Reading for February 5th

Read Ezekiel 23.1-10. In 23.1-49: Oholah and Oholibah. Presupposing the portrayal of Israel as God's wife (compare Hos 1-3; Jer 2-3), Ezekiel employs the metaphor of harlotry to describe Samaria and Jerusalem (see ch 16). Oholah, "her tent," refers to Samaria. The name Oholah alludes to the presence of God who dwells in a tent (according to the Exodus and Wilderness traditions; compare 2 Sam 7.6). Oholibah, "my tent is in her," refers to Jerusalem and the presence of the Temple. In verses 5-10: Oholah's or Samaria's relations with the officers of Assyria presuppose its earlier alliance with Assyria under the Jehu dynasty, specifically, Menahern (2 Kings 15.17-22), and Hoshea (2 Kings 17.1-6). Ezekiel portrays this alliance as harlotry and argues that it led to Israel's destruction. Comments or Questions..