Study notes

Hosea 5

Introducing HoseaWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

4:1–14:9 Section

The people and leaders of the northern kingdom hadn’t loved God. They hadn’t shown faithfulness to him. The way that God explained this was like bringing charges against them in court. God accused them of not being faithful to the Mount Sinai covenant.

The people and leaders of the northern kingdom didn’t honour God as God. They stole and told lies. They committed murder and adultery. These things went against the Ten Commandments. The ways that God’s people acted brought harm to the land and animals around them. This showed that they weren’t being rulers of God’s creation like they should be.

They burnt incense to false gods on high places. They killed human beings and sacrificed them to false gods. This showed that God’s people didn’t recognise who God is. They didn’t recognise how he wanted to be worshipped.

The priests didn’t lead the people in following the Law of Moses. Many prophets didn’t speak the truth to the people. God’s people made fun of prophets who did speak the truth. The kings and princes didn’t follow God’s rules for kings recorded in Deuteronomy 17:14–20. They depended on the strength of their large armies and the armies of other nations. They trusted nations like Egypt and Assyria to save them when they were attacked. They didn’t cry out to God when they needed help.

Because of all of these things, God had made a decision. He would no longer keep the covenant curses from coming upon them. He would allow the northern kingdom to be destroyed by the armies of Assyria. The people and leaders of the northern kingdom would suffer terribly. Many would be killed and many would be forced to leave their land. They would be forced to live in Assyria and other nations. This was the exile of the northern kingdom.

God was very sad about this decision. He didn’t want it to happen. He wanted to bless and heal his people and give them success. But he could only do that if they changed their ways and did what was right and fair. He could do it if they recognised that he is God. He could do it if they asked him to forgive them. That was why God sent them messages through Hosea. God understood that his people refused to turn back to him. They refused to repent of their sin with their whole heart. But God’s heart was full of kindness, pity and mercy towards them. He described himself as Israel’s father. God was gentle and tender towards his son. He didn’t want his son to be destroyed.

God promised something for after the time of judgement. He promised to bring his people back from exile. Then they would follow God faithfully and he would love them freely.

5:1

  • Hosea criticizes Israel's religious and political leaders. They have led the people into idol worship, like hunters trapping animals.

  • The specific sins at Mizpah and Tabor are unknown.

5:2

I will chastise them all: This refers to God’s judgment. The Hebrew word musar means “discipline.” God’s judgment would certainly fall on Israel’s leaders. God did not judge Israel only to punish them, but to correct them so that his people would return to him.

5:3

Israel is defiled: The word translated as defiled often appears in the first five books of the Bible to describe ritual uncleanness. This physical condition prevented a person from worshiping God in the temple (Leviticus 11–15). The prophets used this idea as a metaphor for Israel’s moral uncleanness due to her idolatry (Isaiah 6:5; Micah 2:10).

5:4

  • Israel’s worship of idols was so deeply rooted that the people seemed unable to return to the Lord.

  • the spirit of prostitution is within them: Israel’s sin was not only an action. It had become part of the nation’s basic character. The people naturally chose what was corrupt instead of what was pure. Only through God’s saving work could Israel be freed from this.

5:6–7

People might believe they can earn God's favor with sacrifices. However, Hosea warned them that they would not find him. God had left them to face the consequences of their sins.

5:8–9

  • Hosea warned the Israelites about God's coming judgment. Due to their sins, the Lord had become Israel's enemy and would punish them.

  • Gibeah, Ramah, and Beth-aven (another name for Bethel) are cities in the tribal territory of Benjamin.

5:10

those who move boundary stones: The Lord owned the land and entrusted it to the tribes after the conquest (see Joshua 13:8–19:51). Moving a boundary marker and changing God's allotted boundaries was stealing from God (Deuteronomy 19:14). Such an act rightly brought divine punishment (Deuteronomy 27:17).

5:12

a moth … decay: Sin can slowly weaken a people at their core, and they may not realize the damage until it is already done.

5:13

To prevent complete destruction, the Israelites removed King Pekah and made Hoshea the new king. Hoshea asked the Assyrian king Shalmaneser for peace (2 Kings 15:29–30; 17:3), but these efforts could not save Israel. Assyria would soon destroy them.

5:15

Hosea reminded Israel that divine judgment was not just punishment. God's goal was to persuade Israel to admit their guilt and return to the Lord (see Hosea 2:2, 14).

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources