35 Hosea

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14:2 0

D A NI E L

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foot prints'. -'{ ca n see foo tp rints of men, of women and of children ' sa id the king, -an d a ngrily ordered th e priests to be arrested, with their wives a nd child ren. Th ey showed him then th e secret door through which they used to co me a nd remov e wha t was o n the table . -T he king had them put to death and handed Bel ove r to D a niel who destroyed bo th the idol an d its temple.

20

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21

::;; 22

ia

o

Da niel kills the drago n There was a big dragon in Babylon, a nd this was worshipped too. " -The king said to Daniel, ' Yo u a re not goi ng to tell me tha t this is no mo re th an bron ze? Loo k, it is alive; it ea ts and d rinks ; you cannot deny that th is is a living god ; wor ship it, then. ' - Da niel replied, 'I worship the Lord my God ; he is the living God. With yo ur per mission, 0 king, without using eit her sword o r club I will kill t his serpent.' -You have my pe rmi ssio n' sa id the king. Where upo n Da niel took so me pit ch , some fat and some hair a nd boiled them up toget her , ro lled the mixture int c ba lls a nd fed them to the dragon ; the dr agon swallowed them and burst. Daniel said, ' Now loo k a t th e so rt of thin g yo u wor ship!' -T hc Babylonian s were fur io us when they heard about this and began intriguing aga inst the king. 'The king has turned lew,' they said 'he has a llowed Bel to be o verth rown, and the drago n to be killed, and he has put the priests to death.' -So they went to the king a nd said, 'H and Daniel over to us or else we will kill you , a nd your fam ily' . -They pressed him so ha rd that the king fo und himself for ced to ha nd D a niel over to them.

U z

o-, 25

26

I

2R

29 30

14 g. Noth ing is known o f a dra gon-go d in Bab ylo n. h. A parallel na rr a tive [ 0 tha t or ch. 6. T he mea ns Th is s to ry was fam iliar to ea r-ly Jewish wri ter s who of H a ba k ku k 's tr a ns po rt a ti on may ha ve been s uae cs red refer to it when co m mcn u na (In Jr 51 :44 . by El k ~ : 3.

Head ing T he word of Ya hweh that was add ressed to Hosea son of Beeri when Uzziah, la tha m, Aha z a nd Hezek iah were reignin g in J uda h, a nd Jero boa m son of Joash in Israel."

1

I. THE

Da niel in the lion pit h They threw Da niel into the lion pit, and there he stayed fo r six days . -I n the pit were seven lion s, which were given two h uman bodies and two sheep every day; but for this period they were not given any thing, to make sure they would eat Daniel. N ow the prop het Habakk uk was in l udaea: he had been making a stew , an d brea king up brea d small to put in a basket. He was on his way to the fields, tak ing t his to the ha rvesters, -whcn the a ngel of the Lo rd spoke to him , 'Take the mea l yo u a re ca rrying to Babylo n an d give it to Da niel in th e lion pit' , ' Lord,' replied Ha ba kk uk 'I have no t even seen Babylon, a nd kn ow not hing abo ut th is pit.' -T he a ngel of the Lord seized his head a nd ca rried him off by th e hai r to Ba bylo n where, with a great t hrust of his spirit, he set Ha ba kkuk do wn on th e ed ge of the pit. -'Da niel, D a niel,' Ha ba k kuk shouted 'ta ke th e meal tha t G od has sent yo u.' -A nd Da niel said, 'Yo u have kept me in mind, 0 God; yo u ha ve no t deserted th ose who love yo u'. - R ising to his feet he ate t he meal , whil e t he a ngel of God lost no time in return ing Habakk uk to his ow n co untry. O n t he seventh da y the king ca me to lament over Da niel ; o n reac hing the pit he look ed inside, a nd there was Daniel, qu ite unpertu rbed . -'Yo u are great, o Lo rd, God of Da niel,' he excla imed 'there is no god but you !' -Then he released Da niel from th e pit a nd had th e plo tters of Da niel's ru in thr own in instea d, where they were insta ntly eaten befo re his eyes.

o i

H OSEA

27

« z Lk 3:2 00

« I

MARRIAGE OF HOSE A AND ITS SYMBO L ISM" Q,

H

33

34

35 36

37

Hosea 's marriage: his three children Whe n Ya hweh first spoke through Hos ea, Ya hweh sa id this to him, ' G o, ma rry a whore ,' an d get childre n with a who re," fo r the co unt ry itself has becom e nothing but a who re by ab and on ing Yah weh'. So he went ; and he too k Go mer da ughter of Dibla im, who co nce ived a nd bor e him a so n. -'Na me him " Jezrecl' , Ya hweh to ld him ' for it will no: be long before I mak e the House of Jeh u pay for the bloodshed at Jezreel/ an d I put an end to the sovere ignty of the Hous e of Israel. " -W hen tha t da y com es [ will break Israel's bow in the Valley of Jez reel .' « She co nceived a second tim e a nd ga ve birth to a da ug hter . ' Na me her U nloved" Ya hweh told him . 'No mo re love shall the Ho use of Israe l have fro m

~ 2:6a : 12: Is 54:5

o

2:2.4

I K I S:4 5 2 K 9:1 - 10 :

10:1· 17 : 17: 3·6

o

w

N5i::3:5 ., J

38 39

40 41 42

1

a . Mo re accu rat ely. it was un de r t he last k ings of Israel t ha t H osea chiefly exe rc ised h is prophe tic m inist ry: Me na hem <743-738), Pcka hi a h (73M·737), Peka h (737 - 732) . H o shea (732 ·724), b . Subsequ ent p ro p hets performed ma ny symbolic gestu res , cr. J r I K: I -i, but Hosea' s whole life with its hear tbr eakin g expe r iences was a symbol. ch. 1-3.. He lo ved . and still lo ves. a wi fe wh o ha s bet rayed h im : Ya hweh lik ewi se sti ll lo ve s fa it h less Isr ael an d , when he has ma de trial of her re pen ta nce. wi ll cher ish her ngaiu. Ho sea' s co nceo no n of a ma r riage of Y ahweh wit h his peo p le dat ing fro m the covenan t o f Si nai wa s to become fa m iliar in t he nronhetic t radit ton . T he pro phets deno unc e idolat ry as 'p rosti uu lon' o r 'ud ulterv' and co m pare t he relat ions hip between Is rael and God wi th the tl uct uuri o ns o f ma rried life. Cr. a lso D t 4:24 I . l ho ugh Isaia h alludes o n ly bri efly to th is the me (I s I : 2 1-26), Jerem iah revert s to it sever a l t imes (J r 2:2; 3: I, II- I :!): but it is Ezekie l who. in two grea t ull eao ric s, El k 16 and 23. devc to ns t hc t hem e m os t fully. In t he sec on d pa rt of Is. the rcs to ruuo n of Israe l is d esc ri bed as t he reco ncili ati on of a wife who has been unfai thful. Is 50: 1; 5 4 :6~7 , cf. Is 62:4 -5. It is po ss ib le. also. tha t th is wedded lo ve o f G od fo r h is people is (he subje ct of S ~ alld of Ps 45. In the N .T.. Jes us sp ea ks of t he mess ia nic ~H:C as a ti me of wed d ing . M t 2:: 1- 14: 25:1- 13. and for S tl ' nu l C hris tia n mar riage is a symbol of C h ris t's union With h is C hu rch. Ep 5:25-33. cr. 1 Co 6: 15-17 ; 2 Co I I: 2. '1 litis th e prop he tic image of earlie r days is sanc t io ned

a nd a p p lied to t he new Isr ael of God . A ltho ugh ch . 1- 3 fo rm a clearl y de fined u nit y, t hey are co mposed o f h et er o gen eo us elem ent s: a bio gra p hica l n ar r-ati ve ( Hosea 's m arri age a nd t he b irth of his three ch ild ren >, 1;2-9 : a dis co u rse by Ya hwe h (God 's t rea t men t of faithless Isr ael), 2:4-2 5; an a u tob iog rap hica l fragment (re co nci lia t ion with the lm fait h fu l wife, expla na tion o f t h is symb ol ic act) , 3: 1-5 , It is pos sible tha t 2:1 . whic h rea d as a co nc lusio n to t his sec t io n. s ho u ld not be uu rt but cd In Hosea . c. Li t. ' a wi fe o f nros utu tion'. cr. 4: 12: 5:4 : e ither a woman will> W ;:I S a lread y known to be a nrosttunc p r o 1l1t\I'C pr o b abl y. nn e who lat er became on e . d . Lit. 'c hild re n o f . prostitution' . No t tha t th e c hildre n ar c ttl be born uf a ll ad uu cro us u nion but t ha t th cy ra ke after th ei r u nfaith fu l nuu hcr. d . Ezk 16: 44:S i41: 5. c. Th e names of Hosea's childre n a rc nruohctic. cr. I ~ I :26 I . f. Jczrcc l Cd: /"t't'!, "G od sow s', d . 2:24 -25) wa s on e of th e res ide nces of t he k ings of Isr ael : it wa s her e tha t Jehu mas sa cred t he de scendan ts o f O mr i. /.:' Th e d yn a sty o f Jeh u e nded wit h t he assa ss ina ti on of Ze cha r iah in 74] . II , Th e Va lier o f Jczreel . or o f Meaid d o. has alwa ys bee n o ne o f t he e rea t baulc tlelds of Pale s t ine. JR: 4: 12-16: 2 K 23:2lJ-3 0. Cle o t. The me a ni ng of th e sym bolic na me Lo-Ru hamah . 43

oI

..J

UJ

HOSEA

1:7 14 :4 Ps 10:1 2:20 1 S 17:47 2 K 19:34 Ps 33: 16: 60: 11- 12

Pr 21:31 Is 30:16 : 31: 1 Mi 5:9 Zc 4 :6

1453

145 2

me in future, no fu rther for givene ss. · (But my love sh all go to the H o use " of J uda h a nd thro ug h Ya hweh the ir G od I mean to sav e th em - but not by bo w o r swo rd or battle, hor se o r hor sem an .)' She weaned Un loved, conceived aga in and gav e bi rth to a so n . ·'Name him No-Peo ple-of- M ine" Ya hweh sa id . ' Yo u a re no t my peo ple a nd I a m not yo ur G od .'>

16

/4

17

/5

Yahw eh and his unfaithful wife" Is 50'1

Ez k 16:7

J r 6:8: 9:11

1:2 + ; 4:12; 5:7

Jr2:25: 3:13 Am 2:4

Jr 44:17

10:1

Dt 7:I3 : N:

II - I K Ps 144: 12f El. k 16: 17

9:2

Ez k 16:37 5:14 In 10:29 10 : 1

Ps

8 0 : 1 2~ IJ

Is 5:5-6 Is 1:13- 14 J r 7:34 A m 5:2 1-23 : K:IO

J r 2: 37

J r 2:23

2

Deno unc e your m other , denounce he r, for she is not my wife n or a m I her husband . Let he r rid her face of her whoring. a nd her breasts of her ad ultery," o r else I will strip her na ked,r ex pose her as on t he d ay she was born ; I will mak e a wild erness of he r," turn her into a n a rid la nd, a nd leav e her to die o f th irst. I will not lo ve her children, since they ar e the children of whoring. Ye s, their mothe r has played the whore, she who conce ived t hem has disgraced herself. 'I a m go ing to court' my lo ver s'! she sa id 'w ho gi ve me my bread and wa te r, my wool, my flax, my o il a nd my drink. >« Sh e wou ld not ack nowledge, not she, that I wa s the one wh o was giving her the co rn, the win e, th e o il, and who free ly gave her th a t silver and go ld o f which they hav e made Baa ls. T hat is wh y, w hen the time co mes , I mean to withdraw my co rn, a nd my wine, whe n th e seaso n fo r it com es . I will retrieve my woo l, Illy flax, that were int ended to co ve r her nakedness ; so will I di splay her sha me befo re her lo vers' eye s a nd no o ne sha ll rescue her from Illy power." I will lay her vines a nd fig trees was te, thos e of which she used to say, 'T hese are the pay my lo ve rs ga ve me ' ; I a m go ing to ma ke them into thi cke ts fo r the wild bea sts to ra va ge . I will put a n end to a ll her rejo icing, her feast s, her New Moo ns, her sa bba ths and all her solemn festivals. 1 mean to make he r pay for a ll the da ys whe n she burnt offerings to t he Baa ls and deck ed herself wit h ri ngs a nd necklaces to co urt her lovers, forge tting me . It is Ya hwe h who is sp ea king. That is why I a m go ing to block he r' way with t ho rns, a nd wa ll her in so tha t she canno t find her way; she will c hase after her lo vers a nd never catch up with them, she will sea rc h fo r the m a nd never find them .

4 2

is

19 17

The n she will say , 'I will go back! to my first husb a nd , I was ha ppier then than 1 am today' .

6:1 -3 Jr 3:22 Lk 15:17-1 8

That is wh y I am going to lure her and lead her out int o the wilderness " and speak to her heart. I am going to gi ve her back her vineyards, and make the Vall ey of Ach or' a ga te wa y o f hop e. T here she will respond to me as sh e did when she wa s yo ung, a s she d id when she came out of th e land of Egypt.

9 : 10: 12:10 : 14:5 J r 3 1:2 Ezk 16:60

When tha t day comes I will make a treaty on her be half with the wild a nimal s, with the b ird s of heaven a nd the creeping th ings of the earth; I will brea k bow, swo rd a nd ba ttle in the cou ntry, a nd mak e her sleep sec ure." I will betro th 'I you to myself for ever, betroth you with integ rity a nd justice, with tenderness" and love;

/8

6

4

21 J9

l , O r ' Ins tea J I will hate her bincrt y": or po ss ib ly ' I w ill p u ni sh her se ver ely' , ' t he Ho use ' llcbr.: ' th e so ns ' G ree k . I. Th e meani ng o f th e s vrnb olic nam e Lo- Am mi .

I(

The t hree ch i ld r en arc named in ascendi n g order of th e seve r ity o f th e n un ishrn cnt : wit h th e t h ir d . God

11 9

12 J()

14 /2

13

Jl

IS 13

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a-,

Ex 13:17 +

Jr 31:22 14:4

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20

10 8

o-,

2 :2 1

W hen t hat day comes-it is Ya hweh wh o spea kssh e will m call me , ' My husba nd ' , no lo nger will s he call me, ' My Baal '." I will take the names of the Baa ls o fT her lips , the ir names shall never be utt ered 0 again .

16

-r

HOSEA

break s wit h Is rael eur iret v. m . "I am no t yo ur God ' some M SS and se veral of t he Fa the rs : ' I will no t be (or : I a m not) yours' Heb r. " will he t heir God and t hey shall be my peop le' was t he fo rm u la exp ressi ng the coven ant be twee n Go d and h is fa it hf u l. cf J r 3 1:3 1 ! . We read 2: 1·3 after 3:5. 2 a . Ya hwe h spea ks as a s ligh te d lo ver, no t rciccun g h is un fa ith fu l belo ved but seek ing to br in g her ha ck by re peated co rrec tio n ; i n t his he succeeds ; the n. h a vin g tes ted he r re pen ta nce . he welco mes her wi th a ll th e fe r vo ur of h is first lo ve a nd sho wers gifts on he r. b . By ' who ring' a nd ' a d u lter y' here we shou ld pr o ba bl y u nderstan d th e a mu lets, ta tt oo ing and ot he r d istin ctive m a rk s o f a p ros t itu te, d. Pr 7: 10 : G n 38: 15. c . A pu n ish me n t fo r sh a meless wo me n . Ezk 16: 37- 39; Is 47:2-3: Jr 13:22 : Na 3:5: Rv 17: 16 . d . Trans fe re nce of th e sy m b o l from t he wife to th e COUntr y. T he wealt h of C a na a n which had bee n an oc ca s ion of s in fo r Is ra el . 10: I ; 13:6 . is to be re mo ved , 4 :3 ; 5:7; 9 :6 ; 13: 15. e , Lit . ' !-to afte r. pu rsu e ' in the se nse of bein g devo ted to ; t he expression is ta ken from the vuc ab uIan ' o f love . r. T he Baa ls, Canaanite gods of ferti lity to who m the Isra el ites o tfercu th e nroduce of th ei r soil . which th ey beli eved came as m uch from t he gods of Ca naa n as fro m Ya hweh . Jl:. We read vv, R· 9 a ft er v. 15. h. Vv. 13 an d 14 a rc here int ercha nged . i. ' he r ' ( h eck an d Syr.: ' thy' H cbr .

i . Li t. ' I will JUl. 1 w ill ret u r n' . k , H osea . like A mos be fo re h im (Am 5:25) . th inks o f Israel' s jo ur-n e y t hro ug h t he desert as a time o f sp ir itual id yll (anti d . 12: 10): Israel was t he n ch ild like ( Ho 11: 1-4). k now in g not h ing of pa ean god s. lo ya l 10 Yahwe h who se p rese nce was mani fest in t he cl o ud , H0 2: 16· 17 : J r2 :2-3 . O n [h e Exo du s t he me in [he Pro p hets. cr. Is 40: 3 I . I. ' 1 will ma ke ' corr.: 'from t he re ' Hebr, Acho r

is o ne of t he JHlr ReS nca r Jericho lea d in g to the u pla nd s o f t he in ter ior : the na me mea ns ' mi sfort u ne ' , cr. Jos 7: 24·2 6 . Ill . 's he will' G ree k : ' tho u wilt ' Heb r. So a lso in the fo llow ing lin e . n. T he name boat Cmaster ') was als o used of hu sba nd s. It ha d been fro m a ncie nt times an eleme nt in certa in pr op er n ames, cr. 1 S 14:4 9 + : 2 S 2:8. erc. : I C h 8:33: 9:39.40, witho u t a ny id o lat ro us sig nifica nce Ya hwe h be in g th e ' m as ter ' to who m the bea re r of the name was thus d ed ica ted . Later. ho we ver t he asso cia t ion o f t he word with th e Ca naa nite d ivini ties (d. J g 2: I + ) m ade its use di srepu tab le; hence Hos ea forbid s n. v , 19 . o . O r 't he ir n a mes s ha ll be re memb ered n o m o re' . n. J us tice a nd ho liness will characte rise th e messian ic age. vv. 2 1~22 , a nd Go d will aga in dwe ll a mo ng his people , la vishin g h is gifts , cf. Lv 26:3 - 13 ; D t 28: 1-1 4 . T he sky wi ll give rai n , t he ea rth will yield a b u ndant h a rvests. A m 9: 13: H o 2:23·24 : 14:8· 9 : Jr 3 1: 12, 14; Ezk 34:26 -27 .29: 36:29 -30: Is 30:2 3-26 : 49: 10 : J I 2: 19. 22·24 : 4: 1 8 ~ 8: 12. The cro ps will be sa fe from m ara ud ers. Am 9: 15 : Is 65:21 -23. cr. D t 28:3 0-33. s ince t he re wi ll be no more inva sion . Mi 5:4 ; Is 32:17- 18 : J I 2:20: Jr 46 :27; Is 4 :5·6. cr. a lso 25:4·5 . Th e w ild anirn nls wi ll no t thr ea ten : God will m a ke a trea ty with t hem , 110 2:20 ; E zk 34:25.28 . A ll t he nat ion s, under th e r ule or the Messiah-King. Is 9:5-6; Zc 9: 10 . will enio v peace , Is 2:4 = M i 4:3 ; cr. Is I I:6-8 I : 65:25. Death itse lf wil l be no more , Is 25:7-8: sorro w will give place to joy, J r 3 1: U : Is 65 : IX-19 ; Ua 4:23.29. cr. nv 2 1:4. II . Clo d tak es back his u n fa it h fu l wi fe with the fer vo u r o f firs t lo ve, a nd s ho we rs her (cf . G n 24 :53; 34: 12) with s pir itua l uifts. r . T he p r im a ry mean ing o f t h is wo rd ( hesedl is t hat of a bon d , or co ntrac t. W hen used of hu ma n rel a tio n sh ip s it co mes to mean frie nds hip. uni o n . IUY
zc

Jb 5:23

Ezk 34:25 Ze 9: 10

1:7

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4: 2 Mi 6:8 Lk 15

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2:22

22 20

I will betrot h you to myself w ith faithful ness, a nd yo u will come to know Ya hwe h.'

In 1:14

W hen that da y co mes'<- it is Ya hweh w ho speaksthe heavens will hav e their a ns wer from me, the ea rth its a nswer from th em , t he gra in, the wine, th e oil, their a nsw er from the ea rt h, a nd Je zre el his a nswer " from them . I will so w him ' in th e country, I wiII love U nloved; I will say to No-People-o f-Mi ne, ' You a re my people', a nd he will a nswe r, ' Y ou a re my G od'. "

Ps 67:6

1:4-9 : 2:3

Is 62:4 /' R m 9:25

.» 1 P 2: 10

H osea takes his unfa ithful wife ba ck a nd tests her fidelity. T he symbol ex pla ined Ya hwe h sa id to me, ' G o a seco nd tim e, give yo u r love to a wo ma n, loved by her hu sb a nd but a n a d ulteress in sp ite of it, " just as Ya hwe h gives his lo ve J r 7: 18 to t he so ns of Israel th ou gh t hey turn to o ther go ds a nd love rai sin cakes' . " So I bo ug ht her ' for fiftee n silver shek els and a bus hel-a nd- a- ha lf o f barley," a nd sa id to her, 'Fo r man y days yo u must keep yo urse lf q uiet ly fo r me,' not play ing th e whore or o ffering yo urself to ot hers ; a nd I w ill do th e sa me for yo u' . E x 23:24 ~ ; Fo r the so ns of Israe l w ill be kept fo r ma ny days witho ut a kin g, witho ut 28:6 I 1 S 15:23 + a leader, witho ut sa crifice o r sa cred sto ne, without ephod or ter aphim . -A ftc rD n 3:3S H a b 2 : I S wa rds the so ns of Israe l w ill come back ;' they wi ll see k Ya hweh the ir G od a nd Jr ]O : 1) Da vid the ir king ;" th ey will co me trembling to Ya hwe h, co me for his goo d th ings" in those days to co me .

3

/' Rm 9:27

• R m 9: 26 I n 1:1 2 Jr 3: 1M I·

1:4-9 + 1 P 2: 10 2:24-25 1-

Th e great future 2 A nd th e num be r o f th e so ns o f Isra el will be like the sa nd o n the seas ho re, which ca nno t be measured o r co u nted . In the place whe re the y we re to ld , ' Yo u a re no peopl e o f mi ne' , they will be ca lled, 'The so ns o f the livin g God' . T he so ns o f J ud ah a nd o f Isra el will be on e agai n a nd cho ose themselves one single lea der , a nd they will spread far bey o nd their co untry; " so grea t will be the da y of J ezree l. To yo ur brot he r say , ' People-of- Mine' , to yo ur sister, ' Belo ved'. " II. T HE

C R I M ES

AND P UNISHM ENT

OF

I SR A E L

Genera l corruption JT 2:4

12:3

Is 3: 13- 15 M i 6: 1-5

2:2 1-22 +

J r 7:9 J r 4 :2S J I I : IO

Z p 1:3

Ws 10 : 12

4

So ns o f Israel, listen to the word o f Yahweh, for Ya hweh ind icts th e inh abita nt s o f t he co untry: t he re is no fide lity, no tenderness, no knowledg e of G od in th e co unt ry, o nly pe rj ur y a nd lies, sla ughte r, th eft , ad ulte ry a nd vio le nce, mu rd er afte r mu rder. T his is why t he co un tr y is in mourning, a nd a ll who live in it pi ne aw ay, eve n t he wild a ni ma ls a nd t he birds o f hea ven ; the fis h of th e sea t hemse lves a re per ishing."

Against the pr iests Bu t let no man de no unce, no ma n re bu ke; it is yo u , pries t, tha t.l denounce." Day a nd n ight s yo u stu m ble a lo ng,

1455

23 2/

24 22 25 23 24

I

10

II

H O SEA

Q

4:1 2

the pro phet" stumbling with yo u, a nd yo u a re t he r uin of yo ur pe ople. e My peopl e perish for wa nt of know led ge. As yo u ha ve reje cted kno wledge! so do I reject yo u fro m my pr iesthood; yo u have forgo tten the teaching o f yo ur G od , I in my turn will forg et yo ur chil dr en . M any as the y are, all of them have sinned again st me , they ha ve ba rtered t heir glory for shame." T hey feed on the sin of my peopl e, they are all greedy for their iniquity." Bu t as wi th th e pe ople, so let it be with the pr iest: I will m a ke the m pay for the ir co nd uc t, I will pa y them ou t for the ir deed s, T hey will ea t but never be sa tisfied , they wiII play the wh ore but still be ste rile,' because they ha ve dese rted Ya hweh to give t hemselves up -to whoring.

Ul

o

:;; Jr 5:4

M I 2:1-9

a1

o 4: 18 Jr2:11 +

12

W ine, new wine add les the wits '! My people co ns u lt t he ir block o f wood, a rod answers t he ir q uestio ns ;" hesed ca lls for cor respo ndi ng hcs ed in man 0 10 6:6), con si st in g of se lf-aiv ina. Iovin e t TUSI . ab a nd o n me nt. d eep affect io n. ' piety' , a lo ve (in sho r t) whic h is a jo yfu l s u bm iss io n to th e will o f G o d a nd an ac tive c hnri ty to fell o w me n. Ho 4:2: 6:6. T h is idea l. ex pressed in many o f t he Psa lm s , will la te r be thai o f thc I Ia s idim . o r ' H as ld aea n s". cr. I M 2:42 -· s . In H osea ' k no wl ed ge of Ya hwe h' and hesed no toge the r 2:2 1-22 : 4:2 ; 6:6 ; th is ' k no wledge ' is t he re fo re no t me rel y in tell ec t u a l. G od ' m a kes h im -self k now n' to ma n when he en gage s hi m sel f 10 h im b y co ve na nt an d sh ows hi s love t heseds fo r h im by th e bcneflrs he co n fe rs ; sirnil a rly. man ' kno ws God ' whe n he lo ya lly observes God 's cove na nt. sh o ws gra titude fo r G o d ' s gifts, a nd ret urn s lo ve fo r lo ve. C f. Jb 2 1: 14 : P r 2: 5 : Is 1]:2 : 5R:2. In the wi sd om tite rntur c ' kno wle d ge ' a nd 'w isd om' a re p ru cticall v sy non ym ou s . I. H ebe. in sert s 'J s ha ll an swe r' , abse nt fro m G ree k a nd Sy r. 11. Li t. ' J sha ll a nswer t he heavens , they wil l an swer the ea rt h ' et c. The name Je zrce l no longe r reca lls t he bu t now jus ti fies its c r im es o f ea r lie r d a ys . 1:4 " e tymo lo gy, 'God sows', cr. v. 25 . a nd s ta nds fo r an Is ra e l re s to re d a nd p ro spero u s . This Je zree l ple ad s, as it we re , with the p ro d uc e of the soi l, wh ich p lea is pa ssed to ea rt h a nd s ky and fina lly to God who gra n ts it , v. 'w ill so w h im ' cc rr.: ' will so w he r fo r m yself' lIebr. w. G od so lov es h is peo ple t ha t he wi ll aive the lie to the omi no us nam es, 'Un loved ' a nd 'N u-Pco nleo f- M ine": th e d isas ter t he y p rophesied will co me to a n e nd , an d th e nam es w ith it ; t he na mes a re repl aced by thei r o ppos ites . cf. 2: 1,3 . 3 a . 'lo ved by her h usba nd ' Hc be. : ' who love s ev il' Gr ee k . T he ' wo m a n". it see ms , is Go me r hers elf : H ose a use d to lov e he r a nd c vi d ently still does, th o ua h s he has be tra yed him once a nd is betra ying h im now . T he pro p he t's ge ne ros uv is a symbo l o f God 's pe rs ist e n t lo ve for hi s fa ithless pe o pl e . b . O r 'to o t he r god s who lo..' e r a is in ca kes ' , ef. Do 14:5-8. c. Ho sea b uy s G o me r b ack either fro m he r pr es en t o wne r o r fr om a paga n s h rine whe re pe r ha ps s he wa s II s uc red pr osti tu te . d . Th e to tal pric e is a p p ro xim at el y t hat of a sla ve's ru nso m . Ex 2 1:32 : Lv 27:4. e. A per iod o f trial. a s v . 4 expl a ins, befo re the cov e na nt is re ne we d bet wee n Y a hw e h and Isr ae l,

cf. 2:8. 9. 16. f. C f. 2:9: 6: 1: 14:2. J:. C r. J r 30 :9; Ez k 34:23. T he Nort he rn a nd So u thern K ing do ms will ther efo re be re u nited. 2:2. T he e nd o f v, 5 is pe rh ap s no t by H ose a . h. P ro b a bly the p ro d uce of th e so il, 2:24 ; 14:6-8 ; Is 1; 19 ; J r .\ 1: 12- 14 . 2 x . O r 'a nd the y will re t urn from the co u ntr y (of thei r ex ile)' . y. N e w sy mbolic na me s, co n tra ry to th e tirs t: A m m i ( 'Peo p le-o f- Mi nc ' ). Ruhamah t't.oveo '). 'to yo u r be loved b rot he r' , ' to yo u r s is te r' G re ek; 'to you r b ro t he rs ' , ' to yo u r s is ters ' H e be. 4 a, Th e passa ge spea ks of a gre at drou gh t, cf. A m 1:2 ; 4:7 : 7:4; J I I : 16-20 : 2:3 , The p u nish me nt for m an 's sins is sha red by the who le c rea tio n , G n 3: 17- I S; J r 4 :23-2S ; 9;9; 12:4: 14 :2· 6 ; H g 1:6-1l : 2: 16-1 7 ; Z p 1:3 : Is 24:4- 7, e tc" so a ls o is man's red em ptio n, Is 11:6 I· ; J 14 : 18, cf. R m 8: 19-22 + . b. Line cor r. : H ebr . ' T hy pe op le is like tho se who deno unce the priest '. T he pries thood as a whol e is he re a tt ac ked fo r ign o ran ce, ne glec t. gr ee d a nd eve n. 6:9, v io le nc e. Fo r o ther a tt ac ks, eC.J r 2:8 : 6: 13 : M i 3:1 1: Z p 3:4 . a nd es pecia lly MI J:6- 2:9. c. Tex t carr.

d. O n the u n wo rt h y p rophets, cr. J r 23 : 13-32: M i 3:5, 11. e tc. c. Li nc co rr . : Heb e. ' I s ha ll be th e r u in of yo u r mo the r' . f. K no wle dge o f the Law in which the priests shou ld have inst r uct ed t he peop le, D t 33 : 10 : M I 2:5-8 . J;. ' t he y ha ve bartered their ~ I o ry (i .c . Ya hwe h) fo r s ha me (t.c. the Ba a ls)' Ta ra. a nd Svr. : ' J will change t he ir a lor y into s ha me ' He br . h. T he pri es t' s sha re in the sac r ifice fo r sin was co ns idc rub le. Lv 6: 19·22, as it was in th e sa c rifice of re pa ra ti o n . L v 7:7: in t his wa y the peopl e 's s in s were to h is ad va ntuac . cf. I S 2: 12- 17, i , T o ' pl a y the whor e' is to be un fa ith ful to Y a hwe h, as in 2: 14 : 4 : 1M: 9: I. wit h a p ossib le a llu sio n to s acred pr osn rution . I. A n iso la ted p roverb , possib ly ta ke n o u t of its o r lgtna l co nte xt. k . T he ' b lo ck of wo od ' is a pp a re nt ly a con tem p tu ou s te r m for a n asher ah o r sacred po le, Ex 34 :13 +. T he 'roo' is p robabl y a d ivine r's wa nd .

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for a pro st itut ing spirit leads them astray, they reno unce t heir G od to play t he whore. T hey offer sac rifice o n the mountain to ps, burn their offerings on the hills, under oak and popl a r an d terebint h, so pleasant is their sha de. So, although yo ur da ughters pro stitut e th emselves a nd your so ns' wives co mmi t adultery, I shall not be hard o n your da ughters for th eir whoring or on your so ns' wives fo r their ad ultery ,' when everyo ne else is wa nder ing off> with whores a nd offering sac rifice with sac red pros titutes. T hus does a senseless peop le ru n to ruin.

10 :8 DI 12:2 +

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12 : 12

A m 4 :4 i ;

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10 :11

Since Israe l is as obstina te as a stubbo rn heifer, how ca n Ya hweh pasture him like a lam b in ro lling pastu res? Ep hra im is wedded to idols, they spraw l· in the compa ny o f d runkards ; whor ing is a ll they ca re a bo ut, they ba rter th eir glory fo r sha me." T he wind will ca rry them 00' o n its wings, then all their altars will brin g them is disappo int ment.

14:9 A m 2:X : 6:

4·6 4:7 Jr 4: 11 ~ 13 A m 1: 14

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Priests, nobles and king are the ruin of the natio n

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Listen to this, pr iests, atte nd, House of Israel, listen, roy al hou sehold, you who are responsible for j ust ice, a fo r you have been a snare at Mizpah, b and a net o uts prea d o n Ta bor. T hey are ent renched in their deceit fulnessa nd so I am going to puni sh them all. I kno w a ll a bo ut Ephra im, Israe l has no secrets for me ; yes Ephra im, you " have played th e who re, Israel has defiled himself . T heir deeds do not allow them to return to their God, since a pros tituting spir it possesses them; th ey do not kn ow Ya hweh. T he a rroga nce of Israe l is his own accu ser, the iniqu ity of Ep hrai m knoc ks him do wn,' and down co mes J udah wit h him . T hough they go in search of Ya hweh with their sheep and oxen , t hey do no t find him ; for he has withdrawn from th em . T hey have proved unfaith ful to Ya hweh,

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The brothers' war v Sound the horn in Gibeah, the trumpet in Rama h, give the alarm at Beth-aven , call Benjamin to arms!" Ephraim shall be laid waste when th e da y co mes for puni shmen t ; I pronounce certain doom for th e tribes of Israel.' T he leaders of Judah are like men wh o displace the boundary rnar k ;' I mean to pour my anger out o n them in a flood . Ephraim is an oppressor, he tramples on justice," so set is he on his pursuit of nothingness. ' Very well, I myself will be the moth of Ephraim, the canker of the House of Judah.

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The folly of foreign alliances Ephraim has seen how sick he is and Judah the extent of his wound, so Ephraim has turned to Assyria, Judah has appealed to the G reat King ;> but he has no powe r to cure you nor to heal your wound." For I mean to be like a lion to Ephra im, like a young lio n to the House of Judah ; I, yes I, will tear to pieces, then go my way, I will carry off my prey , and no one can snatch it from me.

13

Israel the stubborn heifer J r 31: 18

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t hey ha ve fathered bastards, and now the destroyer] will devo ur them , them and the ir estates.

A warning to J udah T hough you, Israel, play the whor e, there is no need for J udah to sin too. Do not go to G ilgal, do not go up to Beth-aven,« do no t tak e th e oa th, 'As Ya hweh lives !' >

HOSEA

1457

16

14

17 18

19

15

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Yahweh abandons his people Yes, I am going to return to my dwelling place > un til they confess their guilt" and seek my face; they will search for me in their m isery.

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J. A llu d ing to the advance of the a rmy of J uda h I. Th eir gu ilt is les s since th ey are given a bad in to Israelite territory, perha ps a lso to earlier encroachexa m p le by their hu sb ands and fa t hers. m. 'wander ing off ' corr . ; ' lead ing as tra y' Hebr. men ts by Ju d ah . 1 K 15: 16-22. k . By co nc ludi ng an a llia nce wit h Damasc us a nd 'eve ryo ne el se' . ii i . ' they ' are the Is rae li tes as a who le . a tt acking its own br ot he rs of the So u thern K ing d om. cr. v. 12. I. 'an oppressor ' corr. fo llowi ng Greek; ' o p presse d ' n. Be th-e ven Chouse of no t h in gness ') is an insul ting Hebr, ' he tramples o n' co rr. fo llowi ng G reek : n ick name for Bethe l (Be th-el: ' ho u se of G od '). o . Per haps read ' d o no t ta ke o a t h b y Beer sheba' , 'c r u s hed' Hebr. ' no thin gness ' Greek : 'a command' H ebr . All human hel p is e m p ty 03:4 : Is 44:8 : as in Am 5:5 ; 8:14. Ps 18:3 1, etc .). bu t thi s is especia lly t r ue of Damasc us p. Text corr. whose fa ll is imm ine nt. 5 a . cr. M i 3:1 ; D. 1:17 . m . 'to the Great Ki ng ' corr. ; 't o' K in g Jareb ' or b. Appare nt ly M izpah near Gerasa in T ransio r'to an avc netns ki ng' Hebr. R eference to the tri b ute da n ia . Jg 10:17 ; 11:1 ] ; G n 31:49. c . Te xt co rr. Li t. 'They have d ug deep the p it of pa id by Mena hem to Ttalath -nilese r III in 738. cr. 2 K 15:19. a nd 10 the a ppe a l of Ahaz fo r he lp fr om at r u yi n g' . the same A ssy r ian king in 735. cf . 2 K 16:7-9. d . 'vo u' (sing ular) corr . : ' n ow ' H ebr. n . ' heal your wound' corr . e. Text corr. o . Heaven . cr. Is 18:4: 63: 15 ; Jr 25:30: M i 1:3 : Ps 18;6. r. 'the de stroyer ' corr. ; ' the new moon' Hebr. p. O r ' a to ne fo r their gu ilt' . I , This whole passage, a nd probably a ll that fo llows 6 a . Hosea co m p oses a pe niten tia l p ra yer (b orrowing O! far as 6:6 , ref ers , a pparentl y. to t he Svro-Ephrai mite per ha ps from a n atonement r itual . 1 K 8:3 1-53 : wa r (735-734) , cr. 2 K 16:5 + . h. Lit. 'set Benja mi n in m otion' cor r.: ' be h ind yo u, Jr 3:2 1-25 : JI 1- 2 : Ps 85): t his he puts int o the mou th o f t he peo ple terr ified bY God 's threat of punish men t ltcnf nmi n' Hebr. I. I.e . exile , d ismemberment of the kin gdom . a nd de sertion . 5: 14· 15: t hey exhort one another to 2 K 15: 29, the fa ll of Samaria and t he loss of Israel' s return to Ya hwe h, VV . 1-3. b u t the re turn is o nly temporar y ; th ere is no tr ue repent anc e, VV. 4- 6. Ind ependence, 2 K 17:5-6.

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Ps 27 :8 ; 78:

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Israel' s short-lived and shallow repentance" 'Come, let us ret urn to Yahweh. He has to rn us to pieces, but he will heal us;

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2:9 ; 8;2 Job 5:19

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he has struck us d o wn , but he will bandage o ur wo und s; a fter a day o r two he will bri ng us back to life, on the thi rd da y" he will ra ise us a nd we shall live in his pre se nce.
13:14 Elk 37

Dt 11:14 : 32:2 Ps 72:6: 143:6

What am I to do wit h you , Ep hraim? What am I to do with yo u, J udah?' T his love of yo urs is like a morni ng cloud , like the dew th a t q uick ly d isap pears. This is why I ha ve torn them to pieces by the prophet s, why I sla ug htered the m wit h the words from my mou th, since what I want is love, not sac rifice; knowledge of God, no t ho locausts.

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HOSEA

1459

Th us hav e all their kings fallen, no t one o f them has ever ca lled o n me . Israel ruined by relying on foreign powers Ep hraim mixes with the nati ons, E p hra im is a half-baked cake." Foreigners eat his strengt h away, he is unco nscious of it; grey hairs a re scattered on his head: he is unconscious of it. (T he arrogance of Israel is his o wn accuser; the y will not co me back to Yah we h t heir G od; in spite of a ll this they will not seck hi rn.) Ephra im is like a silly, witless dove: ca lling o n Eg yp t, turning to Assyria. Wh ere ver! th ey tu rn , I will spread my net over the m, I mea n to bring them dow n likc the bi rds of heaven , I will puni sh th em for their perversity ."

Ja

5b 3b

10

5a

II

12

The past and present sins of Israel

12:12

7: 13

HOSEA

7

But they have vio la ted the co venant/ at Adam,v they have proved unfaithful to me there. G ilea d" is a tow n of evil-doers, full of bloody foo tprin ts. Like so man y robber s in am bus h a band of priests co mmits m ur der o n th e road to Shechem-c-: appa lling beh a viour, ind eed ! I have seen ho rrors in Bethel J tha t is where E phra im plays the whore a nd Israe l defiles him self. J udah, [ in tend a harvest fo r you, too, when I res to re t he fortu nes of my people. k Whenever I wa nt to heal Israel, I am co nf ro nted by th e gui lt of E phr a im and the wickedness - of Samaria ; deceit is their principle of beh aviour, thieves break into houses a nd bandits raid outside. T hey never pause to consider tha t I know about all the ir wickedness ; yet th eir actions are all rou nd them, they sta re me in the fac e.

Conspira cy the order of the da y in Isr ael> Su ch is their cunning, they beguile the kin g, and th e lea der s too, such is their, treachery. ' But th ey breathe fury, all of them, as fiery as an oven which the baker does no t need to 'sto ke from the time he has kneaded th e dough un til it rises . T hey addle the king and leaders with wine fumes as he mixes with these scoundrels. T heir hea rts reach oven-heat in the exci tement of the pl o t ; t heir fur y smo u lders all night a nd in the mo rn ing b lazes like a fierce flam e ; all burn at oven-heat and th ey co nsume th e men who ru le them.

The ingratitude and punishment of Israel Tro uble is co mi ng to th em , for they ha ve strayed fro m mc ! R uin o n th em , for the y have re be lled aga inst me! ] wa nted to redee m them , bu t they tell lies about me. T he irs is no heartfelt cry to me when they la ment o n th eir beds." Th ey gash th emse lves ' for th e sake of co rn a nd wine, yet they rebel/ agai nst me. I it wa s w ho gave strength " to thei r a r ms, yet a ll th ey d o is ma ke wicked plots aga inst me. T hey turn to Baa l,' they a re like a trea cherous bow. T heir leaders will fa ll by the sword because of th eir a rro ga nt talk, a nd how they will be la ug hed at in t he lan d of Egypt !

1.1

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10

15

11

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S ound the alarm !

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P ut the trumpet to yo ur lip s like a watchman" o n duty at th e house of Ya hweh, b

th e yea r 737 (assassina t ion of Pekahia h) seven of its kings were mu rd ere d . T he prophet her e draws a picture of a co ns p irac y in which the tr ai tor s. a fte r feignin g c. Text co rr. d. ' like the lig ht" Gree k; ' li gh t ' Hebr . 'h is Iudge - loya lty. ass ass ina te the kin g a nd lead er s as the y lie drunk m cnr ' co rr.: ' t hy j ud gemen t s' Hebr.: ' my j udge me n t' af te r a night o f reve lling. Ela h died t h us. 1 K 16:9-10. c. The text o f vv , 4-6 has bee n corre cted . ( lrcck . e . The or iginal tex t m a y ha ve read ' Israel' in d. Li t. 'a cake no t t urned ' i.e . useless, because syno nymous pa rall elism with 'Ephra im '. cf. 5:3. burn t on one side a nd un der don e on th e o ther . f . T he Sinai tic covena nt. e. Israe l. seek ing allia nce no w fr om Ass yria, no w It . 'a t Adam' corr . : 'li ke a ma n ' or ' like Ada m' Hcbr . The referenc e is obscure. Th ere may have been fro m E R:YP L is Uke a terrified do ve flying thi s way a nd un idola trous shri ne at Ad am (nea r the mout h of the th at to escape the hunter . r. Or ' Wh en ever ' , or 'As'. Jah bo k) cr. Jos 3: 16: or (he text ma y simply mean th a t g . Lit. 'w icked ness', ca rr . Israel' s infid elity da tes from th e ea rli es t da ys of the h. Either 'beds' properly spe aki ng , or the carpets acu fcment in Palest ine. O n t his. see 9:10. o r cloaks on whi ch people pe rfor med the prostrations h. T he to wn on the p lat ea u of Gilea d in T ra nswhe n at pr a yer , cf . Ps 4:4 : 149:5. lordunia, cr. Gn 31:46-48. i. ' gash th emsel ves' corr .: 'so jo urn' Hebr. On I, Tex t carr. II is not k nown to what eve nt t his rit ua l lace ra tion, cr. 1 K 18:28: Jr 16:6 : 4 1:5. I efers : some suspec t an a llusion to t he vengea nce of I. ' rebe l against ' corr . : ' turn away from' He br . Simeo n an d Levi . G n 34; 49:5 . k . G reek. He br. reads 'who trained a nd gave J. 'i n Bethe l' cor r. ; ' in the House o f Israel' Hebr. k . This men tion of Jud a h is a la ter ad d ition . 'I st re ng t h' . I. ' to Baa l' co rr . : ' not o n high ' He br, Intend ' ca rr. 8 a . 'a wa tchma n' corr. : 'a n eagle' Hebr. 7 a. ' wickedne ss' Gr eek; 'w icked deeds' Heb r. b. Pa lestine. cr, 9:15: Jr 12:7; Zc 9:3; 1 Ch 17:14. b. Fro m the lnceprion of the Northern Ki ngdom to b. T he ph ra se "a fte r a d ay or two ( li t ' t wo days') ... o n th e t hird d ay' m eans ' bef or e long' ,

5:H Jr 6:17 Ezk 3:17

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14 60

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Civil anarchy and idolatry T hey have set up kings, but no t wit h my co nsent, 11:12 1a nd a ppo inted pr inces, but witho ut my knowle dge. Out of th eir ow n silver and gold they ha ve made idols, which are doomed to destru ction . 10 :5 I spurn your calf, Sa ma ria, 1 K 12:28.32 my a nger blazes against it.'· (How lo ng will it be before they purge themselves of th is, t he so ns of Israel?)f Ex 20:4 : 34: A wo rk ma n mad e the th ing, 17 th is« ca nno t be G od ! Yes, the calf of Sa ma ria shall go up in nam es. 10 : 1.1 T hey sow the wind, they will reap t he whir lwind : pJrbA~~ t heir wheat will yield no ea r, Ga 6:7 the ear will yield no flou r, o r, if it does, fo reigners will swa llow it. I S 8: I

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Israel ru ined by relying on foreign powers" Israe l himself has been swa llowed , a nd is dest ined now to stay amon g the nat ions like a crock that no o ne wa nts, for making a pproaches to Assyria - t hat wild ass living a lo ne. Ephra im is rent ing lo vers. ' Right : let them ren t them amo ng the natio ns, I am going to dispe rse them t his mi nute : that will soo n put a stop to th eir anoi nt ing kings and lead ers )

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6:6 A m 5:22 IIJr 14: /0 ~ 9:9

9:3 : 11:5 D I28 :68 -,-

Dt 32:1 5. 18 .

A m 2:5

Against ext ravagance in building Israe l has forgo tte n his Ma ker and has built pa laces ; J udah has bu ilt fo rt ified town after fort ified town ; right, I will rain fir e o n his to wns, it will devou r his pa laces. Th e sorrows of exile" Let us have no rejoici ng, Israe l. no ex ulting like the other peo ples ;"

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Persecution, the proph et's reward for foretelling the punishment Now the days of rec koning have com e, the days of reprisals a re here. 'T he prophet is mad,' Israel protests' ' this inspired fellow is ra ving .' - Ah yes, but on ly becau se you r iniq uity is so great, yo ur apostasy so gra ve. Ephraim wat ches the prophet's tent, ' traps a re set for him on all his pa ths , in the house of his God enmity awaits him. These men are as steeped in co rru ptio n as in the days of G ibeah; Yahweh will remember their iniquity, he will punish their sins.

10

Against the outward show of worship Ephra im has built a ltar" aft er altar, t hey have o nly served him as occas io n fo r sin. Were I to write out the tho usa nd precept s of my Law for him, they wo uld be paid no more attent ion than t hose of a stra nger. T hey love sacrificing ; right, let them sacrifice! T hey love meat ; right , let th em eat it !' Ya hweh tak es no pleasure in t hese. He is now going to remember their iniq uity and puni sh their sins ; they will have to go bac k to Egypt.

0 -,

9: 10

for you ha ve deserted God to pla y the whore, you have enjoyed th e pr ostitute' s pay on every thr eshing-floor. c Nei t her floor no r vat will nou rish th em , the new wine will disappoint th em . d They will no longer live in th e land of Yahweh, Ephraim will have to go back to Egypt, and in Assyr ia th ey will eat food that is unclean.' T hey will po ur libations of wine to Ya hweh no longe r, nor offer sac rifice to him ; the ir bread will be like mourners' bread , all those who eat it will become unclean ;! for their bread will serve onl y for th emsel ves, it must not enter the hou se of Yahweh.' What will you do on the day of solemn festiva l, th e day of the feast of Ya hweh? " W hy, they will have gone , gone from th e devastation. Egypt will receive th em, Memphis bury th em, nett les will inher it the ir treasur es of silver, and brambles invad e their tents .

becau se they have violated my co venant and rebelled aga inst my Law. Useless now to shout, 'God of Israe l, we ac kno wledge you ' ." Isra el has rejected the good ; the enemy" will hunt him down.

6:7 I)s 7:0::.' 7

H O S EA

10

13

d. Assyri a . e. ' I sp u rn ' co n . :
' a ga inst it'

t , ' the so ns o f Isr ael' co rr .: ' for from Isr ael' H eb r. g . The ea r liest po lem ic aga inst ido ls, to be fo llow ed by m an y anot he r in t he prophetic books, cr. Is 40 :20 +; 4 1:2 1 + . h. T h is passage m ust be la ter t han th e dep or ta tion foll owin g th e Syro -Eph rai m ite wa r (734), 2 K 15:29 . t. A llus io n to the tr-ibu te paid to t he kings o f Assy ria, 5:13 ; 7:1 L po ss ib ly a lso to gifts sen t to Egypt . 12:2 . I. 'd isperse' co r r. : 'g a ther ' H eb r. ' tha t will soo n . . . ' G reek ; 'and they will su ffer for a while under th e b urde n o f the k ing o f t he leaders ' H e br. k . He br . ad ds 'f or s in '. I. Text corr. 9 a . Or acle pe rh ap s pr o nou nced a t an agricult ur al fes tiva l. b. Lit. 'd o not exult (like the peoples)' so me G reek MSS .

'" Cl

J r 6: 17

s

Jr 20:1-6 A m 7: 10-17 U

10:9

J g 19

w

N

~ 8 : 13

..J

It was like finding grapes in the wilderness when I foun d Israel, like seeing ea rly fru it" o n the fig tree when 1 saw your fathers; but when th ey reach ed Baal-peor! they devo ted themselves to shame» and becam e as hat eful as the thing t hey loved .

corr. : ' agains t t hem ' Heb r.

~

-r

c. Text cor r.

14

e,

In 10:20

P unishment for the crime at Baal -peor

11

12

A m 3:2 +

c . T he 'pay ' (t he goo ds o f the eart h) is p o llu ted . bec a use Isr ael au rtbutes it to t he generos ity o f the Baa lim . 2:7 . and a lso beca use th e fes ti vities m ar kin g har vest - hom e wer e accom pa nied by im mo ra l practices . d . '(w ill di sappo int) th em' so me G reek MSS : ' her' He br . c. E ver y for eign co u nt ry is unclean , sinc e defi led by the pr esence o f ido ls. cr. A m 7: 17 : I S 26: 19. f. Text cor r , Mo ur ners a tte nd in g th e cor pse were thereby defiled . K . T he b re ad will not hav e been sa nctified b y th e o fferi ng o f first-fruit s. Lv 23:9·2 1, ea t ing i t Rives no hon o ur to G od . o nly ph ysica l sa tisfactio n . h. T he feas t o f T abe rnacles, E x 23:14 + . I. ' Isra el protest s' cor r.: ' Isr ael k now s ' o r ' let Is rael kn ow ' Hebr . J. Lin e co r r .: 'T he wa tc h ma n of Ep hra im is wi th my God ; t he prophet' H ebr , k . Hebr. ad ds 'li ke firs t-f r uits ' o r ' in it s first se aso n' . l. T he infidelity o f Israel t hus began at t he ga tes of Pa les tine a nd had vit ia ted Is ra elite history ever s ince . m. A di sp ar a gin g name for th e Baals .

2:16 + D t 32:10

N b 25: 1-5

J r \1: 10 Ir 2:5 +

~

..J

UJ

9: 1 I Dt

9: 16 Dl32:25

Lk 23:29

1:6 ; 14:5

Am 2;9 Mt 21:20r 9: 12

DI2H:64-6 5 G n 4:14

Is 5:1

t

n i 32:15 2:7 .14; 4: l or

Ex 23:24

1

I)

Am 6: 12

Jr 48: 13

4: 15

~;

8:5

Rv 1H:14

4: 13

/4 62

The glory of Ephra im will flyaway like a bird: no giving birth , no pregnancy, no concei ving. And if they rear so ns, I will take these from them before they co me to manh ood; tro uble for th em indeed when I abandon them. Ep hrai m, I see, has made his sons a prey," Ephrai m mu st lead his son s to the slaug hter house. G ive the m, Ya hweh-what are you to give?give th em wombs that miscarry, and dried -up breasts.

2~ :I S

12: 12

HOS E A

Punishment for the crime at Gilgal T heir wicked ness appeared in full at Gilg al, o t here I came to ha te the m. Becau se of their wicked deed s I will d rive them out of my hou se; I will love them no lo nger, for their leaders are all rebels. Ephraim is cut down, their roots arc withered; they will bea r no fru it. And if t hey bear childre n, I will kill the darlings of their wom b. Because they have not listened to him , my God will cast th em oil' and they will be wander ers t hro ugho ut the natio ns. T he destruction of Israel 's cultic objects Israel was a luxurian t vine yielding plent y of fruit. " T he mo re his fruit increased, the mo re altars he built ; th e richer his lan d beca me, the richer he made the sacred sto nes. The ir hea rt is a di vided hea rt ; " very well, they must pay fo r it: Yahweh is going to break their altars down and destroy th eir sac red stones. T hen they will say, 'W e have no king becau se we have not feared Yahweh' . But what ca n a king do for us? Words, words! ' False oa ths ! Alliances! And ju dgemen t is onl y a poiso nous weed th at thrivesin the furr ows of th e field ,

10

The inhabi ta nts of Sa mari a are trembling for the calf of Beth-aven ; yes, its people mo urn fo r it, its so-called pr iests bewail its glor y,' no w th is has va nished. T he ca lf itself sha ll be car ried off to Assyria as tribu te to the Great King. Ephra im will reap the shame, a nd Israe l blush for his idol, " Sa mar ia has had her day. Her kingv is like a st raw- drifting on the water. T he idolatrou s high places shall be destroyedtha t sin of Israel;

/4 6]

HOSEA thorn and thistle will grow on their altars. T hen they will say to the mou nta ins, 'Cover us!' a nd to the hills, 'Fall on us!'

II

12

o...,

10:15

(/)

Is 2:10 /' Lk 23 :30 ~' L k 6:16

Rv6:16

Against Gibea h 13

14

10

Ever since the days at G ibeah, Israel, you have sinned. Things arc still the same . And will not war overtake the gui lty at G ibeah?' JI sha ll come and puni sh them . The natio ns will muste r against them to punis h them for their double crime."

9:9+

o

::;; -0:

;a o

z

o ...,

15 ~

Threats and an invitation to repentance II

16

12

17

::;;

Ephr ai m is a well tra ined heifer tha t loves to tread th e thresh ing-floor ; very well, I myself mean to lay the yoke on tha t fine neck of hers, I am goin g to put Ephraim in harn ess, Israe l will have to ploug h, Jacob mu st d raw th e harrow.' Sow integrity '« for yourselv es, reap a harvest of kindn ess, break up your fallow ground: it is time to go seeking Yahw eh un til he comes to rain salvation on you.

4: 16

Jr 2:20: 5:5 MI ll :29-30

14

Il

1/ ' I

Why ha ve you ploughed iniqu ity, reaped inj ustice, and eaten the produce, lies? Because you ha ve trusted in yo ur chariots," and in your host of warriors, tur mo il is going to break out in your town s, > a nd a ll your fortresses will be la id wast e, as S hal m.ui : laid Beth-a rbel waste 0 11 the da y of the ba ttle. when mothers [cll. da shcd t,) pieces, on their children .• That is what I mean to do to yo u, House of Israel, becau se of yo ur grea t wickedness ; ami in the sto rm the king of Israel is goi ng to disa ppear for ever.r n. line co rr .. ..:1'. ( ired.. ; Hc br . unin tcfli e iblc . o . T he m on arch v. co nde mned by H osea. x:4 ! •

w as ins ti tu ted at ( iilg,lI. I S I I: 14- 15 T he re Io n a cu rse was su bsequentlv la id ,'n t he ..,, )\"cn.:it-: nn' ( I f Suul . I S 1J :7~ 14: 15:10 -2 1.

In a 'yicldin~ nlc n tv (I f' ":I IlT . : ·"t' llin.lo: f u r h im' Hchr. h. Eit her divnled belw,'<:.11 Yahweh and tile Baa ls or hcsiuni n g be t wee n Egypt .1n..:1 As svna . c. ' Wo rd s. wo rd s' cor r.: ' th cy spea k word s' H e br. d . Un de r the ki ngs of Isra el lu stice was po iso ned a l the roots. cf. Am 6:12 . e, 'the calf ' G reek and $yr.; 'the ca lves' Hebr. ' bewail ' cor r.: 'ex u lt ' He br. r. 'G rea t K in g' cor r.: 'King Jareb' o r ' a vengin g

king' Heb r. Cf. 5:13+ .

'idol' corr.: ' purpose ' Hebr .

K. Tha t is. the calf. h. Or 'li ke foa m ',

J. Interp ret a tion co ni . O thers tind a reference here 10 t he punishme nt of th e Beniaminites, J g 20. I. Tex t corr .

k . The a llus io n is obscure: possibly to the instituti on mo narc hy (M izpah . where it was pro cla imed, was nea r Gibeah, I S 1O:23~24) and to the crime of J ~ 19 ; but pe rha ps merely to the single crime at G tbeah. since ' do uble' ca n mean ' arear'. ' disgraceful '. I. ' lay (the yoke) on ' : lit. 'pass
or t he

~

In

2:2 1+ Mi 6:8 2 Co 9: 10

«

:I:

Jr 4:3 Am 5:4

0W

N

The end of Isra el I)

:I:

8:7

o ~

Is 31:1 (J

w

r-J

'1

..J

UJ

HOSEA

II:I

/4 64

/4 6 5

H OS E A

...,0

12: 11

II' Dt 1:31 + : 32: 5 W s 18: 13 Jr 2 :1-9 : 3 1:3 ? M ' 2: 15

IIH

Psl3l :2 Dt 8: 16 8:3 + 9:3

Again st J acob

God 's love despised: his vengeance" When Israel was a chi ld b I loved h im, and I ca lled my so n' out of Egypt. But the more I ca lled to t hem, t he fu rther they went from me; th ey have offered sacrifice to the Baals a nd set their offerings smoking befo re the idols! I myself taught Eph ra im to walk, I took them in my arms; ' yet the y have not understood that I was the one looki ng after th em . I led them with reins of kindness;' with lea ding-strings o f love, I was like so meo ne who lifts a n infan t close against his cheek; " stoo ping down to him I gave h im his food. " T hey will have to go back to Egypt, Assyria mu st be the ir ki ng, beca use they ha ve refused to return to me, T he swo rd will rage through the ir town s, wip ing o ut t heir chi ldren, glutting itse lf inside their for tresse s.'

11

D t 32:36 Is 54:8 Jr 31:20

Nb 23: 19 t

Ws l: 13,

1

E l k 18:23,32

T hey will foll ow beh ind Ya hweh ; he will be roarin g like a lio nhow he will roar! and his so ns will co me speed ing from the west; they will come spee d ing from Egy pt like a bir d, speed ing fro m th e land o f Assy ria like a dove, and I will settle th em in their homes - it is Ya hwe h who spea ks. Israel's religion and policy both alike perverse "A ll ro und me are the lies of Ephraim and the deceit of t he Ho use of Israel. But God still recogni ses J uda h, a nd he is sti ll ca lled the peo ple o f the Ho ly O ne." Ep hra im feed s on ' t he wind, forever chasi ng t he wind from the East," accumula ting falsehood a nd fra ud ,' maki ng treaties with Assyr ia, sending oil to Egypt.

12

13: 15 5: 13 : 7: II : 14:4 Is 30 : l f : 3 1: If

G n 15:26 : 27:3 6 Is 43:27 + J r 9:3

« al 0

G o 32:24-28 G n 28: 10 -22

Z

0 ...,

A m 4: 13 "

~

:;

J:

«

Dt 25: 13-1 6

Ca naan " ho ld s tru ud ulent sca les in his hand s, to defraud : is his delight. . How ric h I ha ve beco me !' says Ep hra im ' 1 have ama ssed a fortun e.' But he will keep no thing o f a ll his pr o fits, becau se o f the gu ilt tha t he ha s bro ugh t o n him self'. "

P r 11:1

A m 8:5 Lk 12:16-2 1

CD

« J: .» Rv3 :17- 1

o,

W 'N

The prospec t of reconciliation between Yah weh a nd Isra el [ll

v

II /II

I ha ve been Ya hwe h. yo ur God. since the da ys in th e land of Egyp t. I will ma ke you live in tents again as o n the da y o f Meet ing." I will spea k to the prop hets, " I will increase the visions" a nd thro ugh the prophets I will deal out dea th . q

~ 13 : 4

....

Ex 20:2 2: 16

~

C)

~

... 6:5 U W

II a . Thi s ch a pt er.

The retu rn from ex ile r

«

Z

My peopl e a re diseased through their d isloyalty ; they ca ll o n Baa l, but he does not c ure th em .' Ephra im, how co uld I pa rt with yo u? Is rae l, how cou ld I give yo u up? How cou ld I t reat yo u like Ad ma h, or deal with yo u like Ze bo iirn?" My heart reco ils from it, my who le bei ng tre mb les at the tho ught. ' I will not give rein to my fierce a nger, I will not dest ro y Ep hra im again, for I a m God , not man : I a m the Ho ly O ne in yo u r midst a nd ha ve no wis h to destr oy. m

P s 27:10; 78 :38 Is 49 : 14 Lk 15

::

4 :1

Greed and the punishmen t of Israe l

God's love proves str onger than his vengeance 1 K 18:2529

rn 0

Yahw eh ha s a case aga inst Israel, " he will pa y Ja co b as his co nduct merits, a nd will repay him as his deeds deser ve, In the ver y wom b he suppla nted his bro ther, in ma tu rit y he wrestled agai nst G od . " He wrestled with the a ngel and heat hi m, he we pt a nd plea ded with him," He met him at Beth el and there G od spok e to him,' Yes, Ya hweh Go d o f Sa ba oth, Ya hwe h is his name, T urn aga in, t hen, to yo ur God, hold fast to love a nd ju stice, a nd a lways put yo ur trust in yo ur God.!

10

II

1

/2

o n the rcla tto ns hin be tween Ya hweh and Isra el. co rre s po nd s to 2:4-25 , t ho ugh here Is ra el is no t (h e beloved. un faith ful wife. hut t he child ungra teful for a ll the lo ve he ha s re ceived (t he t wo im ages ar e ju xta pos ed in J r 3: 19-20). b . F or H o sea . t he histor y of Israel rea lly b c ain s wit h t he Exod us . T his who le pa ssag e des crib es t he go lde n 31Ze o f t he d ese r t iou r nc v. cf. ::!: 16 -". Hos ea see ms o nlv to have k now n . o r to ha ve reme mbered. the less credit able in ci d e n ts o f (he nau-ra rcha l per iod, 12:4-5. 13. I,:. ' nw so n' Hc b r. : ' h is so ns ' G ree k . d . F o llow ing Gr eek. e . T hu s Ta r e.. SYr.. a nd Gree k : Hcbr. co rr upt. f. Lit 'co rd s o f m an ' . g. Te xt co rr. h. Text cor r. ' (I eave) hi m ' ; re ad ing ' him ' in stead o f th e ' no t ' in t he Heb r. o f the fo llo win g line . I. Tex t carr. l. Text of t hese tw o lines corr. k , A d m a h a nd Ze bo fim were two o f the five towns o f the Pent apoli s. ( i n 10:[ 9 : 14 :2. S : Ot 29:22: in th e Elo h istic t ra d it ion they p resum a bl y take th e place of the Sodom an d G om or rah of th e Ya hw is tlc tr ad it io n , Is 1:9-10 . I. Lit. ' M y hea r! re co ils with in m e, my bowe ls a re in a ferment ' . m . ' I have no wis h to d es tr o y' co rr, : ' I sh a ll not co me in to th e to wn ' Hebr. 12 a . A d ifficult ch a p te r: re ferenc es to co n tem porary events a lte rn ate wi th ref ere nces to epi so des fr om th e nat r farc ha l a ge . F o r H osea . th e fa u lts of Ja co b the Ances to r still we igh hea vily o n t he pr esen t genera tio n . b. ' But . H o ly O ne ' Greek : ' Bu t Jud ah is re belHous ( 1) towa rds G o d a nd tow ar d s th e Ho ly O ne (1)

who is (',') fai t hfu l' Hcb r. These t wo lin es are a la ter ad.Ifr lo u. c. Or ' is fr iend ly with ' , ' has 10 d o with ', d . T he sco rc h i ng wi nd fr om th e desert

Pa les ti ne an d Assy ria : it sym bol ises in va sio n. d. 13: 15 : J r 18: 17 ; Ezk 17: 10. e, 'fra ud'

cr. G reek : ' vio lence'

l ~' i n g

be tween

the A ssvr tan

He br.

f. ' Isr ael' cur r. : 'J ud a h' H eb r. 2 . A mb it io n a nd a rr o gan ce in na te a nd pers is te n t. H ose a interp ret s th ese ep iso de s u nfa vo ur a bl y here. as in vv. 13- 14. h. Gn 32:24 -28 do es n ot s pea k of tears a nd e ntr ea t ies: H osea is pro ba b ly hi n ti n g a t so m e trick o n Ja cob ' s p art . i . ' to him' corr. : ' (0 us' Heb r. I. T he se wor ds ar e no t a d ivin e ad mo n itio n ad dressed to Ja co b bu t a wa r ni ng fro m th e p ro p he t to his con te m po ra r ies . k , 'C a naa n ite' was the usu al term for a mer ch an t. Here "Ca nna n ' is used pej o r ativ el y o f Isr ael. infe cted h ~' the SPirit o f co mmerciali sm cha ra cteris tic of the people who m he h as su pp la n ted . I. ' to defra ud ' cor r.: ' 10 oppress' H eb r. m. T he tra nsla ti o n foll ow s t he G reek . n . Reference 10 t he ha lt at Sina i whe n Y ahw eh ' me t' h is people, Ex 5:3: 19:9. 17 : 33:1 7 : Ot 9; 10: 18: 16. o . ' I wi ll s pea k . . I w ill m a ke' ; o r ' I spo ke . . . I mad e' . ' to th e p ro p hets ' Greek ; 'on ' or ' aga inst t h~ p ro phet s' He br. P. Pr ophecy a nd visio n are a stgn of God 's fa vo ur . D' I K:9-2 2 ; Ps 74 :9: Lm 2:9 : N b 12:2-8 : Ex 33: I I. Q . A s in t he case o f Elij ah . 1 K 18:40 . See a lso H o 6;5a ; J r 1: 10 ; Is 6:9· 13 ; Ezk 3:17-20 , etc . Alter native tra ns la tio n ' I sha ll speak (o r ' I spo ke' ) in pa rabl es' .

~ ..J

-r

....l

12: 12

H OS EA

6:8 4 :1 5 ; 9: 15

12

Gn 19

Ex 3:7- 1tl Dt 1l-::1 5, I X

Ws ll :I

r r

1K

1 2 : 2 7 , _~ 2

I K 19:I X

IH

6:4 W s 11:21 1.1' / 7:13 : -II ;

.Zp16..,~:_. ,

Iii Is 43 : I I -t J) t

31; 10

Ps 7X:2t)

D l 3 2: 15 ! 5: 14

2 S 17:H

IJ

!2

14

14 13 15 U

W he n Ephra im s poke, a ll tr emb led , so great was he in I sracl ,« but t hrough Ba a l hc br ou gh t guilt on him self a nd peri she d . A nd now the y ad d sin to sin , they smelt images from their silver, id ols o f thei r ow n manufact ur e, smit h's wor k, a ll o f it. 'Sacrifice to them ' th ey say. " Men blo w kisses to calves Ir Therefo re thcy will bc like mo rni ng mis t, like the dew that qui c kly d isappears, like th e cha ir w hirled" fro m the t hres hing-floo r, like smok e esc ap ing throug h the window .

15

14

ISRAEL. A PROMISE

1S

x:s

i l mean to dest roy yo u, Israel; who ca n co me to yo ur hel p? Yo ur king, where is he no w, to save you ," where a rc yo ur leaders to c ham pio n yo u? Those o f who m yo u used to sa y, ' G ive me a king a nd lea ders' .

D t 32:34-35

A ND OF

Is 37:3 6:2 Ps 9 1:6 Is 26:19 Ez k37:1 -14+ Is 25:8 + . » 1 Co 15:55

12:2 "':'-

~ :E

I

~

/Xl

7: 1

'"

Ps 137:9

c,

10 :14 + A m 1:13

~

o

OF

~

HAPPINES S "

Isra el, come ba ck to Ya hweh yo ur G od; yo ur iniq uity was the cause of yo ur dow nfall . Prov ide yourself wit h word s a nd co me ba ck to Yahweh . Sa y to him, 'Ta ke all iniq uit y a way so that we ma y have happiness again a nd offer you o ur wo rd s of pra ise.'!

10

z

.,o

I

R E CON CILIATION FUTURE

~

o

Is 26:1 7-18

T he sincere conversion of Israel to Yahweh

Yet I am Ya hweh, your God since th e day s in thc lan d of Egy pt ;,. yo u k now no God but me, thc rc is no o thcr sav io ur. I pastu red! yo u in thc wilder ness : in the la nd o f dr o ught I pa stured them , a nd " they wer e sa tisfied ; o nce sa tisfied, t heir hea rts grew pr oud , a nd so t hey ca me to forge t rnc. Vcry we ll, I will be' a lion to them , a leop ard lurkin g by thc way; likc a bear ro bbed of her cubs I wi ll pounce o n th em , a nd tea r the flesh round their heart s; th e do gs sha ll ca t their flesh / tile wild bea st s tear thcm to pieces ,

o

:E

'"

Samar ia m ust ato ne fo r rebelli ng aga inst her God . T hey sha ll fa ll by th e swo rd, the ir litt le children be das hed to pieces, th eir" pregn an t wom en disemb owelled .

III. THE REPENTAN C E

T he end of the monarchy Ps 12 1:2

(/)

10: 15

The ini q uity of Ephraim is ca refully hoarded, h is sin is safely stored away . Pangs as of child birth overtake him, and a stupid chi ld it is, its ti me is up but it does not leave the womb.' And am I to save them from the power of Sheol? Am I to resc ue them from Dea th ? W here is your plag ue, Dea th ? Wh ere are yo ur sco urge s, Sh eot ?« I have no eyes for pity. Ep hrai m may flourish a mo ng the reeds," but the wind fro m t he East will come, the brea th of Ya hwe h will rise fro m th e desert to d ry his water-so urces, to parch his sp ri ngs, to st rip h is la nd of a ll its trea sures. "

13

The punish ment for ingratitude = 12: 10

1 S 8:7.22

The inevitability of ruin 12

Idolatry punished

13

.o,

14:3

1/

Aga inst Jaeob a nd Ephra im J acob fled to the pla ins of A ram, Israel worked to win a wife, to win a wifc hc lo o ked after sheep. But Yahwe h brought Isra el o ut of Egypt by a prop het, a nd a pro phe t loo ked a fter Isra el. Ep hra im has give n b ittcr provocat io n a nd Ya hwe h mea ns to br ing his bloods hed d own o n him, his Lo rd wi ll re pay him fo r his ins ults.

HOS E A In my anger I ga ve you a king a nd in my wrat h I take him away.

11

N ew threats G ilead is no t hin g but iniqui ty, they a re falsehood , nothin g else; a t G ilga l thc y sac rifice to bulls:' their a lta rs sha ll be red uced to heaps o f sto nes in a ploughed field .

UJ

14 67

/4 66

r. R ea di ng ' G ilead ' for ' If Gilead ". ' to bu lls' pa sture' He br . co rr. : 'bulls ' Hcb r. h. 'I sha ll be' Greek : ' I ha ve been ' He b r, 13 a , 'spoke ' Hc br. : ' ta u gh t ' G reek . 'so great wa s he' i. Line co rr.: ' there 1 will eat them like a lion ' Hebr. co r r : ' he carried' Il e br. O n th e p o liuca l imp or tan ce j . \' V, 9- [0 corr . o f Eph r aim in t he ea rlv d a ys , sec J os 24:30 ; J~ X :I -:~ : k . Po ss ibl y a n ironic a llus io n 10 Kin g H oshe a 12:1-6. So me co m men ta to rs. a ccep t in g the Greek (732-n 4), wh o se name mea ns 'Y a h weh-is-sav iour'. rea di n g, thi nk tha t rel igiou s primacy is her e ref err ed to : o f thi s th ere a re traces in Ex 33: I I (t he part pl ayed hr th e En h ra irni te Jo shua) an d I S 1-4 (th e shr ine of th e L ' Its t ime is up' co r r. Th e sa yin g is probably urk at Shiloh in Ephrai m). proverb ia l. ind icatin g a di sa st rou s situation . b, ' Sacrifice ' co r r. m . ' W her e is ' , ' wh ere a rc' cmr .: ' I will be ' Hebr. c. An aCI of h oma ge , H os ea is rhin ki ng of th e su rviva l o f the nati on : d . 'wh irled' corr . S t Pau l is la ter to apply the text to the resu rrec tion of e For this li ne the G reek ha s ' 1 am th e Lord in di vid ual s. yo ur Go d wh o se t th e hea ven s firm and est a bli sh the 11, Sy m bo lis ing luxuriant gro wth , cu rth : m y h a nd s h a ve creat ed the wh ole a r ra y of 0, Te xt co rr. cr . Greek. heave n . but I hav e no t show n th ese to yo u fo r yo u 10 14 a . Corr.; H eb r. has th e pr on oun in th e singu la r. fo llow (the wo rshi p 00 (hem . I i t was wh o broug h t b. Th e p rophecy ends o n a no te o f ho pe, a lread y yo u u p o u t of the la nd o f Egypl. ' Wh en t he cal f-idols bea rd in 2 : 16·25 ; 3:5 ; 11:8· 11 ; 12:10 . A liturgical prayer o f Dan a nd Bethel we re inst al led . Je ro boa m h ad sa id , ex p ress ing s ince re re pent a nce, co rre spo ndi ng to 6:1-6 , ' I Icrc are yo ur gods, Isr ae l. th ese br ou ght yo u up OUI of is fo llo wed b y a firm promi se o f God's b lessin g. me lan d of Egypt'. 1 K 12:2 8. c . W il h wo rds of tru e rep en ta nce (unlike 6:1- 3) f. ' pastured ' Greek ; 'k new' Hcb r., cf . A m 3:2 , a nd no t with sacri fices , 6:6, J:, ' I pastured them and' co rr.; 'Accor d ing [0 th eir d , Lit. 'the fr uit of o ur lip s' : te xt co rr .

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1:6 : 9: IS 2: 16-25 Ps 72: 16 : 133:3 Is 2h: 19 Mi 5:6 Is 27:6

S. 4 :1 I A m 9 :14

Ezk 27: IX

4 :17 2 Co6:16

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Assy ria cannot save us, we will no t ride hor ses a ny mo re,' o r say , "Ou r God!" to wha t o ur own hands have made, for yo u ar e the o ne in whom or pha ns find compassio n.' - I will heal their disloyalty, I will love th em with all my hea rt, for my ang er has turned from them . I will fall like dew o n Israel. He sha ll bloom like the lily, a nd th rust out roo ts like th e po plar;' his shoo ts will spread fa r; he will ha ve the beau ty of the olive a nd the fragranc e o f Leba no n. Th ey will co me back to live in my shade; they will grow co rn that flo urishe s, they will cultiva te vines as renow ned as the wine of Hel bo n. v Wha t has Ephra im to do with id o ls an y mo re" when it is 1 who hea r his pra yer a nd care for him ? I a m like a cypre ss ever green, t all yo ur fru itfulness/ com es from me.

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T he wo rd o f Ya hweh th at was add ressed to Joel son of Peth uel." I. THE PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS

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A. A LITURGY OF MOURNING AND ENTREATY

Concluding admonition" Ps WI\4~ Dt 32:4

Let the wise man understa nd the se words. Let the inte lligent man grasp their meaning. Fo r the ways of Ya hwe h are st raig ht, a nd virtuo us men wa lk in them, but sinners stumble.

10

a. Lamen tation over the ruin of the country Listen to this, you elders; all in ha bitants of the co untry, attend. Has a nything like this ever ha ppen ed in your day , o r in yo ur fathers' days? Te ll it to yo ur so ns, let yo ur so ns tell it to their son s, a nd their sons to a generation after them.

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d o ' co rr. : ' Eph rai m .

i. T he cy pr ess wa s a sym bol of life . i. T her e is a nla v o n words her e: (he ver b '1\) be fr ui tfu l' fo rms part of the nam e 'Ep hra im ' . k . La te r add itio n in the s t yle o f the wisdom litera tu re .

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D 128:38 A m 4:9: 7: l f M I3:! 1 Ps lO5:34 -35

Awa ke, drunka rds, a nd weep ! All you who dri nk wine, lament for that new wine: it has been das hed from yo ur lips.

155 : 11 1

Mo urn" like a virgin wea ring sac kcloth ' for her yo ung ma n betrot hed to her. Oblation a nd libation! have va nished yt'l t'q r' nopoe c') . chasti (s hea rer' ). ga: a m (' gna wer '). • • Greek . Vet. La t. and Svr. rea d 'Bar hue l". c . Tex t co rr. b . A n in vas ion of locu st s ha s devastated the d . The prop het is ad d ress ing t he commun ity. co untrv. Of t he fo ur te rms used here for the insect , e . Sa ck cloth sy mbo lises grtef a nd repen ta nce . .".It ,'h, o r 'dest royer ' , (translated ' grow n lo cu st ' in t h is r. T he da ily ob lat ion. d . Lv 2, and libat ion were Illnce) is th e co m monest , in d icat ing the speci es as a who le. T he exact meanin g o f th e other th ree is d ispu ted. o fferi ngs fro m the prod uce of the soil : co rn, wine and I hey may be used fo r th e va rio us s ubs pe cies, bu t m ore oil. er, E x 29:38-42: Nb 28:3-8. Llwhably th ey sign ify s uccessive stages of growt h:

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W hat t he gnawer has left, the grown loeust has devoured, wha t t he gro wn locust has left, the hopper has devoured, what the hopper has left, the shearer has devou red . "

Fo r a nation has invaded my co untry, might y a nd innumerabl e ; its teeth a re the teet h of lion s, it has th e fa ngs of a lion ess. It has laid waste my vines a nd torn my fig trees to pieces ; it has stripped them clea n a nd cut them down, " the ir bra nc hes have turned white.

14 c . ' T o r ide hor ses ' is pe r ha ps it syno ny m here for con cl uding all ullia ncc with zu vm . cr. Is 3 1:1.

Rv 9 :3

D 128:39

JX 7; 12

Jr 46: 23 • R v 9:8 Is 5: 1 1

Na 2:3

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