehovah, who "dwelt" there, "setting up His tabernacle among the people as His" (Exo 25:8; Lev 26:11-12; Jos 22:19; Psa 76:2).

JFB: Eze 23:4 - the elder

Samaria is called "the elder" because she preceded Judah in her apostasy and its punishment.

JFB: Eze 23:4 - they were mine

Previous to apostasy under Jeroboam, Samaria (Israel, or the ten tribes), equally with Judah, worshipped the true God. God therefore never renounced the right over Israel, but sent prophets, as Elijah and Elisha, to declare His will to them.

JFB: Eze 23:5 - when . . . mine

Literally, "under Me," that is, subject to Me as her lawful husband.

JFB: Eze 23:5 - 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 (2Ki 15:19; 2Ki 16:7, 2Ki 16:9; 2Ki 17:3; Hos 8:9).

JFB: Eze 23:6 - blue

Rather, "purple" [FAIRBAIRN]. As a lustful woman's passions are fired by showy dress and youthful appearance in men, so Israel was seduced by the pomp and power of Assyria (compare Isa 10:8).

JFB: Eze 23:6 - horsemen

Cavaliers.

JFB: Eze 23:7 - all their idols

There was nothing that she refused to her lovers.

JFB: Eze 23:8 - whoredoms brought from Egypt

The calves set up in Dan and Beth-el by Jeroboam, answering to the Egyptian bull-formed idol Apis. Her alliances with Egypt politically are also meant (Isa 30:2-3; Isa 31:1). The ten tribes probably resumed the Egyptian rites, in order to enlist the Egyptians against Judah (2Ch 12:2-4).

JFB: Eze 23:9

God, in righteous retribution, turned their objects of trust into the instruments of their punishment: Pul, Tiglath-pileser, Esar-haddon, and Shalmaneser (2Ki 15:19, 2Ki 15:29; 2Ki 17:3, 2Ki 17:6, 2Ki 17:24; Ezr 4:2, Ezr 4:10). "It was their sin to have sought after such lovers, and it was to be their punishment that these lovers should become their destroyers" [FAIRBAIRN].

Clarke: Eze 23:2 - Son of man, there were two women

Son of man, there were two women - All the Hebrews were derived from one source, Abraham and Sarah; and, till the schism under Rehoboam, formed but one people: but as these ten tribes and a half separated from Judah and Benjamin, they became two distinct people under different kings; called the kingdom of Judah, and the kingdom of Israel. They are called here, because of their consanguinity, two sisters. The elder, Samaria, (for there was the seat of government for the kingdom of Israel), was called אהלה aholah , "a tent."The younger, Judah, was called אהליבה aholibah , "my tent is in her,"because the temple of God was in Jerusalem, the seat of the government of the kingdom of Judah.

Clarke: Eze 23:5 - And Aholah played the harlot

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 connection the prophet speaks here as he did in chap. 16, 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 Ezekiel 16, 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.

Clarke: Eze 23:6 - Clothed with blue

Clothed with blue - The purple dye was highly valued among the ancients, and at first was only used by kings, at last it was used among the military, particularly by officers of high rank in the country.

Defender: Eze 23:4 - Aholibah

This long chapter is a graphic account of the spiritual harlotry of Israel and Judah and their respective capitals, Samaria and Jerusalem, under the figure of two wanton sisters, Aholah ("her tent") and Aholibah ("my tent is in her"). The extended and lurid account of their whoredoms evidently has the dual purpose of condemning Israel's blatant spiritual prostitution, and also of reaffirming God's hatred of actual sexual activity - especially promiscuity - outside the marriage relation. Both warnings seem urgent today as well."

TSK: Eze 23:2 - two

two : Eze 16:44, Eze 16:46; Jer 3:7-10

TSK: Eze 23:3 - in Egypt // in their

in Egypt : Eze 20:8; Lev 17:7; Deu 29:16; Jos 24:14

in their : Eze 23:8, Eze 23:19, Eze 23:21, Eze 16:22; Hos 2:15

TSK: Eze 23:4 - the names // the elder // they were // Aholah // Aholibah

the names : The kingdom of Israel, of which Samaria was the capital, containing ten tribes, and occupying a larger extent of country than that of Judah, is therefore called ""her elder sister;""and Aholah, the name given to her, implies that the whole religious establishment in Israel was a human invention, a temple and service of their own, and not of God’ s appointment. Aholibah, the name given to Judah, implies that the worship established there was from God, and that His temple was truly at Jerusalem.

the elder : Eze 16:40; 1Ki 12:20

they were : Eze 16:8, Eze 16:20; Exo 19:5, Exo 19:6; Psa 45:11-16; Jer 2:2, Jer 2:3; Rom 7:4

Aholah : that is, His tent, or tabernacle, 1Ki 12:26-33; Joh 4:22

Aholibah : that is, My tabernacle in her, 1Ki 8:29; Psa 76:2, Psa 132:13, Psa 132:14

TSK: Eze 23:5 - Aholah // doted // on the

Aholah : The Israelites, in addition to their former gross idolatries, received the impure idolatrous worship of the Assyrians, who became their neighbours by the conquest of Syria. 1Ki 14:9, 1Ki 14:16, 1Ki 15:26, 1Ki 15:30, 1Ki 16:31, 1Ki 16:32, 1Ki 21:26; 2Ki 17:7-18

doted : Eze 23:7, Eze 23:9, Eze 23:12, Eze 23:16, Eze 23:20, Eze 16:37; Jer 50:38

on the : Eze 16:28; 2Ki 15:19, 2Ki 16:7, 2Ki 17:3; Hos 5:13, Hos 8:9, Hos 8:10, Hos 10:6, Hos 12:1

TSK: Eze 23:6 - all of

all of : Eze 23:12-15

TSK: Eze 23:7 - committed her whoredoms with them // the chosen men of Assyria // with all their

committed her whoredoms with them : Heb. bestowed her whoredoms upon them, Eze 16:15

the chosen men of Assyria : Heb. the choice of the children of Asshur, Gen 10:22

with all their : Eze 23:30, Eze 20:7, Eze 22:3, Eze 22:4; Psa 106:39; Hos 5:3, Hos 6:10

TSK: Eze 23:8 - whoredoms

whoredoms : Eze 23:3, Eze 23:19, Eze 23:21; Exo 32:4; 1Ki 12:28; 2Ki 10:29, 2Ki 17:16

TSK: Eze 23:9

2Ki 15:29, 2Ki 17:3-6, 2Ki 17:23, 2Ki 18:9-12; 1Ch 5:26; Hos 11:5; Rev 17:12, Rev 17:13, Rev 17:16

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Eze 23:2 - Two women // Daughters of one mother

Two women Judah and Israel, the two kingdoms.

Daughters of one mother sprung from Sarah; or, as some, daughters of the synagogue. They rose from one family; these two were daughters, that is parts, and the mother is the whole posterity of the twelve tribes.

Poole: Eze 23:3 - They committed whoredoms in Egypt // In their youth // There were their breasts pressed

They committed whoredoms in Egypt when they came down into Egypt, and sojourned there: possibly they might commit bodily whoredoms, but spiritual whoredoms, i.e. idolatry, they did certainly commit, as appears Jos 24:14 Eze 20:7,8 , which see; in a low condition, by converse with the idolatrous Egyptians they fell in with their idolatry.

In their youth early; though it is no where said when they began, yet by this it appears that it was not long after their coming down into Egypt.

There were their breasts pressed: this and what follows is an allusion, which illustrates what was before spoken; while they were constant to God and his worship, they were as beautiful, chaste, and lovely virgins; when seduced to idolatry, they became as loathsome harlots or strumpets.

Poole: Eze 23:4 - Aholah // The elder // Aholibah // They were mine // They bare sons and daughters // Samaria // Jerusalem

That we might know them, they are described.

Aholah which, rendered in English, is, His own tabernacle; for Israel, falling off from the house of David, also fell off from the tabernacle or temple of God, so that all the temple and worship they had amongst them was of their own making.

The elder greater for number of tribes, being ten of twelve; and greater for power, wealth, and multitudes of people.

Aholibah: this, rendered in English, is, My tabernacle in her: the two tribes had the temple and worship of God with them; God’ s own tent was pitched there, and his solemn services.

They were mine by solemn marriage covenant, Eze 16:18 .

They bare sons and daughters were fruitful, and brought forth children to me, saith God; they increased in numbers of people, and among these, some there were that were children of God by faith, love, and obedience.

Samaria the chief city of the apostate ten tribes.

Jerusalem the chief city of the two tribes.

Poole: Eze 23:5 - Aholah // played the harlot // When she was mine // Doted // Her lovers // The Assyrians // Her neighbours

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.

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 .

Poole: Eze 23:6 - Clothed with blue // Captains // Rulers // Desirable young men // Horsemen riding upon horses

Clothed with blue richly apparelled, and, as the humour of that nation, in rich and beautiful blue, very magnificent to the eye.

Captains daring, valiant men, and fit for wars, who might defend the Jews in time of danger.

Rulers worthy of authority, and fit to govern in times of peace.

Desirable young men young and vigorous, full of beauty and strength to commend them to the desire and choice.

Horsemen riding upon horses skilful in riding, and well furnished with choice horses, on which these deluded apostatizing Israelites relied for help, as appears, Hos 14:3 .

Poole: Eze 23:7 - Thus // With all them // And with all // on whom she doted

Thus by the eye and familiar converse, she fell to idolatry. Committed her whoredoms: see Eze 23:3 .

With all them she embraced the friendship and religion of all of them, and relied on the Assyrian’ s idols for deliverance and peace.

And with all i.e. other nations with whom she had commerce and made leagues,

on whom she doted like an adulterous wife, she was mad in her love to them, to their persons, customs, idols, and religion, with all which she polluted herself.

Poole: Eze 23:8 - Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt // In her youth

Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt though she took in so many gods of the Assyrians, yet she did not renounce or cast off the gods of Egypt, but kept them too. It is plain the Israelites learnt idolatry in Egypt, carried it with them out of Egypt, and retained it to the last.

In her youth & c. see Eze 23:3 .

Poole: Eze 23:9 - Wherefore // I have delivered her // Into the hand of the Assyrians

Wherefore for this boundless idolatry and lewdness

I have delivered her long ago I have delivered the ten tribes: first, Pul put them under tribute, 2Ki 15:19,20 , about two hundred years before our prophet’ s time; then Tiglath-pileser, 2Ki 15:29 ; and finally into Shalmaneser’ s hand, who destroyed the kingdom, 2Ki 17:6 .

Into the hand of the Assyrians upon whom she doted; punished them for their sins by those who were fellow sinners with her.

Haydock: Eze 23:3 - Fornication // Down

Fornication. That is, idolatry. (Challoner) ---

Down. Virgins used the stomacher, or (Haydock) fascia pectoralis, Isaias iii. 24. This chapter resembles the 16th. (Calmet)

Haydock: Eze 23:4 - Oolla and Ooliba

Oolla and Ooliba. God calls the kingdom of Israel Oolla, which signifies their own habitation, because they separated themselves from his temple; and the kingdom of Juda Ooliba, which signifies his habitation in her, because of his temple among them in Jerusalem. (Challoner) ---

The ten tribes first gave way to idolatry, and were more numerous. (Calmet) -- In Egypt the people were united, yet abandoned to idolatry in their youth, when they were only beginning to increase. Afterwards the ten tribes set up altars for themselves, at Dan and Bethel. (Worthington)

Haydock: Eze 23:5 - Assyrians

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)

Haydock: Eze 23:6 - Blue

Blue, or purple. This was reserved for the principal nobility.

Haydock: Eze 23:8 - Egypt

Egypt. They always retained an affection for those idols, the calf, Adonis, &c.

Gill: Eze 23:1 - The word of the Lord came unto me // saying

The word of the Lord came unto me,.... The word of prophecy, as the Targum; another prophecy, one upon the same subject, as in Eze 16:1,

saying; as follows:

Gill: Eze 23:2 - Son of man, there were two women // the daughters of one mother

Son of man, there were two women,.... Or two nations and kingdoms, the kingdom of Israel or the ten tribes, and the kingdom of Judah or the two tribes. So the Targum,

"son of man, prophesy concerning two provinces, which are as two women:''

the daughters of one mother; either Sarah the wife of Abraham, from whom they sprung; or because they were originally one kingdom and nation; so they were when they came out of Egypt, and during the times of the judges, and in the reigns of David and Solomon; but became two in the days of Rehoboam the son of Solomon, from whom ten tribes revolted, and set up a separate kingdom, with Jeroboam at the head of it.

Gill: Eze 23:3 - And they committed whoredoms in Egypt // they committed whoredoms in their youth // there were their breasts pressed, there they bruised the teats of their virginity

And they committed whoredoms in Egypt,.... When they were but one body, one nation; and while they sojourned as strangers in that land they learned and practised the idolatries of it, Jos 24:14, and so the Targum,

"and they erred in Egypt, after the worship of their idols they erred, and there they corrupted their works:''

they committed whoredoms in their youth; as soon as they were come out of Egypt, and were formed into a political and ecclesiastical state, had the law of God given them, and promised obedience to him, and were espoused by him, which times are called the days of their youth and espousal, Jer 2:2, and then were they guilty of whoredom, or spiritual adultery, which idolatry, in making and worshipping the golden calf, after the manner of Egypt; and in joining themselves to Baalpeor, the god of the Moabites, Exo 32:1;

there were their breasts pressed, there they bruised the teats of their virginity; that is, the Egyptians, who drew them into idolatry, and with whom they committed it; which is expressed by the actions of adulterous persons, suggesting that, before this, they were as chaste and pure virgins to God, adhered to his worship, and served him only, and were not defiled with the superstition and idolatry of the Heathens: or, "they made ^l the teats or paps of their virginity"; that is, made them swell and increase, being impregnated by them, and their idolatry completed; or to move and heave being pressed.

Gill: Eze 23:4 - And the names of them were Aholah the elder // and Aholibah her sister // and they were mine // thus were their names

And the names of them were Aholah the elder,.... Or, "the greater" ^m meaning the ten tribes of Israel, which were more in number than Judah, and greater in power and riches; their name, Aholah, signifies "her tent or tabernacle", which was entirely their own, and not the Lord's: their worship, and places of worship, were of their own appointing, namely, their calves at Dan and Bethel; God had nothing to do with them, there he did not dwell; his tabernacle was not there, that was at Salem, Psa 76:1,

and Aholibah her sister; which name signifies "my tent or tabernacle is in her": this is the name of Judah or the two tribes, in which stood the temple of the Lord, where he was worshipped, and where he dwelt: some think these were proper names of two Egyptian harlots; others think there is allusion to the wife of Esau, Gen 36:2,

and they were mine; or, "I had them ⁿ"; when they were together; they were originally espoused unto him; he avouched them to be his people, and they avouched him to be their God; he chose them for himself above all other people, and they professed themselves to be his, and promised to serve and worship him; and for a while did continue in his service and worship: and they bare sons and daughters; to the Lord, whom they brought up in the fear of God, and taught them to serve him: the phrase is expressive of their increase, and of their happiness and prosperity, while they adhered to the pure worship of God:

thus were their names; this is the application of them: "Samaria is Aholah"; or Aholah signifies Samaria, which was the metropolis of Ephraim, and belonged to the ten tribes, and is put for the whole, Isa 7:9, "and Jerusalem Aholibah"; or Aholibah designs Jerusalem, the head city of Judah, and stands for the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Gill: Eze 23:5 - And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine // and she doted on her lovers

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;''

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, 2Ki 15:19.

Gill: Eze 23:6 - Which were clothed with blue // captains and rulers // desirable young men // horsemen riding upon horses

Which were clothed with blue,.... A colour the Assyrians were fond of, and clothed their soldiers in, and was taking to the eye; and is mentioned, because that men, finely clothed find beautifully arrayed, are more engaging to women, who are fond of dress:

captains and rulers; men of power and authority in military and civil affairs, either in the camp, or in the court; officers either in the army, or in the king's palace; and which was a recommendation of them:

desirable young men; for their youth, strength, beauty, and honourable employments and offices:

horsemen riding upon horses: of which there was a scarcity in Judea; wherefore such were the more desirable to them, as appearing more grand, and being more serviceable and helpful to them.

Gill: Eze 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

Thus she committed her whoredoms with them,.... Entered into alliance with them, and joined them in their idolatrous worship:

with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria; before described by their habit, office, and age:

and with all on whom she doted; had an insatiable desire and lust after:

with all their idols she defiled herself; worshipped all the idols the Assyrians did; and which were defiling, as they must needs be, since, as the word used signifies, they were dunghill gods.

Gill: Eze 23:8 - Neither left she her idols 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

Neither left she her idols brought from Egypt,.... Though the Israelites took in the gods of the Assyrians into their worship, they did not relinquish the golden calves set up at Dan and Bethel, in imitation of the Egyptian deities; the idolatrous worship of which they learned in Egypt, and brought from thence:

for in her youth they lay with her; the Egyptians enticed the Israelites to idolatry when among them, as soon as they began to be a people; See Gill on Eze 23:3,

and they bruised the breasts of her virginity; who before retained the pure worship of God, and was like a chaste virgin:

and poured their whoredom upon her; expressive of the numerous acts of idolatry committed together by them.

Gill: Eze 23:9 - Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers // into the hand of the Assyrians, on whom she doted

Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers,.... To destruction; their persons, families, riches, and kingdom itself:

into the hand of the Assyrians, on whom she doted; first into the hands of Pul, then Tiglathpileser, then Shalmaneser, all kings of Assyria, by whom they were spoiled or carried captive; by the two first in part, by the last wholly; see 2Ki 15:19.