Oséias 4

A Acusação contra Israel

1 Israelitas, ouçam a palavra do Senhor,porque o SENHOR tem uma acusaçãocontra vocês que vivem nesta terra:“A fidelidade e o amordesapareceram desta terra, como também o conhecimento de Deus.

2 Só se veem maldição, mentira e assassinatos,roubo e mais roubo, adultério e mais adultério;ultrapassam todos os limites!E o derramamento de sangue é constante.

3 Por isso a terra pranteia,^[a]e todos os seus habitantes desfalecem;os animais do campo, as aves do céue os peixes do mar estão morrendo.

4 “Mas que ninguém discuta,que ninguém faça acusação,pois sou eu quem acusa os sacerdotes.

5 Vocês tropeçam dia e noite,e os profetas tropeçam com vocês.Por isso destruirei sua mãe.

6 Meu povo foi destruído por falta de conhecimento.“Uma vez que vocês rejeitaram o conhecimento,eu também os rejeito como meus sacerdotes;uma vez que vocês ignoraram a lei do seu Deus,eu também ignorarei seus filhos.

7 Quanto mais aumentaram os sacerdotes,mais eles pecaram contra mim;trocaram a Glória deles^[b] por algo vergonhoso.

8 Eles se alimentam dos pecados do meu povoe têm prazer em sua iniquidade.

9 Portanto, castigarei tanto o povo quanto os sacerdotespor causa dos seus caminhos,e lhes retribuirei seus atos.

10 “Eles comerão, mas não terão o suficiente;eles se prostituirão, mas não aumentarão a prole,porque abandonaram opara se entregarem

11 à prostituição,ao vinho velho e ao novo,prejudicando o discernimento do meu povo.

12 Eles pedem conselhos a um ídolo de madeira,e de um pedaço de pau recebem resposta.Um espírito de prostituição os leva a desviar-se;eles são infiéis ao seu Deus.

13 Sacrificam no alto dos montese queimam incenso nas colinas,debaixo de um carvalho, de um estoraque,^[c] ou de um terebinto^[d]onde a sombra é agradável.Por isso as suas filhas se prostitueme as suas noras adulteram.

14 “Não castigarei suas filhaspor se prostituírem,nem suas noraspor adulterarem,porque os próprios homens se associam a meretrizese participam dos sacrifícios oferecidos pelas prostitutas cultuais—um povo sem entendimento precipita-se à ruína!

15 “Embora você adultere, ó Israel,que Judá não se torne culpada!“Deixem de ir a Gilgal;não subam a Bete-Áven.^[e]E não digam: ‘Juro pelo nome do SENHOR!’

16 Os israelitas são rebeldescomo bezerra indomável.Como pode o SENHOR apascentá-loscomo cordeiros na campina?

17 Efraim aliou-se a ídolos;deixem-no só!

18 Mesmo quando acaba a bebida,eles continuam em sua prostituição;seus governantes amam profundamente os caminhos vergonhosos.

19 Um redemoinho os varrerá para longe,e os seus altares lhes trarão vergonha.

Oséias 4 Commentary

Chapter 4

God's judgments against the sins of the people. (1-5) and of the priests. (6-11) Idolatry is reproved, and Judah is admonished. (12-19)

Verses 1-5 Hosea reproves for immorality, as well as idolatry. There was no truth, mercy, or knowledge of God in the land: it was ( 2 Kings. 21:16 ) which would desolate the country. Our sins, as separate persons, as a family, as a neighbourhood, as a nation, cause the Lord to have a controversy with us; let us submit and humble ourselves before Him, that he may not go on to destroy.

Verses 6-11 Both priests and people rejected knowledge; God will justly reject them. They forgot the law of God, neither desired nor endeavoured to retain it in mind, and to transmit the remembrance to their posterity; therefore God will justly forget them and their children. If we dishonour God with that which is our honour, it will, sooner or later, be turned into shame to us. Instead of warning the people against sin, from the consideration of the sacrifices, which showed what an offence sin was to God, since it needed an atonement, the priests encouraged the people to sin, since atonement might be made at so small an expense. It is very wicked to be pleased with the sins of others, because they may turn to our advantage. What is unlawfully gained, cannot be comfortably used. The people and the priests hardened one another in sin; therefore justly shall they share in the punishment. Sharers in sin must expect to share in ruin. Any lust harboured in the heart, in time will eat out all its strength and vigour. That is the reason why many professors grow so heavy, so dull, so dead in the way of religion. They have a liking for some secret lust, which takes away their hearts.

Verses 12-19 The people consulted images, and not the Divine word. This would lead to disorder and sin. Thus men prepare scourges for themselves, and vice is spread through a people. Let not Judah come near the idolatrous worship of Israel. For Israel was devoted to idols, and must now be let alone. When sinners cast off the easy yoke of Christ, they go on in sin till the Lord saith, Let them alone. Then they receive no more warnings, feel no more convictions: Satan takes full possession of them, and they ripen for destruction. It is a sad and sore judgment for any man to be let alone in sin. Those who are not disturbed in their sin, will be destroyed for their sin. May we be kept from this awful state; for the wrath of God, like a strong tempest, will soon hurry impenitent sinners into ruin.

Footnotes

• [a]. Ou "está seca"
• [b]. Conforme a Versão Siríaca e uma antiga tradição dos escribas hebreus. O Texto Massorético diz "trocarei a minha glória."
• [c]. Ou "benjoim, " um arbusto ornamental, de origem asiática, da família das estiracáceas.
• [d]. Árvore que, com incisão, produz goma aromática.
• [e]. "Bete-Áven " significa "casa da impiedade " (um nome para "Betel, " que significa "casa de Deus" ).

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA 4

This chapter contains a new sermon or prophecy, delivered in proper and express words, without types and figures, as before; in which the people of Israel are summoned to appear at the tribunal of God, to hear the charge brought against them, and the sentence to be pronounced upon them, and which would be executed. They are charged with sins of omission and commission; with want of truth and mercy to men, and with ignorance of God; with swearing, lying, murder, theft, and adultery, Ho 4:1,2, the punishment threatened is the sword, famine, and pestilence; which should affect the whole land, and all creatures in it, men, beasts, fowls, and fishes, Ho 4:3, then the priests and false prophets are threatened with falling into calamities along with the people, and with rejection from their office, and forgetfulness of their posterity, and a taking away their glory from them, because of their striving with the true prophets; their rejection of knowledge; forgetfulness of the law of God; covetousness, adultery, and drunkenness, Ho 4:4-11, then the discourse is turned to the people again, who are charged with divination and idolatry, which is spiritual adultery; and therefore, by way of retaliation, their wives and daughters would be left to commit adultery and fornication, Ho 4:12-14, and the chapter is concluded with advice to Israel not to tempt Judah to sin; or to Judah not to do the like, after the example of Israel, who were backsliders, idolaters, left of God and alone; guilty of bribery, and the like shameful things, and would be suddenly filled with shame, Ho 4:15-19.