also implies a reaction in the realm of feelings, here suggested by a physical action; beating one’s chest might be another equivalent. Ephraim continues to spell out the nature of the change he claims when he recognizes the reality of shame and disgrace and of the reproach that has been hurled at him without him taking any notice. He is not now just shrugging his shoulders at a narrow-minded prophet like Jeremiah. He knows that reproach goes back to the beginning of his story, as Jer 2–3 again suggests.