> [[hosea-12|← Previous]] | [[hosea-00|TOC]] | [[hosea-14|Next →]] --- # Hosea, Chapter 13 ## Chapter 13 ### The Death of Ephraim 1 When Ephraim spoke there was terror; ^hosea-13-1 he was exalted in Israel; but he became guilty through Baal and died. 2 Now they continue to sin, ^hosea-13-2 making for themselves molten images, Silver idols according to their skill, all of them the work of artisans. “To these, offer sacrifice,” they say. People kiss calves! 3 Therefore, they will be like a morning cloud ^hosea-13-3 or like the dew that vanishes with the dawn, Like chaff storm-driven from the threshing floor or like smoke out of the window. 4 I, the LORD, am your God, ^hosea-13-4 since the land of Egypt; Gods apart from me you do not know; there is no savior but me. 5 I fed you in the wilderness, ^hosea-13-5 in the parched land. 6 When I fed them, they were satisfied; ^hosea-13-6 when satisfied, they became proud, therefore they forgot me. 7 So, I will be like a lion to them, ^hosea-13-7 like a leopard by the road I will keep watch. 8 I will attack them like a bear robbed of its young, ^hosea-13-8 and tear their hearts from their breasts; I will devour them on the spot like a lion, as a wild animal would rip them open. 9 I destroy you, Israel! ^hosea-13-9 who is there to help you? 10 Where now is your king, ^hosea-13-10 that he may rescue you? And all your princes, that they may defend you? Of whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? 11 I give you a king in my anger, ^hosea-13-11 and I take him away in my wrath. 12 The guilt of Ephraim is wrapped up, ^hosea-13-12 his sin is stored away. 13 The birth pangs will come for him, ^hosea-13-13 but this is an unwise child, Who, when it is time, does not present himself at the mouth of the womb. 14 Shall I deliver them from the power of Sheol? ^hosea-13-14 shall I redeem them from death? Where are your plagues, O death! where is your sting, Sheol! Compassion is hidden from my eyes. 15 Though Ephraim may flourish among his brothers, ^hosea-13-15 an east wind will come, a wind from the LORD, rising from the wilderness, That will dry up his spring, and leave his fountain dry. It will loot his treasury of every precious thing. \* (13:1) Exalted in Israel: Ephraim enjoyed a privileged position in Israel ([Gn 48:14] – [19]). \* (13:2) Kiss calves: apparently a reference to a ritual gesture associated with the worship of Baal represented as a calf ([[1-kings-19|1 Kgs 19]]:18). \* (13:4) I, the LORD …land of Egypt: according to [[1-kings-12|1 Kgs 12]]:28, Jeroboam introduced the calves used in the worship at the sanctuaries in Bethel and Dan with the words: “Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” \* (13:9] – [10) Only God can save Israel, not the king, whom Israel had requested from the Lord ([1 Sm 8:1] – [9]). \* (13:11) I give you a king…in my wrath: the Lord punished the people of the Northern Kingdom by giving them kings who were soon deposed (see notes on [7:3] – [7] and [8:4]). \* (13:13) Ephraim will die along with its stored-up sin, just as a mother dies along with a child that she cannot deliver. \* (13:14) God calls upon “death” and “Sheol” to send their auxiliaries, “plagues” and “sting,” to punish Israel ([Hb 3:5]; [Ps 91:6]). Paul uses this text in a different way to speak about the victory over death ([1 Cor 15:54] – [55]). \* (13:15) Although “Ephraim” is not explicitly mentioned in the text (the Hebrew text has the word “he”), the wordplay with the Hebrew word for “flourish” (*yaphrî’*) suggests the use of “Ephraim” in the translation. Wind: possibly Assyria. a. (13:2) [Is 40:19] – [20]; [44:9] – [20]. b. (13:2) [[1-kings-19|1 Kgs 19]]:18. c. (13:3) [[isaiah-17|Is 17]]:13; [Zep 2:2]; ([[psalm-01|Ps 1]]:4]. d. (13:4) ([[exodus-20|Ex 20]]:2]. e. (13:4) [Is 43:11]. f. (13:8) [2 Sm 17:8]. g. (13:10) [1 Sm 8:5]. h. (13:13) [Is 26:17] – [18]; [Jer 6:24]; [22:23]. i. (13:13) [Is 37:3]. j. (13:14) [1 Cor 15:55]. k. (13:15) [[ezekiel-19|Ez 19]]:12. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[hosea-12|← Previous]] | [[hosea-00|TOC]] | [[hosea-14|Next →]]