Ezekiel 23
SIBWhoredom here, and in many other places, denotes an idolatrous apostasy from God, their covenanted husband, to idols, and a dependance on heathen alliances
Ezekiel 23:4
The Israelites are called AHOLAH, her own tabernacle, because their worship, appointed by Jeroboam, was of their own invention: and the Jews AHOLIBAH, my tabernacle is in her, as they enjoyed the temple and ordinances of God. Both belonged to God by solemn marriage covenant: and they once brought forth many converts unto him. 2 32—34. The dreadful and lasting miseries, with which ye also shall be punished, shall render you contemptible, infamous, infatuated, and even mad, with rage and despair
Ezekiel 23:38-43
When they had newly polluted themselves with idolatry and murder, they immediately rushed into my temple; and, after offering their children to Moloch, they sacrificed to their idols in my courts. And, to please the Assyrians, Egyptians, or Chaldeans, they have built temples, and prepared altars and sacrifices, and have perfumed them with the incense and oil devoted to my service; and have received their ambassadors with distinguished veneration, and along with them have wallowed in ease and luxury, and have even courted the friendship of the base and thievish Arabians, that they might bring them ornamenting presents. Where and when are these base alliances and idolatries to stop? 3
REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. XXIII.—Disgraceful to men, and dishonourable to God, are sinful confederacies, and confidence in an arm of flesh. And, the greater our privileges and nearer our connections with God, the more criminal is our apostasy from him. If men will strengthen their corruptions, and bid defiance to repentance, by long continued customs of sinning, or by reflecting on their former wickedness with pleasure and pride, and will alienate their affections from God, let them not wonder if he mark his detestation of them in the most fearful calamities. If we follow the pattern of punished transgressors, we must expect to share with them in their tremendous plagues. And, if we indulge ourselves in forgetfulness of God, the most shocking treachery, gross idolatry, barbarous murder, heaven-daring profaneness, and confederacy with the worst and basest of mankind, will most probably follow. And what can then await us but disappointments, and miseries unnumbered and tremendous? But most shameful is it when the Heathen executioners of God’s judgments are less wicked than the hypocritical professors on whom they execute them