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HOSEA 5

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: HOSEA 5:1-7
 ¹Hear this, O priests!
 Give heed, O house of Israel!
 Listen, O house of the king!
 For the judgment applies to you,
 For you have been a snare at Mizpah
 And a net spread out on Tabor.
 ²The revolters have gone deep in depravity,
 But I will chastise all of them.
 ³I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from Me;
 For now, O Ephraim, you have played the harlot,
 Israel has defiled itself.
 ⁴Their deeds will not allow them
 To return to their God.
 For a spirit of harlotry is within them,
 And they do not know the Lord.
 ⁵Moreover, the pride of Israel testifies against him,
 And Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;
 Judah also has stumbled with them.
 ⁶They will go with their flocks and herds
 To seek the Lord, but they will not find Him;
 He has withdrawn from them.
 ⁷They have dealt treacherously against the Lord,
 For they have borne illegitimate children.
 Now the new moon will devour them with their land.

5:1-2 "Hear" See note at Hosea 4:1. This chapter starts out with three IMPERATIVES related to hearing God's message.

1. Hear, BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE, "hear and obey," e.g. Deut. 6:4 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR [shema])
2. Give heed, BDB 904, KB 1151, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, "listen attentively," e.g. Isa. 10:30; 28:23; 34:1; 49:1; Micah 1:2
3. Listen, BDB 24, KB 27, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, "give ear" e.g. Gen. 4:23; Num. 23:18; Isa. 32:9

These different VERBS are given to show three different groups of hearers:

1. O priests
2. O house of Israel (JPSOA footnote, "prophets")
3. O house of the king

▣ "Mizpah. . .Tabor. . .gone deep in depravity" There are three different geographical places mentioned here (matching the three IMPERATIVES and three groups).

▣ "Mizpah" This (BDB 859) means "outpost" or "watchtower." There are so many towns by this name which are scattered throughout the Promised Land that the exact site is uncertain. However, we do know that it was the site of a sacred pillar which was the symbol of the male fertility god, Ba'al.

▣ "Tabor" This location in Canaan (BDB 1061), like other ancient sites, was once devoted to YHWH (i.e. Ps. 89:13; Jer. 46:18), but now it had become amalgamated with Tyrian Ba'alism.

▣ "a net" The term (BDB 440) could refer to a fishing net, but because of the parallel with snares used for birds, it probably means that here (e.g. Hosea 7:12; Prov. 1:17). The priests were trying to ensnare faithful worshipers of YHWH into the amalgamated worship of the fertility gods at YHWH worship sites.

This (BDB 962) could mean "swerver" or "revolter." However, many scholars assume this line of poetry means ". . .and the pit of Shittim they have made deep" (i.e. another city to match the three IMPERATIVES and three groups of people).

The MT has the VERB "make deep" (BDB 770, KB 847, Niphil PERFECT), used in the sense of Israel's low view of the value of human life (cf. Hosea 4:2; 6:9). The same word is used in Hosea 9:9 to refer to the sin and death at Gibeah (cf. Judges 19).

It is also possible to render this line of poetry as "the revolters have gone deep in slaughtering" (BDB 1006, KB 1458 I). If this is correct then this may refer to child sacrifice (cf. Isa. 57:5 and Ezek. 23:39).

The JPSOA footnote says all of v. 2 is uncertain.

"Gone deep in depravity" should be translated by the place name "Shittim" (NRSV, NJB, REB; BHS suggested emendation, cf. Num. 25:1ff). See KB 1459 #4 and also 1460.

5:3 "Ephraim and Israel" After the United Monarchy divided in 922 B.C. the northern tribes were known by the following names:

1. by their capital city, Samaria
2. by their largest tribe, Ephraim (e.g. Isa. 7:9,17)
3. by the collective term for their ancestor Jacob, Israel (see SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL [the name])

▣ "I know. . .is not hidden from Me" These two VERBS (#1 BDB 393, KB 390, Qal PERFECT, #2 BDB 470, KB 469, Niphal PERFECT) are parallel to highlight the omniscience of YHWH (on an individual level see Ps. 69:5; 139:15). He knows their idolatry (cf. Hosea 5:3b,c), which is made all the worse because they are His covenant people (cf. Amos 3:2, "you only have I known," NRSV).

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW

▣ "Israel has defiled herself" The VERB (BDB 379, KB 375, Niphal PERFECT) means "to be ceremonially unclean" by the violation of a Mosaic covenant requirement or prohibition (cf. Hosea 6:10; 9:3-4; Micah 2:10). The "clean" vs. "unclean" theology is seen clearly in Lev. 10:10; Deut. 12:15,22; 15:22; Ezek. 22:26; 44:23).

5:4 "Their deeds will not allow them

To return to their God" This verse personifies Israel's idolatry (cf. Hosea 4:1; JPSOA, "because of the lecherous impulse within them"). Some scholars see this in combination with Hosea 4:12,19 as a personal evil influence (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSONAL EVIL).

The people of Israel had become so settled in their evil character (i.e. "spirit of harlotry") that they had passed the point of no return (cf. Hosea 4:17; Job 8:4; Ps. 81:12; Rom. 1:24,26,28). Oh my, Oh my, Oh my!!

For "return" see SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)

▣ "they do not know the Lord" The Hebrew term "to know" implies intimate relationship (cf. Gen.4:1). They had no personal relationships with YHWH though they were active participators in religious ritual and liturgy (cf. Isa. 29:13). Lack of knowledge, both personal and covenantal, is the recurrent theme of Hosea (cf. Hosea 2:20; 4:1,6; 6:3,6).

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW

Some see this as a reference to YHWH because of Amos 8:7, but in this context it refers to Israel's trust in her covenantal status. She was very religious and cultically active. It is this very pride in ritual, liturgy, and form which judged them in two areas:

1. form without true faith (see Jer. 7)
2. faith in the wrong god

Covenant knowledge makes their attitudes and actions even more evil!

▣ "stumble. . .stumbled" The VERB (BDB 505, KB 502) is used twice in Hosea 5:5. In the OT YHWH's will for His people was characterized as a path or way. To leave the path or stumble on the way was imagery for sin and rebellion (cf. Hosea 14:1).

Often "stumble" is paired with "fall" (cf. Prov. 24:17; Isa. 3:8; 31:3; Jer. 6:15; 8:12; 46:6,16), but also used in a figurative sense.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY

5:6 "They will go with their flocks and herds" Israel tries to approach YHWH through her many sacrifices, but He will not be found (cf. Amos 5:21-23; Isa. 1:10-15; Jer. 14:12; nor His word, Amos 8:12)! The sacrificial system, which was a way for sinful humans to approach a holy God, has been abrogated! The Mosaic Covenant is broken! They will seek Him but not find Him!

SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL COVENANTS

The MT has the VERB (BDB 322 I, KB 321, Qal PERFECT which means "to withdraw." This follows the Arabic root. This same root in Aramaic means"despoil."

I cannot imagine a worse statement than that the Redeemer, the Covenant God, has now left His covenant people to their own way (v. 4).

5:7 "They have dealt treacherously against the Lord" The VERB (BDB 93, KB 108, Qal PERFECT) is regularly used of a marriage covenant (e.g. Mal. 2:14-16). Here it is used of Israel being faithless to YHWH (cf. Jer. 3:20).

▣ "illegitimate children" This could be taken

1. literally, priests and people actively involved in fertility rituals
2. figuratively, Israel seeking foreign alliances to protect herself from invasion instead of seeking YHWH

The UBS Text Project, p. 236, gives a "B" rating to the MT, reflected in the NASB. Again, notice the literary technique of personification. YHWH rejects all of Israel's holy days (cf. Hosea 2:11; Isa. 1:10-15). Judgment will come by divinely sent means.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FEASTS OF ISRAEL, II. D.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: HOSEA 5:8-15
  ⁸Blow the horn in Gibeah,
 The trumpet in Ramah.
 Sound an alarm at Beth-aven:
 "Behind you, Benjamin!"
 ⁹Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke;
 Among the tribes of Israel I declare what is sure.
 ¹⁰The princes of Judah have become like those who move
 a boundary;
 On them I will pour out My wrath like water.
 ¹¹Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,
 Because he was determined to follow man's command.
 ¹²Therefore I am like a moth to Ephraim
 And like rottenness to the house of Judah.
 ¹³When Ephraim saw his sickness,
 And Judah his wound,
 Then Ephraim went to Assyria
 And sent to King Jareb.
 But he is unable to heal you,
 Or to cure you of your wound.
 ¹⁴For I will be like a lion to Ephraim
 And like a young lion to the house of Judah.
 I, even I, will tear to pieces and go away, I will carry away, and
 there will be none to deliver.
 ¹⁵I will go away and return to My place
 Until they acknowledge their guilt and seek My face;
 In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.

5:8-15 This seems to refer to the Syro-Israeli war, 735-732 B.C.  Israel and Syria rebelled against Assyria and wanted Judah to join in their rebellion. Judah would not, so they attacked her in order to force her to join (cf. 2 Kgs. 16:1ff and Isa. 7:1ff.; see Introduction to Isaiah, VII. E.).

The problem with assuming that the background to these war poems is the Syro-Ephraimatic War is that Assyria mentioned in Hosea 5:13 is sought after by Israel. This does not fit the situation of an Assyrian attack based on a rebellion by Syria and Israel (see Jewish Study Bible, p. 1151).

5:8 This verse announces the invasion of Israel. YHWH's judgment has come in the form of a foreign pagan nation (Assyria) being His instrument in cleansing the land (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SECOND COMING, IV.) !

The three cities of Hosea 5:8 (Gibeah, Ramah, and Beth-aven) are to be annexed by Judah (i.e. Benjamin). This may be an allusion to "those who move a boundary" in Hosea 5:10. These cities were possibly taken from Judah by Jehoash (Joash) king of Israel (cf. 2 Kgs. 14:8-14; 2 Chr. 25:17-24).

SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF THE DIVIDED KINGDOM

▣ "Blow the horn" This VERB (BDB 1075, KB 1785, Qal IMPERATIVE) refers to the shophar (ram's left horn, BDB 1051; see SPECIAL TOPIC: HORNS USED BY ISRAEL, B.). It was not used in conjunction with other musical instruments. It was used for

1. cultic events
   1. movement of the Ark
   2. feast days
   3. end-time events
2. military events
   1. approach of an invader
   2. summoning troops
   3. call off an attack

In this context #2.a. fits best (e.g. Jer. 4:5; 6:1; Joel 2:1,15).

▣ "The trumpet" This (BDB 348) is a straight trumpet of bronze. It was

1. used with other instruments for worship
2. used to call assemblies
3. used at coronations of the king
4. used to start festivals
5. used for military functions

This context fits #5 best.

▣ "Sound the alarm in Beth-aven" The VERB (BDB 929, KB 1206, Hiphil IMPERATIVE) was used of a war cry, a victory shout, and a horn blast. Here a warning shout fits best.

Beth-aven means "house of wickedness" (cf. Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5). It refers to Bethel ("house of God"), where one of the golden calves set by Jeroboam I was worshiped as an image of YHWH (cf. Amos 5:5; Exod. 32).

The Septuagint (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SEPTUAGINT) might reflect a different Hebrew tradition, "tremble in fear, O Benjamin" (RSV, NET Bible). However, the UBS Text Project, p 236, gives the MT (see JPSOA) a "B" rating (some doubt).

1. after you ‒ אחריך (PREPOSITION plus BDB 30)
2. tremble ‒ החריד (PREPOSITION plus BDB 353, Hiphil IMPERATIVE)

The JPSOA translation says, "the three towns name, in the territory of Benjamin, are now being wrested from Israel (i.e. who occupied them) by Judah, see v. 10." These towns would be Gibeah, Ramah, and Bethel.

This reflects the certainty of YHWH's predicted judgment coming to pass (e.g. Isa. 14:24,20-27; 25:1; 46:10).

▣ "sure" This VERB (BDB 52, KB 63, Niphal PARTICIPLE is from the root אמן, which is the Hebrew root for "believe," "trust," "faith," and "faithfulness." A very important theological concept.

SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH AND FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT

5:10 "The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary" The land of Canaan was given to Abraham's seed by divine promise (i.e. Gen. 15:12-21). It was divided by lot among the tribes of Israel (i.e. Josh. 12-19). Each village divided the land by families. The village worked the fields together. Each family's land was marked off by white stones, so that they could receive the produce.

Judah took advantage of a time of weakness in Israel and annexed some of Israel's southern territory. The moving of the boundary is an ancient atrocity (cf. Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 22:28; 23:10; Job 24:2).

5:11 "oppressed, crushed" These are both Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLES (#1 BDB 1075, KB 1785; #2 BDB 929, KB 1206). Here they are used of foreign invaders (cf. Isa. 52:4; Jer. 50:33). These same two terms are used of the economic exploitation by the wealthy (e.g. Hosea 12:7; Deut. 24:14; Jer. 7:6; Amos 4:1).

The problem term is "command" (BDB 846), which is used only here and in Isa. 28:10 (cf. Hosea 5:13). The NIV takes it from another Hebrew root and translates it as "idols" (NRSV, TEV, NJB), which follows the Targums, Septuagint, and Syriac versions.

The UBS Text Project, p. 237, offers four suggestions.

1. "after nonsense" (NEB)
2. "after vanity" ( RSV)
3. "after nothing"
4. "after dung" (this is given a "C" rating)

Much of the religiosity of our own day is simply human or denominational tradition and not clearly revealed truths from God's Word (cf. Isa. 29:13; Col. 2:16-23).

5:12 YHWH compares Himself to shocking, terrible problems. Obviously, this is personified imagery.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD

Literally this is "gnawing worm" or "moth larvae" (BDB 799, cf. Ps. 39:11; Isa. 50:9; 51:8; see UBS, Fauna and Flora of the Bible, pp. 55-56). It was imagery for destruction (cf. TEV). God would judge Israel and Judah with worms and rot (BDB 955).

It is possible that the word for "moth" (BDB 799) may be from another root (BDB 799) meaning "waste away"; here, of inflamation.

The term (BDB 955) means "worm eaten." Some scholars assume that "moth" may refer to "maggot eater" as a parallel.

However, in all the other places this term occurs it refers to a rottenness in the bone (cf. Job 13:28; Prov. 12:4; 14:30; Hab. 3:16).

5:13 Both Israel's and Judah's (cf. Isa. 7) response to YHWH's judgment was to seek help from political alliances with pagan empires, but not repentance and faith toward their covenant God.

The JPSOA footnote mentions that an emendation to the MT results in "Israel" instead of Judah.

1. Hosea often speaks of Judah (cf. Hosea 1:7; 3:5; 4:15; 5:5,10,12,14; 6:11)
2. in this verse the parallenism
   1. Ephraim (twice)
   2. seems to suggest "Israel" fits better
3. UBS Text Project does not mention this option (i.e. no ancient examples)

▣ "sickness" This term (BDB 318) means "disease" or "sickness." It is imagery for sinfulness (e.g. see Isa. 1:5-6 and 53:4 for the same concept). This "sickness" was one of the warnings that Moses gave to the people if they disobeyed the covenant (e.g. Leviticus 26; Deut. 7:15; 28:59,61).

SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY

▣ "wound. . .wound" this term (BDB 267) means "to push out" (i.e. dirt and foreign matter from a wound, to clean). See its use in Jer. 30:13. If a wound was not cleaned and bandaged infection was certain and usually fatal. Israel was so sick and Judah so unclean that death (i.e. God's judgment) and exile were certain. Only God could restore and clean. He would do that if they repented and sought after Him (cf. Hosea 5:5).

SPECIAL TOPIC: Seek the Lord

SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON THE NAME

▣ "King Jareb" This seems to refer to a nickname for Tiglath- pileser III who was king of Assyria. The term means "king pick a quarrel" or "king fighting cock" (BDB 937, "warrior," cf. Hosea 10:6). It can be revocalized to mean "great king" (cf. NRSV, TEV, NJB). A brief listing of Assyrian kings of this period would be:

1. Tiglath-pileser III, 745-727 B.C.
2. Shalmaneser V, 727-722 B.C.
3. Sargon II, 722-704 B.C.
4. Sennacherib, 704- 681 B.C.

SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF ASSYRIA

5:14 YHWH describes Himself (i.e. "I, even I") as a lion and a young lion in the ferocity of His judgment (cf. Hosea 13:6-8; Ps. 50:22; Amos 1:2). It was not the power of the pagan nations, nor YHWH's impotence that caused the exiles of YHWH's people, but their continuing sin and rebellion. YHWH used these nations (Assyria, Babylon, Persia) for His purposes.

Tlhe judgment of YHWH is described in powerful imagery; see Hosea 9:15; 13:16; Zeph. 1:17-18. There is a real tension in Scripture between

1. YHWH's mercy, love, and forgiveness
2. YHWH's wrath at sin and rebellion

For a good brief discussion of this tension, see D. Brent Sandy,. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalytic, pp. 78-80.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LIONS IN THE OT

5:15 This verse holds a glimmer of hope for repentance and restoration, but it is conditional (cf. Hosea 2:7). It reflects the bad news/good news of Deut. 4:25-31; 30.

▣ "Until they acknowledge their guilt" The VERB (BDB 79, KB 95, Qal IMPERFECT) means "held guilty" (i.e. guilt due to covenant violations, which demands judgment, cf. Hosea 5:15; 10:2; 13:16; Ps. 34:21-22; Isa. 24:6; Jer. 2:3; Ezek. 6:6; Joel 1:18; Zech. 11:5).

▣ "seek My face. . .earnestly seek Me" See note at Hosea 3:5. There are two different Hebrew roots.

1. BDB 134, KB 152, Piel PERFECT with waw, e.g. Exod. 33:7; Deut. 4:29; 1 Chr. 16:11; 2 Chr. 7:14; Hosea 3:5; 5:6; 7:10; Amos 8:12; Zeph. 1:6; 2:3
2. BDB 1007, KB 1465, Piel IMPERFECT, e.g. Prov. 8:17; Isa. 26:9; Hosea 5:15

YHWH pursued them but they would not! Now they must pursue Him!

SPECIAL TOPIC: Seek the Lord

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