Apr 19 2008
My Notes on Hosea 8:1-4
The text is divided into three parts: A) Verses 1-4, in which God, through his Prophet, announces the charge of Israel’s violation of the covenant; B) verses 5-13a, God, through the prophet, lays down specific charges against Israel; C), verses 13b-14, the punishment of Israel (and Judah) is announced. In this post I will examine the first part, vss 1-4.
Vs. 1 Set the trumpet to thy mouth. As an eagle he comes against the house of Yahweh, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. As verse 2 makes clear, the words are directed towards Israel. The reference to the trumpet reminds us of the words addressed to Benjamin in 5:8. The trumpet (Hebrew: shofar, ram’s horn) was both a cultic instrument, (Ps. 98:6; Num 29:1) and a military alarm/call-to-arms (Num 10:9; Judges 6:34). The eagle would perhaps read better as vulture, a bird of prey which feasts upon carrion, for Israel, as a result of its breaking of the covenant, will be “swallowed up (vs 8). The Hebrew nesher is derived from a root meaning to lacerate, implying any type of bird which rends the flesh of its prey. Who the he is who comes against the House of Yahweh is is not stated; however, birds of prey, especially the eagle, were symbols used by the Assyrian kings to symbolize their military might. God, it appears, is threatening to use Assyria as an instrument of punishment for covenant transgression. The House of Yahweh is probably to be understood as an ironic reference to the false shrines established in the Northern Kingdom at Dan and Bethel. The construction of these shrines were soundly condemned by numerous prophets and were not truly the House of Yahweh. The law laid down that worship and sacrifice was to take place only at the spot chosen by God (see Deut 12:1-14). Likewise, the law forbid the making of idols, and the sanctuaries in the north contained altars in the shape of bulls or calves, recalling the sin of the golden calf during the Exodus (see vss 5, 6; Ex 32; 1 Kings 12:26-33). Transgression implies open, known, pre-meditated rebellion. This makes the following verse rather telling.
Vs 2 They shall cry unto me, ‘My God, we Israel know thee’. Brings up once again the theme of Israel’s insincerity in its covenant relations with God (see 5:15-6:4). The text is somewhat awkward, given the singular “my” in conjunction with the plural “we.”
Vs 3 Israel has cast off that which is good; the enemy shall pursue him. The word translated cast off has the meaning of “throw away” and is a reference to their rejection of God and/or the covenant (recall verse 1). As has been noted several times in my notes, being pursued by an enemy is one of the major punishments for covenant infidelity as laid down in the Book of Deuteronomy 28.
Vs 4 They have set up kings, but not by me, they have made princes, and I knew it not; with their silver and their gold they have made idols, and so they will be cut off. The reigning king of Israel at the start of Hosea’s ministry was Jeroboam II, a descendant of King Jehu whom God had established on the throne and to whom he promised a 4 generation line of succession. To whom then, does the text refer? To previous or post Jeroboam II kings? Either is possible, especially the latter. After the reign of Jeroboam II a series of 6 kings came to the throne over a period of 20 years. Of that number, 4 were assassinated and two were removed by the Assyrians. Personally, I like the suggestion of Marvin Sweeney who thinks the kings and princes referred to are a reference to the various political alliances Israel formed with pagan nations. Israel tended to be subservient in these relationships and, therefore, at the beck and call of these foreign rulers. As we have already seen in previous notes, the Prophet has condemned such alliances several times. Such alliances were covenantal and entailed swearing oaths and offering sacrifices to the foreign gods and honoring them in ones own country, hence the statement with their silver and gold they have made idols. These alliances fostered trade, bringing wealth (silver and gold) to Israel (see 12:1-2). Having cast off that which is good (God and covenant vs 3) they will in turn be cut off.
Vs 5
