1 Israel eats the wind, and follows the east wind. He increases his lies and desolation every day. They make an alliance the Assyrians, and trade oil in (the market places in) Egypt.
When you serve false gods instead of the true God, it is about as satisfying as eating the wind. Does you about as much good, too.
Israel is trying to protect herself by alternately sending gifts to Egypt and paying taxes to Assyria. These two powers are fighting each other, so Israel is trying to hedge her bets that each of them will protect her from the other. It didn’t work.
2 The I AM also has a problem with Judah, and will punish all the descendents of Jacob according to how they have acted. According to his actions will He pay him back.
Though Judah is officially being faithful to God, she has sinned in the past and will backslide again soon after the death of Hezekiah.
3 Jacob took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
It is uncommon for one twin to grab the other’s foot as Jacob did during birth, but it can happen. The tenacity that Jacob showed in holding on to his brother helped him in his walk with God.
4 Yes, he had power over the angel, and won. He cried, and begged him. He found God in Bethel, and there He spoke with us;
5 Even the I AM God of angel hosts, the I AM is Jacob's memorial.
A brief recount of the history of God being “the God of Israel” (the name given to Jacob by God):
On his way home after a twenty year absence, Jacob was afraid of his brother (Esau was mad enough to kill when he left). While praying, an angel came to wrestle with him. Jacob begged for a blessing and was given one.
6 Therefore turn thou to thy God. Be merciful and judge correctly, and serve the I AM thy God always.
God gave them commands to follow that would have produced mercy and righteous judgment had they followed them. That was really what God wanted; their praises for Him and righteousness and mercy towards each other.
7 He is just like a Canaanite! He uses dishonest weights and measures. He loves to take advantage of others.
8 And Israel said, "I have become rich! I have made myself a fortune! No one has caught me cheating. I am innocent."
They saw nothing wrong with what they were doing. They evidently didn’t believe in sin. Again, this sounds too close (to modern America) for comfort.
9 But I am the I AM thy God. I have been with you ever since you were slaves in the country of Egypt. I will again force you to live in tents, like you do during the feast of Booths.
At the Feast of Booths, Israel would all move into tents and other temporary dwellings in order to remember the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. God is going to send them back to full time tent dwelling.
10 I also spoke to you through the prophets. I gave them many visions, and parables.
God has given them sufficient warning. They have had more than enough warning and time to repent.
11 Is there wickedness in Gilead? Indeed, they will become nothing. Do they sacrifice bulls in Gilgal? Indeed, their altars will become piles of rocks in the fields.
Their sacrifices are worthless even when they make them to God. He wants obedience more than He wants sacrifice. So He will make their idols rubble.
12 Jacob ran away to the country of Syria, and he worked for a wife, and to get a wife he kept sheep.
13 By a prophet the I AM brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet they were preserved.
Another reference to the history of the nation. They were not started by a great warrior king but by a man running for his life. They were not brought to the Promised Land by a professional politician but by the humble prophet, Moses.
14 Israel has provoked God to bitter anger, so God will hold him guilty and the I AM will punish him for his scorn.
This is why God will punish him.