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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson12,Chapter7
There’sareasonthatHoseaisthefirsttimeI’vecreatedacommentaryonanOld
Testamentbookofprophecy.While,personally,inthosebooksIfindhope,
promise,andvalidationofmyfaith,ontheotherhandI’mnotsureofhowbroad
theaudienceforitisbecausepropheticworksalsocanbesomber,serious,and
theseveresideofGodisputonfulldisplay.So-calledNewTestamentChristians,
andespeciallythemoreEvangelicalbranchesofit,prefertofocustheirprophetic
understandingontheBookofRevelation,andtendtofurthersharpenthatfocus
tosuchthingsastheRapture,thereturnofChrist,theMillennialKingdom,and
thenewHeavensandEarth.Why?Because…atleastonthesurface…these
thingsallsoundquitejoyousanduplifting.Thedrawbackwiththemindsetof
onlybeinginterestedinthepleasantthingsoftheBiblepropheciesisthatit
diminishesorignoreswhatisalsoprophesiedconcerningwhatleadsuptothem.
Unpleasantthings.Chaoticthings.Evilanddarkthings.So,whenonebeginsto
doaseriousandthoroughstudyofanyoftheseveralbooksofprophecy,quickly
wefindthattheydealmostlywiththeunpleasant,thechaotic,thedarkandthe
evil.Theresultoftenisthatthepassagesareskimmedover,thereaderrelieved
tobedonewiththeminordertomoveontothehappierthings.Whowantsto
spendhours,days,weeks,evenmonthsreadingofdoomandgloom?
ThecruxoftheissueisforusalltorecognizethatGoddidnotinspirethe
Prophetstowritethesethingsdowntodepressus.Rather,theyaretomeant
warnandtoannounceGod’sdispleasure,butalsothatintheendthereishope.
Muchmorethansimplybeingadivinerant,thosepropheticwordswereusually
fashionedinthehopethattherecipientsmightopentheirears,becomeawareof
theirsinandwrongdoing,repent,and(inacaselikeHosea’sprophecy)make
actualtangiblepreparationsforwhatiscoming.Whilewe’dallprefertoonly
addressthemanyexhilaratingthingsintheBible,therealityisthat(forourown
good)weneedtohearandheedhowGodviewsourindividualreligiosityandour
behavior.Weneedtoknowaboutthehardtimesahead,andnotsimplyrace
forwardinanunguardedexuberanceassumingthatsomehow,asBelievers,we’ll
beexemptfromthetroubles.Andyet,aswereadthroughouttheBible,wefind
thathumannaturehasalwaysbeensuchthatthemajorityofhumanswillignore
thesewarningsandcontinuelifeseekingourownagendas,establishingand

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livingoutourownvaluesandpriorities,assumingthatallwillbewell.God’s
peopletendtowobbleandtoddleforwardinhistoryactingasthoughweare
unawareofwhatisgoingonallaroundusthatconfirmswhattheProphetshave
toldus.GodseesourignoranceandinactioninresponsetoHiswarningas
faithlessness.Afterall,ifyouknewforcertainthatinoneweekyourgrocery
storewouldrunoutoffood,wouldyousitonyourhandsanddonothing?Ifyou
knewforcertainthattonightathiefwillattempttobreakintoyourhome,would
yougotobedandsleeppeacefullywithouttakingpreventativeaction?So,
indeed,whenGodiswarningusthroughHisProphets,itisguaranteedthatwhat
Heistellingusaboutwillhappen.Ifwetakenoaction,andmakenoresponse,
thenclearlyitmeanswedon’tbelieveGod.
OpenyourBiblestoHoseachapter7.We’regoingtore-readthechapter.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER7all
Weconcludedourpreviouslessonbyreadingallof2Kings15becauseitlaysout
thesad,murderoushistoryofaseriesofIsrael’skingswhowereassassinated,
whichisbeingprophesiedinHoseachapter7.Itturnsoutthatsuchaninstability
ofrapidturnoverofthegovernmentleadershipwas,andremainstothisday,the
veryvisibledeaththroesofanation.ThischapterdescribeshowIsraelrunsto
andfrototheregion’smostpowerfulnations…EgyptandAssyria(enemiesofone
another)…seekingalliesagainsttheirsisterkingdom,Judah.Verse2rather
sumsupthefantasticrealitythatIsraelhadbecomesodegenerateintheir
mindsetandworship,thatitneveroccurstothemthattherealproblembetween
themandYehovehistheirownwickedness.Theythinkthisisallaboutpolitics
andeconomicsandtheambitionsofkingsandemperors.
Forthesakeofstudy,it’snotabadideatoseethischapterasbrokeninto4
segments.Segment1isverses1and2thatspeaksofthecrimetidalwavethat
hasstruckIsrael…ageneralsocietalbreakdown.Segment2isverses3–7,and
isaboutIsrael’scorruptgovernmentanditsdomesticagenda.Segment3is
verses8–12thatreflectsIsrael’sdisastrousinternationalpolicies.Andsegment
4isverses13–16thatwarnsoftheconsequenceofallthiswickednessand
unfaithfulnessthatispresentthroughouteverylevelofIsraelitesociety:the
destructionofIsraelasanationandthedisappearanceofthemasapeople.

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AsconcernsEphraim/Israel’sdomesticagenda,verse3explainsthatthekingsof
Israelrevelintheirevil,andtheirgovernmentminionstellthepeopleliesto
bringabouttheking’saims.Let’spauseforamoment,here.Idon’toftentalk
politicsinmylessons,butthesubjectofthissectionofHoseaispoliticssoitis
unavoidable.Arewenotinthe21
st
centurywitnessingthroughouttheWestern
world(atleast)ournationalleadersonadeterminedcampaigntoglorifywhat
Godcallsevilandimmoral,anddamningwhatGodcallsgoodandmoral?Justas
withthekingsofIsraelthatsworethattheevilandidolatrytheywereteaching
andpracticingwasactuallyGod’swill,sodosomanymodernpoliticalleaderson
theonehandprofesssomeChristianaffiliationoratleastaChristian-based
moralphilosophy,butontheothervirtuallydisavoworevenmockGod’s
commandsandGod’struth.Eventhatisn’tsufficientforthem;theyfeelthey
mustcelebrateandinsistthatothersjointheminadvocatingforeveryimmoral
andpervertedthing.Andwhatdotheseleaders’officialsandrepresentativesdo?
Theylieabouttheirtrueagenda(todayitiscalled“spin”tomakeitsoundnormal
andlegitimate)iftheythinkthepeopletheygovernaren’tquitereadytoaccept
it;ortheylieabouttheagenda’struegoalandpurposes.So,saysverse4,this
makesthemall(allofIsrael’spoliticalleadership)adulterers(inHoseathisisa
metaphorforidolators).Andjusttoremindyou:whatisidolatry?Fundamentally
itisremakingGodintoourimageinwhateverwaywemightattemptit.
Beginningwithverse4Hoseaintroducesanewmetaphortohelpdescribe
Israel’scorruptleaders:anovenandthebakingprocess.Werunintoaproblem,
however,becausesomuchofthenextseveralversesareinbadrepairinthe
oldestmanuscripts,sotranslatingthemnecessarilytakessomeamountof
educatedspeculation.Thisisthereasonthatwecanfindsomewildlydiffering
translationsoftheseversesinvariousBibleversions.Therefore,Idefertosome
ofthebestlanguagescholarsthatspecializeintheancient(notmodern)Hebrew
andotherSemiticlanguages,whoareatthesametimewellversedinancient
HebrewandMiddleEasterncultures.AmongthoseareS.M.PaulandMayer
Gruber.Thereisalmostnochoicebuttoattempttoreconstructtheseverses
fromathought-for-thoughtapproachratherthanfromaword-for-wordliteral
translationbecausethetextissodamagedthatit’squitehardto,attimes,know
exactlywhatallthelettersareaswritteninthoseancientscrollfragments.

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S.M.Paulsaysthathereishow(inthemodernEnglishlanguage)thatweshould
understandthegistofverse4.“Allofthem(thepoliticalleaders)arecontinually
engagedinadultery.Likeastovefiredbyabakerwhodesistsfromstokingonly
fromthekneadingofthedoughuntilitsleavening.”Now,forwemoderns,even
thisisabitdifficulttounderstand;andthatisbecausewedon’tknowaboutthe
ancientbakingprocess.Further,PaulsaysthatthefirstfewHebrewwordsare
likelyanexpressionandsooughttobetakentomean:“Allofthemareraging
likeablazingoven”.Eitherway,wegettheideaofthebehaviorofIsrael’s
politicalleadersislikenedtoahotoven.So,beforeweproceed,I’llexplainthe
ancientovenandtheprocessforbakingbread(thenthisversewillmakealittle
moresensetous).
Theancientovenwasmadeoffiredclay,andhadakindofbeehiveshapetoit.
Ithadadoorplacedeitheratdirectgroundlevel,oralternativelyabitelevated.
Italmostalwayshadastonefloor.Afirewouldbebuiltinsidetheovenand
allowedtoburnuntiltheovenwasaboutashotasitcouldget.Thenthebaker
wouldstopaddingwoodandletitburndownuntiltherewasnothingleftbut
glowingcoals.Thesecoalsremainedinsidetheovenduringthebakingprocess,
soyoucanimaginewhatasmokeyflavoreverything(includingbread)thatwas
bakedinittookon.Theideawasthatnowthattheinteriorwallsoftheovenwere
super-hot,theholeatthetopoftheoven(thechimneythatallowedtheneeded
airflowforthefiretoburnproperly),wouldbesealedtohelpretainthebuilt-up
heat.Interestingly,thewaythebreadwastypicallybakedwasnotsomuchin
loaves,butratherasaflatbread.So,aflatteneddinnerplatesizedchunkof
doughwaspressedagainsttheinteriorwalloftheoven.There,stucktothewall,
itwouldbakeforawhile;inafewminutesthehalf-bakeddoughwouldneedto
beturnedoverandre-stucktotheoven’sinnerwalltocompletethebaking
process.
Makingthebreaddoughmixtureinvolvedaddingyeast(usually),andthensome
amountoftimeallowedforittorise(1–2hours)beforeitwasreadytobebaked.
Isay“usually”addingyeastbecausethebreadmixtureitselfthatregularly
involvedaddingoilwouldrisesomeamountonitsownwithouttheadditionof
yeast(itwasanaturalprocessthatoccurswhenwaterandoilisaddedtothe
groundwheat,justashappenswithpasta).Thetrickwastopreparethefire,and
toreadytheamountofdough,withthekneadingprocessbeingthemomentthe

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yeastisadded,soastoco-ordinateitall.Breadthathadrisentoomuchwas
sometimesnestledinamongthecoals,insteadofbeingstucktothesidesofthe
oven.Withthisdelicatebakingprocessinmind…somethingthattookmuchskill
andexperience…let’scontinue.
Nowthatverse4hassetuptheovenmetaphor,verse5movesontotalkabout
howsomeofIsrael’skingswouldbeassassinated.MayerGruberhas
reconstructedthisverse,amendingthewayithasinthepastbeentranslated
(andthosetranslations,asallmustnecessarilybe,werebasedonwhatthe
missingletterswereassumedtobe),becauseastraditionallytranslateditcomes
outmostlynon-sensical.Hisreconstructionsareveryreasonableandlikely,and
he’sprobablyquiteclosetothesenseofitbecauseheoperateswithingthe
themeofassassinationofroyaltythatisbeingexpressed.Hesaysit’sbetterto
readit:“Thedaysonwhichtheymadeourkingssickbymeansofpoisoninstead
ofwine.He(meaninganyoftheseriesofIsraelitekingsatthistime)stretched
outhishandtomockingpersons(thismeansthepeoplewhohandedhimthe
poisonedwine)”.
Intheend,thisverseisexplainingthatdrunkennesswasparforthecourseinthe
royalcourt,thatthekingswerelushes,andthatthosewhobackedadifferent
andrivalpotentialkingtookadvantageofthesedrunkenpartiestospikethe
winewithpoison.
Verse6againinjectstheovenandbakermetaphors.S.M.Paulofferswhathe
thinksisabettersolutiontothisawkwardsentence.Hesaysitshouldberead:
“Trulytheirinwardsarelikeanoven,theirheartsarelikeablazingfirewithin
them”.TheCJBtranslatesit“whoreadythemselveslikeanovenwhiletheywait
fortheirchance”.Otherversionsusedifferentwordsbuttheyallgenerally
amounttothesamething:thejealouspassionsofthesepoliticalassassinsare
blazinghot(likeanoven)inwaitingfortherightmomenttoseizepowerthrough
murder.Thisverseconcludeswith“theirbakersleepsthroughthenightandthen
inthemorningitburstsintoflame”.Theideaisthatthesegovernmentalleaders
aresoconsumedintheirdesireforpowerthatwhethertheyareawakeorasleep
theycannotstopplottingandconspiring.Powerhasbecomethesolegoaloftheir
existenceandnothingelsematters.

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Verse7concludesthissegmentaboutthecorruptandpower-madgovernment
leaders,andwant-to-begovernmentleaders,withthissummary.The
out-of-controlfervorofvariousgovernmentofficialscouldendinnothingelse
buttheirpersonaldestruction,tobefollowedbynationaldestruction.Whilethis
wasnotaparticularlynewcircumstancewithinIsrael’sgovernment,itwasthe
extremenatureofthedisregardforethical,moralbehaviorthatisinview.
Despiteitsrelativelysmallsizeintheregion,whathadallowedIsraelandJudah
toremainfreeandindependentwastheirdedicationtoseeingtotheirown
securityandnotdependingonothersforit.Thisverymuchreflectsmodern
Israel’sunderstandingofwhatisnecessaryforitsowncontinuance.Butnow,in
theeraHoseaisprophesyingabout,thishaschanged.IsraelandJudahare
constantlywarringagainstoneanother,IsraelfearsitcannotstaveoffJudah,
andsotheygotoAssyriaforhelp.Wemightsaytheyeachtriedtomakeapact
withtheDevil.Godsays:“Alloftheirkingshavefallen;noneofthemcallsoutto
Me”.AndhereisthemoltencoreofthisentireBookofHosea:ratherthanhumble
themselvesandcallouttoYehovehforhelp,theytakemattersintotheirown
hands.Theydecidethatamanmadepoliticalsolutionthatinvolvesclosetieswith
pagannationsisthewaytoassuretheircontinuingexistence.Butthereisone
thingthatalwaysneedstobemadeclearinmatterslikethis,andnotmuchhas
changedoverthemillennia.Governmentleadersareoftenwillingtogiveup
nationaltreasureandsovereigntyprovidedtheconqueringnationwillallowthem
toretaintheirlucrativepositions.WhenIsraeldoesfinallymakealliancewith
Assyriaitisatacostofenormousamountsoftributepaidtothem,inreturnfor
allowingthekingofIsraeltoremaininpower.Anyideaofasolutionthatinvolved
thebestwelfareofthecommonpeoplewaspurelyanillusion.
ItishardtooverstatehowdeludedanddegenerateIsrael’sleadershadbecome.
Howdidtheyfinallyarriveatsuchastateofmind…somethingborderingon
insanity?ItbeganwithacivilwarsoonafterSolomondied,andthusunitedIsrael
becamedividedinto2separatekingdomsinaselfishactthatcompletelyignored
God’screationofthis12-tribeconfederacy.WhenKingJeroboambecamethe
leaderoftheNorthernKingdom,inanotherselfishacthedecidedhedidn’twant
hiscitizenstravelingtotheTempleinJerusalemtoworshipandsacrificebecause
hewouldbecedingsomelevelofcontrolandmoneytoJudah.So,hebuilthis
ownTempleinSamaria,setupmultipleworshipsitesusingconvenienceasthe
tooltoattracthiscitizenstousethoseworshipsitesratherthanhavingtotravel

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allthewaytoJerusalem.Thisnecessarilyinvolvedsettingupaseparatereligious
systemwithitsownpriestsbecauseitwasn’tpossibletofollowtheLawofMoses
ifhecuthispeopleofffromJerusalembecausethatwastheoneandonly
worshipcenterGodallowed.TheproperobservationoftheirorthodoxHebrew
faithcenteredinJudah.Itwastheclassicslipperyslope;andthethingyoulearn
earlyinlifeisthatthefurtherdownthatslopeyouslide,yougainspeed.
Eventuallythingsaremovingsofastyouloseallcontrol,unabletochange
direction,andcrashingbecomesinevitable.
Icallonyou,again,tolookattheworldaroundyouandnotsomuchtorecoilin
horrororindifference,butrathertopaysoberattention.Makewhatyouare
learninginHosearealandpersonalinyourlife;that’swhyitwasplacedthere.
ThesimilaritiesbetweenancientEphraim/Israelandmostofourplanetatthis
timeinhistoryiseerilyclose.WhatI’vebeendescribingtoyouisnotallegoryor
hyperbole;itisborneoutbyrecordedhistoricalfact.Godhasgivenusan
opportunitytolearnthetruth,preparespiritually,andreadyourselvesandour
familiesphysicallyandtangiblyforwhatisinescapable.Corruptionand
immoralityarenowbakedintooursocieties;wemaybeabletochipawayatitat
times,butwearenotgoingtodriveitout.Wecanfixitwithinourselves,but
notbyourownmethodsandstandards.Godsays:seekMe.Especiallyifyouare
aGodworshipper,seekHim.It’swhenwedon’t,andinsteadweturnto
ourselvesortotrendy,popularmeanstobesoothedofourconcernsand
anxietiesthatwemoveevenfurtherawayfromGod…butdon’tevenrecognize
thatit’shappeningbecauseitcanfeelgoodtous.However,eventuallythe
distancebetweenusandtheLordbecomessogreatthatitcannolongerbe
easilybridged.
Verse8opensthesegmentofthischapterthatisconcernedwithIsrael’skings’
absurdandruinousventureintointernationaldiplomacyandgeopolitics.It
openswithcallingagainontheovenandbakingmetaphortomakethepoint.
Essentially,Ephraimisthebreaddoughandthepeoples(thegentilenations)are
theyeast…theleaven…withthetwobeingmixedtogethertoformabatchthat
youessentiallycan’ttakebackapart.Whatdoesleavenregularlysymbolically
representintheBible?Sin.Becausethesegentilepeoplenecessarilyworship
othergods,theyautomaticallystandagainstYehoveh;thisissin.So,Ephraimby
mixingwiththegentilesismixinghimselfwithsin.Ephraimisdescribedasa

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cakehalf-baked,ormoreliterally,notturned.Recallwhatwelearnedaboutthe
bakingprocess,andthedoughbeingstucktotheovenwall;abouthalfway
throughtheprocess,thehalf-donedoughmustbeturnedover.Now,thereisan
interestingalternativetranslationthatS.M.Paulsuggests.Recallthateven
shouldwehaveallthealphabetcharactersfortheverses,theyareall
consonants.So,two(ormore)differentHebrewwordscanbespelledidentically.
Theonlywaytoknowthedifferenceamongthemisacombinationofcontextand
howtheyarevocalized…howtheyarespoken…whattheysoundlike.Itisin
speakingthosewordsthatweaddinthevowelsounds.Therefore,employing
somedifferentvowelsoundswiththesameHebrewletters,thesamephrasecan
legitimatelybe:“Ephraimshallbekneadedamongthenations”.Thisworksjust
aswell.Really,althoughthereissomenuancebetweenthetwothoughts,they
resultinthesamething.Israelwillbephysicallyblendedinwiththenations(the
peopleareexiledintotheforeignnations)justastheyhadalreadyforacentury
beenblendedinwiththenationsreligiouslyandpolitically.
PriortoIsrael’sexilethemixingwasapurposefulleader-ledoneasaresultof
Israel’sfranticsearchforhopefulpartnershipsandallianceswithvariousforeign
countries,forwhatIsraelbelievedwasitssurvival.So,theylookedtopagan
leadersfortheirsalvation,insteadoftoYehoveh.Whatthisledto,however,was
alossoftheiridentity.I’vespokenonanumberofoccasionsaboutthekey
biblicalconceptofidentityanditscentralroleinreligiousfaith.Theirfirstlossof
identitycamewithaweakeningassociationwithYehoveh.Thenwiththeirsister
KingdomJudah.Andfinallywiththelanditself.Lookaroundus.Americaislosing
itsidentity,andIregularlyreadaboutthebattleforidentitywithinmany
Europeannations;somepeoplewantingtoretaintheirhistoricalidentityand
otherswantingtoblenditwithwhatevercomesasashowoftoleranceand
diversity.Ineverycase,thispushawayfromtheirtraditionalidentitybeganwith
aweakingassociationwithGod.RemoveGodfromtheequation,andwelosethe
basisforwhatbindsustogetherasacultureandasociety:ourethics,morals,
legalsystem,valuesandvirtues.Beforethereisanymisunderstandinginnoway
amIspeakingofethnicity.OuridentityasAmericans,forinstance,hasno
foundationinethnicity;wearetheproverbialmeltingpotofethnicities.Israel’s
identityasIsraelitesandastheseedofAbrahamfinallyendedwhentheywere
dispersedintothenationswherethebulkofthemwouldnolongerhaveanyidea

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oftheirancestralheritage.Thiswasatotallossofone’sidentity,andthegainof
anentirelynewone…andnotforthebetter.
Asverse9says,itisIsrael’swantofassociationwithpeoplewhodon’tfearor
worshiptheGodofAbraham,Isaac,andJacobthatleadstothis.Butevenmore
frighteningisthattheydon’tevenrealizethatthislossofidentityishappeningto
them.Thefirsthalfofverse9continuestoemploytheovenandbaking
metaphor,butthesecondhalfaddsinthemetaphorofanaginganddying
person,signifiedbyspeakingofgrayhairsappearing.Yetneitherthepeoplenor
theirnationalleadersrecognizedit.Eachwastoobusychasingtheirpersonal
ambitionsorsimplylivingtheirlives.Bythelate730’sB.C.Israelwasdyingatan
alarmingrateasanidentifiableandset-apartpeople.Whenoneidentitycan’tbe
distinguishedfromanotheridentity,therenolongerinrealityexiststwo
identities,butonlyone.I’llstepoutonalimbabitnow,riskingsomeblowback.
Church,Iaskforustoconsiderwithsoberintrospectionifinstitutional
Christianityhasnoteitheralreadylostitsidentity,orisdangerously(perhaps
fatally)infestedwithHosea’sgrayhairsandsoisspeedingtowardsalossof
identity.CanyoutelltheaverageBelieverfromtheaveragesecularperson
simplybyobservingthem?CanyouspotthepersonwhoclaimsbeliefinChrist
fromapersonwhoisambivalentabouttheGodofIsrael,orexpressly
non-believing?Orbelievesinanothergod,altogether?TheChurch’sidentity,
today,seemsmoreandmorebasedonthoselittlefishsymbolsoncars,orcross
iconsorevenStarsofDavidhungaroundournecks.OrhowbigtheChristmas
andEastercelebrationsare.Butifthosethingswereremoved,couldouridentity
withGodbespottedbyhowwelive,behave,andthechoiceswemake?
HowaboutChurchandChristianorganizations?Otherthanforsignage,
vocabulary,andcertainclaims,aremanymuchdifferentfromanytypical
businessgroup?I’llanswerthatbysayingthatmostcertainlysomeare.But
sadly,manythatarecertaintheyaredoingrighteousworkandaresafelywithin
God’ssheepfoldaren’t,anymorethanwasEphraim/Israel.Fartoomuch
paganismandmaterialismandpersonalkingdombuildinghascreptintothe
orthodoxbiblicalfaith,andasaresultourall-importantidentitywithGodisat
greatjeopardy.ThepushwithintheChurchbodytodayisnottobeseparated
fromtheworld,butrathertobeasmuchpartofitaspossible,inthehopeofa
widerpopularacceptance.DoweseektheLordtohelpus,ortoguideus?Dowe

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turndirectlytotheBibletofindthemoralcodetoapplytoourlives?Or,dowe
turntosecularpeoplefortheiradviceandrescue,andtoever-changingciviland
criminallawcodesasthedeterminersofrightandwrong,moralandimmoral,
ethicalandunethical?Noone…norisGod…expectingourcompletephysical
separationfromtheworld;Healsodidn’texpectthatfromIsrael.ButHedid
expectthattheassociationswecreatewouldleadtotheworldbeingattractedto
theGodofIsrael,andnotthepeopleofGodbeingattractedtothewaysofthe
world.
Twice,now,we’veseenthephrase“butIsraeldidn’tknow”.So,it’snotthat
Israelhadmaliceaforethought,andoreveneverseriouslyconsideredthatwhat
theyweredoingwasevilandthecauseoftheirlossofpeacewithGod,whichin
turnhasbeenthecauseoftheirpoliticalandeconomicdisasters.Rathertheir
ignorancewasbecauseoftheirrefusaltoexaminethemselvesinlightofGod’s
moralcode…inthelightoftheLawofMoses…andoftheredemptivechangethat
couldcomebyseekingHim.
Verse10is:
CJB
Hosea7:10TheprideofIsra'eltestifiesinhisface,butinspiteofallthisthey
haven'treturnedtoADONAItheirGodorsoughthim.
Thissoundsabitawkwardmostlybecauseofwhat“testifiesinHisface”means,
andexactlywhat“theprideofIsrael”isattemptingtocommunicate.“Face”isa
Hebrewwayofspeakingofaperson’s(orGod’s)presence.Grubersaysthis
means“Israel’spridehasbeenhumbledbeforehiseyes”.Whoseeyes?Ithink
thatperhapsweoughttoseethisasaperfectlyparallelthoughtfromHosea5:5.
CJB
Hosea5:5Isra'el'sarrogancewilltestifyinhisface;Isra'elandEfrayimwill
stumbleintheircrimes…
Mosttranslatorsandcommentatorsfeelquiteconfidentthatthemeaningin
Hosea5:5couldbebestexpressedassayingthatIsrael’sarrogancetestifies
againsthim.Thatis,theirarrogancerevealstheirpoorcharacter.Therefore,I
thinkweoughttotakeHosea7:10thesameway;Israel’spridetestifiesagainst
himandrevealshistruecharacter.Justliketheclumsythiefwhofallsoutthe2
nd

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storywindoworstumblestryingtorunoffwithhisill-gottengain,thusthwarting
hiscriminalefforts,soweoughttointerpretthemeaningof“IsraelandEphraim
willstumbleintheircrimes”.Itismoreanexpressionofbeingexposedand
failingintheireffortsratherthanactuallystumblingandfallingdown.
Verse11isinterestingbecauseitincorporatesyetanothernewmetaphor…
doves.Ephraimislikenedtoafoolishdovebecausetheybouncearoundbetween
AssyriaandEgypttryingtofindhelp.Asaboy,livinginafarmareathatgrew
muchgrain,therewasanabundanceofdovessoIoftenwentdovehuntingwith
buddies.I’malittleashamedtosaythatdovesareprettyeasytargets.Theyjust
don’tseemtohavethesenseofcautionthatothergamebirdshave.They’llfly
intothesefieldsofgrain,particularlyafterharvest,andtheyaresointerestedin
gorgingthemselvesontheplentythatyoucouldjustaseasilywalkupandclub
themwiththebuttofyourgunastoshootthem.Youalmosthavetoshoothem
togetthemtoflytomakeanysportofit(afterall,forboysthebigboomwas
mostlywhatitwasallabout).So,yes,fromthatstandpointdovesaresillywith
nomind.ThroughHoseaGodsaysthat’swhatIsraelhasbecomelike.Theysee,
buttheydon’tcomprehendthegravedangertheyarein.Theylisten,butthey
don’theartherumblingsofcatastrophe.Andwhatevertheirreactionandefforts
italwaysseemstobemakingthewrongchoice.
WhatthisisreferringtoisIsraelflipfloppingfromonehopedforallianceto
another.OneminuteEgyptlooksattractive;thenextEgypt’senemyAssyria
looksprettygood.OnekingmakesanagreementwithAssyria,thenextbreaks
it.Itisworthittolookagain(aswedidafewlessonsago)totheopeningverses
of2Kings16toexplainthisinactualhistoricalterms.
CJB
2Kings16:1-9ItwasintheseventeenthyearofPekachthesonof
RemalyahthatAchazthesonofYotamkingofY'hudahbeganhisreign.
2
Achaz
wastwentyyearsoldwhenhebegantorule,andhereignedsixteenyearsin
Yerushalayim.ButhedidnotdowhatwasrightfromtheperspectiveofADONAI
hisGod,asDavidhisancestorhaddone.
3
Rather,helivedinthemannerofthe
kingsofIsra'el;heevenmadehissonpassthroughfire[asasacrifice],in
keepingwiththeabominablepracticesofthepagans,whomADONAIhadthrown
outaheadofthepeopleofIsra'el.
4
Healsosacrificedandofferedonthehigh
places,onthehillsandunderanygreentree.
5
ThenRetzinkingofAramand

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PekachsonofRemalyah,kingofIsra'el,cameuptofightagainstYerushalayim.
TheyputAchazundersiege,buttheycouldnotovercomehim.
6
Itwasatthat
timethatRetzinkingofAramrecoveredEilatforAramanddrovetheJudeans
fromEilat;whereuponpeoplefromEdomcametoEilattolive,astheydotothis
day.
7
ThenAchazsentmessengerstoTiglat-Pil'eserkingofAshurwiththis
message:"Iamyourservantandyourson.Comeup,andsavemefromtheking
ofAramandthekingofIsra'el,whoareattackingme."
8
Achaztookthesilver
andgoldthatwasinthehouseofADONAIandinthetreasuriesoftheroyal
palaceandsentitasapresenttothekingofAshur.
9
ThekingofAshurheeded
him-thekingofAshurattackedDammesekandcapturedit;thenhecarriedits
peoplecaptivetoKirandkilledRetzin.
Whatthisisexplainingisthatinthe17
th
yearofthereignofPekahaskingof
Israel,whichwasthesametimethatKingAchazbeganhisreignasthekingof
Judah,thatPekahmadeanalliancewithRetzin,kingofAram(Syria,notAssyria)
andtogethertheywentdowntoJudahtofightAchaz.ThekingofSyrianotonly
helpedIsraelwin,butSyriaalsoacquiredforthemselvestheimportantRedSea
portcityofEilatthathadbeenpartofJudah.Thatresultedinyetanotherpeople,
thepeopleofEdom,comingtoEilattolive.Afterthatdisastrousloss,thekingof
Judah,Achaz,sentamessagetothekingofAssyria,TiglathPileser,offering
allegianceifhewouldcomeandhelphimdefeatIsraelandSyriasohecouldtake
backterritory.ButthatalliancewithAssyriawashugelycostlysuchthatAchaz
hadtoraidtheTempletreasurytopaythedemandedtribute.Assyriaagreed,
attackedDamascus,Syria,andkilledtheirking.Onandonitgoes.Israel(and
Judah,too,forthatmatter)makingalliancesonlytohaveashort-termvictory
replacedbytheirallynowsidingwithsomeoneelseagainstthem.Indeed,Israel
waslikeasillydove.
Verse12continueswiththebirdmetaphor,byGodsayingHe’llthrowanetover
Israelthesamewayhuntersthrowanetoverdovestocapturethem.AsIsrael’s
ambassadorsaregoingtothegentilenationsfortheiralliances,Godwillthrow
Hisnetoverthemtocapturethem.I’mconvincedthiscaptivityissymbolicfor
thecaptivityIsraelwillsoonfacebymeansoftheirexile.Thereasonforthis
particularsymbolismofbirdsandnetsmightnotbeobvious.Itisthatfromthe
outset,GodhasrepeatedlytoldIsraelthateventhoughtheythinktheyare
sufferingtheirmisfortuneatthehandsofanenemythatwassimplytoobigand

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strongforthem,infactitisGodHimselfthatisdirectlycausingthis.Itmayseem
asthoughAssyriaistheonethrowingthenetoverIsrael(capturingthem),but
infactitisYehovehdoingitasaconsequenceoftheiridolatryandunfaithfulness
toHim.
Verse13movesusintothe4
th
andfinalsegmentofHoseachapter7;Godtelling
IsraelthatthedestructionofIsrael’sgovernmentandnationcannotbestopped
orevensloweddown.Saying“Woe”isatermofdivinejudgment.“WoetoIsrael”
ispronouncedbecausetheystrayedfromtheirGod.DestructionisIsrael’s
punishmentbecauseGodismorethanoffended;IsraelhaswrongedHim.He
continueswiththerhetoricalquestion“ShouldIredeemthem?”whentheyhave
treatedHiminsuchatreacherousway.However,theGreekSeptuagintversion
ofthisverse(asreflectedliterallyintheKJV)isNOT“shouldIredeemthem”,but
rather“thoughIhaveredeemedthem”.Thatis,thefirstwayisasking,shouldI
rescueIsraelfromAssyria?Andthesecondwayis,IhavealreadyrescuedIsrael
(nodoubtfromEgypt)longagointhetimeofMoses,andyetnowtheytelllies
againstMe.Althoughthereisambiguity,Iamfullyinclinedtogowiththesecond
way.GodisutterlyindignantthatafterallHedidforIsraelinredeemingthem
fromEgypt’sgrip,theyhavecontinuallymistreatedHimbytheirunfaithfulness
eversince.Israel’shistoryfromMt.Sinaiforwardwasoneofthemconstantly
flirtingwithidolatry;it’sonlythatEphraim/Israelhasraisedthebarbyturning
idolatryandperversionoftheirformerlyorthodoxHebrewfaithintoanartform.
Verse14isanotherofthosethatasithasbeentypicallyrenderedforcenturies,
actuallydoesn’tmakealotofsense.WhatisIsraeldoingthattheywouldbe
wailingfromtheirbeds?GinsberghasawonderfulsolutionthatIlike,butwe
mustbackawayandriseto30,000-footviewtoseeit.TheentireBookofHosea
speaksintermsofIsrael’sadultery,andeventhefirst3chaptersuseHoseaand
Gomer’smarriageasasexuallychargedsymboloftheadulterousIsrael.So,
Ginsbergsaysitmakesmoresensetoseeverse14fromthatcontextand
perspective.Thus,hesaysitshouldbetranslatedas“Theydidnotcrytomewith
theirthroatswhiletheyweremakingnoisesupontheirbeds”.Don’tletthe“cry
fromtheirthroats”throwyou.It’sthatinancientbiblicalHebrew,thewordlev
(heart)thatactuallymeansmindorfromadescriptivestandpoint,theheartas
theseatofemotionsandthoughts,isalsooccasionallyusedtomean“throat”.
WecanfindthissameuseofthewordlevinIsaiah33:18and59:18,inPsalms

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19:15and49:4andinafewotherverses.So,thethroatisusedastheorganof
speech.Followingthethemeofadultery,thenwehavethemenwhoarehaving
sexwithprostituteslayingontheprostitutes’bedsmakingnoisesofecstasy,
insteadofusingtheirvoices(theirthroats)astheyshouldtocryouttoGodfor
Hismercyandhelp.
Further,the2
nd
halfofverse14saysthatthesemenalsoslashthemselvesfor
thesakeofcorn(meaninggrain)andwine.Whatthisisspeakingofissacrificing
totheBaalsandthemannerinwhichBaalworshippersoftenwilldothingsto
themselvestoshowsinceritybyliterallycuttingthemselvesandbleeding.So,
theyaresacrificingtotheBaal’s,cuttingthemselves,andinadditiontothe
wailingofecstasytheynowwailinpain.Wereadofthesesamesortsofpagan
worshippracticesinElijah’sencounterwiththeprophetsofBaalonMt.Carmel.
We’llstopherefortoday,concludechapter7nexttimeandalsoopenchapter8.