Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ezekiel 23:5
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbors,
5 10. The intrigues of Samaria with Assyria
5. when she was mine ] though my wife, lit. under me.
Assyrians her neighbours ] In Eze 16:26 the Egyptians are called Israel’s “neighbours,” but the Assyrians could hardly be so called, and indeed in Eze 23:40 are referred to as “far off.” The word may mean “warriors” (the similar word “war” or “battle” 2Sa 17:11 and often). Corn, suggests, “famous,” the term used in Eze 23:23. The verse should be connected with Eze 23:6, as appears from Eze 23:12 even on the Assyrians, warriors clothed with blue.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. And Aholah played the harlot] Without entering into detail here, or following the figures, they both became idolatrous, and received the impure rites of the Egyptians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, of which connexion the prophet speaks here as he did in Eze 16:15 c., which see.
In this chapter there are many of what we would call indelicate expressions, because a parallel is run between idolatry and prostitution, and the circumstances of the latter illustrate the peculiarities of the former. In such cases, perhaps, the matter alone was given to the prophet, and he was left to use his own language, and amplify as he saw good. Ezekiel was among the Jews what Juvenal was among the Romans,-a rough reprover of the most abominable vices. They both spoke of things as they found them stripped vice naked, and scourged it publicly. The original is still more rough than the translation; and surely there is no need of a comment to explain imagery that is but too generally understood. I have said enough on Eze 16:15 c,, and to that I must refer the reader. It is true that there are a few things here in the shade that might be illustrated by anatomy and it would not be difficult to do it: but they are not necessary to salvation, and I shall not take off the covering. They were sufficiently understood by those for whose use they were originally designed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Aholah, the kingdom of Israel, or the ten tribes,
played the harlot; united in confederacy in civil concerns, and in idolatry as to religious concerns, with the Assyrians.
When she was mine; when under my government and protection, or in my presence, or before I had abdicated and cast her off.
Doted; were madly enamoured with the Assyrian idols, temples, and manner of worship.
Her lovers; whom she loved, not that I find they so much loved her.
The Assyrians; so often mentioned, nothing needs be said of them.
Her neighbours; so they were now by their seizing of Syria, and possessing it as their own 2Ki 15:19.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. when . . . mineliterally,”under Me,” that is, subject to Me as her lawful husband.
neighboursOn thenortheast the kingdom of Israel bordered on that of Assyria; for thelatter had occupied much of Syria. Their neighborhood in locality wasemblematical of their being near in corruption of morals and worship.The alliances of Israel with Assyria, which are the chiefsubject of reprobation here, tended to this (2Ki 15:19;2Ki 16:7; 2Ki 16:9;2Ki 17:3; Hos 8:9).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine,…. His married wife, and so ought to have cleaved to him alone: or, under me o; under his cover, power, and protection, and therefore it was their interest to serve him only: or, “instead of me” p; or, as the Syriac version, “besides me”: they worshipped other gods in the room of the true God, or other gods besides him. The Targum is,
“and Aholah erred from my worship;”
the ten tribes fell into idolatry, when they were God’s professing people:
and she doted on her lovers; whom she loved even to madness; she was mad with love, to the idols, temples, altars, and idolatrous worship of the Heathens; particularly doted “on the Assyrians her neighbours”; who were become so by the conquest of Syria; and these they treated as their neighbours, and sought to have them to be their allies and confederates; courted their help and assistance, and gave them much money for that purpose; as Menahem gave to Pul king of Assyria a thousand talents of silver, to confirm the kingdom in his hand,
2Ki 15:19.
o “sub me”, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Tigurine version. Piscator, Cocceius, Starckius. p “Exteros excipiens loco meo”, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Samaria’s Whoredom and Punishment
Eze 23:5. And Oholibah played the harlot under me, and burned towards her lovers, even as far as Assyria, standing near; Eze 23:6. Clothed in purple, governors and officers, all of them choice men of good deportment, horsemen riding upon horses. Eze 23:7. And she directed her whoredom toward them, to the choice of the sons of Assyria all of them, and with all towards whom she burned, with all their idols she defiled herself. Eze 23:8. Also her whoredom from Egypt she did not give up; for they had lain with her in her youth, and they had handled her virgin bosom, and had poured out their lust upon her. Eze 23:9. Therefore I have given her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the sons of Assyria, towards whom she was inflamed. Eze 23:10. They uncovered her nakedness, took away her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword, so that she became a legend among the women, and executed judgments upon her. – Coquetting and whoring with Assyria and Egypt denote religious and political leaning towards and connection with these nations and kingdoms, including idolatry and the formation of alliances with them, as in Ezekiel 16. is to be interpreted in accordance with (Eze 16:32). , which only occurs in Ezekiel and once in Jeremiah, denotes the eager desire kindled by passionate love towards any one. By the words the lovers are more precisely defined. without an article is not an adjective, belonging to , but in apposition, which is continued in the next verse. In these appositions the particular features, which excited the ardent passion towards the lovers, are pointed out. is not to be taken in an outward or local sense, but as signifying inward or spiritual nearness: standing near, equivalent to inwardly related, as in Psa 38:12; Job 19:14. The description given of the Assyrians in Eze 23:6 contains the thought that Israel, dazzled by Assyria’s splendour, and overpowered by the might of that kingdom, had been drawn into intercourse with the Assyrians, which led her astray into idolatry. The predicate, clothed in purple, points to the splendour and glory of this imperial power; the other predicates, to the magnitude of its military force. are rulers of higher and lower grades (cf. Jer 51:57). “Here the expression is a general one, signifying the different classes of office-bearers in the kingdom” (Hvernick). With regard to , see my comm. on Hag 1:1; and for , see Delitzsch on Isa 41:25. “Riding upon horses” is added to to denote the noblest horsemen, in contrast to riders upon asses and camels (cf. Isa 21:7). In Eze 23:7 hem is in apposition to , and defines more precisely the instigation to pollution: with all towards whom she burned in love, namely, with all their (the lovers’) idols. The thought is as follows: it was not merely through her intercourse with the Assyrians that Israel defiled herself, but also through their idols. At the same time, Samaria did not give up the idolatry which it had derived from Egypt. It was from Egypt that the worship of God under the image of the golden calves had been imported. The words are much too strong for us to understand them as relating simply to political intercourse, as Hitzig has done. We have already observed at Eze 20:7, that even in Egypt itself the Israelites had defiled themselves with Egyptian idolatry, as is also stated in Eze 23:8. – Eze 23:9, Eze 23:10. As a punishment for this, God gave Samaria into the power of the Assyrians, so that they executed judgment upon the harlot. In Eze 23:10 the prophecy passes from the figure to the fact. The uncovering of the nakedness consisted in the transportation of the sons and daughters, i.e., the population of Samaria, into exile by the Assyrians, who slew the woman herself with the sword; in other words, destroyed the kingdom of Samaria. Thus did Samaria become a name for women; that is to say, her name was circulated among the nations, her fate became an object of conversation and ridicule to the nations, not “a nickname for the nations,” as Hvernick supposes (vid., Eze 36:3). , a later form for (cf. Eze 16:41).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(Eze. 23:5-10)
EXEGETICAL NOTES.The spiritual adultery of Samaria with Assyria. The instrument of her punishment is that very people which she had made the object of her impure love.
Eze. 23:5. The Assyrians her neighbours. The word refers rather to kinsmen, rather than to those dwelling near. Asshur was brother to Arphaxad, Abrahams ancestor (Gen. 10:22; Gen. 10:24; Gen. 11:16-26).
Eze. 23:6. Clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. This description given of the Assyrians contains the thought that Israel, dazzled by Assyrias splendour, and overpowered by the might of that kingdom, had been drawn into intercourse with the Assyrians, which led her astray into idolatry. The predicate, clothed in purple, points to the splendour and glory of this imperial power; the other predicates, to the magnitude of its military force. (Keil). We have here the ground which tempted Aholah to become unfaithful to her God. It lay in this, that the paramour Assyria came into her neighbourhood, and placed his grandeur before her. Therein lay the temptation to sue for his favour to ward off injury. The adultery has been not so much a religious as a political import. The paramour, on whose account Israel forsakes his God, is Assyria itself, not its god, though they endeavoured, no doubt from fear of the people, to make friends of its gods also. (Hengstenberg).
Eze. 23:8. Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt. This was the Apis-worship of which Israel was guilty while in Horeb. Jeroboam instituted it, thus reviving the former iniquity of the nation. The people never wholly got rid of this source of unfaithfulness brought from Egypt. Even Jehu tolerated it (2Ki. 10:31).
Eze. 23:10. These discovered her nakedness. This denotes the ignominious treatment which Israel must suffer from Assyria, as a punishment for her revolt to Egypt. Aholah is slain with the sword: the proper substance of the people, the men fit for service, fell in the war, while the weaker portion was carried into exile. (Hengstenberg.) Famous among women. She was rendered as notorious by her punishment as she had been by her crimes. She was made an example to which an appeal could be made by other states Henderson.
HOMILETICS
THE SIN OF SAMARIA
I. It showed the basest ingratitude. Played the harlot when she was Mine. God had united her to Himself, she was in living and tender relationship with Him when she basely deserted His worship and service. She was taught the true doctrine, and the right way of duty, and was supplied with means to observe both. Yet she sinned against light and privilege.
II. It showed the dangerous power of the imagination. The military organization of Assyria dazzled their imagination. The glory of the world seduces the worldly mind. Clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses. Such was the power and grandeur of Assyria. In accordance with the figure employed, those things are named which would be likely to strike the eye of a wordly minded young woman. Israel admired the political and worldly grandeur of the Assyrians, and so were seduced into idolatry. They first worshipped the power and magnificence of the nation, and then it was an easy matter to adopt the worship of their gods. The fascinations of the world is still the standing danger to purity in doctrine and worship. In all sensuous forms of religious worship there lurks this great danger, that men through admiration of the outward are led to adopt the false doctrines of which it is the vehicle.
III. It showed how inveterate are old evils. Brought from Egypt (Eze. 23:8). The old idolatry which they had learned in Egypt clung to the nation every now and then breaking out. The nation was never clearly delivered from it till after their captivity in Babylon.
IV. It was visited with exemplary punishment.
1. Those who had seduced her by their power and grandeur were made the very instruments of her punishment. She had doted on the Assyrians, and she was delivered into their hands (Eze. 23:9).
2. She was made a warning example to all. Famous among women. An example to all the other nations. They would talk of her; some of her abominable wickedness, others of her miseries, previous judgments, and calamities.
1. When people embrace false worship they are violent and strong in their affections towards it. Aholah doted upon her lovers, her heart was fired with Babylonish gods, and confidences in them.
2. What evil persons have practised in their youth that they affect in their age. Aholah had loved the Egyptian idols in her minority, and after she was grown up, those idols were not out of her thoughts. Her Egyptian lovers were still in her mind, like harlots that mind their former lovers long after they are married. What corruption gets in youth, grows up and abides; an unclean, idolatrous heart in youth, will be so in age.
3. Idolatry may continue long in a nation, but shall at least be severely punished by the Lord. Aholah had been an idolatress from her youth, and when she was grown up to some greatness, then she broke out into gross, notorious idolatry (1 Kings 12); in which she continued for upwards of two hundred and sixty years, and then the Lord plagued, yea, destroyed her, her sons and daughters. It is wisdom to cleave to the Lord and His worship, not to follow or confide in other nations, or their ways.
4. God makes places and persons remarkable by the judgments He executeth upon them. Aholah was made famous among women by those judgments He brought upon her. Aholah was Samaria, which Shalmaneser besieged three years, and then took it; and afterwards burnt it (2Ki. 17:5-6).Greenhill.
Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell
B. Samarias Prostitution 23:510
TRANSLATION
(5) And Oholah committed harlotry under Me, and she threw herself on her lovers, on the Assyrians, warriors, (6) clothed with blue. governors and rulers, all of them handsome young men, horsemen riding on horses. (7) And she bestowed her harlotries upon them, the choicest men of Assyria all of them; and on whomsoever she threw herself, with all their idols she defiled herself. (8) And she did not forsake her Egyptian harlotries; for they lay with her in her youth, and they bruised her virgin breasts; and they poured out their lust upon her. (9) Therefore, I will give her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians upon whom she threw herself. (10) They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and daughters, and slew her with the sword, and she became a byword to women, for judgments were made against her.
COMMENTS
For the purposes of this allegory Samaria is called the elder sister because that city had experienced the judgment of God prior to Jerusalem. Oholah (Samaria) committed harlotry from under God, i.e., from under His control and authority as her lawful husband. She threw herself at various lovers among whom the Assyrians were most notable. The Assyrian warriors dressed in handsome uniforms and led by men of note attracted the inhabitants of Samaria[356] (Eze. 23:6). Israel plunged headlong into political alliance with Assyria, and willingly paid the price demanded of all allies, viz., homage to the Assyrian deities. Thus did Samaria defile herself with all their idols (Eze. 23:7).
[356] The first king of Israel to render tribute to Assyria was Jehu in 841 B.C. The Black Obelisk Of Shalmaneser depicts and describes the scene.
The corrupt Oholah (Samaria) did not forsake her earlier harlotries when she took up with the Assyrians. She had committed spiritual adultery in Egypt. She had prostituted herself before Egyptian idols, and throughout her history she had continued to engage in those pagan cultic practices (Eze. 23:8).
Because of her harlotries Oholah (Samaria) was delivered by God into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians. What irony, to be destroyed by the nation which she counted on as ally a lover (Eze. 23:9). The Assyrians stripped Oholah ravished her land, removed her wealth. The sons and daughters of Samaria were carried away into captivity. Oholah herself was slain with the sword, i.e., Samaria was destroyed by military action. Oholah became a name a byword or warning to all other women (nations) who might contemplate unfaithfulness to the Lord. What happened to Samaria should have been a warning to Jerusalem (Eze. 23:10).
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(5) The Assyrians her neighbours.Or, the Assyrians drawing near. They are described in Eze. 23:40 as those who come from far. The nearness here spoken of is to be understood not locally, but spiritually, of sympathy in idolatry. Of the earlier connection between Israel and Assyria there is little remaining record. In 2Ki. 15:19-20, it is said that Pul exacted tribute of Menahem, and the mention seems to imply a still earlier intercourse. According to the Assyrian records, Jehu was tributary to Shalmaneser; Assyria, as representing the great northern power, in contrast to Egypt on the south, is probably used here in a sense broad enough to include also Syria.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. And Aholah played the harlot The wife deserts her husband and joins herself to the handsomely uniformed Assyrians. Nahum represents Nineveh as the grand courtesan of the nations. Her palaces and glorious gardens and, above all, the military prowess which for six centuries dominated the whole earth made her brave to look upon. “In war the Assyrians astonished the people by the richness of the colors of their costumes, the flashing of their arms, and the multitude of horses and chariots, which has never been surpassed by any other people.” Delatre. The military grandeur of these young horsemen dazzles her eyes and she accepts them and “all their idols” (Eze 23:7) instead of her true Lord. This evidently refers to Jerusalem’s political as well as her religious affiliation with Assyria. (Compare Hos 5:13; Hos 7:11 ; 2Ki 23:11; 2Ki 17:4.) Her neighbors (also Eze 23:12) The nations that had formerly seemed far away (Eze 23:40) came very near to Jerusalem after Jehu began to pay tribute to Shalmaneser (Black Obelisk). It is probable, however, that this Hebrew term may mean “warriors” (Smend) or “high dignitaries” (Toy).
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
The Fall of Oholah (of Samaria).
“And Oholah played the prostitute when she was mine.”
Here was the first downfall after the restoration. Oholah had proved false. She had been Yahweh’s own, but she had turned from the pure worship of Yahweh to other lovers, and her behaviour had followed suit.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
-6 “And she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours, who were clothed with blue, governors and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. And she bestowed her whoredoms on them, the choicest men of Assyria, all of them. And on whoever she doted, she defiled herself with all their idols.”
This is to be seen as very much a potted summary of her history. Assyria were the most prominent of those whom she looked to, and were the ones who in the end brought about her downfall. She saw them, and was dazzled by them, and responded to them, welcoming their gods with open arms, as she had those before Assyria such as Baal Melkart. They were such as would be attractive to any woman, clothed in blue (possibly a sumptuous violet blue), people of authority (the terms are Akkadian loan words meaning district governors and satraps) , young and desirable, riding proudly on horseback. And she gave herself to them and doted on their idols.
History tells us how they subjected themselves to Assyria by paying tribute with its accompanying subjection. The Black Obelisk of Shamaneser III depicts Jehu prostrating himself before the king of Assyria and offering tribute (about 840 BC), seeking his assistance against his enemies. Adad Nirari III also speaks of receiving tribute ‘from the territory of Omri’, a synonym for Israel. (Omri had been a great Israelite king admired by Assyria). See also 2Ki 15:19-20 ; 2Ki 17:3; Hos 3:1; Hos 7:11; Hos 8:9; Hos 12:1.
So she who should have been gazing at Yahweh and should have been faithful to Him alone, rather turned her gaze on the splendour and power of the world outside and made them the object of her love, as Israel had previously done in Egypt, and that led on to rampant idolatry with all that that involved.
‘Her neighbours.’ Some have cavilled at the idea that Assyria could be called Israel’s ‘neighbour’ (qarob), one who is near. But by the time of Ezekiel the Mesopotamian world and the Egyptian world were the prominent friend/enemy (alternately) of the north and south, and would thus be seen as near in comparison with the further unknown world which was a mystery. They were near enough to be called on for military assistance.
Alternatives suggested have been to relate qarob to a late Hebrew word for ‘war’ (qerab), giving the meaning of ‘warrior’, a small emendation to the text to make the word mean ‘warriors’ based on the Assyrian quradu, or a connection with the qurbutu, an Assyrian officer close to the king and used in intelligence missions and discreet contact.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Eze 23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours,
Ver. 5. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine. ] Fornicata est sub me, under colour and covert of a marriage made with me. See what a fair gloss Jeroboam set upon his foul idolatry. 1Ki 12:28
On the Assyrians, her neighbours.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Eze 23:5-10
5Oholah played the harlot while she was Mine; and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, her neighbors, 6who were clothed in purple, governors and officials, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding on horses. 7She bestowed her harlotries on them, all of whom were the choicest men of Assyria; and with all whom she lusted after, with all their idols she defiled herself. 8She did not forsake her harlotries from the time in Egypt; for in her youth men had lain with her, and they handled her virgin bosom and poured out their lust on her. 9Therefore, I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, after whom she lusted. 10They uncovered her nakedness; they took her sons and her daughters, but they slew her with the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgments on her.
Eze 23:5-8 This describes the acts of Oholah (Samaria).
1. played the harlot (BDB 275, KB 275, Qal IMPERFECT) while married (lit. under me BDB 1065,1,c) to YHWH (cf. Isa 54:5-6; Jer 3:1; Jer 3:20; Hos 2:2 and note Hos 2:16), Eze 23:5
2. lusted (BDB 721, KB 783, Qal IMPERFECT) after other lovers, Eze 23:5
3. lusted especially after Assyria, Eze 23:5; Eze 23:7; Eze 23:9
a. leader dressed in purple, Eze 23:6
b. governor and officials, Eze 23:6
c. desirable young men, Eze 23:6
d. riding on horses, Eze 23:6
e. the choicest men of Assyria, Eze 23:7
4. accepted their gods (idols) and defiled herself (BDB 379, KB 375, Niphal PERFECT), Eze 23:7
5. harlot from her youth (i.e., Egypt), Eze 23:8 (see note at Eze 23:4)
6. they poured out their lusts, Eze 23:8, cf. Eze 16:15; this refers to the desire for political alliances, but these attempts at security involved the ritual acknowledgment of their national idols
Eze 23:5
NASB, NJB,
LXXher neighbors
NKJVthe neighboring
NRSV,
JPSOA, NIVwarriors
REBofficers
This Hebrew term (BDB 898) usually means come near, approach and can be used for bringing an offering. It is only in this context (i.e., Eze 23:5; Eze 23:12 [i.e., the ones near]) that it can mean warlike or warrior (from an Akkadian root). It is also possible that it refers to a governmental official (i.e., one who is near the king).
her lovers In context this refers to political alliances, but this also involved the acknowledgment of their gods, which led to idolatrous practices with the fertility gods (cf. Hos 11:7; Hos 8:9; Hos 12:1).
Eze 23:6 governors and officials These refer to Assyrian government leaders.
1. governor – BDB 808, NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 602, notes that this term referred to the chief local Assyrian official when Israel was a vassal region after the fall of Samaria in 722 B.C. by Shalmaneser V and Sargon II.
2. officials – BDB 688, cf. Eze 23:6; Eze 23:12, this would denote the chief local Assyrian official when Israel became a province in 841 B.C. under Shalmaneser III.
Eze 23:9-10 YHWH’s response to His unfaithful wife Oholah.
1. I gave her into the hands of her lovers
2. They uncovered her nakedness
3. They took her children (i.e., exile)
4. They killed many inhabitants of Israel (i.e., invasion in 724 B.C., Samaria fell in 722 B.C.)
5. He made her a byword among women
6. Assyria became the rod (cf. Isa 8:7; Isa 10:5) of YHWH’s anger and judgment
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Aholah: The Israelites, in addition to their former gross idolatries, received the impure idolatrous worship of the Assyrians, who became their neighbours by the conquest of Syria. 1Ki 14:9, 1Ki 14:16, 1Ki 15:26, 1Ki 15:30, 1Ki 16:31, 1Ki 16:32, 1Ki 21:26, 2Ki 17:7-18
doted: Eze 23:7, Eze 23:9, Eze 23:12, Eze 23:16, Eze 23:20, Eze 16:37, Jer 50:38
on the: Eze 16:28, 2Ki 15:19, 2Ki 16:7, 2Ki 17:3, Hos 5:13, Hos 8:9, Hos 8:10, Hos 10:6, Hos 12:1
Reciprocal: Gen 38:24 – played the harlot Gen 39:7 – cast Deu 31:16 – and go a Jdg 18:24 – what have Jer 2:20 – playing Eze 21:24 – your transgressions Eze 23:37 – they have Hos 2:5 – their mother Hos 5:3 – thou Hos 6:10 – there Amo 2:6 – For three
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Eze 23:5. When she teas mine. Immorality is wrong in any woman, but it is worse when she commits it against, a man to whom she has been united in the lawful relationship. The Assyrians are named because at the time the 10-tribe kingdom was practicing her unfaithfulness (idolatry) the territory under consideration was under the control of that empire.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Eze 23:5-6. And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine When she was under my government and protection. After she had lived in covenant with me, and attended upon my service and worship all the time of the judges, and of David and Solomon, she fell off from my service, and was the first that established idolatry by a law, and consented to Jeroboams wicked device of setting up the golden calves. In the Scripture language, the Jewish people are said to play the harlot with those whose religious ceremonies they imitated. And she doted on her lovers That is, her foreign allies, whose idolatries she was fond of, and hoped by that means to procure their friendship and assistance: see note on Eze 16:33; Eze 16:37. On the Assyrians her neighbours The king of Assyria was a very potent prince, and thereupon his alliance was courted both by the kings of Israel and Judah: see the margin. Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers As women are apt to fall in love with comely young men, well mounted and richly clothed; so the Israelites were enamoured with the state and bravery of the Assyrians, and thought themselves secure if they could but procure their alliance and friendship, and in order to it embraced their idolatries. Horsemen riding upon horses Horses were scarce in Judea, which made the Jews apply themselves to the neighbouring counties for troops of horse, in the time of any hostile invasion. Lowth.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
23:5 And Aholah played the harlot when {d} she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours,
(d) When the Israelites were named the people of God, they became idolaters and forsook God, and put their trust in the Assyrians.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Samaria’s prostitution 23:5-10
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Oholah proved unfaithful to the Lord by lusting after her attractive neighbors, the Assyrians.
"The appeal, then as now, was to youth, strength, position, wealth and self-gratification; that is, the world in all its dazzle and attractiveness." [Note: Feinberg, p. 132.]
Oholah committed political adultery by making alliances with the Assyrians, which involved worshipping their idols (cf. 2Ki 15:19-20; 2Ki 17:3-4; Hos 5:13; Hos 7:11; Hos 8:9; Hos 12:1-2; Amo 5:26). The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser, an important archaeological find dating to about 840 B.C., shows King Jehu of Israel bowing in submission before King Shalmaneser III of Assyria and giving him tribute money. [Note: See D. W. Thomas, ed., Documents from Old Testament Times, pp. 48-49, plate 3, and pp. 50-52.] This was a continuation of Oholah’s behavior from her youth in Egypt where she had done the same things.