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Expanded Comments |
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| 1 Israel is a luxuriant vine, that putteth forth his fruit: according to the abundance of his fruit he hath multiplied his altars; according to the goodness of their land they have made goodly pillars. |
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| 2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found guilty: he will smite their altars, he will destroy their pillars. |
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| 3 Surely now shall they say, We have no king; for we fear not Jehovah; and the king, what can he do for us? |
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| 4 They speak vain words, swearing falsely in making covenants: therefore judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. |
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| 5 The inhabitants of Samaria shall be in terror for the calves of Beth-aven; for the people thereof shall mourn over it, and the black priests thereof that rejoiced over it, for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. |
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| 6 It also shall be carried unto Assyria for a present to a king that should contend: Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel. |
Ephraim – Christendom. D22
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| 7 As for Samaria, her king is cut off, as foam upon the water. |
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| 8 The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover ye us; and to the hills, Fall ye over us. |
To the mountains – Kingdoms. A318
And to the hills – Less high, less autocratic governments. D551
Fall on us – Cover, protect us. It is absurd to expect wicked men to get faith enough to pray for literal mountains to fall on them. B139
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| 9 O Israel, thou hast sinned from the days of Gibeah: there they stood; the battle against the children of iniquity doth not overtake them in Gibeah. |
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| 10 When it is my desire, I will chastise them; and the peoples shall be gathered against them, when they are bound to their two transgressions. |
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| 11 And Ephraim is a heifer that is taught, that loveth to tread out the grain; but I have passed over upon her fair neck: I will set a rider on Ephraim; Judah shall plow, Jacob shall break his clods. |
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| 12 Sow for yourselves to righteousness, reap according to kindness; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. |
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| 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. |
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| 14 Therefore shall a tumult arise among thy people, and all thy fortresses shall be destroyed, as Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel in the day of battle: the mother was dashed in pieces with her children. |
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| 15 So shall Beth-el do unto you because of your great wickedness: at daybreak shall the king of Israel be utterly cut off. |
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