“You have plowed wickedness.
You have reaped injustice,
You have eaten
The fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted
In your power,
You have trusted
In the multitude
Of your warriors.
Therefore,
The tumult of war
Shall arise
Against your people.
All your fortresses
Shall be destroyed.
As Shalman destroyed
Beth-arbel
On the day of battle.
Mothers were dashed
In pieces,
With their children.
Thus,
It shall be done to you!
O Bethel!
O house of Israel!
Because of your great wickedness.
At dawn,
The king of Israel
Shall be utterly cut off.”
Israel had plowed in wickedness, so that now they were going to reap injustice. They had eaten the fruit of their lies. They had trusted in their own power and their many warriors. Thus, the fury of war was going to come upon them and their people. All their fortresses would be destroyed, like Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel. Although it is difficult to find the exact battle, there is conjecture that this was the 8th century Moabite Shalman who invaded Beth-arbel or Irbid, that was west of the Sea of Galilee. In that battle, mothers with children were destroyed. Thus, the same was going to happen to Israel and Bethel because of their wickedness. The king of Israel would be wiped out also.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 