God’s Persistent Anger

This week’s study introduces the series of four stanzas that outline God’s past and future judgment against the Northern Kingdom.

The Hebrew text alternates verb forms in a way that seems at first confusing. But it really is a rhetorical effect intended to emphasize the point of the repeated refrain: the Lord’s past anger will continue into the future. Here is the AV with verb tenses modified more literally. I have bolded the terms that I have modified.

9:8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. 9 And all the people shall knew, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, 10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. 11 Therefore the LORD shall has set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and shall join his enemies together; 12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devoured Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

13 For the people turned not unto him that smiteth them, neither did they seek the LORD of hosts. 14 Therefore the LORD will has cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. 15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. 16 For the leaders of this people caused them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

18 For wickedness burned as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindled in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mounted up like the lifting up of smoke. 19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts was the land darkened, and the people were as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. 20 And he shall snatched on the right hand, and was hungry; and he shall ate on the left hand, and they were not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: 21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory? 4 Without me they shall bowed down under the prisoners, and they shall fall under the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.