as mistress of the house ? It is simply : How shall I
treat thee, a faithless servant, as if thou wert a child ? ^
As if teaching a child to babble, Jahveh puts into the
mouth of the people the words they shall speak. But,
of course, it is the spirit of adoption, not any phrase-
ology, however seemly and sacred, that avails. In
verse 20, the figure shifts from that of the children
to that of the wife. The nation, as individuals, were
Jahveh's apostate children ; as a community. His
faithless wife. His appeal is not in vain. Deep answers
to deep ; the penitence of the people to the pity in the
heart of God. Affliction has done its work. They
recognize the vanity of their efforts, of the energy put
forth in the worship of idols — mere " tumult on the
mountains." The Baal they had worshipped so
ardently, is now no better in their eyes than a Bosheth,

' As Cheyne suggests. ^ Compare Prov. xvii, 2.
60 ISRAEL AND JUDAH

a shameful thing that has consumed their substance
and clothed them with confusion.
Verse 21. A voice is heard on the bare heights.
Weeping and supplication ;
For they have perverted their ways, forgotten
Jahveh, their God.
Verse 22. Return, ye apostate children,
I will heal your apostasy.
Behold, we come unto thee.
For Thou art our God I

Verse 23. Surely in vain, from the hills.
Is the tumult of the mountains ;
Surely in Jahveh, our God,
Is the salvation of Israel.
Verse 24. And the Shameful One hath devoured, from our
youth,
The labours of our fathers.
We lay us down in our shame, and cover us
With our confusion.
