“Don’t continue bringing worthless sacrifices to me. I hate the incense {\cf2\super [8]} you give me. I can’t bear your feasts for the New Moon, {\cf2\super [9]} the Sabbath, {\cf2\super [10]} and your holidays. I hate the evil you do during your holy meetings.
\{God says,\} “Why should I continue to punish you people? \{I punished you, but you did not change.\} You continue to rebel against me. Now every head and every heart is sick.
At that time, the people that are left living in Israel, the people from Jacob’s family, will not continue to depend on the person that beats them. They will learn to truly depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.
The Lord said, “Ask for a sign to prove to yourself that these things are true. You can ask for any sign you want. The sign can come from a place as deep as Sheol, {\cf2\super [83]} or the sign can come from a place as high as the skies. {\cf2\super [84]} ”
Their plan will not succeed while Samaria is the capital of Ephraim (Israel) and while the ruler of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. {\cf2\super [81]} If you don’t believe this message then people should not believe you.”
Now the Israelites sin more and more. They make idols {\cf2\super [143]} for themselves. Workers make those fancy statues from silver. And then those people talk to their statues! They offer sacrifices to those statues. They kiss those \{golden\} calves.