Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 23
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ezekiel 23
Charles Ellicott Commentary
Ezekiel 23
"and they played the harlot in Egypt; they played the harlot in their youth; there were their breasts pressed, and there was handled the bosom of their virginity." — Ezekiel 23:3 (ASV)
In Egypt. —The idolatries of Israel in Egypt have already been spoken of in the Note to Ezekiel 20:8. (See also Ezekiel 23:19 below.)
"And the names of them were Oholah the elder, and Oholibah her sister: and they became mine, and they bare sons and daughters. And as for their names, Samaria is Oholah, and Jerusalem Oholibah." — Ezekiel 23:4 (ASV)
Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. —Samaria, as the capital, represents the northern kingdom and is called Aholah, meaning her own tabernacle, because she established her own worship instead of resorting to the Temple; while the southern kingdom, represented by Jerusalem, is called Aholibah, meaning my tabernacle is in her, because she still contained the sanctuary of the Lord. The word “elder” should be translated greater, as in Ezekiel 16:46. (See Note there.)
"And Oholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbors," — Ezekiel 23:5 (ASV)
The Assyrians her neighbours. —Or, the Assyrians drawing near. They are described in Ezekiel 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 2 Kings 15:19–20, it is said that Pul exacted tribute from Menahem, and the mention seems to imply still earlier dealings. 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 Syria as well.
"who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses." — Ezekiel 23:6 (ASV)
Horsemen. —The Assyrians, like the Egyptians, made large use of cavalry, as was necessary for a warlike nation; for this reason, the multiplication of horses had been forbidden to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 17:16).
"And she bestowed her whoredoms upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whomsoever she doted, with all their idols she defiled herself." — Ezekiel 23:7 (ASV)
With all their idols.— The reality breaks through the figure, and leaves no doubt of the meaning of the allegory.
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