And when her sister Ooliba saw this, she was mad with lust more than she: and she carried her fornication beyond the fornication of her sister.
וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ אֲחוֹתָ֣הּ אָהֳלִיבָ֔ה וַתַּשְׁחֵ֥ת עַגְבָתָ֖הּ מִמֶּ֑נָּה וְאֶת־תַּ֨זְנוּתֶ֔יהָ מִזְּנוּנֵ֖י אֲחוֹתָֽהּ׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Her sister Oholibah observed her actions and engaged in even greater acts of unfaithfulness than those of her sister. She witnessed the corruption of both their ways. Jerusalem, symbolized by the name Oholibah, recognized that Samaria faced judgment, yet she too pursued infidelity with the Assyrians. Moreover, she was not satisfied merely with relationships with men; she even became enamored with the depictions of men inscribed upon the walls.
Upon observing her sister Oolibah, she was consumed with greater desire than her sister, shamelessly engaging in fornication beyond what her sister had done, influencing the sons of Assyria, the nobility and leaders who visited her in their fine attire, and the horsemen riding sleek steeds, as well as all the young men of striking beauty. I recognized that both were tainted in their ways, and she increasingly indulged in her promiscuity. When she noticed the men depicted on the wall—the painted figures of the Chaldeans, girded at the loins, with adorned heads resembling chiefs—who were akin to the sons of Babylon, of the land where they originated, she was stirred with desire, driven by her lustful gaze, and sent envoys to Chaldea.
When the children of Babylon approached her on a bed of vice, they corrupted her through their promiscuity, and she became one with them, her soul satiated by them. She exposed her unfaithfulness, revealing her disgrace, and my spirit withdrew from her, just as it had from her sister. For she perpetuated her unfaithfulness while reminiscing about her youth, during which she was unchaste in Egypt. You have ignited yourself with desire to unite with those whose flesh is like that of donkeys, and their offspring resemble the young of horses. You have relived the sins of your youth when your breasts were tender and your virginity was confined. The straightforward understanding is this: Oolibah, which represents Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God’s presence, when witnessing her sister’s tribulations, was prompted by her example to avoid straying yet multiplied her sister’s unfaithfulness. That sister set up idols in Dan and Bethel, while this one worshipped the statue of Baal frequently on the high places and within God’s temple, engaging in harlotry with the Assyrians.
She beheld her sister Oolibah, and her sexual immorality exceeded that of her sister. The term “laying on” is rendered by Aquila as “lust.” Therefore, you will increase your promiscuity beyond that of your sister. The sons of Assyria were brought against her, along with the leaders and officials who were close to her, adorned in luxurious garments, and the horsemen, the select young men of the Jewish people. Jerusalem acted in concert with Samaria and also breached her covenant with Me, preferring the deities of the Syrians; for she relied on their favor and overlooked My assistance. By the authority of the elders and leaders, God revealed to them the favor that the Syrians had extended.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS