Ezekiel 23: 1 – 23
Bad Girls Part 1
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother. 3 They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4 The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem. 5 "Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians-warriors 6 clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen. 7 She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after. 8 She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust upon her. 9 "Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians, for whom she lusted. 10 They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women, and punishment was inflicted on her. 11 "Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. 12 She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men. 13 I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way. 14 "But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall, figures of Chaldeans portrayed in red, 15 with belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea. 16 As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 17 Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust. 18 When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister. 19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses. 21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.22 "Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stir up your lovers against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side- 23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.”
The final act of invasion by the Babylonian army is now about to happen. Our Lord in His Righteousness reviews for the Jews in exile the historic falling away of all the people. On the other hand our Holy Father constantly bestowed His Mercy, Grace, Blessing and Protection.. He had done everything faithfully and consistently for them and how had they thanked and repaid Him? The Israelites not only forsook the only real and living God, they rejected Him for worthless idols.
“1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother. 3 They became prostitutes in Egypt, engaging in prostitution from their youth. In that land their breasts were fondled and their virgin bosoms caressed. 4 The older was named Oholah, and her sister was Oholibah. They were mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.”
There has never been a period in history where us sinful people were worthy of God’s Love. The bible says this in the book of Romans chapter 5, “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”. Our Great and Wonderful Father was Merciful and Gracious to them and to us by paying the ultimate price for our redemption.
The mother in this chapter is Israel. The two daughters are the principal cities of Israel – Samaria [The Northern Kingdom] and Jerusalem [The Southern Kingdom]. As you well know this tiny nation was formed in the land of Egypt. Here God took care of them and made sure they were separate from the Egyptians. However, although God went to every length to keep them separate from blending into the Egyptian kingdom, the Israelites started to assimilate into the Egyptian ways. They began to participate in the Egyptian culture, which included accepting Egyptian religious practices. By joining in these religious experiences the Jews not only fell into slavery but into degradation and contributed to their own abuse by the Egyptians.
‘And they became mine’ is God’s statement of recognizing His Love and Care even for the rebels of the Northern Kingdom. Our Holy Yahweh had unified the kingdom under David, however because of the sins of David’s son – Solomon, the country was split in two.
1 Kings 11: 28 – 38, “28 The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph. 29 Now it happened at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the way; and he had clothed himself with a new garment, and the two were alone in the field. 30 Then Ahijah took hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and will give ten tribes to you 32 (but he shall have one tribe for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have[a] forsaken Me, and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the people of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways to do what is right in My eyes and keep My statutes and My judgments, as did his father David. 34 However I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, because I have made him ruler all the days of his life for the sake of My servant David, whom I chose because he kept My commandments and My statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s hand and give it to you—ten tribes. 36 And to his son I will give one tribe, that My servant David may always have a lamp before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen for Myself, to put My name there. 37 So I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.”
1 Kings 16: 23 – 24, “23 In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri became king over Israel, and reigned twelve years. Six years he reigned in Tirzah. 24 And he bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver; then he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, owner of the hill.”
Our Holy Righteous God loved both kingdoms. Even though there was not even one good king in the North He still sent prophets to both areas.
The name Oholah means ‘Her own tent.’ The Northern Kingdom started their own form of religious worship. God had prescribed a certain location to come and worship Him. We find this location in the book of 2 Chronicles chapter 7, “12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.”
Jeroboam was afraid that he would lose his citizens to the Southern Kingdom so he established his own places of religious activities as the book of 1 Kings chapter 12 informs us, “26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingdom may return to the house of David: 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn back to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam king of Judah.” 28 Therefore the king asked advice, made two calves of gold, and said to the people, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!” 29 And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan. 31 He made shrines on the high places, and made priests from every class of people, who were not of the sons of Levi. 32 Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made. And at Bethel he installed the priests of the high places which he had made. 33 So he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in the month which he had devised in his own heart. And he ordained a feast for the children of Israel, and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense.”
The other sister listed in chapter 23 of Ezekiel was Oholiah, which means ‘My tent is in her’. The Blessed Jehovah Nissi selected the city of Jerusalem to place His banner of Love over. We read about the dedication of this Temple in the book of 1 Kings chapter 8, 12 Then Solomon spoke: “The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. 13 I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever.” 14 Then the king turned around and blessed the whole assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. 15 And he said: “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, saying, 16 ‘Since the day that I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.’ 17 Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 18 But the LORD said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. 19 Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’ 20 So the LORD has fulfilled His word which He spoke; and I have filled the position of my father David, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised; and I have built a temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel. 21 And there I have made a place for the ark, in which is the covenant of the LORD which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt.” 22 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; 23 and he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. 24 You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. 25 Therefore, LORD God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’ 26 And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father. 27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! 28 Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.”
5 "Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was still mine; and she lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians-warriors 6 clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all of them handsome young men, and mounted horsemen.”
Under the direction of the new king Jeroboam the Northern Kingdom, Oholah forsook the Holy Lord Who provided them with their land and all its blessings. Now here is a unique question, which religion replaced the worship of the True and Ever Living God? – The pagan Egyptian religion. There were many other countries that surrounded Israel and they had their own forms of religion. Now, think about this. It was hundreds of years since the Israelites lived in Egypt, so why pick this form of religion? Since it had been some time since the Israelites were freed from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, how did Jeroboam come up with the ideas to build the golden calves? We find out why in the book of 1 Kings chapter 11,
1 But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— 2 from the nations of whom the LORD had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. 8 And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded. 11 Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, “Because you have done this, and have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. 12 Nevertheless I will not do it in your days, for the sake of your father David; I will tear it out of the hand of your son. 13 However I will not tear away the whole kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for the sake of My servant David, and for the sake of Jerusalem which I have chosen.” 14 Now the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom. 15 For it happened, when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army had gone up to bury the slain, after he had killed every male in Edom 16 (because for six months Joab remained there with all Israel, until he had cut down every male in Edom), 17 that Hadad fled to go to Egypt, he and certain Edomites of his father’s servants with him. Hadad was still a little child. 18 Then they arose from Midian and came to Paran; and they took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house, apportioned food for him, and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him as wife the sister of his own wife, that is, the sister of Queen Tahpenes. 20 Then the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh’s house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh’s household among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 So when Hadad heard in Egypt that David rested with his fathers, and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.” 22 Then Pharaoh said to him, “But what have you lacked with me, that suddenly you seek to go to your own country?” So he answered, “Nothing, but do let me go anyway.” 23 And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah. 24 So he gathered men to him and became captain over a band of raiders, when David killed those of Zobah. And they went to Damascus and dwelt there, and reigned in Damascus. 25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon (besides the trouble that Hadad caused); and he abhorred Israel, and reigned over Syria. 26 Then Solomon’s servant, Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, whose mother’s name was Zeruah, a widow, also rebelled against the king. 27 And this is what caused him to rebel against the king: Solomon had built the Millo and repaired the damages to the City of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor; and Solomon, seeing that the young man was industrious, made him the officer over all the labor force of the house of Joseph.
Like the person Hadad, Jeroboam went and dwelt in Egypt where he acclimated himself entirely to its culture.
When God allows a country to grow in its influence and power other nations become attractive to it. We experienced this ourselves as a nation. However, now the world does not seek to copy our customs, styles, inventions, products, and culture because they have developed hatred towards us.
Instead of enjoying the blessings, beauty, and freedom the Lord Most High Jehovah Elyon had provided the people and leaders of the Northern Kingdom they turned their attention to the splendor and power of Assyria.
Most people do not think about this but our country is the leading debtor nation in the world, yet we borrow money to turn around and give it to other countries of the world so they will like us. You know what, this action isn’t working.
“7 She gave herself as a prostitute to all the elite of the Assyrians and defiled herself with all the idols of everyone she lusted after.”
Israel or the Northern Kingdom gave tribute to the Assyrians. If you ever go to England, specifically London, schedule some time to go to its museum. They have on display a black obelisk that depicts one of Oholah’s kings by the name of Jehu prostrating himself before the Assyrian king Shamanesar III and offering tribute.
“8 She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when during her youth men slept with her, caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust upon her. 9 "Therefore I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians, for whom she lusted. 10 They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters and killed her with the sword. She became a byword among women, and punishment was inflicted on her.”
Think with me for a second regarding our Holy Yahweh’s Love and Long Suffering. Throughout its existence Israel has never had a period of pure love for its God. Starting in its conception as a nation while in Egypt, through God’s guidance in the Wilderness, and finally upon entering and living in our Wonderful Lord’s Promised Land, the people had consistently preferred to worship the pagan gods of the other nations.
Stop and evaluate for yourselves. Do your own inventory. Where are you now in your walk with our Holy God? Was there any time in the past that you enjoyed the life of Peace and Joy from the Everlasting Jehovah Shalom. If not then I would suggest a return to Him Who has been there with and for you all the time.
The Israelites as mentioned, had consistently turned to idolatry. Let us get this clear. It isn’t just all about little carved figurines. It is anything that keeps God out of first place in your lives. Idolatry can be other people, jobs, education, sex, hobbies, or sports.
God finally gave them up to pursue their passions. You reveal that you do not want Him to Rule over you. The humans that they turned to instead took everything from her; land, people, money, possessions, and its buildings. As a result Israel became the laughing stock of the world. The nation that she embraced as friends was the one who ultimately destroyed her.
11 "Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister. 12 She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors in full dress, mounted horsemen, all handsome young men. 13 I saw that she too defiled herself; both of them went the same way. “
How thick can we be? The Southern Kingdom of Judah witnessed the awful brutality done to her sister Samaria [Oholah] yet she ultimately followed the same course [‘they both took one way’].To add more sorrow upon sorrow, she looked to the nation of Babylon as her help in time of need.
2 Kings 16: 8 says, ““8 And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasuries of the king’s house, and sent it as a present to the king of Assyria.”
Isaiah 7: 7 – 13 reports this, “7 thus says the Lord GOD: “ It shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, so that it will not be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.”’ 10 Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” 13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?”
The prophet Isaiah made it clear to the king and his leaders that seeking alliance with Assyria was not necessary. They could and should put their trust in Jehovah Shammah, the Lord Who Is Always There for them.
14 "But she carried her prostitution still further. She saw men portrayed on a wall, figures of Chaldeans portrayed in red, 15 with belts around their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like Babylonian chariot officers, natives of Chaldea.”
The statement ‘portrayed in red’ in some translations reads ‘portrayed in vermilion’. It is a bright red pigment suitable for paintings If you remember back in chapter 8 our Holy Yahweh took Ezekiel by vision to the Temple of Jerusalem and showed him this, “7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. 8 Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. 9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” 10 So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls.”
These erotic pictures were brought to Jerusalem and portrayed even in God’s Holy house the Temple.
“16 As soon as she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.”
The people were so influenced by the pictures they sent out requests for more back to Babylon. Have you ever noticed commercials on TV such as tropical Island vacations? Why are they being shown? To get you interested in finding out more about the possibility of some day scheduling your vacation there. In a way this is what is going on here. It is more than travel involved. It is looking at the pictures and thinking or dreaming of participation. This is the danger of pornography. Look at where it leads you.
“17 Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. After she had been defiled by them, she turned away from them in disgust.”
Why do we always try so hard to impress someone who is not interested in us. I counsel a lot of people. Hey, after all, everyone is entitled to my opinion. My problem is that I care too much for people. Every person I counsel I want to see 100% improvement. All the ones I deal with are always on my mind hoping that they are doing well whether it is a marriage or an individual.
I get women who wish they had a man in their lives and men wishing for a good woman who might turn out to be their wife. What’s all this jabbering about anyway, you might ask? Well I just remember sharing this insight with a young man recently. I asked him if he went to a party and met two young ladies. One gave him her cell phone number and the other wrote her name, address, home phone, and cell phone number. My question to him and to you would be this, which one do you think was more interested in him? The one who gave him more information. However, you and I both know which one gets us thinking more about him or her. The one who is harder for us to attract. Our instinct is to get this one to like us just as much, if not, more so.
I had turned on a TV program and was caught with the intrigue of its design. There was this beautiful woman and this guy was wooing her. I don’t know how to judge guys, but I thought this guy was all right. Anyway, the TV producers let the audience know that this guy is a multi-millionaire. The restaurant he has taken her to, he owns. However, she does not know all this information. To add a twist to the action the directors bring into the scene another guy. This guy turns out to be an unemployed male model. Now the first guy has picked her up in a limo, given her flowers, taken her to this upscale restaurant and by the way, he was going to propose to her that evening. Before this can happen the woman must choose between the two guys. Which one do you think she chooses? I know what answer you are going to give – the model, right? You are correct. You get a cookie.
The point I want to express is that you cannot make friends with one who does not favor you, especially one who hates you. This sounds reasonable doesn’t it? The people of Judah and its leaders did not have any guns pointed at their heads. They sought out the relationship with the Chaldeans. She was totally mistreated. They would give and the Babylonians would not be satisfied and thereby ask for more in concessions and tribute. In the end, ‘her soul was alienated from them.’ The light bulb finally came on and she realized she was being played. Unfortunately, now it was too late to get out of the fix she so willfully desired. This wrong relationship finally destroyed her.
I would think that somehow this fact has spured your thoughts. What about Israel today? Are they not having to play the same game?. They keep giving up land and other concessions. And as soon as they do this, the enemy wants more. History does repeat itself. This is why we should pray for the nation of Israel daily.
18 When she carried on her prostitution openly and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.”
You finally get to the point you need help but your pride keeps you from seeking it. They could have turned back to the Holy and Righteous Jehovah Tisidkenu and He with His Awesome Love and Forgiveness would have taken them back.
Our Holy Father was so bothered by her actions He turned away from her, as would any hurt and disgusted husband.
“19 Yet she became more and more promiscuous as she recalled the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in Egypt. 20 There she lusted after her lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of horses.”
You can take the girl out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the girl. ‘Remember the days of her youth in which she had played the harlot in Egypt,’ is a statement that has significant meaning. Reflecting on past sins does not play well in God’s opinion. Our minds take us back and we relive different sinful episodes. We overlook the problem that occurred in replacement of the pleasure and good times we thought we experienced. Look at what the book of Genesis chapter 11 says, “ “1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 They said to each other, "Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth." 5 But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. 6 The LORD said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other." 8 So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.”
It was at Babel where men had the arrogance to think he was the captain of his own ship. Babylon’s products also influenced the world at the book of Joshua reveals in chapter 7, “21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." It was the Babylonian garment which caused the defeat for the Israelites at the place of Ai.
“21 So you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when in Egypt your bosom was caressed and your young breasts fondled.”
Paul informs us in his teaching in Galatians chapter 5 that we battle here on this earth between the spiritual and the sensual, ““17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.” We need the Holy Spirit’s help in overcoming the flesh and walking in His Ways.
22 "Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stir up your lovers against you, those you turned away from in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side- 23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, handsome young men, all of them governors and commanders, chariot officers and men of high rank, all mounted on horses.”
You rarely pick the right things or the right people without God’s help. How many good relationships do you know of in your own personal lives that worked out well? How many relationships or marriages have ended where the ones involved remarried friends? I am sure there are some but most of the ones I come in contact with are very hostile even to the point of being criminal.
Judah’s attempted relationship with Chaldea turned out bad. By this time the Assyrians were assimilated into the Babylonian Empire. A whole conglomeration of people from all over the empire joined the military in its march to destroying the people of Judah, this one little tiny spot on the globe.
