1An exhortation to repentance. 4A complaint against Israel and Judah for persisting still in their wickedness.
1COME, and alet us return unto the LORD: for he bhath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
a ch. 5.15; 14.1-3,8. Je. 3.22. La. 3.40. b ch. 5.12-14. De. 32.39. 1Sa. 2.6. Ps. 102.10. Job 5.18. La. 3.32,33.
2cAfter two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
c Ps. 30.3,5; 71.20; 86.13. Eze. 37.11. Ezr. 9.8,9. Is. 26.19,20. 2Ki. 20.5. 1Co. 15.4.
3Then dshall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: ehis going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us fas the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
d Mi. 4.2. ch. 2.20. Is. 54.13. Je. 24.7; 31.34. He. 3.14. Pr. 2.1-5,9. Mat. 13.12. e 2Sa. 23.4. Mal. 4.2. Ps. 115.13,14. Pr. 4.18. Mi. 5.2. Lu. 1.78. f De. 32.2. ch. 14.5. Job 29.23. Ps. 72.6; 65.9. De. 11.14.
4¶O Ephraim, gwhat shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your 1goodness is has a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
1Or, mercy or kindness.
g ch. 10.3. Je. 5.7,29. ch. 11.8. Is. 5.3,4. Lu. 19.42. h Ps. 78.34-37. ch. 13.3. Mat. 13.21.
5Therefore ihave I *hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: 2and thy judgments are jas the light that goeth forth.
*hewed-shaped by cutting or chopping.
2Or, that thy judgments might be.
i Je. 1.10; 5.14; 23.29. 1Ki. 19.17. Eze. 43.3. He. 4.12. Re. 1.16. j Ps. 119.130. Ge. 18.25. Zec. 1.6.
6kFor I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
k Ps. 50.8-15. Is. 1.11. 1Sa. 15.22. Ec. 5.1. Mat. 9.13; 12.7. Je. 6.20. Am. 5.21-24.
7But they 3like men lhave transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
3Or, like Adam. Job 31.33. Ge. 3.
l Is. 24.5. 2Ki. 17.7-17. ch. 5.7; 8.1.
8mGilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is 4polluted with blood.
4Or, cunning for.
m ch. 12.11. Jos. 21.38.
9nAnd as troops of robbers wait for a man, so the company of priests murder in the way 5by consent: for they commit 6lewdness.
5Heb. with one shoulder or, to Shechem.
6Or, enormity.
n ch. 5.1,2. Eze. 22.27. Zep. 3.3,4. Je. 11.9.
10I have seen oan horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is pthe whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled.
o Je. 2.11,12; 5.30; 18.13; 23.14. p Eze. 24.13. ch. 4.1,2,10-12,14; 5.3,4. 2Ki. 17.7-17. Is. 2; 3; 5; 9. Am. 2-8. Mi. 1-3; 6; 7.
11Also, O Judah, he hath set qan harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people.
q Je. 51.33. Joel 3.13. Mi. 4.12. Re. 14.15. Je. 31.5.