1 Judah’s Apostasy Now the word of the Lcame to me saying,
2 “Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Thus says the L,“I remember [earnestly] the lovingkindnessanddevotion ofIn 2:2-3:5 you and your are plural and their antecedent is always the nation of Israel. The nation is sometimes called “Israel” and sometimes “the house of Israel.”your youth,Your time of betrothal [like that of a bride during the early years in Egypt and again at Sinai],When you followed Me in the wilderness,Through a land not sown.
3 In general, sons (children) of Israel or Israel or Israelites refers to all the people (males and females) of the various tribes descended from the twelve sons (Gen 35:23-26) of Jacob (later renamed Israel by God).Israel was holy [something set apart from ordinary purposes, consecrated] to the L,The first fruits of His harvest [in which no outsider was allowed to share].All who ate of it [injuring Israel] became guilty;Evil came on them,” says the L.’ ”
4 Hear the word of the L, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.
5 Thus says the L,“What injusticeorunrighteousness did your fathers find in Me,That they have wandered far from MeAnd [habitually] walked after emptinessandfutility and became empty?
6 They did not say, ‘Where is the LWho brought us up from the land of Egypt,Who led us through the wilderness,Through a land of deserts and of pits,Through a land of drought and of the deep darkness [of the shadow of death],Through a land that no man passed throughAnd where no man lived?’
7 I brought you into a plentiful landTo eat its fruit and [enjoy] its good things.But you came and defiled My landAnd you made My inheritance repulsive.
8 [Even] the priests did not say, ‘Where is the L?’And those who deal with the law [given to Moses] did not know Me.The rulersandshepherds also transgressed against Me,And the prophets prophesied by [the authority and in the name of] BaalAnd walked after [idolatrous] things that did not benefit [them].
9 “Therefore I will still contend (struggle) with you [by bringing judgment on you],” says the L,“And I will contend with your children’s children.”
10 “For cross over to the coasts of Kittim (Cyprus) [to the west] and see,Send also to Kedar (Arabia) [to the east] and carefully observeandconsiderAnd see whether there has been such [a thing] as this!
11 Has a nation [ever] changed godsEven though they were not gods [but merely man-made objects]?But My people have exchanged their Glory (the true God)For that [man-made idol] which does not benefit [them].
12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this;Be shockedandshudder with horror [at the behavior of the people],” says the L.
13 “For My people have committed two evils:They have abandoned (rejected) Me,The fountain of living water,And they have carved out their own cisterns,Broken cisternsThat cannot hold water.
14 “Is Israel a servant? Is he a slave by birth?Why has he become a captiveanda prey?
15 The young lions have roared at him,They have made their voices heardandroared loudly.And they have made his land a waste;His cities have been destroyed and are burned ruins, without inhabitant.
16 Moreover, the men ofThe ruins of ancient Memphis are located on the west bank of the Nile River, about twelve miles south of Cairo.Memphis andThis city was located on the eastern edge of the Nile delta. Known today as Tell Defenneh (Defneh). Memphis and Tahpanhes were the most powerful Egyptian cities at this time.Tahpanhes [as powerful enemies]Have shaved the crown of your head [to degrade you].
17 Have you not brought this on yourselfBy abandoning (rejecting) the Lyour GodWhen He led you in the way?
18 Now what are you doing by going to Egypt [in search of an ally],To drink the [muddy] waters of the Nile?Or what are you doing by going to Assyria [in search of an ally],To drink the [muddy] waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your own wickedness will discipline you,And your desertion of the faith will punish you.Know therefore that it is an evil and bitter thingFor you to abandon (reject) the Lyour God,And for you to be indifferent to Meanddismiss the [reverent] fear of Me,” says the Lord Gof hosts.
20 “For long ago you broke your yoke [in deliberate disobedience]And tore off your bonds [of the law that I gave you];You said, ‘I will not serveandobey You!’For on every high hillAnd under every green treeYou have lain down [in idolatrous worship] like a [compliant] prostitute.
21 Yet I had planted you [O house of Israel as] a choice vine,A completely faithful seed.How then have you turned against MeInto degenerate shoots of a foreignandwild vine [alien to Me]?
22 For though you wash yourself with lyeAnd use much soap,The stain of your guilt is [still] before Me [and you are soiled and dirty],” says the Lord G.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled,I have not gone after [man-made gods like] the Baals’?Look at your way in the valley;Know [without any doubt] what you have done!You are a swiftandrestless young [female] camel [in the heat of her passion] running here and there,
24 Or [you have the untamed and reckless nature of] a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,That sniffs the wind in her passion [for the scent of a mate].In her mating season who can restrain her?No males seeking her need to weary themselves;In her month they will find her [looking for them].
25 [Cease your mad running after idols to]Keep your feet from becoming bareAnd your throat from becoming dry;But you said, ‘It is hopeless!For I have loved strangersandforeign gods,And I will walk after them.’
26 “As the thief is shamed when he is caught,So the house of Israel is shamed—They, their kings, their leaders,Their priests, and their prophets—
27 Who say to a tree, ‘You are my father,’And to a stone, ‘You gave me birth.’For they have turned their backs to Me,And not their faces;But in the time of their trouble they will say,‘Arise [O L] and save us.’
28 But where are your godsWhich you made for yourself?Let them get up, if they can save youIn the time of your trouble!For [as many as] the number of your citiesAre your gods, O Judah. [Why do not your many man-made idols run to help you?]
29 “Why do you complainandcontend with Me?You have all rebelled (transgressed) against Me,” says the L.
30 “In vain I have punished your people [with the consequences of their disobedience];They received no insight from correction [and refused to change].Your [own] sword has devoured your prophetsLike a destroying lion.
31 O generation [that you are], considerandregard carefully the word of the L.Have I been a wilderness to Israel [like a land without food],A land of thickanddeep darkness [like a path without light]?Why do My people say, ‘We [have broken loose and we] arefree toroam [at will];We will no longer come to You’?
32 Can a virgin forget [to wear] her ornaments,Or a bride her attire [that identifies her as a married woman]?Yet My people have forgotten MeDays without number.
33 How well you prepare your pathTo seekandobtain [adulterous] love!Even the most wicked of womenHave learned [indecent] ways from you.
34 Also on your skirts is foundThe lifeblood of the innocent poor;You did not find them breaking in [a house].But in spite of all these things [your disobedience, your love of idolatry, your lack of compassion]—
35 Yet you keep saying, ‘I am innocent;Surely His anger has turned away from me.’Behold (listen very carefully), I will bring you to judgmentandwill plead my case against youBecause you say, ‘I have not sinned.’
36 Why do you go aroundandwander so muchChanging your way?Also, you will be shamed by EgyptAs you were shamed by Assyria.
37 From Egypt also you will come away [as captives]With your hands on your head;For the Lhas rejected those in whom you trust (confide),And you will not be successful with them.”