Lovers
Summary
In prophetic usage, often refers to the foreign nations Israel pursued instead of trusting God.
☩Prophetic Imagery
The prophets depicted Israel's pursuit of foreign alliances and gods as adultery, calling these nations 'lovers.' Jeremiah announced, 'All thy lovers have forgotten thee' (Jeremiah 30:14). Ezekiel's allegory described Israel 'doting on her lovers' (Ezekiel 23:5)—Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt—who would eventually destroy her. Hosea portrayed Israel as an adulterous wife pursuing lovers who could not satisfy (Hosea 2:5-13).
☩Betrayal by Lovers
The nations Israel courted ultimately betrayed her. Lamentations mourns, 'Among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her' (Lamentations 1:2). Ezekiel prophesied that God would bring her 'lovers' against her in judgment (Ezekiel 16:37; 23:22). This imagery warned that security found apart from God ultimately fails.
Related Verses24 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Lovers," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Lovers," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).