Two sinful sisters

1The LORD said:

2Ezekiel, son of man, listen to this story about two sisters. 3While they were young and living in Egypt, they became prostitutes. 4The elder one was named Oholah, which stands for Samaria; the younger one was Oholibah, which stands for Jerusalem.23.4 Samaria…Jerusalem: After the nation of Israel was divided, the northern kingdom was called “Israel”, and the southern kingdom was called “Judah”. Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom, and Jerusalem was the capital of the southern kingdom. They became my wives and gave birth to my children.

5Even though Oholah was my wife, she continued to be a prostitute and chased after Assyrian lovers. 6She offered herself to soldiers in purple uniforms, to every handsome, high-ranking officer, and to cavalry troops. 7She had sex with all the important Assyrian officials and even worshipped their disgusting idols. 8Once she started doing these things in Egypt, she never stopped. Men slept with her, and she was always ready for sex.

9So I gave Oholah to the Assyrian lovers she wanted so badly. 10They ripped off her clothes, then captured her children and killed her. Women everywhere talked about what had happened to Oholah.

11Oholibah saw all this, but she was more sinful and wanted sex more than her sister Oholah ever did. 12Oholibah also chased after good-looking Assyrian officers, uniformed soldiers, and cavalry troops. 13Just like her sister, she did vulgar things.

14But Oholibah behaved worse than her sister. Oholibah saw images of Babylonian men carved into walls and painted red. 15They had belts around their waists and large turbans on their heads, and they reminded her of Babylonian cavalry officers. 16As soon as she looked at them, she wanted to have sex with them. And so, she sent messengers to bring them to her. 17Men from Babylonia came and had sex with her so many times that she got disgusted with them. 18She let everyone see her naked body and didn't care if they knew she was a prostitute. That's why I turned my back on her, just as I had done with her elder sister.

19Oholibah didn't stop there, but became even more immoral and acted as she had back in Egypt. 20She eagerly wanted to go to bed with Egyptian men, who were famous for their sexual powers. 21And she longed for the days when she was a young prostitute, when men enjoyed having sex with her.

The LORD will punish Oholibah

22The LORD God said:

Oholibah,23.22 Oholibah: That is, Jerusalem (see verse 4). though you no longer want to be with your lovers, they will surround you like enemies, when I turn them against you. 23I will gather all the handsome young officials and the high-ranking cavalry officers from Babylonia and Assyria, as well as from the Chaldean tribes of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa. 24Their large armies will come from the north23.24 from the north: One ancient translation; Hebrew “with weapons”. with chariots and wagons carrying weapons. They will wear shields and helmets and will surround you, and I will let them judge and sentence you according to their own laws. 25I am angry with you, so I will let them be very cruel. They will cut off your nose and ears; they will kill your children and put to death anyone in your family who is still alive. 26Your clothes and jewellery will be torn off. 27I will stop your wickedness and the prostitution you started back in Egypt. You will never want to think about those days again.

28I, the LORD God, am ready to hand you over to those hateful enemies that you find so disgusting. 29They will cruelly take away everything you have worked for and strip you naked. Then everyone will see you for the prostitute you really are. Your own vulgar sins 30have led to this. You were the one determined to have sex with men from other nations and to worship their idols. 31You have turned out no better than your elder sister, and now you must drink from the cup filled with my anger.

32I, the LORD God, gave your sister a large, deep cup filled with my anger. And when you drink from that cup, you will be mocked and insulted. 33You will end up drunk and devastated, because that cup is filled with horror and ruin. 34But you must drink every drop! Then smash the cup to pieces and use them to cut your breasts in sorrow. I, the LORD God, have spoken.

35You have completely rejected me, and so I promise that you will be punished for the disgusting things you did as a prostitute.

The two sisters are condemned

36The LORD said:

Ezekiel, son of man, it's time for you to tell Oholah and Oholibah23.36 Oholah and Oholibah: That is, Samaria and Jerusalem (see verse 4). that they are guilty. Remind them of their evil ways! 37They have been unfaithful by worshipping idols, and they have committed murder by sacrificing my own children as offerings to idols. 38-39They came into my temple that same day, and that made it unfit as a place to worship me. They have even stopped respecting the Sabbath.

40They sent messengers to attract men from far away. When those men arrived, the two sisters took baths and put on eye shadow and jewellery. 41They sat on a fine couch, and in front of them was a table for the olive oil and incense that had belonged to me. 42Their room was always filled with a noisy crowd of drunkards brought in from the desert. These men gave the women bracelets and beautiful crowns, 43and I noticed that the men were eager to have sex with these women, though they were exhausted from being prostitutes.23.43 prostitutes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 43. 44In fact, the men had sex over and over with Oholah and Oholibah, the two sinful sisters. 45But good men will some day accuse those two of murder and of being unfaithful, because they are certainly guilty.

46So I, the LORD God, now say to these sisters:

I will call together an angry mob that will abuse and rob you. 47They will stone you to death and cut you to pieces; they will kill your children and burn down your houses. 48I will get rid of sinful prostitution in this country, so that women everywhere will be warned not to act as you have. 49You will be punished for becoming prostitutes and for worshipping idols, and you will know that I am the LORD God.