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Hosea Chapter 8 (JPS)

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Hosea Chapter 8 (JPS)
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1 Set the horn to thy mouth. As a vulture he cometh against the house of HaShem; because they have transgressed My covenant, and trespassed against My law.

2 Will they cry unto Me: 'My G-d, we Israel know Thee'?

3 Israel hath cast off that which is good; the enemy shall pursue him.

4 They have set up kings, but not from Me, they have made princes, and I knew it not; of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off.

5 Thy calf, O Samaria, is cast off; Mine anger is kindled against them; how long will it be ere they attain to innocency?

6 For from Israel is even this: the craftsman made it, and it is no G-d; yea, the calf of Samaria shall be broken in shivers.

7 For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind; it hath no stalk, the bud that shall yield no meal; if so be it yield, strangers shall swallow it up.

8 Israel is swallowed up; now are they become among the nations as a vessel wherein is no value.

9 For they are gone up to Assyria, like a wild ass alone by himself; Ephraim hath hired lovers.

10 Yea, though they hire among the nations, now will I gather them up; and they begin to be minished by reason of the burden of king and princes.

11 For Ephraim hath multiplied altars to sin, yea, altars have been unto him to sin.

12 Though I write for him never so many things of My Law, they are accounted as a stranger's.

13 As for the sacrifices that are made by fire unto Me, let them sacrifice flesh and eat it, for HaShem accepteth them not. Now will He remember their iniquity, and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

14 For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and builded palaces, and Judah hath multiplied fortified cities; but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the castles thereof.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hosea 8 say about Israel's kings and idols?
God says, "They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not," and describes them using silver and gold to make idols (v.4), including the calf of Samaria that will be "broken in pieces" (v.6).
What does 'sow the wind, reap the whirlwind' mean in verse 7?
It's a warning that Israel's actions will bring disproportionate consequences: what they plant will yield nothing sustaining, and "if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up" - a cause-and-effect idea echoed in Proverbs 22:8.
What does the chapter say will happen because of Israel's idolatry?
Verse 14 warns that because Israel "hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples" while Judah multiplies fenced cities, God will "send a fire upon his cities" to devour their palaces.

Today's Verse

Yonder is the sea, great and wide, Wherein are things creeping innumerable, Both small and great beasts.

Psalms 104:25 | ASV

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