Ezekiel 23:1-10 - They became prostitutes in Egypt

23:1-4

We now come to a chapter that isn’t often read out in church. If it was, some might have a fit! I did once preach on 23:20 as part of a sermon. I did seek permission beforehand! This is an allegory, and it is made clear that it is so, with its actual meaning made fairly obvious. So why do we have such lurid language and descriptions? It is because of the utter disgust with which sin should be regarded. The two sisters are Samaria, the Northern kingdom, and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah the southern kingdom. Both “became prostitutes in Egypt”. I wonder if this means that the roots of their prostitution goes right back to the time of captivity in Egypt. That is where they learnt to worship idols. The two sisters belonged to God and should have been devoted to Him.

23:5-10

Oholah, the elder sister, was the first to engage in prostitution. Assyria is mentioned as one of the “lovers” that she lusted after. Wall paintings have been found that match the descriptions given here. Samaria had sought accommodation with Assyria when Assyria was the dominant nation in the region, but the roots of her prostitution went back to Egypt. Samaria was seeking safety, but instead was handed over to the Assyrians. Again we have the fact that Samaria thought Assyria was her greatest threat, when in reality it was God who was the real threat to her, and the solution to that was to repent. So Samria was destroyed and the people spread among many nations.