‘Come, and let us return to YHWH, for he has torn, and he will heal us, he has smitten, and he will bind us up.' The carcass torn by the Lion and smitten and diseased (Hosea 5:13), is called on itself to ‘return' (a favourite word of Hosea, see Hosea 3:5; Hosea 7:10; Hosea 14:1) to YHWH in repentanc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE EVENTUAL RETURN OF ISRAEL TO YHWH IS DEPICTED IN TERMS OF A RESTORATION TO HEALTH AND RESURRECTION AND THE BLESSING OF RAIN UPON THE EARTH (HOSEA 6:1). The idea of Israel torn by a lion (Hosea 5:14) and smitten by a wasting disease (Hosea 5:13) would have lain heavy on Hosea's heart, but as ever... [ Continue Reading ]
‘After two days will he revive us, on the third day he will raise us up, and we will live before him.' The reference to ‘two days' indicates that all will not occur instantly, even after their repentance. These are God's days and therefore longer than those of men. But then YHWH will revive His peop... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And let us know, let us follow on to know YHWH. His going forth is sure as the morning, and he will come to us as the rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.' The second appeal is that they might again truly ‘know YHWH' and go on knowing Him continually. Contrast here Hosea 4:1; Hosea 5:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your covenant love is as a morning cloud, And as the dew which goes early away.' We can see in this the cry of a father's heart for his children (compare Hosea 11:1; Hosea 11:4; Exodus 4:22; Deuteronomy 14:1; Isaiah 63:16; I... [ Continue Reading ]
YHWH MAKES CLEAR HIS CURRENT VIEW OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH BECAUSE OF THEIR SPIRITUAL BANKRUPTCY (HOSEA 6:4). Hosea, in words of YHWH, now contrasts his future glowing picture of Israel's restoration with the current situation in Israel and Judah. Judah is now firmly included with Israel in the condemna... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my mouth.' It was because of this shallowness revealed in their attitudes that God had in the past sent His prophets (Moses, Samuel, Elisha, Elijah, Micaiah, Jonah, Amos, etc) to ‘hew them down' like trees falling befor... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For I desire covenant love, and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.' The reason for God's judgment on Israel and Judah is now explained. It will be because their religion has been both false and formal. It was true that they were continually offering sacrifices and b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SINFULNESS OF ISRAEL/EPHRAIM IS TOTALLY EXPOSED AND JUDAH IS BRIEFLY WARNED OF WHAT WILL COME ON THEM AS WELL (HOSEA 6:7 TO HOSEA 7:2). The sinfulness of Israel is now exposed commencing from Gilead (Hosea 6:8), and moving through Shechem (Hosea 6:9) to Samaria (Hosea 7:1). They are revealed as... [ Continue Reading ]
‘But they like Adam (or ‘men') have transgressed the covenant. There have they dealt treacherously against me. Gilead is a city of those who work iniquity, It is stained with blood. Three views are taken of the interpretation of these verses. The first is that ‘adam' refers to Adam, the original... [ Continue Reading ]
And as troops of robbers wait for a man, So the company of priests murder in the way towards Shechem, Yes, they have committed mischief (or ‘a heinous crime'), In the house of Israel I have seen a horrible thing, There whoredom is found in Ephraim, Israel is defiled. Just as Gilead was a city o... [ Continue Reading ]
In my bringing back the captivity (distressed state) of my people, ‘When I would heal Israel, Then is the iniquity of Ephraim uncovered, And the wickedness of Samaria, For they commit falsehood, and the thief enters in, And the troop of robbers ravages without.' Having given his warning shot to... [ Continue Reading ]
Also, O Judah, there is a harvest appointed for you. In a quick change of tack Hosea turns on Judah. If many Judeans were attending the cult festival at which he was speaking these words, this might be seen as perfectly natural, for while Judah was not specifically in his sights he might well have... [ Continue Reading ]