PART II., HOSEA 4-14. A series of addresses which give a summary of Hosea's prophetic teaching. The period presupposed seems to be the time of anarchy which followed the death of Jeroboam II (_c._ 743 B.C.). But there is no reason to suppose that the sections are arranged in chronological order. In... [ Continue Reading ]
PRIESTS AND RULERS ARE BRINGING THE NATION TO RUIN. Judgment is declared against (Hosea 5:1 _mg._) [9] the priests and ruling class because they have ensnared the people (by encouraging the mixed cultus) at the sanctuaries Mizpah (in Gilead probably), Tabor and Shittim (Hosea 5:2 corrected text) are... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the immoral cultus is no longer the subject, but the inner moral corruption of the state and its leaders. The parallelism of Judah and Ephraim in this section is remarkable, but seems to be original. [10] Judah's political leaders are specially singled out as examples of fraudulent dealing, and... [ Continue Reading ]
HOSEA 5:15 TO HOSEA 6:3. ISRAEL'S CONFESSION AND PENITENCE. Yahweh, speaking in His own person, declares that He will return to His place (_i.e._ to heaven; _cf._ Micah 1:3), there to await Israel's penitence (Hosea 5:15). When trouble comes they will eagerly seek Him. Then follows (Hosea 6:1) a lig... [ Continue Reading ]