How do you get that? Look at the nations mentioned in the chapter.
Idolatry was at issue, but idolatry was also at issue in relations with the nations around eretz Ysraāel.
That is why alliances and marriages outside Israel were forbidden. Those alliances were the means by which the gods [idols] of the nations acquired adherents in Israel.
As I said, these relations were discussed under the language and imagery of cuckoldry. Note that Israelās idolatry was often political [as it is today]. And as vs 23 continues, it names:
āgovernors and prefects, officers and administratorsā¦ā
So the very people with whom Israel committed their political idolatries with other nations were ALSO those men who would ride on horseback, leading the armies that would punish Israel.
Moreover, my point was that for the analogy to work [and an analogy is ALL it is], there had to be some basis for the sexual dynamics described in the passage. Otherwise, it wouldnāt have worked. That was the point.
Essentially, the metaphor works as ā¦
As an adventurous wife lusts after and seeks out well endowed lovers to satisfy her, so Israel seeks out alliances and relations with other nations and their gods.
Hope that helps. Take care!
