“Ephraim herds the wind.
Ephraim pursues the east wind
All day long.
They multiply falsehoods.
They multiply violence.
They make a treaty
With Assyria.
Their oil is carried
To Egypt.”
Ephraim followed and gathered the wind to itself. They were all day long pursuing the east wind, the destructive wind. They were full of lies and violence. They made a treaty with Assyria that led to their ruin. They gave gifts of oil to Egypt to keep them from attacking.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 