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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson17,Chapter10
DouglasStewartaptlycharacterizestheopeningversesofHoseachapter10as
“Rejectionofcultandkingship”(cultmeaningEphraim/Israel’sreligious
establishmentandpractices).YehovehisfirmlydistancingHimselffromIsrael’s
monarchyasmuchasfromtheirworship.Butevenmore,Yehovehis
aggressivelydestroyingthemonarchyandtheentirereligioussystemthatIsrael
insistedwasforthesakeofworshippingHim,GodofIsrael.
AsIstudiedthischapteritoccurredtomethatithasadirectrelationshipwiththe
BookofRevelation,andespeciallytochapter17wherewereadabouttheWhore
ofBabylon.ItisgenerallytheChristianmindsettopictureonlypagans,benton
wickedness,forwhichthisderogatorytermisused;Ithinkotherwise.Wehave
observedthroughoutHoseathatGodusesthetermsharlot,prostitute,and
whoretodescribethosewhoperverttheirotherwiseproperworshipofHim;He
isn’tspeakingofpagans.Therefore,becauseofHosea,itiscommonamong
ChristianNewTestamentcommentatorstosaythattheWhoreofBabylonmust
beIsrael.WhileIthinktheyareontherighttrackinthateventhoughactual
anti-GodpagansareincludedinthemixbythetimewegetthewordsoftheBook
ofRevelation,thistermmustalsoincludethosewhoclaimallegiancetotheGod
ofIsrael,butwhohavecorruptedthetrueorthodoxbiblicalfaith.Tobeclear:
whileinHoseathereferencetowhoredomisindeedaimedsquarelyat
Ephraim/Israel,itsscopebecomesexpandedintheBookofRevelationtoinclude
allwhocreateand/orpracticesomesortofhybridizedmanmadereligionthat
pleasesthem,andattemptstoattachittotheGodoftheBibleasproperworship.
Thisistheessenceofidolatry.
Thereisnodoubtthatthetermwhore(thatisincludedinasmallgroupofterms
revolvingaroundillicitsexualpracticesincludingadultery)isametaphorfor
idolatrywhensuchunfaithfulnesstoamarriagepartnerortoone’sLordand
Master,entersthespiritualrealm.Mypointisthis:institutionalChristianityaswe
knowit…afaiththatislargelybasedondoctrinesthatoriginatedfromthe
RomanChurch(donotconfusethatwiththeCatholicChurch),asdecidedupon
bygentilesinthe4
th
century…mustseekGodanddoaseriousexaminationof
itself.OurfaithinChristasSaviorandLordneednotbepartofthisexamination

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becausethatmightbetheoneandonlypartofitthatremainspureandtrue.
However,itisundeniablethatChristianity,asagentiles-onlyreligion,has
embracedmanypaganandRomanholidaysandpractices…oftenrenamingand
repurposingthem…assumingYehovehwillbewellpleasedwithsuchaneffort.
Manmadedoctrinesdominate;Biblestudyhasdevolvedintowaystofinddivine
approvaltovalidateourquestionablesocietaltrends;andthosebiblical
commandsthatdonotsuitusaredeemednolongerrelevantforaBelieveror
theytaughtasapplyingonlytoanotherpeople(theJews).RomanChristianity
certainlydidnotsetouttobewicked.Therewasameasureofsinceritytofollow
God…howeversincerelywrongthedirectiontakenmighthavebeen.ButGod
doesn’tacceptsincereorintenseworshipifitisnottheworshipofHimasHehas
prescribedit.Goddoesn’tacceptmanmadedoctrinesthataltercharacteristics
andattributesofwhoHeactuallyisorwhatHeactuallycommands.Herein
Hosea,itisnotthatGodmerelygetsupsetwithIsraelandturnsHisbackontheir
pollutedreligiouspracticesandthepeoplewhopracticethem.Rather,after
muchunheededwarning,Heeventuallylosespatienceandgoesonadestructive
rampagetostampoutwhatHeseesasoffensiveandabominabletoHim.
Yet,nomatterwhatcatastropheshappenedtothem,Israelstilldidn’tgetit.
Theylookedaroundatalltheyweredoingintheirritualsandsacrifices…allthe
effortandcosttheyputintothem…anddeemeditalltobegood.Good…buton
whatbasis?DidtheygobacktotheHolyScripturestoseeifwhattheywere
believinganddoingwasproper?No;there’sisn’ttheslightesthintthattheydid
andGodcondemnsthemfornotdoingso.Whywouldn’ttheygototheScriptures
(theTorah)thatwereintheirpossessiontoseeifwhattheybelievedanddidwas
inlinewithGod’scommandstothem?Ifeelconfidenttosaythatbecausethey
wereashumanastherestofus,theydidn’twanttoknowthethingsthatthey
didn’twanttoknow.Theywerecomfortableandsatisfiedintheirbeliefsand
traditions.Theydidn’twanttoholdtheirstandardsupagainstGod’swritten
standards,becauseofwhattheyinherentlyknewthey’ddiscover.So,allsortsof
rationalizationsweredevised,andanywhoprotestedtooloudly(suchasGod’s
Prophets)weremarginalizedanddeemedheretics.Andhereticstheywere…not
tothebiblicalfaithbutrathertothispervertedmanmadesystemofreligionof
Ephraim/Israel.FellowBelievers,Isawtheenemyandheisus.Onlywhenwe
arereadytobetakentothewoodshedbyGod,andreadytoacceptHisHoly
Wordasouroneandonlytruthandstandard…astandardthatJesussaidHedid

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notcometoabolish…andthatwouldnotchangeintheslightestwayuntilthe
heavensandearthpassedaway…andwearereadyinourspiritstoadmitour
errorandfollyandmakechanges,willtherebeanycorrectioninourjourneyand
toGod’sdispleasureofus.Ifwedonotundertakethiseffort,andifwedonot
humbleourselvesbeforetheLord,andifwerefusetoobeyandtoacceptHis
correction,thenatJudgmentDay,you,I,allofusmaywellbecountedinthe
groupthatGodcallscollectivelytheWhoreofBabylon.
Let’sreadHoseachapter10.
READHOSEACHAPTER10all
Beforewedelveintothischapter,somethingneedstobesaid.Thisisavery
challengingseriesofversestointerpret.IfyouholdupseveralgoodBible
versionstogetherandcompareHoseachapter10amongthem,youcanget
significantvariation.EventhoughtheancientHoseamanuscriptsforthischapter
areinreasonablygoodshape,thestyleofwritingandtheuseofmetaphorsand
thepoeticlicensetaken(andsomuchmore)makesmeaninghardertoextract.
Clearlythischapteriswrittenveryartfully,butitwasdoneinthecontextofthe
worldasitwasinthe8
th
centuryB.C.WhomeverHoseawasemployingasa
scribewashighlyskilledinhiswordsmithing.Atthesametime,itseemsthat
therearesomesubtlereferencestoeventsthatwerehappeningatthetimethis
chapterwaswritten,andthatpreciselywhatthosethingswerearebothcritical
tofullestunderstandingofthepointthattheauthorismakingandunfortunately
someofthisisalsolosttohistory.Thismeansourpointsofreferencecanbe
obscureifnotcoveredoveraltogether.Andjusttomakemattersmore
complicated,thereareseveralarcaneHebrewwordsusedthatcanhavenotonly
doublemeanings,butthesamewordscanhaveevenoppositemeanings.So,our
workiscutoutforus.Theveryfirstverseisanexampleofthis.
Inverse1Israelismetaphoricallycomparedtoaspreadingorabundantvine,or
ontheotherhanditcouldbeabarrenorravagedvine.Andsincethefruitofthe
vineiscomparedtothevineitself,thendependingonhowwecharacterizethe
vinethefruitiseitherabundantoritislacking.Theissueislesswhattheliteral
wordsmeanwhentakenindividuallyandmoreaboutwhattheoverallthoughtis
thatisbeingexpressed.EitherGodbeginswiththepremisethatHehasgivento

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Israel(thevine)agoodbeginningandsolidfoundation,andtheyhadindeed
beenahealthygrowingcommunity,andthuswhattheyproduced…theirfruit
(gooddeedsandproperworship)…hadbeengoodandhealthy,orthethoughtis
thatatonetimethishadbeensobutnolonger.Rashi,forinstance,translates
thefirstwordsofthisverseas“AluxuriantvineisIsrael”.So,tohelpusdecide
theoriginalintentofthisverse,wehavetoreadfurthertotrytoestablishthe
contextualthought.
Theversecontinueswith:“themorethefruit,themorealtarshemade.Thefiner
hisland,thefinersacredstonesweremade”.Or,itcanbetranslated,“whenthe
fruitwasplentiful,hemademanyaltars.Whenhislandwasfertile,they
multipliedculticpillars”.Sonowtheissueis,wasthefruitbeingdescribedto
opentheversegoodfruit,orwasitbadfruit?WasitgoodfruitthatallowedIsrael
tohavethemotivationandmeanstobuildmorepaganaltars?Orwasitthatbad
fruitledtoaperversionofmind,andsoIsraelfoolishlybuiltmorepaganaltars?
Ithinkyou’rebeginningtogetatasteofwhatwe’reinforinHoseachapter10.
Whatwecansay,then,aboutverse1onathought-for-thoughtapproachisthis:
IsraelusedallthatGodhadgraciouslygiventhemnottoHisglory,butinstead
theyglorifiedBaalthroughtheirworshipandsacrificing.Theymultipliedthe
numberofpaganaltarstheybuiltinproportiontotheabundancetheyhadbeen
given.Thisprovedtohavebeenhistoricallytrueasarcheologistshavefound
paganaltarsonhilltopsalloverthehillcountryofwhatwasformerlythelandof
theNorthernKingdom.ThisisaclassiccaseofGod’speoplemisusingGod’sgifts
tothem…tous.Thisisalsosettingupthedynamicof,whatthendoesafarmer
(God)dowithavine(Israel)thatdoesn’tproducegoodfruitforHim?Thatvine
isfitonlytobecutdownandburnedup.
BecausetheIsraelitessawYehovehprimarilyastheirnationalgod,andtheBaal
godsasthosewhocontrolledcertainimportantfunctionsinnaturesuchas
fertilityandtheweather,thenIsraelassumedthatthegoodcropstheywere
growingandharvestingdidnotcomefromYehovehbutratherfromBaal.Thus,
theythankedandsacrificedtoBaalandnottoYehovehwhowastheirtrue
provider.And,theybuiltevenmorealtarstoBaalasakindofquidproquo
believingthattheyhadinventedtheperpetualmotionmachine.Morealtarsbring
morefertility,andwithmorefertilitytheycouldaffordmorealtars,andnowby

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addingmorealtarstheygetevenmorefertility…andsoon.Butinaddingmore
altarstheIsraelitesshowedthattheyhadbeendeceivedbecauseoftheir
pervertedthinkingandreligiousbeliefs.Therewasgoingtobeahighpricetopay
forsuchwrongdoingagainstYehoveh;thecurseoftheCovenantwouldbe
imposed.
CJB
Deuteronomy29:17-20
17
Solettherenotbeamongyouaman,woman,
familyortribewhoseheartturnsawaytodayfromADONAIourGodtogoand
servethegodsofthosenations.Lettherenotbeamongyouarootbearingsuch
bitterpoisonandwormwood.
18
Ifthereissuchaperson,whenhehearsthe
wordsofthiscurse,hewillblesshimselfsecretly,sayingtohimself,'Iwillbeall
right,eventhoughIwillstubbornlykeepdoingwhateverIfeellikedoing;sothat
I,although"dry,"[sinful,]willbeaddedtothe"watered"[righteous].'
19
But
ADONAIwillnotforgivehim.Rather,theangerandjealousyofADONAIwillblaze
upagainstthatperson.Everycursewritteninthisbookwillbeuponhim.
ADONAIwillblotouthisnamefromunderheaven.
20
ADONAIwillsinglehimout
fromallthetribesofIsra'eltoexperiencewhatisbadinallthecursesofthe
covenantwritteninthisbookoftheTorah.
Whilewewon’tdothisateveryopportunity,Iwanttoonceagainshowyouan
interestingissuewiththeliteralmeaningofsomeofthesewords,solet’smove
toverse2.MostBibletranslationsbegin:“Theirheartisdivided;nowtheywill
beartheirguilt”.However,GinsbergpointsoutthattheHebrewwordforheart
(lev),alsoisinfrequentlyusedtodesignatethebranchesofatreeorofavine.
Forinstance,in2Samuel18wereadthis:
CJB
2Samuel18:14-15
14
Yo'avsaid,"Ican'twastetimearguingwithyou!"He
tookthreedartsinhishandandrammedthemthroughAvshalom'sheartwhile
hewasstillalive,hangingfromtheterebinth.
15
ThenYo'av'stenyoung
armor-bearerssurroundedAvshalom,struckhimandkilledhim.
InthisverseaboutthekillingofDavid’ssonAbsalom,Absalomwaslefthanging
fromatree.TheHebrewwordlevisusedtwiceinthispassage.Firsttospeakof
thedartsthrustintoAbsalom’schest,butsecondalsousedtospeakofhanging
fromthebranchesofatree.So,Ginsberg’sthoughtisthatsincethemetaphorin
currentuseinHoseaisavine,thenmightitnotbemorethanlikelythatitisnot

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thatIsrael’s“heart”isdivided,butratherabranchoftheirvineisdivided…or
better,brokenup(whichisanotherwaytotranslatetheHebrewwordchalaq)?
ThisisthesortofdilemmawearedealingwithasconcernsHoseachapter10.
Thebetternewsisthatweactuallycanstillextractmeaning,eitherway.Itisthat
Israel,onceaunifiednation,hasbecomedividedintotwokingdoms,andtheone
kingdom(Ephraim/Israel)isalsobeingbroken-upbyinvadersandinternalchaos,
andnowthatallofthisishappeningtheyarebeginningtorealizetheirguilt.
Theremainderofverse2saysthatHe(Yehoveh)willbreakdowntheiraltarsand
theirstandingstones.Inotherwords,themajoriconsandsymbolsofIsrael’s
religion…unauthorizedsymbolsandimagesthattheIsraelitesthoughtwereso
goodandrighteous…willbedestructivelyattackedbyGod.Likeeveryreligion
thatemploysicons…nomatterwhattheymightbe…iftheyareNOTbiblically
ordained,thentheyareNOTauthorizedbyGod.GodhatedIsrael’sadopted
iconsandsymbols.Religionsjustlovetheiricons.Thesearepublicdisplaysof
theiridentitywithwhateverfaithmovementapersonmightbepartof.The
CatholicspokefunattheiconsofEvangelicals(andviceversa),andbothmake
funofOrthodoxChristianicons(andviceversa).Onandonitgoeswithinthe
manybranchesofChristianityand,folks,thisoughttotellussomething.These
iconsservenousefulpurposebeforeourLord.Theyaresimplyourguilty
pleasures;theymakeusfeelgoodaboutourchoicesandouraffiliations.Weuse
themtotellothersthatweareatleastasgodly…ifnotmoreproperlygodly…
thantheyare.Weusethemtotellothersthatwearedifferentfromthem.And,
ofcourse,weallhaveverygoodreasonstoofferastowhyourparticularfavored
iconsareOKwithGod,buttheotherguy’siconsaren’t.Itrulycan’ttellyoufor
sureifthereexistsanynon-biblicallydesignatediconsthatareactuallyaccepted
byGod…orifanyare,whichonestheymightbe.Thus,fromthefirsttimeIever
taughttheTorahIsuggestedthatwemaybeplayingadangerousgame
wheneverwechoosetocreateoruseiconsbeyondthosethatcanbefoundas
specificallyGod-ordainedintheBible(suchastheMenorah).Religioussymbols
andiconsareproblematicthings,althoughweusuallydon’tseethemthatwayif
wehappentopersonallyapproveofthem.Theycancauseoffenseamong
humans,andtheycancauseGodtoactseverelyagainsttheusersofsomeicons
andsymbols,justaswearewitnessinghereinHosea,becausemoreoftenthan
nottheyarefalselysaidtorepresentGodorsomeattributeorcharacteristicof

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Him.Myadvice:treadlightly.YouwillnevergetintotroublewithGodforusing
noreligiousiconsatall;butyoumightforusinganyatall.
Verse3isaboutthejudgmentofGodagainstIsrael’smonarchy.Itisthatsoon
theywillhavenoIsraeliteking.Probablythisoraclewasdeliveredatthetimeof
Israel’sfinalking:Hoshea.WealwaysneedtokeepinmindthattheBookof
Hoseaisaseriesofnarrativepropheciesthatweregivenandwrittenoverabout
a35-yearperiodoftime.So,Hosea’sseveralprophecieseachtendtolineup
withhistoricaleventsthatweremoreimminentthandistant.
Whenwereadthewords“fornow”,itisspeakingofwhenIsraelhasrealizedtheir
follyandare(collectively)inamodeofrepentance(but,amuchtoolate
repentance).So,theirlamentofrepentanceisthattheynolongerhavea
monarch…noIsraeliteking…forthereasonthattheydidnotfearYehoveh.I
won’tgointotheactualHebrewwordshere,butwhentranslatedas“fearGod”it
meanstodisplayanobedientloyalty.Thisobedientloyaltyistomanifestitselfin
behavingaccordingtoGod’swrittenmorallawcode,theLawoftheMoses.It
carriesaveryclosesensetothatofanotherHebrewphrasethatisusually
translatedintoEnglishas“knowledgeofGod”.Thesetwoexpressionsarenearly
synonymousinmeaning.Thereisanotherthoughtthatwealsoneedtoexplore.
IsraelwasneverintendedtodependontheexistenceofanearthlyIsraeliteking
becausetodemandahumankingwastorejecttheirdivineking(God’s)rightful
placeasIsrael’soneandonlysovereign.
CJB
1Samuel8:4-9
4
AlltheleadersofIsra'elgatheredthemselvestogether,
approachedSh'mu'elinRamah
5
andsaidtohim,"Look,youhavegrownold,and
yoursonsarenotfollowingyourways.Nowmakeusakingtojudgeuslikeall
thenations."
6
Sh'mu'elwasnotpleasedtohearthemsay,"Giveusakingto
judgeus";soheprayedtoADONAI.
7
ADONAIsaidtoSh'mu'el,"Listentothe
people,toeverythingtheysaytoyou;foritisnotyoutheyarerejecting;they
arerejectingme;theydon'twantmetobekingoverthem.
8
Theyaredoingto
youexactlywhattheyhavebeendoingtome,fromthedayIbroughtthemout
ofEgyptuntiltoday,byabandoningmeandservingothergods.
9
Sodowhat
theysay,butgivethemasoberwarning,tellingthemwhatkindsofrulingstheir
kingwillmake."

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Wemustalsorealizethatinagovernmentsystemwherebytheheadofthe
governmentisaking,thekingrepresentsthenationitself.Whenanationloses
theirking,thenationlosesitsidentityanditsnationhood.SonowIsraelfinds
itselfwithneitherheavenlynorearthlyking.Godhasdepartedfromthem,and
theirearthlykinghasbeendeposedbyaconqueringarmy.Israelisnow
completelyrudderless.
Thefinalpartoftheversethatmoreorlesssays:“Whatcouldakingdoforus,
anyway”israthercryptic.Sincewhatthisstatementis(itisakindofrhetorical
commentthatrepresentsthemindsetofthepeopleofIsraelwhenthis
prophesiedeventoflossoftheirownmonarchyhappens)thenIthinktheideais
thatbecausetheenemyissopowerful,itreallydoesn’tmatterwhothekingof
Israelmightbe(afterall,duringtheselastfewyearstherehasbeenanincredible
turnoverofpeoplesittingontheroyalthrone)becauseresistancetoAssyriais
futile.Itisastatementofcapitulation.
Verse4isspeakingofIsrael’skings.So,the“they”thatbeginsthisverseis
referringtotheseriesofshort-livedIsraelitekingsofHosea’sera.Thekingsare
supposedtoruleoverGod’speopleinjustice,wisdom,courage,andselflessness.
InGod’ssystemthegovernmentandthepriesthoodaresupposedtooperate
closelyandwithsinglemindednesstoleadthepeopleinrighteousness.But
together,thepriesthoodandthemonarchywereafraud.Likeallpoliticians,the
kingtalkedalot;yet,whatcameoutofhismouthwasn’talwaysthetruth.
Instead,saysthisverse,theymakevowsfalselyandtheymakecovenantsthey
don’tintendtokeep.Thismostlyreferstothetreatiesthatthesecorruptand
self-servingkingshadtriedtomakewithEgypt,thenAssyria.It’simportantto
rememberthatamongIsrael,vowsandcovenantsaresupposedtobesealedby
invokingYehoveh’snameastheoverseerandguarantorofthatvoworcovenant.
So,touseGod’snamefalselyinthatregardistobreakthecommandmenttonot
useGod’snameinvainandinfactwaswithoutdoubttheprimaryaimofthat
commandment(asopposedtousingGod’snameasaswear-wordlikewehearit
today).
ThecontinuationofelementsofagricultureformetaphorsofIsrael’sconditionis
foundinthementionofpoisonousweedsfoundinthefurrows(ofthefield).The
furrowsarereferringtotheploughingprocessthatpreparesforseedtobe

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planted.Ithinkagoodwaytounderstandthisistoseeitastheoppositeofwhat
wassupposedtobe,andwefindtheidealplanforIsraelandtheirgovernmentin
Psalm92.
CJB
Psalm92:13-16
13
Therighteouswillflourishlikeapalmtree,theywillgrow
likeacedarintheL'vanon.
14
PlantedinthehouseofADONAI,theywillflourish
inthecourtyardsofourGod.
15
Eveninoldagetheywillbevigorous,stillfullof
sap,stillbearingfruit,
16
proclaimingthatADONAIisupright,myRock,inwhom
thereisnowrong.
So,whatiscreatedisastarkcontrastbetweentheidealIsraelofPsalm92(palm
treesandcedarsflourishingintheland)andtheIsraelofHosea’serainHosea
10:4(poisonousweedsgrowinginIsrael’sfields).Theseweedshave
(metaphorically)chokedoutwhateverjusticeandabundancewastobeIsrael’s
presentandfuture,replacedbyinjustice,disloyaltytocovenants,societal
malaiseandimmorality,idolatryandthendestruction.
Verse5revisitsthesubjectofthesymbolsandiconsthatIsraeladoptedandhas
cometocountonfortheirprosperityandtheirsecurity.However,thewayitis
statedintheCJB(whichisverymuchlikemostEnglishBibleversions),isnottoo
goodanditgivesusthewrongidea.Thesenseofitwouldhavebeen
immediatelyrecognizabletothe8
th
centuryB.C.Israelites,butmodernEnglish
mishandlesit.MayerGruberdoesamuchbetterjoboftranslatingthisverse’s
originalintentandsense.
“ForthecalvesofBeth-AventheinhabitantsofSamariafear.Indeed,itspeople
anditspriestsmournoveritforitsglory,thatcalfwillhavedepartedfromit”.
Rememberthat“tofear”inthiscontextmeanttohaveloyalobedience;itdidn’t
includetheideaofbeingscaredofsomething.So,tobestgetthesenseofit
acrossto21
st
centuryWesternersIwouldamendGruber’stranslationto“Forthe
goldencalvesofBeth-Avenhavetheloyalobedienceoftheinhabitantsof
Ephraim/Israel”.SamariawasthecapitalcityofEphraim/Israelandjustlikefor
allnations,thecapitalisrepresentativeofthenationasawholebecausethe
governmentleadershiprulesfromthere.NodoubtBeth-Avenisasarcastic
insertionofanameforthecityofBeth-El.Beth-Avenmeans“houseoftroubles

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orwrong-doing”whileBeth-Elmeans“houseoftheGodEl”(Elwasanevenmore
ancientnameforIsrael’sGod…andasI’llexplaininafuturelesson,italsocould
pointtosomethingelse).ThisverseissayingthatwhileIsraelclaimedtogiveits
loyalobediencetoYehoveh,infacttheyweregivingittothesecalf-gods.
Onceagain,Israel’sidolatryisbestrevealedbyitschoiceoficonsandsymbols.
ThegoldencalvesoriginallyfashionedbyKingJeroboamhavebecomethe
centerpieceofIsrael’sfalsehybridizedreligion.Howisitthatthepeopleof
Ephraim/Israelcouldpossiblyhaveadoptedagoldencalf,ofallthings,asa
symbolforYehoveh?Therealityisthatitwasnodoubtabullandnotacalf.Abull
wasacommonsymbolusedtodenotestrength,dominanceandhonor.So,
clearlythebullwaschosentosymbolizetheGodofIsraelbecauseforthepeople
itrepresentedsomethinggoodandadmirable.Whywouldtheythinktobuildthis
image,knowingthattheTorahsaysthatnoimagesofYehoveharetobe
fashioned?First,becausetheynolongerknewtheTorah,andsecondbecause
customandtraditionhadcometooverrideGod’scommandsasseemsto
inevitablyhappenamongGod’speople…IsraeliteorChristian.Becausethe
peoplesawnowronginitintheirownminds,thensurelyitmusthavebeenright
inGod’smind.Imean,everyculturehadtheirgod-images,andnoharmorevil
wasmeantfromit.Aculturethathadnogod-images(ortoofewofthem)was
actuallyseenaspoorandprimitive;andIsraelcertainlydidn’twanttobeputin
thatcategorybyitsneighbors.
Itseemstomethattheuseoftheterm“glory”inthisverseisnotbeingtaken
eitherbyGruberorbymostEnglishtranslatorsaswhatwasmeant.“TheGlory”
wasanameforacertainmanifestationofGodjustaswas“Wisdom”,andwe
foundthisusedearlierinHosea.Thus,thegoldencalveswereinherently
symbolizingALLthemanifestationsofGodthatwouldincludethemanifestation
of“TheGlory”.GodissayingthatthelossofHispresencetoIsraelas“TheGlory”
willbesensedandfelt,butthepeoplewillvisualizeitandassignitasalossof
TheGlorythatwaspresentwithinthegoldencalfgod-images.So,thepeopleand
thepriesthoodwillmournovertheidolatroussenseoftheabsenceofTheGlory.
Verse6givesalittlemorecontexttowhythefalseGloryIsraelworshippedwon’t
bethereanylonger.Thecalf-godswillbecarriedawaytotheKingofAssyriaas
warbooty.Inthemindsoftheancients,defeatinganationanditsking

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automaticallycarriedwithitthedefeatofthatnation’sgod.So,theimageofthe
godofthevanquishedwaspresentedtothevictoriouskingasasymbolofthat
defeat.Again;theIsraelitesweresocertainthatsomeessenceofYehovehwas
presentinthosecalf-godimagesthatforthemGodwasverytangiblytakenaway
fromthem.Forthem,God’sdeparturewasn’tasmuchamatterofHimelecting
toleaveHispeopleasitwasanenemyseizingIsrael’sGod,removinghimfrom
thenationHewasgodover,andthusdeprivingthemofHim.Tohighlightthis,
theversedoesNOTsaythatit(thecalf-god)willbecarriedofftothenationof
Assyria,butratherthatitwillbepresentedtoAshur,thegodoftheAssyrians.
Whiletheultimateeffectisthesame,theunderstandingisofthedefeatedgod
beingputtothefeetofthevictoriousgod.
Inthesecondhalfofverse6,EphraimandIsraelareonceagainusedina
synonymousparallelismmerelyasaratherstandardancientHebrewliterary
construction.WearetoldthatEphraimwillbeshamed,andthatIsraelwillbe
ashamedofhisowncouncil.Thiscanbeabitconfusingtounderstandbuthere
iswhatIfeelprettycertainistheidea.First,shamedandashamedaretwo
differentwordsthatwhilesomewhatrelatedcomewithtwodifferentmeanings.
ThefirstHebrewwordisboshnah,anditmeansshameinthesenseofasocial
status.Israelwas,asweremostancientsocieties,basedlargelyonashameand
honorsystem.Thatis,apersonlivedhislifeinoneoftwopossiblesocialstatuses:
shameorhonor.Noonewantedtobeinastatusofshameandactions,evenup
tomurder,wereemployedtoregainone’slosthonor.So,thisversesaysthat
“Ephraim”(meaningtheNorthernKingdom)wouldfindthemselveslivingina
societalstatusofshame.ThesecondHebrewwordisboosh,anditmeanstobe
ashamed.Itisanemotion,notastatus.Perhapsabetterwordformodern
Englishspeakersisembarrassedorhumiliated.Butwhataboutthereasonfor
theembarrassment;thatitisbecauseofhavingtakenitsowncouncil?Thereare
reallyonlytwopossibilities;first,thatthekingandhiscourthavemadeapolicy
decisionthatwasfoolishandcostlytothenationandhasresultedindisaster,or
second,thatthekingmadeatreatywithAssyriaandlistenedtowhatAssyria
wantedthemtodo.Ithinkitisfarmorelikelythatitmeansthelatterthanthe
former.
Inverse7theorganicconnectionbetweenkingandcapitalcityandnationare
highlighted.Samaria’skingisgoingtovanish,like….mostversionswillcomplete

Lesson17-HoseaChapter10
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thesentencewith“foamonwater”.However,theHebrewwordqetsephmost
literallymeanssplinterortwig.TheGreektranslationoftheTanakhchoosesa
Greekwordthatmeansfoam,andlikelybecauseseafoamfloatsatopseawater
andispushedaroundbynaturalforcesandthenintimeitdissipatesand
disappears.So,splinterorfoam,theideaisthesame.Israel’skingshaveno
powerontheirown,theyjustfloataimlessly,helplessly,uponthewatersof
historywithnocontrolordirection.And,asofnow,thathistoryisabouttobe
determinedbytheleadersofgentilenations.
Verse8continueswiththedivineretributionthatiscomingIsrael’sway.Israel’s
countlessshrinesandaltarsandhighplacesandstandingstoneswillbe
destroyed.Butnotonlythat,thepeoplewhousedthoseshrines(thepeopleof
theNorthernKingdom)willalsobedestroyed.Gettingthebestsenseofthisvery
powerfulversemeansthatperhapsonathought-for-thoughtbasis,thefollowing
mightbeamorerobustwaytounderstandit.
“TheshrinesofBeit-Aven,thesinofIsrael,willbedestroyed.Thornandthistle
willgrowupontheiraltars.Theywillcalltothemountains“buryus,andtothe
hills“falluponus””
RememberthatBeit-Avenisanastysarcasmthatsaysthatwhatwasformerlya
holyplacetoYehoveh(Beth-El)isbetterreferredtonowasAven,“wrongdoing”.
Buttomakeanevenbetterpoint,itisthatthesevariousshrinesrepresentthe
sinofIsrael.ThissinofIsraelISthoseshrinesthattheyhaveerectedthatwere
forsomekindofamixedworshipofYehovehalongwiththevariousgodsofBaal.
Wedon’tneedtogoindepthbacktowhatwecoveredearlier,butIsrael’s
symbolsandiconswereIsrael’ssin,inGod’seyes.Theyplacedsomuchvalue
andtrustinthosemeaninglessthingsanditwasanenormousinsulttotheLord,
nomatterhowmuchIsraelclaimedthattheirintentwasgood.Believers,
MessianicorChristian,takeheed.Justhowbadlydoyouneedthoseiconsand
symbolsofyours?Aretheysonecessaryinyourlivestoidentifyyourselfasa
BelieverthatyouarewillingtoriskGod’sangertowardsyouoverthem?Israel
waswillingtotaketherisk,becausetheyrefusedtohearfromtheirProphets
tellingthemthattherewasrisk.Thingsdidn’tturnoutsowellforthem.

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AllthesealtarsandshrinestheybuiltoverthemanyhilltopsofIsraelwouldcome
tonothing.Theywillsoonbeabandonedandovergrownwiththornsand
thistles…weeds.Thishasabuilt-incontrastthatwasunderstoodbytheancient
Hebrewreader.Itwasusualthatthesealtarsandshrineswouldbeerectedunder
asmallgroveoftrees,orthattheworshipperandestablisheroftheshrinewould
plantatreethere.ThetreeswereoftenusedassymbolsforAshtoreth,the
goddessoffertility.ButnowthesesitesofIsrael’ssystematicbetrayalofGod
wouldbecomeruins.
Interestingly,thefinalwordsofHoseathatwere“they”wouldcalltothe
mountains“buryus”,andtothehills“falluponus”wereactuallyquotedby
Yeshuaonthewaytothecross.HewastellingpeoplenearHimthatasimilar
timeastowhathappenedwithEphraim/Israelover7centuriesearlierwasin
theirfuture.
CJB
Luke23:28-30
28
Yeshuaturnedtothemandsaid,"Daughtersof
Yerushalayim,don'tcryforme;cryforyourselvesandyourchildren!
29
Forthe
timeiscomingwhenpeoplewillsay,'Thechildlesswomenaretheluckyones-
thosewhosewombshaveneverborneachild,whosebreastshavenevernursed
ababy!
30
ThenTheywillbegintosaytothemountains,'Fallonus!'andtothe
hills,'Coverus!'
ThereissomedisagreementamongBiblescholarsastowhethertheperson
sayingthisrhetoricallamentaboutaskingthemountainsandhillstofallupon
themisthepeopleofIsrael,oritisfigurativeoftheshrinesthemselvesspeaking.
Ithinkitistheformer.Whileonemightsayitasahyperbolicexpressionofgrief
andsorroworterror(like,IwishIwasneverborn),itiswiththeideathatmaybe
itwouldbebettertodiethantofallintoenemyhandsortobeejectedfromthe
landonlytohavetoresideinaforeignplaceandliveouttheirdaysasaliens.So,
deathmight,foratime,seempreferabletolifefortheexiledcitizensofIsrael.
SpeakingoftheEndTimeswefindthesamethoughtjustexpresseddifferentlyin
theBookofRevelation.
CJB
Revelation9:6
6
Inthosedayspeoplewillseekdeathbutwillnotfindit;they
willlongtodie,butdeathwilleludethem.

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ThisendsthefirstsectionofHoseachapter10,sowe’llstopherefortodayand
beginwithverse9thenexttimewemeet.