Ezekiel 22

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

וְאַתָּ֣ה בֶן־אָדָ֔ם הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֥ט הֲתִשְׁפֹּ֖ט אֶת־עִ֣יר הַדָּמִ֑ים וְה֣וֹדַעְתָּ֔הּ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־תּוֹעֲבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ Further, O mortal, arraign, arraign^aarraign, arraign Lit. “will you arraign, arraign.” the city of bloodshed; declare to her all her abhorrent deeds!

וְאָמַרְתָּ֗ כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה עִ֣יר שֹׁפֶ֥כֶת דָּ֛ם בְּתוֹכָ֖הּ לָב֣וֹא עִתָּ֑הּ וְעָשְׂתָ֧ה גִלּוּלִ֛ים עָלֶ֖יהָ לְטׇמְאָֽה׃ Say: Thus said the Sovereign GOD: O city in whose midst blood is shed, so that your hour is approaching; within which fetishes are made, so that you have become impure!

בְּדָמֵ֨ךְ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁפַ֜כְתְּ אָשַׁ֗מְתְּ וּבְגִלּוּלַ֤יִךְ אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂית֙ טָמֵ֔את וַתַּקְרִ֣יבִי יָמַ֔יִךְ וַתָּב֖וֹא עַד־שְׁנוֹתָ֑יִךְ עַל־כֵּ֗ן נְתַתִּ֤יךְ חֶרְפָּה֙ לַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְקַלָּסָ֖ה לְכׇל־הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ You stand guilty of the blood you have shed, defiled by the fetishes you have made. You have brought on your day; you have reached your year.^byou have reached your year Some Babylonian mss. and ancient versions read “the time of your years has come.” Therefore I will make you the mockery of the nations and the scorn of all the lands.

הַקְּרֹב֛וֹת וְהָרְחֹק֥וֹת מִמֵּ֖ךְ יִתְקַלְּסוּ־בָ֑ךְ טְמֵאַ֣ת הַשֵּׁ֔ם רַבַּ֖ת הַמְּהוּמָֽה׃ Both the near and the far shall scorn you, O besmirched of name, O laden with iniquity!

הִנֵּה֙ נְשִׂיאֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִ֥ישׁ לִזְרֹע֖וֹ הָ֣יוּ בָ֑ךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּֽם׃ Every one of the princes of Israel in your midst used his strength for the shedding of blood.

אָ֤ב וָאֵם֙ הֵקַ֣לּוּ בָ֔ךְ לַגֵּ֛ר עָשׂ֥וּ בַעֹ֖שֶׁק בְּתוֹכֵ֑ךְ יָת֥וֹם וְאַלְמָנָ֖ה ה֥וֹנוּ בָֽךְ׃ Fathers and mothers have been humiliated within you; strangers have been cheated in your midst; orphans and widows have been wronged within you.

קׇדָשַׁ֖י בָּזִ֑ית וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י חִלָּֽלְתְּ׃ You have despised My holy things and profaned My sabbaths.

אַנְשֵׁ֥י רָכִ֛יל הָ֥יוּ בָ֖ךְ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּ֑ם וְאֶל־הֶֽהָרִים֙ אָ֣כְלוּ בָ֔ךְ זִמָּ֖ה עָשׂ֥וּ בְתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ Base^cBase Meaning of Heb. uncertain. men in your midst were intent on shedding blood; in you they have eaten on the mountains;^don the mountains Cf. note at 18.6. and they have practiced depravity in your midst.

עֶרְוַת־אָ֖ב גִּלָּה־בָ֑ךְ טְמֵאַ֥ת הַנִּדָּ֖ה עִנּוּ־בָֽךְ׃ In you they have uncovered their fathers’ nakedness;^euncovered their fathers’ nakedness I.e., cohabited with their father’s (former) wife; cf. Lev. 18.7–8. in you they have violated women during their menstrual impurity.

וְאִ֣ישׁ ׀ אֶת־אֵ֣שֶׁת רֵעֵ֗הוּ עָשָׂה֙ תּוֹעֵבָ֔ה וְאִ֥ישׁ אֶת־כַּלָּת֖וֹ טִמֵּ֣א בְזִמָּ֑ה וְאִ֛ישׁ אֶת־אֲחֹת֥וֹ בַת־אָבִ֖יו עִנָּה־בָֽךְ׃ They have committed abhorrent acts with other men’s wives; in their depravity they have defiled their own daughters-in-law; in you they have violated their own sisters, daughters of their fathers.

שֹׁ֥חַד לָֽקְחוּ־בָ֖ךְ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁפׇךְ־דָּ֑ם נֶ֧שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֣ית לָקַ֗חַתְּ וַתְּבַצְּעִ֤י רֵעַ֙יִךְ֙ בַּעֹ֔שֶׁק וְאֹתִ֣י שָׁכַ֔חַתְּ נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ They have taken bribes within you to shed blood. You have taken advance and accrued interest;^fadvance and accrued interest Cf. note at 18.8. you have defrauded your fellow [Israelites] to your profit. You have forgotten Me—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וְהִנֵּה֙ הִכֵּ֣יתִי כַפִּ֔י אֶל־בִּצְעֵ֖ךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֑ית וְעַ֨ל־דָּמֵ֔ךְ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ בְּתוֹכֵֽךְ׃ Lo, I will strike My hands over the ill-gotten gains that you have amassed, and over the bloodshed that has been committed in your midst.

הֲיַעֲמֹ֤ד לִבֵּךְ֙ אִם־תֶּחֱזַ֣קְנָה יָדַ֔יִךְ לַיָּמִ֕ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֖י עֹשֶׂ֣ה אוֹתָ֑ךְ אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבַּ֥רְתִּי וְעָשִֽׂיתִי׃ Will your courage endure, will your hands remain firm in the days when I deal with you? I, GOD, have spoken and I will act.

וַהֲפִיצוֹתִ֤י אוֹתָךְ֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וְזֵרִיתִ֖יךְ בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת וַהֲתִמֹּתִ֥י טֻמְאָתֵ֖ךְ מִמֵּֽךְ׃ I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the lands; I will consume the impurity out of you.

וְנִחַ֥לְתְּ בָּ֖ךְ לְעֵינֵ֣י גוֹיִ֑ם וְיָדַ֖עַתְּ כִּי־אֲנִ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ {פ}
You shall be dishonored in the sight of nations, and you shall know that I am GOD.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הָיוּ־לִ֥י בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (לסוג) [לְסִ֑יג] כֻּלָּ֡ם נְ֠חֹ֠שֶׁת וּבְדִ֨יל וּבַרְזֶ֤ל וְעוֹפֶ֙רֶת֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ כּ֔וּר סִגִ֥ים כֶּ֖סֶף הָיֽוּ׃ {ס}         O mortal, the House of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all copper, tin, iron, and lead. But in a crucible, the dross shall turn into silver.^gBut in a crucible, the dross shall turn into silver Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה יַ֛עַן הֱי֥וֹת כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם לְסִגִ֑ים לָכֵן֙ הִנְנִ֣י קֹבֵ֣ץ אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־תּ֖וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because you have all become dross, I will gather you into Jerusalem.

קְבֻ֣צַת כֶּ֡סֶף וּ֠נְחֹ֠שֶׁת וּבַרְזֶ֨ל וְעוֹפֶ֤רֶת וּבְדִיל֙ אֶל־תּ֣וֹךְ כּ֔וּר לָפַֽחַת־עָלָ֥יו אֵ֖שׁ לְהַנְתִּ֑יךְ כֵּ֤ן אֶקְבֹּץ֙ בְּאַפִּ֣י וּבַחֲמָתִ֔י וְהִנַּחְתִּ֥י וְהִתַּכְתִּ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם׃ As silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin are gathered into a crucible to blow the fire upon them, so as to melt them, so will I gather you in My fierce anger and cast you [into the fire] and melt you.

וְכִנַּסְתִּ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם וְנָפַחְתִּ֥י עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם בְּאֵ֣שׁ עֶבְרָתִ֑י וְנִתַּכְתֶּ֖ם בְּתוֹכָֽהּ׃ I will gather you and I will blow upon you the fire of My fury, and you shall be melted in it.

כְּהִתּ֥וּךְ כֶּ֙סֶף֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ כּ֔וּר כֵּ֖ן תֻּתְּכ֣וּ בְתוֹכָ֑הּ וִֽידַעְתֶּם֙ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה שָׁפַ֥כְתִּי חֲמָתִ֖י עֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}
As silver is melted in a crucible, so shall you be melted in it. And you shall know that I, GOD, have poured out My fury upon you.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם אֱמׇר־לָ֕הּ אַ֣תְּ אֶ֔רֶץ לֹ֥א מְטֹהָרָ֖ה הִ֑יא לֹ֥א גֻשְׁמָ֖הּ בְּי֥וֹם זָֽעַם׃ O mortal, say to her: You are an unpurified land, not to be washed with rain^hnot to be washed with rain Meaning of Heb. uncertain. on the day of indignation.

קֶ֤שֶׁר נְבִיאֶ֙יהָ֙ בְּתוֹכָ֔הּ כַּאֲרִ֥י שׁוֹאֵ֖ג טֹ֣רֵֽף טָ֑רֶף נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָכָ֗לוּ חֹ֤סֶן וִיקָר֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ אַלְמְנוֹתֶ֖יהָ הִרְבּ֥וּ בְתוֹכָֽהּ׃ Her gang of prophetsⁱHer gang of prophets Septuagint reads “Whose chieftains.” are like roaring lions in her midst, rending prey. They devour human beings; they seize treasure and wealth; they have widowed many women in her midst.

כֹּהֲנֶ֜יהָ חָמְס֣וּ תוֹרָתִי֮ וַיְחַלְּל֣וּ קׇדָשַׁי֒ בֵּֽין־קֹ֤דֶשׁ לְחֹל֙ לֹ֣א הִבְדִּ֔ילוּ וּבֵין־הַטָּמֵ֥א לְטָה֖וֹר לֹ֣א הוֹדִ֑יעוּ וּמִשַּׁבְּתוֹתַי֙ הֶעְלִ֣ימוּ עֵינֵיהֶ֔ם וָאֵחַ֖ל בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ Her priests have violated My Teaching: they have profaned what is sacred to Me, they have not distinguished between the sacred and the profane, they have not taught the difference between the impure and the pure, and they have closed their eyes to My sabbaths. I am profaned in their midst.

שָׂרֶ֣יהָ בְקִרְבָּ֔הּ כִּזְאֵבִ֖ים טֹ֣רְפֵי טָ֑רֶף לִשְׁפׇּךְ־דָּם֙ לְאַבֵּ֣ד נְפָשׁ֔וֹת לְמַ֖עַן בְּצֹ֥עַ בָּֽצַע׃ Her officials are like wolves rending prey in her midst; they shed blood and destroy lives to win ill-gotten gain.

וּנְבִיאֶ֗יהָ טָח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ תָּפֵ֔ל חֹזִ֣ים שָׁ֔וְא וְקֹסְמִ֥ים לָהֶ֖ם כָּזָ֑ב אֹמְרִ֗ים כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה וַיהֹוָ֖ה לֹ֥א דִבֵּֽר׃ Her prophets, too, daub the wall for them with plaster:^jdaub the wall for them with plaster Cf. 13.10ff. They prophesy falsely and divine deceitfully for them; they say, “Thus said the Sovereign GOD,” when GOD has not spoken.

עַ֤ם הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ עָ֣שְׁקוּ עֹ֔שֶׁק וְגָזְל֖וּ גָּזֵ֑ל וְעָנִ֤י וְאֶבְיוֹן֙ הוֹנ֔וּ וְאֶת־הַגֵּ֥ר עָשְׁק֖וּ בְּלֹ֥א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃ And the people of the land have practiced fraud and committed robbery; they have wronged the poor and needy, have defrauded the stranger without redress.

וָאֲבַקֵּ֣שׁ מֵהֶ֡ם אִ֣ישׁ גֹּֽדֵר־גָּדֵר֩ וְעֹמֵ֨ד בַּפֶּ֧רֶץ לְפָנַ֛י בְּעַ֥ד הָאָ֖רֶץ לְבִלְתִּ֣י שַׁחֲתָ֑הּ וְלֹ֖א מָצָֽאתִי׃ And I sought someone among them to repair the wall or to stand in the breach before Me in behalf of this land, that I might not destroy it; but I found none.

וָאֶשְׁפֹּ֤ךְ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ זַעְמִ֔י בְּאֵ֥שׁ עֶבְרָתִ֖י כִּלִּיתִ֑ים דַּרְכָּם֙ בְּרֹאשָׁ֣ם נָתַ֔תִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
I have therefore poured out My indignation upon them; I will consume them with the fire of My fury. I will repay them for their conduct—declares the Sovereign GOD.

וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃ The word of GOD came to me:

בֶּן־אָדָ֑ם שְׁתַּ֣יִם נָשִׁ֔ים בְּנ֥וֹת אֵם־אַחַ֖ת הָיֽוּ׃ O mortal, once there were two women, daughters of one mother.

וַתִּזְנֶ֣ינָה בְמִצְרַ֔יִם בִּנְעוּרֵיהֶ֖ן זָנ֑וּ שָׁ֚מָּה מֹעֲכ֣וּ שְׁדֵיהֶ֔ן וְשָׁ֣ם עִשּׂ֔וּ דַּדֵּ֖י בְּתוּלֵיהֶֽן׃ They played the whore in Egypt; they played the whore while still young. There their breasts were squeezed, and there their virgin nipples were handled.

וּשְׁמוֹתָ֗ן אׇהֳלָ֤ה הַגְּדוֹלָה֙ וְאׇהֳלִיבָ֣ה אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתִּהְיֶ֣ינָה לִ֔י וַתֵּלַ֖דְנָה בָּנִ֣ים וּבָנ֑וֹת וּשְׁמוֹתָ֕ן שֹׁמְר֣וֹן אׇהֳלָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלַ֖͏ִם אׇהֳלִיבָֽה׃ Their names were: the elder one, Oholah;^aOholah I.e., “Tent.” and her sister, Oholibah.^bOholibah I.e., “My Tent Is in Her.” They became Mine, and they bore sons and daughters. As for their names, Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.

וַתִּ֥זֶן אׇהֳלָ֖ה תַּחְתָּ֑י וַתֶּעְגַּב֙ עַֽל־מְאַהֲבֶ֔יהָ אֶל־אַשּׁ֖וּר קְרוֹבִֽים׃ Oholah whored while she was Mine, and she lusted after her lovers, after the Assyrians, warriors^cwarriors Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

לְבֻשֵׁ֤י תְכֵ֙לֶת֙ פַּח֣וֹת וּסְגָנִ֔ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּ֑ם פָּרָשִׁ֕ים רֹכְבֵ֖י סוּסִֽים׃ clothed in blue, governors and prefects, cavalry troops—all of them handsome young fellows.

וַתִּתֵּ֤ן תַּזְנוּתֶ֙יהָ֙ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מִבְחַ֥ר בְּנֵֽי־אַשּׁ֖וּר כֻּלָּ֑ם וּבְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־עָגְבָ֛ה בְּכׇל־גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם נִטְמָֽאָה׃ She bestowed her favors upon them—upon all the pick of the Assyrians—and defiled herself with all their fetishes after which she lusted.

וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֤יהָ מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔בָה כִּ֤י אוֹתָהּ֙ שָׁכְב֣וּ בִנְעוּרֶ֔יהָ וְהֵ֥מָּה עִשּׂ֖וּ דַּדֵּ֣י בְתוּלֶ֑יהָ וַיִּשְׁפְּכ֥וּ תַזְנוּתָ֖ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃ She did not give up the whoring she had begun with the Egyptians; for they had lain with her in her youth, and they had handled her virgin nipples and had poured out their lust upon her.

לָכֵ֥ן נְתַתִּ֖יהָ בְּיַד־מְאַהֲבֶ֑יהָ בְּיַד֙ בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָגְבָ֖ה עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, into the hands of the Assyrians after whom she lusted.

הֵ֘מָּה֮ גִּלּ֣וּ עֶרְוָתָהּ֒ בָּנֶ֤יהָ וּבְנוֹתֶ֙יהָ֙ לָקָ֔חוּ וְאוֹתָ֖הּ בַּחֶ֣רֶב הָרָ֑גוּ וַתְּהִי־שֵׁם֙ לַנָּשִׁ֔ים וּשְׁפוּטִ֖ים עָ֥שׂוּ בָֽהּ׃ {ס}         They exposed her nakedness; they seized her sons and daughters, and she herself was put to the sword. And because of the punishment inflicted upon her, she became a byword among women.

וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ אֲחוֹתָ֣הּ אׇהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶ֨ת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃ Her sister Oholibah saw this; yet her lusting was more depraved than her sister’s, and her whoring more debased.

אֶל־בְּנֵי֩ אַשּׁ֨וּר עָגָ֜בָה פַּח֨וֹת וּסְגָנִ֤ים קְרֹבִים֙ לְבֻשֵׁ֣י מִכְל֔וֹל פָּרָשִׁ֖ים רֹכְבֵ֣י סוּסִ֑ים בַּח֥וּרֵי חֶ֖מֶד כֻּלָּֽם׃ She lusted after the Assyrians, governors and prefects, warriors^dwarriors Meaning of Heb. uncertain. gorgeously clad, horsemen mounted on steeds—all of them handsome young fellows.

וָאֵ֖רֶא כִּ֣י נִטְמָ֑אָה דֶּ֥רֶךְ אֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּיהֶֽן׃ And I saw how she had defiled herself. Both of them followed the same course,

וַתּ֖וֹסֶף אֶל־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ וַתֵּ֗רֶא אַנְשֵׁי֙ מְחֻקֶּ֣ה עַל־הַקִּ֔יר צַלְמֵ֣י (כשדיים) [כַשְׂדִּ֔ים] חֲקֻקִ֖ים בַּשָּׁשַֽׁר׃ but she carried her whoring further. For she saw men sculptured upon the walls, figures of Chaldeans drawn in vermilion,

חֲגוֹרֵ֨י אֵז֜וֹר בְּמׇתְנֵיהֶ֗ם סְרוּחֵ֤י טְבוּלִים֙ בְּרָ֣אשֵׁיהֶ֔ם מַרְאֵ֥ה שָֽׁלִשִׁ֖ים כֻּלָּ֑ם דְּמ֤וּת בְּנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ כַּשְׂדִּ֔ים אֶ֖רֶץ מוֹלַדְתָּֽם׃ girded with belts round their waists, and with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them looking like officers—a picture of Babylonians whose native land was Chaldea.

(ותעגב) [וַתַּעְגְּבָ֥ה] עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְמַרְאֵ֣ה עֵינֶ֑יהָ וַתִּשְׁלַ֧ח מַלְאָכִ֛ים אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם כַּשְׂדִּֽימָה׃ At the very sight of them she lusted after them, and she sent messengers for them to Chaldea.

וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ אֵלֶ֤יהָ בְנֵֽי־בָבֶל֙ לְמִשְׁכַּ֣ב דֹּדִ֔ים וַיְטַמְּא֥וּ אוֹתָ֖הּ בְּתַזְנוּתָ֑ם וַתִּ֨טְמָא־בָ֔ם וַתֵּ֥קַע נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מֵהֶֽם׃ So the Babylonians came to her for lovemaking and defiled her with their whoring; and she defiled herself with them until she turned from them in disgust.

וַתְּגַל֙ תַּזְנוּתֶ֔יהָ וַתְּגַ֖ל אֶת־עֶרְוָתָ֑הּ וַתֵּ֤קַע נַפְשִׁי֙ מֵעָלֶ֔יהָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י מֵעַ֥ל אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃ She flaunted her whoring and exposed her nakedness, and I turned from her in disgust, as I had turned disgusted from her sister.

וַתַּרְבֶּ֖ה אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֶ֑יהָ לִזְכֹּר֙ אֶת־יְמֵ֣י נְעוּרֶ֔יהָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זָנְתָ֖ה בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ But she whored still more, remembering how in her youth she had played the whore in the land of Egypt;

וַֽתַּעְגְּבָ֔ה עַ֖ל פִּֽלַגְשֵׁיהֶ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּשַׂר־חֲמוֹרִים֙ בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְזִרְמַ֥ת סוּסִ֖ים זִרְמָתָֽם׃ she lusted for concubinage with them, whose members were like those of donkeys and whose organs^eorgans Meaning of Heb. uncertain. were like those of stallions.

וַֽתִּפְקְדִ֔י אֵ֖ת זִמַּ֣ת נְעוּרָ֑יִךְ בַּעְשׂ֤וֹת מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙ דַּדַּ֔יִךְ לְמַ֖עַן שְׁדֵ֥י נְעוּרָֽיִךְ׃ {ס}         Thus you reverted to the wantonness of your youth, remembering^fremembering Lit. “for the sake of.” your youthful breasts, when the men of Egypt handled your nipples.

לָכֵ֣ן אׇהֳלִיבָ֗ה כֹּה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִה֒ הִנְנִ֨י מֵעִ֤יר אֶת־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶ֑ם וַהֲבֵאתִ֥ים עָלַ֖יִךְ מִסָּבִֽיב׃ Assuredly, Oholibah, thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to rouse against you the lovers from whom you turned in disgust, and I will bring them upon you from all around—

בְּנֵ֧י בָבֶ֣ל וְכׇל־כַּשְׂדִּ֗ים פְּק֤וֹד וְשׁ֙וֹעַ֙ וְק֔וֹעַ כׇּל־בְּנֵ֥י אַשּׁ֖וּר אוֹתָ֑ם בַּח֨וּרֵי חֶ֜מֶד פַּח֤וֹת וּסְגָנִים֙ כֻּלָּ֔ם שָֽׁלִשִׁים֙ וּקְרוּאִ֔ים רֹכְבֵ֥י סוּסִ֖ים כֻּלָּֽם׃ the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, [the people of] Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, all of them handsome young fellows, governors and prefects, officers and warriors,^gwarriors Meaning of Heb. uncertain. all of them riding on horseback.

וּבָ֣אוּ עָלַ֡יִךְ הֹ֠צֶן רֶ֤כֶב וְגַלְגַּל֙ וּבִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֔ים צִנָּ֤ה וּמָגֵן֙ וְקוֹבַ֔ע יָשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלַ֖יִךְ סָבִ֑יב וְנָתַתִּ֤י לִפְנֵיהֶם֙ מִשְׁפָּ֔ט וּשְׁפָט֖וּךְ בְּמִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶֽם׃ They shall attack you with fleets^hfleets Meaning of Heb. uncertain. of wheeled chariots and a host of troops; they shall set themselves against you on all sides with bucklers, shields, and helmets. And I will entrust your punishment to them, and they shall inflict their punishments on you.

וְנָתַתִּ֨י קִנְאָתִ֜י בָּ֗ךְ וְעָשׂ֤וּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּחֵמָ֔ה אַפֵּ֤ךְ וְאׇזְנַ֙יִךְ֙ יָסִ֔ירוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ בַּחֶ֣רֶב תִּפּ֑וֹל הֵ֗מָּה בָּנַ֤יִךְ וּבְנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ יִקָּ֔חוּ וְאַחֲרִיתֵ֖ךְ תֵּאָכֵ֥ל בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ I will direct My passion against you, and they shall deal with you in fury: They shall cut off your nose and ears;ⁱcut off your nose and ears A typical way of punishing a faithless subordinate in the ancient Near East. the last of you shall fall by the sword. They shall take away your sons and daughters, and your remnant shall be devoured by fire.

וְהִפְשִׁיט֖וּךְ אֶת־בְּגָדָ֑יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֥י תִפְאַרְתֵּֽךְ׃ They shall strip you of your clothing and take away your dazzling jewels.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֤י זִמָּתֵךְ֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וְאֶת־זְנוּתֵ֖ךְ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְלֹֽא־תִשְׂאִ֤י עֵינַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וּמִצְרַ֖יִם לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי־עֽוֹד׃ {פ}
I will put an end to your wantonness and to your whoring in the land of Egypt, and you shall not long for them or remember Egypt anymore.

כִּ֣י כֹ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה הִנְנִי֙ נֹֽתְנָ֔ךְ בְּיַ֖ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את בְּיַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־נָקְעָ֥ה נַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ מֵהֶֽם׃ For thus said the Sovereign GOD: I am going to deliver you into the hands of those you hate, into the hands of those from whom you turned in disgust.

וְעָשׂ֨וּ אוֹתָ֜ךְ בְּשִׂנְאָ֗ה וְלָֽקְחוּ֙ כׇּל־יְגִיעֵ֔ךְ וַעֲזָב֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֣ם וְעֶרְיָ֑ה וְנִגְלָה֙ עֶרְוַ֣ת זְנוּנַ֔יִךְ וְזִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְתַזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ They shall treat you with hate, and they shall take away all you have toiled for, and leave you naked and bare; your naked licentiousness, wantonness, and whoredom will be exposed.

עָשֹׂ֥ה אֵ֖לֶּה לָ֑ךְ בִּזְנוֹתֵךְ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גוֹיִ֔ם עַ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־נִטְמֵ֖את בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶֽם׃ These things shall be done to you for your whoring with the nations, for defiling yourself with their fetishes.

בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ אֲחוֹתֵ֖ךְ הָלָ֑כְתְּ וְנָתַתִּ֥י כוֹסָ֖הּ בְּיָדֵֽךְ׃ {ס}         You walked in your sister’s path; therefore I will put her cup into your hand.

כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה כּ֤וֹס אֲחוֹתֵךְ֙ תִּשְׁתִּ֔י הָעֲמֻקָּ֖ה וְהָרְחָבָ֑ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לִצְחֹ֛ק וּלְלַ֖עַג מִרְבָּ֥ה לְהָכִֽיל׃ Thus said the Sovereign GOD:
You shall drink of your sister’s cup,
So deep and wide;
It shall cause derision and scorn,
It holds so much.

שִׁכָּר֥וֹן וְיָג֖וֹן תִּמָּלֵ֑אִי כּ֚וֹס שַׁמָּ֣ה וּשְׁמָמָ֔ה כּ֖וֹס אֲחוֹתֵ֥ךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ You shall be filled with drunkenness and woe.
The cup of desolation and horror,
The cup of your sister Samaria—

וְשָׁתִ֨ית אוֹתָ֜הּ וּמָצִ֗ית וְאֶת־חֲרָשֶׂ֛יהָ תְּגָרֵ֖מִי וְשָׁדַ֣יִךְ תְּנַתֵּ֑קִי כִּ֚י אֲנִ֣י דִבַּ֔רְתִּי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {ס}         You shall drink it and drain it,
And gnaw its shards;^jAnd gnaw its shards Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
And you shall tear your breasts.
For I have spoken—declares the Sovereign GOD.

לָכֵ֗ן כֹּ֤ה אָמַר֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֔ה יַ֚עַן שָׁכַ֣חַתְּ אוֹתִ֔י וַתַּשְׁלִ֥יכִי אוֹתִ֖י אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוֵּ֑ךְ וְגַם־אַ֛תְּ שְׂאִ֥י זִמָּתֵ֖ךְ וְאֶת־תַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃ {ס}         Assuredly, thus said the Sovereign GOD: Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, you in turn must suffer for your wanton whoring.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י בֶּן־אָדָ֕ם הֲתִשְׁפּ֥וֹט אֶֽת־אׇהֳלָ֖ה וְאֶת־אׇהֳלִיבָ֑ה וְהַגֵּ֣ד לָהֶ֔ן אֵ֖ת תּוֹעֲבוֹתֵיהֶֽן׃ Then GOD said to me: O mortal, arraign^karraign Lit. “will you arraign”; cf. 22.2. Oholah and Oholibah, and charge them with their abominations.

כִּ֣י נִאֵ֗פוּ וְדָם֙ בִּֽידֵיהֶ֔ן וְאֶת־גִּלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ן נִאֵ֑פוּ וְגַ֤ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶן֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָֽלְדוּ־לִ֔י הֶעֱבִ֥ירוּ לָהֶ֖ם לְאׇכְלָֽה׃ For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands; truly they have committed adultery with their fetishes, and have even offered to them as food the children they bore to Me.

ע֥וֹד זֹ֖את עָ֣שׂוּ לִ֑י טִמְּא֤וּ אֶת־מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא וְאֶת־שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י חִלֵּֽלוּ׃ At the same time they also did this to Me: 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 that they slaughtered their children to their fetishes, they entered My Sanctuary to desecrate it. That is what they did in My House.

וְאַ֗ף כִּ֤י תִשְׁלַ֙חְנָה֙ לַאֲנָשִׁ֔ים בָּאִ֖ים מִמֶּרְחָ֑ק אֲשֶׁ֨ר מַלְאָ֜ךְ שָׁל֤וּחַ אֲלֵיהֶם֙ וְהִנֵּה־בָ֔אוּ לַאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָחַ֛צְתְּ כָּחַ֥לְתְּ עֵינַ֖יִךְ וְעָדִ֥ית עֶֽדִי׃ Moreover, they sent for men to come from afar, [men] to whom a messenger was sent; and they came. For them, [Oholibah,] you bathed, painted your eyes, and donned your finery;

וְיָשַׁבְתְּ֙ עַל־מִטָּ֣ה כְבוּדָּ֔ה וְשֻׁלְחָ֥ן עָר֖וּךְ לְפָנֶ֑יהָ וּקְטׇרְתִּ֥י וְשַׁמְנִ֖י שַׂ֥מְתְּ עָלֶֽיהָ׃ and you sat on a grand couch with a set table in front of it—and it was My incense and My oil you laid upon it.

וְק֣וֹל הָמוֹן֮ שָׁלֵ֣ו בָֿהּ֒ וְאֶל־אֲנָשִׁים֙ מֵרֹ֣ב אָדָ֔ם מוּבָאִ֥ים (סובאים) [סׇבָאִ֖ים] מִמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַֽיִּתְּנ֤וּ צְמִידִים֙ אֶל־יְדֵיהֶ֔ן וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת עַל־רָאשֵׁיהֶֽן׃ And the noise of a carefree multitude was there, of numerous men brought drunk from the desert;^lof numerous men brought drunk from the desert Meaning of Heb. uncertain. and they put bracelets on their arms and splendid crowns upon their heads.

וָאֹמַ֕ר לַבָּלָ֖ה נִֽאוּפִ֑ים (עת) [עַתָּ֛ה] (יזנה) [יִזְנ֥וּ] תַזְנוּתֶ֖הָ וָהִֽיא׃ Then I said, “To destruction with adultery! Look, they are still going on with those same fornications of hers.”^mTo destruction … hers Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵלֶ֔יהָ כְּב֖וֹא אֶל־אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה כֵּ֣ן בָּ֗אוּ אֶֽל־אׇהֳלָה֙ וְאֶל־אׇ֣הֳלִיבָ֔ה אִשֹּׁ֖ת הַזִּמָּֽה׃ And they would go to her as one goes to a prostitute; that is how they went to Oholah and Oholibah, wanton women.

וַאֲנָשִׁ֣ים צַדִּיקִ֗ם הֵ֚מָּה יִשְׁפְּט֣וּ אֽוֹתְהֶ֔ם מִשְׁפַּט֙ נֹֽאֲפ֔וֹת וּמִשְׁפַּ֖ט שֹׁפְכ֣וֹת דָּ֑ם כִּ֤י נֹֽאֲפֹת֙ הֵ֔נָּה וְדָ֖ם בִּידֵיהֶֽן׃ {ס}         But righteous menⁿrighteous men Or “other, unimplicated parties.” shall punish them with the punishments for adultery and for bloodshed, for they are adulteresses and have blood on their hands.

כִּ֛י כֹּ֥ה אָמַ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יֱהֹוִ֑ה הַעֲלֵ֤ה עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קָהָ֔ל וְנָתֹ֥ן אֶתְהֶ֖ן לְזַעֲוָ֥ה וְלָבַֽז׃ For thus said the Sovereign GOD: Summon an assembly against them, and make them an object of horror and plunder.

וְרָגְמ֨וּ עֲלֵיהֶ֥ן אֶ֙בֶן֙ קָהָ֔ל וּבָרֵ֥א אוֹתְהֶ֖ן בְּחַרְבוֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵיהֶ֤ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ יַהֲרֹ֔גוּ וּבָתֵּיהֶ֖ן בָּאֵ֥שׁ יִשְׂרֹֽפוּ׃ Let the assembly pelt them with stones and cut them down with their swords; let them kill their sons and daughters, and burn down their homes.

וְהִשְׁבַּתִּ֥י זִמָּ֖ה מִן־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְנִוַּסְּרוּ֙ כׇּל־הַנָּשִׁ֔ים וְלֹ֥א תַעֲשֶׂ֖ינָה כְּזִמַּתְכֶֽנָה׃ I will put an end to wantonness in the land; and all the women shall take warning not to imitate your wantonness.

וְנָתְנ֤וּ זִמַּתְכֶ֙נָה֙ עֲלֵיכֶ֔ן וַחֲטָאֵ֥י גִלּֽוּלֵיכֶ֖ן תִּשֶּׂ֑אינָה וִידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֥י אֲנִ֖י אֲדֹנָ֥י יֱהֹוִֽה׃ {פ}
They shall punish you for your wantonness, and you shall suffer the penalty for your sinful idolatry. And you shall know that I am the Sovereign GOD.