Israel Is Punished

¹ Israel is a luxuriant vine;¹ he yields fruit for himself. The more his fruit increased, the more he made numerous altars. The more his land prospered, the more he² improved³ his stone pillars.

1. Or “ravaged vine”
2. Hebrew “they”
3. Or “made beautiful”

² Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. He himself¹ will break down their altars; he will destroy their stone pillars.

1. That is, “Yahweh himself”

³ For now they will say, “We have no king; indeed, we did not fear Yahweh, and what can a king do for us?”

⁴ They utter words of vain oaths when ⌞making covenants⌟,¹ and judgment blossoms like a poisonous plant on the furrows of the field.

1. Literally “cutting covenant”

⁵ The inhabitants¹ of Samaria tremble for the calf² of Beth-aven. Indeed, his people will mourn for it, and his idolatrous priests will wail³ over it— over its glory because it has departed from it.

1. Hebrew “inhabitant”
2. Hebrew “calves”
3. Or “rejoice”

⁶ It will also be brought to Assyria, as tribute to the great king.¹ Ephraim will obtain disgrace and Israel will be ashamed from his advice.²

1. See 5:13; some translate literally “King Jareb”
2. Or “counsel”

⁷ Samaria will be destroyed; her king is like a chip on the surface of the water.

⁸ The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, will be destroyed. Thorn and thistle will grow on their altars. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall on us.”

⁹ From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel; there ⌞they have remained⌟.¹ Will not war in Gibeah overtake them against the children of evil?

1. Literally “they stood”

¹⁰ In my desire¹ I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them when they are punished for ⌞their double iniquities⌟.²

1. The LXX translates “I will come”
2. So Qere; Masoretic Hebrew text (Kethib) “their two eyes”

¹¹ Ephraim was a trained heifer, that loved to thresh grain, and I myself ⌞spared⌟¹ the fairness of her neck; I will make Ephraim break the ground, Judah will plow, Jacob must till for himself.

1. Literally “passed over”

¹² Sow for yourselves righteousness; ⌞reap loyal love⌟.¹ Break up for yourself fallow ground; it is time to seek Yahweh so he will come and rain righteousness upon you.

1. Literally “reap according to loyal love”

¹³ You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice, you have eaten the fruit of lies,¹ because you have trusted in your strength, in the multitude of your warriors.

1. Hebrew “lie”

¹⁴ The tumult of war will rise up against your people, and all your fortresses will be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel; on the day of war mothers were dashed to pieces with their children.¹

1. Or “upon their children”

¹⁵ So it will be done to you, O Bethel, because of the evil of your wickedness; at dawn, the king of Israel will be utterly destroyed.