Ez 23:1-35

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Two prostitute sisters (Eze 23:1-35)

God’s chosen nation was saved from Egypt and settled in Canaan, but it soon divided into two, the northern kingdom Israel (capital: Samaria) and the southern kingdom Judah (capital: Jerusalem). The prophet likens these two kingdoms to two sisters who became prostitutes (Eze 23:1-4).

The prostitution of Israel and Judah was their unfaithfulness to God in forming military alliances with foreign nations instead of trusting in him. Israel, the northern kingdom, was impressed with the might of Assyria, but in forming an alliance with the superior power she accepted also that country’s gods (Eze 23:5-8).

Assyria, having used Israel for its own satisfaction, then savagely attacked and killed her (Eze 23:9-10).

Judah failed to learn from Israel’s experience. She too made alliances, first with Assyria and later with Babylon (Chaldea) (Eze 23:11-16).

Then, with the feeling of disgust that often follows immorality, Judah turned away from Babylon. Soon she went lusting again, this time seeking the favours of Egypt, hoping for Egyptian aid to fight against Babylon (Eze 23:17-21).

Therefore, Judah’s former lover, Babylon, with the assistance of other peoples from the Babylonian region, will return and attack her (Eze 23:22-24).

It will be a time of terrible suffering as the people are cruelly humiliated, butchered and plundered (Eze 23:25-27), yet the whole terrifying experience will be a fitting punishment because of Judah’s disgusting prostitution (Eze 23:28-30).

She will suffer the same fate as her sister kingdom to the north. She too will drink the cup of God’s wrath (Eze 23:31-35).