Hosea 4:13

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hosea 4:13

Hosea 4:13. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains The sacrificing upon the mountains and in shady groves was an ancient piece of idolatry, often mentioned and reproved by the prophets. They seem to have made choice of the tops of hills and mountains for their sacrifices and religious rites, as places nearer heaven; but what could be more absurd than to think that God, who is omnipresent, was nearer to them on the hills or mountains than in the valleys? Israel, says St. Jerome, loves... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hosea 4:1-19

4:1-8:14 ISRAEL’S MORAL CORRUPTIONHosea now turns from his personal experiences to the conditions in Israel that they illustrated. There appears to be little chronological order or logical development in this section. It consists of collections of numerous short messages that Hosea apparently delivered on various occasions over a number of years.Corrupt religion; corrupt people (4:1-5:7)The people have no knowledge of God or his law, and therefore they are unfaithful to him and deceitful in... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hosea 4:13

They sacrifice, &c. Compare Isaiah 1:29 , and Isaiah 57:5 , Isaiah 57:7 . Ezekiel 6:13 , and Ezekiel 20:28 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 12:2 ). read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hosea 4:13

"They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and terebinths, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters play the harlot, and your brides commit adultery."This verse enlarges upon the public conduct of the people who had turned away from God to worship pagan idols. The places mentioned, the mountain tops and hills, were chosen after the prejudice and blindness of paganism, because they were alleged to be closer to the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hosea 4:13

Hosea 4:13. Oaks— That is to say, the evergreen oak, or ilex. And elms] The acorn-tree, or the common oak. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hosea 4:13

13. upon . . . mountains—High places were selected by idolaters on which to sacrifice, because of their greater nearness to the heavenly hosts which they worshipped (Deuteronomy 12:2). elms—rather, "terebinths" [MAURER]. shadow . . . good—screening the lascivious worshippers from the heat of the sun. daughters . . . commit whoredom . . . spouses . . . adultery—in the polluted worship of Astarte, the Phoelignician goddess of love. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 4:11-14

The guilt of Israel’s idolatrous citizens 4:11-14The following section is a general indictment of the people of Israel for their idolatry. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hosea 4:13

They worshipped their idols on the tops of hills and under trees because they enjoyed worshipping at their convenience (cf. 2 Kings 17:10-11). This was as bad as the daughters of the Israelites practicing harlotry and adultery with male cult prostitutes (cf. Deuteronomy 23:17-18; 1 Kings 14:24). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hosea 4:1-19

Condemnation of the PriesthoodAn arraignment against Israel as a whole, because of all manner of wickedness against God and man. Prophet and priest, who ought to have taught them better, are only too like them in character, and must share their doom. In Hosea 4:15-17 there is an appeal to Judah not to follow the idolatrous practices of Israel.1. Controversy] i.e. a lawsuit: cp. Isaiah 3:13, Isaiah 3:14. 2. By swearing] RV ’There is nought but swearing.’ Break out] commit acts of violence. Blood... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Hosea 4:13

(13) The tops of the hills were continually chosen for idolatrous temples, i.e., “high places.”Poplar—i.e., the white poplar, not the storax of the LXX., which is a shrub only a few feet high.Elms should be “terebinth tree” (’çlah). read more

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