יחזקאל, פרק ט״ז, פסוק ל״ה

The prophet delivers a harsh and piercing message to Jerusalem, summarizing the full weight of her spiritual betrayal. Addressing the city as a prostitute is not merely a term of abuse, but a precise definition of her actions. There is a fundamental difference between an ordinary woman engaged in this trade and Jerusalem. A typical prostitute acts for financial payment, making money her primary goal and marking her as someone driven by greed. Jerusalem, however, did the exact opposite. She was the one who paid and offered gifts to her lovers. This proves that her intention was never to gain a profit, but rather stemmed from a deep passion and love for the very act of betrayal. For this reason, she deserves to be called a true and absolute prostitute [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד].

In light of these sins and her clear desire for unfaithfulness, the outcome is inevitable. Because she chose to act in this manner, a punishment is about to arrive. She must now stand ready to hear the word of God and face His judgment [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].