Commentary on Hosea 5

Notes (NET Translation) 5:1 Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen closely, O king! For judgment is about to overtake you. For you were like a trap to Mizpah, like a net spread out to catch Tabor. 5:2 Those who revolt are knee-deep in slaughter, but I will discipline them all. The priests, …

Commentary on Hosea 4

Notes (NET Translation) 4:1 Listen to the LORD's message, you Israelites! For the LORD has a covenant lawsuit against the people of Israel. For there is neither faithfulness nor loyalty in the land, nor do they acknowledge God. Verses 1-3 introduce a covenant lawsuit (rîb) against the Israelites: the accusation is made (v. 1), the …

Commentary on Hosea 3

Notes (NET Translation) 3:1 The LORD said to me, "Go, show love to your wife again, even though she loves another man and continually commits adultery. Likewise, the LORD loves the Israelites although they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols." Hosea now tells the narrative in the first person. …

Commentary on Hosea 2:14-23 (2:16-25 MT)

Notes (NET Translation) 2:14 (2:16 MT) "However, in the future I will allure her; I will lead her back into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. Hosea 2:7 (2:9 MT) speaks of the woman (Israel) returning to her first husband (Yahweh) after punishment. This passage picks up the theme of restoration again. The typical …

Commentary on Hosea 2:2-13 (2:4-15 MT)

Notes (NET Translation) 2:2 (2:4 MT) "Plead earnestly with your mother (for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband), so that she might put an end to her adulterous lifestyle and turn away from her sexually immoral behavior. This section is primarily directed towards Israel. Continuing the marriage metaphor, it describes …

Commentary on Hosea 1:10-2:1 (2:1-2:3 MT)

Notes (NET Translation) 1:10 (2:1 MT) "However, in the future the number of the people of Israel will be like the sand of the sea that can be neither measured nor numbered. Although it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' it will be said to them, 'You are children of the living …

Commentary on Hosea 1:2-9

Notes (NET Translation) 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, he said to him, "Go marry a prostitute who will bear illegitimate children conceived through prostitution because the nation continually commits spiritual prostitution by turning away from the LORD." This passage describes the inauguration of Hosea's prophetic career. The Hebrew clause "take for yourself" …

Commentary on Hosea 1:1

Notes (NET Translation) 1:1 This is the LORD's message that came to Hosea son of Beeri during the time of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and during the time of Jeroboam son of Joash, king of Israel. The opening verse functions as a title for the book. Similar wording is found at …