Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
1/13
THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson23,Chapters13and14
WeconcludedatHosea13:9lasttime,whichbeginsa3-versesectionthatis
essentiallyadivinestatementaspartofanoraclethatinvolvesacontroversy
andadispute.ThedisputeisthatGodistellingIsraelwhattheyhavedonewrong
intheirunfaithfulnesstoHimandtheiroutrightidolatry,andIsraelisdenyingit
andalsoindenialaboutwhatishappeningtothem.Let’sre-readit.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER13:9–11
These3versesareGodspeaking;HebeginsbysayingbluntlythatHewill
destroyIsrael.Theverbformusedhereisintheperfecttensemeaningthe
actionhasalreadybegun.AswehaveseeninearlierversesandchaptersIsrael
seemstobeoblivioustowhatHoseahasbeentellingthem.Theyareinfull-blown
denial.It’snotthattheydon’trecognizetheirprecariousnationalsituationof
beingonthevergeofbeingconqueredbyJudah,andatthesametimefinally
recognizingthatAssyriaposesanevenbiggerdangertotheirnational
sovereignty,it’sthattheystillwon’tacknowledgethatitistheirGod,Yehoveh,
whomisbehindtheloomingcatastrophebecauseHeisseverelypunishingthem.
Instead,theycontinuetopleadfordeliveranceontheirownterms,andrun
aroundtryingtofindgentilealliestorescuethem,ignoringHosea’smessagethat
theirdoomisassuredandtheprocessoftheirdemiseisalreadywellunderway.
Sincethatistheunchangeablesituation,thenIsrael’sonlyrationalresponsefor
thetimebeingoughttobeamostpracticalone:planandprepareyourselfand
yourhouseholdsforsurvivalinthecomingbadtimes,andatthesametime
examineyourselftoseewhereyouhavegonewrong,andthenconfessingyour
iniquitybeforeYehoveh.Therefore,inthesecondhalfofverse9,Yehoveh
essentiallyaskswhoitisthattheythinkisgoingtosavethem?Ofcourse,the
implicationisthatsinceitisGodthatisagainstthem,thenGodistheonlyone
whocandeliverthem.And,He’salreadyfirmlysaidHeisnotgoingtodeliver
them.ThisTorahconceptofYehovehbeingIsrael’soneandonlydelivererfrom
anyandeverytypeoftroubleorenemy,Israelhasforgottenbecausethey’ve
forgottentheTorah.
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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CJB
Deuteronomy33:26-29
26
"Yeshurun,thereisnoonelikeGod,riding
throughtheheavenstohelpyou,ridingonthecloudsinhismajesty.
27
TheGod
ofoldisadwelling-place,witheverlastingarmsbeneath.Heexpelledtheenemy
beforeyouandhesaid,'Destroy!'
28
SoIsra'ellivesinsecurity;thefountainof
Ya'akovisaloneinalandofgrainandnewwine,wheretheskiesdripwithdew.
29
Happyareyou,Isra'el!"Whoislikeyou,apeoplesavedbyADONAI,your
defenderhelpingyouandyourswordoftriumph?Yourenemieswillcringebefore
you,butyouwilltrampledowntheirhighplaces."
Hosea13:10referstoIsrael’scurrentgovernmentthatisinchaos.Ifyou
cross-checkbetweenvariousBibleversionstheopeningwordscanbetranslated
quitedifferently.ThewaytheCJBhasit(“so,now,whereisyourking?”)isthe
mostcommonapproach.ThisisthesamemeaningthatisascribedintheOld
GreekoftheSeptuagint(thetranslationoftheHebrewBibleintoGreekthattook
placeinthe3
rd
centuryB.C.).However,wefindsomethingdifferentinthe
MasoreticHebrewtext.Theopeningofverse10is:“Ishallbeyourking,then…”.
InterestinglythisiswaytheKJVhasit.Goodargumentscanbemadeforeither
translationbutIthinkoverallthecontextmakesthewaytheCJBandthe
majorityofotherversionstranslateitto“so,now,whereisyourking?”themore
likely.Thisisreallyakindofsarcasticifnottauntingremarkthathas1Samuel
chapter8inmind.ItisanothercaseintheBookofHoseaofGodremindingIsrael
thattheirinsistencetohave,anddependupon,ahumankingwasneverHisidea
inthefirstplace.Farfromit:itwasdeeplyoffensivetoGod.ThereinSamuelwe
findthesewords:
CJB
1Samuel8:4-20
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."
10
Sh'mu'elreportedeverythingADONAIhadsaidtothepeople
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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askinghimforaking.
11
Hesaid,"Hereisthekindofrulingsyourkingwillmake:
hewilldraftyoursonsandassignthemtotakecareofhischariots,behis
horsemenandbebodyguardsrunningaheadofhischariots.
12
Hewillappoint
themtoservehimasofficersinchargeofathousandoroffifty,plowinghisfields,
gatheringhisharvest,andmakinghisweaponsandtheequipmentforhis
chariots.
13
Hewilltakeyourdaughtersandhavethembeperfume-makers,
cooksandbakers.
14
Hewillexpropriateyourfields,vineyardsandolivegroves-
theverybestofthem!-andhandthemovertohisservants.
15
Hewilltakethe
ten-percenttaxofyourcropsandvineyardsandgiveittohisofficersand
servants.
16
Hewilltakeyourmaleandfemaleservants,yourbestyoungmen
andyourdonkeys,andmakethemworkforhim.
17
Hewilltaketheten-percent
taxofyourflocks,andyouwillbecomehisservants.
18
Whenthathappens,you
willcryoutonaccountofyourking,whomyouyourselveschose.Butwhenthat
happens,ADONAIwillnotansweryou!"
19
However,thepeoplerefusedtolisten
towhatSh'mu'eltoldthem,andtheysaid,"No!Wewantakingoverus,
20
sothat
wecanbelikeallthenations,withourkingtojudgeus,leadusandfightour
battles."
So,inHosea13:9-11GodisessentiallysayingtoIsrael:rememberlongago
whenthroughMyProphetSamuelIwarnedyouthatbydemandingahumanking
youwererejectingMeasyourking?AndthatIcautionedyouaboutthe
disastrousconsequencesyourkingswouldeventuallyheapuponyou?Andthat
eventuallyeventheking’smightymilitarywouldnotbeabletosavehimselfor
youfromenemies?Butmostimportantlythatwhenyoufinallyrealizedthatwhat
ItoldyouwastrueandyouwantedMebackasyourking,I’drefusetohelpyou?
Well,afteralongtime,thisisallhappeningtoyourightnow,atthisvery
moment,anditisIwhoamnotonlynotgoingtorescueyou,I’mtheonewhois
goingtoleadanenemytodecimateyou.
LikelythisversewaspennedbyHoseaafterKingHoshea’srebellionagainst
Assyria(Hosheastoppedpayingtheagreed-totributetoAssyriafortheprivilege
ofbeingavassalstatetoAssyria)anditresultedwithhimbeingdeposedand
imprisonedbyShalmaneser,theKingofAssyriaforhistreachery.Thatevent
markedtheendofIsrael’smonarchyandfromthattimeforwardIsraelnolonger
hadanIsraeliteking.Israelwouldremainasanationforjustacouplemore
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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yearsbeforethenextkingofAssyria,Sargon,invadedandconqueredIsraeland
emptiedtheLandofthepeople.
Verse11says(againinlinewithwhatwereadin1Samuel8)thatitwasinGod’s
angerthatHegaveIsraelamortalking.Thatis,thepeopledemandingthat
SamuelgivethemakingmadeYehovehsoangryatthemthat,asapunishment
fortheirrejectionofGodastheirking,Hegavethemwhattheywantedrather
thansayingno.Saying“no”wouldhavesavedthemfromthemanynegative
consequencesthatinevitablycameaboutbyhavingaseriesofhumankings.And
now,inGod’swrath(thatwe’rereadingaboutinHosea),HehasendedIsrael’s
monarchyandthepeopleofEphraim/IsraelnolongerhaveanIsraelite
governmentorIsraelitekingtolooktoforhelp.TheNorthernKingdom’sfirst
kingwasSaularound1030B.C.;andtheirfinalking,Hoshea,wasdeposedfrom
thethronebyAssyriain725B.C.So,Israelhadaseriesofhumankingstorule
overthemfor3fullcenturies.TheonlykingofIsraelthattrulyseemedtoplease
GodwasDavid;andnotbecauseDavidwasnecessarilyagoodandmoralmanat
alltimes(hewasn’t).IthasalwaysperplexedChristianity,andithascaused
JudaismtohavetofindawaytorationalizeDavid’sbehaviorbecauseoftheir
venerationofhim,thatatthesametimewereadofDavidcommittingevilthings
likeadulteryandmurder,GodsaysthatDavidwasamanafterHisownheart.I
havelittledoubtthatGod’smeaningconcernsDavid’scommitmenttorunning
thegovernmentofIsraelgenerallyinthesamemannerGodwouldhaverunit…
byrefusingtoallowtheworshipofforeigngods(idolatry)inhiskingdomandby
beingunrelentingandcourageousintryingtofightoffpagannationsfrom
gettingafootholdinthePromisedLand…itcertainlywasnotaboutDavid’s
personallifethatwasriddledwithseriousmoralfailures.Butbeginningwithhis
sonSolomon,thewayIsrael’sgovernmentfunctionedwouldchangeforthe
worse.
TurnyourBiblestoHoseaaswereadthefinalversesofchapter13.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER13:12–end
DependingonyourBibleversion,someofyoumayhavea16
th
versethatends
thischapter.Otherversionsputthis16
th
verseasverse1ofchapter14.We’ll
talkaboutthisalittlemore,shortly.
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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TheCJBinterpretationofverse1thatbegins“Ephraim’sguilthasbeenwrapped
up”isapoorone.Rather,itshouldread“theiniquityofEphraimisboundup”.
Theissueistheword“guilt”versustheword“iniquity”.AllthroughoutHosea
(andgenerallyintheOldTestament)“iniquity”isdefinedastheworstsortofsin
inahierarchyofsinfulbehaviors.TheHebrewwordisavonandbynomeans
doesittranslateto“guilt”.So,theideaisthatEphraim’ssinsareclassifiedasthe
worstoftheworst.Themeaningofiniquitybeingbound-upisthatitisafait
accompli.What’sdoneisdoneanditcan’tbeundone.Tosaythathersinis
storedawaymeansitwillnotbeforgottenoroverlooked.Thesetermsusedwere
commonintheMiddleEasterncultureoftheday.ShalomE.Holtzexplainsthe
useofthecolloquialtermsusedinthisverse.“Neo-Babyloniantrialrecordsfrom
theEannaTempleatUruk…showthatwhenthetempleauthoritieswere
informedofamisdeed,theywouldtieupandsealthephysicalevidence…foruse
inthesubsequentproceedingsagainsttheoffender”.Inotherwords,justas
todaytheevidencefromacrimesceneisconfiscatedbythepoliceandputintoa
securedevidencelockeratthepolicestationforuseatthetrial,soitwasin
antiquityintheMiddleEast.Theterm“bound-upandsealed”wasusedto
describethesecuringoftheevidence.Wefindthissametermandthoughtused
inanearlierbookoftheBible.
CJB
Job14:17Youwillsealupmycrimeinabagandcoverovermyiniquity.
Verse13isanotheronethatislessthansatisfactorilytranslatedintheCJB.
Whereitsays“thepainofbeingbornwillcometohim”,itshouldread“thepangs
ofchildbirthcomeforhim”.So,intheCJB“him”(Israel)istheonebeingborn
andaccordingtothistranslationhefeelspaininbeingborn.Buttheproper
interpretationisthatIsraelfeelsthepainsthewoman(themother)feelswhen
sheisgivingbirthtoachild.Awomangivingbirthusuallyfeelsintenselabor
painsfromhercontractions,andsothisbirthingmetaphorisusedtocompare
theintensepainIsraelfeelsforwhatishappeningtoitasaresultofGod’s
punishmentfortheiriniquity.WhydoesIsraelfeelthiskindofpain?Because,the
versecontinues,he(Israel)isnotawisechild.Israelfeelsapainthattheydidn’t
needtofeelifonlytheyhadn’tbeensosinful.Israel’spainisabnormal.So,
Israel’sunwise,ungodlychoicesdestineittodestructionandapainfuldeath.
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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ThefinalwordsofthisverseareequallypoorlytranslatedintheCJB,asthey
depictIsraelabouttoemergefromthebirthcanalasitfeelsthepain.Thismakes
nosenseinthecontextofthepassage.Rather,thepropersenseofitis
somethinglikethis:“Indeed,thisisnotanappropriatetimetosurvivethe
processofgivingbirth”.Inverygraphicandgruelinglanguagetheideaisthatit
isprobablybetterforIsraeltodie(likeamotherdyinginchildbirth)thantohave
togothroughwhatlayaheadofit.Thisishyperbole;Godisnotsuggestingthat
thepeopleofIsraelshouldsomehowbesuretheydon’tsurviveAssyria’s
take-overofEphraim/Israelandthesubsequentexiletoforeignlandsthatthey’ll
face.
Verse14presentsuswithanotherconundrum.Toremindyou:thetermsHosea
usesarefirmlyrootedin8
th
centuryB.C.Ephraim/Israelcultureandlanguage.
Manyofthesetermsareexpressionsthatonehadtobefamiliarwithtofully
understand.NodoubtHosea’sfirstreadersknewexactlyhowtotakethese
words,howeverinmuchlatertimestwoprimarybutdifferentpathsof
interpretationweredevelopedtoexplainthispassage.Thefirstpathisasan
expressionofhopeforIsrael.ThehopeisthatYehovehwillinterveneandstand
inthewayofdeathandthegraveforIsrael.Or,alternately,Yehovehleaves
Israeltothedeaththeydeserve.We’llexaminethisabitcloser,butI’lljumpto
thebottomlineforthemoment.Thefinalwordsofthisversesay“Compassion
(orpity)arehiddenfromMysight”.SincetheentireBookofHoseaisabout
judgmentuponIsrael,andthatIsraelhaspassedthepointofpossible
redemption,thenwhenGodsaysthatpityishiddenfromHimitseemstomethat
itcanonlymeanthatGodwillnothavepityonIsraelsoastokeepthemfrom
beingpunished(exile).Otherwise,wehaveGodpityingthepersonifiedSheol
andDeath.Therefore,Itakethistomeanthattheoverallsenseofverse14is
negativetowardsIsrael;GodwillnotstandinthewayofIsrael’sdemise.Infact,
Hewillsummonthesespirit-rulersofdeathanddyingandthegravesothatthe
cursescontainedintheCovenantofMoseswillcommence.
CJB
Deuteronomy4:26Icallontheskyandtheearthtowitnessagainstyou
todaythatyouwillquicklydisappearfromthelandthatyouarecrossingthe
Yardentopossess.Youwillnotprolongyourdaystherebutwillbecompletely
destroyed.
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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Withthatunderstanding,then,thisversebecomesaseriesof4rhetorical
questions:ShouldGodrescueIsraelfromSheol?ShouldHeredeemIsraelfrom
Death?ShouldDeathbedeprivedofherplagues?ShouldSheolbeprohibited
fromcastingherplagues?Asusedhere,SheolandDeathareusedas
synonymousterms.Thesearepersonifiedtermsandbothrefertothedomain
wherepeoplewhodiearesent.However,atthesametimetheycanrefertothe
spiritualbeingsthatruleoverthatdomain,whichinotherOldTestament
passagesaresometimesgiventhenamesofMotandSheol.So,whenwerealize
thatDeathandSheolcan(whenpersonified)refertotheseunderworldpowers,
thenthemeaningofthispassageisthatGodispreparedtosummonthespirit
powersMotandSheoltocomeanddotheirdarkjobs,whichistosnatchpeople
fromlife(inthiscaseIsrael)andusherthemintotherealmofthedead.
Verse15usestwometaphors(thatareactuallycurses),whichhavedouble
meanings.ThefirstmetaphordepictsEphraim/Israelasaplantthatisgoingto
witherawayandperishfromalackofwater.Thesecondmetaphorisofadivine
storehousethatrepresentswherethefruitsofIsrael’sblessingshavebeen
stored(uptonow)forsafekeeping.However,thesestorehouseswillsoonbe
strippedbare.Again,wehavetwocurseswhosesourceistheLawofMoses…the
Torah.WefindthesecursesinDeuteronomy.Deuteronomy28beginsby
explainingIsrael’srewardsforbeingfaithfulandobedienttoYehoveh.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:12
12
ADONAIwillopenforyouhisgoodtreasure,thesky,
togiveyourlanditsrainattherightseasonsandtoblesseverythingyou
undertake.Youwilllendtomanynationsandnotborrow;
Butnextawarning.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:15
15
"ButifyourefusetopayattentiontowhatADONAI
yourGodsays,anddonotobserveandobeyallhismitzvotandregulations
whichIamgivingyoutoday,thenallthefollowingcurseswillbeyoursin
abundance:
Nextalistofcursesisprovided,withtheonesappropriateforwhatHosea13:15
promisesbeginningwiththe23
rd
verse.
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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CJB
Deuteronomy28:23-25
23
"Theskyoveryourheadwillbebrassandthe
earthunderyouiron.
24
ADONAIwillturntherainyourlandneedsintopowder
anddustthatwillfallonyoufromtheskyuntilyouaredestroyed.
25
"ADONAI
yourGodwillcauseyoutobedefeatedbeforeyourenemies;youwilladvanceon
themonewayandfleebeforethemseven.Youwillbecomeanobjectofhorrorto
everykingdomonearth.
GodismerelyenactingexactlywhatHesaidHe’ddofortheviolations
Ephraim/IsraelcommittedagainsttheCovenantofMoses.
Thebeginningofverse15speaksofflourishingamongthereeds.Theeastwind
isahot,dry,fiercelydestructivewindthatcomestodryupthenecessarysource
ofwaterforreedstogrow.ThemetaphorsofadyingplantandIsrael’streasure
(theirblessings)beingplunderedhavethesecondapplicationofreferringto
Assyria.ItisAssyriathatisthedestructivewindfromtheeastthatwillcomeand
confiscateIsrael’streasure(theirlandandcrops).TheywillalsoplunderIsrael’s
treasuresofgoldandsilverandalltheirbelongingsthattheyhadaccumulatedin
thegoodandprosperoustimes.DeathandSheolwillcometoIsraelbymeansof
thevastAssyrianmilitaryforcesleavingnothingbutdevastation,lossandtears
intheirwake.
Israel’smostlyill-gottenprosperityisinprocessofpassingaway.
ImentionedearlierthatsomeBibleversionsplacea16
th
verseatthispoint,while
theremainderplacethesameverseasthefirstverseofthenextandfinal
chapter.However,insomerespects,itdoesn’tbelongineitherthe13
th
or14
th
chapters.
Let’sbeginbyreadingthatverse(regardlessofwhichplacewefinditin,itreads
thesame).
CJB
Hosea14:1Shomronwillbearherguilt,forshehasrebelledagainstherGod.
Theywillfallbythesword,theirlittleoneswillbedashedtopiecesandtheir
pregnantwomenrippedopen.
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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Oftentimesthediscrepancyofwhereaverseisplacedinachapterhasmuchto
dowithwhetherwearereadingwordsthatcomefromBiblesbasedontheGreek
SeptuagintoralternatelyontheHebrewMasoreticText.Thatisnotthecasehere.
It’stheDeadSeaScrollsthatmayhaveansweredinaninterestingwayexactly
wherethisversewassupposedtoappearinourBiblesandwhatthoughtprocess
thisversewastobeseenasinconnectionto.InthefragmentsoftheDeadSea
ScrollsHoseathathavebeenfound,thisverseisclearlyseparatedfromthe
versesofHosea13andalsofromthoseofHosea14.Thatis,ifwespeakinterms
ofchapters,thenthisparticularverseisverynearlyitsownseparatechapter.
Butrememberingthatchapterandversenumberingisaverylateinnovation,
anditiscompletelyartificial,andsuchasystemneverexistedintheoldestBible
manuscripts,andinfactchapterandversenumberingswerecreatedand
insertedbyaChristianscholaronlyabouta1000yearsago,thentheplacement
ofthisverseintheDeadSeaScrollsindicatesthatitwasclearlymeantasa
stand-alonethoughtthatcomesasasortofbridgeortransitionbetweenthefinal
wordsofwhatwecallchapter13,andthestartofwhatwecallchapter14.So,
thisuniqueverseisnottheendingthoughtofthewordsthatcomebeforeit,nor
thebeginningthoughtofthewordsthatcomeafterit.Thereasonforthisisn’t
clear,butinancientJewishliterarythoughtitofcoursemeantsomething.Atthe
leastitmeantthatitwasviewedaunitofthought;itwasastatementandan
instructionthatstandsonitsown,soIrecommendthatishowwetakeit.
EssentiallythefocusofthisverseisthecapitalcityoftheNorthernKingdom…
Samaria.SamariawasthelocationoftheseatofgovernmentfortheNorthern
Kingdom(likeWashingtonD.C.,orLondonorMoscow).Fromthevantagepoint
ofhistory,atthetimeHoseawrotethispartofhisprophecySamariawasabout
allthatwasleftoftheNorthernKingdom.Assyriahadbeenattackingfromthe
North,withJudahchippingawayfromtheSouth.Butmostimportantisthat
SamariaiswhereKingHosheareigned.Sinceherenegedonhistreatywith
Assyriathatallowedhimtoremaininpowerprovidedhepaidhugesumsof
tributetoAssyria(whichhecompliedwithforonlyashorttime),Sargon,Kingof
Assyria,determinedtoexacthisfuriousrevengespecificallyaimedatSamaria
andKingHoshea.
Thefirstfewwordsofthisversearetranslatedabitdifferentlyfromversionto
versionmainlyduetotheHebrewverbthatisusedtoexplainwhatSamaria’s
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
10/13
conditionwasduetoherrebellionagainstGod.Briefly,thisversesaysthat
Samariabearsherguilt,orshefeelsguilty,orsheisdevastated.Thereasonfor
allthesedifferentinterpretationsisbecausetheverbusedistheHebrewword
ashamthateitherderivesfromtheHebrewwordspelledsheen-memorsome
Hebrewscholarssayitshouldbetav-sheen-mem.Thefirstspellingspeaksof
guilt,thesecondspellingspeaksofdesolation(Israelismadedesolatebecause
oftheirguilt).IneithercasetheideaisthatSamariaissufferingbecauseshe
rebelledagainstYehoveh,andhersufferingiswelldeserved.
ThenextwordsareterriblygruesomeandsomeChristianscholarssayitisan
expressionofhyperboleanddidn’treallyoccur.Thatis,thisspeaksofinfanticide
bythrowingbabiesoffofcliffsorbashingtheirheadsagainstsomethinghard,as
isrippingopenthepregnantbelliesofwomentokillboththewomanandher
unbornchild.I’msorrybutthisisnothyperbole;thereisrecordinotherancient
MiddleEasternsocietiesofthishappening.Wealsofindthisindescribable
atrocitymentionedinotherpartsoftheBible.
CJB
Amos1:13HereiswhatADONAIsays:"Forthepeopleof'Amon'sthree
crimes,no,four-Iwillnotreverseit-becausetheyrippedapartpregnantwomen
justtoexpandtheirterritory,
Sadly,wealsoreadthatakingofIsrael,MenachemsonofGadi,committedthis
samebarbaricactagainstanenemy.
CJB
2Kings15:16FromTirtzahMenachemattackedTifsach,allthepeopleinit
anditsterritory,becausetheyhadnotopenedtheirgatestohim.Sohesacked
thecityandrippedapartallitspregnantwomen.
Assyria’ssiegeofthewalledcityofSamarialastedfor3years.TheBookof2
nd
Kingschapter17recountsthesiegeofSamaria.Hereisashortexcerptfromthat
narrativeaboutthesiegethatHoseaistellingusabout.
CJB
2Kings17:5-12
5
ThenthekingofAshurinvadedalltheland,advancedon
Shomronandputitundersiegeforthreeyears.
6
IntheninthyearofHoshea,the
kingofAshurcapturedShomron.HecarriedIsra'elawaycaptivetoAshur,
resettlingtheminHalach,inHavorontheGozanRiverandinthecitiesofthe
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
11/13
Medes.
7
ThiscameaboutbecausethepeopleofIsra'elhadsinnedagainst
ADONAItheirGod,whohadbroughtthemoutofthelandofEgypt,outfrom
underthedominationofPharaohkingofEgypt.Theyfearedothergods
8
and
livedbythecustomsofthenationsthatADONAIhadexpelledaheadofthe
peopleofIsra'elandbythoseofthekingsofIsra'el.
9
ThepeopleofIsra'el
secretlydidthingsthatwerenotright,accordingtoADONAItheirGod.Theybuilt
highplacesforthemselveswherevertheylived,fromthewatchtowertothe
fortifiedcity.
10
Theysetupstanding-stonesandsacredpolesforthemselveson
anyhighhillandunderanygreentree.
11
Thentheywouldmakeofferingsonall
thehighplaces,likethenationsADONAIhadexpelledaheadofthem,andwould
dowickedthingstoprovoketheangerofADONAI;
12
moreover,theyservedidols,
somethingADONAIhadexpresslytoldthemnottodo.
Asanimportantaside:wesee,then,thatHoseawaswrittenwellbefore2Kings
waswritten.HoseaprophesiedwhatthewriteroftheBooksoftheKingswould
eventuallyrecordasthehistoricaloutcomeofwhatGodtoldthepeopleofthe
NorthernKingdomofEphraim/IsraelthroughHisProphetHoseaaboutwhatwas
goingtohappentothem.The2biblicalBooksoftheKingsaremorehistorical
recordthantheological.Hoseaismoretheologicalthanhistorical.Buttheway
thebooksoftheTanach(theOldTestament)workinconjunctionwithone
another…eventhoughthesebookswerewrittenseparatelybydifferentpeople,
oftencenturiesapart…highlightsthecriticalprinciplethatanyworshipperofGod
shouldnotsimplycherrypickversesfromvariousBiblebooksorevenstudy
somebooksbutnotothers,orconstantlyhoparoundintheBibleifonehopesto
gleanmeaning,truthandactualevidenceofthevalidityandvalueofGod’sWord.
ItisaprinciplethatIharpon…andurgentlyhopethateachofyouwilladopt…
thatifyousincerelywanttoknowGod’smessagetohumanity,thenyoumust
necessarilybeginatthebeginning,andstudytheBibleinchronologicalorder.I
understandtheChurch’sfascinationwiththeNewTestament,buttostudyit
beforestudyingtheOldTestament(startingwithGenesis)willgiveyouan
incomplete,fuzzy(ifnotconfused)viewofwhatitisyouarereading.
So,thesecondhalfofourversespeaksoftheseveremilitaryactionAssyriawill
takeagainsttheresidentsofthecityofSamaria,andalongwiththetermination
ofthegovernmentofEphraim/Israel.ThehistoricalrecordsofSargon,Kingof
Assyriaatthistime,saythatnotonlydidheexilealltheIsraelitestoforeign
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
12/13
lands,butalsothathecapturedandtookcaptive27,290tobeusedasslaves.
MovingontowhatmostBibleslabelasverse2…
After13chaptersofjudgment,judgmentandmorejudgment,the14
th
chapter
presentsaglimmerofhopewithapromisefromYehovehthatIsraelwillreturn
totheirLand,andanewandbetterfutureforthemwillemerge.Weshouldsee
thisfinalchapterofHoseaasconsistingoftwodistinctbutcloselyrelated
sections.Let’sreadallofChapter14.
READHOSEACHAPTER14all
Thefirstsectionisverses2and3(orforsomeofyoutheseversesare1and2).
HoseagivestoIsraelaprayerthatisnotintendedforthepeopleof
Ephraim/Israelthatwerecurrentlybeingcapturedordeported,butratherforthe
remnantsanddescendantsofthose10tribesoftheNorthernKingdomtorecite
asthetimefortheirreturntotheirLandapproaches…atimefarintothefuture
fromthedaysofHosea.So,I’llsaythisanotherway:itisapropheticprayer,the
contentofwhichappliestotheEnd-Times10LostTribesofIsrael.Thesecond
sectionbeginswithverse4(orforsomeofyouverse3),anditisYehoveh
promisingtoanswertheprayersofHispeoplewhenthattimearrives.
TheCJBdoesapoorjobwithverse2.Perhapsthebesttranslationcomesfrom
theYLTBibleversion(Young’sLiteralTranslation).
YLT
Hosea14:1Turnback,OIsrael,untoJehovahthyGod,Forthouhast
stumbledbythineiniquity.
WhilemanyothergoodBibleversionsdoafinejobwiththisverse,everylastone
determinestochangeoneimportantwordthatisthereintheHebrew.Theyall
sayto“turnbacktotheLord”;butthat’snotwhatthisscriptureversesays.
Ratheritsaysto“turnbacktoYehovehthyGod”.EverylastEnglishBibleomits
God’sformalname.ThisisimportantbecauseitrepresentsastatementtoIsrael
thatofthemanygodsworshippedbyalltheothernations(allofthese“gods”
beingnon-existent),itisYehoveh(theOnewhoDOESexist)thatisIsrael’sGod.
I’llsaysomethingtoyouthatI’verepeatedscoresoftimesinTorahClasslessons
hopingthatsomedaytheimpactofitwillfindahomeinallBelievers:inthe
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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HebrewScripturesGod’sname(YHWH)appearsmorethan6,000times.Butin
ChristianBiblesyouwillfinditnomorethanadozentimes,andinsomeversions
fewerthanthat.Icannotsaywithcertaintywhythatisbecausesomany
differentversionswerewrittenbysomanydifferentpeopleoveraratherlong
periodoftime.However,mysuspicionisthatunderlyingitallthereremains
withinChristianitythedesiretodistantitselfnotonlyfromtheJewishpeople,but
moreimportantlyfromtheGodoftheOldTestament,byimplyingthattheGod
oftheNewTestament(Jesus)hasreplacedHim.So,inEnglishBibles,evenin
theOldTestament,thenameofGodtheFatherisintentionallyobscuredsuch
thateverytimewecometoGod’sname(YHWH…Yehoveh)insteadweseethe
word“Lord”inserted(whichisalwaysasubstituteforGod’sname),soour
thoughtsnaturallytogotoTheSon,Jesus(Yeshua)andnottoHisFather,
Yehoveh,becausetoagentile,Church-goingChristianasynonymousnamefor
Jesusis“Lord”.
TheHebrewwordthatisusedtorendertheEnglish“turnback”or“return”is
suvah.Themoremodernway(especiallyintheChurch)thatthisthoughtis
presentedis“repent”.So,theunderlyingmeaningof“repent”istoturn…toturn
awayfromoursinandinsteadtowardsrighteousbehavior.Fortheancient
Israelitesto“turnbacktoYehoveh”meantonlyonething:toturnbacktothe
writtenTorahandtheLawofMoses…tothewaysoflife,ritualandbehaviorit
establishes.And,BelieversinYeshuaofeveryilkanddenomination,thatis
exactlywhatitstillmeansintheNewTestament.Torepentistogiveupbad
behaviorinexchangeforgoodbehavior…behaviorthatincludesourreligious
worshippractices…butonlyasitiscarefullyprescribedintheTorahasopposed
toourvastarrayofmanmadereligiousdoctrinesandpersonalpreferences.At
thispointletmemakeacoupleofthingsveryclearlestIbemisunderstood.By
nomeansIamsayingthattheOldTestamenthasgreaterauthoritythantheNew.
NorIamsayingthattheNewTestamentisabsentteachingaboutproper
behavior.ButitisonlyintheLawofMosesthatwe’llfindaconcise,God-ordained
morallawcodeofbehaviorlaiddown.ThisiswhyintheSermonontheMount,in
Matthewchapter5,YeshuaclearlyinsistedthatHiscomingdidNOTabolishthe
Torah,nordiditchangeoneiotaofit.And,ChristexpectsHisfollowerstoobey
theTorahbecauseitwillremaininoperationandrelevantuntilAFTERthe
MillennialKingdomcomesandgoes,whenare-creationbringsaboutapassing
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
14/13
ofthecurrentheavensandearth,andtheappearanceofanewheavensand
earth.
So,thebottomlineisthatto“repent”meanstoturntothebehavioralwaysof
God’swrittenTorah.WhymustIsraelturn(orre-turn)?Becausetheyhadgiven
intotheiriniquitiesbymeansofturningawayfromGod’sTorah.Iniquitiesare
theworstoftheworstsins.AsoutlinedinHosea,those“worst”sinswere
idolatry.
AsmodernBelieversandfollowersofJesusChrist…whetheryouchoosetolabel
yourselfasChristian,Messianic,Catholic,Orthodox,Coptic,orwhatever…we
havebeeninfectedwithasomewhatnewerdoctrinethathasemergedthatis
entirely“grace”focused.Infact,thefocusongraceisoftensoone-sidedthatthe
conceptofourbehavior…ourworks…asimportantforaBelieverissaidtonot
onlybeirrelevantbutitisactuallyproblematic.Thatis,ourbehaviordoesn’tand
shouldn’tmatter;it’swhatwebelieveinourheartsthatGodlooksto.Allofour
badbehavior(whetheroutofourignoranceorfromoutrightrebellion)nolonger
hasrelevancetoourlivesbecausegracecoversitall.Thus,ifwechooseto
changeourpoorbehaviortobemorebiblicallybasedandinlinewithGod’s
commandments,wemaybeshunningtheSalvationChristgaveusasafreegift
ofgraceandinsteadwearetryingto“workourwaytoHeaven”.Thisaccusation
is,ofcourse,nottruenor(frankly)isitbiblicalorevenrational…itisillogical…but
itiswhatischuckedatthosereligiousJewswhotrytofollowtheTorah.And,
often,itiswhatanyChristianwhospeakstoomuchof“goodworks”orbeing
obedientgetspresentedwith.Graceisnotwrong;butgraceandgracealoneas
adoctrineisanimbalanceandamisrepresentationofGod’sWord.Overandover,
wefindintheHolyScripturesthatthefruitofourtrustinGod…whichisour
behavior,ourworks…iswhatGodjudges.Thus,torepent,meaningtoturnfrom
oursinstoGod,whichinherentlymeanstoturntothewrittenTorah,also
inherentlymeanstochangeourbehaviorandtoproducegoodfruit(goodworks)
insteadofcontinuingtoproducebadfruit(toexhibitwrongbehavior).Atthe
sametime,thenextverseofHosea14(whenproperlyunderstood)tellsusthat
ourgoodbehaviorisonlyonepartoftheequation.Theotherpartmustinvolve
sinceretrustinGod…which,sinceChrist’sadventandcrucifixion,meanstoalso
trustinGod’sSon.Thatis,goodbehaviorandgoodworks(whileexpectedofus)
Lesson23-HoseaChapter13&14
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havetocomeoutofourfaithandtrustinYehovehandYeshua,andfromthe
truthandauthorityoftheBible.
Let’sstopherefortoday.Nextweekwewillfinishchapter14andconcludeour
studyoftheBookofHosea.