Hey Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble and I'm your host for the Bible Recap.

Today's chapters are dark and graphic. It's not exactly like reading. But in every

heavy paragraph in every dark chapter there's still something we can learn about God. It's true on these

pages and it's true in our own stories too. Before we jump in just know that I'm going to do my

best to make this appropriate for all our listeners.

The Bible itself is graphic enough, so I'll try to go easy on explaining things in detail.

Chapter 23 is one big metaphor.

God is talking about two women, but this isn't about women at all.

The women represent two cities.

Samaria, which is the capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel,

and Jerusalem, which is the capital city of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. And we've seen many times

where Yaway has portrayed his relationship with his people as a marriage.

And any time his people wander off to other gods, he compares it to adultery. He uses a picture of intimate

betrayal to show what's happening on a spiritual level. So while there definitely was sexual

sin happening in both Samaria and Jerusalem, that's only a fraction of the broader point

chapter 23 is trying to make.

The major point is, the people of these cities have turned their eyes away from

Yawe, who has always provided for them and protected

them, and instead they've looked to other nations to save them.

They've paid them tribute for protection, and as they've grown more familiar with them and tried

to earn their favor, they've also become enamored with their gods and worshipped them instead.

First 7 is talking about Samaria, and it says,

...