Hosea 9:13

13 Ephraim, 1as I have seen, was like a young palm[a] planted in a meadow; but 2Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.[b]

Hosea 9:13 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 9:13

Ephraim, as I saw Tyrus, [is] planted in a pleasant place,
&c.] That is, either as the city of Tyre, a very famous city in Phoenicia, was situated in a very pleasant place by the sea, and abounded in wealth and riches, and was well fortified, and seemed secure from all danger, and from all enemies; so Ephraim or the ten tribes, the kingdom of Israel, were in like circumstances, equal to Tyre, as the Targum paraphrases it, in prosperity and plenty; yet as the prophet in the vision of prophecy saw that Tyre, notwithstanding all its advantages by power and wealth, by art and nature, would be destroyed, first by Nebuchadnezzar, and then by Alexander; so by the same prophetic spirit he saw that Ephraim or the ten tribes, notwithstanding their present prosperity, and the safety and security they thought themselves in, yet should be given up to ruin and destruction by the hand of the Assyrians; or it may be rendered thus, "Ephraim as", or "when I saw it, unto Tyre" F11; reaching unto that place, and bordering upon it, as part of the ten tribes did; I saw it, I observed it, took a survey of it, and I perceived it was "planted in a pleasant place"; like a tree planted in a fruitful soil, well rooted, and in a flourishing condition; so were they, abounding with all good things, and having a numerous offspring; from all which they promised themselves much happiness for ages to come: but Ephraim shall bring forth his children to the murderer;
to sacrifice them to Moloch, as some; so the Targum,

``they of the house of Ephraim have sinned in slaying their children to the service of idols;''
with which Jarchi agrees; but rather the sense is, with Kimchi, and others, when their enemies shall come against them, as the Assyrian army, they shall go out with their sons to fight with them, and these shall be destroyed and murdered by them; it will be like leading lambs to the slaughter to be butchered and devoured by them.
FOOTNOTES:

F11 (rwul ytyar rvak) "quando vidi usque ad Tyrum", Schmidt.

Hosea 9:13 In-Context

11 Ephraim's glory shall fly away like a bird-- no birth, no pregnancy, no conception!
12 Even if they bring up children, I will bereave them till none is left. Woe to them when I depart from them!
13 Ephraim, as I have seen, was like a young palm planted in a meadow; but Ephraim must lead his children out to slaughter.
14 Give them, O LORD-- what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.
15 Every evil of theirs is in Gilgal; there I began to hate them. Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of my house. I will love them no more; all their princes are rebels.

Cross References 2

  • 1. [Ezekiel 27:3]
  • 2. [See ver. 12 above]

Footnotes 2

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.