Verses 1-3
Israel’s breach of covenant 4:1-3
The Lord brought a legal charge against the Israelites for breaking the Mosaic Covenant. Again the literary form of this section is a legal confrontation (Heb. rib, cf. Hosea 2:2). Scholars therefore often refer to these courtroom type charges as "rib oracles," pronounced "reeve." Waltke called these messages oracles of reproach in the form of a lawsuit. [Note: Bruce K. Waltke, An Old Testament Theology, p. 836.] The Lord stated His charges against Israel in Hosea 4:1-3 and then developed these charges in reverse order.
| God’s Lawsuit against Israel |
| The charges | Stated | Developed |
| No faithfulness (trustworthiness) | Hosea 4:1 | Hosea 11:12 to Hosea 13:16 |
| No love (kindness) | Hosea 4:1 | Hosea 6:1 to Hosea 11:11 |
| No acknowledgment of God | Hosea 4:1 | Hosea 4:4 to Hosea 5:15 |
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