Dual PanelGod's judgement on Israel
1ISRAEL is like a spreading vine with ripening fruit: the more his fruit, the more his altars; the more beautiful his land, the more beautiful his pillars.
2They are false at heart; now they must pay the penalty. God himself will break down their altars and demolish their sacred pillars.
3Well may they say, “We have no king, because we do not fear the LORD; and what could the king do for us?”
4There is nothing but talk; they swear false oaths and draw up treaties, and litigation spreads like a poisonous weed along the furrows of the fields.
5The inhabitants of Samaria tremble for the calf-god of Beth-aven; the people mourn over it and its priests lament, distressed for the image of their god which is carried away into exile.
6It will be carried to Assyria as tribute to the Great King; disgrace will overtake Ephraim, and Israel, lacking counsel, will be put to shame.
7Samaria and her king are swept away like flotsam on the water;
8the shrines of Aven are destroyed, the shrines where Israel sinned; the altars are overgrown with thorns and thistles. They will say to the mountains, “Cover us,” and to the hills, “Fall upon us.”
9Since the time of Gibeah Israel has sinned; there they took their stand in rebellion. Will not war overtake them in Gibeah?
10I have come against the rebels to chastise them, and the peoples will mass against them to chastise them for their two shameful deeds.
11Ephraim is like a heifer broken in, which loves to thresh grain; across that fair neck of hers I have laid a yoke. I have harnessed Ephraim to the pole to plough, that Jacob may harrow the land.
12Sow justice, and reap loyalty. Break up your fallow ground; it is time to seek the LORD, till he comes and rains justice on you.
13You have ploughed wickedness and reaped depravity; you have eaten the fruit of treachery. Because you have trusted in your chariots, in the number of your warriors,
14the tumult of war will arise against your people, and all your fortresses will be overthrown as Shalman overthrew Beth-arbel in the day of battle, dashing mothers and babes to the ground.
15So it is to be done to you, Bethel, because of your great wickedness; as swiftly as the passing of dawn, the king of Israel will be swept away.