Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
1/13
THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson13,Chapters7and8
Lasttimewemet,wemovedintothe4
th
andfinalsegmentofHoseachapter7
thatbeginswithverse13.Thissegmentspeaksofdivinepunishmentagainstthe
politicalgovernmentofIsraelandthedestructionofEphraim/Israel(the
NorthernKingdom)asanation.
Verse13beginswiththeword“woe”.Biblically,“woe”isnearlyexclusivelyused
toannounceGod’sjudgment(that’showitisusedhere).WhyGodisbringing
downwoeuponIsraelisspokeninbroadtermsinthefinalwordsofverse14:
“TheyturnawayfromMe”.Thatbroadercontextisbestunderstoodfroman
earlierchapterandverse:4:10–11.TherethecrimeofIsraelagainstYehoveh
isdefinedasIsraelhavingabandonedHiminordertocultivateadultery.Inthis
instanceadulteryismeantin2ways:first,indeedthemenandwomenof
EphraimIsraelhavebecomesoconfusedintheirreligion,moralityandbeliefs
thatadultery(aswellasprostitution)havebecomecommonplace(as
demonstratedwithGomer),andsecond,itservestodoubleasadulterous
behaviorofIsraeltowardsGod…meaningidolatry.So,hereistheequation:as
humansexualadulteryistoreligiousspiritualidolatrytowardsGod,soisgeneral
humanimmoralitytoreligiousspiritualapostacytowardsGod.Andjusttobe
clear:justasunmarriedhumanscannotcommitsexualadulterybetween
themselves,neithercanpaganscommitspiritualapostacytowardsGod.Onlyin
whatwasasupposed-to-befaithfulpartnershipofamarriedmantoawoman
canadulteryoccur,andonlyinwhatwasasupposed-to-befaithfulpartnership
withGodcanapostacyoccur.Ihopeyoucanseethis.Jobspeaksofthisequation
similarly.
CJB
Job1:1Therewasamaninthelandof'UtzwhosenamewasIyov.Thisman
wasblamelessandupright;hefearedGodandshunnedevil.
TofearGod(aspiritualrelationship)istoshunevil(immoralhumanbehavior).
FearingGodandimmoralhumanbehavior(evil)aremutuallyexclusiveinGod’s
economy.
Hosea7:15reads:
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
2/13
CJB
Hosea7:15ItwasIwhotrainedandstrengthenedtheirarms,yettheyplot
evilagainstme.
Probablymoreparentsthannothaveeitherquietlythought,orperhapsopenly
expressed,thissamethought.ItwasGodwho,inloveandpatience,trainedup
Israel.ThismustalludetoatimewhenGodbeganHistrainingofIsraelasthe
AngeloftheLordwrestledwithJacob,dislocatinghiship,andthengivingJacob
anewname:Israel.FromthereJacob(Israel)fathered12sons(andatleast1
daughterthatweknowof…probablymore),andthose12sonsbecamethe12
tribesofIsrael.TheyweresenttoEgyptwheremoretrainingoccurred,andthen
Goddeliveredthemfromthatincreasinglyoppressivesituation,gaveIsraeltheir
ownland,andgavethemtheTorah(includingthe10Commandmentsandallthe
LawofMoses).Thetrainingcontinuedasjourneyedthroughthewilderness,then
enteredthePromisedLand,asGodtaughtthemthroughbothfavorand
disciplineHischaracterandHisways.IndoingthisIsraelwasstrengthenedjust
asachildwouldbe.Butnow,centurieslater,whathasthisresultedin?Israelhas
rebelledandturnedawayfromGodandplotsevilagainstHim.Howdoesanyone
plotevilagainstGod?Byseekingafterothergods…idolatry...butalsoby
abandoningHislawsandcommandsinexchangeformanmadedoctrinesand
rules;thatis,theyapostatizefromHim.
CJB
Hosea7:16Theyreturn,butnotupward;theyarelikeanunreliablebow.
Theirleaderswilldiebytheswordbecauseoftheirangrytalk.Theywillbecome
alaughingstockinthelandofEgypt.
ThefirstfewwordsarealittleambiguousbutIdon’tthinkthathardtofigureout.
TheKJVhasrenderedit:“Theyreturn,butnottotheMostHigh”.Now,thewords
“MostHigh”arenotthereintheHebreworGreekmanuscripts.So,whatis
happeningisthattheKJVtranslatorassumedthatthiswasreferringtoGod(as
doI),andsoaddedinthosewordstotrytobringclarity.Whatisbeingsaid
propheticallyisthatsoonIsraelwillcomeintodirestraits,andthentheywillrun
totheBaalsandtheirgentileneighborsasthesolutionstotheirproblems.They
makethemistakeofnotturningtoYehoveh…insteadtheyjustdoubledownon
theirownmisguidedhumanefforts.Israeliscomparedtoanunreliablebow;
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
3/13
sometimesitworkslikeitshould,sometimesitdoesn’t.Sometimesitaims
straight;sometimesitdoesn’tandsomissesthemark.
Thenextphraseinverse16isbestrenderedbytheNASBibleversion.
NAS
Hosea7:16TheirprinceswillfallbytheswordBecauseoftheinsolenceof
theirtongue.ThiswillbetheirderisioninthelandofEgypt.
It’snotreallytheangerofIsrael’sleadership’swordsasitistheirinsolencein
beseechingpagangodsandpagannationsratherthantheGodofIsrael.Hosea
relaystoIsraelthattheresultofthisisthattheyaregoingtogorunningtoEgypt
(afterAssyriahaslaidthemlow),andtheEgyptianpeopleandgovernmentmay
taketheminbuttheywillbeseenasalaughingstockfortheirfolly.Whatwas
onceagreatnation,isnowhumiliatedanddissolved…andtheirGoddidthisto
them.
Let’smoveontochapter8.
READHOSEACHAPTER8all
IseeHoseachapter8asoneofthemosthardhitting,andatthesametimethe
mostconciseandcomprehensive,oraclesonwhatIsraelisabouttoexperience
(andwhy)oftheentirebook.Somescholarsclaimthatperhapschapter8…allof
it…isalateadditionandwasneverthereintheoriginal.Again,it’sprimarilythe
styleofwritingthatisquestioned(plusthedisbeliefthatpropheticprediction
actuallyexists),andthereforeitraisestheirsuspicionthatitwaswrittenby
anotherhand.ThisignoresthepracticalrealitythatHoseawrotethisinsegments
(atthesamepace,nodoubt,asHereceivedtheseseveraloraclesfromGod),
overatimeframeof35years.Letmeputthatinperspective.Itwouldbeas
thoughyoubeganwritingsomethingin1987,anddidsoinsegments,notfinally
concludingituntil2022.Lookingbackatmyownwritings,Idon’tsoundthe
sameasIdid25yearsago.Overthattime,I’dliketothinkthatIrefinedmystyle,
oratleastaltereditabit,andIalsohadmanyrevelationsfromGodalongthe
waythatresultedinchangingmymindonafewthings.Perhapsalsochanging
thewayIthoughtaboutasubjectandthuschoosingmywordsandconclusions
morecarefully.So,there’snogoodreasontoexcludechapter8asnotauthentic.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
4/13
Thatsaid,becausethebookingeneralhascomedowntousinprettypoor
condition,tryingtotranslateitashonestlyandaccuratelyaspossibleismost
challenging.
Iwanttoalsoadd(asIdofromtimetotime)acommentabouttranslating.We
mustalwaysrememberthatmanydifferentpeopleinanumberofdifferent
locations…includingmultiplenations…overaperiodofhundredsofyears…hand
copiedthesehundredsofthousandsofwordsoftheOldTestament.Further,
mistakestoindividualletterswithinawordhappened.SomeHebrewletterslook
verymuchthesame,suchthattheyhavebecomewellknownmomentsoferror
calleddittography.Thedaletandthereysh,thememandthesamech,andafew
othercombinationsregularlywerecopiedincorrectlybecausetheycanappear
almostidentical.Alettercanaccidentallybedroppedorrepeated.Sometimes
thefinalletterofawordistransferredtothefirstletterofthenextword.And
thenithappensthatoncethatkindoferroroccurs,itcanitselfgetre-copiedand
repeated,sotheerrorbecomesembeddedinthelatertexts.Jewishlanguage
scholarslongagobegantodetectsomeofthemoreobviouserrorsandcorrected
them.However,therearetimeswheneventheymissedthemortheyguessed
wrong,ofteninsertingtheirowndoctrinalworldview.
ThenwehavetheissuethatmoreandmoreHebrewlanguagescholarsarefinally
comingtoacknowledge;theBibleisfullofancientexpressions,someofwhich
we’renotentirelysureofwhatmeaningthey’retryingtoimpart.Anexpression
occurswhenthemeaningofthesumofthewordsofaquoteisquitedifferent
thanitsseveralparts.Example:don’tletthecatoutofthebag.Weallknowwhat
thatmeans(don’tdivulgeasecret).Butwhathasanyofthattodowithcatsor
bags?Nothing;it’sjustanexpression.So,whenitcomestounderstandingthe
Biblewehavetobecarefulofhowwedefine“literal”.Takingthetermliteralas
meaning:“asitwasintendedbytheauthor,intheoriginal(noneofwhichdowe
have)inthecontextofhislanguage,timeandculture”isprobablythebest
approachratherthantakingliteraltomeanaword-for-wordtranslation.Hoseais
fullofexpressions,andisaconstantrevolvingdoorofnewmetaphors.Italso
intersperseshistorywithsymbolism,andemploysseveralliterarytechniques
uniquetothelanguageoratleasttotherangeofSemiticlanguages(towhich
Hebrewisrelated).Couplethatwiththestateofdisrepairoftheoldestextant
manuscriptsforHoseaandthechallengebecomesevengreater.We’lldoasbest
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
5/13
wecantoextractthemeaning,andI’llalertyouwhentherecouldbemultiple
possibilities.
Immediatelyinverse1weareconfrontedwiththesituationIjustraised.TheCJB
isingeneralagreementwithmoststandardEnglishBibleversions.However,an
alternativeopeningisproposedbyafewmodernscholars:“Godwaitslikea
younglion…Yehovehlikeaneagleoverthehouse…”Inadditiontothebadrepair
oftheindividualwordsthemselves,intheoldGreekmanuscriptswhenthewords
aretranslatedstrictlyword-for-wordwhatitliterallysaysis:“totheirbosomslike
theearth”.Thismakesnosense;itdoesn’tcorrespondtoanyknownexpression,
anditdoesn’tseemtofitthecontext.So,sometranslatorstrytomakemore
senseofitbyemployingmetaphorsandsimilesthathavebeenpreviouslyused
inHosea,evenifitishardtomakethetextsupportit.ObviouslytheGreek
versionhassomethingwrongwithitthathasbeentransmitteddowntous
incorrectly.Anotherveryinterestingattempttorestoreverse1isGinsberg’s.He
saysitshouldread:“PutaRam’shorntoyourmouthaddressingtheHouseof
Israel”.Hisreasonforthistranslationisactuallyquiteingenious.Bearwithme;
Iwon’tgetintoallthetechnicaldetailsbuthere’stheReader’sDigestversion
thatinvolvesbothanancientHebrewexpressionandafairlyclearcopyisterror.
Inthepartthatreads“likeaneagle(oravulture)overthehouseofYehoveh”,
Ginsbergseesthatacopyistaccidentallymovedthefinalletterofawordtothe
firstletterofthewordthatimmediatelyfollowedit,suchthatwhenthatletteris
movedbackwhereitbelongsthenthemeaningbecomesclearer.Furtherthat
theHebrewphrasealbetYehoveh(meaning,overtheTempleofYehoveh)isa
misinterpretationofalbet(andthenafinalyod),becausetheinsertionofthe
finalyodwasanabbreviationforthewordYisrael(Israel)thatwasstandardfor
thatera.Ipromisewewon’tgoovereveryphraseinthismuchdetail,butI
wantedtogiveyouarealexampletobeginHoseachapter8ofwhatmodern
Hebrewlanguagescholarsarebeginningtodiscoverandrealize,andhowmuch
thiscanhelpustoreachaproperinterpretation.So,goingwithGinsberg’s
solution,thenwhatisbeingmeant?WhatdoesitmeantoputaRam’shorntothe
mouth?
AcarefulstudyofHoseaandIsaiahrevealsthatonehadagreatinfluenceonthe
other(probablyHoseaoverIsaiah).So,wefindthissimilarthoughtinIsaiah58.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
6/13
CJB
Isaiah58:1Shoutoutloud!Don'tholdback!Raiseyourvoicelikeashofar!
Proclaimtomypeoplewhatrebelstheyare,tothehouseofYa'akovtheirsins.
WearemeanttounderstandHosea8:1,then,somewhatlikethis:“Prophet!Cry
outwithyourmouthlikeit’saRam’shorn(ashofar),likeaneagleoverthe
HouseofIsrael”.Ashofarwasregularlyusedtosoundawarning,becauseit
couldbeheardforsomedistance.So,theProphetHoseawastobeveryboldin
spreadingthisseriesoforaclesagainstIsrael,asagraveandurgentwarning.
ThewordtranslatedinsomeBiblesaseagleandothersasvultureisnesher.It
canmeaneagleorvulture,dependingontheuse.Likelybecausetheloud,
ominousscreechingofaneaglecanstartle,thatiswhatismeant.But,itisnot
impossiblethatitcouldalsohavemeantavulturefeedingonthecarcassesof
deadIsraelites.
Iwillpause,now,tobothexplainandimplorebecauseitissomuchonmyheart.
I’veattemptedtodrawadistinctandunmistakableparallelbetweenHosea’sera
andthecurrenteraoftheworldinthisfirstdozenlessonsbecauseweneedto
openoureyestounderstandwhereitcertainlyappearswemaybein
Redemptionhistory.Ifweare,indeed,butaneyelashintimeawayfromentering
theEndTimes,thenwhatHoseaistoldtoprophesytoIsraellooksverymuchlike
whatRevelationandsomeofChrist’swordsintheGospelssaytotheChurch
aboutwhattheEndTimeswilllooklike,andwhyGodhaschosentofinallybring
thefullweightofHiswrathuponus.Thethingis,weoughttoexpecttheworld
tolooklikeitdoes…becauseit’stheworld!Pagans(thevastmajorityofthis
planet’sinhabitants)aregoingtobehaveaspagans(nosurprisethere).Notice
thatinHosea,however,thatGodisnotdressingdownandwarningpagans(the
gentilenations);ratherthisthreateningandjudgmentisallbeingdirectedtoHis
ownset-apartpeople.It’sthosewhoclaimallegiancetoHimthathavethe
biggestproblemwithHim,andthemosttolose(youcan’tlosewhatyounever
had).Bringingthisforward,then,itismostfairtoapplythissamemessageto
addresstheChurchasareligiousinstitutionandtoaddressBelieversas
individuals.Afterall,forcenturiestheChurchhasclaimedtohavereplacedIsrael
(somethingIdenyisthecase).So,doesthatmeanthatalongwithGod’s
blessings,theChurchwillalsosufferGod’scursesandwrath?MuchoftheChurch
says“no”;weonlygettheblessings…Israelgetstokeepthecurses.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
7/13
Nonetheless,ChristianitywillinglyacceptsthemantleofbeingGod’smouthpiece
onearth…evenHisshofar(ifyouwould).So,inthatverynarrowsenseweareto
actasprophets.WemuchprefertoshoutouttheGoodNews,don’twe,rather
thanspeakabouttheothersideofthecoin,becauseifwedowe’realittleafraid
thatwe’lllooklikenuts.Butwe’redivinelycalledtobetheprophetsofGod’s
warningsaswell.WhenwelookatwhathappenedtotheOldTestamentbiblical
Prophetsasarewardforshoutingthewarnings,it’snowondermostBelievers
don’twantthejob.FellowBelievers,iftheworld(andtheChurch)isn’tinbad
enoughshape,yet,togetyoutonotice,andtostandupandbecounted,thenI
doubtnothingwillevermotivateyoutodowhatGodhascommandedusalltodo.
AsacommunityofBelievers,wemusttakethetruth…thebeautyandthe
ugliness…totheChurchFIRSTjustasGoddidwithHisProphets.Justasthe
openingchaptersofRevelationdidtotherepresentative7ChurchesofAsia.
IcansaywithsomeconfidencethatwhiletheaccusationsGodwasmakingto
IsraelappliedtoeveryIsraelite,there,ofcourse,werethoseexceptionswho
remainedfaithfultotheorthodoxHebrewfaithofYehoveh.InAmerica,wehave
theculturalproverbof“iftheshoefits,wearit”meaningthatifitappliestoyou,
takeheed(alsoimplyingthatifitdoesn’tapplytoyou,thenforgetIeversaidit).
Apparentlynoone(orperhapsonlyafew)inEphraim/Israelthoughtthis
warningappliedtothem.Who,me(theythought)?Whatdoyoumean,God,that
Youwon’tacceptmyworship?Youdon’treallymeanthatjustbecauseIalso
worshipBaalthatIalsocan’tproperlyworshipYou?Bydoingthis,I’mobeying
youby“lovingmyneighbor”.Whatcouldbewrongwithlove?Myreligious
leadershadthesewonderfulimagesofYoumadeandset-up,andscoresof
worshipsitesaswell,andsincethey’retheexpertstheymustberight.Besides;
everyoneelseisdoingit,anditsureseemsOKtome.Afterallwe’veremained
quiteprosperous,whichcanonlybeasignfromHeaventhatYouapprove.AllI’m
doingintheseremarksistakingfromtheBookofHosea.Buthoweasilythatcan
(anddoes)applytoourJudeo-Christianreligiousinstitutionsandtosomany
Believersatlarge.Doyouknowanyonewhothinkstheyarecommitting
apostacy?AnyonewhothinksthatwhateveritistheyandtheirparticularChurch
believe,couldpossiblybeinerror?Well,themerefactof3000plusChristian
denominationssaysthattheycan’tallberight.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
8/13
Israeldidwhattheydidbecausetheyhadbeendoingitforalongtime;ithad
becomethenorm...theirwayoflife.Generationshadbeenraisedonlyknowing
oneway;thewayitcurrentlywas.So,anythoughtofchallengingthestatusquo
wasquicklyputdownbythemajority(that’swhathappenedtothebiblical
Prophets).You,I,allofushaveaduty…notanoption…tobeGod’sshofarnotso
muchtotheworldastoourfellowBelievers.Willthiswinyoupopularitycontests?
Willpeoplelineuptothankyou?Unlikely.And,ofcourse,youwillbeaccusedof
Church-bashing,wantingChristianstogiveupChristandturntoJudaism,orof
justplaindisturbingthepeaceoftheChurchandbeingunkindtoyourBelieving
brothersandsisters.Maybeyou’llbeseenasaknow-it-all.Afterall,you’resuch
aminority,clearlythemajoritymusthaveitrightandyou’rewrong.Again;this
iseverythingthatGod’sProphetssuffered,andweretold,whentakingGod’s
warningtotheirownpeople.
Theverdict?Getupandbecounted.Whenyouhearsomeonespeakingnonsense
aboutmorality(inwhateverform),orsomeseriouslyflawedmanmadedoctrine,
trytoinjectyourvoice.Don’tbeafraid;GodiswiththosewhoaredoingHiswork,
evenifitmightresultinsomediscomfort.CountonHim,andnotonyourown
persuasivepower.Tellthetruthandletthechipsfallwheretheymay.OK;
speechover.
Verse1concludeswithwhatthesourceofIsrael’swickednessis;theyrebelled
againstGod’scovenant(heremeaningtheTorah),andmorespecificallyagainst
God’sLaw(theLawofMoses).Here’sthething:priortoMosesandMt.Sinai,it
isdefensiblethatIsraelcouldclaimtheydidn’tknowwhatGodwantedofthemor
whatpleasedHim.But,atMt.Sinai,God’slawsandcommandsweregivenin
specificsandMosesorderedtowritethemdown,andforallIsraeltobetaught
them.Moreover,theywerealsowarnedwhatwouldhappenifthecommands
thatwerenowopenlyknowntothemwereviolated.
CJB
Deuteronomy30:15-20
15
"Look!Iampresentingyoutodaywith,ontheone
hand,lifeandgood;andontheother,deathandevil-
16
inthatIamorderingyou
todaytoloveADONAIyourGod,tofollowhisways,andtoobeyhismitzvot,
regulationsandrulings;forifyoudo,youwillliveandincreaseyournumbers;
andADONAIyourGodwillblessyouinthelandyouareenteringinordertotake
possessionofit.
17
Butifyourheartturnsaway,ifyourefusetolisten,ifyouare
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
9/13
drawnawaytoprostrateyourselvesbeforeothergodsandservethem;
18
Iam
announcingtoyoutodaythatyouwillcertainlyperish;youwillnotlivelongin
thelandyouarecrossingtheYardentoenterandpossess.
19
"Icallonheaven
andearthtowitnessagainstyoutodaythatIhavepresentedyouwithlifeand
death,theblessingandthecurse.Therefore,chooselife,sothatyouwilllive,
youandyourdescendants,
20
lovingADONAIyourGod,payingattentiontowhat
hesaysandclingingtohim-forthatisthepurposeofyourlife!Onthisdepends
thelengthoftimeyouwillliveinthelandADONAIsworehewouldgivetoyour
ancestorsAvraham,Yitz'chakandYa'akov."
Icalledonyouforboldness,soImustdonoless.Church,doyouseriouslythink
thatthisdoesn’tapplytoyou?ThattheTorahandtheLawofMoses,it’sblessings
anditscurses,areonlyforanotherpeople…ifanyoneatall?AccordingtoChrist
that’snotthecase.IknowthatmostofyouhavebeentaughtthattheLawisno
longerforyoutoobey;butthefactisthatyou’vebeentaughtsomethingthat
isn’ttrue.Iwastaughtthesame.OnlybyGod’sgracedidHeopenmymindto
acceptthatandtoseekHimasHewantstobesought.Itwasaveryhumbling
experience.Thisuntruthwasanintentionalperpetrationforthesakeofafew
ambitiousgentileslongagowrestingcontrolofthegrowingJesusmovement
awayfromtheJews(whereitbegan).Thisnewreligion…are-shaped
gentiles-onlyreligion…happilysanctionedandchampionedbyEmperor
Constantine…representedpowerandopportunityfortheelite.Byearlyinthe4
th
centuryeveryelementofthetrueorthodoxbiblicallygroundedfaith,otherthan
forYeshuaastheMessiah,wasdisposedofbythenowpowerfulRomanChurch.
Jesuswasgivenanewcharacterandpurpose;theFatherwasretiredandthe
TorahandtheOldTestamentalongwithHim.TheChurchdidn’tloseitsway;it
wasintentionallyguidedoffcourse,inordertosatisfytheagendasofmen,just
asitwasforEphraim/Israel.
IsupposethisiswhyIhaveatruesoftspotinmyheartforancientIsrael.Itis
soeasytoretainandrelyonanincorrectbeliefwhenthat’sallyouknow,andit’s
notsoeasytochange.ByHosea’stimeIdoubtthepriestsknewanybetter;they
simplytaughtwhattheyhadbeentaught.Doesthatletpriestsorthecommon
peopleoffthehook?Goodnessno!Godtellsthemthatthetruth…theTorah…was
rightthereforthemtosee,study,andlearn…itwasgiventotheminwriting…
buttheychosenottoknow.Theypreferredwhatmenhadcreated.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
10/13
Verse2hasIsraelpleadingwithGod.Aftersomanydecadesofunfaithfulness
andfalseworship,Israelisnowexperiencinganimplodingeconomyandisunder
threatfromthenorthandthesouth;so,theyreversecourseandcryouttoGod.
TheyclaimtheirdevotiontoHim.MostBiblehistoriansthinkthisprophetic
utterancefinallycametopassabout733B.C.,whenAssyriamadeitsmajor
incursionofconquest.Itwasusualwhenalargenationorempireinvadeda
country,itwouldtakemorethanonetimetofinallycompletelyconqueran
adversary.Therewereonlyafewmonthsperyearwhentheweatherwas
favorable,andsupplyinganexpeditionaryforcewascomplicatedandsubjectto
somanyvariables.So,Assyriamade2or3thrustsintoEphraim/Israelbefore
Samaria,thecapitalofIsrael,finallyfell.
Israel’ssuddenchangeofheartwasingenuousandhypocritical.Nothing
indicatesthattheyhadchangedtheirways;theymerelyintensifiedtheirworship.
TheNASdoesabetterjobwiththisverse.
NAS
Hosea8:2TheycryouttoMe,"MyGod,weofIsraelknowThee!"
TheHebrewwordtranslatedas“know”isyada.Itdoesn’tmeanasmodern
Englishmostoftenusestheword“know”.Thatis,asbeingawareofsomething
orhavinginformationaboutsomething.InancientHebrewitmeanttobeinfull
allegiance,ortohaveanintimaterelationship,withsomeone.Inmarriage,inthe
Hebrewculture,foramantoknowhiswifemeanttohaveintimaterelationswith
her.So,Israel’sclaimwentbeyondthehypocriticaltotheabsurd.Israelhadlong
agolosttheirintimaterelationshipwithYehoveh;theywerejusttooblindand
toobusywiththeirlivestonoticewhattheyhaddone.
Verse3begins,“Israelhasrejectedwhatisgood”.InHebrewthewordtov
meansgood.However,muchlikethewordshalomdoesn’tjustmeanpeaceor
well-beingbutratherthatthesourceofthatpeaceorwell-beingisGod;itworks
similarlywiththewordtov…good.Tovinherentlyleanstowardsagodly,moral,
divinelyinspiredgood.Whenwethinkofvirtues,wethinkofthingsthatare
consideredasgoodattributesbyoursociety.However,biblically,ifavirtueis
definedasagoodthing,thenitcanonlybeagodlything.Ifitisnot,thenitisa
virtueofhumaninventionthatinGod’seyesisnovirtueatall.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
11/13
Sometranslatorssaythatthisistobeinterpreted:“IsraelhasrejectedtheGood
One”.Ionlymentionitbecauseitisoccasionallyusedthatway,butthereisno
actualgrammaticalortextualcaseforit,andI’veneverhearditreasonably
explainedwhysometranslateitthatway.
Theresultofconsciouslyrejectingthegood,thetov,(God’sdefinitionofright
andmorality)isthatIsrael’senemywillchasethemdown.Clearlythisis
referringtoAssyria.
Inverse4YehovehcontinuesHisdiatribebyspecifyingthetrespasses(crimes,
really)againsttheCovenantofMosesasregardsthenation’sgovernment,but
alsoagainsttheoffensivereligionthathadbeencrafted.EssentiallyGodis
disavowinganysanctionofthestringofIsraelitekingsthathavecomeandgone
inrapidsuccession,usuallythroughviolence.Therearesomescholarsthattake
thistomeanthatGodisagainsttheconceptofIsrael’smonarchy.Orthatunless
itisaDavidicking,noothermonarchshouldbeonthethrone.Thistakesmatters
muchtoofaranddefiestheoverallmessageoftheTorahandtheOldTestament
ingeneral.Theissueisnotwiththeofficeofthemonarchbutratherwhothese
menareandhowtheywounduponthethrone.AsDouglasStuartputsit:
“Yahwehalonedetermineswhocanbekingeitherbycharismaticgifts,orby
directrevelationthroughaprophet.Hegiveskingstonations;theydonotdecide
whotheirkingswillbe”.
InTorahClasslessonsonothersoftheBiblebooksIhavementionedthatallof
Israel’slegitimatekingswereconsidered“anointedones”(Mashiach,Messiah),
andtheywerealsocalledSonsofGod.ThekingofIsraelwastobeYehoveh’s
earthlyagent,havinganespeciallycloserelationshipwithHim,andwasto
operatespecificallyonIsrael’sbehalf.Godwouldallownooneelsetheprivilege
tomakesuchanimportantchoice.Butthisdivinechoiceofkingsoftenextended
togentilenationsaswell(eventhoughtheywereunawareofit).Wegetan
exampleofthisin1Kings.
CJB
1Kings19:15-16
15
ADONAIsaidtohim,"GobackbywayoftheDammesek
Desert.Whenyougetthere,anointHaza'eltobekingoverAram.
16
Alsoanoint
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
12/13
YehuthesonofNimshitobekingoverIsra'el,andanointElishathesonofShafat
ofAvel-M'cholahtobeprophetafteryou.
So,kingswerenottobethechoiceofthepeople.Perhapsthisisthemajorflaw
inthearmorofdemocracyasweknowittoday.Itisprobablythebestpossible
ofallgovernmentsystemscurrentlyinpracticeonearth,butGod’ssystem
involvesHischoiceofanunelected,all-powerfulking.I’dhavetosaythat
especiallyduringthesecondhalfofmylifetime,ourchoiceofgovernment
leadershasn’tnecessarilybeenthebest.Greed,avarice,egotismandcorruption
ofeverykindeventuallyovertakesthemall;thetemptationsofpowerarejust
toogreat.I’msurethankfulthatperhapsYeshuawillsoonreturnandweget
backtotheGodappointedKing,whorulesjustly,forever.
YehovehsaysthattheseleadersaremadewithoutHisknowledge.Thiscertainly
doesn’tmeantheywerestrangerstoHim.Wefallbacktotheword,yada,to
explain.Thisspeaksofallegianceandintimaterelationship.BecauseGoddidn’t
choosethisking,thenHeheldnointimaterelationshipwithhim,thusthatking
wasdoomedtofailure.
Inthesecondhalfoftheverse,Israel’sidolatrousreligionisassailed.
CJB
Hosea8:4...Withtheirsilverandgoldtheymakethemselvesidols,but
thesecanleadonlytotheirowndestruction.
ProbablytheimageHosea,andmostIsraelites,wouldhaveinmindisthose
calf-godsthatJeroboamhadfashionedlongago,andthensetupinthemain
centersofworshiplocatedinDanandinBeth-el.TheHebrewwordusually
translatedhereasidolsisasabim.Itmightbemostcorrecttointerpretitas
imagesratherthanidols.Thistermisused17timesintheHebrewBibleandit
alwaysmeansimagesofpeopleoranimals.Jeroboam’scalf-gods,amainstayof
thereligionoftheNorthernKingdom,wereanapostacybecauseitwasexactly
thesortofthinglegislatedagainstintheCovenantofMoses.Wecanreadof
when,exactly,thesecalf-godshappenedin1kings.
CJB
1Kings12:28-31
28
Afterseekingadvice,thekingmadetwocalvesofgold
andsaidtothepeople,"YouhavebeengoinguptoYerushalayimlongenough!
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
13/13
Hereareyourgods,Isra'el,whobroughtyououtofthelandofEgypt!"
29
He
placedoneinBeit-ElandtheotherinDan,
30
andtheaffairbecameasin,forthe
peoplewenttoworshipbeforetheone[inBeit-Eland]allthewaytoDan[to
worshiptheother].
31
Healsosetuptemplesonthehighplacesandmade
cohanimfromamongallthepeople,eventhoughtheywerenotdescendedfrom
Levi.
Inthiswereadnotonlyofwhodidthisterriblething,butalsowhy.King
Jeroboamsimplydidn’twantHispeopletakingtheirmoneyandtheirofferingsto
theTempleinJerusalem.Moneyandpowerwerehismotivation;itislittle
differentinmanyreligiousorganizationsthroughouttheages.
TheKJVdoesabetterjobintranslatingthelastfewwordsofverse4.
KJV
Hosea8:4...oftheirsilverandtheirgoldhavetheymadethemidols,that
theymaybecutoff.
Beingcut-offisinHebrewkareth.Itisatermthatmeanstobesetapart(ina
negativeway)andisolated.Anuncleanpersonwaskareth…althoughusually
justforafewhoursuntiltheybathedandwaitedforthenewdaytobegin.Inthis
senseofit,thewordkarethismuchmoreominousintone.ItmeansthatGod
wascuttingIsraelofffromHimselfinthespiritualideaofit.However,fromthe
mindsetofaMiddleEasternerofthe8
th
centuryB.C.(includingIsrael)itwaspart
andparcelofwhathappenswhenbeingexiledfromyourland.Sincethe
erroneousbeliefwasthatYehovehwasIsrael’snationalgodthathadpoweronly
withinthenation’sboundaries,thenoncescatteredIsraelwascertainlycut-off
fromHim.
Verse5directlyspeaksofthecalf-gods,andthentellsSamariathatthesewill
sufferdestruction.WhySamariaifnocalf-godexistedthere?Somescholars
havepostulatedthatperhapsonedidexistthere,althoughthereisnorecordof
suchathing.ThebettersolutionistounderstandSamariaastheseatof
governmentandreligioninEphraim/Israelandthereforeasthepowerwho
ordersworshipofthesecalf-godsasIsrael’sgod.Thatis,SamariawastoIsrael
whatLondonistoEngland,orWashingtonD.C.totheUSA.So,whatever
nationalpoliciesthatthepeopleofthenationaretofollowemanatefromthere.
Lesson13-HoseaChapters7&8
14/13
GodsaysthatHisangerburnsagainstthosecalf-gods.Thefinalfewwordsofthis
verseasktherhetoricalquestion:
CJB
Hosea8:5...Howlongwillitbeuntiltheyareabletomakethemselves
clean?
Literallythistranslatesratherawkwardlyas“untilwhen,howlong?”Butthekey
togettingthegistofthequestionistheHebrewtermad-mataythatmeans“itis
enough”.ItcouldinmodernEnglishberendered“Stopit!”Grubersaysthatthe
senseofitisthis:“Itislongenoughthatthey(theIsraelitesof8
th
centuryB.C.
Samaria)behaveasthoughtheyareincapableofpurifyingthemselvesfrom
contaminationbyworshipoftheseillegitimatecalfimages”.
We’llendherefortodayandbeginatverse6,nexttime.