the priest Amaziah, representing the clergy who served the false royal theology and enforced the status quo rather than serving the true God (7:10–17). In short, these Israelites abused other members of the covenant people, “small” Jacob (7:2, 5), and deluded themselves into thinking that “the evil will not overtake nor confront us” (9:10). The day of judgment that would come on northern Israel in 722 BC anticipates the similar judgment on Judah in 587 BC. It also anticipates the destruction of Jerusalem