Oseas 13

1 La ira de Dios contra Israel
Cuando hablaba la tribu de Efraín,
el pueblo temblaba de miedo
porque esa tribu era importante en Israel;
pero la gente de Efraín pecó al rendir culto a Baal
y así selló su destrucción.

2 Ahora siguen pecando, haciendo ídolos de plata,
imágenes hábilmente formadas por manos humanas.
«¡Ofrézcanles sacrificios —gritan—
y besen a ídolos que tienen forma de becerros!».

3 Por lo tanto, desaparecerán como la neblina de la mañana,
como el rocío bajo el sol del amanecer,
como paja llevada por el viento
y como el humo de una chimenea.

4 «He sido el Señor
tu Dios
desde que te saqué de Egipto.
No debes reconocer a ningún otro Dios aparte de mí,
porque no hay otro salvador.

5 Yo te cuidé en el desierto,
en esa tierra árida y sedienta;

6 pero una vez que comiste y quedaste satisfecho,
te volviste orgulloso y te olvidaste de mí.

7 Entonces ahora yo te atacaré como un león,
como un leopardo que acecha en el camino.

8 Como una osa a quien le robaron sus cachorros,
arrancaré tu corazón.
Te devoraré como una leona hambrienta
y te destrozaré como un animal salvaje.

9 »Estás a punto de ser destruido, oh Israel;
sí, por mí, el único que te ayuda.

10 Ahora, ¿dónde está
tu rey?
¡Que él te salve!
¿Dónde están los líderes de la tierra,
el rey y los funcionarios que me exigiste?

11 En mi enojo te di reyes
y en mi furia te los quité.

12 »La culpa de Efraín ha sido reunida
y su pecado almacenado para el castigo.

13 El sufrimiento ha llegado al pueblo
como dolores de parto,
pero son como un bebé
que se resiste a nacer.
¡El momento de nacer ha llegado,
pero siguen en la matriz!

14 »¿Debo rescatarlos de la tumba?
¿Debo redimirlos de la muerte?
¡Oh muerte, haz salir tus horrores!
¡Tumba, desata tus plagas!
Ya no les tendré compasión.

15 Efraín era el más productivo de sus hermanos,
pero el viento del oriente —una ráfaga del Señor
—
se levantará en el desierto.
Todos sus manantiales se secarán
y todos sus pozos desaparecerán.
Todo lo valioso que poseen
será saqueado y se lo llevarán.

16 El pueblo de Samaria
debe sufrir las consecuencias de su culpa
porque se rebeló contra su Dios.
Un ejército invasor los matará,
a sus niños los estrellarán contra el suelo hasta matarlos
y a las embarazadas las abrirán con espadas».

Oseas 13 Commentary

Chapter 13

The abuse of God's favour leads to punishment. (1-8) A promise of God's mercy. (9-16)

Verses 1-8 While Ephraim kept up a holy fear of God, and worshipped Him in that fear, so long he was very considerable. When Ephraim forsook God, and followed idolatry, he sunk. Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves, in token of their adoration of them, affection for them, and obedience to them; but the Lord will not give his glory to another, and therefore all that worship images shall be confounded. No solid, lasting comfort, is to be expected any where but in God. God not only took care of the Israelites in the wilderness, he put them in possession of Canaan, a good land; but worldly prosperity, when it feeds men's pride, makes them forgetful of God. Therefore the Lord would meet them in just vengeance, as the most terrible beast that inhabited their forests. Abused goodness calls for greater severity.

Verses 9-16 Israel had destroyed himself by his rebellion; but he could not save himself, his help was from the Lord only. This may well be applied to the case of spiritual redemption, from that lost state into which all have fallen by wilful sins. God often gives in displeasure what we sinfully desire. It is the happiness of the saints, that, whether God gives or takes away, all is in love. But it is the misery of the wicked, that, whether God gives or takes away, it is all in wrath, nothing is comfortable. Except sinners repent and believe the gospel, anguish will soon come upon them. The prophecy of the ruin of Israel as a nation, also showed there would be a merciful and powerful interposition of God, to save a remnant of them. Yet this was but a shadow of the ransom of the true Israel, by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. He will destroy death and the grave. The Lord would not repent of his purpose and promise. Yet, in the mean time, Israel would be desolated for her sins. Without fruitfulness in good works, springing from the Holy Spirit, all other fruitfulness will be found as empty as the uncertain riches of the world. The wrath of God will wither its branches, its sprigs shall be dried up, it shall come to nothing. Woes, more terrible than any from the most cruel warfare, shall fall on those who rebel against God. From such miseries, and from sin, the cause of them, may the Lord deliver us.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 13

This chapter begins with observing the different state and condition of Ephraim before and after his idolatry, Ho 13:1; his increase in it, Ho 13:2; and therefore his prosperity was very short lived, which is signified by various metaphors, Ho 13:3; and his sins are aggravated by the former goodness of God unto him his great ingratitude unto God, and forgetfulness him, Ho 13:4-6; hence he is threatened with his wrath and vengeance in a very severe manner, Ho 13:7,8; for which he had none to blame but himself; yea, such was the grace and goodness of God to him, that though he had destroyed himself, yet there were help and salvation for him in him, Ho 13:9; though not in his king he had desired, and was given, and was took away in wrath, Ho 13:10,11; but his sin being bound up and hid, and he foolish and unwise, sharp corrections would be given him, Ho 13:12,13; and yet a gracious promise is made of redemption from death and the grave by the Messiah, Ho 13:14; but, notwithstanding this, and all his present prosperity, he would be blasted in his wealth and riches; and Samaria the metropolis of his country would he desolate; and the inhabitants of it be used in the most cruel manner, because of their rebellion against God, Ho 13:15,16.