1 Hear this word, yeThus he calls the princes and governors, who being overwhelmed with the great abundance of God's benefits, forgot God, and therefore he calls them by the name of beasts and not of men.kine of Bashan, that [are] in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters,They encourage those who have authority over the people to oppress them, so that they may have profit by it.Bring, and let us drink.
2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away withHe alludes to fishers, who catch fish by hooks or thorns.hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
3 And ye shal goe out at the breaches euery kowe forward: and ye shal cast your selues out of the palace, saith the Lord.
4 Come toHe speaks this in contempt of those who resorted to those places, thinking that their great devotion and good intention was sufficient to have bound God to them.Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, [and] your tithes after threeRead (Deu_14:28).years:
5 And offer a sacrifice of thanksgivingAs (Lev_7:13).with leaven, and proclaim [and] publish the free offerings: for thisYou only delight in these outward ceremonies and care for nothing else.liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
6 And I also have given youThat is, lack of bread and meat.cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet threeI stopped the rain until the fruits of the earth were destroyed with drought, and yet you would not consider to return to me by repentance.months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
8 So two [or] three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they wereThey could not find enough water where they had heard that it had rained.not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
9 I haue smitten you with blasting, and mildewe: your great gardens and your vineyardes, & your figtrees, and your oliue trees did the palmer worme deuoure: yet haue ye not returned vnto me, saith the Lord.
10 I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner ofAs I plagued the Egyptians; (Exo_9:10).Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
11 I have overthrown [some] of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as aYou were almost all consumed, and a few of you were wonderfully preserved; (2Ki_14:26).firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
12 Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: [and] because I will do this unto thee, prepare toTurn to him by repentance.meet thy God, O Israel.
13 For lo, he that formeth the mountaines, & createth the winde, & declareth vnto man what is his thought: which maketh the morning darkenesse, & walketh vpon the hie places of the earth, the Lord God of hostes is his Name.
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