Ezekiel 23:1-21
Q.1. Whom did the sisters in the parable represent? To whom did they belong? – (Ezk.23:1-4)
Ezekiel was given a parable to speak of the nation of Israel. The older (really greater in size) sister, Oholah, was Samaria, capital of the nine and a half northern tribes of Israel. The other sister, Oholibah was Jerusalem, capital of the two and a half southern tribes of Israel, this being known as Judah (Ezk.23:4). Oholah means ‘her tent’. This perhaps was symbolizing the infidelity pursued in her tent. Oholibah means ‘My tent is in her’. This spoke of God’s promise to dwell in her tabernacle or tent. Both were purchased by God – and they became Mine Ezk.23:4). However, both had a history of playing the harlot (Ezk.23:1-3).
Q.2. What happened to the older sister, Oholah? Why? – (Ezk.23:5-10)
The northern kingdom of Israel had hardly one righteous king. Israel played the harlot with Assyria and the nations (Ezk.23:5-8). Harlotry primarily referred to the spiritual adultery that began back in Egypt when Israel adopted Egyptian gods. They then reached out to all the other gods of the surrounding nations and adopted their evil practices. God sent Oholah into captivity – I gave her into the hands of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted (Ezk.23:9).
Q.3. How did the younger sister, Oholibah respond? Why was the action of Oholibah so unacceptable to God? – (Ezk.23:11-21)
Though it is true that the southern kingdom had many godly kings, the people nonetheless accepted the gods that their sister Israel had embraced. Judah fell even further. Rather than heed the warnings of God’s prophets to the nation, the people of Judah insulted God with their spiritual harlotry (Ezk.23:11-16). Even when God destroyed Samaria and wonderfully delivered Judah, it was not long before she too strayed from her allegiance to the Lord – Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom … (Ezk.23:21)