God's threats against the priests, the people, and princes of Israel, for their idolatry.

[1] Hear ye this, O priests, and hearken, O ye house of Israel, and give ear, O house of the king: for there is a judgment against you, because you have been a snare to them whom you should have watched over, and a net spread upon Thabor. [2] And you have turned aside victims into the depth: and I am, the teacher of them all. [3] I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now Ephraim hath committed fornication, Israel is defiled. [4] They will not set their thoughts to return to their God: for the spirit of fornication is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord. [5] And the pride of Israel shall answer in his face: and Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity, Juda also shall fall with them.

[1] "O priests": What is said of priests in this prophecy is chiefly understood of the priests of the kingdom of Israel; who were not true priests of the race of Aaron; but served the calves at Bethel and Dan.

[6] With their flocks, and with their herds, they shall go to seek the Lord, and shall not find him: he is withdrawn from them. [7] They have transgressed against the Lord, for they have begotten children that are strangers: now shall a month devour them with their portions. [8] Blow ye the cornet in Gabaa, the trumpet in Rama: howl ye in Bethaven, behind thy back, O Benjamin. [9] Ephraim shall be in desolation in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel I have shewn that which shall surely be. [10] The princes of Juda are become as they that take up the bound: I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

[7] "Children that are strangers": That is, aliens from God: and therefore they are threatened with speedy destruction.

[10] "As they that take up the bound": That is, they that remove the boundary, encroaching on the property of their neighbours: figuratively: going beyond the boundary of the laws of God.

[11] Ephraim is under oppression, and broken in judgment: because he began to go after filthiness. [12] And I will be like a moth to Ephraim: and like rottenness to the house of Juda. [13] And Ephraim saw his sickness, and Juda his band: and Ephraim went to the Assyrian, and sent to the avenging king: and he shall not be able to heal you, neither shall he be able to take off the band from you. [14] For I will be like a lioness to Ephraim, and like a lion's whelp to the house of Juda: I, I will catch, and go: I will take away, and there is none that can rescue. [15] I will go and return to my place: until you are consumed, and seek my face.