2 Two women were daughters of one mother, 3 And they go a-whoring in Egypt, In their youth they have gone a-whoring, There they have bruised their breasts, And there they have dealt with the loves of their virginity. 4 And their names 'are' Aholah the elder, And Aholibah her sister, And they are Mine, and bear sons and daughters. As to their names—Samaria 'is' Aholah, And Jerusalem 'is' Aholibah. 5 And go a-whoring doth Aholah under Me, And she doteth on her lovers, On the neighbouring Assyrians,
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?