who are so contentious, Yahweh states his continuing commitment to covenant relationship. He previously established this covenant with his people at Mount Sinai, even though they repeatedly broke it and suffered punishment by exile as a result. Like a parent for a rebellious child (Hos. 11:1–4), Yahweh still loves them. Israel in turn speaks to Yahweh, using the same verb for speaking, here preceded by the adversative conjunction “but,” indicating that they take exception to what he just said. The