The Two Adulterous Sisters

1Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother, 3and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4The older was named Oholah,a and her sister was named Oholibah.b They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

5Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors 6clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds. 7She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.

8She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her. 9Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted. 10They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and put her to the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgment against her.

11Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. 12She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors dressed in splendor, horsemen riding on steeds, all desirable young men. 13And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path.

14But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans,c engraved in vermilion, 15wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers of the Babylonians in Chaldea,d the land of their birth. 16At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.

18When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. 19Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt 20and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions. 21So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.

Oholibah to Be Plagued

22Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side— 23the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses.

24They will come against you with a host of peoples,e with weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will array themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will punish you according to their own standards. 25And I will set My jealous rage against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your remnant will be consumed by fire. 26They will strip off your clothes and take your fine jewelry. 27So I will put an end to your indecency and prostitution, which began in the land of Egypt, and you will not lift your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’

28For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Surely I will deliver you into the hands of those you hate, from whom you turned away in disgust. 29They will treat you with hatred, take all for which you have worked, and leave you naked and bare, so that the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. Your indecency and promiscuity 30have brought these things upon you, because you have prostituted yourself with the nations and defiled yourself with their idols. 31Because you have followed the path of your sister, I will put her cup into your hand.’

32This is what the Lord GOD says:

‘You will drink your sister’s cup,

a cup deep and wide.

It will bring scorn and derision,

for it holds so much.

33You will be filled with drunkenness and grief,

with a cup of devastation and desolation,

the cup of your sister Samaria.

34You will drink it and drain it;

you will dash it to pieces,

and tear your breasts.

For I have spoken,’

declares the Lord GOD.

35Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’”

Judgment on Both Sisters

36Then the LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you pass judgment against Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations. 37For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the firef as food for their idols.

38They have also done this to Me: On that very same day, they defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths. 39On the very day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary to profane it. Yes, they did this inside My house.

40Furthermore, you sisters sentg messengers for men who came from afar; and behold, when they arrived, you bathed for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry. 41You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil, 42accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkardsh were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head.

43Then I said of her who had grown old in adulteries: ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!’

44And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women. 45But righteous men will sentence them to the punishment of those who commit adultery and bloodshed, because they are adulteresses with blood on their hands.

46This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder. 47The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses. 48So I will put an end to indecency in the land, and all the women will be admonished not to imitate your behavior. 49They will repay you for your indecency, and you will bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”

2. Why does Ezekiel 23:4 personify Samaria and Jerusalem as immoral sisters, and is there historical or archeological evidence to support these specific accusations?

3. How can the events described in Ezekiel 23 align with scientific and historical records, given the seemingly exaggerated depictions of judgment and punishment?

4. What explains the apparent inconsistency between God’s merciful nature elsewhere and the violent retribution depicted in Ezekiel 23:22–27?

5. Do any ancient sources outside the Bible corroborate the nations’ interventions described in Ezekiel 23, or is the account solely a theological narrative?

1. How does the allegory of the two sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, illustrate the dangers of idolatry?

2. Reflect on a time you witnessed consequences resulting from unfaithfulness. How does that correlate with the fate of Samaria and Jerusalem in this chapter?

3. What lessons can be derived from Oholibah continuing down the path of infidelity despite witnessing the punishment of her sister?

4. How can we apply the lessons from Ezekiel 23 in dealing with temptations in our lives today?

5. What does this chapter reveal about God's feelings towards spiritual infidelity?

6. Discuss the consequences of forgetting God and focusing on worldly desires as illustrated in the chapter.

7. How can we guard against spiritual adultery in our own lives?

8. How does this chapter demonstrate God's righteous judgment?

9. Discuss the meaning of the verse 23:49, "You will bear the consequences of your lewdness and your detestable practices, declares the LORD."

10. How can we use the example of Oholah and Oholibah to teach others about faithfulness?

11. How does the narrative of the two sisters help us understand the historical relationship between Israel, Assyria, and Babylon?

12. Why do you think God chose to use such a vivid and graphic allegory in Ezekiel 23 to convey His message?

13. How might we reconcile the harsh punishments outlined in this chapter with our understanding of God’s love and mercy?

14. How can we practically reject modern forms of idolatry in our lives today, drawing lessons from Ezekiel 23?

15. In what ways do you think the society we live in today struggles with the same issues Samaria and Jerusalem did?

16. What does this chapter teach about the importance of remembering past lessons and mistakes?

17. How can we ensure that we remember and acknowledge God in our daily lives?

18. How might the events in Ezekiel 23 serve as a warning to nations today?

19. How can we maintain a consistent and unwavering relationship with God amidst the distractions of the world?

20. How does the chapter of Ezekiel 23 challenge you personally in your spiritual journey?