Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
1/13
THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson11,Chapters6and7
AsofthispointinHosea(chapter6)wehaveleftbehindthesymbolicstoryofthe
alwaysfaithfulHoseamarriedtohishabituallyunfaithfulwife,Gomer.While
HoseaandGomeractuallyexperiencedandlived-outallthatweearlierread,
nonethelessitwasalldivinelyorchestratedasanillustrationofGod’srelationship
withunfaithfulIsrael…whichforthetimebeingisonlyreferringtotheportionof
IsraelknownastheNorthernKingdom,alsocalledEphraim/Israel.Shortly,new
illustrationsanddifferentmetaphorswillbeintroducedtofurtherdescribe
Israel’sconditionandwhattheycanexpecttohappen.
Let’sre-readtherathershortHoseachapter6.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER6all
Thefirst3versesofchapter6areIsrael,collectively,speaking.Ofcourse,thisis
figurativeofIsraelcommunallypleadingandpraisingYehovehforHismercyand
fortheircertaintythatHewilltakethembackastheirnationalGod.Atverse4it
switchestoGoddoingthespeaking.
Nearthecloseofourpreviouslesson,IaskedyoutomakenoteinyourBiblesof
afar-reachingprinciplethatisonlyrarelyevertouchedupon.Itisthis:biblically,
inallcases,whenitisspokenofto“knowGod”orto“haveknowledgeofGod”it
isusedasanexpression.Itdoesn’tmeanthatapersonistobecomeawareof
God,asconveyedbythecommonquestionaChristianmightaskanotherperson:
doyoubelieveinGod?Thatis,areyouawareofGodtosuchanextentthatyou
believeHeexists?Ratherto“knowGod”meansonethingalone:itreferstoa
closeandfaithfulrelationshipnotonlywiththecommandsandlawsofGod’s
morallawcode(theLawofMoses),butalsowiththegiverofthatLaw:Yehoveh.
Suchaknowledgeiscompletelywrapped-upintheconceptofcovenant.Thus,
whenverse3begins:“Letusknow,letusstrivetoknow,Yehoveh”,itmeansaim
tocommittoarestoredandrenewedobediencetothemoralprinciplesofGod’s
Torah,becausewithintheTorahisthedescriptionofwhoGodis.Itisthe
abandonmentoftheseprinciplesbyIsraelthathasledtotheirdisastrous
situation.

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
2/13
So,nowinverse4GodrespondstoIsrael’sdeclarationofverses1–3.IfIcould
sumupYehoveh’sresponseinjustafewwordsitwouldbethis:yousayingtoMe,
“mybad,sorryaboutthat”won’tdo.Admittingbadbehaviorisagoodthing;but
suchanadmissiondoesn’twarrantadivineGet-Out-Of-Jail-Freecard.In
Christianparlance,suchanadmissioniscalledaconfession.Butconfession
simplymeansonehasacknowledgedtheircrimes(theirsin)toGod.Forgiveness
doesn’tflowfromconfession;onlyfromactualrepentance.Andeventhen,far
fromadeepandsincereinternalsorrowforourbehavior,actualchangeinour
behavioranddecisionshastooccur.Notmerelyintent…realandlastingchange.
Truechangecantakealotoftime,oftendependingonjusthowfar…andforhow
long…onehasstrayedfromGodandHisways.Yes,Godknowsourhearts,but
alsoHeknowsifweareserious.Thenthequestionbecomes:canwebeserious
andcommittedtorealchangeformorethanjustafewhoursordays?So,itisnot
onlytheseriousnessofourrepentancethatbringsforgiveness,itmustinclude
actingitoutinapermanentway.Atwhatpoint,exactly,doesGodforgiveusfor
ourconfessedbadbehavior?Idon’tknow.Addingtothecomplicationofknowing
thewhenofit,isthatbeingforgivenbynomeansindicatesthatthebad
consequencesforouractionswillnecessarilybetakenaway.Indeed,froma
spiritualsenseforgivenesscouldcomeratherquickly,eventhoughtheearthly
consequencescouldbeongoingforalongtime.TheconsequencesforIsrael
havegoneonfor27centuries!
Oneofmyfavoritemoviesis“OhBrotherWhereArtThou”.Itmightsoundlikea
Christianfilm,butitisnot.ThesettingistheDepressioneraSouthwhen3not
verysmartcriminalsescapefromachaingangandnowaretryingtooutrunthe
law.Atonepointtheyhavestolenacar.Theyaredrivingdownaserenecountry
roadwhensuddenlytheyhearfaintsingingoffinthedistance.Oneofthe
escapeeshollersforthedrivertostopthecarimmediately.Hejumpsout,runs
straighttowherethevoicesarecomingfrom,andthereatalakearealineof
peopleinwhiterobessingingwhilewaitingtobebeingbaptized.Hedashesto
thefrontofthelineandgetsdunked.Walkingbacktothecarhehasalookof
completereliefonhisfaceandinhisbodylanguage.Hesuggeststhathisfellow
thugsshoulddothesamebecauseashesays:“Allmysinsareforgiven,andthat
includesthePigglyWigglythatIknockedoff”.Astheycontinuetheirjourneyhe’s
explainingtotheothertwothathe’snowfreeandclear,sothere’snothingmore

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
3/13
forhimtoworryabout.Theleaderofthepack,however,suggeststhatperhaps
theGoodLordhasforgivenhim,buthe'snotsosurethattheGovernorof
Mississippiisgoingtotakeasimilarview.Thisis,Ibelieve,acomicalbutmost
aptillustrationofhowoursinsaredealtwithintheHeavenlysphereasopposed
totheEarthlysphere.AssuchitalsorepresentshowGodisabouttoexplainto
aseeminglyrepentant,butstillwayward,Israelthatalthoughameasureof
forgivenesswilleventuallyoccur,nonethelessonearththerewillbealongseries
ofjustpunishmentsfortheirlong-runninganddeterminedoffensesagainstHim.
So,verse4beginswithasortofsarcastic“WhatshouldIdoforyou(orwithor
toyou)EphraimandforyouJudah”?Clearly(atleastclearlytomeandtoa
numberofbiblicalscholars)there’sanissuehere;thementionofJudahatthis
pointseemsverymuchoutofplace.Backinchapter1,afterGodhaspronounced
judgmentagainstEphraim/Israel,sayingHewillshowthemnopity(orno
mercy),Henextsays:
CJB
Hosea1:7ButIwillpitythehouseofY'hudah;Iwillsavethemnotbybow,
sword,battle,horsesorcavalry,butbyADONAItheirGod."
Thus,forthetime-being,Judahisn’tgoingtobesubjectedtoGod’swrath
becausetheyarenotbehavingthesameasIsrael.Yet,hereweencounterin
Hosea6:4theinclusionofJudahinthesamejudgmentIsraelistoreceive.Iam
mostreluctantevertoquestionthecorrectnessofHolyScriptureaswehaveit;
yetwemustalwaysrememberthatwedonotpossesstheoriginals,butrather
onlycopies,andveryoftenfromvaryingsources.And,allancientcopieswere
handcopied…anenormoustask.Furtherbecausesometimeswepossess
multiplecopiesofvariousBiblebooksthathavecomefromdifferentancient
sourceswe’llfindthattheydon’tallperfectlymatch;therecanbeveryslight
differences.Humanbeingsdidthecopying;humanbeingscanmakesimple
copyistmistakesandtheycanalsoaddthingsforwhattheybelieveisthesakeof
clarity…orsomethingtheythinkneedstobesaidinhindsight.Sometimesthey
mayhavebeenrighttodoso,atothertimesnot.Thebottomlineisthatthereis
justnowaythattheword“Judah”belongshere.Evenhistoricallyweknowthat
God’sjudgmentwouldn’tcomeagainstJudahforanother130yearsafterIsrael’s,
andthejudgmentwouldcomefromadifferentenemyandplayoutquite
differently;Israel’sfromAssyria,thepeoplescatteredovermultiplecontinents,

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
4/13
andfornearly3millennia…Judah’sfromBabylon,thepeopletakenofftogether
inarelativelycompactarea,andexiledforlessthan100years.Sinceoverand
overwefindtheuseofcoupletsinHosea(youcanrefertoearlierlessonsifyou
don’trememberwhatacoupletis),thenIhavenodoubtthatalatereditor
substitutedJudahforIsrael(probablyaroundthetimeJudahwasinvaded,ornot
longafterAmoshadwrittenhisprophecyaboutJudah).Thus,theopeningofthis
versenearlycertainlyoriginallysaid:“WhatshouldIdotoyouEphraim?What
shouldIdotoyouIsrael?”,becauseEphraimandIsraelareregularlyemployed
incoupletformthroughouttheBookofHosea.
Continuinginverse4,Israelistoldthatwhattheyinsistis“faithfullove”towards
Yehovehislikeacloudinthemorning,orthedewthatformsearlyintheday;
somethingthatappearsandthenquicklydissipates.Thatis,itissincereforan
instantandthenitisnot.Their“faithfullove”isneitherfaithfulnorlove.Time
andagaintheHolyScripturespoundhomethatlovingGodmeansobeyingGod.
WecaninsistweloveHim,evendemonstratingthewarmestfeelingstowards
Him…buttheonlywayHeacceptsourloveasloveisintheformofobedience.
Obediencetowhat?ObediencetotheLawofMoses,theoneandonlydivinely
givenmoralcodethatexistsintheBible,OldandNewTestaments.
ItseemstomethatourlovingandmercifulGodisshowingus(inhumanly
emotionalterms)asenseofacurrenthopelessnessofIsrael’scondition.Every
attemptHehasmadetogettheirattentioninordertoreformthemhasendedin
failure.Inonesenseverse4isarhetoricalquestion,butinanothersenseitisa
statementofreality.HeiscertainlynotinquiringofIsraelabouthowHeoughtto
goaboutdealingwiththem.Rather,Heisrespondingasanexasperatedfatherto
adefiantchild.Therefore,Godsaysinverse5thatitisbecauseofallthese
frustratedeffortsonHisparttocureIsrael’srebelliousnessthatHe
(metaphoricallyspeaking)cutsthemtopiecesbytheprophetsandslaysthemby
thewordsofHismouth.So,verse5answerstherhetoricalquestionaskedin
verse4astowhatistobedonetoEphraim/Israel.
HearingwhattheancientJewishRabbisandscholarshavetosayaboutvarious
passagesintheHolyScripturescanprovetobequiteinstructional,andneedto
betakenveryseriously.ThevenerableRashisaystheessenceofwhatverse5
meansis:“BecauseIwarnedyouthroughtheagencyoftheprophetsandyoudid

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
5/13
notrepent,Ibroughtuponyoudeathbecauseyou,Israel,transgressedThe
Word,whichexpressedMywill;andnowmyjudicialpunishmentcomesforthas
light”.SpeakingofGod’sjudgmentgoingforthaslightisnotmeantinthegood
senseaslightisusuallypresentedintheBible.Rather,lightishereusedasa
metaphorinthesensethatlightburstsforthcompleteandallatonce.Youcanno
morestopthelightthanyoucanstoptheearthfromrotating.Further,light
exposesandrevealswhathadbeenhiddenindarkness.ThatGod’sownpeople,
Israel,havethesedivinelycausedcalamitieshappeningtothemrevealsforallto
seethatthecauseistheirsinfulnessandunfaithfulness.
Verse6mustbeoneofthemostquotedandmisusedversesinallofHoly
Scripture.Itsaysthis:
CJB
Hosea6:6ForwhatIdesireismercy,notsacrifices,knowledgeofGodmore
thanburntofferings.
ThisisregularlyusedintheChristianfaithtoprovethattheLawofMosesis
abolishedandthatthesacrificialsystemwasatbestdeficientandatworsta
completefailure.Itisdisappointingthatsuchamistruthistoldandrepeated,if
notembedded,intheworldviewoftheinstitutionalChurch,andreformisneeded.
Let’sbeginmid-versewiththekeyphrase“knowledgeofGod”.RecallwhatI
taughtyouearlier;toknowGodortohaveknowledgeofGodmeansonething
aloneintheBible;tobedevoted,loyalandobedienttotheLawand,
consequently,totheLawgiver(orviceversa).HereiswhatGodisexplaining:
butfirst,understandthatthesacrificesofthekindmentionedherehaveonlyto
dowithsins,andhavenothingtodowithvowsacrifices,orthanksgiving
sacrifices,orFirstfruitssacrifices,etc;onlysin.Thesacrificialsystemasregards
sinisameanstorescuehumansfromthedeaththeyjustlydeservefortheir
offensesagainstGod.Thisrescueisaccomplishedbymeansofsubstitutinga
fullyinnocentcreatureonthesinner’sbehalf.Thus,ifonehadknowledgeofGod
(obedienceanddevotiontotheLawandtotheLawgiver)thatwouldnecessarily
resultinGod’speopleshowingmercy(insteadofharm)toourfellowman,and
thereforenosacrificeofburntofferingwouldevenbeneededbecausethere
wouldbenocrimesforwhichatonementwouldbenecessary.

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
6/13
It'sliketellingyourangrychildafteryou’vejustsentencedhimtobeing
groundedfortheweekendthatsuchapunishmentwouldnotexistor
occasionallyappliedifthey’djustobeythehouserules.Asaparentwetellthem
thatwewouldpreferNEVERtohavetogroundyoubecauseweloveyou;weget
nojoyinit.But,becauseyoudisobeyanddowrongwehaveinstituteda
groundingsystemtotrytorescueyoufromdoingsomethingevenworse,and
hopefullythroughthispunishmentseethatobedienceisthebetterpath.
ItismostinterestingthatYeshuaactuallyreferredtothisHoseapassageinone
ofHisteachings.
CJB
Matthew9:10-15
10
WhileYeshuawasinthehouseeating,many
tax-collectorsandsinnerscameandjoinedhimandhistalmidimatthemeal.
11
WhentheP'rushimsawthis,theysaidtohistalmidim,"Whydoesyourrabbieat
withtax-collectorsandsinners?"
12
ButYeshuaheardthequestionandanswered,
"Theoneswhoneedadoctoraren'tthehealthybutthesick.
13
Asforyou,goand
learnwhatthismeans:'Iwantcompassionratherthananimal-sacrifices.'ForI
didn'tcometocallthe'righteous,'butsinners!"
14
Next,Yochanan'stalmidim
cametohimandasked,"WhyisitthatweandtheP'rushimfastfrequently,but
yourtalmidimdon'tfastatall?"
15
Yeshuasaidtothem,"Canweddingguests
mournwhilethebridegroomisstillwiththem?Butthetimewillcomewhenthe
bridegroomistakenawayfromthem;thentheywillfast.
InonesenseJesuswassayingtothePhariseesthatiftheyreallyhadopenminds
tounderstandwhoHeis,they’dhelpHim…evenjoinHim…insteadofplotting
againstHim.InanothersenseYeshuaispointingoutthePharisees’increasing
concernwithritualisticandmechanicalreligionandrules(thataretheresultof
theirmanmadedoctrines),alwaysthinkingitwasthisthatwouldpleaseYehoveh
eventhoughitwasactuallytheirdefiledinnerspiritualconditionthatmadethem
unacceptabletoGod.Compassionandmercyarewordsthatexpressthe
fundamentalGod-principleof:“Loveyourneighbor”.Pleasehearthis,ifyouhear
nothingelsetoday:Ifwedon’tloveourneighbor,alltheritualandreligionand
rules-followingintheworldwillnevermakeusacceptabletoGod.
Beginninginverse7GodjustifiesHisrefusaltoacceptIsrael’srepentance,which
Heseesasfleetingandthusinsincere.

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
7/13
CJB
Hosea6:7"Butthey,justlikemen,havebrokenthecovenant,theyhave
beenfaithlessindealingwithme.
OtherBibleversionsdealwiththisdifficultversedifferently.
NRS
Hosea6:7ButatAdamtheytransgressedthecovenant;theretheydealt
faithlesslywithme.
NAS
Hosea6:7ButlikeAdamtheyhavetransgressedthecovenant;Therethey
havedealttreacherouslyagainstMe.
ThisissueiswiththeHebrewwordadam.Itcanmeanhumanbeing;oritcan
meanthenameofthefirstman;oritcanmeanthenameofanactualbiblical
place…ofacity.Goodcaseshavebeenmadeforeveryoneofthesepossibilities
andIthinkit’satoss-up.Themeaningisambiguous.Theimportantthingto
noticeisthattheunfaithfulnessofIsraelisrealizedintheirbreakingofthe
covenant.SincetheBookofExodus,theterm“thecovenant”,whenstanding
alone,meansthecovenantGodgavetoIsraelonMt.Sinai:theCovenantof
Moses…theLaw.Thisworkshandinglovetoproveourcorrectunderstandingof
theterm“knowledgeofGod”asmeaningobediencetotheCovenantofMoses
and(automatically)totheOnewhogaveit.Therefore,GodseesIsrael
transgressingtheCovenantofMoses(thatis,breakingthelawscontainedinthe
covenant)asdealingtreacherouslyagainstHiminamostpersonalway.Such
treacheryisnotremediedinasuddenburstofrepentance.Thistreacheryhas
goneonforsolong,anditsnethasbeencastsowide,thatsinisnowutterly
wovenintoIsrael’sveryfabricofsocietyandconsciousness.Evenwhenwe
recognizesin,wecan’teverinstantlyrecognizeallofit.Andevenwhenwe
sincerelybegintodealwithourunfaithfulnesstoGod,wecanneverdealwithall
ofitsaspectsallatonce.Sometimesitcanbealongroadback.
Verse8speaksoftheplace,Gilead,asbeingacityofcriminals,soitmightmean
thatwhenverse7speaksofAdam,itisspeakingofthecitycalledAdam(andI
leanthatdirection).Inanycase,itishardtoknowwhichGileadthismightbe
speakingabout.Gileadtechnicallyreferstoterritoryontheeastsideofthe
JordanRiverthatcenturiesearlierhadbeenconqueredandthenoccupiedbythe

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
8/13
IsraelitetribesofGad,ReubenandManasseh.Thereisanotherplacecalled
Ramoth-GileadwhereElishaanointedJehuaskingofIsrael.Thereareother
Gileadsaswell.So,I’mnotgoingtoventureaguessastowhichonethisis
speakingof.Oneclueaboutwhatthismightbereferringto,however,isthat
we’reabouttoentersomepassagesinHoseathatarereferringtothelongseries
ofshort-livedkingsofIsrael,andthat’swherethereferencetoGileadmight
comeintoplay.2Kings15addressesthisinsomedetail,andwe’llreadthis
togetherattheendoftoday’slesson.Therewefindamentionof50menfroma
citycalledGileadwhoconspiredwithPekahsonofRemaliahutomurderIsrael’s
sittingking,afellowofthesamenamebutwhosefatherwasKingMenahem.So,
thereweretwoPekah’s,oneimmediatelyaftertheother,thatsaton
Ephraim/Israel’sthrone.Thiswouldhappenaround735B.C.,justalittlemore
thanadecadebeforeIsraelwouldbeattackedandexiledbyAssyria.
Verse9swingsusbacktothepriestsofIsraelthatGodconsidersasidolatersand
herealsopaintsthemasmurderersandthugs.Thequestioniswhetherthese
priestsactuallydoambushpeopleandkillthem,orifthisismeantasametaphor.
Allthewaybacktochapter4,ourprophethasbeenaccusingthepriestsofIsrael
asleadingthepeopleintosinandunfaithfulness.Nowtheydon’tknowthe
differencebetweenrightandwrong…eventhoughtheythinktheydo.Thisis
speakingoftheproblemofthemanmadereligionandtheresultantdoctrines
thatcomewithit,whichIsrael’spriestshavefashionedoverthepastcentury.So,
itseemstome,thatthepriestsarebeinglikenedtoagangofbloodthirsty
bandits.
It'seasy,becauseitisself-evident,topointafingeratmanmadedoctrinesas
oneofthechiefreasonsforIsrael’sfall;itisalsowhyourChristianfaithfor
centurieshaswanderedsofarfromitsHebraicheritage.What’sharderistostate
isexactlywhattheproblemis;whatthesedoctrinesalwaysseemtoleadto,out
ofwhichcomessomanysinsanddeceptions.Inmysimplistictermsitisthatour
foundationalsenseofjusticeandmercy…whatourchoicesandbehaviors
reveal…whichisthebedrockofGod’scommandtoloveourfellowmanas
ourselves…isnotthesameasYehoveh’snorisitwhatHehascommanded.A.J.
Heschelsaysthisaboutthatissue:“Man’ssenseofinjusticeisapooranalogyto
God’ssenseofinjustice.Theexploitationofthepooristousamisdemeanor;to

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
9/13
Godit’sadisaster.Ourreactionisdisapproval;God’sreactionissomethingno
languagecanconvey”.
HebrewsandgentileChristiansalikehavealways,itseems,hadapropensityto
tryandadaptGod’ssenseofjusticeandmercyasrevealedintheBibletobetter
keepwithwhatitisourcultureprefers.OurWesterncultureadmiresprosperity,
andlooksdownatpoverty.WehavetakensomeofthesinsthatGodlistsasthe
mostgrievous(murder,adultery,idolatry,blasphemy),andourobligationto
helpthepoor,anddiminishedthem.WhenItaughttheTorahIaskedfolksto
noticehowoneofthesurestwaystounderstandhowGodprioritizesthe
seriousnessofsinsisthepunishmenthandedoutforeach.ThefourIjust
mentionedarethemostserious,andthisischaracterizedbyallthemrequiring
thedeathpenalty.InWesternsociety,ofthefour,onlythefirstisevenacrime
andonlyinafewplacesdoesamurdererstillfacethedeathpenalty.Theother
3areconsideredaspersonalpreferencewithnoconsequence.EveninChristian
settingsattimesthesearetoleratedwithonlythemostminorofconsequences,
ifanywhatsoever.Whyisthat?Becausemanmadedoctrinehaspushedaside
God’sdefinitionsofrightandwrong,evilandgood,whatiscriminalandwhatis
not,whatisjusticeandwhatisnot,andreplacedthesewithourown.And,inthe
sodoing,wearequitecertainthatwemustberightbecausemostofusagreeon
it…andwelikeit…andfeelgoodaboutit.Godlabelsthisastreacheryagainst
Him.
Inverse9anotherplacenameismentioned:Shechem.Nodoubtalltheseplaces
mustbeassociatedtotheNorthernKingdom’sterritory.Shechemwasamajor
religiousandpoliticalcenterandhadbeensosincethetimeofAbraham,Isaac
andJacob.Priestsaresaidtocommitmurderthere.Again,thequestionis:isthis
murderliteralormetaphorical?SomeRabbissaythisisreferringtoJacob’ssons
massacringtheresidentsofShecheminrevengefortherapeoftheirsister,
Dinah.Ican’tbuyintothatbecausethisverseisaboutpriestsandnotIsraelin
general,andtheLevitesaren’tblamedfortheShechemmassacre.Intheend,it
seemsmostplausibletomethatthelistingofplacenames(ofwhichIthink
Adamisone)ismeantasrepresentativeofwhatgoesonintheentireterritoryof
Israel;thatis,therearenoenclavesinIsraelwheregoodisbeingdone.Itmight
belikesayingfromLosAngeles,toChicago,toNewYork,asrepresentingthe
entireUSA.

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
10/13
Ithinkthisideaofthe3placenamesasrepresentativeofalloftheterritoryof
the10northerntribesisfurtherbolsteredbyverse10,whichiskindofa
summary.Aftercallingout3specificplaces,theconclusionisthattheHouseof
Israel(theNorthernKingdom)…allofitandeverywhere…hasdone,andisdoing,
somethingterrible.Theyareengaginginprostitution(metaphorically).Thatis,
idolatryisrampantthroughout.TheresultisthatIsraelisdefiled;theyhave
becomeunclean.TheHebrewwordrendereduncleaninEnglishistameh.Let’s
pauseforamomentsoIcanexplainsomethingaboutexactlywhatunclean
(tameh)actuallymeans.
Foodisprobablyalittleeasierillustrationtoworkwith,butitlargelyworksthe
sameforclassifyingpeople.ThereareentirelyseparatelawsintheTorah
concerningwhatispermissibleandwhatisprohibited,versuswhatiscleanand
unclean.Allthesetermsareoftenthoughttobe,andareusedas,twowaysto
saythesamething;theymostdefinitelyarenot.Itworkslikethis:whatis
permissible(whetheritisfood,behavior,orhumans)isappliedonlytoGod’s
people.Inasense,then,gentileswhodon’tworshipIsrael’sGodarenot
permissiblepeople;theylayoutsidethesystem.Iknowthat’sanawkwardway
tosayit,butthepointistoexplainthedifferencebetweennot-permissibleand
unclean.Hebrewsontheotherhand,asGod’speoplebybirth,arepermissible
andlayinsidethesystem.Foodisthesame.ThefoodlistasfoundinLeviticus11
hasnothingtodowithcleanandunclean;ithastodoonlywithwhatis
permissibleandnotpermissible.Oncesomethingisidentifiedaspermissiblenow
thelawsaboutcleananduncleancomeintoplay.
Anypermissiblethingalwaysbeginsinastateofritualcleanness.However,a
permissiblethingcanberenderednotusableforitspurpose(madeunclean,
tameh)throughimproperhandlingorafewotherfactors.So,forinstance,beef
isapermissiblefoodforIsrael.Initsnaturalstateitiscleanandcanbeeaten.
However,ifthecowweretonotbebutcheredcorrectly,oriftoomuchbloodwas
allowedtoremaininitsmeat,orshouldthemeatbeleftexposedandanunclean
mousetrompsaroundalloverit,thenthebeefbecomesuncleanandtherefore
notusable.Pigontheotherhandisinherentlynotpermissibleasfoodinthefirst
place.So,thereisnosuchthingassomethingbeingnot-permissible,butclean.
Notpermissibleautomaticallyexcludesitsuse,souncleanorcleandoesn’tapply.

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
11/13
So,inverse10,Israel(apermissiblepeopleinamannerofspeaking),and
thereforeIsraelinitsnaturalstateisrituallyclean,canforanynumberof
reasonsbecomerituallydefiled…unclean.OneofthewaysanIsraelitecan
becomeuncleanistocommitasinagainstGod.WhatIcallawashandawait
(thatis,beingimmersedinwaterandthenacertainprescribedamountoftime
passes)cancleansetheuncleanconditionofthatpermissibleperson(this,bythe
way,isseparatefromatonement).However,agentilenon-Believercan’tdothis,
becausetheyarenotamemberofthepermissiblepeople.Theycan’tbedefiled
becausecleananduncleancanonlyapplytothatwhichispermissible,andthey
aren’t.
Therefore,inourpassage,permissibleIsraelhas,throughitssinofidolatry,
beenrendereduncleanandthereforenotusableforthepurposeGodcreated
them.Still,theycanbemadecleanandbroughtbacktotheirnaturalstate.
Verse11againmentionsJudah.Oneoftwothingsishappeninghere:eitherthe
entireverseisaglosswritteninbyaJudeansomeyearslater,oritisoriginaland
theideaistosaythatintimebothJudahandIsraelwillsufferinsimilarways.As
withsomuchofHosea,scholarsdisagreeoverwhethertheterm“harvest”is
meantinthepositiveorthenegativesense.Thatis,thattheharvestoftheexiles
representsarestoration.Andyet,biblically,thetermharvestisnearlyalways
takingustotheeraoftheEndTimes,anditspeaksofpeopleandthingsduring
aperiodofEndTimesjudgment.Someharvestedtotheirgood,othersharvested
totheireverlastingunpleasantness.Icanonlyofferyoumyopinion,without
beingparticularlyrigidaboutit.IthinkinthiscasethewordJudahbelongshere.
Yes,itmightbeaglossandnotoriginal.But,assumingthatitisoriginal,thetone
ofitisthateventhoughJudahandIsraelwillsufferasimilarfate,thosefateswill
beseparatedbytimeandcircumstances.Tosayitanotherway:Israel’s
judgmentisnow,Judah’scomeslater.Butsinceexilewillbetheresult,the
judgmentsforbotharesimilar.Let’smoveontoHoseachapter7.
READHOSEACHAPTER7all
Verse1moreorlesshasGodsaying:IwantedtohealIsraelfromtheiriniquity,
butthecloserIlookedthegravityoftheirsinanddepravationbecameallthe
moreapparent,andthatitemanatedfromSamaria.Samaria(Shomronin

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
12/13
Hebrew)wastheseatofgovernmentinIsrael.Theideaisthatthepoliticalcenter
ofIsraelbearsmuchblamefortheconditionofIsrael.Icouldprobablydetour
hereandeasilyspendtheremainderoftoday’slessononit…butIwon’t.Suffice
ittosaythatnationsaredefinedbytheircapitalsandthosewhogovernfrom
there.Whileeachhumanisindividuallyresponsibleforourownsinandourown
moralcondition,therealityisthatperhapsthegreatestinfluenceoveraperson’s
lifewillcomefromtheirgovernmentbecausetheycontrolsomuchofwhatis
possible.Theleadershipbearsafarlargerproportionofresponsibilityforthe
moralstateofanationthanasinglecitizenatlarge.Isviolenceandcrime
rampant?Looktoyournationalleadership.Isyoureconomyinashambles?Look
toyournationalleadership.Hasyournationlostitssenseofethicsandmorality?
Looktoyournationalleadership.Andwhen,aswithEphraim/Israel,thingsseem
tobeimplodingoneverylevelandhopelessnessabounds,looktoyournational
leadership.ThisisGod’sstatedworldview;it’snotofmymaking.However,also
notethatGodseesnationalleadershipasconsistingofboththepoliticiansand
thepriests.Thereligiousleadershipcannotsay,“it’snotus,it’sthosedarned
politicians”!Everynation,ancientormodern,needspoliticians.Historyteaches
usthatthemoreauthoritarianandfurtherfromGodthatanationalgovernment
gets,themorethepoliticiansattackthoseamongthenation’sreligious
institutionsthatwon’tbendtotheirmoralmindset,ortotheirplansandsocial
agenda.So,astrongreligiousestablishmentisneededtospeakupandactwith
courageandboldnesstocounter-balancethepoliticians.Whathappenswhenthe
counter-balanceceasesbeingthatandinsteadbecomeslittlemorethanthe
religiousapologistsforthepoliticians?Thatnationtipsintodisaster.Thisiswhat
weareviewingintheBookofHosea.
WegetanexampleofwhatIwasjustspeakingaboutinthe2
nd
halfofverse1
whenwe’retoldthat:Fortheykeeppracticingdeceit;thievesbreakin,bandsof
robbersraidoutside.Uncheckeddeceptionandlying,criminalsbreakinginto
homes,andgangslyinginwaitforvictimsareallconnectedincauseandsource.
Verse2isessentiallywhatverse1explained,butwithalittlemoredetail.The
ideaincludesthattheleadershipisbeingconfrontedwithenemiesattacking
them,rampantcriminality,theireconomyfailing,thepeoplearebehaving
irresponsiblyanddespitethewarningfromtheprophetstheystilldon’tascribeit
totheirownwickednessandlackoffaithfulnesstoYehoveh.

Lesson11-HoseaChapters6&7
13/13
Beginningwithverse3wegetintothegrislymurdersofseveralkingsofIsrael;
eachmurdercommittedbyamanwhowantstobeking.Verylikelytheoverall
periodoftimethatthiswouldbecarriedoutspansfromaround750to725B.C.
Thisisrecordedin2Kings15anditisworthourwhiletoreadit.
READ2KINGS15all
We’llpickupnextweekatHosea7verse3.