Therefore I delivered her into the hands of her lovers, the Assyrians for whom she lusted.
God had often spoken to Ezekiel, and by him to the people, to this effect, but now his word comes again; for God speaks the same thing once, yea, twice, yea, many a time, and all little enough, and too little, for man perceives it not.
Commenting on Ezekiel 23:1-10
Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers,.... To destruction; their persons, families, riches, and kingdom itself: into the hand of the Assyrians, on whom she doted; first into the hands of Pul, then Tiglathpileser, then Shalmaneser, all kings of Assyria, by whom they were spoiled or carried captive; by the two first in part, by the last wholly; see Kg2 15:19.
God, in righteous retribution, turned their objects of trust into the instruments of their punishment: Pul, Tiglath-pileser, Esar-haddon, and Shalmaneser (Kg2 15:19, Kg2 15:29; Kg2 17:3, Kg2 17:6, Kg2 17:24; Ezr 4:2, Ezr 4:10). "It was their sin to have sought after such lovers, and it was to be their punishment that these lovers should become their destroyers" [FAIRBAIRN].