Behold, therefore is literally “And behold.” Behold renders the attention-getting Hebrew particle hinneh (see Ezek 16.8). Here it introduces an important sentence. It is not an order to look, so it may also be rendered “Listen to what I tell you.” Other ways of rendering Behold, therefore are “Now” (Good News Translation, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “So” (Contemporary English Version, New International Version), “So then” (New Century Version), and “So now” (New Jerusalem Bible), but it does not have the sense of time that words like “now” and “then” may suggest.
I stretched out my hand against you: My hand symbolizes God’s power and strength, which he stretched out to punish the Israelites who disobeyed him (see the comments on 6.14). Some translators may be able to retain the figurative language here, but if not, this clause may be rendered “I used my power against you” (New Century Version), “I took action against you,” or simply “I punished you” (Contemporary English Version).
And diminished your allotted portion: The Hebrew word rendered allotted portion often refers to food rations (so New Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, New King James Version footnote), and this clause may refer to the hard times and starvation the people suffered during war. But allotted portion can refer to anything that God had given to his people, and here it probably refers to the land he had given them. Therefore this clause means he reduced the size of their country by allowing their enemies to take over some of their land (so Contemporary English Version). Revised English Bible says “and reduced your territory,” and New Century Version has “and took away some of your land.”
And delivered you to the greed of your enemies: As well as taking away their land, God also punished his people by allowing their enemies to defeat them. The reference to greed is due to the unusual Hebrew idiom used here, which is literally “and I gave you over to the throat [or, appetite] of those who hated you.” It is a strong, vivid expression for handing them over for punishment or death to their enemies. New Jerusalem Bible captures its sense well with “I have put you at the mercy of your enemies.” Another possible model is “I handed you over to your enemies to do what they wanted with you.” A natural idiom is preferable to following the Hebrew too closely. New Century Version uses nonfigurative language, saying “I let you be defeated by those who hate you.” New Living Translation says simply “I handed you over to your enemies” (similarly Good News Translation, Bible en français courant).
The enemies are the daughters of the Philistines, which is an idiomatic expression for “the Philistine women” (New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). It is not clear why God specifies “the Philistine women.” Some scholars suggest that the Philistines competed with the people of Judah for the political treaties with foreign powers, and thus God describes them (in the parable) as prostitutes competing with the girl for business. This may be so, but it is more likely that the description in this verse depends on the historical fact that the Philistines took over some of Judah’s territory. If that is the connection, the daughters of the Philistines may be rendered “the Philistine towns” (Moffatt, Bible en français courant) or simply “the Philistines” (Good News Translation, New Living Translation, New American Bible). However, most translations keep the idea of “the Philistine women.”
Who were ashamed of your lewd behavior: Even the Philistines were shocked by the Israelites’ immoral behavior. Ezekiel’s audience must have been offended greatly to hear that they had been so depraved that their despised pagan neighbors were shocked and ashamed of their actions. The Hebrew expression for your lewd behavior refers to the Israelites’ sexual immorality. Good News Translation says “your immoral actions,” and Contemporary English Version has “your disgusting behavior.”
A model for this verse is:
• So then, I punished you and took away some of your territory. I handed you over to your enemies, the Philistine women, who were embarrassed by your immoral behavior. I let them do with you what they wanted.
Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .