Oséias 4
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Oséias 4
BASIC OUTLINE OF CHAPTERS 4-11 Hosea 4-5 comprise a literary unit that describes Israel's faithlessness. Hosea 6-10 are a literary unit that describes Israel's punishment.
Oséias 4:1-3
4:1 "Listen to the word of the Lord" NKJV, NRSV, REB, JPSOA, Peshitta "Hear the word of the Lord" "Listen to what he says" "Hear what Yahweh says" The VERB (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE) means to hear so as to perform. It is used several times in Hosea (cf. Hosea 4:1; 5:1; 9:17), but many times in the other eighth century prophets. Amos, 3:1,13; 4:1; 5:1; 7:16; 8:4,11 Micah, 1:2; 3:1,9; 5:15; 6:1[twice],2,9; 7:7 See note at Amos 3:1. SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR (shema) ▣ "the Lord has a case" This term (BDB 936) has two main senses. a legal lawsuit, Isa. 1:23; 3:13-26; 41:21; Jer. 2:9-13; 25:31; 50:34; Hosea 4:1; 12:3; Micah 6:1-5; 7:9-13 a dispute or controversy, Isa. 41:11; 58:4; Jer. 15:10; Hosea 2:2 YHWH is victim, prosecuting attorney, and judge (see G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, p. 157)! The court case is one of three common literary techniques used by the prophets. legal case (i.e. divorce case) funeral dirge (judgment oracle) salvation promise (deliverance oracle) ▣ "against the inhabitants of the land" The land of Palestine/Canaan had a special theological significance. This starts with God's promise to Abraham to give him a seed, a name, and a land (cf. Gen. 12:1-1). This promise is reaffirmed in a special "covenant trance" in Gen. 15:12-21. The land will be cleansed of Canaanite fertility worship (cf. Hosea 4:16). When the people of God become involved in the same abominations they, too, must be cleansed from YHWH's land! SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS SPECIAL TOPIC: CONSEQUENCES OF IDOLATRY ▣ NASB, NRSV, TEV "faithfulness" "truth" "loyalty" "honesty" "good faith" "truthfulness" "justice" The NOUN "faithful" (BDB 54) is negated. This is a major theological term. It clearly states mankind's part of the covenant with YHWH. In the opening verse of chapter 4, several major theological issues are highlighted. faithfulness, v. 1 loyalty (i.e. lovingkindness), v. 1 knowledge Doing a personal study on these NOUNS would be a great help to your personal Bible study. All believers should check for themselves what others say the Bible "says. . ." We are responsible for our own theology! For another Hebrew root (BDB 325 II), which denotes this same faithfulness, see the note at Hosea 10:2. SPECIAL TOPIC: BELIEVE, TRUST, FAITH and FAITHFULNESS IN THE OT SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT ▣ "kindness" NKJV, LXX, Peshitta "mercy" NRSV, REB "loyalty" "love" "faith" "goodness" This is the Hebrew word hesed (BDB 338, cf. Hosea 6:4; 10:12; 12:6). This is a very important theological concept. Be sure to see the Special Topic below. SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) ▣ "no. . .knowledge of God" This is the theme (e.g. Hosea 2:20; 4:6; 5:4; 6:6,6) of the book—that we should know God, not as an object (an "it," an idol), but in a personal, intimate relationship (a person). The term "know" (BDB 395) in the OT is related to a personal, intimate relationship (cf. Gen. 2:20; 4:1; Jer. 1:5). The marvelous part of this truth is that not only can sinful humans know God, but that they are known by Him (cf. Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:1ff). He seeks us! SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW SPECIAL TOPIC: Seek the Lord 4:2 Instead of faithfulness, kindness, and knowledge, Israel was depicted by the terms mentioned in Hosea 4:2 (all INFINITIVE ABSOLUTES), which refer to the breaking of the Ten Commandments (i.e. specifically the 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 8th). The Ten Commandments are God's will for mankind in society. They are not given to restrict mankind's freedom, but to accentuate his communal happiness! But Israel knowingly broke all moral boundaries (BDB 829, KB 971, Qal PERFECT)! SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ▣ "swearing, deception" It is possible that those two sins also reflect the Ten Commandments (but different terms). swearing = Exod. 20:7; Deut. 5:11 deception = Exod. 20:16; Deut. 5:20 See Gordon Fee, Douglas Stuart, How To Read the Bible For All Its Worth, pp. 187-188. ▣ "murder" See SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER. ▣ " "stealing" See SPECIAL TOPIC: STEAL. ▣ "adultery" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ADULTERY. 4:3 "everyone who lives in it languishes" The term (BDB 51, KB 63, Pulal PERFECT with waw ) means to become weak and by connotation weak by drought (e.g. Joel 1:10; Isa. 16:8; 24:4; 33:9; Jer. 12:4). The fire (i.e. drought) of YHWH's Deuteronomic judgments (cf. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28) has come (cf. Amos 7:4). the land mourns the people languish the animals disappear Physical creation (especially YHWH's Promised Land) was affected by mankind's sin (cf. Gen. 3:17-19; Rom. 8:18-25). This passage is a divine judgment even more severe than the flood (cf. Gen. 6-9) because even the fish are affected (cf. Zeph. 1:2-3). Ironically judgment from too much water (Genesis 6) is now judgment from not enough water (i.e. drought)! Chaos has returned! SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS/SEA
Oséias 4:4-6
4:4-5:7 This literary unit deals with the sins of the priests! 4:4 The first two VERBS are JUSSIVES: let no one find fault, Qal JUSSIVE (BDB 936, KB 1224) let none offer reproof, Hiphil JUSSIVE (BDB 406, KB 410) These both have legal connotations (e.g. #1 Jdg. 6:31-32; #2 Amos 5:10). But who is the speaker in 4a? an unnamed objector (cf. Amos 5:10) a priestly representative (i.e. High Priest) the nation of Israel (represented by a priest and prophet) YHWH Himself (the Judge speaks, cf. Hosea 4:5c) ▣ NASB, NKJV "For you people are like those who contend with the priest" NRSV, NET "For with you is my contention, O priest" TEV. REB "my complaint is against you priests" "it is you, priest, that I denounce" "for this your people has a grievance against you], O priest" "for your people is engaged in controversy like a priest" "but my people are as a priest spoken against" The NASB does not fit the context well. A different revocalization and a doubling of one consonant can result in "My contention is against you, O Priests" (RSV; see good note in NET Bible, p. 1562, #15), which fits the context (cf. Hosea 4:6) better. The UBS Text Project, p. 231, supports the MT (NASB) reading with a "B" rating (some doubt) with the suggested translation: "and your people (are) like (people) contending against the priest" 4:5 The VERB "stumble" (BDB 505, KB 502, Qal PERFECT with waw) is repeated twice. To stumble is the opposite imagery of "faithfulness" (i.e. sure footedness). ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV "And I will destroy your mother" "and I am going to destroy Israel, your mother" "and I will make your mother perish" "And I will destroy your kindred" "your nation is brought to ruin" "I have made your mother like night" "and yet your mother keeps silent" The NET Bible (p. 1562) suggests an emendation (two consonant changes). "You have destroyed your own people." This then would not be a quote from YHWH, but the first in a series of condemnations of the priests. Priests are condemned for not teaching the truth of YHWH's covenant for living lives of corrupted fertility practices The UBS Text Project, p. 232, gives the MT a "B" rating, which means YHWH is the actor bringing judgment on the Northern Kingdom. The specific judgment is "silence" (KB 225 II). no teaching no worship no songs silent like the dead 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge" The term "destroy" (BDB 198, KB 225, Niphal PERFECT) means "to cut off" and thereby to cease to exist. The people were guilty, not because they did not understand, but because they knowingly turned away and rejected (BDB 549, KB 540, Qal PERFECT) YHWH's covenant. This was especially true of the religious and political leaders. SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP ▣ "I also will reject you from being My priest" The nation of Israel was meant to be priests to all the world (cf. Exod. 19:4-6; see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN). Here, however, it refers to the local Levites who were to instruct the people in the law of God (cf. Lev. 10:11; Deut. 17:10-11; 33:10; Jer. 18:18; Mal. 2:6-7), which they did not! ▣ "Since you have forgotten the law of your God" Knowledge has two aspects: personal relationship covenant obligations They forgot (BDB 1013, KB 1489, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) YHWH and His covenant so He will forget (Qal IMPERFECT) their descendants. This is a reversal of the covenant promises of Exod. 20:6 and Deut. 5:10; 7:9! Priests (and Levites) were to be the teachers of Israel, but they became the corruptors of Israel! They could no longer serve as sacrificial offerers!
Oséias 4:7-10
4:7 "The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me" "They" seems to refer to the people who were bringing sacrifices to the priests who performed cultic activities (cf. Hosea 4:8-10). The more God gave His people, the more they turned away from Him (see a similar example using the prophets in Hosea 11:2). ▣ NASB, NKJV, LXX "I will change their glory into shame" NRSV, Peshitta "they changed their glory into shame" "I will turn your honor into disgrace" "they have bartered their Glory for Shame" "I will change their dignity to dishonor" "their dignity I shall turn into dishonor" "They have turned their glorious calling into a shameful disgrace" As you can see from the translations the textual issue is over who the subject is, YHWH (NASB, TEV) or Israel (NRSV, NJB). The MT has YHWH as the subject (BDB 558, KB 560, Hiphil IMPERFECT). However, Jewish tradition changes the VERB to a Hiphil PERFECT. This emendation is followed by the Jewish Targums (Aramaic translation and commentaries) and the Peshitta (Syrian Christian translation). The UBS Text Project, p. 232, gives "I will change their glory" a "B" rating. The term "shame" (BDB 885) is the opposite of "honor" (cf. Ps. 83:16; Prov. 3:35; 13:18). In this context it refers to idolatry (cf. Hosea 4:18). They shared YHWH's glory as His covenant people, but they exchanged this for self-centered sexual fertility worship (the glory of Ba'al). SPECIAL TOPIC: SHAME SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (kabod, OT) 4:8 "They feed on the sin of My people, And direct their desire toward their iniquity" This seems to relate to the priests' lusting after their portion of the meat of the sin offerings (cf. Lev. 6 : 26), but metaphorically it implies that they joined in the fertility rites. The phrase "direct their desire toward" is literally "lift one's soul to." It is used six times in this sense (cf. Deut. 24:15; Ps. 24:4; Prov. 19:18; Jer. 22:27; 44:14, and here). 4:9 "like people, like priest" This is a common proverb which reflects an obvious truth as the priests were to be judged for their known sin, so too, the people. ▣ "I will punish them for their ways" The VERB (BDB 823, KB 955, Qal PERFECT with waw) basically means "to visit" or "attend to." YHWH can visit for blessing or judgment, based on the covenant fidelity of the people (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). 4:10 Though they seek fertility idols, they will not find enough food, nor children (e.g. Hag. 1:6)! The growth in population implied in Hosea 4:7a is now at an end! There are interesting articles in the IVP Bible Background Commentary (OT), p. 754 NIDOTTE, vol. 1, pp. 1122-1125 which mention several types of prostitutes in the ANE. commercial prostitution temple prostitution
Oséias 4:11-14
4:11 This is obviously a proverb. Sin robs people of moral sight and they grope in darkness as drunk, blind men" (cf. Isa. 28:1-4). This may specifically refer to Canaanite festivals at certain times of the ripening grape harvests. SPECIAL TOPIC: BIBLICAL ATTITUDES TOWARD ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 4:12 Israel was seeking to know the future and control it by improper means (cf. Deut. 18:9-13). SPECIAL TOPIC: MAGIC ▣ "wooden idol" "wooden idols" NRSV, TEV, REB "a piece of wood" "a block of wood" "stick" "rods" "staff" This term (BDB 781) means "tree" or "wood." A slightly different form is used in Hosea 4:17; 8:4; 13:2; 14:8 and means "idols." Since this is paralleled with rod/wand/staff it may refer to a tree oracle (i.e. Ezek. 21:21) or a reference to the Asherah pole/carved stake (i.e. Exod. 34:13-16) and not a humanoid-shaped wooden idol. The JPSOA footnote suggests it refers to a phallus symbol (i.e. Ba'al, the male fertility god of Canaan). ▣ NASB, REB "diviner's wand" NKJV, Peshitta "staff" "divining rod" TEV, NJB "stick" "rod" This term (BDB 596) means "a tree," "a staff," or "a rod." Some of its uses are: a wooden weapon (cf. 1 Sam. 17:40,43; Ezek. 29:9) a walking stick (cf. Gen. 32:20; Exod. 12:11) a stick to control an animal (cf. Num. 22:27) young trees (e.g. Gen. 30:37-39, 41; Jer. 1:1) a shepherd's staff (cf. Zech. 11:7,10,14, see NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 1088) SPECIAL TOPIC: DIVINATION ▣ "a spirit of harlotry" The term "spirit" has nothing to do with demon possession here, but it is used in the OT for "mindset," "character" or "energizing center." Here is a list of how this term is used to express human characteristics or feelings: bitterness of spirit, Gen. 26:35 shortness of spirit, Exod. 6:9 oppressed in spirit, 1 Sam. 1:15 sullen in spirit, 1 Kgs. 21:5 impatient in spirit, Job 21:4; Prov. 14:29 haughty in spirit vs. humble in spirit, Prov. 16:18-19; Isa. 66:2 faithful of spirit, Prov. 11:13 staggering in spirit, Isa. 19:14 grieved in spirit, Isa. 54:6 This describes Israel's lust after the fertility gods of Canaan (cf. Hosea 5:4). The interpretive issues were these cultic sexual acts (cf. Hosea 4:3-14) or it could be imagery of unfaithfulness (e.g. Exod. 34:15-16; Lev. 20:5; Jdg. 2:17; 8:27,33; 1 Chr. 5:25; Ps. 73:27; 106:39). SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE ▣ "departing from their God" Literally this is "from under God" (BDB 1065), implying their deserting YHWH's authority. 4:13 "They offer sacrifices. . .burn incense" These could refer to two separate cultic acts or just incense burning. No sacrificial altars are connected to local Ba'al worship. ▣ "on the top of the mountains. . .on the hills" This could refer to two things: the highest part of the topography was the site of the local Ba'al altar the altars of Ba'al/Astarte were made of cut stones with a central phallic symbol (raised pillar) and an Asherah carved pole or live tree (cf. Deut. 12:2; Jer. 2:20; 3:6; Ezek. 6:13) ▣ "oak, poplar, and terebinth" Trees marked sacred sites because they reflected the presence of underground water, which was extremely important for desert people. There is no record of Israel ever worshiping trees, although they held them to be sacred sites (e.g. Gen. 13:18; Jdg. 4:5). In this context the trees were used as shade for the fertility practices of Ba'al (cf. Deut. 12:2; Jer. 2:20; 3:6; 13:27; 17:2; Hosea 4:13). SPECIAL TOPIC: TREES 4:14 It is possible that these statements are really questions expecting a "yes" answer. There is no double standard with God. Both men and women are condemned for their promiscuous fertility rites (cf. Deut. 23:17-18). There are three types of women involved: new brides cultic prostitutes other local women It is also grammatically and contextually possible to see the priests as the recipients of the cultic acts of Hosea 4:14. The priests who should have known better, also participated in the sexual activities and set a disastrous pattern for the community! If this is accurate, then the women mentioned in Hosea 4:13 may be the priests' own families!
Oséias 4:15-19
4:15 This verse has a series of JUSSIVES: "Do not let Judah become guilty" (BDB 79, KB 95, Qal JUSSIVE) "Do not go to Gilgad" (BDB 97, KB 112, Qal JUSSIVE) "Do not go up to Beth-aven" (BDB 748, KB 828, Qal JUSSIVE) "Take the oath" (BDB 989, KB 1396, Niphal JUSSIVE) It seems Hosea was written to both Israel and Judah. ▣ "Though you, Israel, play the harlot, Do not let Judah become guilty" This plea is paralleled in Ezekiel 23 (cf. Jer. 3:6-18). Judah should have seen and feared, but she did not! She is even more responsible! ▣ "Do not go to Gilgal" This was a possible reference to the site of the first campsite of Joshua when the Israelites entered the Promised Land (cf. Josh. 4:20). It had now become an idolatrous shrine (see notes at Amos 4:4; 5:5). The other possibility is that it refers to a northern Gilgal, which was the location of a school of the prophets (cf. 2 Kgs. 2:1; 4:38), which later became a worship center for Ba'al (cf. Hosea 9:15, 12:11; see Hard Sayings of the Bible, p. 330 and Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 303). ▣ "Beth-aven" This refers to Beth-el (cf. Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5; Amos 5:5), "house of God," which was sarcastically changed to "house of wickedness" (BDB 110). This was one of the two sites of the "golden calf" worship set up by Jeroboam I (cf. 1 Kgs. 12:28-29). Originally the calf represented YHWH (cf. Exod. 32), but quickly became corrupted into a fertility symbol. ▣ "And take the oath: As the Lord lives'" This oath reflects the covenant name for God, YHWH (cf. Exod. 3:14). The negative form Hosea 4:15c is implied in 15d-e. SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON THE NAME SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D. (YHWH) 4:16 "Since Israel is stubborn, Like a stubborn heifer" The term "stubborn" (BDB 710, KB 770) is used twice comparing Israel with a non-cooperative (i.e. disobedient to authority) plow animal. This is often used of a rebellious spirit: of a son, Deut. 21:18-21 of a ruler, Isa. 1:23 (cf. Hosea 9:15) of children, Isa. 30:1 of a people, Isa. 65:1-7 of God's people, Jer. 6:28 "Stubborn" and "rebellious" often occur together (cf. Deut. 2:18,20; Ps. 78:8; Jer. 5:23). SPECIAL TOPIC: STUBBORNNESS ▣ "Can the Lord now pasture them" This can be a statement or an unmarked rhetorical question. Context implies a judgment scene (i.e. exile), not the tender care of a shepherd. ▣ "Like a lamb in a large field" Lambs do not like large fields, but small enclosures. 4:17 "Ephraim is joined to idols" Ephraim was the largest tribe in the Northern Kingdom, so it stood for all the Northern Ten Tribes. Their first king, Jeroboam I, was from the tribe of Ephraim. The term "joined" is a strong term for the political (and by implication, religious) union between allies (BDB 287, KB 287, Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE, cf. Gen. 14:3). David A. Hubbard, Hosea (The Tyndale OT Commentaries), suggests that the term "joined" should be interpreted in light of its use in magical texts (cf. Deut. 18:11; Ps. 58:5). If so, Israel has been "charmed" or "under a spell," possibly linked to 4:12; 5:4 (p. 110). My problem with this is not linguistic, but theological. Personified evil should not be used as an excuse for fallen mankind's sin. These people sinned "open-eyed" against the love of their covenant God. Though evil, both natural and personal, is a part of our fallen world, humans are still responsible for their actions (cf. Hosea 4:18c). SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSONAL EVIL ▣ "Let him alone" What a horrendous judgment (BDB 628, KB 679, Hiphil IMPERATIVE). God allows His people to have their own desires and choices (and their consequences) because of their spiritual blindness (cf. Hosea 5:4; Rom. 1:24, 26, 28). 4:18 "dearly love shame" "dearly love dishonor" "love lewdness more than their glory" "preferring disgrace to honor" "devoted their lives to immorality" "preferring Shame to Pride" "love shame and idolatry" "loved dishonor through her insolence" "dearly love their shameful behavior" "they love beyond measure ‒ Disgrace is the 'gift'" This is a good example of how checking different translations, ancient and modern, can demonstrate the semantical field of a word or phrase. Often, it is the ambiguity of the MT or LXX that shows the problem. The MT has "her shields" or "her princes" (i.e. "they loved dishonor and her shield"). The NRSV reflects a possible option, according to the UBS Text Project, p. 234, but the UBS gives "her shields" or "her princes" a "B" rating. מגניה ‒ "her shield" (BDB 171, i.e. "rulers," NASB margin) מגאנם ‒ "more than their glory" Happy hour is over! The term "rulers" is literally "shield" (BDB 171). It usually refers to political leaders, but here it may include the priests and prophets (cf. Hosea 4:5). 4:19 "The wind wraps them in its wings" The "wings of the wind" are imagery for foreign alliances (cf. Hosea 12:1) YHWH's coming judgment (cf. Hosea 13:15, i.e. YHWH used Mesopotamian powers to exile His people, cf. Jer. 22:22) evil spiritual influences (i.e. "wind" translated "spirit," cf. Hosea 4:12; 5:4) YHWH is depicted as riding on the wings of the wind (cf. 2 Sam. 22:11; Ps. 18:10; 104:3). YHWH's presence can denote covenant safety (under the shadow of His wings) and protection or as here, covenant justice and the consequences of covenant violations! SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW AS A METAPHOR FOR PROTECTION AND CARE ▣ NASB, NKJV, NJB, REB, JPSOA "their sacrifices" "their pagan sacrifices" LXX, Peshitta, NRSV "their altars" The UBS Text Project, pp. 234-235, gives "because of their sacrifices" a "C" rating (i.e. highly doubtful). The only difference is vocalization.