The two adulterous sisters refer to Samaria and Jerusalem, as described in Ezekiel 23. In this passage, the sisters symbolize the treachery and infidelity of these cities in turning away from God to pursue idolatry and immoral practices.
Scripture
1 The word of the Lord came to me:
2 “Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother.
3 They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore in their youth; there their breasts were pressed, and their virgin bosoms handled.
4 Oholah was the name of the elder and Oholibah the name of her sister. They became mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
5 Oholah played the whore while she was mine, and she lusted after her lovers the Assyrians, warriors
6 clothed in purple, governors and commanders, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses.
7 And she bestowed her whoredoms upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them, and on whoever she lusted after she profaned herself with all their idols.
8 She did not give up her whoring that she had begun in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her and handled her virgin bosom and poured out their whoring lust upon her.
9 Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted.
10 They uncovered her nakedness; they seized her sons and her daughters; and her they killed with the sword. And she became a byword among women, when judgment had been executed on her.
11 “Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that of her sister.
12 She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and commanders, warriors clothed in full armor, horsemen riding on horses, all of them desirable young men.
13 Then I saw that she was defiled; both took the same way.
14 But she carried her whoring further. She saw men portrayed on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans portrayed in vermilion,
15 Thus she carried her whoring to the land of Egypt and played the whore in her youth. Her breasts were pressed there, and her virgin bosom was handled.
16 When she saw them, she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoring lust. And after she was defiled by them, she turned from them in disgust.
18 When she carried on her whoring so openly and flaunted her nakedness, I turned in disgust from her, as I had turned in disgust from her sister.
19 Yet she increased her whoring, remembering the days of her youth, when she played the whore in the land of Egypt.
20 and lusted after her paramours there, whose members were like those of donkeys, and whose issue was like that of horses.
21 Thus you longed for the lewdness of your youth, when the Egyptians handled your bosom and pressed your young breasts.”
22 Therefore, O Oholibah, thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will stir up against you your lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them against you from every side,
23 the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
24 And they shall come against you from the north with chariots and wagons and a host of peoples. They shall set themselves against you on every side with buckler, shield, and helmet, and I will commit the judgment to them, and they shall judge you according to their judgments.
25 And I will direct my jealousy against you, that they may deal with you in fury. They shall cut off your nose and your ears, and your survivors shall fall by the sword. They shall seize your sons and your daughters, and your survivors shall be devoured by fire.
26 They shall also strip you of your clothes and take away your beautiful jewels.
27 Thus I will put an end to your lewdness and your whoring begun in the land of Egypt, so that you shall not lift up your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.
28 “For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will give you into the hands of those whom you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in disgust,”
29 And they shall deal with you in hatred and take away all the fruit of your labor and leave you naked and bare, and the nakedness of your whoring shall be uncovered. Your lewdness and your whoring
30 I will do these things to you because you have played the whore with the nations, and because you have defiled yourself with their idols.
31 You have gone the way of your sister; therefore I will give her cup into your hand.
32 Thus says the Lord God: “You shall drink your sister’s cup that is deep and large; you shall be laughed at and held in derision, for it contains much.”
33 You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow. A cup of horror and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria.
34 You shall drink it and drain it out, and gnaw its shards, and tear your breasts; for I have spoken, declares the Lord God.
35 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back, you yourself must bear the consequences of your lewdness and whoring.
36 The Lord said to me: “Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Declare to them their abominations.
37 For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. With their idols they have committed adultery, and they have even offered up to them for food the children whom they had borne to me.
38 Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths.
39 For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house.
40 They even sent for men to come from far away, to whom a messenger was sent; and behold, they came. For them you bathed yourself, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments.
41 You sat on a stately couch, with a table spread before it on which you had placed my incense and my oil.
42 The sound of a carefree multitude was with her; and with men of the common sort, drunkards were brought from the wilderness; and they put bracelets on the hands of the women, and beautiful crowns on their heads.
43 Then I said of her who was worn out by adultery, ‘Now they will continue to use her for a whore, even her!
44 Yet they went in to her, as men go in to a prostitute. So they went in to Oholah and to Oholibah, lewd women.
45 But righteous men shall pass judgment on them with the sentence of adulteresses, and with the sentence of women who shed blood, because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.”
46 For thus says the Lord God: “Bring up a vast host against them, and make them an object of terror and a plunder.
47 The host shall stone them and cut them down with their swords. They shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses.
48 Thus I will put an end to lewdness in the land, that all women may take warning and not commit lewdness as you have done.
49 And they shall return your lewdness upon you, and you shall bear the penalty for your sinful idolatry, and you shall know that I am the Lord God.”
Two Adulterous Sisters in the Bible
In Ezekiel 23, the allegory of the two adulterous sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, represents the kingdoms of Israel (Samaria) and Judah (Jerusalem). The passage serves as a poignant indictment of their spiritual infidelity. Oholah, representing Samaria, engaged in promiscuity with the Assyrians, while Oholibah, symbolizing Jerusalem, lusted after the Egyptians and others. This imagery underscores the profound betrayal of the covenant relationship with God, wherein the sisters forsook their divine allegiance for the allure of foreign nations and their idolatrous practices. The harsh language employed by Ezekiel illustrates the depths of their corruption, exposing not only physical acts of infidelity but a deeper spiritual unfaithfulness (Ezekiel 23:2-4, 37).
The broader lesson embedded in this text highlights the repercussions of abandoning one’s faith and the consequences of turning away from God. The narrative serves as a warning against complacency regarding idolatry and moral decay, emphasizing that such infidelity ultimately leads to divine judgment (Ezekiel 23:49). The use of the sisters as a metaphor reflects the collective identity of the nations and the personal responsibility of their inhabitants for their spiritual choices. As the text unfolds, it becomes evident that this is not just a historical account, but a timeless call for fidelity to God, inviting readers to reflect on their own commitments and the importance of remaining steadfast in faith amid the temptations of the world.
The imagery of Oholah and Oholibah further resonates throughout the biblical narrative, illustrating a recurring theme of spiritual betrayal and resultant judgment. Instances of unfaithfulness are not confined to the northern and southern kingdoms but permeate other biblical accounts as well. For example, Israel’s relationship with God is consistently depicted as that of a bride to her husband, where infidelity represents a breach of covenant. This theme echoes in the prophetic literature, where figures like Jeremiah emphasize Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness through metaphors of adultery, highlighting the nations’ infatuations with foreign gods and cultures (Jeremiah 3:6-10). The use of such allegories serves to challenge the people to recognize their societal and personal transgressions and the ways in which they have strayed from their commitment to the divine.
In addition, the New Testament continues this motif by highlighting the importance of fidelity in spiritual relationships. For instance, in James 4:4, the author warns that friendship with the world equates to enmity with God, paralleling the sentiments expressed in Ezekiel. The Church, often depicted as the bride of Christ, is similarly exhorted to maintain its purity and devotion, avoiding the allure of secular influences that can lead to spiritual compromise. This ongoing narrative invites an introspective examination of faithfulness, urging believers to remain vigilant against idolatry—an ever-relevant theme given the modern distractions that challenge one’s dedication to God’s teachings. Through these biblical echoes, the grim fate of Oholah and Oholibah serves not only as a historical warning but also as a continuous call for personal and communal fidelity to the covenant established with God.
Symbolism of Betrayal and Idolatry
The two adulterous sisters in the Bible serve as a powerful metaphor for betrayal, particularly in the context of faithfulness to God. They represent the unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah, who turned away from their covenant with God to pursue idolatry and foreign alliances. This imagery highlights the spiritual infidelity that occurs when a community or individual places their trust in worldly powers or false gods rather than remaining loyal to their divine relationship. The narrative underscores the consequences of such betrayal, illustrating how turning away from God leads to moral and spiritual decay.
Reflection on Divine Judgment and Mercy
The depiction of the two sisters also reflects the themes of divine judgment and mercy. While their actions warrant condemnation, the overarching message is one of hope and restoration. The story illustrates that despite the gravity of their sins, there remains an opportunity for repentance and reconciliation with God. This duality emphasizes the nature of God’s justice, which is balanced by His desire for redemption. The narrative serves as a reminder that even in the face of unfaithfulness, God’s mercy is available to those who seek to return to Him, highlighting the possibility of renewal and healing in the relationship between humanity and the divine.
How to Strengthen Your Faith and Loyalty to God
Strengthening your faith and loyalty to God is a deeply personal journey that requires intentionality and openness. Start by immersing yourself in Scripture; the Bible is not just a book but a living testament that speaks to our hearts and guides our actions. Set aside time each day for prayer, allowing it to be a two-way conversation where you not only speak but also listen for God’s gentle whispers. Surround yourself with a community of believers who uplift and challenge you, as fellowship can ignite your passion and commitment. Remember, faith is not about perfection but about progress; embrace the small steps you take each day, whether it’s showing kindness to a stranger or seeking forgiveness from a friend. Lastly, reflect on the blessings in your life, for gratitude can transform your perspective and deepen your loyalty to God. Trust that He is with you in every season, and let that assurance fuel your journey of faith.
Bible References to Two Adulterous Sisters:
Rev. François Dupont is a dedicated church minister with a wealth of experience in serving spiritual communities. With a calm and serene demeanor, he has been devoted to sharing the message of love, compassion, and tolerance for over two decades. Through his thoughtful sermons, compassionate counseling, and unwavering support, Rev. Dupont has touched the lives of countless individuals, allowing them to find solace and strength during difficult times. His serene presence and deep understanding of the human condition make him a trusted guide for those seeking spiritual nourishment and guidance.