Ezekiel 23

“The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and…” Naming Aholah and Aholibah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,” Naming Aholah and Assyrians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Which were clothed with blue, captains and rulers, all of them desirable young men, horsemen riding upon horses.” The line’s distinctive content terms include blue, captains, clothed. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thus she committed her whoredoms with them, with all them that were the chosen men of Assyria, and with all on whom…” Naming Assyria keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of…” Naming Egypt and Neither keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“These discovered her nakedness: they took her sons and her daughters, and slew her with the sword: and she became…” The line’s distinctive content terms include became, daughters, discovered. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more…” Naming Aholibah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“She doted upon the Assyrians her neighbours, captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously, horsemen riding upon horses…” Naming Assyrians and She keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And that she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans…” Naming Chaldeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Girded with girdles upon their loins, exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads, all of them princes to look to, after…” Naming Babylonians and Chaldea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them, and sent messengers unto them into Chaldea.” Naming Chaldea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted…” Naming Babylonians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So she discovered her whoredoms, and discovered her nakedness: then my mind was alienated from her, like as my mind…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Yet she multiplied her whoredoms, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein she had played the harlot…” Naming Egypt and Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For she doted upon their paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is like the issue of horses.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of…” Naming Egyptians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore, O Aholibah, thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will raise up thy lovers against thee, from whom thy mind…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them…” Naming Assyrians and Babylonians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, which shall set…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And I will set my jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee: they shall take away thy nose and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“They shall also strip thee out of thy clothes, and take away thy fair jewels.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus will I make thy lewdness to cease from thee, and thy whoredom brought from the land of Egypt: so that thou shalt…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest, into the hand of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And they shall deal with thee hatefully, and shall take away all thy labour, and shall leave thee naked and bare: and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gone, heathen, idols. Its relationship to verses 29 and 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou hast walked in the way of thy sister; therefore will I give her cup into thine hand.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Thou shalt drink of thy sister’s cup deep and large: thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy…” Naming Samaria and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt even drink it and suck it out, and thou shalt break the sherds thereof, and pluck off thine own breasts…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD ; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The LORD said moreover unto me; Son of man, wilt thou judge Aholah and Aholibah? yea, declare unto them their…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and…” The line’s distinctive content terms include adultery, committed, bare. Its relationship to verses 36 and 38 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths.” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And furthermore, that ye have sent for men to come from far, unto whom a messenger was sent; and, lo, they came: for…” The line’s distinctive content terms include thyself, deckedst, didst. Its relationship to verses 39 and 41 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And satest upon a stately bed, and a table prepared before it, whereupon thou hast set mine incense and mine oil.” The line’s distinctive content terms include incense, prepared, satest. Its relationship to verses 40 and 42 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her: and with the men of the common sort were brought Sabeans from…” Naming Sabeans keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said I unto her that was old in adulteries, Will they now commit whoredoms with her, and she with them?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Yet they went in unto her, as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot: so went they in unto Aholah and unto…” Naming Aholah and Aholibah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thus saith the Lord GOD ; I will bring up a company upon them, and will give them to be removed and spoiled.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall slay their sons and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus will I cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include lewdness, cause, cease. Its relationship to verses 47 and 49 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.