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Aholah, Israel, Samaria, the northern kingdom, the ten tribes, various titles given Israel after the separated from Judah and Jerusalem. These names are indicative of their spiritual harlotry in serving the gods and idols of the heathen surrounding them. While the meaning of the names is uncertain, the meaning of the name given by Unger, ìher own tentî is interesting. It speaks of Israelís attempt to establish the city of Samaria as their holy city, so that their people would not go to Jerusalem at the time of the feasts. It became a center of idolatrous worship of a number of false gods. The worship of Baal became the order of the day. 1 Kings 16:32 Her religious liberality and willingness to accept any and all gods became the very source of her down fall. Her sin established her judgment. Eze. 23:5-10
Aholibah, ìmy tent is in her.î Jerusalem was the center, the heart beat of the kingdom established by the Lord and was meant to be the place of His presence. Rather than gleaning knowledge and wisdom from the unfortunate circumstances of Samaria, Judah plunged deeper yet into the depths of iniquity. The description of their lewd actions and licentious living surpasses anything used to describe the situation in Samaria. They greatly moved the heart of the Lord with anger and jealousy. ìFor thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous is a jealous God.î Ex. 34:14 Consequently the Lord stated publicly that those who have been her lovers would become their destroyers. The Lord set the consequences of His jealousy against them by removing all protection and restraint of evil against them by others, thus opening the door for a floodgate of nations to rise up against them. The picture is not a pretty one. Their lovers would become their enemies until none cared for them.
The righteous and just anger of the Lord was about to break in on them, in particular because they had followed in the path of their sinful sister, Samaria. Therefore, they were to be given the cup of iniquity which had been the lot of Samaria. The words of the prophet Ezekiel are strong words which declare full and absolute judgment against the nation of Judah and the city of Jerusalem. The accusation of the Lord against the was that they had purposely forgotten Him and cast Him behind their back. No wonder such tremendous anger arose in His heart. The recompense of the Lord against them would be according to the measure of their sin. They would have to pay the full penalty. Through the words of the prophet the Lord poured out the innermost feelings and emotions of His heart due to their actions. He does not take lightly the waywardness of His people. Eze. 23:11-49