Hosea 9:10-17

Hosea 9:10-Esther : . The Nemesis of an Impure Worship ( cf. Hosea 4:11-2 Chronicles :).— Israel in unspoilt youth had appeared to Yahweh “ like grapes in the wilderness,” but at the very first of the Canaanite shrines which they reached, Baal-Peor, they polluted themselves ( Hosea 9:10). The consequent nemesis was barrenness [12] ( Hosea 9:11).—“ their root is dried up” ( Hosea 9:16) should be inserted (Wellhausen) between Hosea 9:11 and Hosea 9:12. If children are brought up to die prematurely ( Hosea 9:12), or are destined to slaughter ( Hosea 9:13), let Yahweh rather only doom them to barrenness ( Hosea 9:14). The centre of all this iniquity is the cultus at Gilgal, and because of it they shall be driven “ out of mine house” ( i.e. Yahweh’ s land), unloved; all their princes are rebels, they are rejected and doomed to exile ( Hosea 9:15; Hosea 9:17).

Hosea 9:11 . The name Ephraim suggests a bird’ s pinions (’ abâ rî m) . Their glory, i.e. their abundant population, shall take wings and fly.

Hosea 9:12 a. though: render “ even if.”

Hosea 9:12 b. ? a gloss.

Hosea 9:13 . The text is corrupt. It may be restored ( cf. LXX) somewhat as follows: “ Ephraim I have seen like a man, who maketh his sons a prey, Yea Israel himself hath led forth to the slaughter his sons!” (so Marti, cf. Wellhausen).

Hosea 9:14 . A despairing interjection by the prophet. Let Ephraim be doomed to barrenness rather than rear children only for slaughter.

Hosea 9:15 . In Gilgal ( cf. Hosea 4:15), one of the most famous sanctuaries of the cultus, “ the corruption of the northern kingdom had its focus” (Cheyne). Had it been the scene of human sacrifice ( cf. Hosea 9:13 as above)?— all their princes are revolters: there is an assonance in the original, “ all their rulers are unruly” ( cf. Isaiah 1:23).

Hosea 9:17 .? a gloss.