Hosea 13
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hos 13:1-3 1When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling.
He exalted himself in Israel,
But through Baal he did wrong and died.
2And now they sin more and more,
And make for themselves molten images,
Idols skillfully made from their silver,
All of them the work of craftsmen.
They say of them, “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves!”
3Therefore they will be like the morning cloud
And like dew which soon disappears,
Like chaff which is blown away from the threshing floor
And like smoke from a chimney.
Hos 13:1 “When Ephraim spoke there was trembling” There are two possible understandings of this verse. This is an unusual use of the term “Ephraim” because it seems not to be a reference to the entire Northern Ten Tribes, but to the arrogance (“He exalted himself,” BDB 66:9 , KB 72:4 , Qal PERFECT) of that individual tribe only (e.g., Jdg 8:1 ; Jdg 12:1 ). The fear of this tribe can be seen in that when it spoke, the other tribes “trembled” (BDB 95:8 ). Remember that Ephraim and Manasseh are half-tribes because they are the children of Joseph (cf. Genesis 4:8 ), but they represent the largest tribe, both geographically and numerically.
The second possibility is that Ephraim stands for the leaders and king of the capital, Samaria. It was the first king who set up the golden calves as a rival to the Jerusalem temple (cf. 1Ki 16:31 ). It was Ahab and Jezebel who brought Ba'al worship to Israel (cf. 1Ki 16:31 ).
▣ “Baal” This refers to the male fertility god of the Canaanite pantheon. For an excellent reference see William Foxwell Albright's book, Archaeology and the Religion of Israel, page 7:2 ff.
▣ “he did wrong and died” This refers to the powers and preeminence of the tribe ceasing (“died” BDB 55:9 , KB 56:2 , Qal IMPERFECT, used metaphorically of God's judgment, e.g., of Moab in Amo 2:2 ; of Israel in Eze 18:31 ).
Hos 13:2 “molten images. . .idols” This may refer to the golden calves of Bethel and Dan (cf. line 5). However, these descriptions do not exactly fit them. They were made of wood and overlaid with gold. Therefore, this may refer to images at local Ba'al shrines (cf. Hos 2:8 ; Isa 46:6 ; Jer 10:4 ).
▣ “Let the men who sacrifice kiss the calves” We learn from 1Ki 19:18 and Job 31:27 that kissing the idol was part of Ba'al worship (the VERB could be an IMPERFECT or a JUSSIVE, NASB). This is one example of how the supposed worship of YHWH, by means of the golden calves, was corrupted into Ba'al worship. They worshiped what they made that could not see, hear, or act!
Hos 13:3 There are four elements mentioned which describe Israel in her transitoriness and rebellion, which will be quickly judged and removed: morning cloud, dew, chaff, and smoke.
▣ “chimney” Literally this is “window” (BDB 7:0 ). Chimneys were non-existent in the ancient world. The buildings had small windows close to the ceiling for the purpose of letting the smoke out. Many homes placed the fire in the center of the room and allowed the smoke to exit at whatever window was possible.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hos 13:4-8 4Yet I have been the LORD your God
Since the land of Egypt;
And you were not to know any god except Me,
For there is no savior besides Me.
5I cared for you in the wilderness,
In the land of drought.
6As they had their pasture, they became satisfied,
And being satisfied, their heart became proud;
Therefore they forgot Me.
7So I will be like a lion to them;
Like a leopard I will lie in wait by the wayside.
8I will encounter them like a bear robbed of her cubs,
And I will tear open their chests;
There I will also devour them like a lioness,
As a wild beast would tear them.
Hos 13:4 “Yet I have been the LORD your
God Since the land of Egypt” This is how YHWH introduced His Ten Commandments (cf. Exo 20:2 ; Deu 5:6 ). This again is a reference to the Exodus as the courtship and marriage time between God and Israel (cf. Hos 13:5 ; Hos 2:14 ; Hos 9:10 ; Hos 12:9 ).
▣ “you were not to know any god except Me” This phrase is in the Ten Commandments (cf. Exo 20:3 ; Deu 5:7 ). The VERB (BDB 39:3 , KB 39:0 , Qal IMPERFECT) implies intimate, personal relationship (BDB 44:6 , KB 44:8 , Hiphil PARTICIPLES, e.g., Isa 43:3 ; Isa 43:11 ; Isa 43:14 ; Isa 45:15 ; Isa 45:21-22 ; Isa 63:8 ).
▣ “For there is no savior besides Me” YHWH was the only One and the only Redeemer (BDB 44:6 , KB 44:8 , Hiphil PARTICIPLE, e.g., Isa 43:3 ; Isa 43:11 ; Isa 43:14 ; Isa 45:15 ; Isa 45:21-22 ; Isa 63:8 ). See Special Topic: Monotheism <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/monotheism.html>.
Hos 13:5 “I cared for you in the wilderness” The VERB (BDB 39:3 , KB 39:0 , Qal PERFECT) is literally “to know” (i.e., meaning chosen and given special knowledge of YHWH). God's special care of Israel showed His love (cf. Deu 32:10-14 ).
The ancient Greek and Syriac translations have “feed” (BDB 94:4 ) instead of “cared.”
NASB, NRSV “In the land of drought”
NKJV “in the land of great drought”
TEV “desert land”
NJB “in a land of dreadful drought”
This CONSTRUCT means “intense heat and dryness.” It is a way of alluding to YHWH's supernatural provision of water during the wilderness wandering period (e.g., Exo 15:22-26 ; Exo 17:1-7 ; Num 20:2-13 ; Num 21:16 ; Deu 32:10-14 ).
Hos 13:6 What a tragedy! God's blessings (“satisfied” [twice] BDB 95:9 , KB 130:2 , the first Qal IMPERFECT and the second Qal PERFECT) turned into self-centered pride and spiritual fatness (cf. Deu 6:10-12 ; Deu 8:11-20 ; Deu 32:13-15 ).
▣ “Therefore they forgot Me” Here is the tragedy. They took the physical, but missed the truly valuable—a personal relationship with the only Creator, Redeemer God (cf. Hos 2:13 ; Hos 4:6 ; Hos 8:14 ; Deu 8:14 ; Deu 31:16 ; Deu 31:20 ; Deu 32:15 ; Deu 32:18 ; Jdg 10:6 ).
Hos 13:7-8 These are references to wild animals as metaphors of God's judgment: lion, leopard, bear, and lioness (e.g., Jer 2:15 ; Jer 4:7 ; Jer 5:6 ; Psa 7:2 ; Psa 50:22 ). This animal attack contrasts the shepherding imagery of Hos 13:6 .
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hos 13:9-11 9It is your destruction, O Israel,
That you are against Me, against your help.
10Where now is your king
That he may save you in all your cities,
And your judges of whom you requested, “Give me a king and princes”?
11I gave you a king in My anger
And took him away in My wrath.
Hos 13:9 “That you are against Me, against your help” What an irony! Israel had forsaken her only help (e.g., Jer 2:17 ; Jer 2:19 ). The Greek and Syriac translations have, “For who will help you?”
Hos 13:10-11 This seems to be another reference that relates to Hosea's negative attitude toward the monarchy (cf. Hos 7:3-7 ; Hos 8:4 ; Hos 8:10 ; Hos 8:13 ; Hos 10:3 ), but it may also reflect Deuteronomy 2:8 (esp. Deu 28:36 ; Deu 28:52 ). The line Hos 13:11 a, “I gave you a king in My anger,” reflects 2Sa 8:4-9 . The next line, Hos 13:11 b, represents the exile by Assyria (cf. 2Ki 17:1-6 ).
Hos 13:10 “Where now is your king” The MT has “I want to be your king,” but the ancient translations (Greek, Syriac, and Vulgate) emend the text to read like the NASB.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hos 13:12-14 12The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up;
His sin is stored up.
13The pains of childbirth come upon him;
He is not a wise son,
For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb.
14Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol?
Shall I redeem them from death?
O Death, where are your thorns?
O Sheol, where is your sting?
Compassion will be hidden from My sight.
Hos 13:12 “bound up” The VERB (BDB 86:4 , KB 105:8 , Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE) means the retention of guilt.
▣ “His sin is stored up” The VERB (BDB 86:0 , KB 104:9 , Qal PASSIVE PARTICIPLE) is a metaphor for “remembered” or “cataloged” (cf. Hos 7:2 ; Hos 8:13 ; Hos 9:9 ).
Hos 13:13 This metaphor (“pains of childbirth” BDB 40:8 , KB 41:1 , Qal PARTICIPLE) seems to refer to (1) Israel as an unborn son who is reluctant to come out of the womb and, therefore, is spiritually dead (cf. 2Ki 19:3 ; Isa 37:3 ) or (2) labor pains as a symbol of judgment (cf. Mic 4:9-10 ). Israel should have recognized the pain and repented (cf. Isa 21:3 ; Isa 26:17 ).
Hos 13:14 “Shall I ransom. . .Shall I redeem” These two parallel phrases can be interpreted as INTERROGATIVES (questions, cf. NASB) or as INDICATIVES (statements, cf. NIV). The Septuagint translates them as INDICATIVES and this is quoted by Paul in 1Co 15:55 . However, the Masoretic Text, in context, seems to imply that they are questions (NASB) and they imply judgment (Hos 13:14 e NET Bible).
The first VERB (BDB 80:4 , KB 91:1 ) is a Qal IMPERFECT and second VERB (BDB 14:5 , KB 16:9 ) a Qal IMPERFECT. See Special Topic: RANSOM/REDEEM <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/ransom-redeem.html>.
▣ “Sheol” See Special Topic: Where Are the Dead? <http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/special_topics/dead_where_are_they.html>.
▣ “thorns. . .sting” These are metaphors (i.e., “plagues” BDB 18:4 and “destruction” BDB 88:1 ) of the means and fear of death.
▣ “Compassion will be hidden from My sight” The NIV translation groups this use with Hos 13:15-16 .
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Hos 13:15-16 15Though he flourishes among the reeds,
An east wind will come,
The wind of the LORD coming up from the wilderness;
And his fountain will become dry
And his spring will be dried up;
It will plunder his treasury of every precious article.
16Samaria will be held guilty,
For she has rebelled against her God.
They will fall by the sword,
Their little ones will be dashed in pieces,
And their pregnant women will be ripped open.
Hos 13:15 NASB “Though he flourishes among the reeds”
NKJV “Though he is fruitful among his brethren”
NRSV “Although he may flourish among the rushes”
TEV “Even though Israel flourishes like weeds”
NJB “Though Ephraim bears more fruit than his brothers”
The MT has “though he a son of brothers may bear fruit.” The ancient translations (Greek, Syriac, Latin) have “he causes division between brothers.” Modern translations such as the NASB assume an emendation of “reed” for “brother.”
The VERB “bear fruit” (BDB 82:6 , KB 90:3 , Hiphil IMPERFECT) is a word play on “Ephraim.” However, God's east wind (Assyria) is coming and he will be fruitful no more (i.e., the water will be dried up). War will devastate his people, his most vulnerable ones (cf. Hos 13:16 )!
▣ “The wind of the LORD” This phrase refers to Assyria as a chosen tool of God for the chastisement of His people, Israel (cf. Hos 12:1 ; Isa 10:5 ).
Hos 13:16 “They will fall by the sword” This refers to the collapse of the capital, Samaria, in 72:2 B.C. by Assyria. This verse vividly describes the horror of ancient warfare (see note at Hos 10:14 ). The entire population suffers (cf. Isa 10:24-27 ).
