Study Desk

My God will reject^(az) them because they have not obeyed^(ba) him; they will be wanderers among the nations.^(bb)

Israel was a spreading vine;^(a) he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars;^(b) as his land prospered,^(c) he adorned his sacred stones.^(d)

Their heart is deceitful,^(e) and now they must bear their guilt.^(f) The Lord will demolish their altars^(g) and destroy their sacred stones.^(h)

Then they will say, "We have no king because we did not revere the Lord . But even if we had a king, what could he do for us?"

They make many promises, take false oaths⁽ⁱ⁾ and make agreements;^(j) therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds^(k) in a plowed field.

The people who live in Samaria fear for the calf-idol^(l) of Beth Aven.^[a](m) Its people will mourn over it, and so will its idolatrous priests,⁽ⁿ⁾ those who had rejoiced over its splendor, because it is taken from them into exile.^(o)

It will be carried to Assyria^(p) as tribute^(q) for the great king.^(r) Ephraim will be disgraced;^(s) Israel will be ashamed^(t) of its foreign alliances.

Samaria's king will be destroyed,^(u) swept away like a twig on the surface of the waters.

The high places^(v) of wickedness^[b](w) will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel. Thorns^(x) and thistles will grow up and cover their altars.^(y) Then they will say to the mountains, "Cover us!"^(z) and to the hills, "Fall on us!"^(aa)

"Since the days of Gibeah,^(ab) you have sinned,^(ac) Israel, and there you have remained.^[c] Will not war again overtake the evildoers in Gibeah?

When I please, I will punish^(ad) them; nations will be gathered against them to put them in bonds for their double sin.

Ephraim is a trained heifer that loves to thresh; so I will put a yoke^(ae) on her fair neck. I will drive Ephraim, Judah must plow, and Jacob must break up the ground.

Sow^(af) righteousness^(ag) for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground;^(ah) for it is time to seek^(ai) the Lord , until he comes and showers his righteousness^(aj) on you.

But you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil,^(ak) you have eaten the fruit of deception.^(al) Because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors,^(am)

the roar of battle will rise against your people, so that all your fortresses will be devastated^(an)— as Shalman^(ao) devastated Beth Arbel on the day of battle, when mothers were dashed to the ground with their children.^(ap)

So will it happen to you, Bethel, because your wickedness is great. When that day dawns, the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.^(aq)