Comments on Hosea 13 v1-8 When Ephraim spoke in humility he was exalted among Israel, but he ended up resorting to idolatry (v. 1). At present they continue to sin by increasing their idolatries intentionally (v. 2). As such, their works will be fleeting and their lives insubstantial (v. 3). The Lord reminds Ephraim that He is the only God that has ever manifested Himself plainly to him, no other true God has ever been a help to them (v. 4). The Lord looked after and fed and watered Israel like sheep, but when they were satisfied they abandoned Him (v. 5-6). And so the Lord will turn upon them as a lion or bear turns on sheep, and attack them. They will be cursed by the covenant (v. 7-8, cp. Lev. 26:22, Deut. 32:24, 2 Kings 2:24). v1 forms an excellent example of an antithetical parallelism. v4 The Lord is healing Israel. How? By chastening them and therefore setting them up for repentance. v9-11 Israel will be taken apart, their only help was the Lord, and they have rejected Him (v. 9). The lord asks them why it is their earthly king cannot deliver them from their woes as He has (v. 10). In anger He has given them kings, and in anger He will take them away (v. 11). Here the Lord comments on the historical events documented in 1 Samuel 8. Israel demanded a king, and so the Lord said "Ok, you want a king, you can have a king. But, I am telling you that when things go bad, don't come to Me and complain about it because you're getting what you asked for." As Israel was heavily influenced by her idolatrous kings (see comments above on 3:4), the Lord is now taking them away in His frustration and anger. v12-13 are difficult verses. It seems to be saying that Israel will be afflicted with the pains of childbearing, even though it is a "he" (v. 13). These pains are apparently associated with his sinful nature (v. 12). The latter half of v. 13 is very obscure, here are three different translations to compare: for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children. (KJV) For this is no time to survive At the birthstool of babes. (JPS) For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb. (NAS) None of these are particularly helpful. The only sense I can make of these two verses is by comparing it to the imagery employed in Micah 4:9-10 and Micah 5:3. Israel wants delivery from anguish, but instead will not be delivered (Micah 4:9-10) until purged of unrighteousness (Micah 5:3). So, I would assume the meaning is: because of Israel's wickedness (v. 12), he will be racked with pain rather than delivered from it (v. 13). v14-16 The Lord will ultimately redeem Israel from death and hell, as He will set aside His desire for retribution (v. 14). However, this will only be after Israel is smitten with famine (v. 15) and war (v. 16), because of their defiance. Thus, the covenant blessing of redemption (v. 14) will follow the chastening of the covenant curses (v. 15-16). v14 "repentance shall be hid from mine eyes", a poor translation. The JPS renders it "Revenge shall be far from My thoughts" as a paraphrase and notes the literal translation is "Satisfaction (for this meaning of nhm see Deut. 32:26, Isa. 1:24) shall be hidden from My eyes". v16 "Samaria", the capitol of the Northern Ten tribes. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.