Hosea Chapter 8
From The Open Bible Project
8:1 "Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh's house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law.
- (a) God encourages the Prophet to signify the speedy coming of the enemy against Israel, which was once the people of God.
8:2 They cry to me, 'My God, we Israel acknowledge you!'
- (b) They will cry like hypocrites, but not from the heart, as their deeds declare.
8:3 Israel has cast off that which is good. The enemy will pursue him.
8:4 They have set up kings, but not by me. They have made princes, and I didn't approve. Of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols, that they may be cut off.
- (c) That is, Jeroboam, by whom they sought their own liberty, and to obey my will.
8:5 Let Samaria throw out his calf idol! My anger burns against them! How long will it be until they are capable of purity?
- (d) That is, upright judgment and a godly life.
8:6 For this is even from Israel! The workman made it, and it is no God; indeed, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.
- (e) Meaning the calf was invented by themselves, and by their fathers in the wilderness.
8:7 For they sow the wind, and they will reap the whirlwind. He has no standing grain. The stalk will yield no head. If it does yield, strangers will swallow it up.
- (f) Showing that their religion has but a show, and in itself is but vanity.
8:8 Israel is swallowed up. Now they are among the nations like a worthless thing.
8:9 For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone. Ephraim has hired lovers for himself.
- (g) They never cease, but run to and fro to seek help.
8:10 But although they sold themselves among the nations, I will now gather them; and they begin to waste away because of the oppression of the king of mighty ones.
- (h) That is, for the king and the princes will lay upon them: and by this means the Lord brings them to repentance.
8:11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sinning, they became for him altars for sinning.
8:12 I wrote for him the many things of my law; but they were regarded as a strange thing.
- (i) In this way the idolaters consider the word of God as strange with regard to their own invention.
8:13 As for the sacrifices of my offerings, they sacrifice flesh and eat it; But Yahweh doesn't accept them. Now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. They will return to Egypt.
- (k) Saying that they offer it to the Lord, but he accepts no service which he himself has not appointed.
8:14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces; and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire on his cities, and it will devour its fortresses."
