The Divine Lamp

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Hosea 8:5 Here begins the Prophets account of the Lord’s speech to Israel. The NAB reads “Cast away your calf, O Samaria!” This is a possible rendering, but the text could also be taken as “He (i.e., God) has rejected your calf, O Samaria!” ” Either way it is apparent that the false worship in Samaria is going to take another beating. However one chooses to translate the Hebrew zanahti here, a clear link is provided with verse 3 which spoke of the Israelites having “rejected” or “thrown away” (Hebrew: zanah) that which was good for them (the right worship of God).

The calf of Samaria. According to 1 Kings 12:26-33, Jeroboam, son of Nebat (i.e., Jeroboam the first, 922-901 BC), established cultic shrines (temples) at Dan and Bethel. There is little biblical evidence for there being a cultic center in the city of Samaria, though it should be noted that Samaria did not become the capitol of the northern kingdom until the reign of Omri, some fifty years after the time of Jeroboam. It would be highly unusual for a captiol to be without such a center. It should also be noted that a nations capitol is often named as a synonym for the whole nation; in such a case, “the calf of Samaria” could refer to all the shrines of false worship in the northern kingdom. In Hosea 10:5 the people of Samaria are said to fear for the calf of Beth-aven, a pejorative term for the cultic center at Bethel.

My wrath is kindled against them. What follows gives some of the reasons for God’s anger.

How long will the be incapable of being cleansed? This is certainly a reference to their insincere conversion and false piety (see Hosea 6:1-10).

Hosea 8:6 For itself is an invention of Israel. This is probably meant to convey the idea that the falseness of the calf idol is an invention, unreal, like their piety and conversion.

A workman mad it, and it is no god. No doubt meant to recall the prohibition against idols (Exodus 20:4-5; Deut 5:8-10). Man made idols were often ridiculed by the wise men and prophets of God (Wisdom 10:13-19; Isaiah 44:9-20).

The calf of Samaria shall be turned into spider’s webs. Other translations read “shall be broken in pieces,” or “shall go up in flames.” I suspect the last possibility is the most likely, since it links nicely with the statement that God’s wrath is kindled in verse 5.

Hosea 8:7 Idols are as empty and transitory as the wind, and one reaps what one sows. The wind image highlights the “vacuous nature” of idolatry (Marvin Sweeney). According to the book of Deuteronomy, the people were ensured of abundant and fruitful harvests if they maintained a right relationship with God under terms of His covenant (Deut 28:4). Failure to do this would bring crop failure (Deut 28:15-18, 38-44). Part of the problem in Israel was that its false worship of the true God-bad enough in itself- was often synchronized with worship of Baal, a fertility God who was though to make the land fruitful (Hosea 2:5). In order to prove that it was not the Baal’s who made the land fruitful God promised to show his power over the land (Hosea 2:6-13).

If it should yield, stranger will eat it. See Deut 28:29-33. Note especially verse 33 of the text.

Hosea 8:8 Israel is swallowed up… among the nations. Those who thought they consumed the fruits of the promised land by the power of the Baal’s will be swallowed up by idolatrous nations. The previous verse threatened despoilment of crops by their enemies, this build upon that with an obvious play on words: “Strangers will eat it…Israel is swallowed up…among the nations.”

Like an unclean vessel. “Vessel” is a term often used for paraphernalia employed in religious observances. Often times, a defeated nation’s temples were pillaged and the objects used in worship were taken to the victor nation’s shrines for display or use in the worship of their gods.

Note: Exile is clearly being threatened here (especially verse 7), but the prophet has a more immediate concern; notice that the wording of verse 8 is present, not future: “Israel is swallowed up.” The immediate concern is with the foreign alliances Israel has made with pagan nations. Such alliances entailed the invoking of these nations gods and will lead to the punishment of exile.

Hosea 8:9-10 Israel is “swallowed up” even now because of its political alliance with Assyria. Yahweh (God) should have been its so lover, however, like a senseless jackass the nation has wandered to other nations (and their gods). Like a harlot it has sought out other lovers (recall the marriage motif in chapters 1-3).

The text of verse 10 is highly problematic and variously translated and interpreted. Gathering could refer to the bringing of the people back from exile (Micah 2:12); but it is also used for the gathering of the people’s lovers (pagan nations) for the purpose of punishment (Ezek 16:37). They shall rest a while from the burden of kings and princes could mean that the people would be given relief from bad rulers. The meaning then could be: “I will gather the people to myself (i.e., lead them to conversion) to avoid their exile; and will do away with their rulers.” If this is the sense, then what is being alluded to here is probably the reunification of the northern kingdom of Israel with the Davidic kingdom of Judah.

However, the word behind the translation “they shall rest” can have sexual connotations. “They shall rest a while from the burden of kings and princes” could also be translated as: “They are profaned a little from sexual relations with kings…” The meaning of the verse then might be: They have hired themselves out as a harlot to the nations, so I will gather them together for judgment, for they have profaned themselves with foreign kings and princes.”

Hosea 8:11 Multiplication of altars was forbidden by Deut 12:4-14.

Hosea 8:12-13 The rendering of verse 12 by the NAB and the RSV is too be preferred to that of the DR translation. The Law of God has been considered something foreign by his people who have chosen foreign gods. Because of this, God has no regard for their sacrifice and will lead the people into exile. In verse 9 the people were said to”go up to Assyria,” as a result, they will now “return to Egypt.” This should not be construed as an actual exile in Egypt, rather, Egypt is the symbol of slavery and servitude to foreigners. The Israelites were already in that situation voluntarily by their alliance with Egypt; the prophet is here suggesting that it would turn worse, and the people would experience something similar to the bondage in Egypt.

Hosea 8:14 The focus of most of the criticism in Hosea is against Israel, but Judah is occasionally critiqued as well. Israel forgot its maker and built many temples. Judah has fortified many citites; the law forbid both the multiplication of temples and militarism. Israel, it would seem, was putting its trust in false gods; whereas Judah was putting its trust in martial arms.