The manifold sins of Israel, and of their kings, hinder the Lord from healing them.

¹ When I was willing to heal Israel, the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the malice of Samaria, for they had been manufacturing lies. And the thief steals from inside, the robber from outside.¹

1. 7:1More literally, the last part reads, ‘And the thief has entered stealing, the robber outside.’ The less literal translation is more comprehensible and more poetic.(Conte)

² And, so that they may not say in their hearts that I am the one who has called to mind all of their wickedness: now their own inventions have encircled them. These things have happened in my presence.

³ The king has rejoiced at their wickedness, and the leaders have rejoiced in their lies.¹

1. 7:3Made the king glad, etc: To please Jeroboam, and their other kings they have given themselves up to the wicked worship of idols, which are mere falsehood and lies.(Challoner)

⁴ They are all adulterers; like an oven heating up before baking, the city rested a little before the leaven was mixed in, until the whole was leavened.¹

1. 7:4In other words, ‘like a pre-heated oven....’(Conte)

⁵ On the day of our king, the leaders began to be mad with wine; he extended his hand with those who fabricate illusions.¹

1. 7:5This last phrase is interesting. It is translated as ‘scoffers’ by the Douay-Rheims; it can also refer to those who mock or ridicule. But it gives rise to the English word illusion and is derived from ‘ludere,’ meaning ‘to play.’ It refers to those who put on a play, who make use of illusions to mock, in other words, to what we today call the entertainment industry or the media.(Conte)

⁶ For they have used their heart like an oven, while he laid snares for them; he slept through the night baking them, and by morning he himself was heated like a burning fire.

⁷ They have all become hot like an oven, and they have devoured their judges. All their kings have fallen. There is no one who calls to me among them.

⁸ Ephraim himself has been mingled with the nations. Ephraim has become like bread, baked under ashes, that has not been turned over.

⁹ Strangers have devoured his strength, and he did not know it. And grey hairs also have spread across him, and he is ignorant of it.

¹⁰ And the pride of Israel will be brought low before his face, for they have not returned to the Lord their God, nor have they sought him in all of this.¹

1. 7:10In this case, ‘superbia’ has a positive meaning, ‘pride’ in a good sense, instead of arrogance, and ‘humiliabitur’ has a negative meaning, ‘to be brought low’ rather than to become humble, as indicated by the context.(Conte)

¹¹ And Ephraim has become like a pigeon that has been led astray, not having a heart; for they called upon Egypt, they went to the Assyrians.

¹² And when they will set out, I will spread my net over them. I will pull them down like the birds of the sky; I will cut them down in accordance with the reports of their meetings.¹

1. 7:12The word ‘coetus’ can refer to various types of meetings: social, political, sexual, etc. The word auditionem refers to a report or the result of a meeting, such as an agreement or ruling. The phrase ‘secundum auditionem cœtus eorum’ is translated in the context of God’s objection to the people going to Egypt and Assyria for assistance and meetings and agreements. Therefore, the meaning and translation is political. God objects when the faithful seek safety from meetings and agreements with secular groups, rather than seeking help and safety from God.(Conte)

¹³ Woe to them, for they have withdrawn from me. They will waste away because they have been dishonest with me. And I redeemed them, and they have spoken lies against me.

¹⁴ And they have not cried out to me in their heart, but they howled on their beds. They have obsessed about wheat and wine; they have withdrawn from me.¹

1. 7:14The word ‘ruminabant’ means to chew on something, but it is used figuratively here to mean continually thinking about the same thing, in this case wheat and wine (i.e. basic necessities and entertainment).(Conte)

¹⁵ And I have educated them, and I have reinforced their arms; and they have imagined evil against me.

¹⁶ They returned so that they might be without a yoke. They have become like a deceitful bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of the madness of their words. This is their derision in the land of Egypt.