Hosea 8:3-13

3 Israel has cast off the good; the enemy shall pursue him.

4 They have reigned, but not by me; they have made dominion, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold they have made themselves idols that they may be cut off.

5 Thy calf, O Samaria, has cast thee off; my anger has been kindled against them until they could no longer be absolved.

6 For it is of Israel; and a workman made it who is not God: because the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces.

7 For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; they shall have no harvest; the fruit shall yield no meal: if so be it yields, the strangers shall swallow it up.

8 Israel shall be swallowed up; soon they shall be among the Gentiles as a vessel in which there is no pleasure.

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, a wild ass thinking only of himself; Ephraim has hired lovers.

10 Even though they hire the Gentiles, now I will gather them, and they shall sorrow a little for the burden of the king and of the princes.

11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, the altars shall be a sin unto him.

12 I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as strange things.

13 In the sacrifices of my gifts they sacrificed flesh and ate; but the LORD does not accept them; now he will remember their iniquity and visit their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

Hosea 8:3-13 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.