> [[hosea-10|← Previous]] | [[hosea-00|TOC]] | [[hosea-12|Next →]] --- # Hosea, Chapter 11 ## Chapter 11 ### The Disappointment of a Parent 1 When Israel was a child I loved him, ^hosea-11-1 out of Egypt I called my son. 2 The more I called them, ^hosea-11-2 the farther they went from me, Sacrificing to the Baals and burning incense to idols. 3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, ^hosea-11-3 who took them in my arms; but they did not know that I cared for them. 4 I drew them with human cords, ^hosea-11-4 with bands of love; I fostered them like those who raise an infant to their cheeks; I bent down to feed them. 5 He shall return to the land of Egypt, ^hosea-11-5 Assyria shall be his king, because they have refused to repent. 6 The sword shall rage in his cities: ^hosea-11-6 it shall destroy his diviners, and devour them because of their schemings. 7 My people have their mind set on [[apostasy]]; ^hosea-11-7 though they call on God in unison, he shall not raise them up. ### But Love Is Stronger and Restores 8 How could I give you up, Ephraim, ^hosea-11-8 or deliver you up, Israel? How could I treat you as Admah, or make you like Zeboiim? My heart is overwhelmed, my pity is stirred. 9 I will not give vent to my blazing anger, ^hosea-11-9 I will not destroy Ephraim again; For I am God and not a man, the Holy One present among you; I will not come in wrath. 10 They shall follow the LORD, ^hosea-11-10 who roars like a lion; When he roars, his children shall come frightened from the west, 11 Out of Egypt they shall come trembling, like birds, ^hosea-11-11 like doves, from the land of Assyria; And I will resettle them in their homes, oracle of the LORD. \* (11:1] – [3) After the image of husband-wife (chaps. [1] – [3]), Hosea uses the image of parent-child (([[exodus-04|Ex 4]]:22]; [Is 1:2]; [Jer 3:19]). \* (11:1) Out of Egypt: Hosea dates the real beginning of Israel from the time of the exodus. ([[matthew-02|Mt 2]]:15] applies this text to the return of Jesus from Egypt. \* (11:4) I drew them…with bands of love: perhaps a reversal of the yoke imagery of the previous chapter, i.e., not forcing them like draft animals, but drawing them with kindness and affection. \* (11:8) Admah…Zeboiim: cities in the vicinity of Sodom and Gomorrah ([[genesis-14|Gen 14]]:2, [8]) and destroyed with them ([[genesis-19|Gen 19]]:24 – [25]; [Dt 29:22]). a. (11:1) [Dt 7:8]; [10:15]; [Jer 2:1] – [9]. b. (11:1) ([[exodus-04|Ex 4]]:22]; ([[matthew-02|Mt 2]]:15]. c. (11:3) [Dt 1:31]; [8:5]. d. (11:4) [Dt 8:16]. e. (11:5) [Dt 17:16]. f. (11:8) [Dt 29:22]. g. (11:9) [Nm 23:19]; [Is 31:3]; [Ez 28:2]. h. (11:10) [Jl 4:16]; [Am 1:2]; [Jer 25:30]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[hosea-10|← Previous]] | [[hosea-00|TOC]] | [[hosea-12|Next →]]