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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson09,Chapter5
Besidestheproblemofdisfavor,evenanger,thatcomesfromYehovehon
accountofidolatry,thereisalsotherealitythatidolatryisindeliblytiedtothesin
ofimmorality.Wehavebeenreading,andwillcontinuetoreadinHosea,ofthe
immoralconditionofIsrael…somethingwhichtheywerenotself-awareandeven
denied.Verse6ofchapter4pinnedthereasonforIsrael’sinabilitytorecognize
theirimmoral(andthereforedefiled)conditiononthelackofknowledgeofGod’s
Torah.Notmywords;notmythought.Thatisliterallywhatiswritten.Thatis,
whatGoddefinesasrightandwrong,goodandevil,moralandimmoralwasno
longerevenknowntothembecausetheyrejectedthesourceofthatknowledge.
IdoubtthatthereisanyChristianorJewishscholar,pastor,orRabbithatwould
quibbletoomuchwiththatlaststatement.So,sincethatiscase,howhasa
blindnesstowardsidolatryandimmoralityenvelopedourJudeo-Christianfaith
institutionsanddarkenedourmindsifnotoursouls?Whyhasthesearchfor
truthbecomeaquestforapeaceableconsensuswithourculture,instead?
Equallyimportantly,whathasbeentheresultisthispervasivetheological
perspective?IwouldofferthatitischaosandconfusionamongGodworshippers.
CharlesMalik,aLebanesetheologian,philosopheranddiplomatoncesaidthis:
“Thereistruth,andthereisfalsehood.Thereisgood,andthereisevil.Thereis
happiness,andthereismisery.Thereisthatwhichennobles,andthereisthat
whichdemeans.Thereisthatwhichputsyouinharmonywithyourself,with
others,withtheuniverse,andwithGod,andthereisthatwhichalienatesyou
fromyourself,andfromtheworld,andfromGod…thegreatesterrorinmodern
timesistheconfusionbetweentheseorders.”
NoticethatMalikspeaksonlyinabsolutes.Thisonlyorthatonly;nothinginthe
middle.OurmodernWesterndemocraticsocietieshavepoliticallyandsocially
evolvedtodespiseabsolutes.Thereisabeliefthatthereisnoabsoluterightor
wrong;thereisnoabsolutemorality.Ourintellectdoesn’tallowforit.Infact,
usingthewordeviltodescribesomethingisfrowneduponbecauseitisnow
believedtorepresentanarrow-minded,ignorantjudgmentonourpart,whichis
theoppositeofuniversaltoleranceofallreligiousandsecularbeliefsystems.

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ThisworldviewisthesamethatEphraim/Israelhadadopted,slowlyovertime,
andthatJudahwasindangerofmovingtowards.Itledtomoralconfusionfor
themandithasendedinconfusionforustothepointthatthemostfoundational
andself-evidentidentityofourbiologicalphysicalbeing,gender,isalsono
longerconsideredtobeanabsolute.Tragically,millionsofpeoplenowliveina
miserablemuddleofalienationfromothersandfromtheGodwhomadethem,
somanynottotallyawareoftheircondition.Isthisanoverlydramaticview?
Perhaps.Butitmightalsobeanunderstatementoftheseriousnessofour
modernreality.SomethingthatEphraim/Israelwasabouttohavetaughtto
theminamostsevereway.
Let’sre-readHoseachapter5.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER5all
Webrieflydiscussedlasttimethatthischapterbeginswithasummonsto
judgmentbyYehoveh.Threecategoriesofpeoplearebeingsummoned:Israel’s
priests,Israel’sresidents,andIsrael’sroyalhouse.Inotherwords,everyone
thatcanbeidentifiedasbelongingtotheNorthernKingdomofEphraim/Israel.
Afterthesummonscomesaprophecyabouttheirexileandoppression,thenthe
evidenceagainstEphraim,andfinallythejudgment.So,thisnarrativeisvery
muchinthestyleofajudicialtrialasitwascommonlyconductedintheMiddle
Eastofthe8
th
centuryB.C.
SincethatthementionofMizpahandTaborinverse1isprobablymeantonlyas
beingrepresentativeofcitiesandplacesthroughoutIsrael,thenthegeneral
senseofverse1isthis:atrueknowledgeofYehovehtheirGodhasbeen
obscuredandevenoutlawedthroughoutIsrael,andthishasbeenaccomplished
intentionallybythepoliticalandreligiousauthorities,whichhadworkedtogether
tofashionthishybridizednewreligion.FromGod’sviewpointtheentirepurpose
ofthereligiousestablishmentandthegovernmentofIsraelwastoguide,
educate,andprotectthepeople,anditwastobebasedontheTorah.Instead,
theycausedthepeopletostumblebycommittingidolatrythatledtoblatant
immorality,andtheydiditsothattheycouldprofitfromit.
Verse2addstheplacenameofShittim,whichcanonlyrefertothefinalplace
thatIsraelencampedonthewestsideoftheJordanRiverbeforetheycrossed

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intothePromisedLand.Becausethisverseisverypoorlypreserved,translation
hasbeendifficultandinvolvedmuchguesswork.Isuggestedonepossible
reconstructionofitlasttimebutitreallyissohazythatI’mafraidweprobably
oughtnottospendtoomuchtimeonitbecauseintheendthereisnoconsensus
ofopinion,onlyspeculation.
Verse3broachessomethingthatwe’regoingtohavetodealwiththatisn’ta
particularlypleasantthought.ItisthatwhileIsraelwillthinkthatwhatisgoingto
happentothemisallabouttheambitionsofanaggressiveenemy,Yehovehis
goingtomakeitabundantlyclearthatitisHethatiscausingthisapproaching
disaster.Yes,GodisgoingtoharmHisownpeople.Thisisathoughtthatseems
utterlyforeigntoChristians.Oftenitisclaimedthatthisharmonlyappliesto
Israel(ancientandmodern);ordivineangerandharmisexplainedawayby
claimingthatJesuschangedallthat;IassureyouHehasnot.Somethingwe
mustbecarefulnottoabandoninourstudyofthispropheticbookisthatthe
personormanifestationofGodthatisstillspeakingtoHoseaisTheWord.And
yet,sinceweseeattheendofverse4thatYehoveh’snameisusedastheone
whoistheaccuserandjudge,thenitcontinuestomakeTheWordasbutthe
vehicleortheagentofYehoveh’s(TheFather’s)messagetoHosea,andnotthe
authorofit.
BeginningwiththeintroductiontoHosea,I’veregularlyinsertedtheword
“Ephraim”whenI’mspeakingofIsraelforthesakeofclaritythatwhatthisrefers
toisONLYthe10northerntribesofIsraelandNOTJudah.Now,however,wesee
thenarrativeshiftsuchthattheterm“Ephraim”ispushedtothefrontandthe
termIsraelisn’tasmuch,forthetimebeing.SomescholarsbelievethatGodis
nowreferringtothetribeofEphraimasopposedtospeakingoftheentire
NorthernKingdom;Idon’tseethat.TheBibleisfullofHebrewliterarycouplets.
Twotermsthatarevirtuallysynonymousintheirmeaningeveniftheirmore
technicalsensethetwotermsmightmeansomethingslightlydifferentfromone
another.Itismerelyastyleofspeakingthatmakesforbettertransmissionofa
storyorally,whichishowitwasdonenearlyexclusivelyforhundredsand
hundredsofyearsbeforeitwaswrittendown.Forinstance,we’llseetheterms
JacobandIsraeloftenusedasacoupleteventhoughtechnicallyJacobisthe
nameofoneofIsrael’sPatriarchs,andIsraelbecamethenameofthenationof
the12tribes.So,JacobandIsraelarenearlysynonymousinmeaningthename

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ofthesameperson,andyetbothofthosetermscanbeusedtorefertothename
ofthenationheproduced.ThisiswhatishappeninginHoseawiththeterms
EphraimandIsrael;heretheyaremeantassynonyms.
Godsaysthat“I,myself”knowEphraim.Inotherwords,Yehovehisn’tgetting
HisinformationaboutthegoingsoninIsraelsecondhand.Yehovehdirectlysees
anddirectlyknows,soIsraelcan’tclaimthattheircaseisbeingfalselyreported
toHim.ItalsomeansthatGodcan’tbefooledbythedenialofIsraelthatthey
werewhoringwithBaal.And,asaresult,apeoplewhoweremeantandequipped
tostrivetowardspurityofworshiphadbecomedefiled.Theiridolatryhadledto
theircorporateimmorality.
Verse4statesthattheirdeeds…thatis,theirchoices…simplydonotallowthem
toreturntotheirGod.TheHebrewwordthatisproperlytranslatedasdeedsis
ma’alelim;itimplicitlymeanswickeddeeds.Somescholarsseethisverseas
meaningthatIsraelrefusestogiveuptheirevil-doing,whileothersseeitas
meaningthattheirevildeedsweresoloathsomethattheyarebarredfrom
returningtoGod.Itreallydoesn’tmatterwhichwaywelookatit,theresultisthe
same.ItistheirfaultthattheyarenolongerneartoYehoveh;they’vedoneitto
themselves.Andhowhasthisconditioncometobe?Theyhaveallowedinto
themselvesaspiritofharlotry.Sinceharlotryisametaphorforidolatry,thenthis
issayingthatEphraimasapeoplegrouphaveadoptedaspiritofidolatry.As
DouglasStewartaptlyputsit,thepeoplehaveorientedthemselvestowards
idolatryratherthantowardsthetruthandtowardsGod.
IamsotakenbyversesofchastisementsuchastheseinHoseaandmyprayer
isthatyouareaswell.Theystrikedeepintomymindandareterriblyupsetting.
Theyalsocausememuchintrospection(andnodoubtthatiswhythesewords
arethere).IfeelGod’sunpleasedgazeonthebackofmyneck.Hisdisgustofour
society…theworldcommunityingeneral.Hisangerthatthosewhochoosetocall
HimourGod,andwhoclaimtoembraceHisSonasSavior,rejecttheonesource
ofknowledgethatHegaveusasourmoralcompass:theTorah.Ifwecaninany
waycallourselvesawareandtruthseekers,thenwhenwelookallaroundus…
ourcommunity,ournation,ourChurch,ourSynagogue…whatisthespiritthat
anyoftheseareorientedtowards?IsittrulytowardsGod…thetrueGodofIsrael
asrevealedtousintheScriptures?Oristowardsthegodofourownmakingthat

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seekscompromiseandconsensus?Thethingis,thisverseisnotspeakingof
individuals,butratherofagroup.There’snodoubtthattherewereothersthan
Hoseathatrefusedtosuccumbtothedefilingwayoflifeofhissocietyortoadopt
paganworshippractices,justastherearetodaythesame.Yet,thosewho
workedhardtoremainfaithfulapparentlywerestillfirmlyaffixedtotheIsraelite
societyoftheNorthernKingdomandsowereinawayacquiescingtoan
orientationofidolatryandtheaccompanyingimmorality.Idoubtitwaseasyto
escape.Wherewouldonego?Isupposeonecouldhaveuprootedfamilyand
movedtoJudah,butsimplyfiguringouttohowtosurvivetheprocesswould
havebeendaunting.Andaswelearninacoupleofverses,Judahwasdrawing
closertotheendofGod’spatiencewiththem.So,intheend,we’reallpretty
muchstuckwhereweareaswerethefaithfulfewofIsrael.Whilewecanand
shouldprepareforwhatisprophesiedandboundtocomefromthissituation,it
almostcertainlydoesn’tinvolveescape.
AlthoughtheCJBtranslatesverse5dynamicallyandnotliterally,Ithinkitgets
acrossthesenseofthewordsbetterthanmostanyotherBibleversion.Most
BibleswillspeakofIsrael’spride;butwhatitisreferringtotheirarrogance.
However,thenextwords“testifyinhisface”(Ephraim’sface)arealittletricky.
Whenwelookcloselythistranslationisliterallywordforwordcorrect;butthe
sumofthewordsamountstomoreofanexpression.Whatthismeansisthat
Ephraim’sarroganceisproofenoughoftheirguilt.Theirarrogancealone
revealsthatGod’sindictmentofidolatryagainstthemisright.So,exactlywhat
isitthatEphraim/Israelisarrogantabout?Itisalltheirreligiousactivitiesthat
theythoughtweresoverywonderfulandright.Yet,Godcallsalltheirreligious
activities“crimes”.TheHebrewwordthattheCJBtranslatesascrimes,andmost
otherstranslateasiniquities,isavon.ThisisanotherofthoseHebrewwordsthat
canbetranslatedquitewellliterally,butthesenseofitwasrequiressome
nuance.Avonindeedmeansiniquity,butalsoguilt.However,whenitisusedas
itishereandbyotherprophetssuchasAmos,itinherentlyincludestheideaof
punishmentforthatiniquityandguilt,ratherthansimplyguiltasafact.So,the
fallthatIsraelwillexperiencewillbeasapunishmentinherentlyassociatedwith
theirguilt.Thisisacriticalpieceofinformationbecauseitreinforcesthatthe
punishment(whichwillbetheirexileandoppressionatthehandofAssyria)will
beorchestratedbyGod,andHeisgoingtocausethistohappenasHismeansto
punishIsraelfortheirarroganceofclaimingtoworshipHimbymeansoftheir

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bastardizedreligiouspractices.Thefinalwordsofverse5thenintroducetheidea
thatJudah,too,isgoingtofallrightalongwithEphraim(althoughnot
necessarilyforthesamereason).Andyet,aswasclearlysaidearlierinHosea,
Judah’sfallwillcomesometimeafterIsrael’s(itturnedouttohavebeenaround
130yearslater).
There’smuchtiedandbundledtogetherinverse6thatisintendedtobothjog
somememories,butalsotomakethisstoryquitememorableandimpactful
whenitistoldgenerationtogeneration.Thementionofbringingflocksandherds
toseekYehovehharkensbacktothetimeofEgyptandoftheirexodus.
CJB
Exodus10:8-9
8
SoMosheandAharonwerebroughttoPharaohagain,and
hesaidtothem,"Go,worshipADONAIyourGod.Butwhoexactlyisgoing?"
9
Mosheanswered,"Wewillgowithouryoungandourold,oursonsandour
daughters;andwewillgowithourflocksandherds;forwemustcelebratea
feasttoADONAI."
ThePharaohofcoursefoughtagainstthisandthrewallsortsofconditionsoutto
trytopreventIsraelfromgoingtoworshipYehovehandtakingtheirflocksand
herdswiththem.Nowinthecaseoftheiractualexodustheflocksandherds
weretoserveassourcesoffoodfortheirjourney.ButhereinHoseathisis
referringtotakingoverwhelmingamountsofanimalstobesacrificedinhopes
thatthevolumeofthemwouldsoimpressYehovehthatHewouldforgivethem
andtheycouldavertdisaster.Butitalsocarriesanunderlyingimpressionof
Israelhavingbroughttheirflocksandherdstosacrificetothereligiouscultthey
hadcreatedthataddedBaalandpaganfestivalstothemix.Allthesesacrifices,
evenifIsraelweretorepent,returntotheTorahandthegoodways,aretoolate.
God’sjudgementhasalreadyhappenedevenifthepunishmentwouldn’tstartfor
afewmoreyears.Thereisaninterestingstorythatoccursaround250orso
yearspriortothetimeofHoseathatIthinkisagoodillustrationthathighlights
thispartofGod’snaturethatwejusthatetowrestlewith;butit’sthereandwe
needtofaceit.
CJB
1Samuel15:18-26
18
NowADONAIsentyouonamissionandtoldyou,'Go
andcompletelydestroy'Amalek,thosesinners;keepmakingwaronthemuntil
theyhavebeenexterminated.
19
Whydidyouseizethespoilinsteadofpaying

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attentiontowhatADONAIsaid?FromADONAI'sviewpoint,youhavedoneanevil
thing."
20
Sha'ulsaidtoSh'mu'el,"IdidtoopayattentiontowhatADONAIsaid,
andIcarriedoutthemissiononwhichADONAIsentme.IbroughtbackAgagthe
kingof'Amalek,andIcompletelydestroyed'Amalek.
21
Butthepeopletook
someofthespoil,thebestofthesheepandcattlesetasidefordestruction,to
sacrificetoADONAIyourGodinGilgal."
22
Sh'mu'elsaid,"DoesADONAItakeas
muchpleasureinburntofferingsandsacrificesasinobeyingwhatADONAIsays?
Surelyobeyingisbetterthansacrifice,andheedingordersthanthefatoframs.
23
"Forrebellionislikethesinofsorcery,stubbornnesslikethecrimeofidolatry.
BecauseyouhaverejectedthewordofADONAI,hetoohasrejectedyouas
king."
24
Sha'ulsaidtoSh'mu'el,"Ihavesinned.IviolatedtheorderofADONAI
andyourwordstoo,becauseIwasafraidofthepeopleandlistenedtowhatthey
said.
25
Now,please,pardonmysin;andcomebackwithme,sothatIcan
worshipADONAI."
26
ButSh'mu'elsaidtoSha'ul,"Iwillnotgobackwithyou,
becauseyouhaverejectedthewordofADONAI,andADONAIhasrejectedyou
askingoverIsra'el."
HereisasituationthatoperatesonthesameGod-principlethatHosea5:6is
explaining.Ifwehadreadtheprecedingversesof1Samuel15we’dknowthat
whatSauldidwastoviolatethelawoftheban(acommandintheLawofMoses).
Thatis,therearethingsthatbelongtoGodaloneandwhichmaynotbeacquired
(bywar)andusedforthebenefitofGod’speople.SaulattackedAmalek,won,
andkeptthebestspoilsofwarforhimself.Hewascalledoutforitandtoldthat
thepunishmentwouldbesevere.InordertoavoidtheconsequencesSaul
wantedtoimpressGodbynowdoingwhatheshouldhavedoneinthefirstplace.
Nodice,saysSamuel.IntheBookofHosea,onceIsraelrecognizestheirmistake,
theywilltrytoavoidtheconsequencesbyrunningbacktoYehoveh.They’llbegin
byofferinglavishamountsofanimalsfromtheflocksandherdsforsacrificesat
theTempleinJerusalem;GodsaysHewon’tacceptthem.Saulconfessedand
repented;butSamuelasGod’sprophettoldhimthatSaulisstillbeingremoved
fromhispositionaskingbecauseGodhasnowsethimontheshelf.Thesame
sortofthingisgoingtohappenwithIsrael.
Thisiswhatwearetounderstand:sacrificesweren’tevermeanttoplacateor
appeaseorpersuadeYehoveh.Inmanycasesthesacrificesweretoproperly
worshipHiminobedience.OftenitwastogivetoHimthingsthatwerealready
His(that’stheconceptbehindFirstfruitssacrifices).Sincewecan’ttieacowtoa

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stakeandpointtoasheafofbarleyandtellGodtocomeandgetit,thentheonly
waytogiveanythingtoGodistoputitonthealtarandburnitupwiththesmoke
andashsymbolicallygoinguptoHeaven.Theentireideaofplacatingor
persuadingormakingadealwithagodcomesfromthepaganGodsystems
becausethat’swhateveryonewashopingtodo.Sacrificialanimalswerealso
literallythought(bythepagans)astheverynecessaryfoodfortheirgodsso
theydidn’tbecomehungry.InYehoveh’ssystem,asregardssin,inoncesensea
sacrificeisakindofsymbolofaworshipper’sdefeat.Itmeanssinhaswonout
andnowsomeinnocentanimalisgoingtohavethepaythepricewithitsownlife,
asasubstitutefortheguiltysinninghuman.Aswassaidin1
st
Samuel15,God
wouldalwaysratherHispeoplesimplyobeyedHimsothatHisinnocentcreatures
didn’thavetobekilledandburntuponanaltar.
Verse7saysthatanotherwaythatIsraelhasbetrayedHimisbyfathering
foreignchildren.TherewasmuchintermarriagethatoccurredbetweenIsrael
andtheirmanygentiletreatypartners.ThePriesthoodworkedwiththekingsof
Israeltoamendandchangethereligiousrequirementsanddoctrinesthatwere
laiduponthepeoplesoitwouldworktotheeconomicandnationalisticagenda
andpoliciesofthemonarchy.Itwouldbeeasyforustoshakeourheadsand
pointfingersofshametowardsthoseterribleIsraelitesfordoingsuchathing.
Butinreality,itallhappenedquiteslowlyovermanydecadesoftime.Each
seeminglyminorchangebuiltuponthepreviousone,andeachtimethechange
didn’tseemlikemuchtobealarmedabout.Butafterafewdecadesifonehad
caredtolooktothepast,whatwascurrentlybeingpracticedlookednothinglike
itusedtobe.However,that’snotgenerallywhatpeopledo…isit?Hey:it’s
workingprettywellforme,whywouldImesswithsuccess?
ThereweresomanyproblemsthatwereintroducedwhenIsraelitestookon
gentilespouses.First,Godforbadeitsoitwasasin.Second,theLawofMoses
containsquiteafewinstructionsoninheritanceandpropertyrights,andbeing
marriedtoagentilebroughtwithitenormouscomplexitiesandusuallyresulted
inheartache.Forinstance;ifachildwasborntoanIsraeliteandaSyrianwasthe
childIsraeliteorSyrian?WasheHebreworgentile?Atthispointinhistorythe
ethnicidentityofthefatherdeterminedtheethnicidentityofthechildren;but
thatwouldchangeovertime.Andnowwiththismixedmarriagecametheissue
ofreligiouspractices.Neitherfamilywantedtheirnewlymarriedfamilymember
toadoptadifferentreligionwithadifferentGodandalltheobligationsthatcame

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withit,sothefamilytensionsinsuchacaseweresignificant.Thesolutionwasto
mixalittleofeachreligiontogethertocreateareligiousstewthatwouldappease
bothsides,whichiswhatIsrael’sgovernmenthadalreadymandatedandthe
priesthoodhaddone.Jesustalkedaboutthissituationusedtheterm“unequally
yoked”.Ihavespokenandcorrespondedwithmanyheartbrokenspousesthat
wereChristians,havingknowinglymarriedanon-Believer,thinkingthatintime
heorshewouldcomearound.Yearshavepassed,thereisnointerestexpressed;
andthemoralityandethicspracticedbythenon-believingspouseissomuch
differentthanfortheBelieverthatithasbecomeintolerable.Nowwhat?
I’veattempted,today,todrawyourattentionbacktoacoupleofprinciplesand
realitiesthatHoseaisbuiltaround,andsohere’syetanothertokeepatthe
forefrontofyourmindaswemovealong.TherelationshipthatIsraelhadwith
Yehovehwasbasedononethingonly:thecovenantsGodhadmadewith
AbrahamandMoses.Outsideofthat,Israelhadnobasisforarelationshipwith
God.ThiswasabindingcovenantrelationshipeventhoughIsrael,asGodsaid,
hadforgottenitandbecomeunfaithfultoit(liketheunfaithfulwife,Gomer,had
becomeunfaithfultoHosea).AllthatwearereadingwasaboutIsrael’sviolation
ofthecovenantsandhowGodwasreactingtoit.However,itisnotasthough
Godwasbringinginsomerandomconsequencesthatwereoutsidethecovenant
terms.Rather,especiallyasconcernstheCovenantofMoses,thetermsforeach
partyofthecovenantwerelaidoutatMt.Sinaiwithpenaltiesassociatedfor
breakingthosetermsincluded.WhatweseehappeninghereinHoseaisasatrial
toprovethatIsraelactuallybrokethetermsofthecovenant,andthento
determinetheconsequencesforbreakingthoseterms.So,there’sno
serendipitousormake-it-up-as-you-gopunishmenthappening.Godwasmerely
stayingtruetothetermsoftheAbrahamicandMosaicCovenants.Thecovenant
penaltyforIsraeltodowhattheydidwastobethrownoutofthelandinexactly
thesamewaythepenaltyforAdamandEvedoingwhattheydidwastobe
thrownoutoftheGarden.Nevermissthatconnection.
Verse8beginswhatissometimescalledTheWatchmanversesbecausethatis
whatisbeingdepictedinverses8–11.Whatthehearerisbeingaskedtodois
toimagineawatchmanstandingdutifullyathisstationuponthetallesthill
around,lookinginthedirectionthatanattackmightcomefrom.Hespotsan
advancingarmyandnowhemustdohisjobandwarnhispeople.Hesoundsthe

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alarmbyblowingaram’shornandatrumpet.Thisisanotherofthosecouplet
situationswhereashofar(aram’shorn)andatrumpetmeanessentiallythe
samethingbecauseheretheydothesamething.Technicallytheyarecertainly
notthesamethings.Whileitcan’tbesaidthatatrumpetwasneverusedtowarn
ortoassemblethearmyforbattle,atrumpetwasusuallyaninstrument
assignedtotheLevitesusedforreligiousritual.Ashofarwastheequivalentof
theoldarmybuglethat,dependingontheseriesorpitchoftheblasts,wouldtell
warriorswhattodo.
ItseemsprettyclearthatthismustbetalkingaboutthetimewhentheSyrians
alliedwithEphraim/IsraeltoattackJudah.DonotconfuseSyriawithAssyria;
thesewere2differentnations.So,ashardasitistoimagine,itactually
happenedthat10oftheIsraelitetribeswenttotheirgentileneighbortothe
north,Syria,andstruckadealwiththemsothattogethertheywouldattackthe
other2tribesofIsraelthatlivedinJudah.Suchwasthestateofconfusionand
depravitythatIsraelhadsunk.Whatwereadhereishistoricallyaccurateandthe
eventisrecordedinanotherplaceintheBible.So,withtheHoseaprophecyas
ourbackdrop,hereisthestory.
CJB
2Kings16:5-9
5
ThenRetzinkingofAramandPekachsonofRemalyah,king
ofIsra'el,cameuptofightagainstYerushalayim.TheyputAchazundersiege,
buttheycouldnotovercomehim.
6
ItwasatthattimethatRetzinkingofAram
recoveredEilatforAramanddrovetheJudeansfromEilat;whereuponpeople
fromEdomcametoEilattolive,astheydotothisday.
7
ThenAchazsent
messengerstoTiglat-Pil'eserkingofAshurwiththismessage:"Iamyour
servantandyourson.Comeup,andsavemefromthekingofAramandtheking
ofIsra'el,whoareattackingme."
8
Achaztookthesilverandgoldthatwasinthe
houseofADONAIandinthetreasuriesoftheroyalpalaceandsentitasapresent
tothekingofAshur.
9
ThekingofAshurheededhim-thekingofAshurattacked
Dammesekandcapturedit;thenhecarrieditspeoplecaptivetoKirandkilled
Retzin.
Acoupleofthings:AramisanothernameforSyria.JerusalemandJudahare
anotherofthosebiblicalcouplets;theyaremeantassynonymousonmany
occasionseventhoughtechnicallyoneisacityandtheotherakingdom.So,
PekahwasthekingofIsraelatthistime,andAhazwastheKingofJudah.Since

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Pekahreignedfrom752-732B.C.inIsrael,andAhazreignedfrom735to716
B.C.,thenthereisreallyonlya3-4yearwindowduringwhichthiswaroccurred:
itwassometimebetween735and732B.C.IsraelandJudahhadbeenregularly
ateachother’sthroats;theyhadbeenrivalkingdomsfor200yearseventhough
theywereallbrotherIsraelites.KingPekahmakesanalliancewithRetzinKingof
SyriatoattachJudah.TheymainlyattacktheterritoryofBenjamin,themostof
whichlaywithintheKingdomofJudah,butpartofwhichlaywithintheKingdom
ofIsrael.ThereisamountainroadthatrunsfromtheareaofJerusalemtothe
northandtheorderofcitiesgiveninthisaccountinHoseafollowsthatroute.
ThefirstcityisGibeah,whichisonlyabout3milesfromJerusalem.Thena
couplemoremilesuptheroadisRamah.AlittlefurtheryetisBethel.Herewe
don’tactuallyreadBethel;instead,wereadBeit-Aven.Itoldyouinanearlier
lessonthatthisisaHebrewliterarydevicewherebyanamewithacertain
meaningoverlaystherealnameinordertomakeapoint,usuallyasarcastic
point.So,BethelmeansHouseofGod,butBeit-AvenmeansHouseofTrouble.
Thus,inthisinstanceBeit-AvenisaderogatorynamethatGodusesforBethel.
Intheend,it’sthesameplace.
Inverse9aftertellingoftheattackuponJudahbyEphraim,welearnaboutwhat
comesnext.Whilesomereconstructionhastobepiecedtogethertogetthe
historicaltimelinecorrect,here’swhatwehave.Whilestillunderattack,Judah
wasencouragednottodoasIsraeldidinseekingagentilenationforanally.
Instead,JudahwasaskedtohavefaithinYehovehtodeliverthemfromSyria
andEphraim’shand.However,Judahdidn’tdothat.Instead,theirkingwentto
Assyria(thebigdogintheregion)andafterpayingthemenormousamountsof
treasureandgold,AssyriaagreedtocometoJudah’srescue.Weareprobablyat
rightaboutthetimeIsraelisgoingtochangekingsyetagain.Pekahisaboutto
beoverthrownbyHosea(nottheprophetHosea),in732or733B.C.So,what
doesallthismeanforEphraim?Verse9saysthattheresultsofalltheseillicit
alliancesthatbothJudahandIsraelhadmadewithgentilenationsisthateven
thoughEphraimandSyriaareallies,theyarenomatchforAssyria.TheNorthern
KingdomisgoingtoberavagedbyAssyria’sarmy,callingAssyria’sultimate
victorywhentheytakethecapitalofIsrael,Samaria,theDayofPunishment.
Thatis,thisistheofficialtimewhentheNorthernKingdomofIsraelceasesto
existandthe10tribesofIsraelbecomescatteredtothewinds.

Lesson09-HoseaChapter5
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YehovehassuresbothIsraelandJudahthattheseeventsaregoingtohappen
andthereisnothingtheycandoaboutthem.Which,onceagain,bringsusright
backtopreparedness.It’salreadybeenmadeclearthatnoamountof
repentance,sacrificing,orpleadingisgoingtochangewhatwillhappentoIsrael
andlatertoJudah.Godwillnotrelentbecausesomelineinthesandhasbeen
crossed.So,whatdidIsraelandJudahdo?Theywarredwitheachother.And
knowinginadvancethatlocalgentilenationsweregoingtobeGod’stoolto
wreckIsraelandJudahwhatdidtheydo?Theywentoutandmadealliesofthose
samegentilenations.So,how’dthatworkout?There’sonlyonereasonthat
IsraelandJudahdidthisinsteadoftakingothermeasuressuchaspreparingfor
theinevitable:theydidn’tbelieveGod.Theydidn’thavethefaithtoheedthe
advancewarningthatcouldhavegreatlysavedmuchsufferinganddeath.Were
IsraelandJudahstillgoingtobehandedovertoenemygentilenationsnomatter
howmuchtheymighthaveprepared?Yes.Buttheircircumstancescouldhave
beenfarbetterinvolvingfarfewerdeaths.BelievingGodandtakingactioncould
haveavertedmuchhungeranddisease.ThinkagaintotheEgyptconnection.
GodshowedJosephandPharaohthatEgyptwasgoingtogosufferaseriesof
verybadharvestsandnothingwasgoingtostopit.But…Healsosaidthatifyou
willbelieveHim,andifyouwilltakeactionandprepare,yourpeopleand
livestockwillsurviveit,andtheycanevenbeablessingtoothers.ThePharaoh
believedGod,hewentintopreparationmodewithJosephatthehelm,andEgypt
cameoutofa7-yeardroughtstrongerthanwhenitbegan.Prepare,prepare,
preparechildrenofGod.Wehavebeentoldwhatiscomingandnothingwillstop
it.Whenwe’repreparedeventheunexpectedcanbebetterweathered.How
muchmoreafterwe’vebeenwarnedcanweprepareifonlywe’lltrustanddoit
insteadof(fingerscrossed)puttingitoff?
Inverse10attentionisturnedtoJudah.ItcomparestheleadershipofJudahto
peoplewhomoveboundarymarkers.Deuteronomychapter27hasalonglistof
thingsinwhichGodissuesacurseuponthepersonorpeoplewhoviolatecertain
laws.Amongthelististhisone:
CJB
Deuteronomy27:17"'Acurseonanyonewhomoveshisneighbor's
boundarymarker.'Allthepeoplearetosay,'Amen!'

Lesson09-HoseaChapter5
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RememberingthatthisappliedtotheIsraelites,thenitisnecessarytofactorin
thatGodwasgoingtoalloteachtribeandclantheirterritoryinthePromised
Land.ThePromisedLandwasnevertobeimaginedasactuallybeingownedby
thevariousIsraelitetribesandclans,suchthattypicalhumanmeansofdeciding
onboundarieswasinvolved.Godwastheownerandlandlord,andIsraelwasthe
tenant.ThelandcouldbeusedandoccupiedbyanobedientIsraeltothe
exclusionofallothers;butneverwouldthelandbelongtothem,inthesenseof
actualownership.So,whenYehovehgaveeachtenanttribetheirpieceofland,
itwouldhavebeenanaffronttoGodtomoveHisassignedboundarylines.The
boundarieswereusuallydescribedbynaturalfeaturessuchasstreamsand
rivers,certainhillsandmountains,sometimeslargetreesorpre-established
villages.Always,however,therewereboundarymakersthatusuallyamounted
toastackofstonesarrangedinsuchawayastobeeasilyunderstoodbyallofits
purpose.
WhenGodsaysthatJudah’sleaderswerelikeboundarymarkermovers,it
speakstotheirpoorcharacterandtheirrebelliousnesstowardsHim.
Consequently,saysGod,He’sgoingtopourHiswrathoutuponthemlikewater.
Theterms“wrath”and“pouringout”(asinpouringoutGod’sanger)are
regularlyconnectedintheBible.There’snoparticularnuancebecausetheterm
“water”isused;itsonlythatthepouringoutofwateriseasytopictureinone’s
mind.
AfterdealingwithJudah’spunishment,GodturnsbacktoEphraim/Israelinverse
11explainingthatEphraimwillbeoppressed,justicewillbeabused,andthenHe
explainswhy.NoticehowthedescriptionsoftheoffensesthatcauseGodtoreact
aredifferentbetweenJudahandEphraim.Judahisaccusedofhavingthe
characterofboundarymarkermovers.Ephraim,however,chosetoalignhimself
closelywiththegentileworld(anenemyofIsrael).Weneednotgetintothe
nuancesofsomeofthetermschosenherelike“oppressions”and“justice
abused”.ThisisthelanguageofthecursesGodplacedintheCovenantofMoses
shouldrebellionoccur.ThepointisthatIsraelwillsufferthroughveryhard
circumstancesforanundeterminedamountoftime.Theywillbesubjecttothe
justiceofthegentilenationstowhichtheyarescatteredandtheycanbecertain
itwillnotbelikethefair-mindedandconsistenttypeofjusticeGodhadgivento
them.

Lesson09-HoseaChapter5
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Ephraim’smajorcrimecomesdowntoalackoffaithfulness;Isupposethat’s
whyanyofusandallofussin.Ifwewereperfectlyfaithful,singetstakenoutof
thepicture.YehovehhadpromisedIsraelthatiftheypracticedfaithfulness
towardsHim,HewouldmakethemsecureintheirlandandGodwoulddealwith
theirenemies.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:1-10"IfyoulistencloselytowhatADONAIyourGodsays,
observingandobeyingallhismitzvotwhichIamgivingyoutoday,ADONAIyour
Godwillraiseyouhighaboveallthenationsonearth;
2
andallthefollowing
blessingswillbeyoursinabundance-ifyouwilldowhatADONAIyourGodsays:
3
"Ablessingonyouinthecity,andablessingonyouinthecountryside.
4
"A
blessingonthefruitofyourbody,thefruitofyourlandandthefruitofyour
livestock-theyoungofyourcattleandflocks.
5
"Ablessingonyourgrain-basket
andkneading-bowl.
6
"Ablessingonyouwhenyougoout,andablessingonyou
whenyoucomein.
7
"ADONAIwillcauseyourenemiesattackingyoutobe
defeatedbeforeyou;theywilladvanceonyouonewayandfleebeforeyouseven
ways.
8
"ADONAIwillorderablessingtobewithyouinyourbarnsandin
everythingyouundertake;hewillblessyouinthelandADONAIyourGodis
givingyou.
9
"ADONAIwillestablishyouasapeopleseparatedoutforhimself,as
hehassworntoyou-ifyouwillobservethemitzvotofADONAIyourGodand
followhisways.
10
ThenallthepeoplesonearthwillseethatADONAI'sname,his
presence,iswithyou;sothattheywillbeafraidofyou.
We’llstophereandpickupHoseachapter5nexttime.