Ezekiel 23:5

23:5 “Oholah engaged in prostitution while she was mine. 1  She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians 2  – warriors 3 

Ezekiel 23:16

23:16 When she saw them, 4  she lusted after them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea. 5 

1 tn Heb “while she was under me.” The expression indicates that Oholah is viewed as the Lord’s wife. See Num 5:19-20, 29.

sn Played the harlot refers to alliances with pagan nations in this context. In Ezek 16 harlotry described the sin of idolatry.

2 tn Heb “Assyria.”

3 tn The term apparently refers to Assyrian military officers; it is better construed with the description that follows. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:738.

4 tn Heb “at the appearance of her eyes.”

5 sn The Chaldeans were prominent tribal groups of Babylonia. The imagery is reminiscent of events in the reigns of Hezekiah (2 Kgs 20:12-15) and Jehoiakim (2 Kgs 23:34-24:1).