Violence Against Women in Ezekiel?

The imagery of violence against women in Ezekiel 16 and 23 does not actually condone such behavior in real life, nor is it to be taken literally. Rather, Ezekiel employs an extended metaphor to condemn Jerusalem for its foreign policy and foreign worship.

יחזקאל ט״ז:ג׳

(ג) וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ כֹּה־אָמַ֨ר אֲדֹנָ֤י יְהוִה֙ לִיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם מְכֹרֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ וּמֹ֣לְדֹתַ֔יִךְ מֵאֶ֖רֶץ הַֽכְּנַעֲנִ֑י אָבִ֥יךְ הָאֱמֹרִ֖י וְאִמֵּ֥ךְ חִתִּֽית׃

Ezekiel 16:3

(3) and say: Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem: Thine origin and thy nativity is of the land of the Canaanite; the Amorite was thy father, and thy mother was a Hittite.

Jerusalem is referred to in the feminine, and is first compared to a baby, found by G-d.

יחזקאל ט״ז:ד׳-ז׳

(ד) וּמוֹלְדוֹתַ֗יִךְ בְּי֨וֹם הוּלֶּ֤דֶת אֹתָךְ֙ לֹֽא־כָרַּ֣ת שָׁרֵּ֔ךְ וּבְמַ֥יִם לֹֽא־רֻחַ֖צְתְּ לְמִשְׁעִ֑י וְהָמְלֵ֙חַ֙ לֹ֣א הֻמְלַ֔חַתְּ וְהָחְתֵּ֖ל לֹ֥א חֻתָּֽלְתְּ׃ (ה) לֹא־חָ֨סָה עָלַ֜יִךְ עַ֗יִן לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לָ֛ךְ אַחַ֥ת מֵאֵ֖לֶּה לְחֻמְלָ֣ה עָלָ֑יִךְ וַֽתֻּשְׁלְכִ֞י אֶל־פְּנֵ֤י הַשָּׂדֶה֙ בְּגֹ֣עַל נַפְשֵׁ֔ךְ בְּי֖וֹם הֻלֶּ֥דֶת אֹתָֽךְ׃ (ו) וָאֶעֱבֹ֤ר עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ וָֽאֶרְאֵ֔ךְ מִתְבּוֹסֶ֖סֶת בְּדָמָ֑יִךְ וָאֹ֤מַר לָךְ֙ בְּדָמַ֣יִךְ חֲיִ֔י וָאֹ֥מַר לָ֖ךְ בְּדָמַ֥יִךְ חֲיִֽי׃ (ז) רְבָבָ֗ה כְּצֶ֤מַח הַשָּׂדֶה֙ נְתַתִּ֔יךְ וַתִּרְבִּי֙ וַֽתִּגְדְּלִ֔י וַתָּבֹ֖אִי בַּעֲדִ֣י עֲדָיִ֑ים שָׁדַ֤יִם נָכֹ֙נוּ֙ וּשְׂעָרֵ֣ךְ צִמֵּ֔חַ וְאַ֖תְּ עֵרֹ֥ם וְעֶרְיָֽה׃

Ezekiel 16:4-7

(4) And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water for cleansing; thou was not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. (5) No eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field in the loathsomeness of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. (6) And when I passed by thee, and saw thee wallowing in thy blood, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; (7) I cause thee to increase, even as the growth of the field. And thou didst increase and grow up, and thou camest to excellent beauty: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair was grown; yet thou wast naked and bare.

G-d raises Jerusalem as a daughter, even up through adolescence. Up until now, Jerusalem is referred to as G-d's daughter.

יחזקאל ט״ז:ח׳

(ח) וָאֶעֱבֹ֨ר עָלַ֜יִךְ וָאֶרְאֵ֗ךְ וְהִנֵּ֤ה עִתֵּךְ֙ עֵ֣ת דֹּדִ֔ים וָאֶפְרֹ֤שׂ כְּנָפִי֙ עָלַ֔יִךְ וָאֲכַסֶּ֖ה עֶרְוָתֵ֑ךְ וָאֶשָּׁ֣בַֽע לָ֠ךְ וָאָב֨וֹא בִבְרִ֜ית אֹתָ֗ךְ נְאֻ֛ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִ֖ה וַתִּ֥הְיִי לִֽי׃

Ezekiel 16:8

(8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, and, behold, thy time was the time of love, I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness; yea, I swore unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest Mine.

Once she comes of age, G-d takes Jerusalem as His wife.

יחזקאל ט״ז:ט׳-י״ג

(ט) וָאֶרְחָצֵ֣ךְ בַּמַּ֔יִם וָאֶשְׁטֹ֥ף דָּמַ֖יִךְ מֵֽעָלָ֑יִךְ וָאֲסֻכֵ֖ךְ בַּשָּֽׁמֶן׃ (י) וָאַלְבִּישֵׁ֣ךְ רִקְמָ֔ה וָאֶנְעֲלֵ֖ךְ תָּ֑חַשׁ וָאֶחְבְּשֵׁ֣ךְ בַּשֵּׁ֔שׁ וַאֲכַסֵּ֖ךְ מֶֽשִׁי׃ (יא) וָאֶעְדֵּ֖ךְ עֶ֑דִי וָאֶתְּנָ֤ה צְמִידִים֙ עַל־יָדַ֔יִךְ וְרָבִ֖יד עַל־גְּרוֹנֵֽךְ׃ (יב) וָאֶתֵּ֥ן נֶ֙זֶם֙ עַל־אַפֵּ֔ךְ וַעֲגִילִ֖ים עַל־אָזְנָ֑יִךְ וַעֲטֶ֥רֶת תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת בְּרֹאשֵֽׁךְ׃ (יג) וַתַּעְדִּ֞י זָהָ֣ב וָכֶ֗סֶף וּמַלְבּוּשֵׁךְ֙ ששי [שֵׁ֤שׁ] וָמֶ֙שִׁי֙ וְרִקְמָ֔ה סֹ֧לֶת וּדְבַ֛שׁ וָשֶׁ֖מֶן אכלתי [אָכָ֑לְתְּ] וַתִּ֙יפִי֙ בִּמְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וַֽתִּצְלְחִ֖י לִמְלוּכָֽה׃

Ezekiel 16:9-13

(9) Then washed I thee with water; yea, I cleansed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. (10) I clothed thee also with richly woven work, and shod thee with sealskin, and I wound fine linen about thy head, and covered thee with silk. (11) I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. (12) And I put a ring upon thy nose, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head. (13) Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and richly woven work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil; and thou didst wax exceeding beautiful, and thou wast meet for royal estate.

G-d treats Jerusalem as His queen and beautifies her.

יחזקאל ט״ז:ט״ז-כ״א

(טז) וַתִּקְחִ֣י מִבְּגָדַ֗יִךְ וַתַּֽעֲשִׂי־לָךְ֙ בָּמ֣וֹת טְלֻא֔וֹת וַתִּזְנִ֖י עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א בָא֖וֹת וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶֽה׃ (יז) וַתִּקְחִ֞י כְּלֵ֣י תִפְאַרְתֵּ֗ךְ מִזְּהָבִ֤י וּמִכַּסְפִּי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָתַ֣תִּי לָ֔ךְ וַתַּעֲשִׂי־לָ֖ךְ צַלְמֵ֣י זָכָ֑ר וַתִּזְנִי־בָֽם׃ (יח) וַתִּקְחִ֛י אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י רִקְמָתֵ֖ךְ וַתְּכַסִּ֑ים וְשַׁמְנִי֙ וּקְטָרְתִּ֔י נתתי [נָתַ֖תְּ] לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ (יט) וְלַחְמִי֩ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֨תִּי לָ֜ךְ סֹ֣לֶת וָשֶׁ֤מֶן וּדְבַשׁ֙ הֶֽאֱכַלְתִּ֔יךְ וּנְתַתִּ֧יהוּ לִפְנֵיהֶ֛ם לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ וַיֶּ֑הִי נְאֻ֖ם אֲדֹנָ֥י יְהוִֽה׃ (כ) וַתִּקְחִ֞י אֶת־בָּנַ֤יִךְ וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָלַ֣דְתְּ לִ֔י וַתִּזְבָּחִ֥ים לָהֶ֖ם לֶאֱכ֑וֹל הַמְעַ֖ט מתזנתך [מִתַּזְנוּתָֽיִךְ׃] (כא) וַֽתִּשְׁחֲטִ֖י אֶת־בָּנָ֑י וַֽתִּתְּנִ֔ים בְּהַעֲבִ֥יר אוֹתָ֖ם לָהֶֽם׃

Ezekiel 16:16-21

(16) And thou didst take of thy garments, and didst make for thee high places decked with divers colours, and didst play the harlot upon them; the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. (17) Thou didst also take thy fair jewels of My gold and of My silver, which I had given thee, and madest for thee images of men, and didst play the harlot with them; (18) and thou didst take thy richly woven garments and cover them, and didst set Mine oil and Mine incense before them. (19) My bread also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou didst even set it before them for a sweet savour, and thus it was; saith the Lord GOD. (20) Moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto Me, and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured. Were thy harlotries a small matter, (21) that thou hast slain My children, and delivered them up, in setting them apart unto them?

G-d condemns Jerusalem for engaging in foreign worship, and allowing others to perform acts of foreign worship within her gates.

יחזקאל ט״ז:כ״ו

(כו) וַתִּזְנִ֧י אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־מִצְרַ֛יִם שְׁכֵנַ֖יִךְ גִּדְלֵ֣י בָשָׂ֑ר וַתַּרְבִּ֥י אֶת־תַּזְנֻתֵ֖ךְ לְהַכְעִיסֵֽנִי׃

Ezekiel 16:26

(26) Thou hast also played the harlot with the Egyptians, thy neighbours, great of flesh; and hast multiplied thy harlotry, to provoke Me.

Imagery of the harlot and adulteress refers to Jerusalem's foreign policy. Here, G-d condemns Jerusalem for allying with Egypt.

יחזקאל ט״ז:כ״ח-כ״ט

(כח) וַתִּזְנִי֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר מִבִּלְתִּ֖י שָׂבְעָתֵ֑ךְ וַתִּזְנִ֕ים וְגַ֖ם לֹ֥א שָׂבָֽעַתְּ׃ (כט) וַתַּרְבִּ֧י אֶת־תַּזְנוּתֵ֛ךְ אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן כַּשְׂדִּ֑ימָה וְגַם־בְּזֹ֖את לֹ֥א שָׂבָֽעַתְּ׃

Ezekiel 16:28-29

(28) Thou hast played the harlot also with the Assyrians, without having enough; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet thou wast not satisfied. (29) Thou hast moreover multiplied thy harlotry with the land of traffic, even with Chaldea; and yet thou didst not have enough herewith.

G-d condemns Jerusalem for attempting to ally or pay tribute to Assyria and Chaldea (Babylon).

יחזקאל ט״ז:ל״ז

(לז) לָ֠כֵן הִנְנִ֨י מְקַבֵּ֤ץ אֶת־כָּל־מְאַהֲבַ֙יִךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָרַ֣בְתְּ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וְאֵת֙ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָהַ֔בְתְּ עַ֖ל כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר שָׂנֵ֑את וְקִבַּצְתִּי֩ אֹתָ֨ם עָלַ֜יִךְ מִסָּבִ֗יב וְגִלֵּיתִ֤י עֶרְוָתֵךְ֙ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וְרָא֖וּ אֶת־כָּל־עֶרְוָתֵֽךְ׃

Ezekiel 16:37

(37) therefore behold, I will gather all thy lovers, unto whom thou hast been pleasant, and all them that thou hast loved, with all them that thou hast hated; I will even gather them against thee from every side, and will uncover thy nakedness unto them, that they may see all thy nakedness.

Therefore, Jerusalem's "lovers," or allied super-powers, will descend upon her and defile her (destroy her).

יחזקאל ט״ז:ל״ט-מ״א

(לט) וְנָתַתִּ֨י אוֹתָ֜ךְ בְּיָדָ֗ם וְהָרְס֤וּ גַבֵּךְ֙ וְנִתְּצ֣וּ רָמֹתַ֔יִךְ וְהִפְשִׁ֤יטוּ אוֹתָךְ֙ בְּגָדַ֔יִךְ וְלָקְח֖וּ כְּלֵ֣י תִפְאַרְתֵּ֑ךְ וְהִנִּיח֖וּךְ עֵירֹ֥ם וְעֶרְיָֽה׃ (מ) וְהֶעֱל֤וּ עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ קָהָ֔ל וְרָגְמ֥וּ אוֹתָ֖ךְ בָּאָ֑בֶן וּבִתְּק֖וּךְ בְּחַרְבוֹתָֽם׃ (מא) וְשָׂרְפ֤וּ בָתַּ֙יִךְ֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ וְעָשׂוּ־בָ֣ךְ שְׁפָטִ֔ים לְעֵינֵ֖י נָשִׁ֣ים רַבּ֑וֹת וְהִשְׁבַּתִּיךְ֙ מִזּוֹנָ֔ה וְגַם־אֶתְנַ֖ן לֹ֥א תִתְּנִי־עֽוֹד׃

Ezekiel 16:39-41

(39) I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and break down thy lofty places; and they shall strip thee of thy clothes, and take thy fair jewels; and they shall leave thee naked and bare. (40) They shall also bring up an assembly against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords. (41) And they shall burn thy houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women; and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou shalt also give no hire any more.

Everything G-d gave to Jerusalem in the beginning of the chapter is then taken by Jerusalem's enemies, namely Babylon. We know this because Ezekiel lived at the time of the Babylonian destruction in 586 BCE.