The Skeptics Annotated Bible (678 page)

4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.

5 Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.

6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

7 As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.

8 They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.

9 And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

(4.10-12) Committing whoredom by going a whoring with the spirit of whoredom.

10 For they shall eat, and not have enough:
they shall commit whoredom
, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.

(4.10)
“They shall commit whoredom.”

11
Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

(4.11)
“Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.”

12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for
the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring
from under their God.

(4.12)
“The spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring.”

13 They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good:
therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.

(4.13)
“Therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.”
If you misbehave, God will make your daughters “commit whoredom” and your wife “commit adultery.”

(4.14-18) Even more whoredom! “They have committed whoredom continually.”

14
I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.

(4.14)
“I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.”

15
Though thou, Israel, play the harlot
, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Beth-aven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.

(4.15)
“Though thou, Israel, play the harlot”

16 For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.

18 Their drink is sour:
they have committed whoredom continually
: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.

(4.18)
“They have committed whoredom continually.”

19 The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.

5
Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

(5.3-4) The spirit of whoredom

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now,
O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom,
and Israel is defiled.

(5.3)
“O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom.”

4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God:
for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them
, and they have not known the LORD.

(5.4)
“The spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them.”

5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

6
They shall
go with their flocks and with their herds to
seek the LORD; but they shall not find him
; he hath withdrawn himself from them.