Translations
Original
Notes
From the context (Hosea 2:13, 16–17), and similar passages in Isaiah 1:12–17 and Amos 5:21–24, it is clear that the Israelites had corrupted their festivals, new moon celebrations, and Sabbath days. They mixed worship of the Lord with worship of the Canaanite fertility god, Baal. God rejects this syncretism (mixing of different faiths) and declared he would remove these unholy days from Israel’s calendar.
God's first judgment (Hosea 2:6–7) was to limit the Israelites. This second judgment would take away and destroy what he had given them.
Rebuke your mother, rebuke her: At first glance, the Lord, like an upset husband, seems to be giving a divorce to his unfaithful wife, Israel (see Deuteronomy 24:1). However, as the passage continues, it becomes clear that God’s goal in this lawsuit is not divorce, but reconciliation (Hosea 2:14–23).
God’s case against Israel aims to make Israel aware of her sin and offer her a chance to return to her true husband. The Lord’s desire for reconciliation with Israel is surprising because the law required the death penalty for an unfaithful spouse (Deuteronomy 22:22; see also Genesis 38:24; Leviticus 21:9).
This section describes a small part of the prophet's life, focusing on his troubled marriage. It highlights God's difficult relationship with Israel, his chosen people.
God’s Faithfulness to His People Retribution The Broken Covenant
Events
- Prophecies of Hoseac. 785 BC
People
Sabbath: The seventh day of the week, set apart for rest and worship
Glossary
Covenant Feasts and Festivals of Israel Gomer Hosea, Book of Mercy People of God Ruhamah
Topics
Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Captivity, Famine, and Judgments Sabbath: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To The Feast of the New Moon: The Jews Deprived of, for Sin The Sabbath: The Wicked: May be Judicially Deprived of