The Eagle Is Coming
Study note
God commands the watchman to sound the alarm. An enemy will swoop down on Israel like an eagle because the people have broken God's covenant and rebelled against His law. Israel will cry out, 'My God, we know you!' But God will not listen because they have rejected what is good.
1 Sound the alarm! An enemy is swooping down on the LORD's people like an eagle — because they shattered my covenant and turned their backs on my law. Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.
2 Israel screams at me, "We know you, God! You are our God!" Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.
3 But Israel tossed away everything good, and now their enemies will hunt them down. Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.
Kings and Idols Without God
Study note
Israel has set up kings and princes without asking God's approval. They have used their silver and gold to make idols, which will lead to their destruction. God is furious with the golden calf idol in Samaria. A craftsman made it -- it is not God. The famous proverb appears here: they have planted wind and will harvest a whirlwind. Their efforts will produce nothing useful.
4 They crowned kings without asking me and picked leaders I never approved of. They melted down their silver and gold into idols — and that will be their downfall. They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.
5 I am disgusted by your calf idol, Samaria! My anger is boiling over. How long before these people are capable of being clean again? Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?
6 That calf was dreamed up by Israel and built by a craftsman's hands. It is not God! The calf of Samaria will be smashed into a million pieces. For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
7 They planted wind, and now they are going to harvest a tornado. Their crops have no grain in them, and even if something grew, foreigners would gobble it all up. For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.
Israel Swallowed Up
Study note
Israel has been swallowed up among the nations and has become as worthless as a broken pot. Like a wild donkey wandering alone, Ephraim has gone to Assyria and hired allies from among the nations. But even though they have paid for help from foreign nations, God will now gather them together for judgment.
8 Israel has been swallowed whole. Now they sit among the nations like a cracked pot nobody wants. Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.
9 They ran to Assyria like a stubborn wild donkey wandering off alone. Ephraim has sold himself out, hiring other nations as allies. For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.
10 Even though they have paid other nations for partnerships, I will now round them all up for judgment. Soon they will groan under the weight of a great king's heavy hand. Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.
Forgotten Maker
Study note
Ephraim built many altars for making sin offerings, but those very altars became places of more sin. God wrote many wonderful instructions in His law, but the people treated them as something strange and foreign. Their sacrifices mean nothing to God. He will remember their sins and punish them. Israel has forgotten the God who made them and has built palaces instead. Judah has built many walled cities for protection. But God will send fire on their cities.
11 Ephraim kept building more and more altars — supposedly to deal with sin. But those very altars gave them more places to sin. Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.
12 I spelled out my instructions for them in great detail. I gave them an incredible gift in my law. But they treated it all like it was written in a foreign language they could not be bothered to learn. I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.
13 They love offering sacrifices and eating the meat, but the LORD wants nothing to do with their offerings. He is keeping track of all their sins, and he will punish them for every one. They will be sent back to a place like Egypt. They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they shall return to Egypt.
14 Israel forgot the God who made them and started building fancy palaces. Judah put up fortress after fortress. But I will set their cities on fire, and flames will consume everything they built. For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.