Hosea 10 Study Notes

10:9 God speaks in vv. 9-15. Allusions to Gibeah in 9:9 and 10:9 (see also 5:8) recall the civil war occasioned by a Levite’s concubine being raped, murdered, and cut into pieces (Jdg 19-21). Like Samaria, Gibeah was a hill with a fortress; it served as Saul’s capital during his kingship but was later deserted. So it represents both depravity and militarism and may have figuratively referred to Samaria.

10:10 On the double iniquity, see note at 8:4-6.

10:11 Calves were sometimes allowed to walk atop fresh grain stalks that had been laid out on the ground in order to separate the husks from the kernels (Mc 4:13). Little effort was involved, and the calves could eat some of the grain (Dt 25:4; 1Co 9:9; 1Tm 5:18). Israel would cease to be like the calf and would have to plow with the yoke of discipline.

10:12-13 The exhortations to sow . . . reap, and seek are essentially identical in meaning. Israel was to seek righteousness . . . faithful love, and the Lord. This recalls the threefold charge against Israel in 4:1 and is the summary of a life that pleases God (2:19; Ps 33:5; 36:10; 89:14; 103:17; Pr 21:21; Jr 9:24). But Israel had sought wickedness . . . injustice, and the fruit of lies. The latter is probably the “false fruit” of idolatry and military power, which looks good (Gn 3:6) but is unsatisfying and poisonous (Hs 10:4). Sends . . . like the rain renders the Hebrew verb yarah (“to rain, irrigate”) also found in 6:3 and related to the noun for the “early rains” that fell in Palestine in the fall.

10:14-15 The identities of Shalman and Beth-arbel are uncertain, but Shalman may refer to the Assyrian king Shalmaneser. Hosea’s hearers were apparently familiar with the incident. This battle, like the one prophesied, started at dawn.