> [[hosea-07|← Previous]] | [[hosea-00|TOC]] | [[hosea-09|Next →]] --- # Hosea, Chapter 8 ## Chapter 8 ### Corruption of Cult, Domestic and Foreign Politics 1 Put the trumpet to your lips! ^hosea-08-1 One like an eagle is over the house of the LORD! Because they have violated my covenant, and rebelled against my law, 2 They cry out to me, ^hosea-08-2 “My God! We know you!” 3 But Israel has rejected what is good; ^hosea-08-3 the enemy shall pursue him. 4 They made kings, but not by my authority; ^hosea-08-4 they established princes, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. 5 He has rejected your calf, Samaria! ^hosea-08-5 My wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be incapable of innocence in Israel? 6 An artisan made it, ^hosea-08-6 it is no god at all. The calf of Samaria will be dashed to pieces. 7 When they sow the wind, ^hosea-08-7 they will reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no head can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it. 8 Israel is swallowed up; ^hosea-08-8 now they are among the nations, like a useless vessel. 9 For they went up to Assyria— ^hosea-08-9 a wild ass off on its own— Ephraim bargained for lovers. 10 Even though they bargain with the nations, ^hosea-08-10 I will now gather them together; They will soon succumb under the burden of king and princes. 11 When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, ^hosea-08-11 they became altars for sinning. 12 Though I write for him my many instructions, ^hosea-08-12 they are considered like a stranger’s. 13 They love sacrifice, ^hosea-08-13 they sacrifice meat and eat it, but the LORD is not pleased with them. Now he will remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt. 14 Israel has forgotten his maker ^hosea-08-14 and has built palaces. Judah, too, has fortified many cities, but I will send fire upon his cities, to devour their strongholds. \* (8:1) Eagle: perhaps an image for Tiglath-pileser III of Assyria, who overran the land of Israel in 733 B.C. ([Jer 48:40]; [49:22]; [[ezekiel-17|Ez 17]]:3). \* (8:3) Enemy: Assyria. \* (8:4) Hosea is not against the monarchy, but against the conspiracies at the royal court (see note on [7:3] – [7]). The king should be chosen by God ([[1-kings-19|1 Kgs 19]]:15 – [16]). \* (8:5) Calf: a cultic object introduced by Jeroboam I after the separation of the Northern Kingdom from the Southern Kingdom ([[1-kings-12|1 Kgs 12]]:26 – [30]; cf. [Ex 32]). \* (8:9) They went up to Assyria: a reference to the politics of appealing to Assyria (cf. [5:13]; [7:11]). There is a play on the Hebrew word for “wild ass” (*pere*) and “Ephraim.” \* (8:10) I will now gather them: for judgment and for deportation. \* (8:11) The altars had become places of self-serving worship (cf. v. [13]). \* (8:13) Return to Egypt: to punish their violation of the covenant they will experience a reversal of the exodus. a. (8:1) [Jl 2:1]. b. (8:5) [[1-kings-12|1 Kgs 12]]:28. c. (8:6) ([[exodus-20|Ex 20]]:4]; [34:17]; [Is 40:19] – [20]; [44:9] – [20]; [Jer 10:1] – [16]. d. (8:7) [Jb 4:8]; [Prv 22:8]; ([[2-corinthians-09|2 Cor 9]]:6]; [Gal 6:7] – [8]. e. (8:9) [[ezekiel-16|Ez 16]]:32 – [34]. f. (8:13) [Am 5:22]. g. (8:13) [Jer 14:10]. h. (8:13) [Dt 28:68]. i. (8:14) [Dt 32:15], [18]; [Is 51:13]. j. (8:14) [Am 1:7], [10], [12], [14]; [2:2], [5]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[hosea-07|← Previous]] | [[hosea-00|TOC]] | [[hosea-09|Next →]]