Study Desk

The prophets in Jerusalem are making evil plans. They are like a lion—it roars when it begins to eat the animal it caught. They have destroyed many lives. They have taken many valuable things and made widows of many of the women in Jerusalem.

"The leaders in Jerusalem are like a wolf eating the animal it has caught. They attack people and kill them just to get rich.

"The common people take advantage of each other. They cheat and steal from each other. They get rich by taking advantage of poor, helpless beggars, and they really cheat the foreigners. They are not fair to them at all!

They became prostitutes in Egypt while they were still young girls. That's where they first let men touch and handle their young breasts.

The older daughter was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became my wives, and we had children. I am using the name Oholah to mean Samaria and the name Oholibah to mean Jerusalem.

in their blue uniforms. They were all handsome young men riding horses. They were leaders and officers,

They raped her. They took her children and killed her. They punished her, and women still talk about her.

She wanted the Assyrian leaders and officers. She wanted those soldiers in blue uniforms riding their horses. They were all handsome young men.

They wore belts around their waists and long turbans on their heads. All those men looked like chariot officers. They all looked like native-born Babylonian men,

So the Babylonian men came to her bed to have sex with her. They used her and made her so filthy that she became disgusted with them.

So Oholibah, this is what the Lord God says: ‘You became disgusted with your lovers, but I will bring them here, and they will surround you.

That crowd of men will come to you in large groups, riding on their horses and in their chariots. They will have their spears, shields, and helmets. They will gather around you, and I will tell them what you have done to me. Then they will punish you their own way.

I will show you how jealous I am. They will become angry and hurt you. They will cut off your nose and ears. They will kill you with a sword. Then they will take your children and burn whatever is left of you.

They will take your nice clothes and jewelry.

And they will show how much they hate you! They will take everything you worked for, and they will leave you bare and naked! People will clearly see your sins. They will see that you acted like a prostitute and dreamed wicked dreams.

The Lord said to me, "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? Then tell them about the terrible things they have done.

They also treated my special days of rest and my holy place as though they were not important.

They killed their children for their idols, and then they went into my holy place and made it filthy too! They did this inside my Temple!

"They have sent for men from faraway places. You sent a messenger to these men, and they came to see you. You bathed for them, painted your eyes, and put on your jewelry.

"The noise in Jerusalem sounded like a crowd of people having a party. Many people came to the party. People were already drinking as they came in from the desert. They gave bracelets and beautiful crowns to the women.