Commentary on Hosea

1To thy mouth the trumpet! As an eagle, against the house of Jehovah; For they have transgressed my covenant, And against my law have they acted perfidiously.

2To me will Israel exclaim, “My God, we have known thee,”

3Israel has cast good far away; — The enemy will closely pursue him:

4They have caused to reign, but not by me; Dominion have they set up, but I knew not; Of their silver and their gold they have made for themselves idols; They shall therefore be cut off.

5Cast thee far away has thy calf, O Samaria! — Kindled has my fury against them: How long will they not bear cleanness?

6For even from Israel it is; The artificer has made it, and it is no god; For in fragments shall be the calf of Samaria.

7Surely the wind they sow, and the tempest they shall reap; There is no stalks — the grain will produce no flour; If indeed it will produce, strangers will devour it.

8Devoured is Israel, — now shall he be among the Gentiles, Like a vessel in which there is no delight:

9For they went up to Assyria, like asolitary wild ass; — Ephraim hired lovers:

10Though they have hired among the nations, I will now gather them; And they shall grieve a little under the burden of the king and princes.

11Because Ephraim has multiplied altars to sin, Altars for sinning shall be to him.

12I have written for him the precious things of my law; As something strange have they been accounted.

13For sacrifices of burnt-offerings they offer flesh, and eat; Jehovah will not regard it as acceptable: He will now remember their iniquity, He will visit their wickedness; — To Egypt shall they return.

14For Israel has his Maker forgotten, and built altars: Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire on his cities, And it shall devour his palaces.