Study Desk

Even if I wrote 10,000 laws for Ephraim, he would treat them as if they were for some stranger.

Israel has built palaces for their kings, and now Judah builds fortresses. But they have forgotten their Maker! So I will send a fire to destroy their cities and fortresses!"

But the grain from those threshing floors will not provide enough food for Israel. There will not be enough wine for Israel.

They will not be able to give offerings of wine to the Lord . None of their sacrifices will please him. What they offer will be like food eaten at a funeral—whoever eats it will become unclean. They can eat that food for their own hunger, but it cannot be taken into the Lord's Temple.

The prophet says, "Israel, learn this: The time of punishment has come. The time has come for you to pay for the evil things you did." But the people of Israel say, "The prophet is a fool. This man with God's Spirit is crazy." The prophet says, "You will be punished for your terrible sins. You will be punished for your hate."

I will come to punish them. Armies will come together against them and punish the Israelites for both of their sins.

"Ephraim, I don't want to give you up. Israel, I want to protect you. I don't want to make you like Admah. I don't want to make you like Zeboiim. I am changing my mind. My love for you is too strong.

The Lord says, "I have a complaint against Israel. Jacob must be punished for the bad things he did.

Jacob wrestled with God's angel and won. He cried and asked for a favor. That happened at Bethel. There he spoke to us.

"Jacob ran away to the land of Aram. There Israel worked for a wife. He kept sheep to get another wife.

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."

Now the Israelites sin more and more. They make idols for themselves. Workers make those fancy statues from silver, and then they talk to their statues. They offer sacrifices to them, and they kiss those calf idols.

Where is your king? Can he save you in any of your cities? Where are your judges? You asked for them, saying, ‘Give me a king and leaders.'

His punishment will be like the pain of a woman giving birth. He will not be a wise son. The time will come for his birth, and he will not survive.

"I will save them from the grave. I will rescue them from death. Death, where are your diseases? Grave, where is your power? I am not looking for revenge.

The Lord says, "I will forgive them for leaving me. I will show them my love without limits, because I have stopped being angry.

Be sad, farmers! Cry loudly for the grapes, for the wheat, and for the barley, because the harvest in the field is ruined.

Tell the people that there will be a special time of fasting. Call them together for a special meeting. Bring the leaders and everyone living in the land together at the Temple of the Lord your God, and pray to the Lord .

Lord , I am calling to you for help. Fire has changed our green fields into a desert. Flames have burned all the trees in the field.

Listen to them. It is like the noise of chariots riding over the mountains. It is like the noise of flames burning the chaff. They are a powerful people, who are ready for war.