Hosea 8:2-12

2 Will they cry out to me, 'We are Isra'el, God, we know you'?

3 Isra'el has thrown away what is good; the enemy will pursue him.

4 They make kings, but without my authority; they appoint leaders, but without my knowledge. With their silver and gold they make themselves idols, but these can lead only to their own destruction.

5 Your calf, Shomron, has been thrown away; my fury burns against them. How long will it be until they are able to make themselves clean?

6 Here is what Isra'el produces: a craftsman makes something - it's a non-god; the calf of Shomron will be broken to pieces.

7 For they sow the wind, so they will reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no ears, so it will yield no flour; and if it does yield any, foreigners will swallow it up.

8 Isra'el is swallowed up; now they are among the Goyim like a vessel nobody wants.

9 For they have gone up to Ashur; like a wild donkey, alone by itself, Efrayim has bargained for lovers.

10 But even if they bargain among the Goyim, now I will round them up. Soon they will start to feel the burden of these kings and leaders.

11 For Efrayim keeps building altars for sin; yes, altars are sinful for him.

12 I write him so many things from my Torah, yet he considers them foreign.

Hosea 8:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 8

This chapter treats of the sins and punishment of Israel for them, as the preceding; it is threatened and proclaimed that an enemy should come swiftly against them, because of their transgression of the covenant and law of God, Ho 8:1; their hypocrisy is exposed, Ho 8:2; they are charged with the rejection of that which is good, and therefore should be pursued by the enemy, Ho 8:3; with setting up kings and princes without consulting the Lord, Ho 8:4; and with making of idols, particularly the golden calves, which would be of no use to them, disappoint them, and at last be broke to pieces, Ho 8:4-6; their seeking to their neighbours for help, and entering into alliances with them, are represented as vain and fruitless, and issuing in their ruin and destruction, Ho 8:7-10; their sins of multiplying altars, contrary to the law of God, and in contempt of it, and offering sacrifices to the Lord, are observed; and they with a visitation from him, Ho 8:11-13; and the chapter is concluded with some notice and Judah, the one building temples, and multiplying fenced cities, which should be by fire, Ho 8:14.