10:1Israel prospered under Jeroboam Il, gaining military and economic strength. But the more prosperous the nation became, the more tove it lavished on idols. It seems as though the more God gives, the more we spend. We want bigger houses, better cars, and finer clothes. But the finest things the world offers line the pathway to destruction. As you prosper, consider where your money is going. ts it being used for God’s purposes, or are you consuming it all on yourself?
Life Application Study BibleHoseaChapter 10
Hosea 10
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1418, 1419, 1420
10Hosea 10
1the more beautiful their sacred pillars.
2The hearts of the people are fickle;they are guilty and must be punished.The LORD will break down their altarsand smash their sacred pillars.
3Then they will say, “We have no kingbecause we didn’t fear the LORD.But even if we hada king,what could he do for us anyway?”
4They spout empty wordsand make covenants they don’t intend to keep.So injustice springs up among themlike poisonous weeds in a farmer's field.
5The people of Samaria tremble in fearfor what might happen to their calf idol at Beth-aven.*The people mourn and the priests wail,because its glory will be stripped away.*
6This idol will be carted away to Assyria,a gift to the great king there.Ephraim will be ridiculed and Israel will be shamed,because its people have trusted in this idol.
7Samaria and its king will be cut off;they will float away like driftwood on an ocean wave.
8And the pagan shrines of Aven,* the place of Israel's sin, will crumble.Thorns and thistles will grow up around their altars.They will beg the mountains, “Bury us!”and plead with the hills, “Fall on us!”
9The LORD says, “O Israel, ever since Gibeah,there has been only sin and more sin!You have made no progress whatsoever.Was it not right that the wicked men of Gibeah were attacked?
10Now whenever it fits my plan,I will attack you, too.I will call out the armies of the nationsto punish you for your multiplied sins.
11“Tsrael* is like a trained heifer treading out the grain—an easy job she loves.But I will put a heavy yoke on her tender neck.I will force Judah to pull the plowand Israel* to break up the hard ground.
12I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,and you will harvest a crop of love.Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,for now is the time to seek the LORD,that he may comeand shower righteousness upon you.’
13“But you have cultivated wickednessand harvested a thriving crop of sins.You have eaten the fruit of lies—trusting in your military might,believing that great armiescould make your nation safe.
14Now the terrors of warwill rise among your people.All your fortifications will fall,just as when Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel.Even mothers and childrenwere dashed to death there.
15You will share that fate, Bethel,because of your great wickedness.When the day of judgment dawns,the king of Israel will be completely destroyed.
3. God’s love for Israel
1 1 1“When Israel was a child, I loved him,
Textual footnotes
- of God.” 10:5b Or because it will be taken away into exile.
- northem kingdom of Israel.
- throughout the Old Testament, referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation.
- 10:5a Beth-aven means “house of wickedness’; it is being used as another name for Bethel,
- 10:8 Aven is a reference to Beth-aven; see 10:5a and the note there.
- 10:11a Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the
- 10:11b Hebrew Jacob. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged
Life Application Notes 7 notes
10:4God was angry with the people of Israel for their insincere promises. Because the people did not keep-their word, there were many lawsuits. People break their promises, but God always keeps his. Are you remaining true to your promises, both to other people and to God? If not, ask God for forgiveness and help to get back on track. Then be careful about the promises you make. Never make a promise unless you are sure you can keep it.
10:5Beth-aven means “house of wickedness,” and it refers to Bethel (“house of God”}, where false worship took place. If the Israelites’ idols were really gods, they should have been able to protect them. How ironic that the people were fearing for their gods’ safety! For more information on this calf idol, see the notes on 3:4, 5 and 8:5.
10:9,10For information on what happened in Gibeah, see the Note on 9:9 or read Judges 19 and 20. Gibeah stands for cruelty and sensuality, as in Judges, and for rebellion as in Saul’s day (Gibeah was Sautl’s hometown; see 1 Samuel 10:5; 11:4).
10:12Hosea repeatedly uses illustrations about fields and crops. Here he envisions a plowed field. It is no longer stony and hard; it has been carefully prepared, and it is ready for planting. Is your life ready for God to work in it? You can break up the unplowed ground of your heart by acknowledging your sins and receiving God's forgiveness and guidance.
10:13The israelites were taken in by the lie that military power Could keep them safe. Believers today sometimes fall for lies. Those who jead others astray often follow these rules: Make it big; keep it simple; repeat it often. Believers can avoid falling for lies by asking: (1) Am I believing this because there is personal gain in it for me? (2) Am I discounting important facts? (3) Does this conflict with a direct command of Scripture? (4) Are there any. biblical parallels to the situation I’m facing that would help me know what to believe?
10:14Some say Shaman was Shalmaneser, king of Assyria; others say Shaiman was Saimanu, a Moabite king mentioned in the inscriptions of Tiglath-pileser. Shalman had invaded Gilead around 740 B.C. and destroyed the city of Beth-arbel, killing many people, including women and children. This kind of cruelty was not uncommon in ancient warfare. Hosea was saying such would be Israel's fate.
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Study feature · page 1420
referring to the northern kingdom of Israel;