Study Desk

But Ephraim made the Lord very angry. Ephraim killed many people, so he will be punished for his crimes. His Lord will make him bear his shame."

"The tribe of Ephraim made itself very important in Israel. Ephraim spoke and people shook with fear. But Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal, so he must die.

"Israel, I helped you, but you turned against me. So now I will destroy you.

Israel, you fell and sinned against God. So come back to the Lord your God.

So be happy, people of Zion. Be joyful in the Lord your God. He is good and will give you rain. He will send the early rains and the late rains as before.

I will also gather all the nations together. I will bring all these nations down into Jehoshaphat Valley. There I will judge them. Those nations scattered my people, Israel. They forced them to live in other nations, so I will punish those nations. They divided up my land.

Those people killed my people, so I really will punish them!" The Lord God will live in Zion!

So I will start a fire at Hazael's house that will destroy the great palaces of Ben-Hadad.

So I will start a fire at the wall of Gaza that will destroy the high towers in Gaza.

So I will start a fire at the walls of Tyre that will destroy the high towers in Tyre."

So I will start a fire at Teman that will destroy the high towers of Bozrah."

This is what the Lord says: "I will definitely punish the Ammonites for the many crimes they did. They killed the pregnant women in Gilead. The Ammonites did this so that they could take that land and make their country larger.

So I will start a fire at the wall of Rabbah that will destroy the high towers of Rabbah. Troubles will come to them like a whirlwind into their country.

So I will start a fire in Moab that will destroy the high towers of Kerioth. There will be terrible shouting and the sounds of a trumpet, and Moab will die.

So I will bring an end to the kings of Moab, and I will kill all the leaders of Moab." This is what the Lord said.

So I will start a fire in Judah that will destroy the high towers of Jerusalem."

"There are many families on earth, but you are the only family I chose to know in a special way. And you turned against me, so I will punish you for all your sins."

Two people will not walk together unless they have agreed to do so.

So the Lord God says, "An enemy will surround your land. They will break down your strong walls and take the things you have hidden in your high towers."

And offer a thank offering made with yeast. Tell everyone about the freewill offerings. Israel, you love to do those things. So go and do them." This is what the Lord God said.