What nations are mentioned in Ezekiel 23:23, and what do they symbolize? Setting the Scene Ezekiel 23 pictures Samaria (Oholah) and Jerusalem (Oholibah) as two unfaithful sisters who pursue foreign lovers. Those “lovers” are the very nations God will send to discipline them. Verse 23 lists the key invaders. Nations Named in Ezekiel 23:23 “the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, riding on horses.” Historical Snapshot • Babylonians – Mesopotamian empire that rose after Assyria’s fall; Nebuchadnezzar II would destroy Jerusalem in 586 BC (2 Kings 25). • Chaldeans – Originally a southern Babylonian tribe; by Ezekiel’s day the term was virtually synonymous with “Babylonians” (Jeremiah 22:25). • Pekod – A district or clan within Chaldea; the name means “visitation/punishment” (cf. Jeremiah 50:21). • Shoa – Likely another Babylonian province; the name carries the idea of “wealth” or “princely.” • Koa – A third Babylonian province; the name suggests “shouting” or “a gathered multitude.” • Assyrians – Dominant world power before Babylon; Israel and Judah had trusted them for protection (2 Kings 16:7-9), yet Assyria later oppressed them. Symbolic Meaning • Foreign Powers as Illicit Lovers – Israel and Judah pursued political alliances as a form of spiritual adultery (Hosea 8:9; Isaiah 30:1-3). – The nations listed represent the seductive pull of worldly strength and security. • Comprehensive Judgment – By naming provinces (Pekod, Shoa, Koa) as well as empires (Babylon, Assyria), God shows every layer of these kingdoms will converge on Jerusalem—no escape, no partial invasion. • Poetic Justice – The sisters chased the very nations that will now humiliate them (Ezekiel 23:9-10, 22). What they loved becomes the instrument of their discipline (Proverbs 26:11). • Moral Contrast – Babylon’s pride, Pekod’s “punishment,” Shoa’s “wealth,” Koa’s “clamor,” and Assyria’s brutality spotlight the gap between God’s holiness and the world’s corruption (Habakkuk 2:4-13). Connecting Scriptures • 2 Kings 24–25 – Babylon’s siege and destruction of Jerusalem. • Jeremiah 25:8-9 – God calls Nebuchadnezzar “My servant” to execute judgment. • Hosea 8:9-10 – Israel hires allies among the nations, but God will gather them for judgment. • Isaiah 31:1 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,” a parallel warning against misplaced trust. Takeaway for Today • Trusting worldly power over God leads to bondage by that same power. • God’s warnings are precise; His faithfulness ensures both promised discipline and future restoration (Ezekiel 36:24-28). • The sobering list in Ezekiel 23:23 reminds believers to keep covenant loyalty with the Lord alone rather than courting the world’s fleeting security (1 John 2:15-17). |
    |