Jun 16 2007
Notes on Hosea 4:15-19
In chapter 4:1-3 God, through his prophet, announced a rib (reeb), a covenant controversy with the Northern Kingdom of Israel for its bloodshed, faithlessness, lying, adultery-in other words, its breaking of the commandments. In 4:4-14 an indictment of the priests of the kingdom was issued for not teaching the people rightly (vss4-10a). It was this which was at the root of the peoples failings, including the failings of the children of the priests (vss 10b-14). This chapter ends by confirming the North’s idolatry, and appealing to them to end it.
4:15 Though you, Israel, play the whore, let not Judah trespass, and do not pass into Gilgal, or go up to Beth-Aven, and do not swear, “as the Lord lives.”
Let not Judah trespass- The word asham refers to carelessness, neglect, or failure to perform a duty. It is often used of stubborn or out of control animals and the description of Israel in verse 16 may have influenced the use of the word here. The word is sometimes used for the incurring of cultic guilt; probably the intended meaning here.
Do not pass into Gigal, or go up to Beth-Aven- The exact location of Gilgal is unknown, and, complicating things seems to be the fact that several places bore this name. Almost certainly, the one referred to here is that which Joshua made his base of operation in Josh 4. This was the place where the people of God crossed the Jordan to begin the conquest of the land. As a memorial of the crossings of the twelve tribes into the land, 12 stones were set up at Gilgal, possibly giving the site its name. In Samuel’s day, before the building of the temple of Jerusalem (see Dt 12:2-7), the site seems to have been considered a holy place. With the advent of the Northern Kingdom, and its false worship (see 1Kings 11-13) the site seems to have become a rival to Jerusalem (see Amos 4:4; 5:5; Hos 9:15; 12:12).
Beth-Aven means “House of Iniquity” and is a pejorative term for Bethel, meaning “House of God.” Bethel, which was originally called Luz, was located about 14 miles north of Jerusalem. It is mentioned several times in the history of the Patriarchs, especially Jacob. Abraham built an altar there (Gen 12:8), and it is the place where Jacob had his famous vision (Gen 28). Like Gilgal, Bethel was a place where Samuel acted as a judge, suggesting that it was considered a holy place. Jeroboam’s establishment of the post Jerusalem temple shrine there was seen as a sin against the cult (1 Kings 12:25-13:3). It was maintained as a cult center throughout the history of the Northern Kingdom and was one of the motivations for God bringing the Northern Kingdom to an end (see Amos 3:13-5:9).
Do not swear, “as the lord lives”- The symbolic name given to on of the illigitimate children in 1:8-9 was “Lo Ammi,” “not my people”. This name was symbolic of the fact that Israel had broken its covenant relations with God. Only with the action of God in re-establishing relations would “Not my people” come to be called “children of the living God” (see 1:10-11, and note the reunion with Judah). As long as Israel is seperated from God, and stands as an enticement to sin for Judah, it has no right to swear by the living God.
4:16 Like a rebellious heifer Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like lambs in a large field?
The Living Lord God is the source of life, but, since they have separated from him, they have separated themselves from his care.
4:17 Ephraim keeps company with idols-leave him to himself.
Forsaking the company of the living God they have attached themselves to dead idols (Hos 8:4b-6); in effect, they have left themselves alone (without gods) and so will be left alone by the one true God.
4:18 When their drinking comes to an end, they then go a-whoring; they love their perversity more than their glory.
The text is uncertain and variously translated. Drinking probably refers to libations to pagan gods, followed by sexual rituals. This perversity stands in opposition to their glory. Glory is a word often used to denote the Lord’s presence (see note on 4:7). According to Isaiah 43:7 the people of God were created for his glory. The text goes on to say ‘Lead out the people who are blind though they have eyes, and those who are deaf, though they have ears.” This was how the people who gave themselves over to idolatry were described in Isaiah 42:17-20.
4:19 The wind has lifted up her skirts, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
Almost all translations I looked at translated biknapeha as “Its wings”; the word is derived from kanaph and can have both meanings. In keeping with the sexual overtones symbolic of idolatry, I think skirts is the right translation (Go here and see footnote 2).
