Allthisis for the rebellionof JacobAnd for the sinsof the houseof Israel.Whatis the rebellionof Jacob?Is it not Samaria?Whatis the highplaceof Judah?Is it not Jerusalem?
ThenSolomonbuilta highplacefor Chemoshthe detestableidolof Moab,on the mountainwhichis eastof Jerusalem,and for Molechthe detestableidolof the sonsof Ammon.
"For the thingshall surelycometo passwhichhe criedby the wordof the LORDagainstthe altarin Betheland againstallthe housesof the highplaceswhichare in the citiesof Samaria."
He boughtthe hillSamariafrom Shemerfor two talentsof silver;and he builton the hill,and namedthe citywhichhe builtSamaria,afterthe nameof Shemer,the ownerof the hill.
For in the eighthyearof his reignwhile he was stilla youth,he beganto seekthe Godof his fatherDavid;and in the twelfthyearhe beganto purgeJudahand Jerusalemof the highplaces,the Asherim,the carvedimagesand the moltenimages.
They toredownthe altarsof the Baalsin his presence,and the incensealtarsthat were highabovethem he choppeddown;also the Asherim,the carvedimagesand the moltenimageshe brokein piecesand groundto powderand scattered[it] on the gravesof those who had sacrificedto them.
and the headof Ephraimis Samariaand the headof Samariais the sonof Remaliah.Ifyou will not believe,you surelyshall not last."'"
"Have you not donethisto yourself By your forsakingthe LORDyour GodWhenHe ledyou in the way?
"Your own wickednesswill correctyou, And your apostasieswill reproveyou; Knowtherefore and seethat it is eviland bitterFor you to forsakethe LORDyour God,And the dreadof Me is not in you," declaresthe LordGODof hosts.
"Moreover, among the prophetsof SamariaI sawan offensivething:They prophesiedby Baaland ledMy peopleIsraelastray.
"Also among the prophetsof JerusalemI have seena horriblething:The committingof adulteryand walkingin falsehood;And they strengthenthe handsof evildoers,So that noonehas turnedbackfrom his wickedness.Allof them have becometo Me like Sodom,And her inhabitantslike Gomorrah.
"Your waysand your deedsHave broughtthesethingsto you. Thisis your evil.Howbitter!Howit has touchedyour heart!"
Your iniquitieshave turnedtheseaway,And your sinshave withheldgoodfrom you.
"Hear,O earth:behold,I am bringingdisasteron thispeople,The fruitof their plans,Becausethey have not listenedto My words,And as for My law,they have rejectedit also.
The crownhas fallenfrom our head;Woeto us, for we have sinned!
"Now your oldersisteris Samaria,who livesnorthof you with her daughters;and your youngersister,who livessouthof you, is Sodomwith her daughters.
When I would healIsrael,The iniquityof Ephraimis uncovered,And the evildeedsof Samaria,For they dealfalsely;The thiefentersin, Banditsraidoutside,
Woeto thosewho are at easein ZionAnd to those who [feel] securein the mountainof Samaria,The distinguishedmen of the foremostof nations,To whomthe houseof Israelcomes.
"The highplacesof Isaacwill be desolatedAnd the sanctuariesof Israellaidwaste.Then I will riseup againstthe houseof Jeroboamwith the sword."
"[As for] those who swearby the guiltof Samaria,Who say,'As your godlives,O Dan,'And, 'As the wayof Beershebalives,'They will falland not riseagain."
Harnessthe chariotto the team of horses,O inhabitantof Lachish--She was the beginningof sinTo the daughterof Zion--Becausein you were foundThe rebelliousactsof Israel.
