Accusation Expanded

Request and Desire

Hosea 6:4–7 AV 1873

4 O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, And as the early dew it goeth away. 5 Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: And thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. 6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. 7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: There have they dealt treacherously against me.

Hos. 6:4-

Desire for them to take and live mercy while deepening a relationship with the Lord.

Hosea 7:4-10

Hosea 7:4–10 AV 1873

4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, Who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; He stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: Their baker sleepeth all the night; In the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot as an oven, And have devoured their judges; All their kings are fallen: There is none among them that calleth unto me. 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. 10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: And they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this.

They are burnt unturned cakes in the baker’s oven, burnt by their lifestyle and sin.

v. 10—He wants them to turn to Him.

Hosea. 7:

Hosea 7:11–16 AV 1873

11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart: They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. 13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: Destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, When they howled upon their beds: They assemble themselves for corn and wine, And they rebel against me. 15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, Yet do they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, but not to the most High: They are like a deceitful bow: Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

They will be like a bunch of birds, caught and chastised. Israel was redeemed, but also now are against God.

v. 14—God wants them to turn to Him.

Punishment Announced

Hosea 8:

Hosea 8:1–2 AV 1873

1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed my covenant, And trespassed against my law. 2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee.

Lip service has not served them well.

Hosea 8:3–6 AV 1873

3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: The enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me: They have made princes, and I knew it not: Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, That they may be cut off. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; Mine anger is kindled against them: How long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 6 For from Israel was it also: The workman made it; therefore it is not God: But the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

Hos

Hosea 8:3–5 AV 1873

3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: The enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me: They have made princes, and I knew it not: Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, That they may be cut off. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; Mine anger is kindled against them: How long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

Hos. 8:3-

In lip service they sought other leaders and served other gods.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:5

The calf-idol of Samaria (cf. v. 6) was singled out because it epitomized Israel’s idolatrous ways. Since there is no record of such an idol being erected in Samaria, the city may stand here for the Northern Kingdom as a whole (cf. 7:1; 10:7). If so, the calf-idol was probably the image set up by Jeroboam I at Bethel (cf. 1 Kings 12:28–30; Hosea 10:5). By setting up golden calves (one in Dan and one in Bethel), Jeroboam repeated the sins of an earlier generation (cf. Ex. 32:1–4). Probably the people associated these calves with the storm and fertility god Baal (cf. Hosea 13:1–2).

Hos.

Hosea 7–9 AV 1873

1 When I would have healed Israel, Then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: For they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, And the troop of robbers spoileth without. 2 And they consider not in their hearts That I remember all their wickedness: Now their own doings have beset them about; They are before my face. 3 They make the king glad with their wickedness, And the princes with their lies. 4 They are all adulterers, as an oven heated by the baker, Who ceaseth from raising after he hath kneaded the dough, until it be leavened. 5 In the day of our king the princes have made him sick with bottles of wine; He stretched out his hand with scorners. 6 For they have made ready their heart like an oven, whiles they lie in wait: Their baker sleepeth all the night; In the morning it burneth as a flaming fire. 7 They are all hot as an oven, And have devoured their judges; All their kings are fallen: There is none among them that calleth unto me. 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. 10 And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: And they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this. 11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without heart: They call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. 12 When they shall go, I will spread my net upon them; I will bring them down as the fowls of the heaven; I will chastise them, as their congregation hath heard. 13 Woe unto them! for they have fled from me: Destruction unto them! because they have transgressed against me: Though I have redeemed them, yet they have spoken lies against me. 14 And they have not cried unto me with their heart, When they howled upon their beds: They assemble themselves for corn and wine, And they rebel against me. 15 Though I have bound and strengthened their arms, Yet do they imagine mischief against me. 16 They return, but not to the most High: They are like a deceitful bow: Their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. 1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed my covenant, And trespassed against my law. 2 Israel shall cry unto me, My God, we know thee. 3 Israel hath cast off the thing that is good: The enemy shall pursue him. 4 They have set up kings, but not by me: They have made princes, and I knew it not: Of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, That they may be cut off. 5 Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; Mine anger is kindled against them: How long will it be ere they attain to innocency? 6 For from Israel was it also: The workman made it; therefore it is not God: But the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. 7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: It hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: If so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up: Now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers. 10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, And they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, Altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, But they were counted as a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; But the Lord accepteth them not; Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: They shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; And Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: But I will send a fire upon his cities, And it shall devour the palaces thereof. 1 Rejoice not, O Israel, for joy, as other people: For thou hast gone a whoring from thy God, Thou hast loved a reward upon every cornfloor. 2 The floor and the winepress shall not feed them, And the new wine shall fail in her. 3 They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land; But Ephraim shall return to Egypt, And they shall eat unclean things in Assyria. 4 They shall not offer wine offerings to the Lord, Neither shall they be pleasing unto him: Their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; All that eat thereof shall be polluted: For their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the Lord. 5 What will ye do in the solemn day, And in the day of the feast of the Lord? 6 For lo, they are gone because of destruction: Egypt shall gather them up, Memphis shall bury them: The pleasant places for their silver, nettles shall possess them: Thorns shall be in their tabernacles. 7 The days of visitation are come, The days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: The prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, For the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred. 8 The watchman of Ephraim was with my God: But the prophet is a snare of a fowler in all his ways, And hatred in the house of his God. 9 They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: Therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins. 10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: But they went to Baal-peor, and separated themselves unto that shame; And their abominations were according as they loved. 11 As for Ephraim, their glory shall fly away like a bird, From the birth, and from the womb, and from the conception. 12 Though they bring up their children, Yet will I bereave them, that there shall not be a man left: Yea, woe also to them when I depart from them! 13 Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, is planted in a pleasant place: But Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer. 14 Give them, O Lord: what wilt thou give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts. 15 All their wickedness is in Gilgal, for there I hated them: For the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: All their princes are revolters. 16 Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: Yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. 17 My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: And they shall be wanderers among the nations.

Hosea 8:7–9 AV 1873

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: It hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: If so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up: Now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure. 9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass alone by himself: Ephraim hath hired lovers.

Hos. 7:

Hosea 7:7–9 AV 1873

7 They are all hot as an oven, And have devoured their judges; All their kings are fallen: There is none among them that calleth unto me. 8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. 9 Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: Yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not.

Punishment is announced.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:7

8:7. The phrase they sow the wind is transitional. It alludes to the futility of both her idolatrous worship (vv. 4–6) and her foreign policy (vv. 8–10). “Wind” here represents that which lacks substance and is therefore worthless and of no assistance (cf. Prov. 11:29). Israel would reap in extra measure what she had sown. The futility (wind) which she had planted like seed would yield a crop of destruction (represented by the whirlwind). All her efforts directed toward self-preservation would be self-destructive.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:8

8:8. Already Israel had been swallowed up by her foreign policy (cf. 7:8–12). Her involvement with foreigners was swiftly robbing the nation of its strength and identity as the Lord’s people. Israel had become as worthless as a broken pot (cf. Jer. 22:28; 48:38). The words worthless thing are literally, “a pot in which no one delights” (NASB).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:7

The phrase they sow the wind is transitional. It alludes to the futility of both her idolatrous worship (vv. 4–6) and her foreign policy (vv. 8–10). “Wind” here represents that which lacks substance and is therefore worthless and of no assistance (cf. Prov. 11:29). Israel would reap in extra measure what she had sown. The futility (wind) which she had planted like seed would yield a crop of destruction (represented by the whirlwind). All her efforts directed toward self-preservation would be self-destructive.

Ephesians 4:17–24 AV 1873

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:9

8:9. Israel’s attempt to ally with Assyria could be compared to the wandering of a wild donkey, an animal well known for its desire to be independent of all restrictions (cf. Job 39:5–8). Israel’s alliances were also compared to prostitution; like a harlot she had sold herself to lovers (i.e., foreign powers).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:8

Already Israel had been swallowed up by her foreign policy (cf. 7:8–12). Her involvement with foreigners was swiftly robbing the nation of its strength and identity as the Lord’s people. Israel had become as worthless as a broken pot (cf. Jer. 22:28; 48:38). The words worthless thing are literally, “a pot in which no one delights” (NASB).

In hiring the enemy for help they “cheated” on God and chose man worship over God worship.

“Hired other lovers”—Sought others sources for provision, protection and pleasure.

Philippians 4:6 AV 1873

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Hosea 8:10 AV 1873

10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, And they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes.

Hos. 8:

Hosea 8:10–14 AV 1873

10 Yea, though they have hired among the nations, now will I gather them, And they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king of princes. 11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, Altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, But they were counted as a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; But the Lord accepteth them not; Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: They shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; And Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: But I will send a fire upon his cities, And it shall devour the palaces thereof.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:10

The instrument of judgment would be the mighty King (i.e., of Assyria; cf. 10:6) from whom, ironically, they had sought aid.

Hos. 8:11-

Hosea 8:11–14 AV 1873

11 Because Ephraim hath made many altars to sin, Altars shall be unto him to sin. 12 I have written to him the great things of my law, But they were counted as a strange thing. 13 They sacrifice flesh for the sacrifices of mine offerings, and eat it; But the Lord accepteth them not; Now will he remember their iniquity, and visit their sins: They shall return to Egypt. 14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; And Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: But I will send a fire upon his cities, And it shall devour the palaces thereof.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:11–13

Another of Israel’s sins was its hypocritical ritualism. The people had built many altars for sin offerings. But these altars had become altars for sinning, as the religious acts conducted there were hypocritical. Sacrifices are an offense to God when not combined with a wholehearted devotion to His commandments (cf. 6:6; Isa. 1:11).

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 8:14

8:14. A final illustration of the nation’s unfaithfulness was her self-sufficiency. Judah is specifically included in the indictment at this point. Having forgotten (cf. 2:13) that her very existence depended on the Lord alone (cf. his Maker), God’s people proudly sought prominence (palaces) and security (fortified many towns fortresses; cf. 10:14) through her own efforts. But the Lord was about to destroy (by fire) these sources of false security, fulfilling a covenant curse (cf. Deut. 28:52). God’s judgment came through the Assyrians. Sennacherib “attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them” (2 Kings 18:13).