Ezekiel 23:1

The Two Immoral Sisters

1 The word of the Lord came to me again:

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 The word of the Lord came to me again:

2 "Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,

3 who acted like prostitutes in Egypt, behaving promiscuously in their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin nipples caressed.

4 The older one was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah represents Samaria and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.

5 "Oholah acted like a prostitute even though she was Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians: warriors