Retribution for Israel’s Sin
Israel was a luxuriant vine, Hos 8:11Hos 12:11Isa 5:1-7Lev 26:1Php 2:211Ki 14:23Jer 2:28Rom 14:7-8
yielding fruit for himself.
The more his fruit increased,
the more he increased the altars.
The better his land produced,
the better he made the sacred pillars.
Their hearts are devious; 1Ki 18:21Mic 5:13Jas 4:4Jas 1:8Luk 16:13Rev 3:15-16Zep 1:51Sa 5:4
now they must bear their guilt.
The LORD will break down their altars
and demolish their sacred pillars.
Surely now they will say, Hos 10:15Hos 10:7Hos 13:11Gen 49:10Hos 3:4Jhn 19:15Mic 4:9Hos 11:5
“We have no king,
for we do not revere the LORD.
What can a king do for us?”
They speak mere words; Amo 5:7Amo 6:12Hos 4:22Ki 17:3-4Deu 29:18Ezk 17:13-192Ti 3:3Act 8:23
with false oaths they make covenants.
So judgment springs up
like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field.
The people of Samaria will fear Hos 9:112Ki 23:5Hos 5:8Hos 4:15Hos 8:5-61Sa 4:21-22Hos 13:22Ch 11:15
for the calf of Beth-aven. 1
Indeed, its people will mourn
with its idolatrous priests—
those who rejoiced in its glory—
for it has been taken from them into exile.
Yes, it will be carried to Assyria Hos 5:13Isa 30:3Jer 7:24Dan 11:82Ki 17:3Ezk 36:31Hos 11:5-6Hos 4:19
as tribute to the great king. 2
Ephraim 3will be seized with shame;
Israel will be ashamed of its wooden idols. 4
Samaria will be carried off with her king Hos 10:32Ki 1:3Jud 1:131Ki 21:12Ki 15:302Ki 17:4Hos 10:15Hos 13:11
like a twig on the surface of the water.
The high places of Aven 5will be destroyed— Rev 6:16Luk 23:30Isa 2:191Ki 12:28-30Amo 8:14Hos 9:6Isa 32:131Ki 13:2
it is the sin of Israel;
thorns and thistles will overgrow their altars.
Then they will say to the mountains, “Cover us!”
and to the hills, “Fall on us!” 6
Since the days of Gibeah you have sinned, O Israel, Hos 9:9Jdg 20:5Jdg 19:22-30Gen 6:5Gen 8:21Jdg 20:13-14Jdg 20:17-48Mat 23:31-32
and there you have remained.
Did not the battle in Gibeah
overtake the sons of iniquity? 7
I will chasten them when I please; Ezk 5:13Hos 4:9Jer 16:16Deu 28:63Ezk 16:37Ezk 16:42Ezk 23:46Ezk 23:9
nations will be gathered against them
to put them in bondage
for their double transgression.
Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; Hos 4:16Deu 25:4Jer 50:112Ch 28:5-8Hos 11:4Hos 2:5Hos 3:1Hos 9:1
but I will place a yoke on her fair neck.
I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow,
and Jacob will break the hard ground.
Sow for yourselves righteousness Jer 4:3-4Jas 3:18Isa 45:8Pro 11:18Isa 55:6Hos 6:3Jer 29:12-14Isa 44:3
and reap the fruit of loving devotion;
break up your unplowed ground.
For it is time to seek the LORD
until He comes and sends righteousness
upon you like rain.
You have plowed wickedness and reaped injustice; Job 4:8Gal 6:7-8Pro 1:31Pro 22:8Hos 8:7Pro 18:20-21Psa 62:10Ecc 9:11
you have eaten the fruit of lies.
Because you have trusted in your own way
and in the multitude of your mighty men,
the roar of battle will rise against your people, Hos 13:162Ki 18:9-10Hab 1:102Ki 17:162Ki 18:332Ki 19:11-13Amo 3:8Amo 9:5
so that all your fortresses will be demolished
as Shalman devastated Beth-arbel
in the day of battle,
when mothers were dashed to pieces
along with their children.
Thus it will be done to you, O Bethel, Hos 10:5Amo 7:9-17Hos 10:7Rom 7:13Hos 10:3Isa 16:14
because of your great wickedness.
When the day dawns,
the king of Israel will be utterly cut off.