Israel Is Doomed
The Lord said:
1 When your leaders13.1 your leaders: The Hebrew text has "Ephraim," here meaning Mount Ephraim, where the royal palace of Samaria (capital of the northern kingdom of Israel) was located. spoke,
everyone in Israel trembled
and showed great respect.
But you sinned by worshiping Baal,
and you were destroyed.
2 Now you continue to sin
by designing and making
idols of silver
in the shape of calves.
You are told to sacrifice
to these idols13.2 You are told … idols: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.—
yes, even to kiss them.
3 And so, all of you will vanish
like the mist or the dew
of early morning,
or husks of grain in the wind
or smoke from a chimney.
4 I, the Lord, have been your God
since the time
you were in Egypt.
I am the only God you know,
the only one who can save.
5 Dt 8.11-17. I took care of you
in a thirsty desert.13.5 thirsty desert: The 40 years that Israel wandered through the desert, after leaving Egypt.
6 I fed you till you were satisfied,
then you became proud
and forgot about me.
7 Now I will attack like a lion,
ambush you like a leopard,
8 and rip you apart like a bear
robbed of her cubs.
I will gnaw on your bones,
as though I were a lion
or some other wild animal.
9 Israel, you are done for.
Don’t expect help from me.13.9 Don’t … me: Or "You are against me, the one who helps you."
10 1 S 8.5,6. You wanted a king and rulers.
Where is your king now?
What cities have rulers?
11 1 S 10.17-24;1 S 15.26. In my anger, I gave you a king;
in my fury, I took him away.
Israel’s Terrible Fate
The Lord said:
12 Israel, your terrible sins
are written down
and stored away.
13 You are like a senseless child
who refuses to be born
at the proper time.
14 1 Co 15.55. Should I, the Lord, rescue you
from death and the grave?
No! I call death and the grave
to strike you like a plague.
I refuse to show mercy.
15 No matter if you prosper
more than the other tribes,13.15 more … tribes: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
I, the Lord, will wipe you out,
just as a scorching desert wind
dries up streams of water.
I will take away
your precious treasures.
16 Samaria13.16 Samaria: The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. will be punished
for turning against me.
It will be destroyed in war—
children will be beaten
against rocks,
and pregnant women
will be ripped open.