And Aholah played the harlot when {d} she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours,

(d) When the Israelites were named the people of God, they became idolaters and forsook God, and put their trust in the Assyrians.

Wesley's Notes

23:5 Played the harlot - United in idolatry, with the Assyrians. Mine - When under my government, and protection.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

5. when . mine-literally, "under Me," that is, subject to Me as her lawful husband.

neighbours-On the northeast the kingdom of Israel bordered on that of Assyria; for the latter had occupied much of Syria. Their neighborhood in locality was emblematical of their being near in corruption of morals and worship. The alliances of Israel with Assyria, which are the chief subject of reprobation here, tended to this (2Ki 15:19; 16:7, 9; 17:3; Ho 8:9).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:1-49 A history of the apostacy of God's people from him, and the aggravation thereof. - In this parable, Samaria and Israel bear the name Aholah, her own tabernacle; because the places of worship those kingdoms had, were of their own devising. Jerusalem and Judah bear the name of Aholibah, my tabernacle is in her, because their temple was the place which God himself had chosen, to put his name there. The language and figures are according to those times. Will not such humbling representations of nature keep open perpetual repentance and sorrow in the soul, hiding pride from our eyes, and taking us from self-righteousness? Will it not also prompt the soul to look to God continually for grace, that by his Holy Spirit we may mortify the deeds of the body, and live in holy conversation and godliness?