and divine anger, as the Chronicler has been insisting all along: “For our guilt is already great and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” The Ephraimite leaders acknowledge as true Oded’s charge in v. 11 that “the fierce wrath of Yahweh is upon you.” ■ 14 So the warriors released the captives and the booty before the officers and the whole assembly: The words of the Ephraimite leaders were matched by the deeds of the soldiers themselves, who decided not to enslave their captives or use the booty
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