יְחֶזְקֵאל 23

1 וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃

A message from the Lord came to me, saying,

2 בֶּן־אָדָ֑ם שְׁתַּ֣יִם נָשִׁ֔ים בְּנֹ֥ות אֵם־אַחַ֖ת הָיֽוּ׃

“Son of man, there were once two women. They were daughters of the same mother.

3 וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃

They became prostitutes in Egypt. In fact, they were prostitutes from the time they were young. They allowed their virgin breasts to be fondled and their nipples squeezed.

4 וּשְׁמֹותָ֗ן אָהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדֹולָה֙ וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחֹותָ֔הּ וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנֹ֑ות וּשְׁמֹותָ֕ן שֹׁמְרֹ֣ון אָהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אָהֳלִיבָֽה׃

The older girl was called Oholah, and her sister Oholibah. I married them both and they had sons and daughters. Oholah represents Samaria, and Oholibah represents Jerusalem.

5 וַתִּ֥זֶן אָהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתַּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל־מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל־אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרֹובִֽים׃

Oholah prostituted herself while she was still married to me. She wanted to have sex with her lovers, the Assyrians.

6 לְבֻשֵׁ֤י תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ פַּחֹ֣ות וּסְגָנִ֔ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּ֑ם פָּרָשִׁ֕ים רֹכְבֵ֖י סוּסִֽים׃

They were soldiers dressed in blue, leaders and commanders, all of them handsome young men in the cavalry.

7 וַתִּתֵּ֤ן תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבְחַ֥ר בְּנֵֽי־אַשּׁ֖וּר כֻּלָּ֑ם וּבְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־עֽ͏ָגְבָ֛ה בְּכָל־גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם נִטְמָֽאָה׃

She gave away herself sexually to all the important men of Assyria. She made herself unclean by her worship of all the idols of those men she wanted to have sex with.

8 וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֤יהָ מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔בָה כִּ֤י אֹותָהּ֙ שָׁכְב֣וּ בִנְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וְהֵ֥מָּה עִשּׂ֖וּ דַּדֵּ֣י בְתוּלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֥וּ תַזְנוּתָ֖ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃

She didn't stop her prostitution that she started in Egypt—men sleeping with her when she was young, squeezing her virgin breasts and using her to satisfy their sexual appetite.

9 לָכֵ֥ן נְתַתִּ֖יהָ בְּיַד־מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָגְבָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

So I handed her over to her lovers, the Assyrians she wanted to have sex with.

10 הֵמָּה֮ גִּלּ֣וּ עֶרְוָתָהּ֒ בָּנֶ֤יהָ וּבְנֹותֶ֙יהָ֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וְאֹותָ֖הּ בַּחֶ֣רֶב הָרָ֑גוּ וַתְּהִי־שֵׁם֙ לַנָּשִׁ֔ים וּשְׁפוּטִ֖ים עָ֥שׂוּ בָֽהּ׃ ס

They stripped her naked, took away her sons and daughters, and killed her with the sword. She became infamous among women, and they punished her.

11 וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ אֲחֹותָ֣הּ אָהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶת־תַּ֨זְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחֹותָֽהּ׃

Oholibah saw what happened to her sister, but she became even worse than her in her wanting sex and practicing prostitution.

12 אֶל־בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּחֹ֨ות וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְלֹ֔ול פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם׃

She also wanted to have sex with the Assyrians: their leaders and commanders, their splendidly-dressed soldiers—all of them handsome young men in the cavalry.

13 וָאֵ֖רֶא כִּ֣י נִטְמָ֑אָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ אֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּיהֶֽן׃

I saw that she had also made herself unclean—both sisters were doing the same thing.

14 וַתֹּ֖וסֶף אֶל־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּיִּים (כַשְׂדִּ֔ים) חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃

However, Oholibah's prostitution was even worse. She saw pictures of Babylonian soldiers wearing bright red uniforms painted on the wall.

15 חֲגֹורֵ֨י אֵזֹ֜ור בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מֹולַדְתָּֽם׃

They were wearing belts on their waists and large turbans on their heads. They all looked like Babylonian officers in Chaldea, the country where they were born.

16 וַתַּעְגַּב (וַתַּעְגְּבָ֥ה) עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַרְאֵ֣ה עֵינֶ֑יהָ וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃

When she saw the paintings of them, she wanted to have sex with them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.

17 וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלֶ֤יהָ בְנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב דֹּדִ֔ים וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ אֹותָ֖הּ בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם וַתִּ֨טְמָא־בָ֔ם וַתֵּ֥קַע נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מֵהֶֽם׃

The Babylonians came to her and her love bed, and made her unclean with their sexual desire. However, after she had been dishonored by them, she rejected them in disgust.

18 וַתְּגַל֙ תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ וַתְּגַ֖ל אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֤קַע נַפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י מֵעַ֥ל אֲחֹותָֽהּ׃

When Oholibah so blatantly prostituted herself, exposing herself naked, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had done to her sister.

19 וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָנְתָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

But she practiced even more prostitution, remembering how she'd been a prostitute in Egypt when she was young.

20 וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה עַ֖ל פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׂר־חֲמֹורִים֙ בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְזִרְמַ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים זִרְמָתָֽם׃

She wanted to have sex with her lovers who had genitals like donkeys and who ejaculated like stallions.

21 וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י אֵ֖ת זִמַּ֣ת נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בַּעְשֹׂ֤ות מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ ס

You went back to the indecent acts when you were young, when the Egyptians squeezed your nipples and fondled your young breasts.

22 לָכֵ֣ן אָהֳלִיבָ֗ה כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מֵעִ֤יר אֶת־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶ֑ם וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים עָלַ֖יִךְ מִסָּבִֽיב׃

So Oholibah, this is what the Lord God says: I'm going to encourage your lovers to attack you, those you rejected in disgust. I will bring them to attack you from every direction:

23 בְּנֵ֧י בָבֶ֣ל וְכָל־כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים פְּקֹ֤וד וְשֹׁ֙ועַ֙ וְקֹ֔ועַ כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר אֹותָ֑ם בַּח֨וּרֵי חֶ֜מֶד פַּחֹ֤ות וּסְגָנִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם שָֽׁלִשִׁים֙ וּקְרוּאִ֔ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃

the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians along with them—all handsome young men, leaders and commanders, chariot captains and important officers, all riding horses.

24 וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ וּבִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֔ים צִנָּ֤ה וּמָגֵן֙ וְקֹובַ֔ע יָשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב וְנָתַתִּ֤י לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃

They will attack you from the north, invading with a great army, chariots, and wagons. They will come with their shields and helmets and surround you. I will hand you over to them for punishment, and they will judge and punish you following their own laws.

25 וְנָתַתִּ֨י קִנְאָתִ֜י בָּ֗ךְ וְעָשׂ֤וּ אֹותָךְ֙ בְּחֵמָ֔ה אַפֵּ֤ךְ וְאָזְנַ֙יִךְ֙ יָסִ֔ירוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפֹּ֑ול הֵ֗מָּה בָּנַ֤יִךְ וּבְנֹותַ֙יִךְ֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ תֵּאָכֵ֥ל בָּאֵֽשׁ׃

I feel so strongly about what you've done that I will oppose you, and they will treat you very badly. They will cut off your noses and ears, and they will kill those of you who are left. They will take away your sons and daughters as prisoners, and those of you who are left will be destroyed by fire.

26 וְהִפְשִׁיט֖וּךְ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י תִפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃

They will tear off your clothes and take your beautiful jewelry.

27 וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י זִמָּתֵךְ֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאֶת־זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־תִשְׂאִ֤י עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי־עֹֽוד׃ ס

I'm going to put a stop to your immorality and prostitution, which started in Egypt. You won't think longingly about those times, and you'll forget all about Egypt.

28 כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ נֹֽתְנָ֔ךְ בְּיַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את בְּיַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶֽם׃

For this is what the Lord God says: Believe it when I say that I'm going to hand you over to the people you hate, the ones you rejected in disgust.

29 וְעָשׂ֨וּ אֹותָ֜ךְ בְּשִׂנְאָ֗ה וְלָקְחוּ֙ כָּל־יְגִיעֵ֔ךְ וַעֲזָב֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֑ה וְנִגְלָה֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת זְנוּנַ֔יִךְ וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃

They will treat you with hatred. They will take away everything you've worked for, leaving you stark naked with nothing, so that so that the indecent acts of your prostitution will be exposed. Your immorality and prostitution

30 עָשֹׂ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ בִּזְנֹותֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גֹויִ֔ם עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־נִטְמֵ֖את בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃

is why all this has happened to you, because you acted as a prostitute with the nations and made yourself unclean by worshiping their idols.

31 בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ אֲחֹותֵ֖ךְ הָלָ֑כְתְּ וְנָתַתִּ֥י כֹוסָ֖הּ בְּיָדֵֽךְ׃ ס

Because you did what your sister did, I will give you her cup to drink.

32 כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה כֹּ֤וס אֲחֹותֵךְ֙ תִּשְׁתִּ֔י הָעֲמֻקָּ֖ה וְהָרְחָבָ֑ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לִצְחֹ֛ק וּלְלַ֖עַג מִרְבָּ֥ה לְהָכִֽיל׃

This is what the Lord God says: You will drink from your sister's cup—a large, deep cup. You will be laughed at and insulted. You'll have to endure much of this.

33 שִׁכָּרֹ֥ון וְיָגֹ֖ון תִּמָּלֵ֑אִי כֹּ֚וס שַׁמָּ֣ה וּשְׁמָמָ֔ה כֹּ֖וס אֲחֹותֵ֥ךְ שֹׁמְרֹֽון׃

It will make you drunk and full of grief because it's a cup of that brings horror and destruction, the cup your sister Samaria drank from.

34 וְשָׁתִ֨ית אֹותָ֜הּ וּמָצִ֗ית וְאֶת־חֲרָשֶׂ֛יהָ תְּגָרֵ֖מִי וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ תְּנַתֵּ֑קִי כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י דִבַּ֔רְתִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ ס

You will drink it all down, smash it to pieces on the ground, and tear at your breasts. This is what I have spoken, declares the Lord God.

35 לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה יַ֚עַן שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ אֹותִ֔י וַתַּשְׁלִ֥יכִי אֹותִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוֵּ֑ךְ וְגַם־אַ֛תְּ שְׂאִ֥י זִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ ס

In summary this is what the Lord God says: Because you have forgotten about me and have ignored me, you will have to experience the consequences of your immorality and prostitution.”

36 וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֥וט אֶֽת־אָהֳלָ֖ה וְאֶת־אָהֳלִיבָ֑ה וְהַגֵּ֣ד לָהֶ֔ן אֵ֖ת תֹועֲבֹותֵיהֶֽן׃

Then the Lord said to me: “Son of man, are you going to condemn Oholah and Oholibah? Expose the disgusting things they've done!

37 כִּ֣י נִאֵ֗פוּ וְדָם֙ בִּֽידֵיהֶ֔ן וְאֶת־גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ן נִאֵ֑פוּ וְגַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָֽלְדוּ־לִ֔י הֶעֱבִ֥ירוּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאָכְלָֽה׃

For they have committed adultery, and they are guilty of murder. They have committed adultery with their idols, and have even offered their children, whom they had for me, as sacrifices to their idols.

38 עֹ֥וד זֹ֖את עָ֣שׂוּ לִ֑י טִמְּא֤וּ אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בַּיֹּ֣ום הַה֔וּא וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹותַ֖י חִלֵּֽלוּ׃

They also did this to me: On the very same day they both made my sanctuary unclean and violated my Sabbaths.

39 וּֽבְשַׁחֲטָ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם֙ לְגִלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בַּיֹּ֥ום הַה֖וּא לְחַלְּלֹ֑ו וְהִנֵּה־כֹ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ בְּתֹ֥וךְ בֵּיתִֽי׃

On very day that they killed their children for their idols, they went my sanctuary and made it unclean. Look at what they did right inside my Temple!

40 וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י תִשְׁלַ֙חְנָה֙ לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים בָּאִ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַלְאָ֜ךְ שָׁל֤וּחַ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְהִנֵּה־בָ֔אוּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָחַ֛צְתְּ כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ וְעָ֥דִית עֶֽדִי׃

They even kept on sending messengers for men to come from far away. When the men arrived, you would get yourselves ready for them by bathing, doing your eye makeup, and putting in your jewelry.

41 וְיָשַׁבְתְּ֙ עַל־מִטָּ֣ה כְבוּדָּ֔ה וְשֻׁלְחָ֥ן עָר֖וּךְ לְפָנֶ֑יהָ וּקְטָרְתִּ֥י וְשַׁמְנִ֖י שַׂ֥מְתְּ עָלֶֽיהָ׃

You sat on an expensive couch, with my incense and my oil on a table placed in front of it.

42 וְקֹ֣ול הָמֹון֮ שָׁלֵ֣ו בָהּ֒ וְאֶל־אֲנָשִׁים֙ מֵרֹ֣ב אָדָ֔ם מוּבָאִ֥ים סֹובָאִים (סָבָאִ֖ים) מִמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּתְּנ֤וּ צְמִידִים֙ אֶל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ן וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶֽן׃

The room was full of the noise of people partying. Drunk men were brought in from the desert along with some common people and they put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head.

43 וָאֹמַ֕ר לַבָּלָ֖ה נִֽאוּפִ֑ים עַתָּ (עַתָּ֛ה) יִזְנֻה (יִזְנ֥וּ) תַזְנוּתֶ֖הָ וָהִֽיא׃

Then I said about the old worn-out woman, ‘Now they can have her as a prostitute because that's what she is!’

44 וַיָּבֹ֣וא אֵלֶ֔יהָ כְּבֹ֖וא אֶל־אִשָּׁ֣ה זֹונָ֑ה כֵּ֣ן בָּ֗אוּ אֶֽל־אָֽהֳלָה֙ וְאֶל־אָ֣הֳלִיבָ֔ה אִשֹּׁ֖ת הַזִּמָּֽה׃

So they had sex with her like a prostitute. They had sex with Oholah and Oholibah, those immoral women.

45 וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים צַדִּיקִ֗ם הֵ֚מָּה יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ אֹֽותְהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּט֙ נֹֽאֲפֹ֔ות וּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט שֹׁפְכֹ֣ות דָּ֑ם כִּ֤י נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְדָ֖ם בִּֽידֵיהֶֽן׃ ס

But men who believe in what's right will judge them and impose the punishment for committing commit adultery and murder, because they are adulterers and murderers.

46 כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הַעֲלֵ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קָהָ֔ל וְנָתֹ֥ן אֶתְהֶ֖ן לְזַעֲוָ֥ה וְלָבַֽז׃

This is what the Lord God says: Have a mob attack them! Make them terrified and rob them.

47 וְרָגְמ֨וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ן אֶ֙בֶן֙ קָהָ֔ל וּבָרֵ֥א אֹותְהֶ֖ן בְּחַרְבֹותָ֑ם בְּנֵיהֶ֤ם וּבְנֹֽותֵיהֶם֙ יַהֲרֹ֔גוּ וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ן בָּאֵ֥שׁ יִשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃

The mob will stone them and kill them with their swords, slaughtering their sons and daughters and burning down their houses.

48 וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנִֽוַּסְּרוּ֙ כָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה כְּזִמַּתְכֶֽנָה׃

This is how I will put an end to immorality in the country, and all the women will be warned not to do what you have done.

49 וְנָתְנ֤וּ זִמַּתְכֶ֙נָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ן וַחֲטָאֵ֥י גִלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ן תִּשֶּׂ֑אינָה וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ פ

They will punish you for your immorality, and you will have to experience the consequences of your idol worship. Then you will know that I am the Lord God.”