Isreal, the Northern tribes, Ephraim, has lost its place in the world. They are no longer set apart and sought out as the Queen of Sheba came to Solomon in 1 Kings 10:6–9. Now, in Hosea 8:8 “Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the nations, like an object that no one desires”. Rather than follow the Lord and trust him, in Hosea 8:9 “For they have gone up to Assyria” but they will find none of these nations around them is their friend. But this started with Israel turning from the Lord long before in Hosea 10:9 From the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel” but before this judgement comes, there is one more admonition in Hosea 10:12 “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap loyal love. Break up for yourself fallow ground; it is time to seek Yahweh so he will come and rain righteousness upon you.” and then a promise that after this, in Hosea 11:11 “I will let them return to their homes— a declaration of Yahweh”.
They Have Broken My Covenant
They Are Among the Nations
Hosea 8:8–14
Israel was to be a nation set apart for the Lord, an example for the world to see the goodness of God. Instead, in
Hosea 8:8 Israel is swallowed up; now they are among the nations, like an object that no one desires.
but they sought political alliances in
Hosea 8:9 For they have gone up to Assyria, a wild donkey alone to itself; Ephraim has sold itself for lovers.
The king is not named here, but “gone up to Assyria” is “referring to Menahem’s (king of Israel’s) application for Pul’s aid in establishing him on the throne (compare Ho 5:13; 7:11). Menahem’s name is read in the inscriptions in the southwest palace of Nimrod, as a tributary to the Assyrian king in his eighth year. The dynasty of Pul, or Phalluka, was supplanted at Nineveh by that of Tiglath-pileser, about 768 (or 760) b.c.”1 but the alliance was not only fruitless for Israel, but it was also burdensome. And, the “donkey alone” “image portrays … a loneliness conveyed by the participle wandering (cf. Isa. 14:31; Ps. 102:7), by the particle lô which here means ‘by himself’, and by the natural habitat of the wild ass as described in Job (39:5–8) as ‘steppe’ and ‘saltland’ … Ephraim hiring lovers (cf. 2:12) points to the picture of a people so lonely, so cut off from covenant roots, that they are no longer attractive (cf. useless vessel in v. 8) and now have to pay others to give them the attention they crave”.2
So, the Lord says “now I will gather them” in
Hosea 8:10 Even though they have sold themselves to the nations, now I will gather them. They will soon writhe from the burden of kings and princes.
but this is not the Lord gathering, instead, it is “the nations (Assyria, &c.) (gathering) against Israel, instead of their assisting her as she had wished (Ez 16:37)”3 and then there was “the tribute imposed on Israel (under Menahem) by the Assyrian king Pul, (2 Ki 15:19–22).”3
While 2 Kings 15:19-22 says “Assyria came against the land”, Hosea 8:9 says “they have gone up to Assyria” so it isn’t clear which happened first. It seems that Menahem may have sought a political deal for Pul to show force that would justify tribute but it may have simply been that Menahem didn’t resist, but welcomed Pul “so that his hand would be with him to strengthen his hold on the kingdom” in 2 Kings 15:19. However it happened, the result was the same, Israel had become “an object that no one desires” in Hosea 8:8. Again, it says in Hosea 8:9 “they have gone up” but “Usually foreigners coming to Israel’s land were said to “go up”; here it is the reverse, to intimate Israel’s sunken state, and Assyria’s superiority.”3
The Days of Punishment Have Come
Hosea 9:1–8
Because They Did Not Listen
Hosea 9:9–17
Israel Will be Ashamed
It Is Time To Seek Yahweh
Hosea 10:9–15
At first reading, it isn’t clear what “from the days of Gibeah” means because it is a place with a long history. It was the home of Samuel and prominent in the times of Saul more than two hundred and fifty years before Hosea. But there was a time before there was a thought of a king that was an indelible mark on Israel. The men of Gibeah took the concubine of a Levite who passed through their city and stayed the night. It is a horrendous account with an outcry from people across Israel in Judges 19-20. There are many questions to consider in this account beginning with why was this Levite living as a foreigner and not performing the duties prescribed? Clearly, though, the nation was nearly in total anarchy where people did whatever they wanted and had no regard for those outside their locale, a gang like mentality.
Here though, the Lord is bringing judgement, we might even say, long overdue judgement, but always expects us to choose to do good and always prefers for us to turn from evil because the only other option is destruction and in
Hosea 10:10 In my desire I will punish them; nations will be gathered against them when they are punished for their double iniquities.
Yet, even now, the Lord says again through his prophet in
Hosea 10:12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap loyal love. Break up for yourself fallow ground; it is time to seek Yahweh so he will come and rain righteousness upon you.
They will now receive the fruit of their actions in Hosea 10:13-15.
I Will Not Come in Wrath
Hosea 11:1–11
God recounts his tender care and nurturing history as he raised up Israel in
Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.
then in Hosea 11:3 “And I myself taught Ephraim to walk; I took them in my arms” and in
Hosea 11:4 I drew them with human ties, with the bands of love. I was to them like one who lifted up a yoke on their jaws, though I bent down to them and let them eat.
But Israel has its focus on the things of Egypt and Assyria, the great cultures of the day having forgotten they were built on the backs of their slaves. So the Lord says in
Hosea 11:7 My people are bent on backsliding from me. To the Most High they call, he does not raise them at all.
and then there is the heart cry of God showing his love, his patience, his goodness, his faithfulness and gentleness, and his self-control all in the face of complete rejection. But it is God’s nature being demonstrated, not theirs, and He will not give up on them in
Hosea 11:8–9 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is disturbed within me; all my compassions are aroused. 9 I will not execute my fierce anger, I will not again destroy Ephraim; because I am God and not a mortal, the Holy One in your midst; and I will not come in wrath.
Though judgement will come and Israel will recognize these nations are not their friends and many will die and others will be taken captive, the Lord will maintain a place for them and says “I will let them return” in
Hosea 11:11 They will tremble like birds from Egypt, and like doves from the land of Assyria; and I will let them return to their homes— a declaration of Yahweh.
Return To Your God
Hosea 11:12–12:6
Study Verses
- Hosea 8:8–14 They Are Among the Nations
- Hosea 10:9–15 It Is Time To Seek Yahweh
- Hosea 11:1–11 I Will Not Come in Wrath
Today’s Reading
- Hosea 8:1-14
- Hosea 9:1-17
- Hosea 10:1-15
- Hosea 11:1-12
- Hosea 12:1-6
References
- 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 657). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- 2. Hubbard, D. A. (1989). Hosea: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 24, pp. 159–160). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
- 3. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, p. 657). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
