Hosea 9:1-9

Hosea 9:1-1 Samuel : . The Joyless Discipline of Exile.— The delirious joy of the popular nature-religion shall soon be exchanged for the sorrows of exile. In her own land Israel had treacherously ascribed to the Baalim the crops given by Yahweh; therefore, in a strange land, she shall lose all opportunity of sacrificing to Him. Their bread shall be “ as the bread of mourners,” unoffered and unconsecrated in Yahweh’ s Temple; and what will they do for festivals? Egypt shall be their grave, and all their wealth destroyed in the day of visitation ( Hosea 9:1-Judges : a) . If the prophet (Hosea) is “ mad” this is explained by the universal sin against Yahweh, and the universal enmity against His prophet ( Hosea 9:7 b, Hosea 9:8). The nation’ s guilt is indeed profound, and shall incur inevitable punishment ( Hosea 9:9).

Hosea 9:1 . joy: read “ exult not” (LXX).— By hire ( i.e. harlot’ s hire; cf. Hosea 2:14) is meant the material gifts which the Israelites look for as the reward of the Baal-worship.

Hosea 9:2 . shall not feed: read “ shall ignore,” and for “ her” read “ them” (LXX). They shall not enjoy the harvest ( cf. Amos 5:11).

Hosea 9:3 . Egypt and Assyria symbolise lands of exile ( cf. Hosea 7:11, Hosea 8:9; Hosea 8:13). The foreign land is unclean because it is impossible to sacrifice to Yahweh in it ( cf. Amos 7:17); there can be no more joyful sacrificial meals in Yahweh’ s house.

Hosea 9:4 . neither . . . mourners: read “ nor prepare for him their sacrifices. Like the bread of mourners shall their bread be.” By “ the house of the LORD” is meant any of the numerous sanctuaries, which were nominally dedicated to the worship of Yahweh.— [ Hosea 9:4 b , Hosea 9:5 .? a gloss.]

Hosea 9:6 . they . . . destruction: read “ they shall go to Assyria.” Their cherished possessions (pleasant things) in Palestine shall become a waste.

Hosea 9:7 b. Here a new verse should begin. It is the prophet’ s reply to the reproach of his hearers that he is “ mad.”

Hosea 9:8 f. The text appears to be corrupt. Hosea 9:8 a may mean “ Ephraim acts the spy with my God” (G. A. Smith), but this is doubtful. Hosea 9:8 b may refer to persecution encountered by the prophet. Then join Hosea 9:9 a, to Hosea 9:8, reading “ they have made a deep pit for him” ( i.e. they have plotted against the prophet). The rest of 9 may be an addition (? made up from Hosea 10:9 and Hosea 8:13; so Wellhausen). For the crime of Gibeah cf. Judges 19.