Study Desk

Hear this word which the LORD has spoken against you, sons of Israel, against the entire ^(F1)(C1)family which ^(F2)He brought up from the land of Egypt:

"^(C1)You only have I ^(F1)known among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will ^(F2)(C2)punish you for all your wrongdoing."

Do two people walk together unless they have agreed to meet?

Does a ^(C1)lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion ^(F1)growl from his den unless he has captured something?

Does a bird fall into a trap on the ground when there is no ^(F1)device in it? Does a trap spring up from the earth when it captures nothing at all?

If a ^(C1)trumpet is blown in a city, will the people not tremble? If a ^(C2)disaster occurs in a city, has the LORD not brought it about?

^(F1)Certainly the Lord ^(F2)GOD does nothing Unless He ^(C1)reveals His secret plan To His servants the prophets.

A ^(C1)lion has roared! Who will not fear? The ^(C2)Lord GOD has spoken! ^(C3)Who can do anything but prophesy?

Proclaim on the citadels in ^(C1)Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt and say, "Assemble yourselves on the ^(C2)mountains of Samaria and see the great panic within her and the ^(C3)oppressions in her midst.

"But they ^(C1)do not know how to do what is right," declares the LORD, "these who ^(C2)store up ^(F1)violence and devastation in their citadels."

Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: "An ^(C1)enemy, one surrounding the land, Will take down your fortifications from you, And your ^(C2)citadels will be looted."

This is what the LORD says: "Just as the shepherd ^(F1)(C1)snatches from the lion's mouth a couple of legs or a piece of an ear, So will the sons of Israel living in Samaria be ^(F2)snatched away— With the ^(C2)corner of a bed and the ^(F3)(C3)cover of a couch!

-"Hear and ^(C1)testify against the house of Jacob," Declares the Lord GOD, the God of armies.

"For on the day that I punish Israel's offenses, I will also punish the altars of ^(C1)Bethel; The horns of the altar will be cut off, And will fall to the ground.

-"I will also strike the ^(C1)winter house together with the ^(C2)summer house; The houses of ^(F1)(C3)ivory will also perish, And the ^(C4)great houses will come to an end," Declares the LORD.