Hosea 7:11-16

Ephraim (Israel) Are Pictured As A Hapless Dove Fluttering Between Egypt And Assyria As They Endeavour To Avoid YHWH's Net (Hosea 7:11).

Ephraim are now depicted as being willing to do anything rather than rely on YHWH. They are seen as so lacking in understanding that they are like a fluttering and helpless bird, one moment calling on Egypt, and the next going to Assyria. Meanwhile YHWH hovers over them with His net with the intention of bringing them down and chastising them. Thus in the process of history Menahem submitted to Assyria, only to be replaced by Pekah who, in alliance with Aram (Syria), promptly rejected Assyria as Israel's overlord, and in the course of it probably made overtures to Egypt (with rebellion in view soundings would almost certainly have been made for at least general support). Hoshea then in turn assassinated Pekah and submitted to Assyria, before himself later turning to Egypt in a bid for freedom from Assyria. While historically we can understand some of these moves as a requirement of history due to the rampagings of a powerful Assyria, and the inevitable continual opposition within Israel to their forced subjection (very few really liked being subject to Assyria), Hosea's point is precisely that, that really they were simply pawns, moved about by the two great nations, something which would have been unnecessary had they trusted in YHWH.

And all this occurred because they had rejected YHWH, and instead of looking to Him, had chosen to trust in the Baalim. There could only be one final consequence. Their princes would fall by the sword and they themselves would become the laughingstock of Egypt.

Analysis of Hosea 7:11.

a And Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding. They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria (Hosea 7:11).

b When they will go, I will spread my net on them, I will bring them down as the birds of the heavens, I will chastise them, in accordance with the announcements of their assembly (Hosea 7:12).

c Woe to them! for they have wandered from me, Destruction to them! for they have trespassed against me. Though I would redeem them, yet they have spoken lies against me (Hosea 7:13).

d And they have not cried to me with their heart, but they howl on their beds, they assemble themselves for grain and new wine, they rebel against me (Hosea 7:14).

c Though I have taught and strengthened their arms, yet they devise mischief against me (Hosea 7:15).

b They return, but not to him who is on high, they are like an unreliable bow (Hosea 7:16 a).

a Their princes will fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue. This will be their derision in the land of Egypt (Hosea 7:16 b).

Note that in ‘a' they call to Egypt, and in the parallel they suffer derision in Egypt. In ‘b' God acts from on high to trap them in His net, and brings them down like the birds from heaven, so that He might chastise them, and in the parallel they will not return to the One Who is on high, but prefer the use of an ineffective bow which will bring down nothing. In ‘c' though He would redeem them they have spoken lies against Him, and in the parallel though He taught and strengthened their arms they devised mischief against Him. Central in ‘d' is the fact that they have looked to the Baalim rather than to Him.