Overview
God issues a solemn covenant lawsuit against Israel's priests, princes, and people, declaring that their idolatry, hollow worship, and reliance on Assyria have made Him the very agent of their ruin — silently consuming them like a moth from within and tearing them like a lion — before He withdraws to His heavenly dwelling to await their genuine repentance.
Passages
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Hosea 5
1“Listen to this, you priests! Listen, house of Israel, and give ear, house of the king! For the judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah, and a net spread on Tabor.
2The rebels are deep in slaughter, but I discipline all of them.
3I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, Ephraim, you have played the prostitute. Israel is defiled.
4Their deeds won’t allow them to turn to their God, for the spirit of prostitution is within them, and they don’t know Yahweh.
5The pride of Israel testifies to his face. Therefore Israel and Ephraim will stumble in their iniquity. Judah also will stumble with them.
6They will go with their flocks and with their herds to seek Yahweh, but they won’t find him. He has withdrawn himself from them.
7They are unfaithful to Yahweh; for they have borne illegitimate children. Now the new moon will devour them with their fields.
8“Blow the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah! Sound a battle cry at Beth Aven, behind you, Benjamin!
9Ephraim will become a desolation in the day of rebuke. Among the tribes of Israel, I have made known that which will surely be.
10The princes of Judah are like those who remove a landmark. I will pour out my wrath on them like water.
11Ephraim is oppressed, he is crushed in judgment, because he is intent in his pursuit of idols.
12Therefore I am to Ephraim like a moth, and to the house of Judah like rottenness.
13“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria, and sent to King Jareb: but he is not able to heal you, neither will he cure you of your wound.
14For I will be to Ephraim like a lion, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I myself will tear in pieces and go away. I will carry off, and there will be no one to deliver.
15I will go and return to my place, until they acknowledge their offense, and seek my face. In their affliction they will seek me earnestly.”