Study Desk

I will plant her for Myself in the land. Those who were not loved, I will call, ‘My loved ones.' Those who were not My people, I will call, ‘My people.' And they will say, ‘You are my God!'"

So I bought her for fifteen pieces of silver money and ten baskets of barley.

Then I said to her, "You must stay with me for many days, and be faithful to me. Do not have another man, and I will also be faithful to you."

For the sons of Israel will live many days without a king or leader, without holy gifts or holy stone pillars, and without linen vests or false gods.

After this the sons of Israel will return and look for the Lord their God and for David their king. And they will come shaking before the Lord and receive His goodness in the last days.

"Yet let no one put blame or guilt upon another. For your people are like those who argue with the religious leader.

The religious leaders will be punished the same as the people. I will punish them for what they have done.

I will not punish your daughters when they are like women who sell the use of their bodies, or your brides when they do sex sins. For the men themselves go with the sinful women to give gifts in worship to false gods. And people without understanding will be destroyed.

"Hear this, O religious leaders! Listen, O people of Israel! Listen, O family of the king! For you are to be judged. You have been a trap at Mizpah, and a net spread out on Tabor.

Their wrong-doing will not allow them to return to their God. For a spirit of a woman who sells the use of her body is within them, and they do not know the Lord.

They will go with their flocks and cattle to look for the Lord, but they will not find Him. He has gone away from them.

They have not been faithful to the Lord, for they have given birth to children who are not His. Now the new moon will destroy them with their land.

It is hard for Ephraim. He is crushed by punishment, because he wanted to follow what is of no worth.

When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah saw his sore, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb for help. But he is not able to cure you, or heal your sore.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the people of Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away. I will carry them away, with no one to take them.

I will go away and return to My place until they know they are guilty and look for Me. In their suffering they will try to find Me."

So I have cut them in pieces by the men who speak for Me. I have killed them by the words of My mouth. My punishments come upon you like lightning.

Like robbers lie in wait for a man, a group of religious leaders kill on the way to Shechem. For sure they have done a sinful thing.

Also, Judah, there is a time coming for you, when I give back the riches of My people.

All of them are hot like a stove, and they destroy their leaders. All their kings have fallen, and none of them calls to Me for help.