Hosea 5

Chapter 5



1 Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor.

The leaders of Israel have led the common man into sin. They are responsible for the sins of the people and will receive the greater judgment.

2 And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all.

God has given Israel plenty of warning but they just don’t listen.

3 I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

Ephraim was the leading tribe in Israel. They were the ones who evidently introduced idol worship (spiritual adultery).

4 They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD.


5 And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.

This is the first prediction in the book of Hosea that Judah will eventually fall also.

6 They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find Him; He hath withdrawn himself from them.

God is fed up and will not take apologies at this point. It is time for punishment.

7 They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

Temple prostitution had produced a bunch of illegitimate children, a practice the Law had declared abominable. God values the family as the best place to raise up servants for Him, but this prostitution had denied the children the family they needed. What’s more, all children born did not know God because of the parent’s lack of teaching. They were all strangers to Him.

8 Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin.

The cities in Benjamin (the border between Israel and Judah) will see the destruction coming on Israel.

9 Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be.


10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.


11 Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.


12 Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness.

Both Israel (represented by the tribe Ephraim) and Judah will be punished, though Judah’s punishment will be delayed for a time.

13 When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.

Israel and Judah both went to Assyria when they saw they were in danger from Egyptian aggression. They did not seek their God.

14 For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.

As punishment God will destroy both nations as thoroughly as a lion destroys his prey.

15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

God will leave Israel and Judah without protection until they come looking for Him. He won’t help them because they looked to others to protect them.