Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.
This verse intensifies the adultery metaphor with shocking intimacy. "Behind the doors and posts" suggests secret, domestic idolatry—household gods and pagan symbols within private spaces (see Deuteronomy 6:9 for the ironic contrast of what should be on doorposts). The phrase "set up thy remembrance" (zikkaron) likely refers to pagan symbols that parodied the memorial tokens God commanded (Exodus 13:9, Deuteronomy 6:8-9). "Discovered thyself" uses the Hebrew gillah, a euphemism for sexual exposure, literally uncovering nakedness (Leviticus 18:6-19). "Enlarged thy bed" and "made a covenant with them" portrays Israel's insatiable appetite for foreign alliances and their accompanying false religions. The final phrase "thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it" uses the verb ahab (covenant love) for illicit passion, showing perverted affections. Reformed theology recognizes this as total depravity's manifestation: the affections, not merely actions, are corrupted. What should be loved (God) is abandoned for what should be hated (idols).
Historical Context
The domestic idolatry described here reflects practices evident in biblical and archaeological records. Household gods (teraphim) were common in Israelite homes despite being forbidden (Genesis 31:19, Judges 17:5, 1 Samuel 19:13). Foreign alliances, particularly with Egypt and Assyria, tempted Judah's kings to adopt their allies' religious practices as signs of political loyalty. The mezuzah, which should have contained Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:9), was apparently replaced or accompanied by pagan symbols. This private idolatry was perhaps more dangerous than public apostasy because it showed how deeply false worship had penetrated Israelite society.
Questions for Reflection
What private idolatries do we maintain that contradict our public profession?
How does our culture's pursuit of political or social alliances tempt us to compromise truth?
In what ways can religious observance mask a heart that loves created things more than the Creator?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse intensifies the adultery metaphor with shocking intimacy. "Behind the doors and posts" suggests secret, domestic idolatry—household gods and pagan symbols within private spaces (see Deuteronomy 6:9 for the ironic contrast of what should be on doorposts). The phrase "set up thy remembrance" (zikkaron) likely refers to pagan symbols that parodied the memorial tokens God commanded (Exodus 13:9, Deuteronomy 6:8-9). "Discovered thyself" uses the Hebrew gillah, a euphemism for sexual exposure, literally uncovering nakedness (Leviticus 18:6-19). "Enlarged thy bed" and "made a covenant with them" portrays Israel's insatiable appetite for foreign alliances and their accompanying false religions. The final phrase "thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it" uses the verb ahab (covenant love) for illicit passion, showing perverted affections. Reformed theology recognizes this as total depravity's manifestation: the affections, not merely actions, are corrupted. What should be loved (God) is abandoned for what should be hated (idols).