יחזקאל, פרק כ״ג, פסוק מ׳

Spiritual and political betrayal reaches a breaking point when a nation no longer merely absorbs foreign influences, but actively seeks them out. The nation is compared to a woman who deliberately invites lovers from faraway lands, marking a severe escalation that makes this an even greater offense than any past wrongdoings [רש"י, מצודות, רד"ק, אברבנאל]. Rather than waiting passively, the nation dispatched special messengers to distant empires like Babylon and Egypt [מצודת ציון]. The goal was to secure political and military alliances, drawing these foreign powers close in order to learn their customs and forge deep connections [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. Ultimately, inviting these foreign leaders brought severe desecration to places holy to God [רש"י].

In anticipation of these foreign arrivals, the nation prepares herself much like a prostitute waiting for her clients. This preparation involved washing and beautifying herself specifically for their arrival [ביאור שטיינזלץ], with some views suggesting she went out to a designated meeting place, fully adorned and ready to welcome them [רש"י]. To ensure she found favor in their eyes, she painted and highlighted her eyes with a special blue makeup [רש"י, מצודות] and covered herself in various pieces of jewelry [מצודת ציון].

This vivid image of physical beautification serves as a sharp political metaphor. The acts of washing, applying makeup, and putting on jewelry represent the respectful letters, offerings, and numerous gifts the nation sent to foreign kings. It reflects a massive display of goodwill, showing the immense effort the nation invested in order to buy the love and favor of these foreign powers [רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל].