יחזקאל, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ל״ג

A complete reversal of familiar reality is used to illustrate the extreme depth of a betrayal. In a typical scenario, a prostitute receives payment from her lovers. Yet, this situation presents a twisted reality where the roles are completely flipped: the unfaithful one is the one paying and giving gifts. Instead of taking a fee, she scatters her own wealth to her lovers [מצודת דוד]. These payments function like a dowry—the traditional wealth a bride brings to her husband—perverting a symbol of marriage into a tool for unfaithfulness [רש"י, רד"ק, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ].

On a symbolic level, this harsh imagery represents the Israelites and their pursuit of idol worship. They willingly surrendered their own resources to foreign gods, pouring out their wealth without receiving any benefit or return in exchange [שטיינזלץ]. The betrayal goes beyond simply giving gifts; it involves active bribery. The Israelites offered actual bribes, sometimes secretly, to entice these foreign influences to come to them from all directions [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. The motivation behind such unnatural behavior stems from an immense internal urge. These actions were driven by a powerful, overwhelming desire and a deep-seated inclination toward spiritual immorality [רש"י, מצודת דוד, שטיינזלץ].