Wednesday, December 11 – Hosea 7, 8 – Additional Reading, Prophets and Kings, Chapter 23, “The Assyrian Captivity”
1. What is the Lord complaining about when He says, “Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples”? (Hosea 7:8)
2. In what way does the Lord complain about the calf of Samaria? (Hosea 8:5-6)
Commentary and Reflection:
Regarding the time of Hosea’s ministry, the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary states:
“Hosea’s ministry spans the closing decades of the history of the northern kingdom, and his message constituted God’s final appeal to the 10 tribes prior to the disintegration of the kingdom and the permanent captivity of a majority of its people at the hands of the Assyrians.” SDA Bible Dictionary, Book of Hosea
In Hosea 7:1, Israel is mentioned by name and by the name of its capital, Samaria, and is also called “Ephraim.”
The kingdom of Israel, or the northern kingdom, is often referred to as “Ephraim” because:
- Ephraim was the second son of Joseph. Though younger than Manasseh, he received Jacob’s blessing (Genesis 48:5-20).
- Joshua, an important and famous leader, was from the tribe of Ephraim (Joshua 19:49, 50).
- Samaria, the capital of Israel, was in the territory of the tribe of Ephraim.
According to Hosea 7:1, the Lord desires to heal Israel, but they persist in deceit, theft, and violence.
In Hosea 7:2-7, God condemns the conspiracies and plots of the king and princes. Like a baker who keeps the fire low in the oven until the dough is ready, these men scheme secretly until it is time to kill the king. They pretend to be his friends, celebrating with him to make him drunk, only to murder him. This cycle is repeated and is profoundly displeasing to the Lord.
“During this final period in Israel’s history four out of five kings were put to death in 20 years; four in little more than a score, the victims being Zachariah, Shallum, Pekahiah, and Pekah. In the earlier days of the northern kingdom, several other kings were slain by their successors or died violently or mysteriously. Of the 20 kings of Israel only Jeroboam I, Baasha, Omri, Ahaziah, Jehu, Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II, and Menahem died natural deaths.” SDA Bible Commentary, Hosea 7:7
Then, the Lord complains that Israel has mixed with other nations. They are proud, lacking spiritual humility; they do not return to the Lord, and they lack understanding, resembling a senseless dove. They turn to Egypt and Assyria, the powers of the time, but this choice eventually ensnares them, leading to their captivity by Assyria. The judgments declared by the prophets in the people’s assemblies would come to pass.
The predatory eagle mentioned in chapter 8 represents Assyria. The Lord instructs the prophet to sound the trumpet of warning. The reason for captivity is “because they have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law” (Hosea 8:1).
In Hosea 8:5-6, the Lord again draws attention to the calf of Samaria: “Your calf is rejected, O Samaria.” (Hosea 8:5)
Israel sinned with a golden calf in the wilderness near Sinai. Later, out of political jealousy, Jeroboam, the northern kingdom’s first king, established an independent and false worship system away from the Temple in Jerusalem, creating a calf. “‘Cast off thy calf, O Samaria,’ making this an exhortation to Samaria and the entire country to cast aside the calf worship, which has brought down upon them the wrath of God.” – SDA Bible Commentary, Hosea 8:5
In Hosea 8:7-8, Hosea prophesies the destruction of the kingdom of Israel. Interestingly, they would not be taken captive due to a lack of religion. Although they multiplied altars, they used them to sin. Worship time became an occasion to eat and celebrate. They had religion, but they did not have God. They imitated the pagans, following their arrogant judgment rather than humble obedience to the Lord.
It is worth reflecting on this question: How is it possible to forget the Creator while building temples? Can we be religious without God? This can happen when religion becomes a mere form and tradition, lacking a relationship with the Creator. It also occurs when worship practices are more worldly than godly.
Two famous verses from today’s chapters. The first:
“Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples;
Ephraim is a cake unturned.” (Hosea 7:8, NKJV)
A “cake” was a type of baked bread. It needed to be flipped quickly to cook evenly. An unturned cake was burnt on one side and raw on the other, making it inedible. So was Israel, claiming to be God’s people while mingling with other nations and adopting their pagan customs and religious practices.
The second statement:
“For they sow the wind,
And reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7, NKJV)
This illustrates the unbreakable law of sowing and reaping. When we sow discord, we will reap conflict. When we sow disobedience, we will reap destruction.
Let us read God’s warning prayerfully through the prophet Hosea and reflect on its meaning.