Hosea Chapter 4

From The Open Bible Project

4:1 Hear the word of Yahweh, you children of Israel; for Yahweh has a charge against the inhabitants of the land: "Indeed there is no truth, nor goodness, nor knowledge of God in the land.

• (a) Because the people would not obey the admonitions of the Prophets, he accuses them before the judgment seat of God, against whom they chiefly offended; (Isaiah 7:13) (Zechariah 12:10; Micah 6:1,2).

4:2 There is cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery; they break boundaries, and bloodshed causes bloodshed.

• (b) In every place appears a liberality to most wicked vices, so that one follows right after another.

4:3 Therefore the land will mourn, and everyone who dwells therein will waste away. all living things in her, even the animals of the field and the birds of the sky; yes, the fish of the sea also die.

4:4 "Yet let no man bring a charge, neither let any man accuse; For your people are like those who bring charges against a priest.

• (c) As though he would say that it was in vain to rebuke them, for no man can endure it: indeed, they will speak against the prophets and priests whose office it is chiefly to rebuke them.

4:5 You will stumble in the day, and the prophet will also stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother.

• (d) You will both perish together as one, because the former would not obey, and the other, because he would not admonish.
• (e) That is, the synagogue in which you boast.

4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children.

• (f) That is, the priests will be cast off, because for lack of knowledge they are not able to execute their charge, and instruct others; (Deuteronomy 33:3; Malachi 2:7).
• (g) Meaning the whole body of the people, who were weary with hearing the word of God.

4:7 As they were multiplied, so they sinned against me. I will change their glory into shame.

• (h) The more I was beneficial to them.

4:8 They feed on the sin of my people, and set their heart on their iniquity.

• (i) That is, the priests seek to eat the people’s offerings, and flatter them in their sins.

4:9 It will be, like people, like priest; and I will punish them for their ways, and will repay them for their deeds.

• (k) Signifying that as they have sinned together, so will they be punished together.

4:10 They will eat, and not have enough. They will play the prostitute, and will not increase; because they have abandoned giving to Yahweh.

• (l) Showing that their wickedness will be punished in all ways: for even though they think by the multitude of wives to have many children, yet they will be deceived of their hope.

4:11 Prostitution, wine, and new wine take away understanding.

• (m) In giving themselves to pleasures, they become like brute beasts.

4:12 My people consult with their wooden idol, and answer to a stick of wood. Indeed the spirit of prostitution has led them astray, and they have been unfaithful to their God.

• (n) Thus he speaks by derision in calling them his people, who now because of their sins they were not his people: for they sought help from stocks or wooden images and sticks or idols.
• (o) They are carried away with madness.

4:13 They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, and burn incense on the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because its shade is good. Therefore your daughters play the prostitute, and your brides commit adultery.

• (p) Because they take away God’s honour, and give it to idols: therefore he will give them up to their lusts, so that they will dishonour their own bodies; (Romans 1:28).

4:14 I will not punish your daughters when they play the prostitute, nor your brides when they commit adultery; because the men consort with prostitutes, and they sacrifice with the shrine prostitutes; so the people without understanding will come to ruin.

• (q) I will not correct your shame to bring you to proper living, but will let you run headlong to your own damnation.

4:15 "Though you, Israel, play the prostitute, yet don't let Judah offend; and don't come to Gilgal, neither go up to Beth Aven, nor swear, 'As Yahweh lives.'

• (r) God complains that Judah is infected, and wants them to learn to return in time.
• (s) For even though the Lord had honoured this place by his presence, yet because it was abused by their idolatry, he did not want his people to resort there.
• (t) He calls Bethel, that is, the house of God, Bethaven, that is, the house of iniquity, because of their abominations set up there, signifying that no place is holy, where God is not purely worshipped.

4:16 For Israel has behaved extremely stubbornly, like a stubborn heifer. Then how will Yahweh feed them like a lamb in a meadow.

• (u) God will so disperse them, that they will not remain in any certain place.

4:17 Ephraim is joined to idols. Leave him alone!

4:18 Their drink has become sour. They play the prostitute continually. Her rulers dearly love their shameful way.

• (x) They are so shameless in receiving bribes, that they command men to bring them to them.

4:19 The wind has wrapped her up in its wings; and they shall be disappointed because of their sacrifices.

• (y) To carry them suddenly away.