63 Corrupt Leaders in Ephriam

God through Isaiah now addresses the people of Isaiah's own generation, beginning with a harsh criticism of those of the Ten Tribes who had not yet been exiled. Woe to the Ten Tribes, whose leader was Ephraim, who exult in their bounty as if they are adorning themselves with crowns. They immerse themselves totally in gorging themselves, drinking to excess and overuse perfuming oils (Amos 6:6). They indulge themselves until they are so drunk they vomit, and then go right back to their hedonistic behavior. In their pride, they ignore God and His commandments and forget that the world is His not theirs.

The drunkenness and excessive use of material pleasures led to the exile of the Ten Tribes. The delight of its glory is a fading blossom. Like a beautiful flower that will eventually wither and die so too will Ephraim. The Lord is blaming their pride on the volume of produce of their land and their addiction to hedonistic pleasures (Hosea 7:5; Amos 6:6).