Yechezkel Chapter 23: The Allegory of Oholah and Oholibah
- Introduction: Two Sisters Symbolizing Two Nations (Verses 1–4)
G‑d reveals an allegory of two women, Oholah and Oholibah, daughters of one mother. They played the harlot in Egypt during their youth. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem. Both belonged to G‑d and bore sons and daughters.
- Oholah’s (Samaria’s) Harlotry and Punishment (Verses 5–10)
Oholah went astray by lusting after the Assyrians—handsome, powerful horsemen and officers. She defiled herself with their idols and did not abandon the immoral ways she learned in Egypt. Therefore, G‑d delivered her into the hands of the Assyrians, who stripped her naked, took her children, and killed her with the sword. She became a warning to all women.
- Oholibah’s (Jerusalem’s) Even Greater Corruption (Verses 11–21)
Oholibah, seeing her sister’s fate, nevertheless became even more corrupt. She lusted after the Assyrians and then after the Chaldeans, whose images she saw engraved on walls. She sent messengers to Babylon, and the Babylonians came and defiled her. Yet after being disgusted with them, she returned to her earlier lewdness from Egypt. Her desires were described as excessive and degrading, recalling her immoral youth.
- G‑d Summons Oholibah’s Former Lovers to Judge Her (Verses 22–27)
G‑d declares that all the nations Oholibah lusted after—Babylonians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and others—will come against her with armies, weapons, and siege equipment. They will judge her harshly, mutilate her, kill her children, burn her remnant with fire, and strip her of her glory. Through this, G‑d will remove her lewdness and cause her to forget Egypt.
- Oholibah Handed Over to Her Haters (Verses 28–31)
G‑d will give Oholibah into the hands of those she despises. They will plunder her, leave her naked, and expose her shame before the nations. Because she followed the immoral ways of Oholah, she will drink the same cup of punishment.
- The Cup of Desolation and Horror (Verses 32–35)
Oholibah must drink her sister’s cup—a cup deep and wide, full of scorn, derision, drunkenness, and grief. She will drain it to the dregs and tear her breasts in anguish. This comes upon her because she forgot G‑d and cast Him behind her back.
- The Sisters’ Abominations Summarized (Verses 36–39)
G‑d commands Yechezkel to proclaim the sisters’ abominations: they committed adultery and murder, sacrificed their children to idols, and on the same day, dared to enter G‑d’s sanctuary and profane it. Their actions combined the worst forms of idolatry with hypocrisy.
- The Final Judgment on Oholah and Oholibah (Verses 40–49)
The sisters contacted men from afar and adorned themselves to entice them. Yet even in old age, their harlotry did not cease. Men came to them as to a prostitute, and their behavior was judged as such. Righteous men will judge them with the judgment of adulteresses and murderesses. A great assembly will rise against them, stoning them, killing their children, and burning their houses. Through this, G‑d will purge lewdness from the land. The sisters will bear the punishment of their sins and will know that G‑d is the Lord.
Key Message
Yechezkel 23 is a powerful allegory showing how Samaria and Jerusalem abandoned G‑d through political alliances and idolatry. Their unfaithfulness led to devastation, yet G‑d’s purpose in judgment is to end corruption and reaffirm His sovereignty.
