Old Testament Commentary - Hosea 5

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 5 The kingdoms of Judah and of Israel shall both fall because of their iniquities.
1 HEAR ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor. 2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.
3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest ^awhoredom, and Israel is defiled. 4 ^aThey will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. 5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them^a.	5^a therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them When carefully read, it may be seen that Hosea speaks first and primarily to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, that is of Samaria and Ephraim. He will then also include Judah, that Judah will not escape the scattering destruction either. He will speak of Israel/Ephraim and of the sins and corruptions thereof. Then 'also' he speaks to Judah's end as well so as not to preclude that Judah shall escape the scattering and destruction to come.
6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath ^awithdrawn himself from them. 7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a ^amonth devour them with their portions. 8 Blow ye the ^acornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Beth-aven, after thee, O Benjamin.
9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. 10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the ^abound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. 11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked ^aafter the commandment.
12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. 13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his ^awound, then went ^bEphraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king ^aJareb: yet could he not ^dheal you, nor cure you of your wound. 14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
15 ¶ I will go and return to my place, till they ^aacknowledge their offence, and ^bseek my face: in their ^caffliction they will seek me early.