The Two Adulterous Sisters
בֶּן־אָדָ֑ם שְׁתַּ֣יִם נָשִׁ֔ים בְּנ֥וֹת אֵם־אַחַ֖ת הָיֽוּ׃
“Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother,
וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃
and they played in Egypt, prostituting themselves from their youth. Their breasts were fondled there, and their virgin bosoms caressed.
וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן אָהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ וְאָהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתִּֽהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן שֹׁמְר֣וֹן אָהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אָהֳלִיבָֽה׃
The older was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became Mine and gave birth to sons and daughters. As for their identities, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
וַתִּ֥זֶן אָהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתַּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל־מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל־אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרוֹבִֽים׃
Oholah prostituted herself while she was still Mine. She lusted after her lovers, the Assyrians—warriors
לְבֻשֵׁ֤י תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ פַּח֣וֹת וּסְגָנִ֔ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּ֑ם פָּרָשִׁ֕ים רֹכְבֵ֖י סוּסִֽים׃
clothed in blue, governors and commanders, all desirable young men, horsemen mounted on steeds.
וַתִּתֵּ֤ן תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבְחַ֥ר בְּנֵֽי־אַשּׁ֖וּר כֻּלָּ֑ם וּבְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־עָֽגְבָ֛ה בְּכָל־גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם נִטְמָֽאָה׃
She offered sexual favors to all the elite of Assyria. She defiled herself with all the idols of those for whom she lusted.
וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֤יהָ מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔בָה כִּ֤י אוֹתָהּ֙ שָׁכְב֣וּ בִנְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וְהֵ֥מָּה עִשּׂ֖וּ דַּדֵּ֣י בְתוּלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֥וּ תַזְנוּתָ֖ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃
She did not give up the prostitution she began in Egypt, when men slept with her in her youth, caressed her virgin bosom, and poured out their lust upon her.
לָכֵ֥ן נְתַתִּ֖יהָ בְּיַד־מְאַֽהֲבֶ֑יהָ בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָגְבָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃
Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted.
הֵמָּה֮ גִּלּ֣וּ עֶרְוָתָהּ֒ בָּנֶ֤יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וְאוֹתָ֖הּ בַּחֶ֣רֶב הָרָ֑גוּ וַתְּהִי־שֵׁם֙ לַנָּשִׁ֔ים וּשְׁפוּטִ֖ים עָ֥שׂוּ בָֽהּ׃ ס
They exposed her nakedness, seized her sons and daughters, and put her to the sword. Thus she became a byword among women, and they executed judgment against her.
וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ אֲחוֹתָ֣הּ אָהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶת־תַּ֨זְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃
Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.
אֶל־בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּח֨וֹת וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְל֔וֹל פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם׃
She too lusted after the Assyrians—governors and commanders, warriors dressed in splendor, horsemen riding on steeds, all desirable young men.
וָאֵ֖רֶא כִּ֣י נִטְמָ֑אָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ אֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּיהֶֽן׃
And I saw that she too had defiled herself; both of them had taken the same path.
וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י כַשְׂדִּ֔ים חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃
But Oholibah carried her prostitution even further. She saw the men portrayed on the wall, images of the Chaldeans, engraved in vermilion,
חֲגוֹרֵ֨י אֵז֜וֹר בְּמָתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃
wearing belts on their waists and flowing turbans on their heads; all of them looked like officers of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.
וַתַּעְגְּבָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַרְאֵ֣ה עֵינֶ֑יהָ וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃
At the sight of them, she lusted for them and sent messengers to them in Chaldea.
וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלֶ֤יהָ בְנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב דֹּדִ֔ים וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם וַתִּ֨טְמָא־בָ֔ם וַתֵּ֥קַע נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מֵהֶֽם׃
Then the Babylonians came to her, to the bed of love, and in their lust they defiled her. But after she had been defiled by them, she turned away in disgust.
וַתְּגַל֙ תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ וַתְּגַ֖ל אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֤קַע נַפְשִׁי֙ מֵֽעָלֶ֔יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י מֵעַ֥ל אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃
When Oholibah openly prostituted herself and exposed her nakedness, I turned away from her in disgust, just as I had turned away from her sister.
וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָנְתָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
Yet she multiplied her promiscuity, remembering the days of her youth, when she had prostituted herself in the land of Egypt
וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה עַ֖ל פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׂר־חֲמוֹרִים֙ בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְזִרְמַ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים זִרְמָתָֽם׃
and lusted after their lovers, whose genitals were like those of donkeys and whose emission was like that of stallions.
וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י אֵ֖ת זִמַּ֣ת נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בַּעְשׂ֤וֹת מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ ס
So you revisited the indecency of your youth, when the Egyptians caressed your bosom and pressed your young breasts.
Oholibah to Be Plagued
לָכֵ֣ן אָהֳלִיבָ֗ה כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מֵעִ֤יר אֶת־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶ֑ם וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים עָלַ֖יִךְ מִסָּבִֽיב׃
Therefore, Oholibah, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will incite your lovers against you, those from whom you turned away in disgust. And I will bring them against you from every side—
בְּנֵ֧י בָבֶ֣ל וְכָל־כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים פְּק֤וֹד וְשׁ֙וֹעַ֙ וְק֔וֹעַ כָּל־בְּנֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר אוֹתָ֑ם בַּח֨וּרֵי חֶ֜מֶד פַּח֤וֹת וּסְגָנִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם שָֽׁלִשִׁים֙ וּקְרוּאִ֔ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, the men of Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them—all desirable young men, governors and commanders, officers and men of renown, mounted on horses.
וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ וּבִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֔ים צִנָּ֤ה וּמָגֵן֙ וְקוֹבַ֔ע יָשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב וְנָתַתִּ֤י לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃
They will come against you with a host of peoples, with weapons, chariots, and wagons. They will array themselves against you on every side with buckler and shield and helmet. I will delegate judgment to them, and they will punish you according to their own standards.
וְנָתַתִּ֨י קִנְאָתִ֜י בָּ֗ךְ וְעָשׂ֤וּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּחֵמָ֔ה אַפֵּ֤ךְ וְאָזְנַ֙יִךְ֙ יָסִ֔ירוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפּ֑וֹל הֵ֗מָּה בָּנַ֤יִךְ וּבְנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ תֵּאָכֵ֥ל בָּאֵֽשׁ׃
And I will set My jealous rage against you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will seize your sons and daughters, and your remnant will be consumed by fire.
וְהִפְשִׁיט֖וּךְ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י תִפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃
They will strip off your clothes and take your fine jewelry.
וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י זִמָּתֵךְ֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאֶת־זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־תִשְׂאִ֤י עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי־עֽוֹד׃ ס
So I will put an end to your indecency and prostitution, which began in the land of Egypt, and you will not lift your eyes to them or remember Egypt anymore.’
כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ נֹֽתְנָ֔ךְ בְּיַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את בְּיַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶֽם׃
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Surely I will deliver you into the hands of those you hate, from whom you turned away in disgust.
וְעָשׂ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ךְ בְּשִׂנְאָ֗ה וְלָקְחוּ֙ כָּל־יְגִיעֵ֔ךְ וַעֲזָב֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֑ה וְנִגְלָה֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת זְנוּנַ֔יִךְ וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃
They will treat you with hatred, take all for which you have worked, and leave you naked and bare, so that the shame of your prostitution will be exposed. Your indecency and promiscuity
עָשֹׂ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ בִּזְנוֹתֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־נִטְמֵ֖את בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃
have brought these things upon you, because you have prostituted yourself with the nations and defiled yourself with their idols.
בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ אֲחוֹתֵ֖ךְ הָלָ֑כְתְּ וְנָתַתִּ֥י כוֹסָ֖הּ בְּיָדֵֽךְ׃ ס
Because you have followed the path of your sister, I will put her cup into your hand.’
כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה כּ֤וֹס אֲחוֹתֵךְ֙ תִּשְׁתִּ֔י הָעֲמֻקָּ֖ה וְהָרְחָבָ֑ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לִצְחֹ֛ק וּלְלַ֖עַג מִרְבָּ֥ה לְהָכִֽיל׃
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You will drink your sister’s cup, a cup deep and wide. It will bring scorn and derision, for it holds so much.
שִׁכָּר֥וֹן וְיָג֖וֹן תִּמָּלֵ֑אִי כּ֚וֹס שַׁמָּ֣ה וּשְׁמָמָ֔ה כּ֖וֹס אֲחוֹתֵ֥ךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃
You will be filled with drunkenness and grief, with a cup of devastation and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria.
וְשָׁתִ֨ית אוֹתָ֜הּ וּמָצִ֗ית וְאֶת־חֲרָשֶׂ֛יהָ תְּגָרֵ֖מִי וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ תְּנַתֵּ֑קִי כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י דִבַּ֔רְתִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ ס
You will drink it and drain it; you will dash it to pieces, and tear your breasts. For I have spoken,’ declares the Lord GOD.
לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה יַ֚עַן שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ אוֹתִ֔י וַתַּשְׁלִ֥יכִי אוֹתִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוֵּ֑ךְ וְגַם־אַ֛תְּ שְׂאִ֥י זִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ ס
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have forgotten Me and have cast Me behind your back, you must bear the consequences of your indecency and prostitution.’”
Judgment on Both Sisters
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲתִשְׁפּ֥וֹט אֶֽת־אָהֳלָ֖ה וְאֶת־אָהֳלִיבָ֑ה וְהַגֵּ֣ד לָהֶ֔ן אֵ֖ת תוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽן׃
Then the LORD said to me: “Son of man, will you pass judgment against Oholah and Oholibah? Then declare to them their abominations.
כִּ֣י נִאֵ֗פוּ וְדָם֙ בִּֽידֵיהֶ֔ן וְאֶת־גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֖ן נִאֵ֑פוּ וְגַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָֽלְדוּ־לִ֔י הֶעֱבִ֥ירוּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאָכְלָֽה׃
For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols.
ע֥וֹד זֹ֖את עָ֣שׂוּ לִ֑י טִמְּא֤וּ אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּֽלוּ׃
They have also done this to Me: On that very same day, they defiled My sanctuary and profaned My Sabbaths.
וּֽבְשַׁחֲטָ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶם֙ לְגִלּ֣וּלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּבֹ֧אוּ אֶל־מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י בַּיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא לְחַלְּל֑וֹ וְהִנֵּה־כֹ֥ה עָשׂ֖וּ בְּת֥וֹךְ בֵּיתִֽי׃
On the very day they slaughtered their children for their idols, they entered My sanctuary to profane it. Yes, they did this inside My house.
וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י תִשְׁלַ֙חְנָה֙ לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים בָּאִ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַלְאָ֜ךְ שָׁל֤וּחַ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְהִנֵּה־בָ֔אוּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָחַ֛צְתְּ כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ וְעָ֥דִית עֶֽדִי׃
Furthermore, you sisters sent messengers for men who came from afar; and behold, when they arrived, you bathed for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry.
וְיָשַׁבְתְּ֙ עַל־מִטָּ֣ה כְבוּדָּ֔ה וְשֻׁלְחָ֥ן עָר֖וּךְ לְפָנֶ֑יהָ וּקְטָרְתִּ֥י וְשַׁמְנִ֖י שַׂ֥מְתְּ עָלֶֽיהָ׃
You sat on a couch of luxury with a table spread before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil,
וְק֣וֹל הָמוֹן֮ שָׁלֵ֣ו בָהּ֒ וְאֶל־אֲנָשִׁים֙ מֵרֹ֣ב אָדָ֔ם מוּבָאִ֥ים סָבָאִ֖ים מִמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּתְּנ֤וּ צְמִידִים֙ אֶל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ן וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶֽן׃
accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkards were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head.
וָאֹמַ֕ר לַבָּלָ֖ה נִֽאוּפִ֑ים עַתָּ֛ה יִזְנ֥וּ תַזְנוּתֶ֖הָ וָהִֽיא׃
Then I said of her who had grown old in adulteries: ‘Now let them use her as a prostitute, for that is all she is!’
וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵלֶ֔יהָ כְּב֖וֹא אֶל־אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה כֵּ֣ן בָּ֗אוּ אֶֽל־אָֽהֳלָה֙ וְאֶל־אָ֣הֳלִיבָ֔ה אִשֹּׁ֖ת הַזִּמָּֽה׃
And they slept with her as with a prostitute; they slept with Oholah and Oholibah, those lewd women.
וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים צַדִּיקִ֗ם הֵ֚מָּה יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ אֽוֹתְהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּט֙ נֹֽאֲפ֔וֹת וּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט שֹׁפְכ֣וֹת דָּ֑ם כִּ֤י נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְדָ֖ם בִּֽידֵיהֶֽן׃ ס
But righteous men will sentence them to the punishment of those who commit adultery and bloodshed, because they are adulteresses with blood on their hands.
כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֑ה הַעֲלֵ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קָהָ֔ל וְנָתֹ֥ן אֶתְהֶ֖ן לְזַעֲוָ֥ה וְלָבַֽז׃
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Bring a mob against them and consign them to terror and plunder.
וְרָגְמ֨וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ן אֶ֙בֶן֙ קָהָ֔ל וּבָרֵ֥א אוֹתְהֶ֖ן בְּחַרְבוֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵיהֶ֤ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ יַהֲרֹ֔גוּ וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ן בָּאֵ֥שׁ יִשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃
The mob will stone them and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.
וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנִֽוַּסְּרוּ֙ כָּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה כְּזִמַּתְכֶֽנָה׃
So I will put an end to indecency in the land, and all the women will be admonished not to imitate your behavior.
וְנָתְנ֤וּ זִמַּתְכֶ֙נָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ן וַחֲטָאֵ֥י גִלּוּלֵיכֶ֖ן תִּשֶּׂ֑אינָה וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ פ
They will repay you for your indecency, and you will bear the consequences of your sins of idolatry. Then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’”