2 "Son of man , there were two women , the daughters of one mother ; 3 and they played the harlot in Egypt . They played the harlot in their youth ; there their breasts were pressed and there their virgin bosom was handled . 4 "Their names were Oholah the elder and Oholibah her sister . And they became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters . And as for their names , Samaria is Oholah and Jerusalem is Oholibah 5 "Oholah played the harlot while she was Mine ; and she lusted after her lovers , after the Assyrians , her neighbors ,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Ezekiel 23:2-5
Chapter Contents
A history of the apostacy of God's people from him, and the aggravation thereof.
In this parable, Samaria and Israel bear the name Aholah, "her own tabernacle;" because the places of worship those kingdoms had, were of their own devising. Jerusalem and Judah bear the name of Aholibah, "my tabernacle is in her," because their temple was the place which God himself had chosen, to put his name there. The language and figures are according to those times. Will not such humbling representations of nature keep open perpetual repentance and sorrow in the soul, hiding pride from our eyes, and taking us from self-righteousness? Will it not also prompt the soul to look to God continually for grace, that by his Holy Spirit we may mortify the deeds of the body, and live in holy conversation and godliness?