the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is that "Pekod," "Shoa," and "Koa" aren't necessarily just names of obscure tribes or distant lands. Many scholars believe these words were actually descriptive titles, like "commanders," "officers," and "rich nobles," highlighting the formidable and impressive nature of the invading army. This detail underscores the ironic twist: these very men, once objects of Israel's foolish desires for alliance, are now the terrifying instruments of God's judgment.
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this vivid parable, Ezekiel continues to expose the deep spiritual adultery of Judah. Having already described their past infatuation with Assyria, the prophet now turns his gaze to their later, even more destructive, obsession with Babylon. This passage paints a picture of the mighty Babylonian and Chaldean forces, emphasizing their formidable nature and the allure they held for Judah, drawing them into further rebellion against God.
Ezekiel lists names like Pekod, Shoa, and Koa. Are these just random tribal names, or something more profound in this prophecy?
While some scholars debate the exact geographical locations or tribal affiliations of 'Pekod,' 'Shoa,' and 'Koa,' the consensus points to them being more than just obscure place names.
Appellatives of Power and Judgment
Many see these as descriptive titles or terms of rank within the Babylonian military machine.
This isn't just a list of enemies; it's a picture of a highly organized, powerful, and divinely appointed instrument of judgment descending upon Judah.
The invaders are called 'desirable young men.' How can enemies bringing destruction be 'desirable'?
This is where the text delivers a powerful punch of irony. The very qualities that made these soldiers appealing and terrifying – their youthful vigor, strength, and renowned status – are precisely what make them instruments of judgment.
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A Mirror to Past Sins
For Judah, who had lusted after foreign alliances and military might (symbolized by their 'lovers' like the Babylonians), these 'desirable young men' represented a twisted fulfillment of their desires.
God uses the very things people set their hearts on – power, prestige, military might – to bring about their downfall when those things are pursued apart from Him.
Ezekiel's prophecy describes a powerful, composite army – Babylonians, Chaldeans, and remnants of Assyrian influence – coming to judge Judah. These aren't just generic enemies; they represent the culmination of imperial power that had long oppressed and would ultimately destroy Jerusalem, fulfilling God's judgment against the unfaithfulness of His people.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many and scattering them across their empire.
689 BC
Destruction of Babylon by Sennacherib
The Assyrian king Sennacherib destroys Babylon after a revolt. This event fuels future Babylonian resentment towards Assyria.
626 BC
Rise of Neo-Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar, a Babylonian general, declares independence from Assyria and establishes the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
A coalition of Babylonians and Medes destroys the Assyrian capital, Nineveh, marking the end of the Assyrian Empire.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II decisively defeat the Egyptians, establishing Babylonian dominance over the Levant.
597 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II deports King Jehoiachin and many Judean elites to Babylon after a revolt. This is the first major blow to Jerusalem.
c. 589-586 BC— this verse
Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II lays siege to Jerusalem, eventually destroying the city and its Temple, and deporting the remaining population to Babylon. This event directly fulfills Ezekiel's prophecies.
This passage also names Pekod as a people to be judged by Babylon, highlighting the punitive aspect of these nations and potentially their role in divine judgment.
Ezekiel 23:6This verse immediately preceding the current one describes the 'desirable young men' as lovers and confederates of Samaria, creating a stark contrast and a powerful irony when they reappear as instruments of judgment.
Isaiah 22:5The word Shoa is related to a Hebrew word for 'discomfiture' or 'destruction,' which serves as a chilling foreshadowing of the devastation these forces would bring.
Ezekiel 27:11This verse mentions 'Arvad' and 'Hamath' as part of Tyre's forces, showing how biblical imagery often lists diverse peoples and cities that form formidable military alliances, similar to the coalition described in Ezekiel 23:23.
Jeremiah 51:27This verse calls for nations like Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz to rise against Babylon, demonstrating a pattern of divine judgment involving the mobilization of various peoples against a sinful empire.
ellicottEzekiel 23:23: "The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses."
(23) Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa. —These words were taken as proper names by our translators, and are still considered by some as indicating small Chaldæan tribes; but it is better, with the Vulg. and most modern commentators, to understand them as the names of officers, “r…
barnesEzekiel 23:23: "The Babylonians, and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them: all of them desirable young men, captains and rulers, great lords and renowned, all of them riding upon horses."
Pekod, and Shoa, and Koa - Possibly words expressive of rank, or names of small Chaldaean tribes, selected for their resemblance to expressive Hebrew words.
What's easily missed here is that "Pekod," "Shoa," and "Koa" aren't necessarily just names of obscure tribes or distant lands. Many scholars believe these words were actually descriptive titles, like "commanders," "officers," and "rich nobles," highlighting the formidable and impressive nature of the invading army. This detail underscores the ironic twist: these very men, once objects of Israel's foolish desires for alliance, are now the terrifying instruments of God's judgment.
In this vivid parable, Ezekiel continues to expose the deep spiritual adultery of Judah. Having already described their past infatuation with Assyria, the prophet now turns his gaze to their later, even more destructive, obsession with Babylon. This passage paints a picture of the mighty Babylonian and Chaldean forces, emphasizing their formidable nature and the allure they held for Judah, drawing them into further rebellion against God.
In this vivid parable, Ezekiel continues to expose the deep spiritual adultery of Judah. Having already described their past infatuation with Assyria, the prophet now turns his gaze to their later, even more destructive, obsession with Babylon. This passage paints a picture of the mighty Babylonian and Chaldean forces, emphasizing their formidable nature and the allure they held for Judah, drawing them into further rebellion against God.
"the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, desirable young men, governors and commanders all of them, officers and men of renown, all of them riding on horses." — What's easily missed here is that "Pekod," "Shoa," and "Koa" aren't necessarily just names of obscure tribes or distant lands. Many scholars believe these words were actually descriptive titles, like…
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Last reviewed October 2026