In Hoshea’s ninth year as king of Israel, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and took the Israelites to Assyria as captives. He settled them in Halah, along the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
What will you do on the day you are called to account ⌞for these things⌟, when the disaster comes from far away? Where will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
Nothing’s left but to crouch among prisoners and to fall with those who are killed. Even after all this, his anger will not disappear, and he is still ready to use his power.
Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim, and the kingdom will disappear from Damascus. The remaining few from Aram will share Israel’s honor,” declares the Lord of Armies.
That is the way it will be on earth among the nations. They will be like an olive tree which has been shaken or like what’s left after the grape harvest.
From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise that honor the Righteous One. But I kept saying, “I’m wasting away! I’m wasting away! How horrible it is for me! Traitors continue to betray, and their treachery grows worse and worse.”
Manasseh is against Ephraim. Ephraim is against Manasseh. Together they attack Judah. Even after all this, his anger will not disappear, and he is still ready to use his power.
This is what the Lord says: As a shepherd rescues two legs or a piece of an ear out of a lion’s mouth, so the Israelites living in Samaria will be rescued, ⌞having only⌟ a corner of a bed or a piece of a couch.