Chasing the Wind
Study note
Ephraim is described as chasing the wind -- a picture of pursuing something utterly useless. They keep piling up lies and violence. They make treaties with Assyria and send olive oil to Egypt, trying to play both sides for political advantage. God also has a case against Judah and will punish Jacob's descendants for their ways.
1 Ephraim chases the wind all day long — running after the scorching east wind. He keeps stacking up lies and violence. They cut deals with Assyria and ship olive oil off to Egypt. Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The LORD also has a bone to pick with Judah. He is going to hold Jacob's descendants accountable for their behavior and give them what they deserve. The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
Remember Your Ancestor Jacob
Study note
God reminds the people of their ancestor Jacob, who struggled with God even from the womb. Jacob grabbed his brother Esau's heel at birth and later wrestled with the angel of God at Bethel, where God spoke to him. God calls them by His full name -- the LORD God of Hosts -- and urges the people to return to Him, to hold on to love and justice, and to wait for God continually, just as Jacob did.
3 Even in the womb, Jacob grabbed his twin brother by the heel. When he grew up, he wrestled with God. He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
4 He fought with the angel and won the match. He cried and begged for a blessing. He met God at Bethel, and God spoke with him there. Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us;
5 This is the LORD, the God of Armies. "The LORD" — that is the name he wants to be remembered by. Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
6 So turn back to your God! Cling to love and justice, and never stop waiting on your God. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.
Dishonest Wealth
Study note
God accuses Ephraim of being a dishonest merchant who uses crooked scales to cheat people. Ephraim brags about how wealthy he has become and claims no one can find any sin in his dealings. But God reminds them that He has been their God since they were in Egypt and that He can bring them back to living in tents, as in the days of the wilderness wanderings and sacred festivals.
7 Ephraim is a crooked businessman who loves using rigged scales. He takes advantage of everyone he can. He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
8 Ephraim brags, "Look at me — I am rich! I made it all on my own! And nobody can point to anything wrong with how I earned my money." And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
9 "But I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt. I can make you live in tents again, just like during the old festival days." And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
God Spoke Through Prophets
Study note
God reminds the people that He spoke through the prophets, gave them many visions, and taught them through stories and word pictures. Despite this, Gilead is full of wickedness, and the altars at Gilgal are as numerous as stone piles in a plowed field. God recalls how Jacob fled to Syria and worked as a shepherd to earn his wife. Through the prophet Moses, God brought Israel out of Egypt and kept them safe. But Ephraim has made God bitterly angry, and his Lord will repay him for his terrible deeds.
10 I spoke to the people through the prophets. I gave them vision after vision. I taught them lessons through stories and pictures delivered by my prophets. I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
11 Is Gilead full of wickedness? — the people there are completely worthless! They sacrifice bulls at Gilgal, and their altars are scattered everywhere, like piles of stones along a plowed field. Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
12 Jacob once ran away to the land of Aram. There he worked as a shepherd to earn a wife, tending flocks to pay for another. And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
13 The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel out of Egypt, and through a prophet he watched over them and kept them safe. And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
14 But Ephraim has made God furious beyond words. The Lord will leave the guilt of all that bloodshed squarely on him and pay him back for every insult. Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.