The Skeptics Annotated Bible (680 page)

9 And as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way by consent: for
they commit lewdness.

(6.10)
“There is the whoredom of Ephraim.”

10 I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel:
there is the whoredom of Ephraim
, Israel is defiled.

(6.10)
“There is the whoredom of Ephraim.”

11 Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.

7
When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without.

2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies.

4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened.

5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; he stretched out his hand with scorners.

6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: their baker sleepeth all the night; in the morning it burneth as a flaming fire.

7 They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: there is none among them that calleth unto me.

(7.8-16) It’s not clear in the KJV, but “people” and “strangers” are translated as “aliens” and “foreigners” in other versions. This would mean part of the reason for Ephraim’s bloody fate is association with other races.

8
Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people
; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

(7.8)
“Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people.”

9
Strangers have devoured his strength
, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

(7.9)
“Strangers have devoured his strength.”

10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this.

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.

12 When they shall go
, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven
; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard.

(7.12)
“I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven.”

13
Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me
: though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me.

(7.13)
“Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me.”

14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me.

15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, yet do they imagine mischief against me.

16
They return, but not to the most High
: they are like a deceitful bow:
their princes shall fall by the sword
for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

(7.16)
“They return, but not to the most High … their princes shall fall by the sword.”

8
Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the LORD, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law.

2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: the enemy shall pursue him.

4 They have set up kings, but not by me:
they have made princes, and I knew it not
: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

(8.4)
“They have made princes, and I knew it not.”
18 Does God know everything?

5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

6 For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not God: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

11 Because
Ephraim
hath made many altars to sin, altars shall be unto him to sin.

12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing.

13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; but the LORD accepteth them not; now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: they
shall return to Egypt.

(8.11-13)
“Ephraim … shall return to Egypt.”
323 Will Ephraim return to Egypt?

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but
I will send a fire upon his cities
, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.

(8.14)
“I will send a fire upon his cities.”

9
Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: for
thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.

(9.1)
“Thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor.”