Hosea 4–5: My People Are Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge": The Case Against the Land
Scripture: Berean Standard Bible
Hear the word of the LORD,O children of Israel,for the LORD has a caseagainst the people of the land:
“There is no truth, no loving devotion,and no knowledge of God in the land!Cursing and lying,murder and stealing,and adultery are rampant;one act of bloodshed follows another.Therefore the land mourns,and all who dwell in it will waste awaywith the beasts of the field and the birds of the air;even the fish of the sea disappear.
But let no man contend;let no man offer reproof;for your people are like thosewho contend with a priest.You will stumble by day,and the prophet will stumble with you by night;so I will destroy your mother—my people are destroyedfor lack of knowledge.Because you have rejected knowledge,I will also reject you as my priests.Since you have forgotten the law of your God,I will also forget your children.
The more they multiplied,the more they sinned against me;they exchanged their Gloryfor a thing of disgrace.They feed on the sins of my peopleand set their hearts on iniquity.And it shall belike people, like priest.I will punish both of them for their waysand repay them for their deeds.They will eat but not be satisfied;they will be promiscuous but not multiply.For they have stopped obeying the LORD.
Promiscuity, wine, and new winetake away understanding.My people consult their wooden idols,and their divining rods inform them.For a spirit of prostitution leads them astrayand they have played the harlot against their God.They sacrifice on the mountaintopsand burn offerings on the hills,under oak, poplar, and terebinth,because their shade is pleasant.And so your daughters turn to prostitutionand your daughters-in-law to adultery.I will not punish your daughterswhen they prostitute themselves,nor your daughters-in-lawwhen they commit adultery.For the men themselves go off with prostitutesand offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes.So a people without understandingwill come to ruin.
Though you prostitute yourself, O Israel,may Judah avoid such guilt!Do not journey to Gilgal,do not go up to Beth-aven,and do not swear on oath,‘As surely as the LORD lives!’For Israel is as obstinateas a stubborn heifer.Can the LORD now shepherd themlike lambs in an open meadow?Ephraim is joined to idols;leave him alone!When their liquor is gone,they turn to prostitution;their rulers dearly love disgrace.The whirlwind has wrapped them in its wings,and their sacrifices will bring them shame.“Hear this, O priests!Take heed, O house of Israel!Give ear, O royal house!For this judgment is against youbecause you have been a snare at Mizpah,a net spread out on Tabor.The rebels are deep in slaughter;but I will chastise them all.I know all about Ephraim,and Israel is not hidden from me.For now, O Ephraim,you have turned to prostitution;Israel is defiled.
Their deeds do not permit themto return to their God,for a spirit of prostitution is within them,and they do not know the LORD.Israel’s arrogance testifies against them;Israel and Ephraim stumble in their iniquity;even Judah stumbles with them.They go with their flocks and herdsto seek the LORD,but they do not find him;he has withdrawn himself from them.They have been unfaithful to the LORD;for they have borne illegitimate children.Now the New Moon will devour themalong with their land.
Blow the ram’s horn in Gibeah,the trumpet in Ramah;raise the battle cry in Beth-aven:Lead on, O Benjamin!Ephraim will be laid wasteon the day of rebuke.Among the tribes of IsraelI proclaim what is certain.The princes of Judahare like those who move boundary stones;I will pour out my furyupon them like water.Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,for he is determined to follow worthless idols.So I am like a moth to Ephraim,and like decay to the house of Judah.
When Ephraim saw his sicknessand Judah his wound,then Ephraim turned to Assyriaand sent to the great king.But he cannot cure youor heal your wound.For I am like a lion to Ephraimand like a young lion to the house of Judah.I, even I, will tear them to piecesand then go away.I will carry them offwhere no one can rescue them.Then I will return to my placeuntil they admit their guilt and seek my face;in their affliction they will earnestly seek me.”