Ezekiel 23:1

Samaria and Jerusalem Are Like Two Impure Sisters

1 A message came to me from the Lord. He said,

Ezekiel 23:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 1. The word of the Lord came unto me
The word of prophecy,Ezekiel 23:2

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.

Ezekiel 23:1 In-Context

1 A message came to me from the Lord. He said,

2 "Son of man, once there were two women. They had the same mother.

3 They became prostitutes in Egypt. They have been unfaithful to me since they were young. In that land they allowed their breasts to be touched. They permitted their virgin breasts to be kissed.

4 "The older sister was named Oholah. The younger one was Oholibah. They belonged to me. Sons and daughters were born to them. Oholah stands for Samaria. And Oholibah stands for Jerusalem

5 "Oholah was unfaithful to me even while she still belonged to me. She longed for her Assyrian lovers.