Woe to the Proud Crown

Division had entered the Kingdom of Israel early. Even before kings arose in Israel, Ephraim grew proud and began to place themselves above their brothers. They had a great piece of land, flowing with plentiful streams of water, great forests, and just everything an agrarian society would want to live around. SO they exalted themselves. More than once, Ephraim found fault with the other tribes of Israel over small things. 

They disputed with Gideon after he defeated the Midianites, because he did not invite them to join the battle. They could have joined uninvited, but they chose to remain out of that fight until it was over. A more violent conflict arose when Jephthah fought and defeated the Ammonites. Ephraim crossed the Jordan and threatened to burn down his house sine they were not invited to that battle either. This led to a bitter civil war, with the Gileadites guarding the fords of the Jordan and killing every Ephraimite who tried to cross back to their home. Jacob had prophesied before his death that Ephraim would become greater than Manasseh, but they took it even further to place themselves over everyone else too. This came to a complete and total break after Solomon died and his soft and unwise son Rehoboam became king. Rehoboam tried to increase taxes, which caused Jeroboam of Ephraim to call the other tribes to himself and break from the house of David to setup his own fiefdom in Samaria.

Samaria is the proud city at the head of a fertile Jezreel Valley. It grew in strength and influence over the ten tribes it controlled. Jeroboam had set up false idols in Bethel, just across the border of Benjamin from Jerusalem, and one far north in the city of Dan. These idols were replacements for the One True God, and this idolatry would be what would bring the exile of Israel by Assyria. Their rejection of God and His chosen Place would multiply their sins and God would bring down the calamity promised in His covenant with them. 

The LORD has One who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and destructive wind, like a driving rain and flooding downpour He will throw it to the ground. The pride of Ephraim was slated for destruction and would be trampled underfoot. In that Day, the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, and beautiful wreath for the remnant of His people. Instead of trusting in human kings and politics, those who survived that destruction would trust in the LORD for help. God would be their source of strength as He judges His people. 

Many would stagger from drunkeness. Prophets and priests would stagger from wine, beer, and false visions. Their tables would be covered with vomit, not a spot on them would be without filth. God would bring their prophecies down on their own heads as He brings a foreign people to rebuke them. Even then they would not listen to the LORD, even though God breaks it down into simple terms a child can understand. The Word of the LORD would be to them "Do this, then do that." instead of listening to their God, they will be injured, snared, and captured.

God told Isaiah all that would happen before it did. Isaiah was faithful to preach this message to those of Israel who would listen. The words went in one ear and out the other, so God brought the Assyrians against Israel and destroyed Samaria, exiling them to far away lands. God had warned them through prophets, but they became stiff necked and would not listen. They rejected God's statutes and His covenant, so God fulfilled what He foretold would happen through Moses. When Israel fell, the Word of the LORD came against Jerusalem next.