The days of punishment have come;
The days of punishment and recompense have come, and Israel will know it, though it says the prophet is a fool and the inspired man is mad.
This verse marks the turning point where rejected prophetic warning becomes recognized judgment.
1Do not rejoice, O Israel, 2The threshing floor and winepress will not feed them, 3They will not remain 4They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, 5What will you do on the appointed day, 6For even if they flee destruction, 7The days of punishment have come; 8The prophet is Ephraim’s watchman, 9They have deeply corrupted themselves 10I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. 11Ephraim’s glory will fly away like a bird, 12Even if they raise their children, 13I have seen Ephraim, like Tyre, 14Give them, O LORD— 15All their evil appears at Gilgal, 16Ephraim is struck down; 17My God will reject them