Ez 16:1-43

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Worthless sisters (Eze 16:44-63)

Ezekiel refers back to Israel’s mixed parentage in Canaan to introduce two sisters of the prostitute (who, in Ezekiel’s time was identified with Judah’s capital Jerusalem). The two sisters were the cities Samaria (capital of the former northern kingdom) and Sodom. Both cities were destroyed by God’s judgment, but Jerusalem’s sin was worse than both (Eze 16:44-48).

Sodom was well known for its greed and immorality, Samaria for its idolatry, but both cities now appeared righteous compared with Jerusalem. Surely, the destruction of Jerusalem was inescapable (Eze 16:49-52).

Samaria and Sodom may each have had some satisfaction in seeing Jerusalem suffer the same fate as they had suffered. Yet all three had hope for the future. After the overthrow of Babylon, the three regions of Palestine represented by these three cities would be restored and inhabited again (Eze 16:53-55).

In the meantime Jerusalem had to bear the shame of its immoral behaviour. In times past, Jerusalem was ashamed to mention the sin of Sodom, but now her reputation was just as bad (Eze 16:56-58).

Looking beyond the coming judgment, Ezekiel saw the day when a humbled and forgiven Jerusalem would exercise authority over all her neighbours. The granting of this authority would not be because of any right that Jerusalem had under the old covenant. Rather it would be a free act of God’s forgiving grace (Eze 16:59-62).

As Jerusalem remembered her shameful behaviour in the past, she would be kept from any feelings of pride (Eze 16:63).