Strangers destroy Ephraim’s strength.\par But Ephraim does not know it.\par Gray hairs {\cf2\super [72]} are also sprinkled on Ephraim.\par But Ephraim does not know it.\par
Pul king of Assyria came to fight against Israel. Menahem gave Pul 75,000 pounds [176] of silver. He did this so Pul would support Menahem and make Menahem’s kingdom stronger.
“Your land is ruined. Your cities have been burned with fire. Your enemies have taken your land. Your land is ruined like a country destroyed by armies.
“But even then,\par you didnt listen to me!\par You didn‘t learn anything!\par You refused to listen to anything\par I told you.\par I have known since the beginning\par that you would be against me.\par You have rebelled against me\par from the time you were born.\par
The good people are all gone,\par and no one even noticed.\par The good people have gathered together.\par But they don’t understand why.\par They don’t know that trouble is coming,\par and that they have been gathered together for protection\}.\par
“My people are destroyed because they have no knowledge. You have refused to learn. So I will refuse to let you be a priest for me. You have forgotten the law of your God, so I will forget your children.
The Israelites \{did a foolish thing\}—it was like trying to plant the wind. But \{they will get only troubles\}—they will harvest a whirlwind. The grain in the fields will grow. It will give no food. Even if it grew something, strangers would eat it.