A Tale of Two Sisters: The allegory of the two sisters in Ezekiel 23 is clearly related to the story of the foundling bride Jerusalem in Ezekiel 16. This can be seen not only in explicit terminological links (e.g., the expression translated “naked and bare” appears only in 23:29 and 16:7, 22, 39), but also in the broad outline and theme of the story. Both chapters personify cities as women and graphically depict their unfaithfulness to God through foreign alliances and idolatry as adultery (for the background of this idea in Scripture and the ancient Near East, see the discussion and Additional Notes on Ezek. 16). But Ezekiel 16 expresses hope for the future, however muted (see 16:43b–63). In Ezekiel 23, there is no restoration for either sister. The only hope is that others will take warn…