“Although he may flourish
Among the rushes of reed plants,
The east wind shall come,
A blast from Yahweh.
It will rise
From the wilderness.
His fountain
Shall dry up.
His spring
Shall be parched.
It shall strip
His treasury
Of every precious thing.
Samaria shall bear
Her guilt.
Because she has rebelled
Against her God.
They shall fall
By the sword.
Their little ones
Shall be dashed
In pieces.
Their pregnant women
Shall be ripped open.”
This is very strong criticism of Samaria, the capital city of the northern Israelite kingdom. It might flourish now, but the deadly east wind of Yahweh will come from the wilderness. Its fountains and springs will dry up and be parched. It will lose all the precious things of its treasury. Samaria will have to carry the guilt, because it rebelled against God. It will fall by the sword or die. Its little children will be broken into little pieces. Its pregnant women will have their pregnancies terminated by ripping open their wombs. This will be a bad time for Samaria.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 