Fruitful Vine, Divided Heart, False Covenant, and Calf Glory Collapse

A spreading vine spends its fruit on altars

Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars. KJV empty sits beside a vine that does produce; the force is luxuriant growth spent on the wrong objects. Their heart is divided — or smooth — and now they are found faulty; he shall break down their altars.

They shall say, We have no king, because we feared not the LORD; what then should a king do to us? They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant: thus judgment springeth up as hemlock in the furrows of the field. Prosperity is judged by what it funds. It does not automatically prove favor or guilt.

The calf's glory goes to Assyria, and the king is foam

The inhabitants of Samaria shall fear because of the calves of Beth-aven. The people and the priests that rejoiced on it shall mourn for the glory thereof, because it is departed from it. It shall be also carried unto Assyria for a present to king Jareb. Ephraim shall receive shame, and Israel shall be ashamed of his own counsel.

As for Samaria, her king is cut off as the foam upon the water. The high places of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed; the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains, Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us. The mountain cry is terror, later reused in other judgment scenes. It is not an instruction toward self-harm, hiding abuse, or suicide. The calf is not a Christian taunt against Jews.