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From: Ephraim & Rimona Frank
To:     heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Yehuda's Harlotry

Shalom Fellow Israelite, 

My article of a few weeks ago, on Ephraim's harlotry, elicited at least one 
response to the effect that 'poor Ephraim always takes the brunt of Israel's
sin, but what about Yehuda?' So, with your permission, let's turn the tables
and take a look at the other house, and decide if it deserves to get off
'scot free'. The prophet Yechezkel makes a very interesting comparison
between the harlotry that was evident in the House of Yoseph and the
harlotry of the House of Yehuda. He tells the story of a mother who had two
daughters. This mother, Zion, had one daughter by the name of O'holah (which
means "her tent", referring to Samaria), while her younger daughter's name
was Ohali'vah, (meaning "My tent - Yah's - is in her").  Incidentally,
Yehuda and Yerushalayim have been given this title because of the House of
David, which YHWH chose as His place of dominion within the House of
Ya'acov. 
  

In Yechezkel's account, both Yehuda and Ephraim are described as being
unfaithful to their husband Elohim. Lusting after the ways of the pagan
nations, they put their trust in the strength and power of those nations and
their gods.  Oholah went awhoring while still in Egypt (23:8), but later, as
a nation in the land, she spread her harlotries even to the Assyrians (7-9).
As a result of her iniquities and wickedness her husband YHWH divorced her,
and gave her over to her lovers. "Therefore I have delivered her into the
hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians for whom she lusted"
(Eze. 23:9). The prophet Hoshe'a portrays a very clear description of her
punishment and her destiny, but what about Oholivah's sin? 
  

"Now although her sister Oholivah saw [the punishment of her sister], she
became more corrupt in her lust than she, and in her harlotry more corrupt
than her sister's harlotry" (Eze. 23:11). The prophet goes on to describe
the lewdness of Oholivah and how she too laid with Egypt and Assyria,
although at the time of Oholah's rejection and demise YHWH says something
very interesting to Oholivah,: "Yet I will have mercy on the house of
Yehuda, and will save them by YHWH their Elohim, and will not save them by
bow, nor by sword or battle, by horses or horsemen" (Hos. 1:7).  As we know
from the historical accounts, Yehuda was spared the judgments that came down
on Ephraim (Samaria) in 722 BC.  However, Oholivah could not resist what she
saw developing before her eyes, and so Babylon became her next lover. This
was not the first time that the House of Yehuda was tempted by "the gold,
silver and the Babylonian garment". Remember Achan during the days of
Yehoshua? He and his family were put to death for coveting Babylon's riches.
Now, even after seeing her sister's demise, Oholivah was giving herself away
to an illicit affair with the "mother of harlots". As a result Yehuda was
going to have to drink the same cup that had been drunk by her sister.
"'You shall drink of your sister's cup, the deep and wide one; you shall be
laughed to scorn and held in derision; it contains much. You will be filled
with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and desolation, the cup of
your sister Samaria. You shall drink and drain it, you shall break its
shards, and tear at your own breasts; for I have spoken,' says YHWH Elohim"
(Eze. 23:32-34). 

However, because YHWH's tent was in Yehuda He could not cut her off
completely, and so He kept a remnant from Yehuda, Binyamin and Levi, and
some 'companions' from the other tribes, all of whom were still identifiable
as His people (Jews).  Thus Yehuda's preservation was intended by YHWH to
continue the process of prophetic reality in the earth, which we can see
today as a sign of the latter days. 

But Oholivah's guilt did not end there. When her sister was exiled, she
snubbed and scorned her and made claim upon her land. She vexed her sister
with her haughtiness, as if somehow she was better than her because she
maintained her identity as the chosen people (Eze. 11:15).  In spite of
this, Oholivah's testimony of YHWH's mercy was seen even while in captivity
in Babylon, where she built houses and prospered. This was not like the
slavery in Egypt. After seventy years YHWH brought her back to the land and
to Yerushalayim, to rebuild the temple. Yet Oholivah continued in her wicked
ways, and as a result was scattered into the nations in 70 CE.  In the
appropriate time, though, YHWH's mercies, faithfulness and judgments brought
Yehuda back to the land to resettle the waste places (beginning in the 19th
century, and climaxing with the birth of the nation in 1948).  The
establishment of the Jewish state was based more on secular ideals than on
the Torah, but that did not matter to YHWH.  Yechezkel prophesies it well:
"It is not for your sake oh house of Israel that I am about to act, but for
My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went" (Eze
36:22). 

So here we are today, with Yehuda and Yerushalayim back again in the land
and on the stage of prophetic history.  What has changed?  This nation is
still steeped in behavior that resembles the harlotries of its past;
sacrificing children to Moloch (abortion), while violence, homosexuality and
lesbianism abound. It is a nation that puts its trust in foreign
governments, indulges in the idols of materialism, sex and humanism, along
with lying, cheating, coveting of neighbor's wife and property, and having a
total disregard for the Elohim of Israel, albeit there are those in the land
who are sincerely seeking the Elohim of Israel. 
  

Our God has kept His promise to restore us to the land in spite of our
condition. This is why He says that when He does bring us back, He will pour
clean water on us that we might be clean (ref Eze. 36:25). He says that He
will give us a new heart (v. 26) and make a new covenant with us, a covenant
of peace (Eze. 37:26), and that He will again restore the fallen succa of
David (Amos 9:11) and will dwell in the House of Yehuda forever. Oholivah
will yet live up to her name! 

There is still more to the story... YHWH also says that He will save the
House of Yoseph and will bring them up from the grave of forgetfulness and
cause them to be joined to Yehuda as one nation and one kingdom, with one
shepherd and one king (Eze..37). This day is drawing near, as many of the
prophetic signs are out before our eyes in this generation. This, no doubt,
is one of the most exciting times in the history of the redemption of this
planet; and it will come about "not by might, nor by power, but BY MY
SPIRIT!" (Zech 4:6). as YHWH Elohey Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'acov says. 

Letter 110 (Ephraim's Harlotry) ended with the prayer of Daniel, who
interceded for Yehuda and Yerushalayim of his day, but how much more
relevant is this prayer today, as we see Oholivah struggling with the same
problems that had swallowed her up 2,500 years ago! 

Perhaps it is time to stop building suburbs in Babylon and "come out of her
My people". May we join Daniel, who was on his face praying while still in
Babylon: "O YHWH righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as
it is this day-to the men of Yehuda, to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim and
all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You
have driven us, because of the unfaithfulness which we have committed
against You. We have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly
and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.
Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to
our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land...
We have defiled ourselves in the manner of our fathers, and committed
harlotry according to their abominations... Now therefore, our Elohim, hear
the prayer of Your servants, and our supplications, and for Your sake cause
Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O Elohim, incline
Your ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city
which is called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before
You because of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O
YHWH, hear! O YHWH, forgive! O YHWH, listen and act! Do not delay for Your
own sake, O Elohim, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name"
(Dan. 9:7,5-6; 17-19). 

"Come, and let us return to YHWH; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He
has stricken but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on
the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight" (Hos.
6:1-2). 
  

Shabbat Shalom 

Shevet Achim 

"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in
unity" (Ps. 133). 
  

Ephraim Frank
Israel
 

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