Hoshea 4:8

8 They [i.e., the kohanim] feed on the chattat (sin) of Ami, and they relish their avon (iniquity).

Hoshea 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

Hosea 4:8

They eat up the sin of my people
That is, the priests did so, as the Targum, the priests of Jeroboam; they ate up the sacrifices which the people brought for their sins: and their fault was, either that they ate that which belonged to the true priests of the Lord, so Jarchi; or they did that, and had no concern to instruct the people in the right way; all that they regarded were good eating and drinking, and living voluptuously; and were altogether careless about instructing the people in the nature of sacrifices, and in the way of their duty: or this may regard the Bacchanalian feasts, as some think, which the people made in the temples of idols, and so sinned; and of which the priests greatly partook, and encouraged them in, and so were partakers not only of their banquets, but of their sins. They set their heart on their iniquity:
either their offerings for their iniquity, or their iniquity itself: or, "lift up their soul" F21 to it; diligently looking after it, not caring how much they committed; since the more sin offerings would be brought which would be to their advantage. Though some think the sin of whoredom, frequently and impudently committed at these idol feasts, is meant, which the priests were much addicted to, and very greedy of; they committed cleanness with greediness, ( Ephesians 4:19 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (wvpn wavy Mnwe law) "et ad iniquitatem eorum levaverunt animam suam", Montanus, Pagninus, Tigurine version; "attollunt", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "et ad iniquitatem eorum tollunt anumam suam", Schmidt.

Hoshea 4:8 In-Context

6 Ami are destroyed for lack of da’as (knowledge); because thou hast rejected da’as, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no kohen to Me; seeing thou hast forgotten the torat Eloheicha, I will also forget thy banim.
7 The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; therefore will I change their kavod into kalon (ignominy, shame).
8 They [i.e., the kohanim] feed on the chattat (sin) of Ami, and they relish their avon (iniquity).
9 And there shall be, like Am (People), like kohen; and I will visit them with punishment for their ways, and repay them for their doings.
10 For they shall eat, and not have enough; they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase; because they have abandoned being shomer to heed Hashem.
The Orthodox Jewish Bible fourth edition, OJB. Copyright 2002,2003,2008,2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International. All rights reserved.