1 God’s Reasons for Punishing Israel Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken against you, Israelites, against the entire clan that I brought from the land of Egypt:2 I have known only you out of all the clans of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.3 Can two walk together without agreeing to meet?4 Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? Does a young lion growl from its lair unless it has captured something?5 Does a bird land in a trap on the ground if there is no bait for it? Does a trap spring from the ground when it has caught nothing?6 If a ram’s horn is blown in a city, aren’t people afraid? If a disaster occurs in a city, hasn’t the Lord done it?7 Indeed, the Lord God does nothing without revealing his counsel to his servants the prophets.8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?9 Proclaim on the citadels in Ashdod and on the citadels in the land of Egypt: Assemble on the mountains of Samaria, and see the great turmoil in the city and the acts of oppression within it.10 The people are incapable of doing right — this is the Lord ’s declaration — those who store up violence and destruction in their citadels.11 Therefore, the Lord God says: An enemy will surround the land; he will destroy your strongholds and plunder your citadels.12 The Lord says: As the shepherd snatches two legs or a piece of an ear from the lion’s mouth, so the Israelites who live in Samaria will be rescued with only the corner of a bed or the Or Israelites will be rescued, those who sit in Samaria on a corner of a bed or a cushion Hb obscure of a couch. LXX, Aq, Sym, Theod, Syr, Tg, Vg read or in Damascus 13 Listen and testify against the house of Jacob — this is the declaration of the Lord God, the God of Armies.14 I will punish the altars of Bethel on the day I punish Israel for its crimes; the horns of the altar will be cut off and fall to the ground.15 I will demolish the winter house and the summer house; the houses inlaid with ivory will be destroyed, and the great houses will come to an end. This is the Lord ’s declaration.