Aholah and Aholibah

The resemblance of these ecclesiastical thieves and false invokers of Jehovah's [Yahweh's] name, is an "Ephah going forth." It is the measure of their wickedness, which, when filled up, would cause them to be brought forth from their land, as their fathers were. "This ephah is their resemblance over all the earth." But their wickedness which filled the measure is personified by a Woman, who is confined within the measure by a leaden weight, indicative of their being destined for the furnace of Jehovah's [Yahweh's] anger, which should blow upon them like fire, and melt them as lead -- Ezek. 12:18-22. A measure of wickedness subjected to the melting fury of Jehovah [Yahweh] inscribed upon the sides of the roll is the signification of the Talent of Lead, the Woman, the Ephah, and the Roll. But, in order to show whose wickedness is contained within the ephah, Ezekiel's Two Women are attached by the Spirit to the ephah. They were seen by Zechariah "lifting up the ephah, between the earth and the heavens;" that is, exalting wickedness to high places. These women are Aholah or Samaria, and Aholibah, or Jerusalem (Ezek. 23:4,5); the two capitals put representatively for the nation. At a future period of their history, Zechariah saw them in vision, "going forth," and "carrying the ephah," or measure of their wickedness, with them into the land of the enemy, that rends them with its "great iron teeth" -- the land of their captivity, where they build for their wickedness" a house which should be established upon its own foundation;" -- a house destined, with its occupants, to be consumed "to the timber and stones thereof."