When I heal Israel, Israel’s sin will go away, and so will Samaria’s evil. “They cheat a lot! Thieves break into houses, and robbers are in the streets.
How terrible it will be for Samaria, the pride of Israel’s drunken people! That beautiful crown of flowers is just a dying plant set on a hill above a rich valley where drunkards live.
So we have driven away justice, and we have kept away from what is right. Truth is not spoken in the streets; what is honest is not allowed to enter the city.
“Foreigners in Babylon say, ‘We tried to heal Babylon, but she cannot be healed. So let us leave her and each go to his own country. Babylon’s punishment is as high as the sky; it reaches to the clouds.’
The older girl was named Oholah, and her sister was named Oholibah. They became my wives and had sons and daughters. Oholah is Samaria, and Oholibah is Jerusalem.
“ ‘By your sinful action you have become unclean. I wanted to cleanse you, but you are still unclean. You will never be cleansed from your sin until my anger against you is carried out.
The people from Israel are worried about the calf-shaped idol at Beth Aven. The people will cry about it, and the priests will cry about it. They used to shout for joy about its glory,
“Israel, how can I give you up? How can I give you away, Israel? I don’t want to make you like Admah or treat you like Zeboiim. My heart beats for you, and my love for you stirs up my pity.
What Israel does is as useless as chasing the wind; he chases the east wind all day. They tell more and more lies and do more and more violence. They make agreements with Assyria, and they send a gift of olive oil to Egypt.
“Listen, you priests. Pay attention, people of Israel. Listen, royal family, because you will all be judged. You have been like a trap at Mizpah and like a net spread out at Mount Tabor.
The Lord says, “Israel, what should I do with you? Judah, what should I do with you? Your faithfulness is like a morning mist, like the dew that goes away early in the day.
How terrible for them because they left me! They will be destroyed, because they turned against me. I want to save them, but they have spoken lies against me.
Announce this to the strong buildings of Ashdod and to the strong buildings of Egypt: “Come to the mountains of Samaria, where you will see great confusion and people hurting others.”
They make promises by the idol in Samaria and say, ‘As surely as the god of Dan lives … ’ and, ‘As surely as the god of Beersheba lives, we promise . . . ’ So they will fall and never get up again.”
This is because you obey the laws of King Omri and do all the things that Ahab’s family does; you follow their advice. So I will let you be destroyed. The people in your city will be laughed at, and other nations will make fun of you.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you did not let me.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone to death those who are sent to you. Many times I wanted to gather your people as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me.