Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXIII The apostacy of Israel and Samaria from God, ver. 1 - 8. Their ruin, ver. 9, 10. The apostacy of Judah and Jerusalem from God, ver. 11 - 21. Their ruin, ver. 22 - 35. The joint wickedness of them both, ver. 36 - 44. And their joint ruin, ver. 45 - 49. Two women - Judah, and Israel, two kingdoms. Whoredoms - Idolatry. Aholah - That is, his own tabernacle; for Israel falling off from the house of David, fell off from the tabernacle, or temple of God; so that all the temple they had was of their own making. The elder - Greater for number of tribes, and for power, wealth, and for multitudes of people. Aholibah - That is, my tabernacle in her: the two tribes had the temple of God with them. Mine - By solemn marriage - covenant. Bare sons - Were fruitful and brought forth children to me; they increased in numbers of people; and among these, some there were that were children of God by faith, love, and obedience. Played the harlot - United in idolatry, with the Assyrians. Mine - When under my government, and protection. Horsemen - Skillful in riding, and well furnished with choice horses. With all - Other nations, with whom she had commerce. Discovered - Stript her naked, and exposed her to shame. Took her sons - Captives. Slew her - The kingdom of Israel, under Hoshea, was by Salmanesar utterly destroyed. They - The Assyrians, had executed God's just displeasure upon her. Girded - With soldiers belts, which includes the rest of the habit of soldiers. In dyed attire - Both rich, comely, large, and of divers colours. Princes - Of princely aspect and majesty. Alienated - She grew weary of the Chaldeans. Discovered - Made it appear to all, far and near. By - Remembering her idolatries in Egypt, her alliance with it in days past, which she now resolved to act over again. Paramours - The nations, that were confederate with the Egyptians. Pekod - Pekod is the province between Tigris, and Lycus; in this was old Nineveh. Shoa - Either Sia in Armenia, or the Sohia, among which were the Adiabeni, and this contained the middle part of the kingdom of Babylon. Koa - This bordered upon Media, the inhabitants were called Kohai, and dwelt about Arbela.