5:1,2Mizpah and Tabor may have been sites prominent in the false worship of Baal. The leaders likely even encouraged the people to sin at these places. With both their civil and religious leaders hopelessly corrupt, the people of israel did not have much of a chance. They tooked to their leaders for guidance, and they should have found it. Today we can often choose our own leaders, but we still need to be aware of whether they are taking us toward or away from God. God held the people responsible for what they did. Similarly, God holds us responsible for our actions and choices. §:3 Ephraim is another name for israel, the northern kingdom, because Ephraim was the most powerful of the ten tribes in the north. In the same way, the southern kingdom was called Judah after its most powerful tribe.
Life Application Study BibleHoseaChapter 5
Hosea 5
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1411, 1412
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
1by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.
2You have dug a deep pit to trap them at Acacia Grove.*But I will settle with you for what you have done.
3T know what you are like, O Ephraim.You cannot hide yourself from me, O Israel.You have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband;you are utterly defiled.
4Your deeds won't let you return to your God.You are a prostitute through and through,and you do not know the LORD.
5“The arrogance of Israel testifies against her;Israel and Ephraim will stumble under their load of guilt.Judah, too, will fall with them.
6When they come with their flocks and herdsto offer sacrifices to the LORD,they will not find him,because he has withdrawn from them.
7They have betrayed the honor of the LORD,bearing children that are not his.Now their false religion will devour themalong with their wealth.*4:15 Beth-aven means “house of wickedness”, it is being used as another name for Bethel, which means “house ofGod.” 4:17 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel. 4:18 As in Greek version; the meaningof the Hebrew is uncertain. 5:2 Hebrew at Shittim. The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
8“Sound the alarm in Gibeah!Blow the trumpet in Ramah!Raise the battle cry in Beth-aven*!Lead on into battle, O warriors of Benjamin!
9One thing is certain, Israel*:On your day of punishment,you will become a heap of rubble.
10“The leaders of Judah have become like thieves.*So I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall.
11The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgmentbecause they are determined to worship idols.*
12I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool.I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood.
13“When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were,Israel turned to Assyria—to the great king there—but he could neither help nor cure them.
14I will be like a lion to Israel,like a strong young lion to Judah.I will tear them to pieces!Iwill carry them off,and no one will be left to rescue them.
15Then I will return to my placeuntil they admit their guilt and turn to me.For as soon as trouble comes,they will earnestly search for me.”
2. Israel’s punishment
A Call to Repentance
1 “Come, let us return to the LORD.He has torn us to pieces;now he will heal us.He has injured us;
Textual footnotes
- 5:7 The meanirig of the Hebrew is uncertain.
- 5:8 Beth-aven means “house of wickedness”, it is being used as another name for Bethel, which means “house of
- 5:10 Hebrew fike
- 5:11 Or determined to follow human commands. The meaning of the Hebrew
Life Application Notes 4 notes
5:4Persistent sin hardens a person's heart, making it difficult to repent. Deliberately choosing to disobey God can sear the conscience; each sin makes the next one easier to commit. Don’t allow sin to groove a hard path deep within you. Steer as far away from sinful practices as possible.
5:8Gibeah and Ramah were Israelite cities near Jerusalem. Hosea prophesied that these cities would sound the alarm of the coming judgment.
5:13During the reigns of Menahem and Hoshea,!srael turned to Assyria for help (2 Kings 15:19, 20; 17:3, 4). But even the great world powers of that time could not heip Israel, for God himself had determined to judge the nation. If we neglect God's call to repentance, how can we escape? (See Hebrews 2:3.)