Глава 23

Ezek.23:1–3. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: The son of man, two wives begat one daughter to one mother, and committed fornication in Egypt, Above, in what we have already interpreted, God called all the people one harlot, because in the beginning they were called one people. since under Rehoboam there was a division, and some began to be called Ephraim and Israel, and others Judah, then after the division he rightly uses this tributary and figurative figure of speech, and gives them names from the main cities: to the ten tribes - from Samaria, and to Judah and Benjamin - from Jerusalem, and says that they had one mother, not only by the same root of the family, but also by wickedness, they had one mother - Egypt. For above, in a figurative sense, they called their mother a Hittite, and their father an Amorite. So they “prostituted themselves in Egypt.” Then he announced the time. in her youth she committed harlotry: there she lost their breasts, and there she corrupted their virginity. For their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, shone with piety, and the sons of Jacob were still strangers to idolatry, but those born from them, as a result of their stay in Egypt, learned wickedness. The beginning of increasing multiplication calls them youth, and the teaching of evil dogmas - corruption and falling away of the breasts. For, just as the taking of virginity is accompanied by a loss of elasticity in the nipples, so apostasy is followed by the decline of the ruler in us, because the nipples serve as a cover and shield for him. Then, since God specifically called them wives, he gives them the names of some Egyptian wives who became famous for their lewdness; says this: Ezek.23:4. And their names are Thola, the eldest, and Ooliva, her younger sister: What he had previously said mysteriously, he now brought into greater clarity, and mentioned these harlot wives, thereby strengthening the accusation and with the intention of making him realize his wickedness through an example. Then he describes the benefit God showed them. and I was born, and gave birth to sons and daughters, and their names were Samaria Oolah, and Jerusalem Oolibah. Combination and communication refers to the agreement established with them through the law, for He gave the law, and they agreed to maintain the law. What was said: “And I gave birth to sons and daughters,” makes it clear that before the time, living under the law, they raised their children in piety. So, hitherto he pronounced a general accusation against both of them, but now, finally, when the division of the tribes took place, he pronounces the first accusation against Samaria, whom he called “Oola”, because she was the first, after the division of the kingdom into two, to deviate into the wicked service of the young. Ezek.23:5. And thou shalt fornicate Ool from Mene, and put thyself upon thy lusts, Speaking about his wife, he used the name: “hunters”; This makes it clear and means the demons to whom they served. Then he reveals the very types of wickedness. on the Assyrians approaching her, Ezek.23:6–7. clothed in scarlet, elders, and commanders: young men choosing all the cavalry, riding the horses, and giving his fornication to them: the chosen son of Assyria, resting on the horse: defiled in all his thoughts. “Chosen youths,” clothed in “scarlet,” he mysteriously calls the idols that they painted, depicting in a certain form. For all those who did not honor in ancient times had the custom of giving their gods the appearance of something more common among them. So the Hellenes and Romans arm Ares, as they themselves are accustomed to arm, and the Persians - in their own way; The Indians are again different, and the Ethiopians are different, and so is each of the named peoples. Meanwhile, God makes it clear that the inhabitants of Samaria were the first, neglecting God’s assistance, to call on the Assyrians for help. For, having called Thul (and this was the king of Assyria) to help them against the Syrians, they promised to pay him duty and tribute. As a result of this, the connection with the Assyrians finally introduced wickedness among them. Then God adds: Ezek.23:8. And do not forsake your fornication from Egypt, as I slept with her in her youth, and corrupted her virginity, and poured out your fornication on her, that is, having entered into communication with the Assyrians and adopted their superstitious customs, she did not neglect the Egyptian lessons, but continued to preserve them with special care. Thus, having described the types of wickedness, God proves the justice of the punishment. Ezek.23:9. For this reason I gave her over into the hand of a lust, into the hand of the son of Assyria, who was entrusted with them. Since she did not adhere to My laws, but, having devoted herself to Me, loved others, I deprived her of My providence for her, and handed her over to those whom she preferred to communicate with Me. Ezek.23:10. Having revealed her shame, her sons and daughters girded her: and she cut herself off with a sword: and there was reproach on the women, and he took vengeance on her on the daughters. Thus, having been abandoned by Me, she learned by experience what kind of communication with Me is, and what the deceit of her lusts is. For soon, having taken her into slavery, they punished her for her fornication, and then with extreme cruelty and without any mercy they put her to death; her sons and daughters were taken away as prisoners of war; and every city speaks loudly about what happened to her. For he called the cities wives in a figurative sense. But not only was such cruelty shown to her, but even to her daughters; means the cities and villages subject to Samaria. The ten tribes suffered this, first from Felgathalassar, and then from Shalmaneser, the kings of Assyria. Having thus depicted what befell the inhabitants of Samaria, he turns his speech to Jerusalem and says: Ezek.23:11. And her sister Ooliva saw her, and her tribute increased more than hers, The word: “laying on” Aquila translated: “lust.” and multiply your fornication more than your sister's fornication. Ezek.23:12. Rely on the sons of the Assyrians, on the elders and commanders who are near her, clothed in holy garments, on the horsemen who ride their horses, all the young men are chosen. And Jerusalem acted in concert with Samaria, and also trampled upon the covenant with Me, preferred the Syrian gods, because it relied on their assistance, and neglected My help. For by the name “elders” and “general” God meant the assistance provided to them by the Syrians. Ezek.23:13. And I saw that the path of both was defiled. Their beginnings are close and similar to each other. Ezek.23:14–16. And add to your fornication, and the sight of the men written on the wall, the images of the Chaldeans are written with balls, with a brush, girded with variegated colors about their loins, and painted on their heads, a threefold appearance of all, the likeness of the sons of Babylon, the Chaldeans, the land of their fatherland: and place yourself on her with the sight of your eyes. He beautifully and very vividly presented the powerlessness of idols, making it clear that they are nothing more than colors, outlines and works of art. And “the threefold form of all” means the variety of idols. But Symmachus translated: “the appearance of robbers of all.” Looking at them, says God, and not seeing anything other than images of pictorial art, you loved being with them. In all this, idolatry is implied. And he sent ambassadors to them in the land of Chaldeans. Ezek.23:17. And the sons of Babylonia came to her on the bed of those who hovered, and desecrated her in their fornication, and became defiled in them, and her soul departed from them. She herself, having sent to them for help, and having mingled with them, borrowed wickedness from them, again retreated from them. What God means here is a retreat not from the demons, but from the Babylonians themselves, because Joachim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah violated the treaties they had concluded with the Babylonians. Ezek.23:18. And reveal your fornication, and reveal your shame: and my soul depart from her, even as my soul departed from her sister, that is, seeing the excessiveness of her wickedness, I deprived her of My providence for her. For again I used the word “soul” allegorically, not because the Divinity is divided into soul and body, It is incorporeal and uncomplicated, but it speaks in a human-like manner, using ordinary human sayings, out of condescension towards human weakness. So, hitherto, apparently, God was speaking with the Prophet, and now, as if in consequence of what was said about what Jerusalem dared to do, remembering him, he finally turns his word to him and says: Ezek.23:19. And you increased your fornication, remembering the days of your youth; you fornicated in Egypt, that is, I consigned your sins in Egypt to oblivion, but you, with your new undertakings, made the memory of them renewed. For the sameness of the laws of crime usually forces one to remember previous sins. Then again, allegorically and figuratively, he accuses Jerusalem of idolatry. Ezek.23:20–21. And you lay down on the Chaldeans, their flesh was like the flesh of an ass, and like the bosom of a horse, their bosom, and you visited the iniquity of your youth, which you did in Egypt in your vitals, where the breasts of your youth fell. And, having entered into communication with the Chaldeans, she did not neglect the Egyptian undertakings, but served the gods of both. He likened their great lawlessness and polytheism to the bosoms of horses and donkeys, because he also calls idolatry fornication. For souls who entered into union with God and dedicated themselves to Him, and then left Him and loved communication with demons, are rightly called adulterers. Ezek.23:22. For this reason says Adonai the Lord: Behold, I will raise up your lusts against you; from them shall your soul depart, and I will bring them around against you: Ezek.23:23. the sons of Babylon, and all the Chaldeans, Pakum, and Judah, and Kuda, and all the sons of the Assyrians with them, the chosen youths, the elders and the commanders, all the nobles and the nobles, the horsemen on horseback, Ezek.23:24. And all the people from the north will come against you with weapons, chariots and wheels with many people, shields and helmets and helmets they will lay down against you, and they will set a guard around you. In fact, you will find out who I am and who your lusts are. For I, even neglected by you, continued to show patience; and they, as soon as they learn about your apostasy, will immediately come fully armed, using horses and chariots, bringing with them all those under their control, and will wall off your entrances with palisades. For he meant this by saying: “and they will set a guard around you.” Then he adds: And I will give judgment before them, and they will take revenge on you in their judgments: Ezek.23:25. and I will give My zeal in you, and they will deal with you the wrath of My fury, Since I preferred them to My providence for you, then through them I will punish you for your crime against Me, and I will hand you over to them for torment. Describes the types of executions. They will cut off your nostrils and your ears, and cut off your remaining ones with the sword: they will take away your sons and your daughters, and fire will consume your remaining ones: Ezek.23:26. and they will strip off your garments, and take away the vessels of your praise. Some will be taken into captivity, others will be killed in battle, and the ends of others will be cut off without mercy with cruelty, everything that belongs to you will be plundered, most of your property will be put on fire. But it also shows the benefits that will come from this punishment. Ezek.23:27. And I will turn away your wickedness from you, and your fornication from the land of Egypt: and you will not remember Egypt. Overtaken by these disasters, you will come to the consciousness of your legal crime and will be disgusted by what was the cause of this misfortune for you. Ezek.23:28–29. Therefore, Adonai the Lord says: Behold, I hand over thee to those whom thou hatest, from whom shall thy soul depart: and they will work in thee in hatred, and they will take away all thy labors and thy deeds, and thou shalt be naked and ashamed, and the cold of thy fornication and thy wickedness shall be revealed. Having loved the Chaldeans, then you hated them, but I will betray you to them, through them I will subject you to punishment, and with punishment I will show your wickedness in all your nakedness. For, looking at your disasters, they realize that their cause was your legal crime. Therefore, by the way, I added: Ezek.23:30. And do this to you fornication, when you committed fornication after the tongues, and became defiled in their thoughts. You followed the initiatives of the pagans, who, led by their own thoughts, conceived wickedness. Not only did you imitate the wickedness of other pagans, but also “thou walked in the way of thy sister: and I will put her cup in thy hand” (Ezek. 23:31). What Samaria suffered, you will also suffer. For he called the punishment “a cup,” because it will produce sleep and intoxication in those who drink. Ezek.23:32. This says Adonai the Lord: drink your sister's cup deep and wide, and there will be laughter and imitation, abundant for drunkenness, Ezek.23:33. and filled with weakness: the cup of consumption and destruction, the cup of your sister Samaria: Ezek.23:34. and you will drink her up, and drain her, and consume her flesh, and tear away your breast. He called the cup “deep” because of the greatness of the disaster, and “wide” because of the seventy-year duration, because of the desolation that befell the city; Having called it “the cup of consumption”, he also added: “exhaust”, because Jerusalem suffered a final siege; He also said: “You will consume her skull” because he fell into extreme distress; “and you will tear away your breast,” because of the repentance that followed the disasters. I will turn away both your holidays and your new moons: according to the words of Adonai, the Lord spoke. I will destroy from you every public assembly and every joy, and I will put an end to words, because I am the true and undeceitful Lord. Ezek.23:35. For this reason the Lord Adonai says: Thou hast forgotten Me, and hast cast Me back of thy body, and thou shalt take away thy wickedness and thy fornication. Since you have chosen bodily pleasures over serving Me, then accept, says God, reward for your lewdness. And this makes it clear that the basis of wickedness is legal crime, because those who were enslaved to voluptuousness fell into idolatry. Ezek.23:36–37. And the Lord said to Me: Son of man, will you not judge Oole and Oolibe, and tell them their iniquities? How did she commit adultery, and the blood in their hands, and in their thoughts commit adultery, and the children that she bore to me, I saw them through the fire? The words “Will you not judge?” other interpreters have translated: “condemn,” that is, having taken My face upon yourself, you, Prophet, carry out judgment on Samaria and Jerusalem, and expose their lawful crimes, how, having left Me, they entered into communication with idols, as children, given to them by Me, sacrificed to these idols, neglecting My laws and desecrating My Sabbaths; for he added this too Ezek.23:38. Even this I created, My holy desecration, on that day, and My Sabbath was desecrated. Then he explains the very method of desecration. Ezek.23:39. And I have always sacrificed my children with my idol, and I have entered into My holy place on that day, I have desecrated it. Great excess of wickedness! Firstly, to slaughter your children is the extreme limit of wickedness; but to sacrifice such slaughters to demons is yet another increase in evil; to dare to do this on Saturday, when even necessary things were prohibited, shows even greater wickedness; and after completing such a deed to enter the Divine vestibule - does this leave behind a place for any greater wickedness? Therefore, God put this in last place and added again: And this is what I do in the midst of My house, that is, they dared to commit this wickedness in a house dedicated to Me. Ezek.23:40–41. And I sent messengers to the men who were coming from afar, and sent messengers to them, and when they came, you washed yourself, and made your eyes ready, and adorned your utensils, and saddled you on a bed, and the table was decorated before her. Everything that has been said serves as an image of a harlot’s wife, and signifies their former alliance with the Assyrians and Chaldeans, and the wickedness they borrowed from them. It also points to decorations during festivals for demons, to luxury, changes of clothing, and everything else that was usually done during such celebrations. The same thing means when added: And My incense and My oil was offered before them, For demonic joy is death for a person. Moreover, says God, Ezek.23:42. And with a loud voice I cried out to the men from the multitude of people who came drunkenly from the desert, For what is so much like a desert as those who worship idols? From these spiritual deserts the lessons of wickedness were brought, and you accepted them with musical organs emitting pleasant sounds. And I gave rings on their hands, and a crown of praise on their heads. For those who decide to serve idols do not receive anything from them, but they bring them God-given gifts, placing all kinds of decorations on them. Ezek.23:43. And he said: Do not these commit adultery? and the deeds of a harlot, and you yourself have become a harlot, that is, having used the prophets as an instrument, I said that you dare to commit adultery with inanimate things, and that such undertakings of yours are adulterous. Ezek.23:44. And I go in to her, just as they go in to a harlot’s wife, so I go in to Oola and Ooliva, wicked women, who commit lawlessness. For, having already received the right as a result of their transgression, both the destroyers of souls - demons, and the Chaldeans who had learned the demonic service - entered without fear into the harlots' wives, Samaria and Jerusalem. God finally speaks to them and says: Ezek.23:45. And these are righteous men He said: “the righteous,” not testifying to their righteousness, because they were the most unjust, very lawless, and extremely wicked, but he called them righteous in comparison with the wickedness of Jerusalem, as if saying: if you compare them with you, then they are righteous. This is what God did above when he spoke to Jerusalem: “and thou hast justified thy sisters” in thy sins, “and in all thy iniquities which thou hast done” (Ezek. 16:51). And here he says: “these are righteous men,” that is, better than you. And they will take revenge on them with the vengeance of fornicators, and with the judgment of those who shed blood, for they are fornicators, and blood is in their hands. They will be punished for murder and adultery, having their lusters as judges, and they will suffer the same thing that adulterous wives and murderers suffer. Sim, having concluded the tributary legend, pronounces a sentence on them. Ezek.23:46. This says the Lord Adonai: bring the nations against them, and bring upon them rebellion and plunder. Ezek.23:47. And cast a stone upon them, the stone of the nations, and let them be gored with their swords: their sons and daughters shall be beaten, and their houses shall be burned with fire. Then he shows what will be the benefit of this. Ezek.23:48. And I will turn away wickedness from the earth, and all the women will be punished, and they will not do their wickedness. When they endure this, they will be given over to stones, swords and fire, then every city will benefit from this, having learned what the reward is for wickedness. Here again God called the cities wives. Ezek.23:49. And your wickedness will be given to you, and you will accept all the sins of your thoughts, and you will understand that I am the Lord, that is, you will bear the fruits of your wickedness, because you accepted it, not out of necessity, but of your own free will and desire; From punishment you will gain very great benefit - the knowledge of My dominion. May God grant us to take advantage of this trial of disasters, having learned this, having felt God’s blessings, hating the ingratitude of the heart, every day renewing the remembrance of God in ourselves, and, through the action of the All-Holy Spirit, being inflamed with love for God and awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! With Him glory to the Father, with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages! Amen.