Israel’s Hollow Repentance (6:1-6): Contrary to the LXX, which connects this passage with 5:15 by the addition of the word, “saying” (as in the RSV), this pericope is complete in itself as one more record of Israel’s deceitful ways toward God. Overcome by Assyria’s engulfment of them (see the comment on 5:8–15), the Israelites call a day of repentance in the effort to secure for themselves God’s aid once again.

Such fasts of repentance are held in Israel whenever there is a calamity of any sort—defeat by enemies, pestilence among the population, plagues of locusts, drought, famine, and so forth. Summoned by the priests, the people abstain from food and drink and all normal activity, and gather at the sanctuary to offer sacrifices, to mourn their sinfulness, and to cry for God’s help. Often …