Hosea 6:4-11

Hosea 6:4 to Hosea 7:2 . Israel’ s Moral Condition Hopelessly Corrupt.— The shallow expressions of loyalty by the fickle people mean nothing, and cannot avert Yahweh’ s inevitable judgment. He looks for real loyalty, not for a hollow ritual of sacrifices ( Hosea 6:4-Joshua :). Examples of the anarchy and crime that prevail, involving even the priests in the charge of murder and immorality, are given, demonstrating Israel’ s utter corruption, Judah also ( Hosea 6:11 a, if this is not a gloss) being involved ( Hosea 6:7-1 Kings : a) . Every attempt to heal the disease only reveals how deep-seated and universal it is ( Hosea 6:11 b – Hosea 7:2). The section appears to be composed of three originally independent fragments ( Hosea 6:4-Joshua :, Hosea 6:7-1 Kings : a, Hosea 6:11 b – Hosea 7:2).

Hosea 6:4 . Judah: Marti and Nowack read “ Israel.”— goodness: render “ love,” i.e. either love to God (loyalty to Yahweh) or love of neighbour.

Hosea 6:5 . read ( mg.) light: i.e. lightning. Such prophets as Elijah and Elisha are meant.

Hosea 6:6 . Cf. 1 Samuel 15:22.— mercy: render “ love” ( cf. Hosea 6:4 *).

Hosea 6:7 . like Adam: a place-name is required. Read either “ in Adam” ( cf. Joshua 3:16) or perhaps “ in Adman” ( Hosea 11:8). Some place where there was a sanctuary may be referred to.

Hosea 6:8 . Gilead: a town of this name is perhaps referred to in Judges 10:17, here as another centre of the cultus.

Hosea 6:9 . The sanctuary at Shechem is a den of thieves, the priests being the thieves, and the victims the pilgrims. Some incident well known to contemporaries may be alluded to.— lewdness: render, “ enormity.”

Hosea 6:10 . In the house of Israel: read, “ in Bethel” ( cf. Hosea 10:15, Amos 5:6).

Hosea 6:10 b . Read, “ there Ephraim hath played the harlot.”

Hosea 6:11 may be a gloss. The following words; “ When I would heal Israel,” are omitted by Wellhausen. He begins the section at, “ The iniquity of Ephraim is discovered.”

Hosea 7:1 . Read, “ entereth into the house” ( cf. LXX).— spoileth: read mg.