Hosea 4:6-10

YHWH Attacks Both Priests And People Because They Are So Taken Up With Sin That They No Longer Heed Him (Hosea 4:6).

Here we may see YHWH as attacking the priests for failing to teach the people, with the result that the people too will be punished for their doings. Alternately the whole people might be being seen as ‘priests to the nations' in accordance with Isaiah 61:6. Either way we have to recognise that the priesthood in the northern kingdom was not a legitimate one. They were not ‘sons of Aaron' in accordance with the Law, but appointees of the king. Thus the distinction between them and the people was blurred.

Analysis of Hosea 4:6.

a My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6 a).

b Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me (Hosea 4:6 b).

c Seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children (Hosea 4:6 c).

d As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me (Hosea 4:7 a).

c I will change their glory into shame. They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity (Hosea 4:7).

b And it will be, like people, like priest, and I will punish them for their ways, and will requite them their doings (Hosea 4:9).

a And they will eat, and not have enough, they will play the harlot, and will not increase, because they have left off taking heed to YHWH (Hosea 4:10).

Note that in ‘a' the people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, and in the parallel they will not receive what they have hoped for because they have ceased listening to YHWH. In ‘b' the priests will be rejected for lack of knowledge, and in the parallel the people, similarly to the priests, will be punished for their ways and doings. In ‘c' they have forgotten the Law of God, and in the parallel they set their heart on iniquity. Centrally in ‘d the larger the population grew, the more they sinned against Him.