“When I would heal Israel,
The corruption of Ephraim
Is revealed.
The wicked deeds
Of Samaria
Is revealed.
They deal falsely.
The thief breaks in.
The bandits raid without.
But they do not consider
That I remember
All their wickedness.
Now their deeds
Surround them.
They are before my face.”
Even after Israel would be healed, the corruption of Ephraim and the wickedness of Samaria would be revealed. Samaria had been the capital of the northern Israelite kingdom across the border from Ephraim in the Manasseh tribal territory. They dealt with each other falsely. The thieves would break into houses. The robbers would raid those who were passing by. They did not think that Yahweh would remember all their wicked deeds. Now their bad deeds surrounded them. Yahweh always remembered.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 