Hosea 11:1-12

YHWH Describes How He Had Called His Son (Israel) Out Of Egypt And Watched Over Him As A Faithful Father, Training Him In The Right Way, Only For His Son's Heart To Remain In Egypt So That He Would Inevitably Return There Again. Nevertheless God Promises That He Will Not Give Them Up, And That One Day He Will Call Them Out Of Egypt Again And He Will Cause Them To Dwell With Him (Hosea 11:1).

In this tender passage YHWH describes how He ‘called His son (Israel) out of Egypt' (compare Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1). And how, in spite of the fact that He had led them, and watched over them and fed them (both in the wilderness and then in Canaan), they had spurned His love and turned to the Baalim and to graven images (both in the wilderness (Exodus 32) and now in Canaan), because their hearts were still ‘in Egypt'. And the consequence is to be that they will ‘return to Egypt' (i.e. by being exiled among foreign nations or refugees in Egypt) because they have refused to turn to Him. Nevertheless He is determined not to finally give them up, and promises that although they at present only seek Him in a formal way, without there being any real heart in it, He will in His sovereignty one day bring them again out of their Egypt and ‘cause them to dwell in their houses'. It was in order to demonstrate that this promise was about to be fulfilled that Jesus (as the Supreme Representation of Israel) went as a young child into Egypt, and then returned to Palestine (Canaan) at the call of God, symbolising that the promised return of Israel to God through Him was about to happen, something which Matthew especially brings out by citing this passage (Matthew 2:15).

In spite of Ephraim's failure Judah is at this stage seen as the exception because they still ‘ruled with God' (had a Davidic king) and were ‘faithful with the Holy One' (continued the observance of the covenant in accordance with the Law). This might suggest that these words were written in the days of Hezekiah when this was again true.

It should be noted that whilst the alterations in method of address (changing from third person to first person and back again, and from singular to plural and back again) may be a little confusing to us they were not confusing to Hosea's listeners. In such niceties Hebrew grammar was not as precise as we are.

Analysis of Hosea 11:1.

a When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt (Hosea 11:1).

b The more they (the prophets) called them, the more they went from them, they sacrificed to the Baalim, and burned incense to graven images (Hosea 11:2).

c Yet I taught Ephraim to walk, I took them on my arms, but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love, and I was to them as those who lift up the yoke on their jaws, and I laid food before them (Hosea 11:3).

d Will they not return into the land of Egypt, and Assyria be their king, because they refused to return to Me? And the sword will fall on their cities, and will consume their bars, and devour, because of their own counsels (Hosea 11:5).

e And my people are bent on backsliding from me, though they call them to (Me) on high, none at all will exalt (Me)' (Hosea 11:7).

f How shall I give you up, Ephraim? How shall I cast you off, Israel? How shall I make you as Admah? How shall I set you as Zeboiim? My heart is turned within me, My compassions are kindled together (Hosea 11:8)

e I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim, for I am God, and not man, the Holy One in the midst of you, and I will not come in wrath (Hosea 11:9).

d They will walk after YHWH, Who will roar like a lion, for He will roar, and the children will come trembling from the west. They will come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria (Hosea 11:10 a).

c And I will make them to dwell in their houses, says YHWH (Hosea 11:11 b).

b Ephraim compasses me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit (Hosea 11:12 a).

a But Judah yet rules with God, and is faithful with the Holy One (Hosea 11:12 b).

Note that in ‘a' Israel's relationship with God was good, and they were blessed by God and in the parallel Judah's relationship with God is good. In ‘b' Israel had turned to the Baalim and to graven images, and in the parallel they compassed God with falsehood and deceit. In ‘c' God watched over His people as though they were His household, and in the parallel He will make them to dwell in (His) houses. In ‘d' they will return to Egypt and Assyria, and in the parallel they will return from Egypt and Assyria. In ‘e' Israel call to God on high, but do not exalt Him, and in the parallel God is exalted as the Holy One among them. Central in ‘f' is the heart cry of God for His people in His compassion for them.