Lesson15-HoseaChapters8&9
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THEBOOKOFHOSEA
Lesson15,Chapters8and9
LastweekthedivinewordsofHosea8:12ignitedatalkontheirreplaceable
valueofTheLawofMosesforIsrael,andforJudeo-Christianity,aswellasits
impactontheentirehumanpopulationoftheEarth.Andalso,whyitislogical
thatsuchamorallawcodecouldonlyhavebeengiventousfromoutsidethe
boundsofthefinite,andthatforhumanitytoignoreorevenattempttoabrogate
itisthemostfataloffollies.Weneednofurtherevidenceofwhatoccurswhen
thatattemptedabrogationhappensthatahorizon-to-horizonchaosand
confusionthathasengulfedourplanet,includingthemodernChurch.Itbrings
onaconfusionofrightandwrong,goodandevil,thathasevenfiltereddownto
themostbasicofallhumanattributes:gender.Butmoretothematterathand,
andasitstatesinverse12:
CJB
Hosea8:12IwritehimsomanythingsfrommyTorah,yetheconsiders
themforeign.
HerewelearnthatEphraim/Israelis,inGod’seyes,withoutexcuse.Hoseaknew,
asdidIsraelknow,ofawrittenformofallthatGodgavetoHisMediator,Moses,
onMt.Sinai.So,whileitistruethatsomuchofwhattheTorahteacheswas
handeddownmouthtoearoverthecenturies,itwasn’tbecausetherewasno
writtendocumenttoreferto,butratherbecausesincecopyingthatenormous
documentwaspainstakingandsoittookalongtimetomakeevenasinglecopy.
Asanaturalconsequence,therewerefewinexistence.Ofcourse,itwouldhave
beenthemonarchyandthepriesthoodthatpossessedthem.Andyet,becauseof
intentionaldisregard,andgivingintotheinherentevilinclinationofthefallen
humanmind,themanythingsGodcommandedIsraelfromtheTorahhad
becometobeconsideredas“notforthem”.Thesemanythingshad,inbutafew
generations,become“foreign”totheverypeopletowhomitwasgiven;either
obsoleteandcountermandedorsloughed-offandseenasforanotherpeople.
Soundfamiliar?Itisabedrockprinciple,andisshoutedfrompulpitsworldwide,
thattheTorahthatcontainstheLawofMosesisobsolete,oritwas
countermandedbytheadventofYeshua,oritisforanotherpeople(theJews).
AsrecordedinMatthewchapter5,Christemphasizedtothethousandswho
heardHisSermonontheMountthatHedidn’tchangeeventhetiniestofthe

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commandments,andthatuntilHeavenandEarthpassedawaynothingaboutthe
TorahortheProphetswouldchange;yet,theChurch(tothisveryday)
vehementlydeniesit.Asaresult,theinstitutionalChurchhasfounditselfinan
untenableplacethatallbutthefewesthaveyettorecognize;itnolongerhasa
writtenandobjectivemorallawcode.TheChurchtookapathtomakeGod’s
moralcodesubjectiveandindividuallytailored.Ephraim/Israelpaidaterrible
priceforsuchamindset.Whatmaybeinstoreforthoseofus…ourbrothersand
sistersintheLord…whoinsistonfollowingthatsameillogical,non-biblical,
disobedientpath?IthinktheBibleisclearonit;Goddoesn’taccepttheir
worship.
OpenyourBibleaswere-readthefinal2versesofHoseachapter8.
RE-READHOSEACHAPTER8:13,14
Therehavebeennumerousattemptstotranslatethisverse.We’vereadtheCJB
attempt;here’sacoupleofothers.
KJV
Hosea8:13Theysacrificefleshforthesacrificesofmineofferings,andeatit;
buttheLORDaccepteththemnot;nowwillheremembertheiriniquity,andvisit
theirsins:theyshallreturntoEgypt.
RSV
Hosea8:13Theylovesacrifice;theysacrificefleshandeatit;buttheLORD
hasnodelightinthem.Nowhewillremembertheiriniquity,andpunishtheirsins;
theyshallreturntoEgypt.
Really,mostBibleversionsinterpretthosewordswithinasimilarthoughtpattern.
Frankly,thefirsthalfoftheversemakeslittlesensewhentranslatedthatway.
TheyareallmadetosmackoftheLordsimplynotlikingtheconceptofa
sacrificialsystematall(which,ofcourse,hasbeentheratherstandardChristian
philosophysincethelate3
rd
century).Butifweremovethaterroneous
assumption,thenanaltogetherdifferentmeaningsurfaces.Ameaningthatties
togetherwiththeTorahcommandsthatGodhasjustupbraidedIsraelfornot
obeying.Abettermeaning,ascitedbyGruber,isthis:“WhentheypresenttoMe
generoussacrifices,whichtheyburnbeforeme,letthemeatmeat.Yehoveh
doesnotwantthem”.IntheTorah,mosteatingofmeatwastiedtotheactof

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sacrificing.And,whereasaccordingtotheLawofMosessacrificesforsin(and
therewere5categoriesofsacrifices,only2ofwhichdirectlydealtwithsin)
usuallydidnotallowthelaypersonpresentingthemtoeatanyportionofthe
sacrificedmeatanimal,andinsteadrequiredthatallwaseitherburneduponthe
altar(asameansofgivingittoGod)orsomewasburnedupandtheresteaten
bypriests,YehovehissayingthatIsrael’sattemptedsacrificestoHimareso
pervertedandwrong-mindedthatHedoesn’twantthematall;forallthegoodit
doesthepersonmayaswelljustgoaheadandeatallthemeathimself.Allowme
touseamoremodernapplicationthatwhilenotapreciseequivalent,itisclosely
associatedandwiththesameeffect.Itisthis:don’tbothertotitheyourmoney
toyoursynagogueorchurchifyoudon’tdoitwiththerightmindsetor
understandingofwhatitisyou’redoing.Or,ifyou’renotquitesureexactlywho
orwhatyoubelievein.Oriftheinstitutionyouarethinkingoftithingtois
unworthyofitfromGod’smorallawcodeperspective,becauseperhapsthey
don’tteachorpracticethebiblicaltruth.
ItisrarethatIteachontithingbecauseitsogreatlybothersmethatour
Judeo-Christianreligiousinstitutionstendtoholdtheirhandsoutatevery
opportunityandhave(tomythinking)regularlypervertedtheintentand
practiceoftithing.I’llbrieflycommentonit.First,doNOTgiveifyoudon’twant
togivewithagenerousheartandopenhand.Ifitfeelslikeit’ssomethingyouare
coercedtodo,howeverunwillingly,thendon’t.Second,areyouaBeliever?Ifyes,
thentithingisyourGod-commandedobligationtoHim.Ifno,thenitisn’t.Yet,if
theideaofloveshowntoGodasobedienceisn’tyourmotiveforgiving,thenyou
mayaswellkeepyourmoneyanduseitforyourself.Third,blindlygivingwithout
knowingtowhoandwhatyouaregivingisnotagoodidea.Thenumberof
Christianswhohavenoideaofwheretheirmoneyisactuallyisgoing,is
enormous.Forinstance:IpersonallyknowoffinanciallythrivingChristian
organizationsthatspeakofsupportingChristianityinIsraelinhopesofgetting
funds(andarequitesuccessfulatit),butinfactareonlyfrontsforanti-Israel,
anti-Jewish,anti-Zionistactivities.Thentherearetheemotionaland
never-endingpleasfromTVevangelists(andsometimeslocalpastors)formore
moneythatareoftenfollowedbypromisesofrichesandGod’sblessingsifyou
willsufficientlyrespond.Inotherwords,theattemptistopurchaseGod’sfavor.
Thatisnotwhatsacrificeswerefor(eventhoughthatisexactlywhatthepagans
usedthemfor,andwhatIsraelhaddevolvedintobelieving),noristhatwhat

Lesson15-HoseaChapters8&9
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tithingisabout.Finally,howmuchshouldyougive?Themeaningoftitheis
one-tenth.So,theratherstandardChristianmodelofaskingfor10%ofyour
incomeisbiblical.Yet,eventhatisonlypartlyso.InthemorallawcodeGodgave
toIsrael,10%wastheminimum.Therewereanumberoftypesofsacrificeswith
manyofthem(suchasFirstfruitsofferings)demandingamuchhigherportionto
besetapartforGodandforsupportofHisearthlyinstitution.So,thereyouhave
it.Itisn’tcomplicated.Butitisserious.Tithingwillingly,joyfully,ispartofour
faithandisexpectedbyGod.ItisnotaTraditionnoradoctrine;itisHisdivine
ordinance.Icannotpromiseyoumaterialrewardsevenifyoudoitintheproper
mannerandmindsetIhavejusttoldyou.But,Icanpromiseyouaclosermore
intimaterelationshipwithTheFather,andyoucanhaveanexpectationofGod’s
shalomfallinguponyouregardlessofyourpersonalcircumstances,ifyouobey
anddo.Let’smoveon.
Itisinterestingthat,wheninterpretedproperly,weseethatGodisattacking
Ephraim/Israel’ssystemofsacrificing.Thatis,Israelhadresortedtocreatinga
systemized,mechanicalapproachtosacrificingwithaquidproquoexpectation.
Formanyyearspriortoaround745B.C.,ithadseemedtoworkquitewellfor
them.Theywereaprosperousnationandgenerallyatpeacewiththeirneighbors.
Andyetbecausethegivingandsacrificingwasbyanunrepentantpeople,
Yehovehdidnotacceptthosegiftsandsacrificessoitwouldhavebeenbetterfor
themtohavenotsacrificedatall.Israelhadcometomentallytietogethertheir
religioussystemwiththeirprosperity,andtheyhadbadlymiscalculated.Very
rapidly,theirsystemsuddenlyquitproducingthesameresults.So,whatwas
theirresponse?RatherthanreverttotheirGod-givenfaith,orquestioningwhy
circumstanceswerechangingfortheworse,theydoubled-downonthatsame
system.Amodern-dayproverbisthatthedefinitionofinsanityistokeepdoing
thesamethingsbutexpectingdifferentresults.
And,bytheway,intheCJBwhenweseetheword“Adonai”asnotaccepting
thosesacrifices,andinotherversionsmoretypicallyitis“TheLord”,infactthat
isnotwhatitsays.Itsays“Yehoveh”…God’sformalname.Thisisbutoneofthe
nearly6,000timesintheOldTestamentthatthisnameexchangeoccursinour
EnglishBibles.ItisimportantthatweknowGod’sname,andthatweuseGod’s
namewhenidentifyingHim.ItiswhoHeis.IfHedidn’twantustoknowHis

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nameHewouldn’thavegivenit;andHisinspiredwriterswouldnothaveusedit.
What’sinaname?InYehoveh’scase…everything.
Thatlasthalfofverse13is:
CJB
Hosea8:13...Nowhewillrecalltheircrimesandpunishtheirsins-theywill
returntoEgypt.
WhatwehavehereisGodfollowingthroughwiththethreatofacurseonIsrael,
issuedlongago,shouldtheysufficientlyviolateHiscovenantwiththem.
CJB
Deuteronomy28:64-69
64
ADONAIwillscatteryouamongallpeoplesfrom
oneendoftheearthtotheother,andthereyouwillserveothergods,madeof
woodandstone,whichneitheryounoryourancestorshaveknown.
65
Among
thesenationsyouwillnotfindrepose,andtherewillbenorestforthesoleof
yourfoot;ratherADONAIwillgiveyouthereanguishofheart,dimnessofeyes
andapathyofspirit.
66
Yourlifewillhangindoubtbeforeyou;youwillbeafraid
nightanddayandhavenoassurancethatyouwillstayalive.
67
Inthemorning
youwillsay,'Oh,howIwishitwereevening!'andintheeveningyouwillsay,'Oh,
howIwishitweremorning!'-becauseofthefearoverwhelmingyourheartand
thesightsyoureyeswillsee.
68
Finally,ADONAIwillbringyoubackinshipsto
Egypt,theplaceofwhichIsaidtoyou,'Youwillnevereverseeitagain';and
thereyouwilltrytosellyourselvesasslavestoyourenemies,butnoonewillbuy
you."
69
ThesearethewordsofthecovenantwhichADONAIorderedMosheto
makewiththepeopleofIsra'elinthelandofMo'av,inadditiontothecovenant
whichhemadewiththeminHorev.
Herewehaveanoccasionofadoublemeaningofwhatitmeanstogobackto
Egypt.Israelliterallydidtry,atfirst,toruntoEgyptforhelpbeforeturningto
Assyria.But,later,eventhoughAssyriadidn’tscatterthemtoEgypt,theterm
“Egypt”alsohasthemeaningofgoingbackintoaconditionofmisery,captivity
andoppressionatthehandofgentilesastheyoncesufferedinthelandofEgypt
beforeGod,throughMoses,rescuedthem.
Thefinalverseofchapter8explainsthe“why”ofthepreviousverse.TheLordis
goingtopunishIsraelinthesewaysbecausetheyforgottheirmaker.Clearly

Lesson15-HoseaChapters8&9
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contextdemandsthatanymentionofJudahcanonlybeaninsertionatthehand
ofafutureeditor,probablysometimeafterthefallofJudahtoBabylon.Hoseais
entirelyamessagetoEphraim/Israel,andnottoJudah.Further,whatIsraelbuilt
wasnot“palaces”butratheritwastemples.Thismessageisaboutreligious
matters,nothousing.TheHebrewwordishekal.Whilethereareinstancesthat
itcanlegitimatelybeusedtospeakofaking’spalace,thecontexthereisof
temples.WhodidIsraelbuildtemplesto?I’msureifyouaskedanyIsraelitehe
wouldhavesaid“toGod”.AndI’mequallysurehewouldhavebeensincere
aboutit.ButthemerefactthatanyIsraelitewouldhavebuiltatemplewas
automaticallyaviolationofTorah.TherewastobeoneTempleonly,itwas
alreadyinexistence,inJerusalem.Butevenmore,theGodtheyenvisionedwas
oneintheirownimage,andnotthatoftheBible,despitewhattheymayhave
decidedtocallHim.
WhenthisversespeaksofIsraelhaving“forgotten”theirmaker,itdoesn’tmean
toforgetinthesenseof“wheredidIputmycarkeys?”Thewordisshakach,and
itmoremeanstosetsomethingasideortoignorewithneglect.Italsocarries
withitthenotionofsomething(inthiscasearelationship)slowlywitheringaway.
SoovertimeIsrael’srelationshipwithGodwitheredawayastheyprogressively
ignoredGod’sTorah,andneglectedtoobeyHiscommandments.Believers;you
mayhaveconvincedyourselfthatyouhavearelationshipwithGod,butifyou
arenotinHisWordandprayingandbeingobedienttoHiscommandments,your
relationshipwithGodispurefantasy.Icanspeakfromexperience.Asayounger
man,whoknewwhoJesuswasmyentirelife,andwhowasraisedinasolid
Christianhome,Ihadsomehowrationalizedthatmywrongbeliefsandbad
choicesandhowIlivedmylifeasanadultdidn’thavetoreflectmyknowledge
thatJesusexistedandthatHewastheSonofGod.AllthoserulesintheBible
were,tome,notapplicablebecausetheywereforanancientpeople.Instead,
Christhadgivenmeliberty.Libertyforwhat?Tome,anythingIwantedtodo.
Lookingback,itwasbecauseIwantedtolivemylifeacertainwaywithoutany
fetters.TohavespentthetimewithTheFather,andtohaveobeyedHim,would
mostdefinitelyhavecrampedmystyle.But,denyingallthiswasaprettyeasy
thingtodobecauseasIlookedaroundatotherswhocalledthemselves
Christiansonlysomeweremuchbetter.Ittookatragedyinmylifebeforethe
LordfinallygotmyattentionenoughthatIwaswillingtofacewhatIhadbecome,
andtochange.Eventhen,itwasaprocess.Apainful,butworthwhile,process.

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WestillseethissameGod-patterndescribedhereinHoseaasconcernsthe
peopleofIsrael.Theyaren’treadytochange,andsotragedyisabouttostrike.
Andthen,afterthetragedyandtherecognitionoftheirculpability,therewillbe
alongjourneyback…apainfuljourney…thatisneededbeforeGodacceptsback
intothefold.
Inthelastfewwordsofchapter8Godmakesthemostexplicitthreatyet;Heis
goingtodestroytheirstrongholds(thatis,theirwalledcities)withfire.Thiswill
beaccomplishedonHisbehalfbyAssyria.ThatwhichIsraelbelieveswillsave
them(theirfortressesandalliances),won’t.IntheBiblefireisalwaysusedfor1
of2things:purificationordestruction.WhenGodissaidtobesendingfire,itis
meantassendingHisdestructivewrath.
Asweconcludethischapterandmoveintochapter9,itisimportantthatwe
noticethatallthesewoesthatGodispronouncinguponIsraelrepresent
Covenantcurses.Pursuitbyenemies,destruction,judgmentbyfire,cropfailures,
losingtheresultsofone’seffortsandlaborstoanenemy,theendofnationhood,
andthenreturningtoEgypt(tocaptivity)allreflectspecificpunishmentsfor
specificviolationspreciselyaswrittendownintheTorah.
Let’smoveontochapter9.
READHOSEACHAPTER9all
Thefirst6versesofchapter9takeusfrommerrymakingtomourningfor
Ephraim/Israel.Israelhasacompletelyfalsenotionabouttheirsecurity;they
havenoawarenessthattheyhavedeeplyoffendedYehoveh…fordecades…to
theextentthatjudgmentisabouttopounceuponthem.Infact,I’llpointoutin
afewversesthatwithoutdoubtthemainmerrymakingactivitythatisbeing
depictedisatfestivaltime;anditispreciselytwofestivals,aspringfeastanda
fallfeast…thataretheoccasions.
Verses1–4dealdirectlywiththeself-assurednessofIsraelthattheir
abundanceandfestivaljoyhavenoendinsight.ButGodassuresthemthatthe
festivalswillendifnootherreasonthantheysimplywillnothavetheabundance
ofgrainandwineinordertocelebratethem.Inthefirstverse,thementionofnot

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exultinglikeothernationsdo(othernationsbydefinitionmeaninggentile
nations)ismeantinthesenseoftheemotionsandhappinessthatallthenations
experienceduringtheirownreligiousfestivities.Theothernations’exuberanceis
nottobematchedbyIsrael(likeitusedtobe)becausetheywon’tbehaving
muchtobeexuberantabout.
ThethemewovenintoallofHoseausingvariousmetaphorsandillustrationsisof
whoringorharlotry.Thatis,justasGomerwasthesexuallyunfaithfulwifeof
Hosea,soisIsraelistheunfaithfulwifeofYehoveh(andremember…wifeisjust
ametaphorandweshouldnevertakethisliterally).Inourcurrentfestival
context,theunfaithfulnessspeaksofthetypicalactivitiesoffertilitycelebrations.
IsraeldealtwithYehovehasthoughHewereBaal.Thepagans(andnowthe
Israelites)expectedtheirgodtorespondtotheirreligiousactivitiesbyproviding
fertilityforthecrops,theanimalsandfortheirwomen.Israelonlyaddedtotheir
sinbysettingBaalandYehovehside-by-side,respectingthemboth.Equallyas
egregious,Israelusedmanydifferenttemplesasthelocationsfortheirfestivities.
Sincompoundeduponsinallthewhileoblivioustoit.
ThefirstfestivaldescribedcouldbeBikkurim(Firstfruits)whenthebarley
harvestwascelebrated,oritcouldalsobeShavuot(Pentecost)whenthewheat
harvestwascelebrated.Thesecondfestivalcouldonlyhavebeenthefallfeastof
Sukkot.Partoftheusualcelebrationofallofthesefestivalsiswinedrinking.
But…drunkennessisnottobetolerated.Drinkingwineabsolutelywastohelp
relaxandgivepeopleagoodfeeling…anicebuzz.Gettingdrunkwasgoing
overboard.InHoseatheconcernaboutdrunkennessishowitleadstoillicit
sexualactivity:menbuyingthefavorsofprostitutesandwomenprovidingthat
service.
Thementionofthethreshingfloorisaninterestingone.Threshingfloorswere
morethanforwinnowinggrain;theywerelarge,wellcompactedflatplacesthat
alsoservedforcommunitygatheringsandpartying.So,itwasalsoonthe
threshingfloorswherecelebrationthatcoulddevolveintoprostitutionand
adulterytookplace.ThiswasdescribedinanotherBiblebookinascenethattook
placecenturiesearlier.

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CJB
Ruth3:1-8Na'omihermother-in-lawsaidtoher,"Mydaughter,Ishouldbe
seekingsecurityforyou;sothatthingswillgowellwithyou.
2
Nowthere'sBo'az
ourrelative-youwerewithhisgirls.He'sgoingtobewinnowingbarleytonightat
thethreshing-floor.
3
Sobathe,anointyourself,putonyourgoodclothes,andgo
downtothethreshing-floor;butdon'trevealyourpresencetothemanuntilhe's
finishedeatinganddrinking.
4
Then,whenheliesdown,takenoteofwherehe's
lying;later,goin,uncoverhisfeet,andliedown.Hewilltellyouwhattodo."
5
Sheresponded,"Iwilldoeverythingyoutellme."
6
Shewentdowntothe
threshing-flooranddideverythingashermother-in-lawhadinstructedher.
7
AfterBo'azwasthrougheatinganddrinkingandwasfeelinggood,hewenttolie
downattheendofthepileofgrain.Shestolein,uncoveredhisfeetandlaydown.
8
Inthemiddleofthenightthemanwasstartledandturnedover,and-therewas
awomanlyingathisfeet!
So,hereatthethreshingflooriswhereRuthmetBoaz.Aftercelebratingthe
harvestbymeansofeatinghisfillanddrinkingwineuntilhewassleepy,thefield
ownerBoazdozesoffonlytowakeandfindanattractiveyoungwomanathisfeet.
Hewasstartled,tosaytheleast,asthiswasanythingbutexpected.Fastforward
afewhundredyearsandtotheterritoryoftheNorthernKingdom,andthe
situationisnolongersoinnocent.AmanwouldintentionallydrinkuntilHewas
drunk,fallasleepnexttothethreshingfloor,andnotbeatallsurprisedtoawake
andfindawoman…likelyaprostitute…sleepingtherenexttohim.Thiswasthe
commonpaganwayofcelebratingfertility,andithadtransferredintotheway
IsraelcelebratedGod’sFeasts!Nowonderthefeastsnowgetprominentmention
tobeginHoseachapter9forIsraelhadpervertedthoseaswell.
Verse2explainsthatasaconsequenceofthiswhoring,thatwhichispreparedon
thethreshingfloor(grainforbread)andthatwhichispreparedinapress(olive
oil)willnotbeproducedinsufficientquantitytofeedthemanylonger.And,new
wine(meaningtheproductofthemostrecentbatchofgrapes)willbetoolittle
andofinferiorquality.Whatishappeninghereisfurtherenforcementofthe
termsoftheCovenantofMoses.GodwilldepriveIsraelofthethingsthatdrive
theireconomyandgivethemdailysustenance.Thisdeprivationwillbetheresult
ofacombinationofcropfailureandtheirenemyconfiscatingwhatlittleis
produced.Buttheseriousnatureofconsequencefortheirunfaithfulnesstakes
anevengreaterstepinverse3.

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Inverse3Yehovehsaysthattheyhavelosttheirprivilegeoflivinginthe
PromisedLand.ThePromisedLandwasnever“their”land;itwasalways
Yehoveh’s.Infact,thetermhereisactually“Yehoveh’sland”,which(bytheway)
issynonymouswith“Yehoveh’shouse”.Justasitiscompletelylogicalthatnot
onlydoesSynagogueandChurch,butalsoourentireplanet,bucklesand
staggerstowardschaosbecauseofdisregardingGod’smorallawcode,soitis
onlylogicalthatIsraelwillsufferandbeejectedfromthePromisedLandforthe
samereason.
CJB
Deuteronomy11:16-17
16
Butbecarefulnottoletyourselvesbeseduced,so
thatyouturnaside,servingothergodsandworshippingthem.
17
Ifyoudo,the
angerofADONAIwillblazeupagainstyou.Hewillshutupthesky,sothatthere
willbenorain.Thegroundwillnotyielditsproduce,andyouwillquicklypass
awayfromthegoodlandADONAIisgivingyou.
Thereisasenseinthefirstpartofchapter9thathighlightsthemisbehaviorof
individuals,asopposedtothemisbehaviorofIsrael’smonarchyandpriesthood
thatdominatedthefirst8chapters.So,thereisabalancepresentedthatsays
thatwhilereligiousandpoliticalleadershipmightbeleadingthechargetowards
paganismandwickednessagainstGod,individualsalsoremainculpablefortheir
ownmisbehaviorandsin.
Thelastpartofverse3speaksofeatinguncleanfoodinAssyria.Asconcerns
Israel,onceexiledfromthelandthereisnosuchthingforthemasthepossibility
ofeatingkosher.Foodgrown,raised,andeatenoutsideofthePromisedLandis,
byitsverynature,unclean.Thus,theentiretimethepeopleofEphraim/Israel
aregonefromthelandrendersthemrituallyunclean.
CJB
Ezekiel4:13ADONAIsaid,"ThisishowthepeopleofIsra'elwilleattheir
food-unclean-inthenationswhereIamdrivingthem."
Mergingintoverse4,itseemsthatthisisexpandingontheideathatwhenIsrael
issenttoliveinotherlandstheywillnotbeabletocarryoutsacrificialworship,
nomatterhowdesirousofittheymightbecome.Itisbecausetheir

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circumstances(circumstancesGodhasorchestrated)willnotallowit.Theverse
beginsbyspeakingof“pouringout”thewineoffering.Thebettertermthan
“pouringout”islibation.Libationisthereligioustechnicaltermthatreferstothat
partofeverysacrificialofferingthatinvolvedaddingalibationoffering
(sometimestranslatedasdrinkoffering).Sacrificesconsistedofthreeparts:the
meat,thegrain(theminchah),andthewineinvaryingquantitiesandorderand
exactlywhateachpartcouldbeusedforandbywhom.Bysayingthewinecan’t
bepouredout(thelibationofferingcan’tbemade),thenitinherentlymeans
sacrificescan’tbeproperlymade,renderingthemuseless.Andsinceatoningfor
sinswillbethemostimmediateandcriticalconcernfortheseIsraelites,itmeans
thatnoatonementwillbepossibleforthem.Theeffectsofbeingkickedoutofthe
PromisedLandarefarmoreextensivethanbeingforcedtolivesomewhereelse,
undersomeothergovernment.TheseIsraelitesshallremain,indefinitely,ina
stateofsinandritualdefilement.Tounderstandthegravityofthissituation,
Believers,imagineyourstatepriortoyoubecomingaBeliever.Assumingyou
understandwhatthismeans…anditmeansmuchmorethanwhetheryougoto
HeavenorHell…thinkofitasthoughGodsaidtoyou:“Sorry,butyourmeansof
atonement(trustinJesus),andthuspeacewithMe,isnotcurrentlyavailablefor
you”.Godhasdeterminedtoblockyoufromredemptionandthereisnopath
aroundit.Thisiswhatisabouttohappentotheentirepopulationof
Ephraim/Israelanditwouldremainthatwaynotformonthsoryearsbutrather
forcenturies.Extrapolatethattounderstandingthat,usingthesamemodeland
pattern,sincetheadventofYeshua,anyonenottrustinginHimpriortotheir
deathwillremainintheirsinsandapartfromGodnotformonths,yearsoreven
centuries,butforalleternity.Permanentlyblockedfromredemptionandnoway
aroundit.
ExpandinguponwhythosesacrificeswillnotbeacceptabletoGod,thenextpart
ofverse4saysthatforIsrael,thoseintendedsacrificialofferingswillbetoGod
asitiswithpeopleeatingafoodofmourning.Anyonewhoeatsafoodofmorning
becomesdefiled.So,Godisnotabouttoacceptadefiledsacrificebecauseit
woulddefileHim.Thisthoughtofafoodofmourning,lechemoniminHebrew,
likelycomesfromtheLawofMoses.
CJB
Deuteronomy26:12-14
12
"Afteryouhaveseparatedatenthofthecrops
yieldedinthethirdyear,theyearofseparatingatenth,andhavegivenittothe

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Levi,theforeigner,theorphanandthewidow,sothattheycanhaveenough
foodtosatisfythemwhilestayingwithyou;
13
youaretosay,inthepresenceof
ADONAIyourGod,'IhaveridmyhouseofthethingssetasideforGodandgiven
themtotheLevi,theforeigner,theorphanandthewidow,inkeepingwithevery
oneofthemitzvotyougaveme.Ihaven'tdisobeyedanyofyourmitzvotor
forgottenthem.
14
Ihaven'teatenanyofthisfoodwhenmourning,Ihaven'tputanyofitaside
whenunclean,norhaveIgivenanyofitforthedead.Ihavelistenedtowhat
ADONAImyGodhassaid,andIhavedoneeverythingyouorderedmetodo.
Mourners,becausetheyhavecomeincontactwith,orhavecometooclosetothe
presenceof,thedeadwererituallybarredfromtheTemplesanctuaryandanyof
itsactivitiesbecauseofthedangeroftransmittingtheiruncleannesstotheholy
precinct.So,whatcanIsraeldowiththebread(thegrainoffering)thatwas
usuallypreparedtogoalongwiththeirsacrifices?GodsaysIsraelwilluseitto
satisfytheirownhungerbecauseitnotsuitableforanyotherpurpose.Likethe
meatofferingHerefusestoaccept,soitisforthegrain(thebread)offering.
Saying“itwillnotcomeintothehouseofAdonai”hereisreferringtotheTemple,
wheresacrificesweretotakeplace.Remember:formorethanacenturyafter
Israelwasexiled,theTemplewasstillstandingandfunctioninginJerusalem,
becauseJudahwasstillintact.So,akindofparallelmeaningisthateventhough
you(Israel)mightchangeyourmindsandbehaviors,theTemplewillbeclosed
toyou.TheseverityofwhatisabouttohappentoIsraelisbeingfurtherspelled
out.AseveritythatcangorightovertheheadsofmodernChristians,butit
certainlywouldnottotheIsraeliteandJudahitehearersandreadersofHosea’s
prophecy;iftheyhadbelievedit,theywouldhavebeenhorrified.
Inverse5,afterexplainingtheimpossiblecircumstancesIsraelisgoingtofind
themselvesin,Yehovehposesasemi-rhetoricalquestion.Whenthemoedim
(theappointedtimes)offeastsrollaround,wheredoyousupposeallofthis
leavesyou?Thenthereisspecificmentionof“thefeastoftheLord”.Or,more
literally,chagYehoveh….thefeastofYehoveh.Thereare3biblicalfeastsofthe
chagkind.TheyarealsoknownaspilgrimagefeastsbecauseallIsraelitesare
expectedtomakeajourneytotheTempleforeachofthose3:UnleavenedBread,
Firstfruits(Pentecost),andtheFeastofTabernacles.InHosea’sera,the“feastof
Yehoveh”andtheFeastofTabernacles(Sukkot)wereparallelterms.Tobeclear:
therealquestionis“whatwillyoudowhenitistimetocelebrateSukkot?”While

Lesson15-HoseaChapters8&9
13/13
forChristianitythePassoverseriesoffeastsiskindofthegranddaddyofallthe
feasts,forIsraelitwasSukkot.Itwasthefinalfeastoftheyearly7-feastcycle,
andespeciallythefinaldayofthe7-dayFeastofTabernacleswasthegreatestof
themall.Thisiswhythisfeastinparticularismentioned.
Maybethebestwordtosumupthethemeofverse6isfutility.Theideaofitis
this:beingexiledisaforegoneconclusion.Thereisnowaytoavoidit,soall
thoughtsfromhereonoutoughttobehowtoprepareforit,andtostartto
mentallyprocessthisexile’smanyramifications.Whatisthisoddmentionof
EgyptandMemphis?Atthistime,MemphiswasthecapitalofEgypt.Intoday’s
terms,itislocatedabout13milessouthofCairo.Egyptianlegendisthatthis
placewasfirstsettledbyMenesabout3000B.C.,andthatheisthefounderof
the1
st
Egyptiandynasty.Thus,allthefollowingEgyptiandynastiesare
numberedwithMenesasthestartingthepoint.Memphiswaswidelyknownfor
itsamazingnecropolis(cityofthedead).FormanyIsraelites,theystill
consideredEgyptasaviableoption(amoreattractiveoption)tofleetoincase
Assyriaindeeddidinvadethem.GodissayingthatmanyIsraelitesmightchoose
totakethatoption,butintheendtheEgyptianplaceofthedeadwillbewhere
theirboneswillrest;andthatiscertainlynotaplaceofhonor.
Thenextmentionofthelossoftheir“precioustreasuresofsilver”isreferringto
whatIsraelhaspurchasedwithmoney.Andinthecaseofthisagrariansociety,
landsandfieldswerewheremostoftheirmoneywasinvested.Thus,thenext
wordsessentiallytellIsraelwhatwillbecomeoftheirinvestmentsandthehard
laborthatmadethemintofieldsthatproduced.AgoodEnglishrenderingis
probablythis:“Weedwillinheritthem,andthornstheirhomes.”So,theideais
thatshouldtheychoosetoabandonthosefieldsandrushtoEgypt,thelandwill
gobacktoitsprimalstate.TheHebrewwordusedforweedsisn’treallythe
generictermforanunwantedpestofaplantlikeitappearstous.Thewordis
qimmosanditisaparticularspeciesofplantthatallIsraelitefarmerswere
(unhappily)familiarwith.
Intheend,twotypesoffutilityarehighlighted.Thefutilityoftryingtoescape
fromtheAssyrianinvasionandthedestructionitwillbringwithit,andthefutility
ofalltheirhardworkofhavingsavedforandpurchasedfields,laboringinthose

Lesson15-HoseaChapters8&9
14/13
fieldstofinallymakethemproductiveandprofitable,onlytowindupleaving
themtoanenemythatdidn’tworktogetthem.
We’llstophereandpickupatverse7nexttime.