Ezekiel 23:7-10 - Exposition

The next two verses paint the consequence of the alliance first with Assyria and then with Egypt. She adopted the religion of Assyria, probably in the form of the worship of Ishtar (Ashtoreth) as the queen of heaven. Having done this, the kings of Israel sought to play off one kingdom against the other (see Hosea 7:11 ; 2 Kings 17:4 ). It was, in fact, the discovery of Hoshea's treachery in this matter that led Shalmaneser to besiege Samaria. The result of that siege is described in general terms in Ezekiel 23:10 . She, the city of Samaria, was slain with the sword, tier sons and daughters were taken into exile. So she became famous ( i.e. infamous, like the Latin famosus ) , literally, a name among women, so . among the neighboring nations.