Ephraim's Turning and Divine Yearning Meet

Ephraim's turning and the LORD's yearning answer each other

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. After I was turned, I repented; after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him. Discipline imagery does not excuse abuse. Shame here is Ephraim's own confession, not a script to impose.

Set waymarks, and do not over-read the difficult new thing

Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

The new-thing line is uncertain in meaning; proposed readings include a woman protecting a man, a reversed social image, or a difficult proverb. It must not be loaded as gender dogma, marriage law, or a slight against women. The clear charge is return by a marked road.