| Ezekiel 23 | |
|---|---|
 Book of Ezekiel 30:13–18 in an English manuscript from the early 13th century, MS. Bodl. Or. 62, fol. 59a. ALatin translation appears in the margins with further interlineations above theHebrew. | |
| Book | Book of Ezekiel |
| Hebrew Bible part | Nevi'im |
| Order in the Hebrew part | 7 |
| Category | Latter Prophets |
| Christian Bible part | Old Testament |
| Order in the Christian part | 26 |
Ezekiel 23 is the twenty-third chapter of theBook of Ezekiel in theHebrew Bible or theOld Testament of theChristianBible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to theprophet/priestEzekiel, and is one of theBooks of the Prophets. This chapter forms part of a series of "predictions regarding the fall ofJerusalem",[1] and is written in the form of a message delivered by God to Ezekiel. It presents an extended metaphor in whichSamaria andJerusalem are compared to sisters namedOholah (Samaria) andOholibah (Jerusalem), who are the wives of God and accused of "playing the whore" inEgypt then cuckolding her husband while he watched (Ezekiel 23:1-4).[2]
The original text of this chapter is written in theHebrew language.This chapter is divided into 49 verses.
In the HebrewMasoretic tradition, some of the early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew language are theCodex Cairensis,Aleppo Codex (10th century), andLeningrad Codex (1008-1009).[3] Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among theDead Sea Scrolls, that is, 4Q73 (4QEzeka; 50–25 BCE) with extant verses 14–15, 17–18, 44–47.[4][5][6][7]
There is also a translation intoKoine Greek known as theSeptuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of theSeptuagint version includeCodex Vaticanus (B;B; 4th century),Codex Alexandrinus (A;A; 5th century) andCodex Marchalianus (Q;Q; 6th century).[8][a]
Ezekiel 23'smetaphor of Israel and Judah as sisters married to God has attracted the attention of feminist scholars.[10][11][12] In Ezekiel 23 their disapproved sexual relations in Egypt occur when they are young, before they are married to God. InEzekiel 16, a text with some similarities but important differences as well, the metaphorical woman belongs to God from puberty, with her sexual offenses occurring only later.[13] The reference to promiscuity in Egypt could refer to earlier political alliances.[14]
Ohalah is accused of adultery with Assyrian soldiers, and of worshipping their gods (verses 5–7). This metaphorically refers to an earlier alliance between the Northern Kingdom of Samaria and Assyria.[14] God punishes her relations with Assyria by giving her over to Assyrian control: they strip her naked, take her children, and kill her (9-10). This is a reference to the conquest of Israel by Assyria and the deportations of inhabitants[15] which occurred in 722 B.C.E.
Knowing about her sister's punishment but disregarding it, Oholibah (Jerusalem, the capital city of the Southern Kingdom) continues her "whoring"[16] with the Assyrians, and then with Babylonians as well (11-17). God abandons her in disgust, but she continues her "whorings" with her lovers (18-21).
As a result, God proclaims that he will send Babylonian soldiers to conquer Oholibah, to disfigure her, take her children, and burn her people (22-35). God then orders Ezekiel to announce this judgment to Oholibah (36), and accuses the Judahites of committing "adultery" by worshipping idols and practicing child sacrifice (37), polluting the temple and desecrating the Sabbath by simultaneously worshipping the god of Israel and idols (39). God compares this to prostitution (40-45) and calls for their punishment (46-49).
