Hosea 5

This chapter begins with threatening the Israelites for ensnaring the people to idolatry by their sacrifices and other rites on Mizpah and Tabor, Hosea 5:1-5 . Their sacrifices, however costly, are declared to be unacceptable, Hosea 5:6 ; and their substance is devoted to the locust, Hosea 5:7 . Nor is judgment to stop here. The cities of Judah are called upon, in a very animated manner, to prepare for the approach of enemies. Benjamin is to be pursued; Ephraim is to be desolate; and all this is intimated to Israel, that they may by repentance avert the judgment, Hosea 5:8 , Hosea 5:9 . The following verses contain farther denunciations, Hosea 5:10-13 , expressed in terms equally terrible and sublime, Hosea 5:14 . The Lord afflicts not willingly the children of men; he visits them with temporal calamities that he may heal their spiritual malady, Hosea 5:15 .